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15 Best Restaurants in Bluffton, SC

Blake Walsh

Sep 29, 2022 • 12 min read

PPAMPicture / iStock.com

Bluffton is a small, fast-growing coastal town in South Carolina's Low Country, close to Beaufort and Hilton Head.

It is best known for its enchanting scenery, thriving arts community, and rich cultural heritage, but it also has fantastic restaurants serving delectable cuisine.

Bluffton has an excellent food culture, with restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, including locally sourced seafood and award-winning barbeques to vintage southern comfort foods.

Authentic cuisines in this area have been revitalized over the last few decades, leaving tourists and residents with many eateries to explore.

People can now find satisfying dining options downtown, rustic cafes, and upscale restaurants.

Here are the best restaurants in Bluffton, South Carolina:

Local Pie

Local Pie is a family-owned pizza restaurant that serves Neapolitan-style pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven.

It's the only restaurant offering this style in Bluffton.

Local Pie is among the best pizza joints in town because it uses locally sourced ingredients, minimally processed foods, scratch cooking techniques, and environmentally friendly procedures.

The restaurant's commitment to its local community can be observed through its strategic efforts to provide flexible ideas, ensure an exceptional customer experience, and keep its environmental impact to a minimum.

If you visit the Local Pie, you should try the classic margarita pizza; it's a customer favorite!

The Bluffton Room

Are you searching for a restaurant with a stellar reputation in Bluffton?

Look no further than The Bluffton Room.

This contemporary American restaurant provides all of this and more; you won't want to miss out on a meal at this eatery.

It offers a one-of-a-kind experience with excellent service and a modern yet simple intimate setting.

The restaurant has a concisely crafted menu with classic American dishes, delectable desserts, and the restaurant's best steaks, “The Trilogy.”

You should not pass up the opportunity to take a friend to this excellent eating spot and have a thrilling experience.

Try the Faroe Salmon with their exceptional Gruyere and baby spinach at The Bluffton Room, and take advantage of their free valet parking.

Chow Daddy's

Are you looking for a comfortable place to meet up with friends, family, or colleagues for a meal or a few drinks?

Chow Daddy's is unrivaled.

This rustic diner is an inviting, informal eatery with a delightful team that serves elevated southern comfort staples accompanied by wines, cocktails, and tacos.

The decor is eccentric and fun, exuding vintage vibes with captivating Edison-style bulbs hung in baskets to illuminate the dining room and bar.

Chow Daddy's is known for its burgers, tacos, and cold or hot bowls, with its fried chicken, quinoa salad, coconut shrimp, and kale being particularly popular.

Another treat highly recommended is the homemade ice cream sandwich.

If it's your first time at Chow Daddy's, don't be afraid to ask the staff questions; they'll be happy to give you honest recommendations.

Agave Bluffton

Agave Bluffton is a southwest Tex-Mex Patron taco and margarita bar known for the authenticity of its margaritas and tacos.

Due to its pleasant atmosphere, it is a great place to hang out with friends or to satisfy a craving in Bluffton.

This brightly colored restaurant has a patio where guests can sit and enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine while enjoying the festive ambiance and receiving warm and accommodating service.

This Tex-Mex restaurant is next to Calhoun Street and has outdoor and indoor seating for you and your friends to enjoy your favorite tacos or dips with top-shelf margaritas.

Agave Bluffton's margarita menu includes the Maragona margarita, the Agave skinny margarita, and the Cucumber Jalapeno margarita.

Other menu items include shredded chicken, tacos, and tender beef brisket—all prepared with freshly-sourced ingredients and best served with a cold margarita.

Cahill's Market

Cahill's Market is a down-home country store and a family-owned restaurant serving traditional southern cuisine.

It is also called the Chicken Kitchen, and it epitomizes hospitality.

The restaurant began as a family business, and the Cahill siblings turned it into a source of income, transforming farm-fresh ingredients into the edible masterpiece on your table.

The menu includes many southern classics, such as shrimp creole and blackened catfish.

When you arrive at Cahill's Market, located on Old May River Road, you can walk through the market and purchase locally or on-site produce before proceeding to the restaurant.

The restaurant prepares southern dishes with freshly grown ingredients.

There are many American classic foods on the menu, but for a refined taste of Cahill's market, you should order fried chicken with side dishes such as mashed potatoes, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese.

You can also try their peach cobbler, made with Cahill's peaches and topped with Vanilla ice cream; it will keep you coming back for more.

Old Town Dispensary

Old Town Dispensary is a lively tavern in the heart of Old Town and is among the best restaurants in Bluffton's history.

With live events and outside seating for kids, it's no surprise that it's a local favorite.

It hosts the most entertaining events and has fire pits, cornhole, and a farmer's market.

Old Town Dispensary has the best happy hour deals in town, and the bar is fully stocked with creative cocktails and craft beer, served in pub grubs alongside unique cuisines like Oyster shooters and Gator bites.

The dispensary serves a grilled avocado chicken sandwich with fries, chips, cilantro mayo, tomato, guacamole, and onions.

Another enjoyable aspect of the old town dispensary is the company of other customers while you watch your favorite team at the bar.

The Cottage Cafe

The Cottage Cafe is a great place to go if you're looking for a restaurant that offers a delicious brunch.

It serves delectable food with traditional southern side dishes.

Breakfast, afternoon tea, lunch, baked goods, southern cuisine, upscale Saturday dinner, and Sunday brunch are all available at this charming restaurant.

They have a variety of menus that include cookies, baked pies, tarts, cakes, an assortment of coffees, teas, and homemade preserves.

Its atmosphere is cozy and whimsical, set inside a restored 1868 cottage in a historic art-rich district.

The Cottage Cafe is among the best restaurants in Bluffton and is ideal for intimate parties and private dinners.

Its cuisine has a Low Country flavor, and you should try the famous heirloom tomato pie, shrimp and grits, and other local specialties before you leave.

Saigon Cafe

The exquisite Saigon Cafe serves various Vietnamese dishes, such as noodle soups and stir-fried meals.

You'll not only be filling your stomach with Vietnamese goodness, but your social media space will also have a visual treat to display because the food is as visually appealing as it is delicious.

You select your meat, bean sprouts, lime, jalapeno, and basil to ensure that your pho turns out exactly as you imagined.

The portions at Saigon Cafe are very generous, and it is recommended that you try the Pho Tai—a rare and finely sliced beef and Pho soup.

Truffles Cafe

Truffles Cafe, which opened in 1983, specializes in salads, grilled dishes, sandwiches, and brunch.

It's also a good choice for people with large families looking for a restaurant accommodating everyone.

Truffles Cafe has a simple, intimate indoor dining room and an outdoor space to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful weather.

The menu includes crab cakes, baked brie-in-puff pastries, and items for children such as pasta, chicken fingers, and grilled cheese.

Try the Tuna Napa, which can be prepared to medium-rare, depending on your preference.

Alvin Ord's of Bluffton

Alvin Ord's of Bluffton, which opened in 2001, has specialized in making American-style sandwiches since its inception.

This is a great place to go if you're looking for a delicious sandwich in Bluffton.

There are healthy ones designed to adhere to dietary restrictions and ones that are purposefully delicious and messy.

Alvin Ord's of Bluffton's Salvation sandwich is a must-try; locals enjoy it because it is stuffed with salami, ham, spiced luncheon meat, and other special ingredients and vegetables.

May River Grill

May River Grill is a fun place to hang out and eat seafood.

It has an unusual fish-themed atmosphere with a vibrantly colored space that feels lively.

The menu is traditional American, emphasizing sustainably and locally sourced seafood, making it an excellent choice for those with food allergies.

Crispy flounder, seafood curry, back ribs, sauteed calf liver, and oysters are among the dishes available; there is also a gluten-free menu.

May River Grill has an extensive wine list and crab cakes, but their jumbo shrimp slathered with lemon frosting is a must-try.

Bricco Ristorante Italiano

Bricco Ristorante Italiano is your one-stop shop for your favorite Italian dishes.

It's among the best Italian restaurants in town, serving all the classic dishes.

Bricco Ristorante Italiano has a warm and inviting ambiance that feels urbane for dinner or lunch.

Their food, prepared in their brick oven, will tempt your taste buds.

You should explore their Boconici and Fedilini Maruzzella; with just one bite, you'll experience the charms of good old-fashioned southern hospitality.

Farm Bluffton

If you're looking for a good place to eat southern cuisine, you should stop by Farm Bluffton.

It's a great downtown spot to eat steak, barbeque, or seafood while enjoying the Southern ambiance in a warm, friendly, and rustic setting.

Farm Bluffton serves seasonal southern fare alongside craft cocktails and wine in a bustling, snug setting.

The menu is constantly evolving, inspired by various cultural traditions, a seasonal premium of local ingredients, and modern culinary ideas.

The roasted lady's oyster is one of their well-liked dishes, usually prepared with chili, lemon, herbs, buttered saltiness, and old bay butter.

Bluffton BBQ

Bluffton BBQ, owned by Ted Huffman and his wife, is widely regarded as the best place in Bluffton to get a barbeque sandwich.

Ted's motto is "a quality product will create its own demand," so he uses his special sauce and pays attention to detail when preparing dishes for his customers.

When visiting Bluffton BBQ, try the pulled pork sandwich with a slice of tomato and Texas toast or the fat Batsurd plate with three ribs, half a chicken, and a half pound of barbeque.

The Pearl Kitchen

The Pearl Kitchen is the best local restaurant in Bluffton due to its setting and cuisine.

Their menu features fresh seafood served in a picturesque front porch setting that evokes the essence of South Carolina.

This restaurant also has a boutique-style bar where refreshing drinks like the Low Country sour and Lemongrass Martini are creatively mixed.

The Pearl Kitchen is a popular spot for locals to unwind while indulging in delectable dishes like Lobster Thermidor and Pistachio Crusted Ahi Tuna.

Final Thoughts

Bluffton is well-known for its rich culture, arts, and dynamic food culture.

Seafood is a staple food in South Carolina, so the culinary options are based on locally sourced ingredients.

However, that is not the only thing this region offers regarding food; it also has modern cuisines that will pique your interest.

Due to the variety of cuisines available, you won't have trouble finding a restaurant or eatery that caters to your preferences.

Try some of the famous and award-winning dishes at the best restaurants in Bluffton, South Carolina.

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