Popularity can be a double-edged sword.
For 32 years, Skillets has enjoyed well-deserved popularity based on its incredible menu of homestyle favorites. The eggs, pancakes, crepes, omelets, and famous skillets of their breakfast menu. The handhelds, salads, and seafood of their lunch menu. The genuine sense of family hospitality that Amie Baima and her staff have cultivated. It all combines to create a restaurant experience that islanders have made their own.
Crab Stuffed Flounder
You might notice there is one very important meal we haven’t mentioned yet.
“Everyone thinks of us for breakfast and lunch,” Baima said. “But other than Sunday’s Prime Rib Night, which is incredibly popular, most people don’t even realize we serve dinner.”
Sirloin Steak
If what she says is true, we as a community have been sleeping on one of the island’s hidden gems. The same mouth-watering flavors that have solidified the breakfast and lunch menus as island institutions are on dazzling display in the dinner menu, which has been infused with fresh new flavors and a daring new perspective by prodigal chef Kemar Linton. A native of Jamaica, he knew the menu inside and out before taking on the job – and he is wasting no time flexing his creative muscles.
“He has been around. He was with us before and now he’s back in the Skillets family,” Baima said. “It’s amazing how he does it now. It’s a new approach to everyone’s favorites.”
Seafood Newburg
As an example, consider what Linton has done with the stuffed flounder, adding dramatic height to the presentation and incorporating asparagus and Brussels sprouts into the vegetable medley for a vibrant pop of color.
“That’s one of the reasons he has been such a great addition, and one of the reasons we work so well together,” Baima said. “A lot of people eat with their eyes and I’m one of them.”
It’s not just visual flair. There’s a thoughtfulness in the way ingredients are combined, a layering of flavors that is both bold and balanced. Whether it’s the hint of citrus brightening a seafood dish or the gentle heat in a jerk-inspired glaze, Linton is letting each plate tell a story.
Turkey Club Sandwich
It’s a subtle transition for a tried-and-true menu that has made the Skillets dinner experience one of the island’s true sleepers. The magic that weaves its way through the main menu’s seafood and Southern fare promises a fantastic experience to younger diners as well.
“I think Hilton Head Island is becoming even more family-oriented than ever, so we have a very large kids’ menu,” Baima said.
Key Lime Pie
It’s a rarity for a white-linen type of restaurant to even welcome kids, much less offer them what Skillets can. Discerning young diners can sample the 10-ounce ribeye, or dig in for a gourmet spin on the comfort classics, from hot dogs and hamburgers to shrimp. Parents know that kids can be impossible to please, so Skillets offers the classic emergency meal for picky eaters: Kraft Mac & Cheese. “It’s the stuff we all grew up with. Who doesn’t like a good box of Mac & Cheese?”
Grownups and kids aren’t the only diners who get the gourmet experience, though. With their full menu of Lucky Dog favorites like Perfect Pooch Pasta and Tail-wagging Turkey, four-legged gourmands can enjoy the same impeccable dining as their pet parents. “Lucky Dog is a company that started here on Hilton Head, and it’s basically human food,” Baima said. “Some of those dogs are eating better than we are!”
House Made Apple Cobbler with a side of ice cream and fresh coffee
However, those humans who have discovered the dinner experience at Skillets definitely have the edge. Whether it’s the weeknight menu or the famous Sunday Prime Rib Night, Skillets is definitely more than just lunch and breakfast.
“People might think it’s breakfast food for dinner, but it’s so much more than that. We have outstandingly fresh seafood, and I always use local shrimp,” Baima said. “I’ve had a guy coming in two or three times a week for the past 12 years. That’s just how we do it.”
Jambalaya
The seafood is local, the lineup of craft beer and spirits from Burnt Church Distillery behind the bar are all local, and the vibe is decidedly local. But that’s what you would expect from a restaurant that has been family run since Day One. “I still have my dad in here doing my bookkeeping, and my son has been my IT department since he graduated three years ago,” Baima said. “Plus, he helps me out in the kitchen so I can be in the front of the house. It’s really cool having the entire family here.”
Philly Cheesesteak
It’s just as cool as having your whole family here – kids, parents, and pets – for a dinner experience that proves Skillets is an island favorite no matter the meal.
Crabcakes with Rice and Asparagus
Skillets is located in Coligny Plaza. Call ahead at (843) 785-3131 or visit skilletscafe.com to check out the full menu.
Braised Seafood with Rice and Collard Greens
