As seen in The Island Packet, 9/2/09
Eatery of the Week: Skillets Says: Why wait until Sunday for brunch?
By Stacey Studley Collins
Published Wednesday, September 2, 2009
With summer coming to a close, visitors and locals alike can look forward to a cooler, quieter island. It’s time to enjoy the solitude of morning strolls and leisurely perusing the paper over a delectable brunch. That brings to mind Coligny’s landmark breakfast spot, Skillets Grill & Cafe. Just steps from the beach, Skillets is casual and family friendly, with room to relax converse and linger over a great cup of coffee. Outside on the patio, the seaside breezes and service are just as inviting and guests of the “four-legged” variety are made to feel welcome with their own menu of Lucky Dog Cuisine.
Skillets Grill & Cafe serves up a full breakfast menu from morning until late afternoon, and select savory dishes like Fresh Lump Crab Cake Benedict and Seafood Crepes can be found on their dinner menu. This is “the” place to go for the ultimate in comfort food. Their signature Skillet dishes come heaped full of good “fixens” like hashed potatoes, crisp vegetables, and country sausage. Top them off with perfectly poached eggs and they are eminently satisfying.
But if your taste buds tend to the sweeter side of the breakfast menu, Skillets certainly doesn’t disappoint. As many local moms can attest, Skillets is a popular place for grown ups and kids alike. Pancakes, waffles, crepes and French toast manage to hit the spot every time. Their Chocolate Chip and Blueberry Pancakes are truly fluffy stacks of decadence, but for a really over-the-top treat, Skillets’ signature Apricot Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast can’t be beat.
As compelling as their brunch fare is, Skillets also offers a variety of other menu selections, including one of the island’s best salad bars. Featuring around 30 different items, the bar is a popular lunch spot for those on the go. They also offer an early bird dining special that includes the soup du jour, salad, and a choice of one of seven different dinner entrees, with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage for $16.95. Classic southern dishes like Skillets Grilled Meatloaf topped with tomato demi-glace and served with whipped potatoes or Pecan Fried Chicken with honey pecan glaze are just a few of the tempting options.
So whether you come in on Sunday for a traditional brunch and the delightful music of David Wingo or just want to enjoy all the comforts of a good home-style meal, Skillets Grill & Cafe is a great choice any day of the week.
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As seen in The Island Packet, 6/10/09
Eatery of the Week: Skillets Cafe brings people together for breakfast, lunch and dinner
By Carol Weir
Published Wednesday, June 10, 2009
For affordable, home-style meals at any time of day, go to Skillets Cafe. Skillets was established in 1994 as a small, family-owned and operated breakfast bistro at the south end of Hilton Head Island. After a fire in 2002 destroyed the adjacent building, also causing damage to Skillets, the cafe shut down for nearly two years. It reopened in a new, attractive building with inside and outside seating. A huge skylight floods the interior with beautiful natural light, and the decor is infused with hues and images from nature.
Owner Amie Baima, a local resident since 1977, puts in long hours at the restaurant (often aided by her mom and dad), seating customers, bartending and serving up delicious meals all with an enthusiastic smile. Baima holds a food science degree from Winthrop University and a culinary degree from Johnson and Wales. The whole Skillets staff is friendly and works well together to provide great service.
Known for signature porcelain skillets filled with tasty breakfast combinations, Skillets also serves omelets, crepes, eggs benedict and variations of french toast.
For lunch, enjoy down home favorites including meatloaf, old-fashioned chicken pot pie or Southern friend chicken. Or dive into Skillet’s extensive salad bar, with healthy delicacies such as artichoke hearts, field greens and specialty croutons.
For dinner, Skillets is much better than a typical chain restaurant, but still priced right for frequent visits. If a man wants a huge steak for dinner, his kids are craving cheeseburgers and their mom is watching her weight, Skillets has choices for all. Nightly dinner specials emphasize fresh ingredients and creative preparation. Don’t skip dessert, because Skillets’ chocolate brownie cobbler, home-made carrot cake and other selections are worth every calorie.
Childrens’ menus are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to a thoughtfully chosen wine list, the restaurant has specialty drinks and a fully-stocked bar. A private dining room is available for parties, and off-site catering is also offered.
In partnership with Lucky Dog Cuisine, a local small business, Skillets proudly serves canine dinners (outside only) from a doggy menu. Present in special bowls decorated with paw prints and bones, the meals ($6) are reportedly good enough for humans to eat. Choices include “Tailwagging Turkey” and “Perfect Pooch Pasta.”
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As seen in The Island Packet, 9/25/07
Lowcountry Tastes: Skillets Cafe
By Mike McDonell
Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I first started visiting Skillets Cafe 10 years ago. It’s been a favorite place to indulge in the types of breakfast I normally don’t get at home. When I feel like skipping my Froot Loops, chances are good I’m heading to Skillets.
“Skillets Cafe … Not just for Breakfast!” So proclaimed a card on my table during a recent visit to this venerable Hilton Head Island eatery. And it’s true. Several things have changed at Skillets since it opened in 1994. For one thing, due to a fire next door in 2002, Skillets reopened in 2004, expanding from 1,000-square-feet to 5,000-square-feet. And it shows. This is a bright, airy restaurant. But there’s something else.
Owner Amie Baima filled me in. That menu I’ve been perusing these many years? The first two pages still are filled with wonderful breakfast fare. The signature “Skillets” still are tempting medleys of delightful breakfast items served in their own porcelain “skillet.”My favorite, “The Brisket” ($7.75), is homemade corned beef hash topped with two poached eggs.
There also are three-egg omelets($7.50 to $8.95), Belgian waffles ($5.95 to $6.95) breakfast crepes ($6.95 and $8.95), wonderful Benedicts ($8.50 and $10.50), French Toast the Skillets Way ($6.25 for a full order and $4.50 a half order) and Stuffed French Toast ($7.25 for a full order and $5.50 a half order), more styles of pancakes than should be legal ($5.95 to $6.95) and breakfast sandwiches ($6.25). Then Amie turned the page.
Lunch. Who knew there were two more pages of luncheon items served after 11 a.m.? There are more than soups, salads and good-looking sandwiches, too. Stir fry is available in veggie ($7.25), chicken ($7.95) and beef ($9.95). There’s traditional fare such as meat loaf, chicken pot pie and shepherd’s pie ($7.95), as well as jambalaya and Beef Tips Marsala ($10.95).
Southern-style specialties and a kid’s menu are served, too.
For those arriving at dinnertime, daily blackboard specials offer tempting selections, with the operative word being “fresh.”
Naturally, breakfast and lunch are served until closing.