Lowcountry Backyard was one of those places that feels like it's been there forever in the best possible way. Quirky, unpolished, a little tucked away, and absolutely full of character. It doesn't feel corporate or manufactured at all. More like you've stumbled into somebody's lovingly chaotic backyard dinner party where the food just happens to be genuinely top-tier. The mismatched charm, handwritten feel, and warm atmosphere are part of what makes it so special. There's this brilliant contrast between the laid-back hole-in-the-wall vibe and the seriously refined cooking coming out of the kitchen. We started with the fried green tomatoes which were incredibly tender, fried perfectly, and drizzled with a lovely house-made ranch. The sweet house pickles alongside were such a good touch. We also each had a cup of she crab soup which was beautifully seasoned and packed with tonnes of crab morsels. For mains, we shared the shrimp and grits and completely understood why the recipe has won awards, including being recognised as the 3rd best in the world. The recipe is rooted in traditional Lowcountry cooking but elevated with layers of flavour that somehow still feel comforting and homemade. The grits were unbelievably creamy, and the shrimp and sausage were perfectly cooked with fantastic flavour throughout. We also split the seafood purloo with blackened grouper, and it was equally impressive. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted incredibly fresh without trying too hard to be fancy. What really made the experience though was the staff. Everyone went above and beyond. They took time to chat with us about the area, paced the courses perfectly so nothing felt rushed, and by the end we were leaving with handshakes feeling more like guests than customers. Places like this are getting harder to find. We'll absolutely be back and would recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Lowcountry food served by genuinely wonderful people. read more

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Stopped by for dinner since this spot came highly recommended and had great reviews. Was expecting to be blown awhile, but unfortunately, my family and I left thinking the food here was just okay. Started off with the May River Blue Crab Dinner, which came packed with crab! This was good - warm, creamy, and slightly cheesy. It came with tortilla chips and pita bread - tasted better with the tortilla chips IMO. We all decided to share the potato chip meatloaf sandwich, low country boil (for 1), and seafood parlor (with blackened fish). Overall, all these entrees were just okay. The meatloaf was too mashed for my liking and had decent flavor. It was essentially a large chunk of meat sandwich between two slices of thin pita bread. The seafood parlor was good, and came with a decent amount of shrimp, sausage, and blackened fish. The red rice was slightly overcooked, but all the protein was cooked nicely. I could have done without the sweet chili sauce. The low country boil was plenty for 1 or to share. Service was good, especially with the restaurant being constantly busy. read more

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Quaint Atmosphere, Average Overall Experience Low Country Backyard has a warm, quaint, and inviting atmosphere that fits the relaxed Hilton Head vibe. The setting is charming, and it's easy to see why it's a popular stop for visitors looking for Southern comfort food. I ordered the Backyard BBQ Chicken Sandwich, and while it was good, it didn't really stand out. It was enjoyable enough, but not something I'd specifically come back for. Our order also got mixed up, but these things happen, and the staff handled it professionally. The rest of my group seemed to enjoy their meals more than I did and would probably rate their dining experience higher. I'm admittedly very particular when it comes to restaurants, especially those serving either homestyle cooking or elevated Southern cuisine, so my expectations tend to be high. Overall, there wasn't anything wrong with the experience--I just kept feeling like something was missing, although I can't quite put my finger on what it was. The food, service, and atmosphere were all perfectly acceptable, but nothing really left a lasting impression. If you're looking for a casual meal in a pleasant setting, Low Country Backyard is worth trying. For me, it was a solid three-star experience. read more

What a disappointment. We waited 45 minutes just for our crab dip appetizer to arrive, and when it finally did, there was no dip whatsoever, it was dry and overcooked. That should've been my first sign the rest of the meal would go downhill. My son's chicken tenders came out burned and black. My seafood boil wasn't much better, the potatoes were completely uncooked, hard as a rock. For the wait and the price, we expected so much more. read more

4 years later and they still have the BEST key lime ever!!! We tried their cocktails - Moonarita (moonshine margarita) and Front Porch (peach Tea perfection!). Enjoyed the Tomato Stack and Pimento Cheese, both were delicious and would get again. read more

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The new people who run the restaurant are so nice. I hate to give bad review. I have been going to The Backyard since its beginning. Always my favorite place on HH. But it is nothing like its former self. You should have got the former owner to teach you his recipes. Also, never serve Fried Green Tomato Sandwich or Fried Chicken sandwich on a pita. read more

This place knocked it out of the park. We started with the crab dip which came with fresh homemade tortillas. It was a plate of all crab with seasoning and cheese - unlike other places where it's all cheese with a little crab sprinkled in. Our server Cookie was the best and we had the shrimp and wild mushroom cobbler that was delectable- topped with a fresh biscuit. Our other entree was the seafood purloo with blackened red drum. We devoured everything. If we had another night on the island we would have gone back again. We also ate at MaDaisy's porch and this place was so much better. Get your Gullah here. read more

We ordered takeaway shortly after they opened. The food was mediocre at best. The meatloaf was... a dry, bland brick. The Shrimp and Mushroom Cobbler was filled with mushrooms and shrimp, but the biscuit was on the bottom and everything just tasted like cream and butter. We also ordered the Shrimp and Grits--it was the best thing we ordered but definitely not 3rd in the world. On the upside, the Fried Green Tomatoes were good. The Pimento Cheese was good, but much better with the tortilla chips vs. the pita. We really wanted to like this place, but no one really liked their food and looks like we'll be ordering pizza tonight. read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - The brick of meatloaf. - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Had an awful dining experience here about 6 weeks ago. My partner and I came here for dinner based on seemingly positive reviews. First, it was not that busy -- I've worked in the service industry before and it was a normal dinner time pop, the restaurant was at like 50% capacity. We were sat and our server Cookie did not tell us all the specials or take our drink orders. We then sat, for another 40 minutes, with nobody taking care of us, watching Cookie walk past us for other tables or ignore us, actively avoiding eye contact. After about 45 min, a man server came check on us to ask if we had been helped. I said we had but she has not checked on us in a really long time, and he apologized profusely (even though it wasn't his fault!) and took our order. The fried green tomatoes came out quickly, and although they were good the sauce ratio was off, there should have been more sauce. Then we waited another like 50 minutes for our entrées. I had lamb chops that were quite fatty and hard to enjoy. My partner had shrimp and grits that he said were subpar. The server offered us a free dessert to take home, which was the best thing we got at the restaurant ... Would not return, and told my family to avoid. read more

My husband and I are visiting the island for the first time and were looking for somewhere casual yet charming with great food, this place was exactly that. I had the soup of the day (a crab and shrimp bisque) along with the fried green tomato BLT, and my husband ordered the grilled BBQ chicken sandwich with pimento cheese and a side of baked mac and cheese. Everything was absolutely delicious, and we would happily order it all again. They also had some of the best sweet tea I've ever had. Cookie was our waitress, she was warm, attentive, and very informative, which made the experience even better. Highly recommend! read more

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Best meal we've had in HHI so far. We ordered tomato stack (fried green tomatoes with a dill sauce), shrimp and grits, and shrimp burger with baked macaroni and whipped potatoes. Everything was great, and the atmosphere is chill . read more

Today my $32 shrimp & grits has no flavor at all! Husband tried the crab cakes, so much filler it was ridiculous What happened to this place? read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Shrimp & Grits ( with sausage and bacon) the house dish - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Worst Service Ever and I went to the owner who didn't care about the customer service. I would give them zero stars and I will never be back to this ghetto company again. read more

We went August 6th and sat for 2 hours before receiving our food. We got there at 5:30 We were told only 2 cooks Food was good just not worth the wait. Family there next to us waited 1.5 hours for meatloaf. Another family had appetizers and waited almost 2 hours for food read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Shrimp and grits - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Was told 40-45 minutes. Waited an hour and a half. No one EVER came out to give us updates. Not sure if anyone works here. If wasting lots of vacation time then going somewhere else is a goal, def give them a try. read more

Currently in a drive thru for Wendy's because our meal was so lackluster. To begin, we were sat in what felt like a friends garage. Boring music, boring environment, staff tried to be engaging and friendly but it wasn't hitting. We waited over an hour for food and the place was mostly empty. One other table in this "garage". Food was so basic, and disappointing, I'm not a great cook, but I could've done better. You should've seeeen the "fresh catch"... I swear I overheard one of the staff mention it came from a Cisco truck. Please just don't even waste your time here. Prices alone should keep you out. Enjoy the pic of my sisters $26 fish sandwich. read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

They triple taxed our bill without providing a paper copy, sales tax, hospitality tax, and a tax on beer served amounting to 33%. Will not go back EVER. Not to mention that the menu is stale and the service was bad last time and worse this time! read more

We just love this place. We spend 3-4 weeks a year in HHI and Low Country is always at the top of our list Service Friendliness Dining under the Umbrellas The tomato sandwich with Pimento Cheese Of course the best shrimp and grits in the low country hands down Love this place! read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

I'm sad to say that our dinner here was not good. While the decorations are charming and the shrimp and grits are amazing, those were to only 2 positives about our experience. The bad: our server/hostess had a bossy attitude and was unpleasant. All the food (besides the shrimp and grits) was mediocre at best. The mashed potatoes were cold and flavorless. Meatloaf was dry and disappointing. The macaroni salad and fried green tomatoes were just okay. Lastly, the food is extremely overpriced and NOT worth the price. I remember this place being a family favorite years ago but after our recent experience, I don't plan on returning. read more

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90 minutes for our food to make its way to the table. Overcooked. Dry. Sandwiches were overpriced and tiny. Medium and Medium-Well burgers were burnt to a crisp. Cocktails that cost $13 each and didn't have even a hint of alcohol. Our waiter was apparently one of the few people working and was at first defensive, but eventually did apologize. The manager was a joke. She said she has no control over the kitchen. A table near us simply got up and left because they never got their food. This was some of the worst customer service I have ever witnessed. Save your time and money and go somewhere else. Anywhere else. Or stay home and eat chips. read more

The Health Department should check this place, Very dirty place. Check the bathrooms before you go in, you will be able to see the most disgusting kitchen as the door is open, I have no idea how this pace is allowed to serve food in America! We left as we were grossed out! read more

We have visited here many times between 2013-2024 and the food was always great and the service good. The restaurant is a pale comparison of its former self. Food is now average (but overpriced for the lower quality) and service - while friendly and well-intentioned- was probably the worst I've ever had. Largely due to lack of staffing. I do not recommend this restaurant anymore. read more

The first stop in Hilton Head for me and the wife- and after a week, it was still one of the favorite meals. I got the Seafood Perloo, which had pan sautéed shrimp & smoked sausage over red rice topped with a blackened white fish. While I initially thought this was on the expensive side ($40) after I finished it, I can attest that I got everything I paid for. I basically got a big bowl of jambalaya with a nice large piece of fish laying over the top of it. I was stuffed. Being the inaugural dinner for the vacation, I wanted to go for a truly southern dish and this absolutely delivered. The lima beans side and the collard greens were also great, the lima beans moreso than the collards- but I make some pretty good collards so I'm a tough critic. The key lime pie, I thought I knew what a good one tasted like until I had this. Hands down, the best I've ever had. Rich, creamy, but also light which is contradictory, I loved it. Plenty of lime flavor, not too sweet, I loved it. There was live music out on the patio and it was a great night, the performer was easy listening and the service was right there to match an equally excellent meal. read more

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This was a wonderful surprise for me! I was looking for a good place to eat while waiting for an event later that day. I was so happy to have such wonderful hospitality and the food was wonderful! I sat outside and was able to have such a peaceful lunch. The food was fantastic. Raved about this place to all my friends! read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Rather disappointing. I think that the management has changed, and things are not like they were. Through no fault of their own, the AC was out, but our waiter told us it had been from May! The decor has changed, and it just does not appear to be as cozy indoors as it used to be. The "special of the day" board was not updated, giving an impression they didn't have their act together yet. The food was mediocre at best. Salad was okay; but to be fair, the grilled shrimp were very good. Collards were definitely not Low Country due to seasoning. Service was great. Cannot say enough nice things about our waiter and the other staff. Very nice! I think that maybe they just need a little bit of extra time to get up to speed with what is expected from a moderate to high priced restaurant in Hilton Head. We will give them more time but not be eating there in the near future. read more

2nd time in many years going to this funky and fun place. Good food including a very delicious banana pudding which you need to leave room for. Sassy and nice waitress get things going and we enjoyed a few laughs with her. Ate outside in the yard, even though it was hot, got a fan set near us. This time we did lunch. read more

It breaks my heart to report this, as I've been coming here since it opened with my family, as my kids have grown up. We would wait hours for a table, and it was totally worth it every time. We just left this place for dinner, having brought a family new to the island and wanting to show them our favorite place. The food is nothing like what it was 3 years ago, literally nothing. We waited an hour plus for our food and I actually had to ask the waiter to come ask to take a drink order again. Was it busy and understandable? Not even a little. It was dead, the fun and engaging wait staff was nowhere to be seen, and no band or vibe whatsoever. Also, my award winning shrimp and grits had hard lumps and zero taste. I'm not even mad that I just overpaid for a shitty meal. I'm sad that a place that was so legendary to the island is no more... read more

A very down to earth approachable feels like home, type of restaurant. The service is excellent and very laid back. They were understaffed this day but communicated well and it made the wait not a problem at all. The she crab soup was excellent. The crab legs were as well. The cheesburger was good and came with lettuce tomatoes bun and American cheese. Very tasty. The shrimp and grits were good but too high grit to shrimp ratio. Fried green tomato's were the thinly sliced crispy on outside and nice flavor. Inside was bench or table seating so felt like backyard. Kitchen was right in front of you . This was a great place and I highly recommend it read more

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We came here about five years ago because it was highly recommended and really enjoyed it. This time not so much. The shrimp and grits didn't have much flavor so I added salt and I don't know if it was the salt that was old or what it was but it ruined the dish for me. The cornbread was dry. The burger was just OK. Not bad, but just OK. My father-in-law had the mushroom casserole and that was "pretty good" but other than that very disappointing. I also thought the water tasted nasty. They need a filter or something. 2 stars because I like the vibe and service a good even though you could tell they were under staffed. read more

Everything on the menu is great. Service was great. Shrimp and Grits were outstanding. read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - SHRIMP AND GRITS - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

The service was extremely slow. Took forever to get drinks and they miss one of our orders. Our experience here has been really poor the last few visits. read more

We have been coming here since 2016. We used to really enjoy it, but our last few visits over the course of the last couple years they have been short staffed and service has been lacking. Tonight, we waited well over an hour for our food and several errors were made to our order. The burgers were no where near the size they used to be, so much so that we thought they were the kids size. The prices have gone up significantly and the quality and service just don't match up. Our waitress was sweet and did a good job, but unfortunately, I doubt we will return. read more

Food quality has gone down since we last visited. Arrived when you first opened and took forever to get seated and then once food was ordered, order took around an hour to get. The burger was undercooked. The shrimp n grits used to be a favorite and for the price they were underwhelming. Coating on the tomato stack was lack luster and why did you change your ranch? You had the best ranch! We made it a point to eat our first meal of vacation at your restaurant as we had label your shop our favorite. We won't be back. Not worth the money... read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - SHRIMP AND GRITS - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

We were visiting from out of town and looking for a great dinner spot. A Lowcountry Backyard delivered!!! We got to sit outside in a well shaded, fan cooled backyard area which was very pretty. As a treat - they had she crab bisque that night, which we enjoyed and was some of the best we ever had. My wife had the shrimp and grits and I had the seafood purloo, topped with flounder blackened. The food came quickly and was incredible! We saved room for the banana pudding. Our server made it - she even hand made the cookie at the bottom of the jar! I'd absolutely recommend this place! We'll be back read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - SEAFOOD PURLOO - blackened flounder - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Although it breaks my heart to write such a negative review for a place we've been going to for years and often recommended to friends visiting HH, after this evening's dinner I just don't see us ever going back to LC Backyard. I can't remember a time that we hadn't waited 30-60 minutes for dinner there because of its popularity and this evening was no different. The difference was the table they sat us at after waiting an hour and 10 minutes was empty the entire time we were waiting. Once seated, it was another 55 minutes from the time we ordered to the time our food came out; not exactly because our appetizers came out after 35 minutes after ordering but we had no utensils nor napkins and the waitstaff was nowhere to be found; starving, we resorted to eating the tomato stack & pimento cheese with our hands. Once our entrees finally arrived, the burger we ordered as medium was well done, the Shrimp and Grits were almost flavorless, and chicken gravy biscuit was one of the worst my adult son had ever had. It was also flavorless and the biscuit under the chicken never rose in the baking process and resembled a hard vanilla wafer. Although the waiter apologized at the end of the meal for the delays and quality of the food, offering the excuse of a lightning strike a few days earlier, this evening's experience has resulted in us taking this once favorite HH dining spot off our list for future visits. read more

Lowcountry Backyard was a fun surprise. It's tucked in a simple plaza but the outdoor seating had a great vibe. The service really stood out... multiple people stopped by our table to chat, and even other guests were in good spirits. Someone even asked how we liked the crab dip, which says a lot about the atmosphere. I had the shrimp and grits (the menu says 3rd best in the world... I can't vouch for the ranking but I liked them and finished with banana pudding. All the food had a little extra flare in the flavors, and it worked. Honestly though, the service is what made it. Just a really welcoming, easy place to enjoy a meal. read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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I heard good things about ALB, but I was nervous when I arrived: They don't have a bar, and singles usually don't get priority. Lucky for me I was seated quickly. Of course I ordered the sig shrimp & grits, but I also had the warm, blue crab dip for an app. The latter was full of crab, and went well w/ the pita bread. The dip did not go so well w/ the tortilla chips. I have had shrimp & grits in New Orleans, and I really enjoyed the dish. ALB's version comes w/ sausage, and is touted as #1 in SC, and #3 in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed ALB's version bc of the good amount of protein, and the creaminess of the grits. Their grits are the creamiest ones I have ever eaten. Regarding the ambiance, like the name sez, its like someone's backyard. Its super casual here, and the staff is chill. My waitress, Mary was super nice and gave me a great rec on the blue crab dip. Her sidekick Paige was also very nice. If you are looking for shrimp & grits, or other lowcountry food, ALB will not do you wrong. I felt fortunate enuf to get a seat. The line was super long when I left around 7:30 on a Thu night. read more

A Lowcountry Backyard - Warm blue crab dip ($14.95) awesome - Southern Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Fantastic spot in Hilton Head! We had a large party and were seated outside in the "backyard!" Live music playing in the background, lots of good people working here. Super friendly! The menu was great. My wife had the shrimp salad, I had the burger, the table got lots of apps including the crab dip! Everything was flavorful and filling. Can't go wrong coming here! read more

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We went on a week day night and the place was pretty dead, but we had seen it had good reviews. It took our one entree a hour and thirty minutes to come out. The food was ok, but not worth the steep bill. We did ask them to waive our cornbread as it had a scorch mark and was clinking against the plate. Everybody was very nice, but unfortunately we will not be going back. read more

If you go for lunch, get the Shrimp BLT Salad! Oh. My. Gosh. It's so incredibly delicious with homemade ranch, perfectly cooked shrimp and candied bacon with fresh corn and the most yummy fried green tomatoes. Basic ingredients expertly prepared. You won't be disappointed. The servers were super friendly and provided good service. It's a cute outdoor space under a giant umbrella. We really enjoyed our lunch here. read more

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