Great food, great entertainment and a friendly atmosphere. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip and we plan to visit again.

I patronized this establishment during the month of November service was fine however Tim Singleton who stated he was the owner was extremely aggressively rude yelling and screaming because he was asked to correct an overcharge from one of his staff, he proceed to point his finger etc as if his aggression was escalating. I told him that YELP is for real he proceeded to say he doesn't give a da** about yelp. DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS ESTABLISHMENT. Tim has a huge lack of respect I'm sure if I was a man he would not have behaved in that manner. My days of watching Dr Phil leads me to believe that he has mommy problems???? Is that the case???There are several other reviews that mention the unprofessionalism, aggression, yelling etc of Tim (if that is his real name) of this individual. what needs to be done to STOP THE MADNESS!!!! I know DO NOT GO THERE !!!!! Spend your $ at an establishment that respects you for what you bring to the business. DO NOT GO TO RUDY LEES!!!! Hey Fresh Vibes Band, please find someone else to play you are wonderful Tim will cost you your tips to say the least. I would rate as negative one star if possible. read more

Great place to go. Go when Target band is playing. They are fantastic. Food is great and service also. A terrific evening They have a cover charge so read the menu carefully . That shouldn't keep you from going read more

We stumbled on Ruby Lee's tonight (a Monday) and enjoyed great music and appetizers. Service, food and music were all top notch! We will be back! read more

Great food, live music, and a wonderful atmosphere. Would highly recommend to make reservations to ensure that you are able to get in. Very busy on weekends. I make sure we visit Ruby Lee's whenever we are in the area. read more

July 27, 2019: Our group of 13 had a confirmed reservation at 7 pm. It was booked online and then reconfirmed over the phone. We arrived early excited for an evening of live music and great food. The disappointment began immediately. Our reservation was suddenly missing. A man (owner?) told us there was no room in the very nice looking main dining room/bar area where the musicians were setting. Instead we were led back outside, across the entryway to a back room that smelled of smoke. We were seated at multiple, unset tables in a back room far from the music. The man also made several uncalled for remarks, argued that we couldn't smell smoke, and we were not given any menus. We sat for 15 minutes without anyone else even addressing us or even offering water. Displeased and once we could get the guy's attention, we agreed to move to the patio outside where the band would be playing (not sure we would have heard much with doors and windows closed). There was a large table ready outside but we were told that wasn't for us, we'd have to wait for another table to be created and set. A few of us were parked in random patio chairs, others had to stand, while a few of us headed inside to try and get something to drink. The same guy, now also the bartender (perhaps owner) was running around and was really rude. He'd made several uncalled for remarks to our group since we arrived (we're a really happy bunch normally) He took our drink order and then left the bar for tables. Definitely seemed short on staff for a busy summer Saturday night. We noticed no one had food on the tables (now 7:30 pm) and lots of unhappy faces. The bartender never returned, the table never got created so after another 15 minutes the group decided we'd had enough and left. A sad outcome for our last night on the island and especially for the birthday gal. We subsequently heard (unconfirmed) that the father/son team that originally owned the restaurant has split up. Perhaps that's why the north restaurant is now closed. Apparently the dad is now in Hampton, SC and the place is called GoVans. Perhaps we'll go there next time. Can't recommend this place! Total disappointment! read more

The place was great cozy small with great jazz. Was with a large group and most of our meals were cold and just not that good. However the shrimp and grits were tasty. Large parties in all at the Sam time made it tough for the staff to catch up. read more

Food was indeed delicious! Thank you for the best Fried Green Tomatoes!! Date night was fun, and the staff rocked!

Misled .... This restaurant has the potential to be A+. The decor and ambiance was nice; except: Too many tables. Luckily it wasn't crowded, but if it were, all could hear each other's conversation. The food was mixed in issues. The collard greens were good. The mac-n-cheese was horrible. It wasn't fresh. Clearly it had been sprinkled with shredded cheese and microwaved. The catfish was good, but for $19.95, two fillets would have been great. My guest had a grilled pork chop that was thick, but was not marinated; thus, it had a charred outside, but no flavor, except for the gamey taste. Attempted to order banana pudding, which the waitress said was not available and then she reneged; only to come back and say it wasn't available. Small apple martini cocktail and beer ... $77.23. Further, the menu online was different than the menu in person, it was more expensive and some items were not available. The waitress was apologetic and told us we were not the only ones complaining about this discrepancy and that the internet person was not handling the job too well. The menu had just been changed. Not my problem. The live band, if playing, is additional $7 per person. Luckily, we didn't have to pay, due to all that had happened. Needless to say I will not be returning to this location -- south -- and definitely not the north location. This experience was reminiscent of the now defunct "Sisters" soul food restaurant. Oh, yes, the water tasted like it came straight from the tap. It was heavy and not cold at all. A saggin waiter too. Go try it out; take a chance, I did and will not be returning. read more

This is our favorite restaurant on HHI. The live music with the excellent dinner provides a great evening of fun. You need to make a reservation. We like to be inside so we can hear the band. read more

The food and vibes are everything! An amazing place to come with awesome live music and soul food!

Awesome soul food in HHI, the service was great and they also have live music for a fee. I can't remember the name of my waitress but she was super nice and very comical. I started off with the lemon pepper wings which were simply delicious and perfectly seasoned. My son had the shrimp and grits which was good but I wasn't a fan of the grits. I had the oxtails over rice with greens and over all it was good with the exception of the rice being overcooked and the greens were just ok. I would skip the $6 chocolate pound cake on my next trip. read more

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Amazing time again at Ruby Lees! We are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and visit Hilton Head often. Ruby Lees is by far the best thing Hilton Head has to offers with night life! It has become our favorite place to bring friends and family to show them the best the island has to offer! We wish Pittsburgh had something like this, we would be there every weekend! read more

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Just to be fair, this place is a hidden gem. The atmosphere is warm, lively and welcoming. The live band/music adds nice touch to the restaurant. Let's dig into what literally blew our taste buds away. The appetizers consisted of fried okra and a cup of gumbo soup which was outstanding flavor wise. The okra was perfectly bread and fried just right. The gumbo soup carried a very consistent flavor but could have used a little bit more of shrimp. However, overall it was amazing. The main course was probably the one that sealed the deal. I ordered the oxtail stew with collars which literally was cooked just right. The oxtails literally just fell of the bone. The collards were flavorful and delightful. The spicy chicken salad my wife order was delicious. Overall a great place and the food is worth every penny. read more

Ruby Lee's - Oxtail - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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We had such a good time last night at Ruby Lee's. We ate gumbo and pork chops and red rice and it was all good but The Target Band really made the evening. They played, non stop, from seven to ten PM. Ruby Lee's is a black owned soul food restaurant and when I saw those white folks up on the bandstand, I said to myself, what is going on here? The band had soul and played the kinds of music that I love. A very eclectic mix. Thank you Ruby Lee's for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. read more

Ruby Lees lived up to the hype!!!! Ms Patty was our waitress and she was DYNAMIC!!!! We feasted on fried chicken, catfish,oysters with various sides. Collard greens, candied yams, Red rice and Mac n Cheese. The only disappointment was the Mac n Cheese which was dry! The drinks were off the chain!!!! We would come back for sure! The only reason I do not give 5 stars is the dessert portions are extremely small for the price! read more

Ruby Lee's - Fried chicken dinner - yummage on a plate - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

The service was great Patti was our waitress she's a true entertainer and very nice . We had the sea food combo oysters and catfish very good Mac n cheese kind of dry greens very good . My hubby had shrimp and oysters fries and Mac & cheese we enjoyed our service met the owner he was nice and friendly . read more

Ruby Lee's - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Great little place off the beaten path. The food was great. Generous portions of everything: wings, rice bowl, low country boil...our server, Tressa, was professional and attentive. The entertainment was good. There about 6-7 TVs in this place, so no matter where you sit you can see. The owner was there and came out and greeted everyone personally and even danced with a few guests. I would return. read more

Ruby Lee's - Low Country Boil, lemon pepper wings, Ruby spicy wings, red rice and sausage - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

I ordered Mac and cheese that was like cornbread. Dry, dry, dry. had a crispy top- quite strange- I'm from the south, and I've never had Mac and cheese that was so.......different (rolls eyes.) I pushed it to the side, I'll let the trash eat it. The catfish was good, brought me really small piece so I had to ask for them to replace it. The music and ambience is good. Prices are reasonable. Definitely nothing to gloat over, probably better spots around, but since I was a tourist I picked this spot due to time. Appreciate the owner's personable spirit, and how he's very hands on with the customers. He needs to find a new Mac and cheese recipe. read more

Wonderful atmosphere. My sister-in-law told us about it and I am so glad she did because you won't find in in the marketing booklets usually. My husband and I sat outside because the main dining room fills up quick. We were greeted by one of the owner's friends, who helps manage the place. He showed us to our table and checked on us during our meal. The food service was slow, but it was understandable because of the crowd. Loved the live music and dancing. We need a restaurant like this in Charleston. The servers were friendly and the food was good. If you are seated in the main dining area, there is a $7.00 surcharge for the band which was interesting. A novel idea actually, but I don't know if they should charge it per person. That can be steep fee in a large party, if one person is covering the check. I will definitely go back the next time I visit Hilton Head. read more

Leaning towards 3.5 but service was so super friendly, it's taking them to a 4. Food = I had the fried chicken + mac + greens. Chicken and greens were delicious. Mac and cheese was dry and not much flavor to it at all. Disappointed in that. My sister and mom both had the catfish and they said it was good. Dad tore up the shrimp and grits so that's a great sign. Service = Excellent! Our waitress was very hospitable and not in an overbearing way. Very conversational to the point where it felt like we've known her. Value = meh, it's pretty traditional soul food. Given what's being served up and the amount you get, I think the food is absolutely overpriced. Most entrees are about $16-19. For those prices, I'm expecting elevated quality, the best mac and cheese, or something to justify those added dollars. Outside of great service, all of that was missing. Return? Not sure. Ton of great soul food in and around the Savannah/Hilton Head area at half the price. The music may be worth returning for (they weren't playing around 6-7pm, suspect that's much later on a Saturday). I'm not sure I'd make that drive but would keep them in mind if I'm back in HH. read more

We decided on this place after reading some reviews of Dye's; seemed like a hassle as you need to make reservations at Dye's. Despite a previous reviewer's "scary" location comment, it's totally fine. We went there for lunch on a Tuesday. We ordered the fried okra appetizer. It took a bit for the order to come out as everything is made to order but was worth it; very tasty. I had the grilled pork chop, mac & cheese, and corn on the cob. The chop was well seasoned and juicy. The m&c was traditional, Southern style baked. My spouse had the fried chicken breast, collards, and m&c. The breast was huge. I tried the collards and they were perfect. If we're back on HHI, we'll definitely try Ruby Lee's again. read more

Ruby Lee's - Grilled chop, mac & cheese, and corn on the cob. - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Called them two-weeks ago and made a reservation for today. They called us 3hrs before our reservation time only to tell us it's cancelled and they've been closed for about two-weeks. This is the second time they've cancelled on us. Why would you wait until the day of to call someone and say that? Horrible! Had high hopes for this place but not anymore. read more

Wonderful atmosphere. Great entertainment. The service could be quicker but the entertainment and delicious food make up for it. The crab balls are scrumptious. We had a awesome time. I will definitely go back and I recommend it to everyone. Not for kids. read more

Wonderful night last evening at RL's --Wild Horse. The place was jammed, but they honored our reservation, and all went well. The food right on target as the menu billed. The entertainment by the band Target was a good deal of fun, and the little dive bar and restaurant was a first-rate great evening. Madison our table attendant worked on a very stressed holiday crowd, with demanding customers, and she handled it with grace and professionalism. Though I am an out of towner my party was locals. Music, food, little club-diner ambiance; I'm a fan. Thank you all for a good night out. And it was a good value too. read more

Wow! We had the Ruby wings and they are amazing! I don't think I tasted all the spice and flavor the first bite because the second bite made me want to order more. My wife and I had to fight over the last wing. Haha I have her the bigger bite because I was a gentleman though. Before we were done with our appetizers we received our dinner which was the fried catfish. Not trying to mimic the colonel but it was finger licking good. It's hard nowadays to find a proper flour based breading with enough salt. Miss Ruby Lee sure does know what she's doing. The MAC and cheese was so cheesy & filled with real cheese vs imitation (like velveeta). The atmosphere is great & I can't wait for another vacation to Hilton Head. All in all I wish Miss Ruby Lee was my Grandmother. Lol P.S. The only downfall is that I can't come earlier in the day. They open at 5 so I will just cry my way back home thinking of the good eating. read more

Exceptional. Amazing. Awesome. All words to describe the great time we had at Ruby Lee's. The sides were really tasty. The chicken wings (breaded) we seasoned very well. Go for the food but but but the live music will have you moving in your seat. I soon realized I was eating, snapping, clapping, smiling, dancing, and having a really good time. The band was called Stee and The Ear Candy Band, a great family band that covered all genres of music perfectly. We laughed, talked, ate, and danced the night away! What a fun time at Ruby Lee's North!! Note: there is a cover charge ($7) for the live band BUT it's totally worth it!! read more

Easily the best food we had during our stay. We're from Oregon and wanted some local fair. From the outside the place does not look like much but on the inside it is very warm and inviting. We were warmly greeted by the owner. I took his advice on what to have for dinner and was not disappointed. People in the Northwest claim to have the best crabcakes but this place by far exceeded my expectations. The rest of our food was excellent and I could not get enough of the collard greens. My wife had the grits and shrimp and could not say enough about the sauce. I feel we had a true southern experience here. We are staying at the resort and feel this place provided better food. Totally worth it! read more

I know so many reviewers love this place, but I really need to say that I was greatly disappointed. Perhaps we were there on an off day. I hope so, but doubt I would spend the money to find out. The bill adds up quite quickly here. When we arrived there was one young lady (absolutely stunning) moving tables and chairs around to set up for the night. We were the only customers at that point and we were not made to feel welcome. Other customers arrived and she still seemed unenthusiastic. While I believe that their food is homemade... I was quite shocked at how it came out. I come from a Southern family and have grown up with Southern food my entire life. She Crab Soup: This tasted like it was thickened with cornstarch to the point that I did not really "taste" a seafood flavor in the broth. The fried okra seemed just like the typical fried okra served in most restaurants. I do not usually order it, because I prefer a hand coated okra fried in a skillet, not a deep frier. My husband had the fried chicken breast with corn on the cob, greens and french fries (instead of rice). I'm sorry but it was average, too. The customers at the table next to us got the fried chicken plate (bone in) and it was not cooked through; it literally was raw in the center. They wound up just leaving. So maybe, in light of all the other reviews, maybe we were there on an off day. But I just feel that I need to put this out there so that others can know what they MIGHT get. read more

Wow, what a surprise! We found a coupon, looked it up and drove over. We were a little unsure because of the location but TOTALLY blown away by the food and service. 2 thumbs up! Don't forget the Mac and Cheese. Its heavenly. Oh, and the Pecan Pie, the collard greens, the shrimp and grits and the......... read more

Ruby Lee's - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

After an evening of kayaking, we worked up quite a hunger. Being pretty late in the vacation season most places were closed since it was after 9pm. So we looked to Yelp, and boy did it deliver. From the second we walked in we knew it would be a good time. Definitely an older crowd, but don't mistake me, they were getting DOWN! The live music was a treat and it was fantastic. Earl on the saxophone was killing it. It was loud, but super fun. I was definitely grooving. But let's get to what's important--the food!! Anna was our server and she as super sweet, even offered to show me how to dance the Wobble Walk lmao!! We both ordered the fried chicken (dark meat) with Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes. Let me tell you, the fried chicken was fantastic--so juicy and seasoned nicely. The Mac and cheese was a little average, which was a little disappointing but the sweet potatoes made up for it, drenched in butter and deliciousness!! Hands down, this is a place for locals, but don't let that deter you! Everyone was so friendly and the place was a blast! Definitely go here!! read more

Never order the Low Country Broil..... It's not flavored, broiled, and the potato comes baked on the side with butter..... LOL! The drinks are watered down and staff is rude. The manger was walking around asking customer how was the food. He us and we told him we were NOT satisfied. He told us if we didn't like it we could leave. I will stick to the other restaurants on the island, I never been to a place and been over charged and forced to pay $90 for some crap and horrible service. The only fee worth paying is the $7 music fee per person. First and last time here!!! BEWARE! read more

Ruby Lee's - Owner being rude to us, since we were unhappy with the food. - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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This was a rare find! Arriving on Hilton Head Island on a Sunday evening, most places are closed or are too frou-frou. Yelp to the rescue! My bestie and I were able to find a soul food place that was open. This place was completely unexpected. We were expecting a hole-in-the-wall place, but were pleasantly surprised. Ruby Lee's is laid-back and seems to be a popular locals' place where people come to watch Sunday night football at the bar, but there's also delicious southern food available. I ordered the oxtail stew with collard greens, but also with an additional side of mac n cheese. The oxtail was fall-off-the-bone good with so much good flavor that seeps on to the rice. The stew, surprisingly, doesn't drown the rice and really compliments it well with the collard greens. Honestly, in the past, I gave collard greens a try and never liked them, but really, Ruby Lee's has changed my mind with the way they cook theirs. Now if only I can find a place in ATL that serves them this way. I also had a slice of the sweet potato pecan pie. Delicious! This would be perfect with ice cream or even better with some black coffee as it is so sweet, but in a good way. I'm seriously considering bringing a whole pie home at the end of my trip or at least trying to replicate this at home. Service was friendly and attentive. Our waitress took a little more time because she was also bartending, but overall, it was a great experience. It's a bit off the island away from the "tourist trap" restaurants, but worth it. There's no other place in the area or on the island that serves food like this. read more

Well, what can I say....VERY GOOD soul food. However it's extremely packed in there. They are always booked. Limited seating & when you are seated you literally side by side with the tables next to you or around you. They also add a charge for the entertainment which we KNEW NOTHING about! The entertainment is usually a jazz band. This place is cool but designed for an older crowd. Don't think I would dine in again but I would definitely get it to go! My favs? The Collard greens & her wonderful wonderful fried wings in the Ruby's sauce! You gotta try it! read more

Ruby Lee's - Super ready to eat. Got here before the crowd! - Soul Food Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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The hospitality wasn't there, the waitress served someone else our green fried tomatoes, even though we were seated 30 minutes before them. On top that they charged an $8.00 fee for a band that cannot play. read more

19 reviews and they're all five stars, I have never seen that before. The lot was so jammed (taken as a very good sign) we had to park far away but when we poked our heads inside at lunch time the place was almost empty? Yikes! Of course there was nothing to worry about as we were quickly greeted by a very friendly waitress. I ordered fried chicken steak, collard greens, baked beans and rice. They were all lightly spiced if all (talk about confidence in your ingredients) and yes it was perfect. The day will surely come when someone, likely with an axe to grind, will break the wondrous five star streak. Don't listen to them. read more

I chose this place based on Yelp reviews and let me say...it did not disappoint! The music was fantastic. They have a live band that plays music both old school and current favorites so a little bit for everyone. There is a cover charge of $6 but that was well worth it. They even dedicated a song for someone that was there celebrating their anniversary. You can even dance if you choose to. The food was GREAT! I ordered the oxtail with collard greens. The greens were good and the oxtail was soooo sooo tasty. A friend of mines had the fried chicken dish and stated it was good but nothing to brag about. I stayed until they closed even though we had finished our food we just wanted to enjoy the music. It was a wonderful experience. read more

Very enjoyable. The owner is very nice and was busting his butt off when we were there. The music was fun ad the food was delicious! It is pricey, but worth it. I'd recomend it for a good date read more

This restaurant has a lot going for it. Locally owned, and seems to be popular with the locals. It is sort of a strange location, but not "scary". Live music was great and staff was friendly. So why three stars? The biggest reason is we felt the food was very expensive for what you received. We ordered two cokes, one order of wings, two fried chicken meals, an oxtail soup, and a kids meal. After we were charged a "music fee", our total was $100. It's not that the food wasn't good, it was. We just felt it was a bit overpriced. Not a deal breaker, but just be aware. read more

I really want to give this place 3.5 stars PROS - The food was over all good. The live music act was good and interacted with the audience. Atmosphere was positive. Large TVs so you can watch the latest sports game on live. Bathrooms were clean. NEGATIVES - food took way too long to come out, no refill of drinks, unexpected cover charge for band, drinks served in a plastic picnic cup, dance floor is tiny. Tips - you will need to make reservations, order Soul food at a Soul Food establishment. Stay away from crab cakes if you are from the Northeast. Stick with the collards, yams, mac and cheese and fried Chicken wings and catfish. read more