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  • Ela's Blu Water Grille

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Reserve at Ela's Blu Water Grille

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Ela's Blu Water Grille
Ela's Blu Water Grille

Ela's Blu Water Grille Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.elasgrille.com
  • Phone: (843) 785-3030
  • Hours of Operation: BRUNCH: Sunday 11:00 - 2:00pm

    LUNCH: Monday - Friday 11:00 - 2:00pm

    DINNER: Daily 5:00 - 10:00pm

    LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Thursday - Sunday 7pm -10pm F
    Thursdays 7pm - 10pm : HARRY SANTANA
    Fridays/Saturdays 7pm - 10pm : JOHN WASEM
    Fridays/Saturdays 7pm - 10pm : REID RICHMOND
    Sundays 11am - 2pm: MARTIN LESCH
    Sundays 7pm - 10pm : TIM MALCHAK

    Private Party bookings available in our Penthouse Private Dining Room

    Docking fees/ complimentary when arriving by boat with reservations
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Seafood, Steak, Wine Bar
  • Executive Chef: Meagen Mehaffey
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Smoking Area (patio only), Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Catering: Second Level private dining for Wedding & Private events for up to 80pp
    Penthouse VIP Dining Room available for parties up to 20pp
  • Private Party Facilities: Best Water View Dining on Hilton Head
    Book your next event with us
  • Private Party Contact: Ken Mehaffey - General Manager (843) 785-3030
  • Entertainment: Original Artist Productions,Classic Rock, Island Music

    Reid Richmond every Thursday from 7 - 11pm

    John Wasem every Friday & Saturday from 7 - 11pm

    Martin Lesch every Sunday 11-2pm

    Tim Malchak every Sunday 7-10pm

Getting there

  • Public Transit: OMNI RESORT / MARRIOTT RESORT / WESTIN RESORT offer free shuttles to ELA'S

    Palmetto Dunes - DunesBuggy - free shuttle to ELA's
  • Parking: Private Lot
  • Parking Details: Enter Shelter Cove Harbour and follow Shelter Cove Lane to the private parking for guests.

    OMNI RESORT / MARRIOTT RESORT / WESTIN RESORT offer free shuttles to ELA'S

    For directions call our concierge at 843-785-3030
A word from Ela's Blu Water Grille
Featured in Bon Appetit and the winner of numerous Open Table awards, ELA's Blu Water Grille is a shining star on the Hilton Head culinary scene. Fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, artfully prepared by Chef Meagen Mehaffey, compliment the extensive boutique wine… selection. Located at Shelter Cove Harbour overlooking the marina and Broad Creek, ELA's is known for the best water views on the island. A casual intimate interior, wrap around dining patio exterior, and nightly entertainment provided by local recording artists sets the perfect dining experience or location to host special events, private parties, or rehearsal dinners.
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
  • Diners' Choice WinnerSeafood
  • Diners' Choice WinnerOutdoor Dining
Diner Reviews
  • "Arrived on time with our open table reservation and were escorted to the outdoor balcony with over 90 degrees, humidity and thunderstorm threat. When asked to be seated indoors by a window we were told "the tables are all spoken for" and seated cramped in back. Three out of four liked their dinners the fourth said his flounder was overcooked and dry. Our bill was $206 for the four of us and those window tables remained empty all evening. We felt punished but for what?"
    Dined on 7/28/2014
  • "We enjoyed the food. We sat indoors because it was very hot and humid outside (late July). Indoors was pleasant and live music was entertaining. the food was delicious. Service was average for the prices."
    Dined on 7/27/2014
  • "Dined with family - Staff was extremely polite and welcoming. From appetizers to desserts, the food is absolutely fantastic. Extremely pleased and worth every penny. My family enjoyed a wonderful evening out!!"
    Dined on 7/27/2014
  • "We came to Ela's on a recommendation from others and I am so glad we did. The calamari and lobster nachos were so good for appetizers!! The best entrees on our table were the swordfish, crab cakes and flounder but the rib eye was HUGE and equally good We were just too full to put a dent in it. We had a great evening celebrating a great birthday!! And thank you to a great wait staff!! They were very friendly and helpful"
    Dined on 7/26/2014
  • "Excellent food and service! Our waitress was very knowledgeable about all the items on the menu. Can't beat the waterfront view! Our group of six each tried something different and all dishes, from salads to entrees to desserts were beautifully presented and very delicious! We will definitely return!"
    Dined on 7/24/2014
  • "We celebrated my birthday here with our 3 children. The ambiance was great and the view even better. It overlooks a very nice marina, and since we love boats it was a great view for us. It is walking distance to shelter cove so if you are planning to see Shannon Tanner and/or fireworks after dinner, then its a great spot. The calamari was delicious as was our meal. The server was just okay. He wasn't very inviting although he did "serve" us well enough."
    Dined on 7/22/2014
  • "Great views of the Harbor. Service was outstanding as was the food. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu items and made wonderful recommendations."
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "WE BOTH HAD A DELICIOUS FISH DINNER AND THE SETTING, LOOKING OVER THE HARBOR WAS PERFECT."
    Dined on 7/16/2014
  • "My family ate here in July of 2013. My husband and I had the scallops. It was so delicious. I was excited to go back again this year. I ordered the same dish but it was prepared differently and I'm not sure the scallops were fully cooked. I much preferred last years perparation with the balsomic glaze. I'm not sure that we will go back again next time we are in town."
    Dined on 7/15/2014
  • "This restaurant is in a great location and is privately owned and operated by experienced professionals. The staff is friendly without being overbearing. A very inviting menu with many locals fresh fish items. The food was delivered promptly, presented smartly, served hot and was excellent! I would highly recommend Ela's for almost any occasion but if you are looking for something just a little bit better than the usual this is definitely the place on the island."
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "My husband and I went to Ela's for my birthday dinner. We couldn't have picked a better spot to celebrate. The scenery was amazingly beautiful, our waitress was so sweet and informative, and the food was phenomenal. We have already told our friends and family what a great place it is!"
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "Great atmosphere with a wonderful water view. Sitting outside with lights all around was beautiful. The menu however was lacking in choices. Everyone had a difficult time choosing for that reason. Don't know if I could recommend this restaurant to my family or friends. I might however give it another try next year."
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "A wonderful experience. Had mother's birthday luncheon for 6. Food was excellent! Beautiful presentation!"
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "The reviews were mixed online but the menu sounded delicious. We were given five adult menus for our family of 5. We had to request the children's menus and we were given them with some disgust. There are 3 choices on the kids menu and that's only IF you consider "french fries a choice". We then tried to request info @ gluten free dishes and the waiter was unhelpful. We should have just left. We ordered 5 entrees, shrimp cocktail and a salad. The salad was a JOKE, for $9 we had like 3 bites of a salad. This place acts like a fine dining restaurant but fails to deliver in every way. TOTALLY not worth $200. We have had meals for half the price that were twice as delicious and satisfying. We will not be back."
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "We chose the perfect evening for dinner at Ela's. In the years we have been visiting HHI, it was our first time at the restaurant. The weather was great for outdoor dining. My entree, a pasta special with scallops and shrimp was very good. Although I don't remember what my husband chose, I do remember he was not as happy with his choice. All in all, we agreed it was a pleasant experience, with a very fine server, and Ela's will be on our list for the next beach vacation."
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "Nice place right in the cove. Server responded well when we opted to split a couple of courses so that we could try more items. Calamari was very good - a nice cut. Pear arugula salad better than most and the crab cakes were perfect with virtually no filling. The only tough thing is the crowded parking lot. You are well served to send a person in to ask for parking help if the lot is full. They made a spot for us by moving an employee car. Nice touch!"
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "Creative menu with typical brunch selections. Overall Ela's remains a Hilton Head gem. The dining experience at Ela's has always been top notch. They remain on the to do list when vacationing at Hilton Head."
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "My sister, daughters and I had dinner at Ela's on a Saturday evening. It wasn't overly busy as the weather had been rainy. The outdoor seating was very nice and the food good, however, the service was really unfriendly. The server seemed annoyed that my youngest daughter ordered her meal selections from the appetizer menu. One of our party was vegetarian and despite calling ahead to ensure this wouldn't be a problem, our server made no attempt to accommodate her. We have been to restaurants that are always happy to prepare a pasta or something creative for the vegetarian in our party."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "Ela's never disappoints. We love this spot for great food with a great view. If you're looking for a romantic dinner spot this is your place."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "All of our steaks were overcooked and the service rushed. My great aunt had her plate removed when she still had food on her fork - twice. We could feel the stress in the staffs interaction with us. It was a dissapointing meal for which we paid over $900.00."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "Every year for july, we have eaten at Ela's and had wonderful meals. This year, however was quite the departure from the norm. There were a number of issues since the moment we arrived. First, they seated us upstairs despite the fact we had two elderly family members with us who had incredible difficulty getting up the stairs and insisted on seating us there. Secondly, our server was not very inviting and welcoming. She continually rushed us and even took away one guest's food before she was finished! Thirdly, a number of the members of our parties received steaks which were terribly overcooked, which was disappointing considering how much they cost. Otherwise, the food and location was good."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "While it is a little pricey, this spot is a must. The Calimari was to die for and our meals were top notch."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "Our family of four had a wonderful meal on the deck overlooking the river and harbor from above. The service was excellent. I had the special sesame wasabi tuna which was excellent and my wife enjoyed the scallops. The teenage boys had duck and mahi mahi --both were pleased. All meals were very good as was the dessert tray. We will return for a special night in the future."
    Dined on 7/1/2014
  • "Ela's just missed 5 stars, a 4.8. Overall a great dinner. Appetizers and entrees were as always enjoyable. A hilton head must do"
    Dined on 7/1/2014
  • "excellent on all counts. best scallops and crab risotto I've had anywhere in the world!!! beautiful setting w/ attentive and cordial staff would recommend highly"
    Dined on 6/29/2014
  • "Beautiful setting, delicious food and excellent service. Will return on my next trip to SC."
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "They even put up with our kids and the kids menu is nice, but if you could avoid it, it would be more fun without the kids."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Sunday - Jazz Brunch - was just delightful sitting outside on the porch. The service was delightful and the plated brunch was delicious. We will be back for brunch."
    Dined on 6/22/2014
  • "While on vacation we experienced our 1st visit to Ela's. The food, service, and entertainment were very enjoyable. Our only negative was the fact that we had requested a window table and while we were seated upstairs in a very nice quiet environment minutes later alarge and noisy family were seated next to us even though the restaurant was not busy at the time. We requested a different table and found it difficult to get seated at the requested table even though the restaurant was not full."
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "Must visit and enjoy incredible good, view and service."
    Dined on 6/19/2014
  • "My fiancée and I really enjoyed our meal at Ela's Blu Water Grille. Every night that we've been in Hilton Head, we've eaten at a nice restaurant and this one was excellent. The view of the yachts in the marina is very picturesque, and our server was very good. Our meals were nicely presented and tasted amazing - grouper and cobia (fresh catch of the day). We thought about staying for the fireworks (Tuesdays at 9:00), but we wanted to get back to our ocean villa. Next time we eat here, we might plan our reservations for 8:00 or 8:30 on a Tuesday so we can enjoy the fireworks while we eat. Overall, excellent food, view and service, totally worth the price! :)"
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "My husband and I were staying at the Palmetto Dunes Resort and decided to try Ela's for dinner. Not only was the food fantastic, but our server was wonderful at recommending items to try on the menu. The food and ambiance were fantastic."
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "The food was tasty, but the portions were so small. My children are ages 16, 20 and 22 and they left still hungry even though our breakfast brunch was over $100."
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "What a wonderful place, almost a hidden gem. Everything was beyond expectations. Highly recommend."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "Beautiful view, outstanding food, good service, one of the finest restaurants overlooking water on HHI."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "We were visiting Hilton Head Island for the week and had the opportunity to head out for an evening without our children. We both love good food so we picked a place that had an intriguing menu. Ella's fit the bill. We shared the beet napoleon, which was excellent and both had fish (swordfish and grouper) for our main course. It was completely worth the expense. Both fillets were excellently cooked and the portions were spot on. While we didn't sit outside, we had a table right next to the window. The view of the marina was great. We would both certainly return to Ella's on another trip to HHI."
    Dined on 6/11/2014
  • "The restaurant has a fabulous appeal from the outside . The interior decor is nice , but the outside seating and view is spectacular . Too bad the food quality didn't meet our expectations . Food quality & presentation very disappointing , thought the food would have been far superior . We had expected 4 star dining , at best 1 star."
    Dined on 6/10/2014
  • "the location was great with a nice selection of menu items. however, not all items were available and the service was lacking - had to continually look for server and the attention level toward meeting a patron's need were less than adequate"
    Dined on 6/8/2014
  • "It was our first time at Ela's, and we had a great meal. The food is phenomenal, the place is very clean, the service is great, and the views are spectacular. Highly recommend."
    Dined on 6/8/2014
  • "Fresh local ingredients with a good wine list. service was excellent and the view is spectacular. Reservations are a must."
    Dined on 6/7/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • South Carolina Winners
  • Seafood
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Scenic View
  • Hilton Head Winners
  • Best Ambiance
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Romantic
  • Most Booked
Learn more ›