taste OF DINING
Old Dog, New Tricks With The Downtown Salty Dog, an island institution tries out an entirely new concept.
BY BARRY KAUFMAN
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PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
At some point, the concept of “Salty Dog” became less about a restaurant and more about an entire language of hospitality native to Hilton Head Island. It started with the South Beach Marina restaurant, and was spread via the ubiquitous T-shirts that have turned up on torsos worldwide. It expanded into concepts like The Wreck of the Salty Dog, Jake’s Pizza and Land’s End Tavern, proving its staying power. The essence of the Salty Dog became less a main ingredient and more of a versatile spice, able to be applied to nearly any concept and create something that families will flock to. With its new concept, Downtown Salty Dog, that famous flavor comes alive in a new spot far from the familiar surroundings of South Beach, finding a new home on Target Road. “We’re still The Salty Dog, but Bob (Gossett, owner and founder of Salty Dog and its many offshoots) had a vision of doing a 1950’s ice cream parlor on the inside, with a more classical Salty Dog environment at the outside bar,” said Manager Madison Reitz. They nailed that balance. Inside, the long entry corridor the glides you from the elevated porch into the dining room is dominated by the classic soda jerk ice cream counter, with black quartz speckled in rose gold before a wide mirror. Hot rod red barstools give you front row access to the sweet treats being scooped before you, while providing a perfect counterpoint to the classic car trim of the main dining room’s seats. Everywhere you look, you see signs of timeless Americana, from vinyl LPs lining the stairs to James Dean chilling in the 12
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corner. It’s a classic 1950’s diner look that narrowly avoids caricature thanks to inspired coastal elements that serve to unite the restaurant’s dual nature. “We really wanted it to still feel a little bit like a coastal space inside, but with a 1950s flavor, so I added a lot of the flower and artwork to help merge the concept with the outside space,” said Reitz. “But the vision was always clear that the biggest part of the inside experience would be the ice cream parlor. We wanted it to be very family friendly, and we want the kids to be able to sit up there and have fun.” The other end of that balance can be found in the sprawling outdoor deck, topped with a covered bar area whose swamp cooler and fans keep the space perfectly comfortable even in the blazing peak of summer. If the inside is retro kitsch, the outside is the epitome of cool and coastal. But both are united in offering families that ideal blend of experiences for kids and parents, with outdoor picnic tables that give everyone room to create their own Salty Dog memories. This patio also contains a space that speaks to the upgraded culinary experience the team has created at Downtown Salty Dog. Named for the restaurant’s in-house gardener who maintains it, Stacy’s Garden isn’t just there for aesthetics. Its array