THE SOUTHERN LOWCOUNTRY:
A BAKER’S DOZEN OF FOOD NETWORK-WORTHY DESTINATIONS
We are blessed to live (and eat) in beautiful and bountiful Beaufort, so when it’s come to dining out in the Lowcountry, we’ve found many Food Network-worthy hotspots across the region over the years. Some restaurants seem ideal for Guy Fieri and his searing hot hit show, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” while others could be on “BBQ USA” and “BBQ Brawl,” as well as many Lowcountry chefs seemingly shoe-in winners on shows like “Chopped” or “Beat Bobby Flay.” With geographic and dining diversity across the Lowcountry, here’s a baker’s dozen overview of 13 foodie destinations we think are Food Network-worthy.
1. Ace Basin Fish Camp: It seems fitting that the Lowcountry would have an old school fish camp offering in the countryside and Ace Basin Fish Camp will be ready for Guy Fieri when he hits US 17 in his tomato red Chevy Camaro convertible. Open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and supper—and dinner only on Sunday—this Lowcountry dining destination’s two menus include: popular lunch specials with cole slaw, hush puppies, and a side choice (we’re partial Southern Ace Basin: Flounder Photo Credit: Ace Basin Fish Camp southernflavormagazine.com 25 to the “pick two” combo platter where you make the difficult decision between shrimp, scallops, oysters, clam strips, or fish); whole flounder (a personal fave); crab cake, fish, and other sandwiches; oyster and shrimp poboys; plus several popular platters, varied lobster feasts, and lots of other entrees come supper time. We think Fieri, who can be a bit campy, would also love the CRAB restaurant group’s Fishcamp on 11th in Port Royal and Hilton Head Island’s Fishcamp on Broad Creek. 16503 Ace Basin Parkway Jacksonboro, SC
2. Beedos Burgers: Ideally situated on Sea Island Parkway on the way to Hunting Island State Park and Fripp Island, Beedos is our go-to spot for breakfast, burgers, and so much more. Owners and chefs Brian and Melissa (aka Mel) Wuttke take understandable pride in their food, including their popular breakfast sandwiches (aka “brekkies”), biscuits, and more for breakfast, tasty burgers, sandwiches (aka “sandos”), and lots of other options for lunch; don’t forget their old-fashioned soft serve ice cream, shakes, malts, coffee, and more. Beedos makes for an ideal pre or post-beach stop, and you can bet we’ll nominate them next time Food Network has a “Burger Bash.” 1634 Sea Island Parkway Saint Helena Island, SC
3. Blacksheep: Chef extraordinaire Matt Wallace and GM Krista Duffy have crafted a Beaufort dining experience unlike anything in the Lowcountry and beyond, with a prix fixe menu offering a choice of two creative dishes for each of three courses, tasty dessert options, and a great wine and beer list. In 2022, we were lucky to attend one of their soldout “Goodbye Dolly” dinners featuring the final meals from Dolly, the wood-fired oven that was such an essential part of Blacksheep’s original concept. The updated and renovated restaurant and kitchen are now better than ever… and so is the food, including the addition of a convivial bar overlooking the new kitchen and Matt doing his ingredients magic, which could easily make him a “Chopped” winner. 1216 Boundary Street Beaufort, SC Beedos Burgers: Pimento burger with bacon and pickled green tomatoes Photo Credit: Beedos Burgers Blacksheep: Exterior Photo Credit: Matt Wallace 26 SOUTHERN FLAVOR
4. Burnt Church Distillery: You’ll find world-class spirits at the bustling and beautiful Burnt Church Distillery, including varied themed flights and creative cocktails made with their house-made spirits. But the food is also a big draw. The menu features a varied charcuterie board-like bento box and more, plus creative pizzas from adjacent Pizza Co., which all go well with Burnt Church’s spirited offerings, as well as a surprisingly strong wine and beer list. Popular behind-the-scenes Production Tours and History & Production Tours should be booked in advance. If Food Network had a show about cocktails (and they should!), it would definitely feature Burnt Church Distillery. 120 Bluffton Road Bluffton, SC
5. Ella & Ollie’s: Any restaurant that has shrimp as their logo is already Food Network-worthy in our opinion, but Ella & Ollie’s kicks it up a notch with a Lowcountry-leaning menu featuring unique local seafood and more. Highlights for us have to include: she-crab soup; Marsh Hen Mill grit puppies (trust us!); deviled eggs; fried brussels sprouts; tomato pie, Edisto shrimp cakes; FB’s firecracker flounder, fried oysters (with a tasty blue cheese slaw), and Edisto Seafood fried shrimp, plus southern sides like PB’s stewed butterbeans and Rooting Down Farm collards. Ella & Ollie’s owners Brandon and Katherine Rushing also run adjacent E&O Taco (currently serving lunch Fridays and Saturdays) and nearby Briny Swine (think seafood, ‘cue, and more). 21 Fairway Drive Edisto Beach, SC
6. FARM: We’ve been fans of FARM’s executive chef Brandon Carter since his days at Palmetto Bluff. FARM pays homage to the bounty of the Lowcountry in a rustic chic farmhouse setting in Old Town Bluffton. Carter and his team show the love to local farmers, fishermen, and artisan producers and suppliers with a menu that combines unique flavor combinations with what’s fresh in season. Whether it’s the burrata, ham, peach, and arugula starter, shrimp risotto, or grilled flounder with pattypan squash and leeks, the highly composed and very shareable plates are elevated, yet familiar and comforting. FARM really shines when it comes to local vegetables from their farm, and Chef Carter could rule the roost on Food Network’s “Farmhouse Rules.” 1301 May River Road Bluffton, SC Burnt Church Distillery: Flight Photo Credit: Seldon Ink Ella & Ollie’s: Pan seared scallops with summer succotash.
7. Fiddlers Seafood Restaurant: Founded in 1999 by Billy and Donna Rowell and owned and operated since January 2023 by Lynden and Sally Zuninga, Fiddlers Seafood Restaurant remains a Lowcountry staple for fried seafood and more, making it ideal the next time the Deen brothers, whose mom is Paula Deen after all, pursue a “Southern Fried Road Trip” for Food Network. Open for lunch and dinner daily, the menu features lots of apps (did someone say fried pickles?), soups, salads, a long list of baskets (think fried or grilled shrimp, varied fish filets), with hush puppies and a side, family seafood platters, Lowcountry boils, po’boys, burgers, sandwiches, and more. Those who want to try their hand at fresh seafood at home can head to Fiddlers Seafood Market behind the restaurant (on South Green Street). 7738 West Main Streer Ridgeland, SC
8. Harold’s Country Club: Originally a Chevy dealership and then a garage and gas station run by Harold Peeples, locals began gathering there as far back as the 1970s for Thursday night potluck suppers. That evolved into the garage area becoming a restaurant and bar that opens several nights a week for themed dinners amongst radiator hoses, fan belts, and more. Thursday nights are still potluck night, with burgers featured on Wednesdays, wings on Friday nights, and steak come Saturdays, where you reserve your steak — along with all the fixings — and one of two seating times. Sweet iced tea and long neck beers are the beverages of choice, though wine drinkers will love the fivebuck corkage fee. 97 US Highway 21 Yemassee, SC
9. Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks: For a traditional Lowcountry seafood dinner at one of Hilton Head Island’s oldest restaurants, it’s best to head to the docks on Skull Creek in Port Royal Sound for a fresh-from-the-docks choice of local shrimp, oysters, clams, crabs, fish, and more at Hudson’s Seafood, a legendary Lowcountry restaurant. Located in a former 1920 seafood processing plant, Hudson’s is an island tradition that has been serving up fresh seafood—steamed, fried, pan-seared, blackened, or broiled— since 1967, along with killer waterfront views, sunsets, and a convivial vibe. 1 Hudson Road Hilton Head Island, SC
10. Chickin Lickin: There are lots of Lowcountry hotspots for southern fried chicken, including among many possibilities, two Rigdon’s Fried Chicken locations (Yemassee and Hampton), Cahill’s Market & Chicken Kitchen in Bluffton, and Beaufort’s Maryland Fried Chicken (don’t let the name fool you, in that this place is pure Lowcountry). However, Lickin Chickin, just off I-95 in Hardeeville, remains a favorite for fried chicken lovers near and far. The one-sheet menu starts with their famed two-piece fried chicken (dark meat, please), plus a choice of one, two, or three tasty sides, with lots of other chicken options—like tenders, livers, gizzards, smoked, and wingettes— or other meats, fried fish, two-, three-, and even four-meat combos with two sides, daily specials, mixed chicken boxes, meats only, and more. Order inside to enjoy there or get it to go, which is very popular with locals and hungry road warriors passing through on I-95 (looking at you, Guy Fieri). 11161 Whyte Hardee Boulevard Hardeeville, SC Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks: Oysters Photo Credit: Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks Harold’s Country Club: Exterior Photo Credit: Bobby Bunton Chicken Lickin: Exterior Photo Credit Chicken Lickin
11. Lowcountry Produce: With three locations (downtown Beaufort, Lobeco/Seabrook on Trask Parkway, and The Shops at Sea Pines Center on Hilton Head) and three distinct dining (and shopping) experiences, Lowcountry Produce does its namesake proud when it comes to Lowcountry cooking and products. Whether it’s a classic Lowcountry breakfast (think biscuits, shrimp and grits, and more), LCP burger, Ooey Gooey sandwich (melted pimento cheese, applewood bacon, and LCP garlic pepper jelly), the oh-so-popular tomato pie, or crab hushpuppies, Lowcountry Produce simply delivers the goods at all three destinations. Check out their take-home or picnic possibilities too—there’s plenty to grab, go, and enjoy! 1919 Trask Parkway Lobeco, SC
12. Olde House Cafe: With a slogan of “Country Cookin’ Makes You Good Lookin’,” we think it won’t be long before country music star Trisha Yearwood (of Food Network’s “Trisha’s Southern Cooking”) comes a callin’ at Walterboro’s beloved Olde House Cafe (no high falutin’ Frenchy-fied accent mark needed for these folks!). Serving buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a full menu, Olde House Cafe features (Low)country fare, like fried chicken, mashed potatoes (with gravy, of course), cornbread dressing, pork perlo (and other pork offerings), veggie sides,, apple crisp, and warm biscuits and cornbread, bless their hearts. 1274 Bells Highway Walterboro, SC
13. Whaley’s Restaurant & Bar: Originally founded in 1948, Whaley’s is an Edisto Beach and Lowcountry classic for good reason. Known as the “Home of the Ugly Fish” (be sure to ask a server about it), Whaley’s has a “Sanford and Son” vibe and style (sorta’ like Harold’s Country Club, come to think of it), with similar lunch and dinner menus that feature some twists. “Whaley’s Classics” on both menus include their famous crab cake starter, sushi nachos (featuring pan-seared ahi tuna), and a shrimp-n-crab bisque, while the lunch menu’s classic “Sammiches” add their crab cake sandwich and the Sarah Jane BLT (with grilled shrimp) and dinner-only classics include crab cakes and shrimp and grits featuring fresh local shrimp. 2801 Myrtle Street Edisto Beach, SC