Wow, what a view! Â Had a table at the window with a view of the river at sunset. Very romantic. The beet appetizer was a revelation and the grouper with smoked shrimp and scallops was absolutely delicious. Service was very professional. The combination of great food and the heavenly view can't be topped. Definitely worth an evening when visiting Hilton Head.
Review Source:This is a tough review to write. Â First, the view is great, and atmosphere in the faux-historic building is very welcoming. Â The service throughout the meal was fantastic. Â But the food was a disappointment. Â It wasn't bad in any way, but also not good, and certainly not up to the prices they charge. Â The cold cucumber dill soup was the highlight of my meal- Â great flavor and just enough dill to add flavor without overpowering. Â I wish the rest of the meal had been anywhere close to that. Â My entree of duck was plain boring- Â the duck just didn't have any flavor. Â The cheese grits that came with it were actually fairly tasty, but the field pea & bean cassoulet was terrible. Â As for dessert, the cherry creme brulee was a disappointment as well. Â It was good for a creme brulee, but I expected actually cherry flavor, not a couple of random cherries thrown in the bottom of it. Â
Overall a great view and atmosphere and great service, but the food left a lot to be desired.
Cant agree more this place was more than great. We came early enough to catch the Sunset upstairs on the Balcony which was great. The classic Marsh view with moss laden trees. Then our table downstairs had the same perfect view. Get there early and linger over sunset. Â The dinner itself was spectacular , small things like the two spears of asparagus cooked to a level of perfection not achieved in many other restaurants. The She carb soup was excellent. The staff were very friendly and we were the last to leave we had a great chat as the evening concluded. "Southern Charm personified" sums this place up. You will enjoy it.
Review Source:This place is AWESOME! Â My parents and I always go here for special dinners, whether it's the holidays or someone's b-day. Â The building is a spectacular old house right on the marsh/river. Â The food is always perfect, as is the service! Â The Old Fort Pub always makes you feel special.
Review Source:Old Fort Pub was excellent! Â The restaurant itself has lots of character and charm. Â The service is top notch! Â The wine list was a little pricey, but great selection. Â They do have bottles on sale and the Pino Noir we tried was very good. Â The She Crab Soup was amazing and so was the seafood bouillabaisse was so delicious and the portion was generous. Â For dessert we had the scrumptious white chocolate cheesecake and a chocolate selection that was so silky you almost couldn't believe it! Â On top of the great meal was the special they were running: Â three courses for $33! Â It was five star food at a great price!!
Review Source:Great sunset view! I did not realize this was an upscale restaurant. Luckily we were dressed appropriately. They had a price fixe menu & we mussels, salad, filet, quail, & white chocolate mousse (had little flavor) & chocolate cake with peanut butter ice cream ( a little too rich for us). Overall it was just wonderful. They started us out with the best bread & herbed butter, plus 2 salmon mousse tarts & ended with 2 chocolate truffles! How sweet of the chef! Anne Marie was our waitress & she is a doll! Love this place
Review Source:We have been dining at the Old Fort Pub each year for the past 10 years. We always save it for a special occassion - this one happened to be my wife's birthday. Â Overall I agree with most of the other reviewers in that the food is wonderful, the view unmatched, the wait staff helpful and informed.
The reason for this three-star rating is the overall "feel" of the place.Perhaps I am getting old (I am 44) but whereas there was once a sense that OFB is a special place it now feels just like every other restaurant on HHI. Gone are the men in sportsjackets and the women in skirts. They have been replaced by jeans and tennis shoes.
I suppose my rating is not so much a review of OFB itself but the patrons who are dining here. If I am going to drop $225 for a meal I do not want to consume it surrounded by the same sorts of people who are munching down hush puppies over at Salty Dog.
Perhaps it is time to institue a dress code. Nothing extravagant. How about no denim, shorts or tee shirts for men after 6:30PM? Or perhaps there could be a casual dining area and a more formal area?
Went to the OFP for the first time in almost ten years, and we were not disappointed. Â IMHO, still among the best dining experiences on Hilton Head Island. Â The food, service and ambiance are all outstanding!
The only ever-so-slight criticism I have is that we felt somewhat rushed by our server.
Other than that, a very good experience. Â We'll be back for sure!
This place was awesome. Â The view of the sunset was incredible. Â The lush vegetation and great grounds were fantastic. Â Our waiter was really great and helpful. Â The she crab soup is the best I have ever eaten anywhere. Â The chef later emailed his recipe. Â If I am ever close again............I won't miss this place. Â I really enjoyed by wine, diner and food.
Review Source:This is such a beautiful setting. Â Having a wonderful dinner looking over Skull Creek (inter-coastal waterway) as the sun sets in the summer. Â I live in Hilton Head Plantation and go there every few months. Â I have never had a bad meal there. Â The service is always cheerful and the food is elegant.
For those that may be vegetarian, not to worry. Â Although there is nothing shown on the menu, the executive chef makes meals for any type of vegetarian. Â My wife has been a vegetarian for many years and is always amazed at what the chef can put together. Â They use local fresh vegetables and fruit when available and the presentation is always appetizing.
We have been coming to Hilton Head for 20+ years, and I have eaten at Old Fort Pub more times than I can count. The food and service never cease to impress, but it's the view that exceeds that of any restaurant I have ever been to. Make a reservation right around sunset, and with a dining room looking out over the water, you have a panoramic view of natural beauty. That coupled with the food I've had there makes this place a winner. And the interior of this restaurant is excellent as well; very cozy, dimly lit in the evening, and welcoming. On my most recent visit to The Pub I had the crab claw scampi, that night's special [crab-stuffed flounder], and a blueberry crisp [also a special] for dessert with coffee. Everything was perfect and I will continue to go back on my future visits to Hilton Head. It is fairly expensive and upscale, so September to maybe May or June I would recommend wearing a jacket in the dining room, during the summer business casual will slide, but many still wear a jacket. By the way, they have an outdoor seating area, but don't sit out there. I actually have observed that the view is better inside and you won't have to deal with the SC humidity!
Review Source:Romantic spot on the intercostal waterway side of the island. The main dining room overlooks the water. There is also some outdoor seating. We didn't have reservations, so rather than wait for a table, we chose to sit at the bar. The service was great, and we still had great views of the sunset. The food was better than expected. The she crab soup was the best I've ever tasted. The pecan pie is insanely sweet. A great treat to split. Plus the leftovers make for great breakfast. Head up to the rooftop with your wine, after your meal. The views are spectacular. Dinner for two, including a couple glasses of wine, and dessert, ran $200. If you're looking for a romantic spot for a special occasion while visiting HHI, check out old fort pub. Make a reservation in advance, and request a window table in the main dining room.
Review Source:The waiter was awesome. Â Full of information but not too intrusive. Â The She Crab Soup is the best ever. Â I had the Lousiana Crabcake with Crawfish. Â It was excellent., Â My hubby had the fish special. Â Our friends had the pasta and prawns. Â Nothing served was not above a 5 star. Â I would highly recommend this place for anyone who enjoys great food.
Review Source:I am writing this review while sitting on the deck of The Old Fort Pub after enjoying an excellent meal. First of all, this is by no means a "pub". Â This is a casual fine dining restaurant. Â My recommendation would be to come between 4- 5:30 for their early dining menu. It's a 3 course meal for $22.00. Worth EVERY penny, and such a steal considering the price of the regular dinner menu items. Â It is a smaller menu, but has the chefs selections, and you can pick your selection from about 4 or 5 appetizers, entrees and desserts. Â The She crab soup was amazing. The bread was served with lavender butter which I loved. We enjoyed the crawfish cakes for our entrees, and home made peanut butter ice-cream for dessert. It seems like many of the entrees have interesting flavor combinations which is something I really enjoy. Â Whatever you do, come on a good weather evening and SIT ON THE DECK. Â The view and ambiance are breathtaking. The deck sits on Skull Creek which is stunning at sunset, and you are surrounded by huge oak trees covered in spanish moss. There is a historic garden to walk through after your meal. Â The inside of the restaurant is cute but slightly dated. The deck is where its at!! We've been to almost every restaurant on the island and somehow never heard of this little gem. So glad We found it, DEF. coming back ! Â Almost forgot to mention the service, it was top notch - our server was Phili and he was one of the nicest servers I've ever had. Â Check this place out !
Review Source:This place was terrible. Old, musty and over priced. They served us brown lemons and lettuce. I said to the waitress that when you pay $9 for a salad it shouldn't have brown lettuce in it. She agreed said she would speak to the manager. Never heard a word from the manager and our waitress didn't come back until it was time for us to leave. The only good thing was the she crab soup.
Review Source:We had dinner at the Old Fort Pub on our last night on Hilton Head Island. Â The restaurant came highly recommended by several local friends. Â We were extremely happy with our meals.
I don't usually moan when I eat but the Cajun Trout was fabulous. Â Don't let the Cajun description fool you. Â It is a little misleading. Â It was not overly spicy. The chef knows his trade. Â My wife's grouper was exceptional. Â She does not normally order grouper but she assumed it would be exceptional here and she was right. Â All of the other aspects of our meal were way above average. Â The ambiance, view, service and location are worth the trip.
Don't forget to see the observation deck before or after your meal and stroll around the old fort ruins. Â All aspects of our visit to the Old Fort Pub were memorable.
Great food with tables with a view of marina and Skull Creek. I particularly liked their grouper and steak. After dinner, one can walk around historic Ft. Mitchell, a Civil War site. Service is great and the atmosphere is intimate and romantic. They also have early bird specials which provide appetizer, dessert and good value.
Review Source:A pretty good restaurant, BUT!!! ,where can you pay $3.25 for a cup of coffee ,you guessed it Old Fort Pub. Now I have gone here for years so I would say I know this place quite well .In recent years I have gone here for the Sunday Brunch which is quite good .This year however I ordered the breakfast ,eggs,bacon ,home fries and a few slices of fruit ,also included 2 rolls and 2 scones .With the afore mentioned coffee came to over $30 for two people .For that kind of money I could have eaten breakfast 4 times at most decent restaurants .It is no secret that you could pay $7 for a sandwich at many restaurants ,but add a Coke they tack on $2.50 .Old fort Pub has pushed the envelope to the brink .They are off my list ,and any restaurant that charges over $2 for a soft drink I order water. I don't think there is a restaurant in America that charges $3.25 for coffee ,so in that way Old Fort Pub is unique .Also I would mention that I did not see a coffee price on their menu .
Review Source:Everything we ate here was AMAZING, and so was the wine (and I am a picky wine drinker). The views were amazing...we watched dolphins jumping out of the water while the sun set! The outside is historic and surrounded by giant oak trees covered in Spanish moss. Like others said, this is definitely NOT a pub. This was my favorite restaurant that I dined at, during my Hilton Head stay!
Review Source:Excellent food. Â Great spot for an anniversary dinner.
Check out observation deck on third floor either before or after your meal. Â It's a little bit of a hike up the spiral staircase, but it is a great view.
Service very attentive and skilled.
She crab soup was very good. Â The crab cakes and Filet Mignon brought some good twists. Â Some people don't seem to like the twists, but I thought the twists were tasteful and fit the meal.
I would definitely go back again.
We set out to have dinner here without looking up the menu first. We found out very quickly that the word "pub" is definitely misleading at this establishment! Even though we showed up in street wear our experience was a pleasant surprise, and we will be back!
The atmosphere of this restaurant is fantastic. What I really enjoyed about the place is that it doesn't actually feel like you're in a restaurant. The wide plank wood floors that have a slight creek to them, the soft lighting, the unobstructed view of the water--indeed, this is a very special and intimate place.
I wouldn't recommend the Pub for large groups or for families with younger children. We went with a larger group, and a couple people seemed to have difficulty finding something they wanted to eat because the menu is rather limited. (Personally, I think this is a great thing, but it's not for everyone.)
However, this is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. I had the ahi tuna, and it was prepared very nicely. The portion was a bit larger than I could eat, but it was a very nice piece of fish. My husband had the pork, which was falling of the bone, as promised. I kept on stealing his polenta, which was amazing! I wish they offered it as a side you could order. Family members had the shrimp pasta, flat iron steak, and lamb. Everyone seemed very happy with their meals.
We were also given the chocolate truffles after dinner. They weren't anything unique or anything that I hadn't had before, but they weren't frozen and they were most definitely edible!
I'm excited to return again. This place is a splurge, but well worth the money for a special occasion!
I have to agree with the reviewers who've given this place high marks for service and ambiance. Both are excellent. But as someone has already asked, "What happened to the food?"
We went here at the suggestion of a friend whose parents are locals and who have impeccable taste. I figured we couldn't go wrong. She warned us the prices were high, but it would be worth it. Now I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out how exactly to tell her "no, no it wasn't."
Our dinner for two, which included two cocktails, two orders of soup, two glasses of wine and two entrees--no dessert, no coffee was $130.
As Seth Myers might ask: "REALLY???!!"
Now if the food were impeccable, delicious in every way, and if the drinks were out of this world, OK, fine. I am not averse to spending money on very little food in terms of the quantity, hell, we've spent double that on one dinner for two in Paris during truffle season (but that meal was legendary, if I live that long, I'd have my 50th wedding anniversary in that place--if it's still around), but I *do* get a bit twitchy about spending the equivalent of TWO good meals at our favorite places in Charlotte on food that is only "meh."
We had the She Crab soup and Asparagus soups. Portions were tiny for the price, and wildly overwrought in terms of how much cream they both contained relative to FLAVOR. The She-crab was by far the superior of the two, but I've had as-good at Eddie's, which isn't saying much.
My husband ordered the pork tenderloin and I the duck cooked two ways. Now maybe I'm being picky, but when I order duck breast, I expect it to be tender, especially when cooked medium. This was as tough as nails and to make matters worse, I was left with a butter knife to cut it. Let me tell you, it's pretty unpleasant sitting in this lovely setting trying to saw your meal into pieces small enough to chew with a butter knife! I would have asked for a sharper one if I could have gotten the server's attention, but in the end, honestly, I was afraid if I called him over, I'd be inclined to tell him how tough the meat was and a whole discussion about *that* would ensue and I didn't want to kill what little buzz I had left over from the abysmally bad cocktail I had managed to down without holding my nose.
Speaking of which....My Patron martini was so overly sweet as to be noxious, but I was thirsty and so glad to be out on a date with my husband alone after a week of vacation and fried-food with the kiddos, I just wanted to drink it not critique it right then.
So back to my food....Did I mention that the strawberry sauce for the duck was confusing? It sounded good on the menu, but in the end, no, it was just weird. The so-called bulgur pilaf was more like out-of-the-box Near East stuff than homemade, it was so mushy and drowning in sauce, and the overall taste of the dish was nondescript.
The wine was fine, nothing to write home about, a Pinot the chef had "paired" with the duck, so I ordered it to see why. I *guess* I see why, but again, it wasn't a stand-out wine or anything.
When the waiter asked if we wanted dessert, I barely even bothered looking at the menu. I now read the overly complicated descriptions with skepticism rather than curiosity, wondering how he would manage to mess up chocolate terrine and what was meant by 'infused" so jaded was I by my recent entree experience. So we politely declined and were brought two of the most AWFUL chocolate truffles I've ever put to my lips. I am a chocoholic from waaaaaay back, so you KNOW, if I put something in my mouth and spit it back out before even biting all the way through, it's BAD! My husband had to try just to see what in God's name was wrong with them, he was incredulous. But in about two seconds he did the same (and this is NOT a picky guy). We couldn't tell if it had been frozen, or just incorrectly prepared, but either way, it was ice cold and ROCK hard, and taste completely unsweetened--as if someone melted unsweetened chocolate, formed it into something that looked vaguely like a junior-mint (not completely round like most truffles) and then FROZE. Was this some sort of punishment for refusing to order dessert? We weren't sure, all we know is, we left two almost half-bitten truffles on the doily-covered plate, paid and walked out.
We won't be back.
Mmm... my mouth is watering just thinking about this place. Over Labor Day, a group of friends and I stopped by Old Fort Pub for one of our final dinners and were treated to WONDERFUL Kansas City cut sirloins--a special that evening. The steaks were more food than any one person should eat, but I couldn't resist.
While OFP does a great job with their meat, I would suggest striking up a conversation with any members of their incredibly knowledgeable wait staff to find out what the best thing on the menu is for that evening. In that past we've had wonderful advice steering us towards the bouillabaisse, towards the lamb shank and even a vegetarian risotto.
While their salads (had the best beet salad of my LIFE here) and entrees are top notch, they also offer a host of top notch desserts. Chocolate lovers should be sure not to miss the dark chocolate terrine, but for me, their best dessert is the pecan pie a la mode. BUT be sure to swap out the traditional vanilla ice cream for their butter pecan. Perfection.
The scenic location is incredible and the restaurant fits perfectly in it. Â You definitely feel like you are at some special place. Â
We had a great waiter who talked about the entrees, specials, etc. Â All going well. Â Then the drinks came. Â Now, you can say a mojito was a bad order in this kind of restaurant, but it had to be the worst mojito I've had in 5 years. Â I had one on my Continental flight home just for comparison, and that one was better. Â The waiter came with a smoked salmon pastry mousse mise en bouche which was fine. Â I had the butter bibb salad which was incredibly bland and ehhh. Â Another couple had a fruit soup which was unremarkable. Â The she crab soup was fine. Â The only outstanding appetizer was the roasted calamari. Â A healthy portion and tasty. Â
For the main course, I went with the quail over gumbo. Â This was by far the best of the entrees, which wasn't saying that much. Â Next best was the trout. Â After that, the achiote Mahi Mahi was bland. Â And their special that day was flounder with stuffed crab. Â Both people that ordered that probably ate less than 50% of it. Â
You'll rack up a bill of $150 per couple easily. Â Had we done more drinks/desserts, it will easily go into $200s. Â For that price, I'd expect more out of the food. Â
I think I should stick with belief that no great chef wants to work at some place where the focus is on the view and not the food.
Absolutely gorgeous setting and very good service. Â Appetizers of She Crab soup and Calimari, a chicken dish and Seafood boulliabase, a glass of pinot gris, and desserts of pecan pie and key lime tart came to $113, and a trip upstairs to the Widows Walk to enjoy the view ended the evening on a high note.
Review Source:The special thing about this place is the setting.  This is absolutely a magnificent location, with beautiful views on the water, and a quiet ambiance that is just lovely.  Thus half the dining experience (atmosphere) is already so good, you may forget the food you are eating is fine cuisine that isn't oh-so-fine.  There isn't anything really wrong with the food, but there is absolutely nothing special either.  Its just not very memorable and it's a bit overwrought - the chef may benefit from simplifying some things and focusing more on flavor variety.  I find it amusing that the waiters go to such trouble to describe the ingredients and preparations, and then you get the dishes which are either under seasoned, or so overwhelmed with sauce that you can't taste the main ingredient.  The best thing I had all night was the simple cucumber soup, which reminded of Mediterranean cucumber/yogurt dishes which are always so refreshing.  The Wedge salad was no better than what I'd expect at a chain restaurant - nothing exciting about the bacon or blue cheese used here- I expect better ingredients in a restaurant such as this - and this blue cheese was just you garden variety grocery store bulk grade.  Truly uninspired.  Fellow diners had a variety of mains dishes, all of which I tasted.  A criminally overcooked pork chop, dry and uninteresting, a grouper so drowned in bechamel that you might as well not had the fish there, a nice trout that was likely the best dish of the night, but hardly anything warranting a second visit, and my utter boring  rack of lamb, which came with what I thought would be a fascinating bean cassoulet -but it had been sweetened so much (honey?  brown sugar?) that it really killed any potential it had as an interesting accompanying flavor for the meat.  I lost interest in my dish after the second cut, but of course I ate on. I could have better rack of lamb in high-end chains like Houston's - and that's sad.  Pecan pie was solid, I've had better. Nothing was reall bad.  Nothing was great.  I think that because the food was not really bad, even if it was unexciting or in some cases "overexcited" -  suffering from poor "creativity" judgements that lost all sense of subtlety - I'd still simply go back to re-experience the beautiful setting.  I think the setting is definitely worth the trip to the restaurant, but I don't understand the rave reviews some have given the place for food on other sites.  The waiters go on and on about the preparation and its rather sad, what you end up with for all that detail. Still, I'll take solid and OK food in a beautiful location any day over awful and poorly done cuisine.  I can also understand why some of the reviewers have complained about the attitude of the wait staff.  They definitely have one and its amusing to imagine if its because they think they work at an amazing fine dining establishment.  This place would not make it in many a major city.  And yes, this may be the best Hilton Head Island has to offer for many - but that is not saying much.  I don't believe it anyway - there is better food on Hilton Head Island.  Its just hidden in an unexpected spot called Wise Guys.  Go there.  It has the worst ambiance, but phenomenal cuisine.
Review Source:Our dinner was outstanding. This is a fine-dining restaurant with a classically-trained chef, not a steak and potatoes pub. Â We both ordered fish (one catfish, one trout) and both were cooked to perfection, with rich, flavorful sauces. The asparagus en croute appetizer was small, but had a sublime layering of flavors. Â The intense dark chocolate dessert would have been enough to justify the trip on its own. Â Match this with a view of the sunset across the water, and it makes the Old Fort Pub a restaurant we will definitely visit again.
Review Source:Service A+. Â Atmosphere A+. Â Wine List A. Â Food, food? Â What happened to the food?
We came here on Mother's Day and were severely disappointed with the food. Â The food did nothing for any of our palates. Â It seems as though Old Fort Pub is confused as to whether they are a pub, or a very high end fine dining establishment. Â All of the dishes were small and tasteless. Â They try to put twists into simple dishes and wind up just confusing the taste buds. Â
Fire the head chef, and this place will really be something special.
Many restaraunts have come and gone on Hilton head Island but The Old Fort Pub has stood teh test of time. A place you will want to dine at when visiting the island. Out of the high traffic areas. Quaint. truely old south in design. Excellent local fresh seafood. fine Dining. Great crab soup.
Review Source:For the reviewer harping on the word "pub": Â Immediately upon arriving, you should realize this isn't a pub. Â It's clearly out of that league.
Old Fort Pub is a magnificent gourmet restaurant with one of the finest settings on the intracoastal waterway. Â
Inside is a country club atmosphere and the gentle service you'd expect with it. Â And, if you can take your eyes off the sunset, you'll see that the menu is full of fresh local flavors mixed with contemporary American ideas that's nearly impossible to do wrong on. Â
For a charming, relaxing evening, you simply couldn't ask for a finer experience on the island.
I look forward to coming to the Old Fort Pub every year during our family vacation. Â It's pricey (average $30 entrees) Â but I really enjoy the setting and the food as well . The restaurant is in an old house (fort maybe?) and has a beautiful view of the bay side of HHI. There are live oaks dripping with Spanish moss everywhere and a quiet southern charm. Â If you can, I highly recommend coming at sunset for the view. Â My experience has always been fresh seafood serve well but maybe a little creatively depending on what the chef has up his sleeve. Attentive staff. Dinner is followed by delicious desserts (bread pudding!) Make reservations! Get dressed up! And enjoy your night!
Review Source:My girlfriend and I had dinner here. I had high hopes for the pub because it was recommended to us. This restaurant is trying to be something it is not. When you have "Pub" in your name you'd expect a comfortable atmosphere, sorry you came to the wrong place. Now to the food, Â when someone orders a steak, first they expect a steak, not an over-cooked chunk of leather covered with some dry mustard crumble. No mustard crumble was mentioned on the menu. My girlfriend was very disappointed, when she told the waiter, his sarcastic response was, what you want me to do about it? I had the scallops, they were over cooked and rubbery. I think this place is just catering to the tourists without a palate... I'd pass on the pub.
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