Saint Helena Island

Isolated island surrounded by marshes and considered a center of African-American Gullah culture.
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Top places to eat

4.6
(444)
4.5
(54)
Mentioned on 
Restaurant
Bar
Lost Local is a delightful culinary gem nestled in the heart of Beaufort, South Carolina. This charming eatery specializes in an array of mouthwatering barbecue dishes, including succulent steak, tender chicken, and flavorful pulled pork sandwiches that are sure to satisfy any craving. Seafood lovers will also find joy here with their enticing seafood baskets featuring crispy fried fish and shrimp. To top off your meal, indulge in decadent desserts like red velvet and chocolate cake that promise to be the perfect sweet ending.
I was visiting Beaufort after not being here since 2017. I noticed this restaurant and knew I had not been here before. I had planned to get a taco to go (it was a beautiful day to sit outside near the waterfront) but the bartender convinced me to go with the special due to crab shell being in season. I’d like to go back and try the tequila flight.
J M — Google review
Ordered nacho appetizer, shrimp tacos, Mac chicken tacos, fish tacos, fried green tomato taco, carnitas taco, Hawaiian chicken tacos, lavender martini and Burial Drowning in Habits. All were delicious and service was great. Staff was friendly and helpful. Favorites were shrimp tacos and fried green tomato tacos. Lavender martini was also amazing.
Kylee R — Google review
Came here after seeing great reviews! Service was **really** bad. Had to ask for menus twice. Beer never came. Finally I went to the bar & got it myself. Server moved slow. Wow… Seasoning on blackened shrimp tacos was fantastic. Excellent delicate slivers of jalapeño. Great sauces. Fish tacos meh. The avocado aioli was basically mayonnaise. The shred on the cabbage was chunky. Art on the walls is great, I will say that.
Kelly G — Google review
Went here for a small company get together after work. We had a wonderful time and the food and drink at Lost Local have been on our minds since. We tried the Bang Bang Shrimp, and Pan Seared Mussles appetizers. The shrimp were great but the mussels stole the show!! They were cooked to perfection and seasoned in a broth that we were tempted to just drink from the bowl. The Tacos were out of this world - I tried the Hawaiian and the Gullah. The drinks were delicious. The vanilla and Pineapple infused tequila was wonderful. I can't recommend Lost Local enough - I can't wait to go back.
Cody S — Google review
My husband and a few friends came here for dinner while staying on the beach. The tacos were so good. They were so packed with food they were busting. The waitress was really nice but didn’t check on us very often, which made it a little difficult when we did need something. The noise level was a tad much. We had to talk loudly to hear each other from across the table. Overall, definitely recommend for the food!
JuneAnn M — Google review
The Boom Boom shrimp appetizer was very good. Tried a fish taco as well Would have liked to tried jalapeño margarita but was driving so nice time.
Anita A — Google review
Let me just say Jeff CHANGED MY LIFE tonight. Never have I ever met a beer I liked until today. The Hummingbird Cake taste like every single ingredient listed on the can banana, pineapple, cinnamon, pecans, vanilla, yellow cake and pastry cream in a CAN. You won't believe it until you try it. He even sat it in wine chiller for me so it'd stay ice cold until the final sip. AMAZING. Excellent service.
Janelle K — Google review
We arrived in Beaufort last night and yet AGAIN, had a stellar meal at Lost Local! The staff are friendly, warm and inviting and it’s always great to see the same faces every visit….Ask for Jeff because he is our favorite and the ladies love to flirt and give him a hard time! While you are there, be sure and treat yourself to a fresh margarita and the fried pickle appetizer is too die for! We tried it for the first time and will be getting it again! You will not regret ordering ANY of their handcrafted tacos!! Stop by and tell our friends at Loat Local Sandy and Travis said HELLO! You won’t regret paying them a visit. Make it your favorite too!
Travis C — Google review
4.0
(1682)
5.0
(5)
Mentioned on 
affordable
Bar
Restaurant
The Johnson Creek Tavern is a down-home bar and grill that offers a mix of seafood and comfort food, along with live music and sports on TV. Located in St. Helena Island, just 5 miles east of Beaufort, this tavern provides an authentic taste of local seafood and Gullah family recipes. The area also offers a glimpse into rural Lowcountry life past and present, with attractions like the Penn Center.
I love this place dude. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. The food is phenomenal. The view is also wonderful. The service was also great. Don’t let the bad reviews ruin this place for you. This place is a great spot.
Mackenzie B — Google review
We stopped in for lunch waiting for our Villa check-in. What a pleasant find. Had the crabcake sandwich that came with a roulade and a lobster sauce... Mix the two if you try and you won't regret it! Going to try and return to try the Maui BLT.
Derek M — Google review
It was a very nice experience. The food was good, the shrimp and scallops were too heavy on the breading. At least for our taste.
John H — Google review
Incredible food & top-notch service! We had an amazing experience at Johnson Creek Tavern — hands down the best meal we’ve had since we’ve been here! The food was absolutely delicious, packed with that bold Southern flavor we love. Every bite was perfectly seasoned and full of heart. On top of that, the service was outstanding — friendly, fast, and made us feel right at home. You can tell they really care about their guests. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re on the island. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a flavorful, feel-good meal in a welcoming atmosphere!
Brittany P — Google review
Great spot on Harbor Island. Good food and service. Casual atmosphere and very busy on Friday night.
Michael C — Google review
Thank you Amber and team for an incredible dining experience! Atmosphere was very laid back, the staff was very friendly, and prices were very reasonable given that they are located just outside Fripp Island. Fried green tomatoes, coconut shrimp, and crab cakes were outstanding. They are trying very hard to turn around the recent poor reviews and are doing a fantastic job. We definitely felt good spending our money here.
Logandhi — Google review
Great view. Delish mash potatoes. The steak was a little dry, but crab legs were good.
Renee J — Google review
Let me start by saying we were there on a bad night. The kitchen was obviously having some issues. We had to wait a long time for our food, but the owner made it right for us in the end. As for the food, the cornbread was fantastic, and I really like the hush puppies. The breading on the fish for the fish and chips was great. I also had one of the daily specials which was a broiled grouper. Very flavorful and well cooked. I would definitely go back and try again.
Nathan E — Google review
4.2
(1640)
3.8
(831)
Mentioned on 
affordable
Seafood restaurant
Foolish Frog is a popular restaurant located in St. Helena Island, South Carolina. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes, including American and Mexican cuisine. Visitors can enjoy delicious meals such as scallops and shrimp with grits. The restaurant has received positive reviews for its food quality and is known for its fantastic dining experience. Additionally, there are other dining options nearby offering American, Italian, and Mexican cuisines to cater to different tastes.
We loved it! Had a late lunch and we both got the blackened Mahi Mahi tacos that our waitress Dakota recommended, with a silde of coleslaw Excellent food, very tasty, beautiful marsh view and cold drinks. And Dakota was a delight!. Will come back.
Patrick C — Google review
Great patio area to sit outside. Plenty of covered seating too. We ordered a few appetizers and drinks and enjoyed the weather. Service was quick.
Julianne C — Google review
The view is great, server was good but the food was disappointing. Fried flounder was soggy, breading falling off and fishy. Fried pickle appetizer was cooked well, but oddly sweet. The Ceasar salad was huge, and was good but the rest of the meal was average at best. For the prices, I'd try again with the lunch menu and hope for better results.
Kelly B — Google review
An amazing experience, a hidden gem 💎 indeed. We sat outside and had the best experience. It was quiet, and our server was the absolute best. Our food was DELICIOUS as well. We didn't get the marsh view at night, but the vibe was on point!! Many locals recommended this place to us, and we fell in love with it! Thank you for the great service, frog legs and atmosphere. we will be returning 🥰 I absolutely loved the snow crab legs.
Brittany H — Google review
This is a great restaurant! So Good!!! Delicious food , awesome service, great atmosphere, really good music! We loved every part of this restaurant. Would highly recommend! Google rating of 4.2 does NOT describe this restaurant. We are from New Orleans and we know good food and this place has it!
Susan E — Google review
Our favourite go-to place in the Beaufort area, and always a welcome opportunity to see our favorite waitress Lydia, who should get an immediate raise given her unsung talents and razor-sharp wit. I expect to see her on stage or in stand-up someday! That's a thought - Foolish Frog should do an open-mic stand-up night! :) We would also love to have your music brunches back - preferably with less country music. Food-wise, it's always consistent. Good fish tacos and excellent salads. We also appreciate a restaurant that serves local shrimp. A few minor recommendations - stop making the tartar sauce sweet, don't drench the caesars in so much dressing and go back to using dill pickles instead of sweet ones for your fried pickles. The yum yum ya ya could also be a lot less greasy. The young guy who made us wait forever for a table - even though there were plenty of open ones outside - needs to be taught how to think outside the box and to be more attentive to customers - especially when he's expecting them to sit outside in the blazing sun while they wait for an empty outside table. But thank you for being one of the few places in Beaufort who have a nice dry rose wine!
Paisley D — Google review
When you walk into the foolish frog it feels inviting with a nice view of the marsh lands and warm lighting to complement it. Seeing this i felt as though i picked a good placed to have a bite to eat and relax a bit i walked in and it was busy a good sign i thought. after a few minutes of being seated a waitress approached my table gave me a menu and informed me there would be a long wait time. I was okay with this being it was busy and i had time. I ordered a corona light and an appetizer, the FOOLISH fried frog legs. I enjoyed the view while i waited. i was getting bitten up a bit as to be expected with the outside seating but the view made it worth it. After waiting a while i was finally served the frog legs i ordered and upon grabbing them and the first bite i was immediately disappointed the breading just fell off and it was mushy and just barely warm. I ordered the fried flounder as well and once it came out it looked good. But this was also mushy and just barely warm as well as the fries served with it. the breading on the flounder was just a shell and my flounder just flopped out of it. So i ordered desert. a coconut key lime pie. It came out and appeared to have been sitting a while as the whipped cream was melted almost all the way down but the key lime pie was the only truly palatable thing i received that evening besides the corona light once i finished i was brought a check for $62 i put the appropriate funds on my card and proceeded to place my card in the check book to pay. after the waitress grabbed my card To my surprise a notification popped up on my phone for a $132 charge being declined she brought the card back and left as i sat there i watched her have a conversation with her coworkers about what she had just attempted. She then saw me still sitting there and comes back out to me and asked if i was okay i then popped the question about the $132 charge and she proceeds to tell me that she charged my card to the wrong table and that she cancelled it so it wouldnt have gone through anyway i then say thats ok its paid for now and thank you ill be going now. As i walk away she says your not gonna leave a tip and i replied absolutely not have a good night. And over my shoulder she leaves a snarky toned comment saying oh you have a real good night too this was the worst dinning experience ive had in a very long time and i would be foolish to return to this establishment
Andrew C — Google review
We were the first show up and every employee including kitchen staff was friendly and welcomed us. Our server could not have been better. Momma Mia was amazing. Personable, friendly, attentive and seemed to be a rock of the establishment. Now, the food and drinks. My mixed drink was perfect. Beer was iced cold and the food was absolutely amazing. We had the shrimp burger, seafood platter and the low boil. Highly recommend this place!! Stop here first in your way out to your island destination
Kristal G — Google review
846 Sea Island Pkwy, St Helena Island, SC 29920, USAhttps://foolishfrog.shop/(843) 838-9300Tips and more reviews for Foolish Frog
4.4
(618)
4.5
(762)
Mentioned on 
affordable
Restaurant
Market
Nestled in the beautifully renovated Old Beaufort City Hall, Lowcountry Produce Market & Café is a delightful blend of café and general store that celebrates the essence of local food culture. This charming spot offers an array of delicious breakfast and lunch options, from hearty biscuits and gravy to flavorful she-crab soup. The menu also features fresh sandwiches and seasonal dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, ensuring every bite is a taste of the Lowcountry.
8AM Breakfast with friends. Walked in to the smell of country cured bacon! Great way to start the morning. I love this downtown location. So bright and cheerful. Our server was wonderful, food delicious and atmosphere is perfect.
Julianne C — Google review
My girlfriends and I had the best evening at Lowcountry Produce as they launched their brand-new dinner menu. This restaurant has always been a Beaufort favorite for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, but never for dinner — until now! And I have to say, they’ve made the transition beautifully. The food was elegant, savory, and presented with such care. From the lamb lollipops to the crisp salads and cocktails, every dish was flavorful and memorable. It’s clear they’ve put thought into creating a dinner experience that feels both refined and welcoming. The setting, with its signature Lowcountry charm, made it the perfect spot for a girls’ night out. We were impressed from start to finish and are so excited to see Lowcountry Produce expand into evening dining. Highly recommend making it a new go-to for dinner in Beaufort!
Stacey H — Google review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great New Dinner Experience at Lowcountry Produce! We celebrated my wife’s 54th birthday here with a party of eleven, and it turned out to be a wonderful evening. The restaurant just began serving dinner, and you can tell the kitchen is putting heart into the new menu. The lamb chop lollipops were the absolute hit of the night — perfectly seared, tender, and paired beautifully with warm pita and tzatziki. Around the table, we also tried the wedge Caesar topped with anchovy, the flatbread with chimichurri and fries, and the lamb chops over roasted potatoes with hollandaise and asparagus — all well-executed and nicely plated. Service was friendly and attentive even with a large group, and the relaxed, classic Lowcountry atmosphere made it feel like a local celebration spot. A few timing adjustments and polish on pacing, and this dinner service will easily reach five stars. Overall, a great start for the new evening menu — we’ll definitely be back! #BeaufortEats #BillyEats #LowcountryDining #TopGoogleReviewer #FoodieLife #BillyDrinks #BarScout
Billy G — Google review
Great service, and an amazing breakfast! I ordered the breakfast biscuit sandwich and it was out of this world! Make sure you don’t skip out on the side of strawberry jam as you’ll definitely regret it.
Trevor V — Google review
Got the soup of the day, which was a tomato basil with half a chicken salad sandwich and the lobeca salad. The soup was chunky but also smooth with flecks of basil throughout. The soup was rich and zingy, full bodied with a deep tomato flavor which the basil cut through perfectly. The chicken salad sandwich was good, just your every day chicken salad between perfectly toasty and buttery bread. The lobeca salad was by far the star of the meal with multiple greens, rich creamy feta cheese, zingy pickled green beans, and a cranberry chutney paired perfectly with a lemon vinaigrette. This salad was creamy, tart, fresh, and with the addition of fried oysters there was a perfect amount of fat to balance the acidity from the lemon vinaigrette and the pickled green beans. Overall the food was out of this world. The service was great, it feels like a team is waiting on you and everyone there is very nice. It is a market as well so while you eat you get to admire the tapestries and towels they have hanging on the wall which are all for sale. Great place to eat at with great people taking care of you.
Colby C — Google review
Lowcountry market is such a gem! The food is fresh, flavorful, and tastes just like I imagine southern comfort food from a grandmother tastes like. (I’m from New England.) I got the eggs benedict and it was absolutely delicious, definitely one of the best I’ve ever had. The decor is so cute and makes the whole place feel warm and welcoming. The staff is super friendly too, which just adds to the experience. Definitely a must-visit spot in Beaufort!
Emma Y — Google review
I had the absolute best experience here. I'm traveling solo this week and have had a delightful time eating my way through SC and GA, but this is one of my favorites. I started with a fresh/warm donut and Mimosa and then was wowed by the crab cakes Benedict over grit cakes. I've never had a grits cake before. OMG! Every bite of this dish was a flavor explosion in my mouth. Fun upbeat 50s- 60s - 70s (perfect volume) music playing. I got here right at open and was able to read and enjoy a peaceful morning as I watched the place slowly come to life. Trinity was my server and she was a gem. Gave me recommendations on what to do in town. I honestly can't say that I'll ever make it back to Beaufort, but I hope to. If I do I will definitely be back. And if not, I'll remember my experience with great fondness. Living in Phoenix just doesn't bring the wholesomeness that the south brings. Please don't skip this place!
Molly M — Google review
Great places start with great ownership and Lowcountry Produce definitely has that! We had our wedding rehearsal dinner/welcome party here and it was a great experience working with the owners and staff. We highly recommend this fine establishment for any events!
Edward W — Google review
4.5
(579)
3.8
(378)
Mentioned on 
affordable
Seafood restaurant
The Shrimp Shack is a casual, family-owned seafood restaurant located on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Established in 1978, it has become a local favorite for its delicious shrimp and other seafood dishes. The restaurant's informal shack-like setting adds to its charm, making it a perfect stop before heading to the beach. Despite its simple appearance, the food is top-notch and made to order, ensuring a quick yet satisfying dining experience.
Iconic! Probably the first and best shrimp burger I've ever had. Fried shrimp are good too. Keep it short and simple menu, but I highly recommend the shrimp burger.
Jay K — Google review
If you seek good food but not fancy dining, then this is the place. Shrimp burger is shredded shrimp in a breaded fried or air fried shell, on a hamburger bun. It was not greasy. Table with ketchup, shrimp sauce is on the side. Limited lunch time hours, limited inside seating and limited parking.
Patrick B — Google review
Nothing fancy by any means, but did you really expect that with the name having "shack" in it, and I'm sure you peeped a few photos beforehand. LoL! It's a little cramped on the inside, but the screened in patio is a good spot for dining if the weather is nice. The hours are very limited, so get there early. We got there around 12 on a Saturday, and there was already a line outside waiting to order. I've been here before and always get the same thing, the Shrimp Burger! It's ONLY RIGHT, being that I don't know anywhere else with that item on their menu. LOL! Don't let the presentation of it fool ya, but seriously, how many ways can make a Shrimp Burger fancy. The fries are just crinkle fries, had no salt but no huge big deal. A few people with me tried the rice for the first time and each person said it was bland with no seasoning. I may try the fish when I come back because it looked good on someone else's plate, but I hope it was seasoned just as good. The cost is not too bad, had to purchase the drink and side separately, but it didn't come as a complete combo. Customer service was great, we had issues with our sodas not being tasty, and the lady bringing out the food was very nice and exchanged them with no issues. The bathroom is very small and right in the front where people are waiting and eating, for some that may not be comfortable using unless it's an emergency.
Ruby J — Google review
First time I had a shrimp burger. I wanted a shrimp po boy, but they did not do a po boy. The server recommended the shrimp burger instead. Now I recommend the shrimp burger! Loved the place! My wife and granddaughter loved their shrimp platter too!
Norman M — Google review
This place has a mystique about it, so I had to try. They have limited hours and are cash only... and people still come... so I figured it had to be great. The namesake product of shrimp was the best part of my meal, and just an ok portion size. The shrimp were really good. The red rice tasted like ketchup on rice with one piece of onion and one piece of meat. The French fries were cooked properly and were good, but I didn't go there for the fries. The hush puppies were not to my liking, greasy and not much flavor. All in all, it's not a place I'll be returning to l.
Matt G — Google review
Plain Jane local place. Fried shrimp is as fresh and well cooked and just generally wonderful as you will find anywhere. Really. Better than a lot of really expensive places. Even the hush puppies are special. Somewhat erratic hours which seem to be centered on lunch time TRY THIS PLACE. It is a gem.
George B — Google review
Absolutely delicious seafood! Very casual - some covered seating but other picnic tables outside in the back. Very popular place - recommend you show up early. Cash discount but do accept credit cards. Counter service - highly recommend!!!
Susan E — Google review
This is my top food place to go to when in Beaufort/St Helena Island! 🏝️ 🎣 🦐 🦀 The lady who owns it is top notch, a hard worker! The shrimp burger is the best!!
Angela B — Google review
1929 Sea Island Pkwy, St Helena Island, SC 29920, USAhttps://www.facebook.com/ShrimpShackSC/(843) 838-2962Tips and more reviews for Shrimp Shack
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