Harold's Diner — Restaurant in Hilton Head Island

If you’re hunting for a lunch spot on Hilton Head Island that serves up stellar food with a side of snark, Harold’s Diner is your place. Tucked into a cozy, cash-only corner, this joint is a riot of rude decor and rowdy charm. Think bumper stickers, signs, and flags plastered with cheeky insults that set the stage for the diner’s delightfully abrasive vibe.

Yesterday, I bit into the best grouper sandwich this side of the Atlantic—crisp, flaky, and downright divine. The hamburger? Hands-down the island’s finest, juicy enough to make a grown foodie weep. But the real showstopper at Harold’s isn’t just the food—it’s the staff. These folks don’t just serve; they perform. Forget to write your name on your order ticket? Miss a checkmark for your bread choice? Brace yourself. They’ll holler your mistake across the tiny dining room, dubbing you a “Dumb Ass” or “stupid” with a grin that dares you to laugh along. It’s less a diner and more a comedic roast with a side of fries.

The process is simple but unforgiving: grab a ticket, fill it out meticulously, and pray you didn’t skip a box. Linger at the door? Shut it quick, or you’ll catch an earful. The staff’s loud, mock-mean antics turn every meal into a floor show you didn’t know you needed. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you can handle a little sass with your sandwich, Harold’s is a must-visit. Just bring cash, a thick skin, and a fully checked ticket—or prepare to be...

I have never left a review before but do to the disrespect we received I just had to write one. First off, if I could give zero stars I would. We chose this place due to the numerous good reviews I read online, but as I look at the people giving the reviews their experience would definitely be different from ours due to the color of our skin. When we got in the place we took a seat at the counter. We ordered our drinks and then was given the paper menu and was told the instructions on how to order. That was all fine and dandy until the employee said to us “Be sure you put your name at the bottom of the form and if you don’t put a name we will give you a name, and the name we give you may not be what you like but I am sure you’ve been called it before.” He smiled and walked off. My partner and I couldn’t believe what we just heard. So after he found something floating in his drink we decided to leave but we left enough money to pay for our drinks and immediately left: You might say we overreacted but we are not people to be sensitive and think that everything is about race but being that we were the only black couple in the establishment and the blatant way he responded it was only natural to think the name he wanted to call us was a racial slur. We felt unwelcome and of course would never choose to return to that restaurant if we are ever on vacation in...

This little place appears to be a popular local joint. NOTE THIS IS A CASH ONLY ESTABLISHMENT. It is a very small venue with mostly just counter space and a handful of 2-person table tops against the wall. When you walk in, you grab a paper menu and fill out your order and as you find you seat, your ticket will be handed to the cook to prepare your order. When your order is ready, they will call your name and if sitting at a table you will have to get up and have your food handed over the counter to you. I did have to grab my own utensils from the counter and ask for my coffee. That would probably be my only complaint is that process doesn’t seem too efficient but again it is a very small venue with not much room to maneuver. I got a traditional 2-egg breakfast over medium with grits and bacon. My brother got an egg sandwich with extra sausage and we shared an order of sausage gravy with toast. The food was good and filling. The signage in the place is pretty funny to read and after reading it, they probably don’t necessarily care whether they receive a good or bad review. In this case the food was very good and while a small venue, it has a great hometown local vibe that most people will enjoy. Update: came back next day for lunch and we got hamburgers. Probably one of the best if not the best hamburger I have ever eaten. Changing my...