OMBRA Cucina Rustica

My husband and I ate at this rustic restaurant tonight and it was fabulous. I started with the poached pear and Gorgonzola salad and my husband had the boring green salad that he thought was very tasty. Next I had the amazing halibut feature that our great waiter Ned recommended. He was most informative and gave A+ spot on service. He also had a wicked sense of humor and had us at ease. My husband had the very predictable bolognese pasta which he also enjoyed. We finished our fantastic meal with the profiterole for dessert. We have had this before at a different establishment back home and this one was far better. We would highly recommend this restaurant and the server Ned was great.

This place is fantastic. This is our 5^th visit in a year and the food, service and ambiance is amazing… consistently. Out of all the places we’ve been to, this place hasn’t let us down.
We were a party of three tonight. Anthony was our waiter and did everything perfect. The menu offers fabulous choices and is ‘share friendly’, so ½ portions are available.
We were in town for a conference, and tonight was our 3^rd night. This was the best dinner experience we had this trip. I believe Ombra is in its 4^th year, and are so happy everything was as perfect as our 1^st visit. Thank you.

On a recent vacation to Hilton Head Island we wanted a nice Italian restaurant for the family. We received many suggestions and checked Unilocal to see the reviews but one suggestion kept coming up again and again, Ombra Cucina Rustica. From the outside you really wouldn’t expect much but once you step inside you realize that you are in for an experience. The décor, atmosphere and ambiance are well organized, managed and creative.
I am not fluent in Italian so I was happy that the menu had translations and the waiter was extremely helpful as well at explaining each dish. Without further ado, let’s me tell you of my dining experience. Again, the waiter was well versed, patient, attentive and knowledgable about everything. We started with the Calamari Dorati, which is probably some of the best calamari I’ve ever had. Then I ordered the Filetto di Manzo, (Filet Mignon of Beef wrapped in prosciutto), absolutely amazing, cooked as ordered and this dish is one of the best Filet Mignon dishes I’ve had in a long time.
Since the meal was not heavy, I had room for dessert and I chose the Bombato Di Cioccolatino, which is a hot soft centered chocolate soufflé cake served with vanilla gelato. Yes, this was one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time as well. The food was amazing, the service was amazing and well worth the price of admission. It’s best to make a reservation because this restaurant is cozy and bringing children, is something I might not recommend even though we did bring ours because there isn’t much room and children may not like a complex menu.
To finish out, we had a wonderful evening and could not have asked for more. Without a doubt, OMBRA gets 5 stars and I am a fan. OMBRA is now a must stop for us in the future when in HHI.

The food was exquisite and tasty. Not only was the food out of this world, bUT the service was as well. A waiter named John was great to us. He was always making sure we were ok and brought our bill when we were done in record time. He did all this even when the restraunt was packed. Another great part of the restraint is that it is beautiful and has real candles. The lightning gives off a good mood

Where do I start? This place is beyond amazing. Seriously top notch.
You enter the restaurant through the bar area — large, well lit, classy, and well separated from the rest of the restaurant, which I appreciate. Turn the corner and you enter the dining room– tables spaced well, simple/​elegant décor– also separated into two deprecate dining rooms by a beautiful glass doorway. This is also appreciates because it kept the noise down.
Now the delicious, well thought food. We went for my brothers birthday– my mother, stepfather, brother and I– and started with the calamari and a caprese salad. Calamari– light battered and fried serves with the best marinara. The salad (which the server took upon himself to split b/​c he knew my mother and I were sharing) was full of fresh ingredients and was absolutely delightful. Second course– gnocchi and prosciutto stuffed ravioli. We all agreed that these were the best sauces we had ever had. Not only could you tell these items were carefully handmade and fresh, but they were out of this world!!! Main course we each got: the snapper, the halibut, the chicken with sausage and the filet mignon. There are not words to describe how utterly perfect each dish was. The filet was my favorite, but all were heavenly. Our server knew it was my brothers bday, just convo about our first time being there brought it up, and brought us all out lemonchello and a dessert for my brother with a candle. We had the pastry dessert and the strawberry, chocolate, pistachio truffle dessert and just like everything else was superb. A+++

Average food and snooty service. I was looking forward to this birthday meal all week and was quite disappointed. I had chosen this location specifically because of the Pappardelle e Porcini on the menu and was excited to have the dish state-​side as I’ve had multiple times while travelling in Italy. The item was described as homemade wide ribbon pasta, fresh porcini mushrooms, Marsala, touch of cream. If there was a porcini in the dish I am shocked. There were lots of other types of mushrooms (button, cremini, shitaki) but I did not taste or see a porcini. I didn’t even have but two bites of the dish and our waiter didn’t even bother to ask if everything was good. That about sums up our server as he was both aloof and inattentive from the moment we sat down.
We even had the two fish specials and they both were laden with a beurre blanc (butter sauce) and my dish had a cup of onions as the base for the fish. It was quite overwhelming and not really tasty. What’s with the overly whipped mashed potatoes as the starch at an Italian restaurant? We spent more than $ 250 on a meal that was average and at best I give this a «ho hum» dining experience. $$$$

With so many comprehensive reviews in place for this restaurant I will be brief.
This is one of the top 5 places to eat on HHI and is a solid place to get a fine meal while still being able to show up in flip flops.
As mentioned Ned is a terrific waiter… service and waitstaff are professional. Excellent suggestions on dishes and wine pairing.
I wish the chef would use more local produce and fish. The menu could be a bit more varied throuout the seasons but still a solid 5 stars for HHI.
I strongly recommend this restaurant.

8 of us enjoyed a little bit of everything. From steak to pasta to fish there was not a complaint. Service was beyond expectations which is why we left 25% gratuity. Highly recommend a stop if you’re here

Incredible food and fantastic service! Portions were generous, fresh catch delicious and even the soup was outstanding.

We showed up in flip flops at 5 without a reservation and they were gracious to us. The waiters and manager were impeccably dressed and well mannered.
We had the three course meal (appetizer, spaghetti & clams and dessert) and puttanesca. Which it was the perfect amount of food. We also enjoyed a glass of Val Polachela (only red by the glass) and it smelled so good we sipped happily. The dessert was crime puff with gelato and it was chilled & delicious.
I’ve read the reviews and many people commented on price but we thought the prices were reason all for the experience, layers of flavors and service.

We didn’t have a reservation but thought we would try our luck. We were seated in the bar at a high top table. The room filled up within minutes after being seated. We had Veal Scallopini and a veal tenderloin dish both of which were absolutely impeccable. Throw in a bottle of Chianti and topped off with Tiramisu and that is the perfect dinner out. We will definitely return to Ombra when we visit Hilton Head next year and move this one up to #1 on must eat at list.

Ombra Restaurant in Hilton Head, SC
is phenomenal, from the greeting at the front desk, awesome waiter (Ned) to the exquisitely prepared food, by the talented chef/​owner. My mouth is still watering 2days later. Highly recommended! A DO NOT MISS restaurant!
Thank you again,
Lilo Cooper

By far the best meal I had while in Hilton head. While traveling here with a large group they were very accommodating and split checks for us.
The salmon special topped with crab meat was amazing, as is all of the pasta dishes. The service was amazing and we could not have asked for a better experience

All around quality and service was incredible. Home made pastas, the pork entrée is amazing and you have to end your dinner with some of their home made lemonchelo. If your in hilton head and your looking for amazing italian food this is your place.

A must! Wine, food, desserts, it’s all good. Highlights, besides the wine selection, antipasto plater, homemade pasta, and of course the seafood. If for some strange reason I am ever back in HH, this place is definitely top of my list of places to eat.

If someone else is paying, go for it… if you are paying, hit Michael Anthony’s instead. The years of SERVICE Michael Anthony’s staff have did not transfer over to Ombra. We had far less than stellar service through the entire meal. The service was so bad that it distracted from what should have been intimate conversations.
The seafood was fresh and well seasoned. The Chicken cooked under a brick had good flavors to it. I was slightly putt off that in a «Rustic Italian» eatery potatoes were piped onto a plate (?), but they tasted good. Bread service at the tables. Extensive Wine List.
Tables are very close together.

Excellent service, and the food was unbelievably delicious! Great wine selection as well. A definite must if you are in the area.

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday. We didn’t make reservations but found great seats at the bar. Love the exposed brick and woodwork in the bar area. Be careful how much your order — portions are generous. Gnocchi was fabulous! Veal scallopini melted in my mouth. My boyfriend had Mediterranean Sea bass and it was wonderful as well. We live in Hilton Head and tend to enjoy the restaurants where flip flops are proper attire but this will be high on our list for special occasions (not to mention the strong need to go back and make our way through the pasta menu).

Came here for the boyfriend’s birthday dinner. Mike and Alex were extremely attentive, the ambiance and setting are perfect!
We had the grouper livornese special, along with a caprese salad & half portion of gnocchi. Everything was delicious. For dessert, there was grappa, limoncello & a berry panna cotta.
Also, the wine list. Extensive, impressive list of Italian reds. We cannot wait to go back.

Very comfortable. Very accommodating, no problem at all finding an alternative sauce for my gnocchi. Broad menu. Super service.
We shall return.