Restaurants in Port Royal

Customers line up for southern-style seafood at The Sea Shack, where cravings for fried, grilled, or blackened seafood selections are made to order and then delivered to tables of Hilton Head locals and visitors. Along with seafood staples such as scallops, salmon, and flounder, The Sea Shack also serves triggerfish, frog legs, and conch fritters for adventurous diners who no longer get their kicks by eating rare steaks while suspended over shark tanks.

As nighttime falls on Bonna Bella Waterfront Grille, its glowing patio heat lamps cast shimmering reflections in the tranquil waters of the marsh. Come daytime, the sun warms the expansive wooden patios and two outdoor bars that won the restaurant the title of "Best Waterfront Dining" from Savannah Magazine four years in a row. There, cheerful umbrellas shade guests as they sip colorful cocktails and watch nearby games of corn-hole.

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, chefs fire up grills in the kitchen while executive chef Roberto Leoci examines deliveries of freshly caught seafood. The internationally renowned chef and his crew then fold local ingredients into the fresh-seafood dishes, sandwiches, and fish tacos that earned them a feature on the Food Network's Chefs vs. City in 2010.

Parmesan-encrusted snapper. Hand-battered fried shrimp. One and a half pounds of steamed snow-crab legs. The culinary team at Parrot Cove Seafood Grill and Bar crafts these succulent seafood dishes from fresh catches at their waterfront restaurant on Shelter Cover Harbor. Owner Jimmy’s love of French and southern cooking is reflected in the menu featuring dinner and dessert crepes, oyster po’ boys, pulled-pork sandwiches, and half racks of ribs with housemade slaw. Meals unfold in a dining room adorned with nautical decorations and more than 40 parrots, who take forms such as paintings, statuettes, and waiters. Parrot Cove also provides spacious outdoor seating, seasonal live entertainment from local artists, and, for kids, a chance to rummage through a treasure box if they clean their plates.

The South is famous for its slow-cooked recipes and down-home charm, and Brown’s Family Restaurant has both in spades. Families gather around tables in the casual dining room to share stories and comfort-food staples such as fried chicken, barbecue ribs, and pork chops.

A home-style dinner is only one of the restaurant’s attractions. Shortly after sunrise, warm biscuits pair with hamburger steaks and corned beef in hearty breakfasts. Lunch plates provide a little midday comfort on weekdays with a main meat dish, two sides, and a loving note from the chef.

Originally opened as the Top Hat Drive-In in 1953, Sonic has grown into a burger-franchise mecca that today operates out of 3,500 locations across the country, making it the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants. Sonic specializes in made-to-order American classics—including burgers, hot dogs, milk shakes, and marshmallow Ford Thunderbolts—which customers order and receive without ever having to leave their cars. Unique menu items include toaster sandwiches stacked on thick slices of texas toast, as well as the brand’s signature tots and fresh limeades.

Sonic’s numerous awards include a 2011 Zagat survey ranking it among the top five fast-food restaurants in three categories: Best Value Menu, Best Milk Shake, and Best Drive-Thru. The benevolent eatery has also donated more than $2 million to public schools throughout the country through their program Limeades for Learning, which helps to fund educational projects and retirement plans for classroom guinea pigs.

Originally opened as the Top Hat Drive-In in 1953, Sonic has grown into a burger-franchise mecca that today operates out of 3,500 locations across the country, making it the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants. Sonic specializes in made-to-order American classics—including burgers, hot dogs, milk shakes, and marshmallow Ford Thunderbolts—which customers order and receive without ever having to leave their cars. Unique menu items include toaster sandwiches stacked on thick slices of texas toast, as well as the brand’s signature tots and fresh limeades.

Sonic’s numerous awards include a 2011 Zagat survey ranking it among the top five fast-food restaurants in three categories: Best Value Menu, Best Milk Shake, and Best Drive-Thru. The benevolent eatery has also donated more than $2 million to public schools throughout the country through their program Limeades for Learning, which helps to fund educational projects and retirement plans for classroom guinea pigs.