For our final meal on our recent vacation to Hilton Head, we made a reservation for sixteen at the Old Oyster Factory. This restaurant is a bit off the beaten path, but it’s secluded location gives it a nice waterfront view over Broad Creek.

Parking

Despite a massive parking lot, all spots were filled and I was asked to park in the overflow grass lawn on the other side of some trees from the main lot. I did circle through the lot once, but it was clear that the restaurant was a popular place, especially on our Friday night visit.

Outside

We arrived just before our reservation time, but unfortunately our table was not ready. We were told that the group ahead of us was paying their bill and it wouldn’t be much longer. Unfortunately the wait was still a half hour or so, but I’m sure that was better than what any walk-in groups would face in this restaurant or anywhere else for that matter.

Inside

When we did finally reach our table, we were seated in the middle of a large room with large glass windows overlooking the creek and surrounding marshland. It was a nice setting for a meal.

Hush Puppies

Complimentary hush puppies were delivered to our table after our drinks had been ordered and delivered. These were delicious! Our table easily went through a half-dozen baskets of the wonderfully fried dough balls.

Crab Cake

Some in our group ordered appetizers. I did not order one, but did have a very small bite of my parents crab cake ($11.99). This was served with a tasty chili lime rémoulade. Overall a very good crab cake from the little I had. Not the best out there but certainly not the worst either.

Smoked Bourbon Chicken

As I am not the biggest seafood eater, I went with the only chicken dish on the menu. The smoked bourbon chicken, served with creamy Carolina stone ground grits, baby French beans and julienned carrots finished with a bourbon glaze ($21.99). I didn’t detect much smoke flavor in the chicken, but it was cooked well and the bourbon glaze was a nice touch. The grits and vegetables were certainly nothing to write home about. Overall a decent dish, but very much overpriced. It was also saddening to see that there were no vegetarian options on the menu either.

Tilapia Special

My wife had a tilapia special that came topped with shrimp, a scallop, and a lemon cream sauce. She and another diner at the table who ordered the same dish commented that the fish tasted a lot fishier than it should have. She loved the scallop but was disappointed that there was only one on her plate. On the side were the same underwhelming vegetables that I had with my dish and some pretty plain rice. Overall a fairly disappointing dish.

The ambiance and view from the Old Oyster Factory are top-notch. However the entrées leave a lot to be desired. Perhaps this spot is best for drinks and appetizers at one of the multiple on site bars.

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