Harbour Town Bakery & Cafe — Restaurant in Hilton Head Island

We needed to grab a quick bite before heading out on a boat tour.

Unfortunately, the service here was very slow even though they weren’t that busy. And to make matters worse, the woman running the register was rude and hurried.

Although they had them on display, they were out of several pastries we tried to order. This made the cashier upset as she would respond almost interrupting me, “We’re out of those.” Maybe if you put a sign on the pastry in the case indicating that you were out of them, I wouldn’t try to order them, and you could avoid that frustration.

I encourage my kids to order their own food. My daughter did, but because of the cashier’s accent and the manner in which she was speaking (rushed and rude), she could not understand the woman’s question of, “What side you want?” Instead of repeating herself or asking the question in a new way, the woman just stood there staring at my young daughter with a mean look on her face. I said as kindly as I could, “She didn’t understand you.” The woman just stared. So I intervened and found out what side my daughter wanted. It’s unfortunate that grown ups do not have more patience for kids as they are trying to grow up.

After ordering food and pastries, we waited almost 20 minutes before two sandwiches were done. One was a grilled cheese and tomato (it was really good), and the other was a club, which was pretty basic, nothing special.

Overall, the food was good. The pastries were fine, but we are from a town with exceptional bakeries so maybe people here just don’t eat at many bakeries, which is why reviews are so high.

Based on the service, I can’t give anything more than 3 stars here and would not return. There is also almost no where to wait indoors, and it’s very crowded if you’re waiting on to-go food. I felt I was in the way the entire time, which only added to the frustration over service...

Ok, the food is not all that delicious. I don't understand the five stars. The prices are ridiculous for what you get as well as the taste. The lady that takes the orders is always mean mugging. Why are you at work if you don't want to work. This is why I don't want to tip. I don't tip for attitudes!! Then the pastries taste like they come from Panera. Oh, that's not a compliment. The pastries are very, very dry, and the flavor does not stand out. I don't smoke, so I have taste buds. Then, while eating outside, if other tables aren't bussed or awful tourist don't pick up their trash, the crows and small insects will. Very disgusting. It gets unmonitored and just nasty looking. Don't think those tables outside are wiped when the flies have landed and pecked all over. I won't be back. This place just wants your money. There is no care put into the food made or the service. There is no type of southern hospitality. Everyone just about has an accent with an attitude, so expect your service to mediocre here. We tried this place twice and had two different meals, and they each were not delicious. Whoever makes the grits is probably the one that needs to make everything else or just have them add a bit more seasoning to the food and pastries. Will not...

The food is good (sometimes great) and the coffee is great! But they're incredibly inefficient at handling the orders and long lines - counter service is slow (this morning there was one person working the register and filling baked good orders with a line out the door and down the steps, every order requires a signed credit card slip (like with a pen!), and the person working the register has to run the card for you). Please get a more efficient point of sale system and please make a second line or something for coffee and bakery orders so we can get in and out without having to wait for the people placing orders from the grill for their entire group. I'm sure there are many ways to improve the situation, but we've been coming here for years and it's always been this way - every time I come back I think "maybe this time it will be better", but I feel like no one has ever...