Recommended by a local. Very good- elevated texmex. Loved their ceviche. My shrimp tacos had perfectly cooked shrimp and an excellent sauce. Hubby had roast chicken, boys had a ginormous burrito and chimichanga. Another restaurant where it was a bit warm, that was only downside. Glad they take online reservations- is so convenient. It's an interesting cuisine to offer and they did it well. Recommend! read more

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Great service, rooftop is an awesome place to eat if there is food weather. Food was good. The corn soup was top five soups in my life. Robust flavors, creative presentation - such an awesome dish. Chorizo enchiladas were ok - would rather have a blend of beef with a bit of chorizo added for flavor. All other dishes were good. Desserts were good - very rich. Definitely will go back for the soup! read more

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Good restaurant. Recommend reservations- this place was hopping on a Thursday night. We arrived 30 minutes early for our 7pm reservation but were seated promptly. All of the food we ordered was delicious - with the exception of appetizers- Salsa- one step from chopped tomatoes-had zero spice ( we asked if they had anything spicier- but our waitress said no- no one ordered it- so they stopped making it. )The queso was also flavorless. The chicken quesadilla was good but really tiny. $14 margarita was way too sweet- but a shot of lime juice fixed it. $5 beer was a good deal. All the other food was really good. Service was a bit slow- 2.5 hours for 6 people- they need more staff. Would go back again and give them a tryout read more

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Great Mexican spot in Hilton Head. People are lined up when it opens and that speaks volumes. Prices are fair and service is good. Who could ask for more? read more

Everything went amazing! The food was prepared fresh, hot and presented beautifully. Love the New Mexico based interior thru out with its great decor! We thoroughly enjoyed the Painted Desert soup and the Sopa Azteca Soup, Chicken Quesadilla and a chimichanga! Our service was impeccable. A must try restaurant while at Hilton Head Island. read more

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We had the Chimichanga which was great. The appetizers were great egg rolls and chips. The service was efficient, polite, and fast. Excellent place for a sit down dinner. The food is served hot on a heated plate. read more

Excellent service, delicious food and presentation also artistic decor! Reservations recommended. We walked in around 5pm and they were able to seat us right away. It filled up quickly! read more

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What a delightful lunch we had at the Santa Fe Cafe! I know their rooftop is typically what gets the most attention, but I loved the lunchtime quesadilla, soup, and salad. Our server was delightful and lunchtime ambiance was busy without being overstimulating. We will be back! read more

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10/10. Definitely recommend. Delicious food, perfectly cooked. Perfectly seasoned/sauced. Do not sleep on this place read more

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A bit of a mixed bag. We were seated right away for Saturday night dinner reservation. We ordered queso fundido for an appetizer. Typically, in my experience, it's served as more of a runny cheese dip with chorizo and chips. This was pretty expensive for an appetizer ($17), and not quite what I was used to. The cheese seemed to have at least some cheddar in it and wasn't very runny. It was also served with four basic tortillas that seemed like they came out of the bag from Mission or Old El Paso. Not a good start. Drinks weren't much better. Margaritas were about what I expected price wise (~$15), but pretty small, weak, and watered down with ice. Thankfully, the entrees were a little better. The Carne Asada burrito is great-- and I mean, really good-- but again pricey (around $30). My partner had the filet mignon fajitas, but they seemed pretty average. They were not impressed. read more

Love the blackened red fish! My husband practically inhaled his pork chop, it was so tender and well seasoned. The service was friendly, and seemed a little short handed on a Saturday night. But it was pleasant and we were still out in about an hour and a half. Fun vibe and interesting art work to boot! read more

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Had lunch 2 xs at new location. The staff couldn't be nicer or accommodating. Had lunch special and all was good. read more

Always excellent food and service. Been coming here for years never disappoints. Highly recommended

We had been trying to get here - finally made it! Such good Mexican food. I had the special - chicken quesadilla, Santa Fe salad and an amazing painted soup! Wayne had a phenomenal quesadilla made with Birria, not a meat prep we were familiar with but it was great! Mickey had a beef burrito. We started - of course - with guac and salsa served with great warm and salty tortilla chips. All said it was worth the wait - our server, Rachel was great. read more

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This restaurant has become a 1st night staple for our family. The food is the star of the show and it's conveniently located to Palmetto Dunes. I had the Filet Mignon and Shrimp Enchilada w/ mashed potatoes and mixed veggies. The steak was perfectly medium rare and was seasoned with some sort of southwest seasoning, but it was light and not overwhelming, making it perfect! The shrimp Enchilada was fantastic as always, with an outstanding Enchilada sauce. Truly outstanding. My father in law had the shrimp enchiladas as an entree and it was fantastic (sauce on the side) and my mother in law had the chicken fajitas, which she said were excellent! Love this little gem we found, definitely a must try! read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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There were no reservations available, so we opted to just walk in to see if they could squeeze the two of us in. Fortunately. there was space available at the Chef's Counter where we could be served and watch the chef prepare the entrees. Dinner with a show! We ordered our drinks, and then enjoyed watching the massive burritos being rolled, and gorgeous fish entrees being prepared. We attempted to have friendly talk with the chef, but he was seemingly uninterested in small talk. A bit put off by that, we just enjoyed watching the easy flow of their kitchen and the care they put into their food. I wasn't hungry for a huge entree so ordered a shrimp cocktail, which features grilled chipotle shrimp and was spicy and fabulous, and the Santa Fe Salad, which was also very fresh and tasty. Hub ordered the salmon, which was served on a bed of rice and a mélange of fresh veggies, and topped with a creamy sauce. We were both fully stuffed by the end of the meal, so we chose not to order dessert (but afterwards wished we had taken some with us!) Overall, the experience was very nice, and we will be sure to make reservations ahead of time the next time we're in HHI. read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Salmon entree - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Food was great as always (we're longtime fans) - but the waitress brought us the bill while 2 people were only 1/2 way through eating. They felt rushed and that it was rude... and we were 1 or only maybe 4 tables taken in the entire restaurant. It was empty at 7:30p, so they weren't pressed for the table space. We still love it and will be back - the staff just needs some training. read more

My wife and I have had Santa Fe on our list for quite some time. We arrived early with a reservation on Resy and was seated with our 2 friends on the rooftop. Taylor was our waitress and did a great job with food and beverages. The rooftop area can probably seat up to 50 people. They have their own bar and also gas heaters for cooler weather. There was a solo guitarist providing instrumental music during dining providing for the perfect ambiance. We started with Quesa with tortilla chips which come with salsa as well. We all had margaritas which is what they're famous for. The Lux Spicy Margarita is a "skinny" type, but had a nice subtle heat to it. I then went to the Cadillac which is very tasty with the extra shot of Grand Marnier added. For dinner, I had the stuffed portabello which has 2 large portabello mushroom caps stuffed with cheese and a side of Spanish rice along with beans. My wife had the Burrito with beans and cheese which was enough for 2 meals. We ended up taking half back home. It was tasty and quite filling. read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Stuffed Portabella - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Met here for early dinner prior to a comedy show--make reservations! The bar area was humming and patrons continued arriving during our stay. It had been many years since first eating here and I highly recommend the eclectic Southwestern-inspired menu. Our server was Tommy, and he was quite the comedic character. "Everything's great here but the service". I had the grilled quail, which was delicious! I especially loved the vegetable medley. Friends had the chimichangas, roasted pork, and the non-adventurous eater among us had a cheese quesadilla as an entree. There were two minor disappointments for me. First, I wasn't drinking alcohol, so I opted for their margarita-esque mocktail. It WAS delicious, but $13! Unaware of the price, but assuming it to be in the $6-8 range, I had a second. When the bill came, I was surprised--the same price as the house marg WITH booze! $26 in mocktails is not the kind of upsell I appreciate--put the price on the menu! Second disappointment was the unavailability of coconut ice cream or the Double Trouble cake. We made do with other choices. I very much enjoyed the crispy, dense churros. Again, the food is excellent--can't wait to try the painted desert soup next time. I hear it's a work of art. read more

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6 Stars‼ Hello to all visitors of Hilton Head, my wife and I had a great visit here to this restaurant. We showed up, and the owner and the staff made sure we were taken care of. I wasn't aware that we needed reservation. So we were getting ready to leave and the owner provided us with a table, and great things continued from that moment on‼ Our waitress Isabella recommended me fish tacos which were splendid by the way. Also the coconut ice cream .... I can't say enough good things about it. The only hang up I had and this hangup goes for the rest of Hilton Head is the signage, it's hard to see from the road. It's not Santa Fe's fault for that. 6 Star Restaurant. And I'll make a reservation next time so I don't miss out one this gem of a restaurant.‼ read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Ice cream with Churros - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Made reservations for a dinner here while in town! Despite it being the "off-season" this restaurant was still fairly busy! With the reservation we were sat immediately and our waitress was accommodating. The food was delicious except that the beans were bland and hard - definitely undercooked. Inside was a fun energetic Santa Fe vibe. read more

Santa Fe Cafe has been open for +20 years and, while it'd been a while since I last dined there, it was great. We started with the guacamole and chips which were listed as "MP" (ended up being $13 which was reasonable); the guac was a little mild for my liking and served cold, so next time I would probably get something else. Drinks were just ok. Nonetheless, we were all super happy with our Mexican Favorite main courses so still getting a 4-star review: Beef Burrito for my dad, the Outrageous Chimichanga for my husband, and I had the Santa Fe Plato Combination (chile relleno, corn tamale, and a mushroom enchilada). All three entrees were super saucy and flavorful! Definity get yourself a reservation (on Resy) and dine here immediately! read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Beef Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

place to go order for a couple of tacos and a combination plate. The food was hot, very generous and came with a large bag of chips and salsa. Food quality was very good although a tad bit salty would definitely come again. read more

Great food! Great service! We were a large party and the team at Santa Fe delivered hot, fresh meal with pitchers or margaritas and delicious homemade salsa while we waited for our entrees. read more

We went there twice, once for lunch and had margaritas and nachos and it was so good we decided to do a dinner there....big mistake. After being seated and placing our order for a burrito and chicken fajitas, dinner shows up 45 minutes later, cold and doesn't taste good. I have never seen fajitas that wasn't served on a skillet but this place served slice chicken on a plate...not good. We simply asked for our bill to leave. The waitress was good enough not to charge us for the dinners which I appreciate but I won't be going back. read more

Another great meal at Santa Fe cafe. The food is amazing; staff friendly, and owner engaged right there to meet the customers. Do not sleep on their margaritas!!! Lunch special is a locals best kept secret. The chimichanga changed my life. Support SFC! read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Chino - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Everyone enjoyed their meals. I thought that the food was good but not outstanding. Our waitress was excellent. The only real negative is that we were seated in the main dining area which was very loud, in large part due to a table behind. read more

What a disappointment. We've eaten here before but this is the last time. Ordered chicken fajitas and got a roasted tiny airline chicken breast with a few overcooked vegetables. Food was lukewarm at best. $29 what a rip off! Service was spotty and exceptionally slow. read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Roasted airline chicken that was thrown on a grill and sold as grilled chicken - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Santa Fe has a bright and inviting ambiance. When the weather is nice, the upstairs bar is a lot of fun. The food is always fresh and cooked to perfection. The Painted Soup is a must have. Beth is a wonderful server as well as bartender. She always has a smile on her face and is very attentive. Also, want to shoutout to Scott who is also an excellent bartender and very entertaining. We live in Hilton Head several months out of the year and have made this one of our weekly lunch or dinner venues. read more

Our group of six descended on the outdoor cantina following a downpour. The staff graciously seated us outdoors but under cover much to our satisfaction. We enjoyed appetizers of chips, guacamole, and queso. Among our entrées we had fish and shrimp tacos, crab cakes and chili relleno all in terrific southwestern style. Our server, Sam, was so much fun. She provided great service, engaged us in conversation and shared her story. All making our dinner even more enjoyable. We've visited many times and this visit did not disappoint. read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

The café's colorful décor and cozy atmosphere make it a place you'll want to linger. It's casual, comfortable, and full of Southwestern charm. .Every dish we tried was phenomenal, but the Painted Desert Soup is an absolute masterpiece. Not only is it visually stunning with vibrant swirls of roasted red pepper and corn soup, but it's also incredibly delicious--rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. The green chili stew, enchiladas, and Navajo tacos are equally amazing. The staff are friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about creating a wonderful experience for every guest. They're happy to make recommendations. Santa Fe Café combines incredible food, a welcoming environment, and top-notch service to deliver a 5-star dining experience. read more

For some reason, it took me 12 years living on Hilton Head to go here. After living in Dallas, it was challenging to think of southwest cuisine as high end when you are used to it being a staple. It did live up to its hype though. The food was delicious and imaginative. I tried the combo and my boyfriend had the red fish -fish of the day. I went there craving tamales. I've not found tamales anywhere that live up to the restaurants in Texas. The tamale was fresh but no filling, good but didn't feed my craving. The goat cheese chile relleno was soo so good. We sat upstairs outside. Great atmosphere, heaters and fireplace for off season enjoyment. The margaritas were excellent as well. House made mix, love that it had some orange flavor. read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Your kitchen guys tried to kill my mom. She has a severe gluten allergy and ordered an enchilada she was told had a corn tortilla. It came out with a flour tortilla, which she obviously can't have. The server takes it back for them to "remake" and all the cooks did was replace the tortilla and put the dish on a new plate. If you have any kind of food allergy, no matter how mild/severe, don't trust this place. read more

Amazing food and service! Ambience also amazing! Portions are huge! One of the best meals on our vacation!

This is my favorite restaurant on the island of Hilton Head. The portions are large, definitely shareable for entrées which actually makes this a very economical restaurant to visit. The food is excellent! I specifically recommend the pork tenderloin or the fillet and shrimp enchilada combo. read more

Upper tier Hilton Head dining experience We are not interested in Tex Mex cuisine while visiting Hilton Head; we frequent the South West for this experience Santa Fe Cafe would be a welcome restaurant addition to Santa Fe and the South West Santa Fe Cafe is a handsome, romantic experience. We enjoy both rooftop and main level dining Menu offers a variety of SW items; however, it is the steaks and seafood which attracts our visits Developed SW ambience, and servers are at professional level; we enjoy both presentation and preparation of our dinners Caveat: Do make reservations. We visit Hilton Head 4-5 weeks annually, and enjoy upscale dining read more

My wife and I went for Valentine's Day. Very nice places as they take reservations. I had the bone in ribeye which was excellent. My wife had a crabcakes also very very good. I would highly recommend this restaurant. This is coming from a local. read more

Santa Fe Cafe - Bone in ribeye - Mexican Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Have the painted desert soup! A visual delight, and delicious. It's a popular spot but the service was attentive and professional. Nice decor, friendly people, fair pricing, tasty food. I'd def go back. read more

I had a friend in town who loves Mexican food. I had driven by this place and seen many a picture of the gorgeous painted desert soup, and I had never tried it, so we brought our girl group over here. We were all thirsty and ordered an assortment of margaritas. I got the peach flavored one, it was pretty good! Some of us got appetizers, I got the Caesar salad and my friend got the desert painted soup. The Caesar was okay, it tasted kind of fishy as if the dressing wasn't emulsified well-enough, and there was a stray anchovy. The desert soup is as tasty as it is pretty, thank you to my friend for letting me try it! For my entree I wanted to venture out and I got the quail. I hadn't seen any reviews or photos on it, but I was excited. It was really good, really nicely made and I liked the cornbread stuffing in it. Overall it was a fun experience. The restaurant is really big, having several levels, with nice Tex-Mex type decor. I would recommend! read more

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My DH and I stopped in for Happy Hour. We ordered all 4 apps on the menu (nachos, queso fundido, oysters and chicken quesadillas). I ordered a white sangria and my DH ordered a Sam Adams. HH is only served at the bar so seats were limited. We unfortunately grabbed the last remaining seats that had no backs. So I recommend you get here early (open at 5pm) for prime seats. We were offered the bar upstairs but it was cool and drizzling so we opted inside. The bar tender was prompt, friendly and very attentive. The food came out quickly. The oysters were delicious and our favorite was the quesadilla. The fundido solidified and was difficult to eat. The nachos were good with plenty of sour cream and guacamole. Overall it was a great dinner option and we would recommend. Getting all 4 HH apps was too much cheese and we would recommend to mix it up some. I would give it 4.5 and only knock off some due to the fundido. read more