Staying power in the restaurant business on Hilton Head Island requires a smorgasbord of ingredients. Tenacity and consistency probably top the list, along with great customer service, high quality food, a loyal staff, a friendly vibe, a refreshing and inviting environment, and amenities for enjoying two hours or three with friends and family on game day or any day. Add a daily happy hour with a bar menu, live music, Sunday brunch and catering…and, fresh from the smoker, you have The Smokehouse at 34 Palmetto Bay Road.

There's no bad place to be at Harbour Town during the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The world's greatest golfers will provide "oohs" and "ahhs" at every hole — and every hole is great in its own right. But sometimes you just want to rest a minute or catch up with friends and socialize. Luckily, there are several great places to do so. After all, the Heritage is all about Southern hospitality.

It’s no secret that the Hilton Head Diner is where breakfast, lunch and dinner fit for a king can be enjoyed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An endless menu of pastas, salads, seafood, Tex-Mex, Greek, steaks, chops, ribs, burgers, wraps, paninis and ten daily specials are served in the casual, yet modern setting. And unlike most other diners where only beer and wine are offered, cocktails are available. The diner’s slogan reads, “If you’re in a rush, we’re in a rush. If you’re not, you can take your sweet time.” Diners continue to play a role in our culinary culture and artists Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper have painted famous works of diners recognized around the world.

JAZZ CORNER MARKS TWO DECADES OF WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES

For 20 years, some of the biggest names in jazz have flocked to Hilton Head Island to perform at The Jazz Corner, tucked away in The Village at Wexford. Since its opening in 1999, the restaurant has been a cornerstone of island entertainment, evidence of how one man’s vision can influence the community around him.

The Jazz Corner was the longtime dream of the late Bob Masteller, a jazz aficionado and businessman who moved to Hilton Head in 1973 with his wife, Lois, and their two children. He worked with Charles Fraser as the vice president of human resources at the Sea Pines Co. for 12 years, but his heart played a different song.

Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It

Oysters are a familiar sight in the Lowcountry, both on dinner plates and in area waters. But without careful conservation, that won’t always be the case. A local environmental program is hoping to replenish these important natural filters even as local diners slurp more and more of them out of their shells.

Oysters provide a habitat for species including fish, shrimp, crabs, clams, snails and worms, creating the base of the salt march food web.

CARRIE HIRSCH | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF FAMILY, FRIENDS & TRADITIONS

The motto of this family-owned business is “there are no strangers at Stack’s, only friends we haven’t met yet.” This welcoming philosophy continues as Randy and Debbie Harvey celebrate their 15th year this spring at Stack’s Pancakes and More.Their daughter Kimberli and her husband Michael joined the team five years ago. They continue to offer a warm and friendly atmosphere and menu items with high quality ingredients. The restaurant retains a Southern influence and generous portions.

Written by CARMEN MONEYHAN

ANNUAL WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL KICKS OFF WEEK OF EVENTS

More than 4,000 people are expected to flock to the Lowcountry for the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, to be held March 11-17. The annual event offers a week of wine education classes, celebrity chef dinners, wine dinners and large-scale wine tastings, as well as the Sip and Stroll on March 14 and the Grand and Public Tastings on March 15-16, where more than 25 wine tents will feature more than 250 wines, cooking demonstrations, a silent auction, delicious food and live music.

CARRIE HIRSCH / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KAUFMAN

“Fresh, fabulous and fantastic!” “Seek and you shall find!” So wrote online reviewers – the ultimate compliments for a restaurant, especially a new one on the hot Lowcountry culinary scene. Husband-and-wife team Munjid and Tammy Yousif opened Olive & Fig Mediterranean Kitchen in June and have quickly built up a loyal following with locals and visitors alike.