Mexican/Southwestern

Santa Fe Café is the only place on Hilton Head Island to find authentic Southwestern cuisine, and nothing is more representative of this favorite locals’ eatery than a bowl of painted desert soup. Made from red pepper, corn, Mexican cream and mole, it’s a feast for the eyes and palate. Regional dishes plus traditional Mexican recipes are the stars of the menu at this vibrant, refined restaurant with a New Mexico look.

Santa Fe Café’s rooftop cantina is the eatery’s most popular spot throughout the year. Live entertainment on the rooftop every Tuesday through Saturday. The cantina’s a kiva fireplace and white pine, custom-designed bar— make this romantic and inviting space perfect for having a drink and enjoying some appetizers. Marshall Sampson and Sean Crosby are the owners of Santa Fe Café, which has been bringing islanders and visitors the flavors of the American Southwest for almost 25 years. Sampson runs the front of the house and Crosby is behind the scenes focusing on the food. Every year, they re-fresh the décor. The result is a visually-pleasing atmosphere that welcomes diners inside.

Some choose to sit at the chef’s counter to observe the restaurant’s open kitchen where a skilled team prepares signature dishes including mesquite grilled lamb chops; grilled pork tenderloin with smoked habanero BBQ sauce; chipotle-parmesan encrusted grouper; and Santa Fe Café’s famous ribeye burrito.

Serving dinner: Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm-9pm. 807 William Hilton Pkwy #700, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-3838 or santafehhi.com

SANTA FE CAFÉ

AUTHENTIC SOUTHWESTERN

by CAROL WEISS

TÔRO

PERFECT MARRIAGE OF ASIAN AND LATIN FARE

by TIM WOOD

Hungry beachgoers are getting treated to an evolved menu of street fare at TÔRŌ on North Forest Beach Drive. George Casalicchio and his partner and executive chef Eric Golden made a name for themselves on the island for escalating expectations for French cuisine at Chez Georges and now they’re doing the same for the easypeasy, grab-and-go meal. If you look closely at the logo adored on the space formerly occupied by Crave by Daniel’s, you will see everything you need to know about the pair’s Latin-Asian eatery. “Toro means tuna in Japanese and bull in Spanish, so that’s why you see a tuna inside the belly of the bull,” Casalicchio said. “These tastes, these cultures, they run parallel to each other, blend magnificently. Together, they create the perfect marriage in your mouth.” You’ll see tacos on the menu, but with plenty of ways to fill them. Why not try a duck confit variation, with charred shishito peppers, daikon radish and cabbage slaw with a yuzu-soju vinaigrette? Tapas offerings include an early favorites since their midMay opening, papas bravas (beer battered fries, Spanish chorizo, queso fundito and salsa fresco). Meat eaters will enjoy the Bulgogi (Korean ribeye, house made kimchi, charred scallions, bean sprouts and gogujang aioli), and, if you’re more surf than turf, ahi tuna takaki (coriander-dusted, Japanese lime-crema, shredded cabbage, pickled local sweet peppers), California tako (charred Spanish octopus, guacamole, cilantro, pickled red onion, yuzu-jalapeno-tomatillo salsa and crispy potato,) and the Poke and nigiri bowls are particularly delightful. And Casalicchio says you must try the Peruvian-Thai ceviche of the day. “It’s local seafood, sweet potato, yellow corn, lemongrasscoconut leche de tigre, avocado, plantain and tortilla chips,” he said. “It’s our brand on a plate.” Desserts include tres leches, mochi and “Mexican hot” chocolate pot de crème. And the craft cocktail concoctions such as the 1902, True Blue Highball and 843 Berry Bomb, are equally innovative as the main dishes.

TÔRŌ is located at 2 North Forest Drive across from Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island. 843-931-8676. torohhi.com. Open seven days a week. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

TAPAS & APPS

TÔRŌ Cheese Fries - beer battered fries, Spanish chorizo, melted queso, salsa fresca -8Mixed Fry- fried local shrimp, yuca & plantains, served with sweet chili dipping sauce & fresh pineapple -9Guacamole & Salsa - house-made served with tortilla chips (8oz) -12Big Bull Chili Nachos - tortilla chips, black & pinto beans, chorizo, smoked jalapeños, lime-cream, melted cheese, pork crackling, sour cream -9Street Corn - yuzu tomatillo aioli, garlic butter, cotija, togarashi spice -9-

TÔRŌ BOWLS

Savannah’s Soy Salmon Salad - brown sugar shoyu cured salmon, sticky rice, ginger-soy vinaigrette, mixed greens, edamame, cucumber, fried wonton, pickled ginger -17-

Seared Tuna Salad Bowl

ahi tuna tataki, seaweed salad, sticky rice, ginger, edamame, mixed greens, crispy wontons, sesame vinaigrette, wasabi mayo -18-

Kids Menu

Kid’s Tacos

Choice of Taco and One Side (fries, black beans or sticky rice) All served with shredded cheese, lettuce and sour cream Chicken -8- Fried Shrimp -9- Grilled Steak -9- Pulled Pork -8-

Kid’s Cheese Quesadilla -7TACOS two tacos per order

plus your choice of coconut sticky rice, refried black beans or pepper slaw. choice of corn tortillas or flour tortillas. substitute with lettuce wraps +2 Troy’s Chicken Tinga - tomato braised chicken, lettuce, Monterey jack, cheddar cheese, caramelized onion, & sweet peppers, served with guacamole, sour cream, & flour tortillas -13Pulled Pork (Al Pastor) - adobo-coconut marinated pulled pork, pineapple, pico de gallo, cilantro, pickled red onion, cracklin -12Fried Garlic Shrimp - preserved lemon-pepper slaw, habanero coulis, crispy plantains -15Ribeye(Bulgogi) - Korean marinated beef, house kimchi, charred scallions, bean sprouts, gogujang aioli -15Ahi Tuna - coriander dusted seared tuna, Japanese lime-crema, shredded cabbage, pickled local sweet peppers -15California Tako - Spanish octopus, guacamole, cilantro, pickled red onion, yuzu-jalapeñotomatillo salsa, crispy potato -18Grilled Steak(Carne Asada) - achiote marinated, guacamole, cilantro, pickled red onion, yuzu-jalapeño-tomatillo salsa, cotija cheese -14-

TÔRŌ PLATES

Quesadilla - Monterey jack, cheddar, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, served with coconut sticky rice & black beans -11Burger Matador - house-blend patty, lettuce, tomato, garlic mayo, caramelized onions, agave candied bacon, grilled shishito peppers, served with fries -14Boneless Thai Chicken Wings - house-made sweet thai chili sauce, served with fries -12-

Chef: Eric Golden | General Manager: Manuel Guzman