Hudson’s in the Press

Eat This: Hudson’s Seafood House on the Dock

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Dock is the perfect spot to bring your family and friends for a true Lowcountry dining experience. Hudson’s brings local, fresh seafood straight from their docks to your table by employing the largest fishing fleets on Hilton Head Island. If you are lucky, you’ll see a Hudson’s shrimp boat unload its catch; watch the sorting process as the shrimp make their way to the restaurant tables.

So, while you’re in Hilton Head, do as the locals do and head to Hudson’s on the Dock for some of the freshest seafood in the area.

- Low Country Oyster Trail

One Hilton Head Restaurant Harvests Soft Shell Crabs On Site

In 2014, Andrew Carmines, owner and general manager of Hilton Head’s Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks was driving three hours a day to and from Lady’s Island, South Carolina, for fresh soft-shell crab.

Previously, he ordered from local seafood purveyors, who, gun-shy about shipping the freshest, and therefore most-delicate and perishable soft-shells, would instead ship the molted crabs after the new shell had begun to form. When customers at the time complained about the papery texture, Carmines decided to change the system at his restaurant.

So, he built a soft-shell crab nursery. And, like many love stories at the beach, this one starts with a large male strutting his stuff to the ladies.

- Eater

How Hilton Head’s Andrew Carmines Found a New Career In an Old Coastal Tradition

Andrew Carmines grew up checking in shrimp deliveries and bussing tables at his parents’ seafood restaurant, a busy dockside haunt on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

“A lot of oysters came through here,” says Carmines, who left the island for college and then a career in hospitality in California before moving back home in 2006 to work at Hudson’s. His return was as much the beginning of a new legacy as it was a continuation of the old; Carmines began looking into creative ways to ensure that, as often as possible, the seafood Hudson’s serves has spent mere hours out of the water, not days. What began with striking deals with shrimpers grew into shedding out soft-shell crabs on-site and forming a side business, Shell Ring Oyster Company, to farm his own oysters—and Carmines is just getting started.

- Coastal Living

Dig Into Hudson's In-House, Fresh Soft Shell Crab Specials

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks lets their soft shell crabs take the spotlight with a specially crafted menu.

With the spring bloom comes our favorite short (but ever so tasty) season at Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks: soft shell crab season! This year Hudson’s is serving a thoughtfully crafted, limited-time daily menu centered on their soft shell crabs. As the only restaurant on the Island with an in-house shedding operation, Hudson’s will have more than 10,000 tender crabs thanks to their tight quality control and detailed process of making these southern treats ready for you to dig in to!

- Island Packet

Awards & Accolades

Voted Best All-Around Restaurant, Best Seafood Restaurant, Best Lunch Restaurant and Best Happy Hour in the 2018 Readers Choice Awards.

The Island Packet

Food Network’s Top Places to Eat in South Carolina – “With a shucker on duty daily, the restaurant shucks tasty bivalves to order, serving them with cocktail sauce, horseradish or a champagne-pink peppercorn mignonette. Pair a dozen with the Lowcountry Dirty Martini; it swaps out the olive juice for oyster liquor in a glass garnished with splash of salmon roe.”

Food Network

Thrillist’s Everything You Absolutely Must Do in Hilton Head This Summer List – “Although the island is small, Hilton Head is home to a number of restaurants that are sure to please even the pickiest of palates. Of course, when most people think of the beach they think “seafood,” and there’s plenty to be had on HHI. Some of the most popular seafood joints are Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks…”

Thrillist

Coastal Living’s Top 10 Best Seafood Dives in Hilton Head

Coastal Living

Featured on the Tails of the Low Country Podcast – “In this episode we sit down with Andrew Carmine, owner of Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks! We talk fishing, soft shell crab, and Hurricane Matthew!”

Tails of the Low Country