Fantastic just as the locals told us it would be! Food, service, atmosphere. Certainly recommend May River Grill as it was to us!

This is a GREAT big shout out to General Manager Adam, chef and staff. My mom has been sick and this past Saturday was right between my parents' birthdays, so I wanted to do something nice in their home. Having been to May River Grill and loved it (and I also know it's a favorite of theirs,) I thought I'd call and see if they'd be willing to deliver a nicely plated 3 course meal. They did that with aplomb!! Adam spent time with me to plan a menu... She crab soup, Osso buco for him, snapper for her, and chocolate raspberry mousse cake for birthday. It arrived beautifully plated ... On China!! And made their 80-something birthdays special. My only regret? That I couldn't be there to share with them... And eat that lovely food!! Thank you so much Adam, you guys outdid yourselves, and I'll make sure to stop by MRG next time we're down! read more

We got the special which was a red snapper with a crab cake baked into it, and it was delicious. It was served with vegetables and mashed potatoes and we ordered an extra side of asparagus (my mom and I split it), and it was the perfect portion! It was a little pricier than normal $$ restaurants, but totally worth it. My sister got the chocolate raspberry mousse cake because it was her birthday and we ordered the bananas foster as well for dessert and both were incredible. It's a small restaurant and doesn't look like it would produce the amazing food that it does!! Definitely a place worth visiting if you're from out of town and a place worth frequenting if you're a local!! read more

Excellent place in Bluffton. Small place, but excellent food. We had chicken rollatini, eggplant parmesan, duck and grouper special all were fantastic and everyone enjoyed their meal. Service was great and everyone was attentive. Would recommend this place to try when your in town read more

May River Grill - Front entrance - New American Near Me - Bluffton, South Carolina

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Constantly excellent! Great fish specials and attentive & professional staff. The only negative is that is is so popular that even with reservations, you might have to wait...it is well worth it! Love May River Grill! read more

What a jem of a place. We went on a weeknight in January for dinner thinking it would be empty. We barely got a table cause we didn't have reservations. Waiter was great. Very attentive. Food was delicious! Deviled crab appetizer - amazing! Small portion. Just 1 tiny stuffed crab, we could of eaten 10 cause was so yummy. She crab soup. Amazing! I'd come back for just the soup on a cold day. I had the stuffed shrimp which was amazing and flavorful. My husband had the duck which was made perfectly and full of flavor. The portions are large and yummy. It was a fantastic weeknight date night for my husband and I. We are happy we tried this place and we'll be back. read more

Food was Sublime! That's the only positive I have to offer. We had a 7pm reservation for 3. My 88 yr old mother was visiting her only grandson from Richmond Va for the first time in 18 months and we wanted a special evening. We arrived a bit early and were skirted by 6:55. We ordered drinks and appetizers quickly- escargot and mussels were heavenly. Ordered dinner by 7:30 and at 8:25 asked our waiter about our meal and he said " I've wondered where your food was". He checked and found out the ticket was never entered. Brief apology and told us the entree would be half off, finally received food at 8:45, too hot too eat, tasted it, excellent. We packaged it up and got our check. They did comp the entrees, as they should have, but they just didn't seem to care about us from the beginning. Very apathetic waiter. What a disappointment to g way to start this special Mother's Day weekend. read more

Always great food and service, would recommend calling ahead for a reservation because restaurant is small. Wait staff is knowledge friendly and great. Food is always great. read more

I had the pleasure of dining with a friend at The May River Grille for the time last evening. I have already recommended it to three of my friends. The food was superb. The menu and daily specials offer a variety of dishes for every taste. We dined on seafood and ate every delicious bite. The staff was friendly and helpful from the moment we entered the door. The ambience is welcoming and restful. I have long been wanting to eat at this restaurant and my only regret is that I didn't make the time to do it sooner. Don't make my mistake. Eat at this restaurant soon. You will not be disappointed. read more

WOW! I live right around the corner and never dined here. This place is AMAZING! Very inviting atmosphere when you walk in and greeted immediately. Had a party of 6 for Valentines Day and the house was pretty packed. The staff, especially Megan, our server were ON POINT! The food? I haven't had a better meal in a very long time! My Jack Daniels steak was off the charts as well as the shrimp appetizer I had. Of course, hanging with out friends, we all had to try each others entree's. They make a sauce for their chicken which tastes so good and goes so well with the chicken, I would get it every time I go! I give The ay River Grill 10 STARS! THANK YOU guys! read more

I like it here a lot! Everything on the menu is yummy! My only real complaint is that when they get busy, the service slows down a lot. The food is worth any wait you may have though so you should give it a try! read more

Wow! Very diverse menu, although we opted for the evenings specials. You won't be disappointed, service is perfect for the quality of food. Never had to wait for anything, yet not rushed out, perfect timing. Will return many more times. read more

I like to go here because of the great service and good food. But this girls night out was ruined by the owner coming over to my table to tell us he was disappointed that we were not satisfied with the way he prepared our meal. The owner continued to sit at our table get loud and flap his hand around. Maybe he was having a bad day but he surly ruined my night. #goodnightturnedbad. Experience too unpredictable! read more

I held an event here for work and from the staff to the decor to the food this place absolutely came through! It's hard to pick a spot to do an event when you're 3,000 miles away but through the whole process I felt at ease and like everything would be just fine. I sent our wines, they paired the menu and the chef did an incredible job. I'm so happy we discovered this little gem along the river in this random South Carolina town. I will definitely come back here someday. read more

Had the scallops and fresh oysters - they were local oysters and were huge and delicious as well as the right temperature for a fresh one. Loved the way they pack this restaurant with locals, and it's a homey feel inside. The waiter has worked there a long time and all the staff combined for a friendly experience. Delicious food is the bottom line, loved it. read more

I went here for lunch during a visit to the Lowcountry and I'd come back again. Great biscuits to start, the seafood was fresh if not a little masked in batter, and the mashed potatoes were garlicky and delicious. I'm told by by dining companions that the chicken pie was great but the Jumbalaya just so-so. My vote: stick with the seafood specialties! If they all live up to the servers' enthusiasm for them, they'll be worth it. read more

Well hot damn! This is a hidden gem. An extensive menu and superb service. From their take on she scrab soup to home made ranch dressing, ,they take every opportunity to shine! I had a veal porterhouse! Phenomenal. Unique and dynamic desserts. This place is worth the wait. You should make a reservation. I saw some hungry people sadly turned away without one. Also, there is bar seating which is unusual but nice for such a great place! read more

Pretty good food; ROTTEN SERVICE. Tables too close together, putting everyone right on top of each other. At lunch, it took almost 10 minutes for a waitress to acknowledge us and come to our table. It took another 45 minutes to get served, after we had given her our order. When we asked when we would get our order, the grumpy, snotty owner rudely informed us that each dish was "cooked to order"......as if that explained why our orders took so long!!!........and we knew that two other tables had already been served, even though their orders had been taken after ours. When our orders finally arrived, two of them were luke warm and clearly had been sitting for a while. Once we had finished eating, it took far too long for our server to notice us and bring the bill., even though the restaurant had practically emptied out. After paying the bill, when we tried to be complimentary of the food, we were again met with a a rude snort by the owner who turned up his nose and walked away. We live close to this place and are pretty easy-going, but there is no way we will ever go back. read more

We were looking for somewhere special for our anniversary. FIrst the positives: the interior is much nicer than the outside would lead you to believe and the extensive menu has a fantastic mix of seafood and meat options. Unfortunately, our experience was less than stellar. Service was mediocre and although courteous, seemed to always be in a rush. Water was not refreshed unless we flagged someone down. My husband asked for a glass of wine with dinner but wanted a cocktail to start. He told the server what he would like and she said she would ask the bartender what they could do. She returned with the wine, but no answer on the cocktail. Our order of a half dozen oysters came out with only 5. Overall, the food was hit or miss. Local oysters were very good, but the she crab soup tasted more like a chicken based soup. The pasta special of the day, a fra diavlo was very good - a very large portion of pasta done just right with a light but flavorful sauce and lots of seafood. The stuffed shrimp was not a hit. Crab stuffing was good, but more stuffing than crab on top of tiny butterflied shrimp. Served wtih cold, hard mashed potatoes and flavorless steamed veggies. Dessert was described as raspberry mousse cake. What it actually was was dry chocolate cake with a layer of mousse. Overall, next time we want to spend $125 on dinner we will choose some of the other great local restaurants. Oh, and don't be surprised when the bill arrives and there is a notice inside that informs you that they are adding a 3.5% sur charge if you want to use a credit card. read more

Had so many good choices for lunch loved it. Had the crepes and they were great. Portion size for lunch was perfect. Will be headed back for dinner. Service was excellent. Will most likely need a reservation as this place seems to be very popular. read more

We made it here for their "early bird" having not dined at the MRG for at least two years. We were a bit disappointed. First the good: Service was quite prompt but not too rushed. The ambient noise level was much improved over our last visits (not sure if they did something to effect the improvement or if there was less noise because we were sitting at the other end of the room from the last time). Everyone's dinner was tasty. Complaints: Crab cakes should have been labeled "filler cakes". I don't ever recall having crab cakes with less crab meat. Our party was not presented with a wine list. A glass of Wine was indicated as an early bird special for $4. One of our party ordered a Riesling. There was a $6 surprise when the bill was presented with a $10 charge. When questioned, they the got the wine list. We might try again in another two years. read more

My family lives in HH and this a place we come to whenever we are in town. Not only is the food exceptional but the staff is friendly and attentive. The hostess is the sweetest person you will ever encounter and after one meal at the restaurant she will treat you as if you are one of the family. The small restaurant gives a warm intimate feeling with a backdrop of high class eating. The food is not too fancy where you wonder what you are eating but it so unique and delicious that it just adds to the experience of this wonderful establishment. Dont forget to make a reservation and order dessert-its worth it!! read more

Simply the very best food I have had in decades. Loved everything about this place from the waitstaff, to the chefs to the incredible meals. I will assure them a life time patron to their place... Hated getting on the plane in Savanna only having one meal at May River Grill... YOU HAVE TO GO read more

We visit this restaurant several times a year while vacationing. I've never seen it anything but packed so they must be doing something right. Their menu is full of fresh seafood and turf options, but don't make your selection right away...the server has no less than a dozen off the menu specials which always entice me. Service is gracious, albeit a little slow. Parking can be an issue as well. However, we plan on keeping our tradition at May River Grill for many years to come. read more

Had dinner there on June 6 and it was great! Called late for a reservation for 6 and was thrilled when they could accomodate. Started with the escargo app and it was really good. Had the grouper special for dinner and again, wise choice! Nice piece of fish cooked perfectly. Everyone loved their dinner, we had a fantastic server, and ambiance was perfect. I think the only negative was the she crab soup. It was loaded with crab but too much chopped pepper and really just tasted like chicken base and pepper. But- that didn't over shadow our fantastic dinner one bit! Great place, we'll be back for sure! read more

Everything was wonderful and will go back.service was wonderful and friendly. The chef/owner a delight. Had walleye, veal porterhouse, fried green tomato, and mushrooms in puff pastry, each was presented beautifully and the flavors delicious. read more

The Early Bird Special is listed until 5:30. My parents arrived at 5:16, and they refused to give them the special, claiming that they no longer allow people to order the Early Bird after 5:15 because of "bad experiences." Well this was certainly a bad experience for us. Arguing over one minute is just ridiculous. Additionally, if the Early Bird cannot be ordered after 5:15, then the menu should not list it until 5:30. Also, despite asking if six people would be okay, the server gave my parents major attitude about trying to accommodate six. After that many problems, we left. Talk about rude, terrible customer service. read more

very good food but the place is pretty small and always crowded. Plus it's a little stuffy so not good for kids and a bit overpriced.

The May River Grill is a proponent of using local seafood and selections to keep their dishes fresh and inventive. The restaurant is open yet intimate and the staff very helpful and informative. Try it for a special dining experience. read more

Fantastic food, fantastic service. They are a little off the beaten track for tourists so only the locals are familiar. Amazing chopped salad, steaks, mussels, walleye, even chicken. You can't go wrong here. read more

I am officially addicted to this place, whenever we are in the area I HAVE to have my fix of the May River Grill, every time I go I swear I will try any one of the other wonderful things offered and when asked what I want, the Thai Chili Scored Flounder just come out without any prompting. Some day I hope to try another dish, I think. Mouth watering just thinking about it now. read more

A restaurant with a cult following. Our family goes every time we are in the area at least once. We know the chefs, waitresses, and the owners just from frequenting the place and they are fun to talk to and great people. Sit at the bar and call ahead- it gets packed because of how great of a place it is. Creative and varied menu, delicious food, local seafood. An all around great place. read more

Visited the restaurant Saturday night, 6/1/19, with two long time friends. I've eaten here before but will not come back anytime soon. Two of us ordered the mahi-mahi special and, in spite of it's $33.50 price, was the most bland mahi I've ever had. My friend poured salt and pepper on hers hoping to make it more palatable but we concurred it was a total waste of money. My May River Green salad ($7.50) had a wonderful dressing. When our waiter asked how the meals were, we did explain our experience. I was still hungry since I couldn't eat all of the fish, ordered a delicious raspberry mousse cake ($9.00), but overall, a disappointing evening for $50.00, plus tax and tip. read more

Great food and pricing. It's a nice small atmosphere with amazing service. The staff treats you well and is accommodating. Charlie always takes care of us when we are there. Definitely recommend! read more

LOVE Charlie, owner, chef, and creator! The specials are always great but the fried green tomatoes and the signature potato stix are such a treat. As 'locals' we love to come for lunch, quieter, and nice sized portions. read more

A great surprise, did not expect much by the looks of the kitchen but everything we ordered was really good. Wait staff was excellent.

Do NOT order the Walleye!! I'm from Key Largo and know my seafood. This restaurant is ok but they push the worst plates for specials. Walleye has 0 flavor and tastes like Gordon's Frozen fish sticks. Plenty of Hilton Head seafood restaurants to go to. I'd skip this old folks home menu read more

Very nice light food. I got a ceasar salad with fried oysters that was delicious.

Expensive, packed like sardines, no décor, slow kitchen and an angry screaming youngster the ENTIRE meal. Food so-so, a little greasy and over-cooked. The waiter was ok but told us there is nothing to do about child and monster family. There are too many other places to go. If you have to issue a BIG coupon to get folks to your restaurant, makes you wonder... Parking is slim, too read more

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover: What a great find - the Grill's facade is very unassuming, but you'll be amazed at what's inside! A small and cheerfully decorated restaurant, wonderful service (our Moroccan waitress was well versed on the menu and extremely helpful), an extensive menu, wonderful presentation and the best tasting meals we've had in a long time. The scallops I had were perfectly prepared, Jim had "the best tasting curry - ever," Linda had the tortellini with seafood - it would be hard to say which dish we liked the best. One of the previous reviewers gave May River Grill a 10 out of 10 ... I have to agree with that 100%. Don't drive by and decide not to stop ! read more