If you wanna feel like you’re eating at home with family, this is definitely the place, so warm and inviting, without all the pretentiousness that this island is full of. If you’re trying to impress your friends, this isn’t the place. But if you are missing the feeling of home you won’t find a place better
susan tirard
Wonderful experience working with Bess and her team.
John Malnor
Best lunch sandwich on Hilton Head Island / and the oldest restaurant! The owner, Bess, and her team are delightful. This is a don’t miss it type of place.
Rich LoPresti
Food was very good and freshly made. I had a London broil sandwich (called the cloudy) on rye and macaroni salad that was very good. My mom had the quiche as well as butternut squash soup and said was good. The quiche could have been a little hotter :/
Chad S
Disappointing Experience: Raw Chicken Served to Children by Bess' Delicatessen & CateringI wanted to share my disappointing experience with a recent catering order from Bess' Delicatessen & Catering. The incident that occurred during our event was concerning and unsettling, particularly considering the potential health risks it posed to the children in attendance.The most significant issue was the discovery of raw chicken in the food that was served to the children. It is highly unacceptable for a catering company like Bess' Delicatessen & Catering to provide such subpar and unsafe food. Raw chicken carries the risk of salmonella contamination, which can have severe health consequences. It is essential to prioritize the well-being and safety of children, and it is disheartening that this aspect was overlooked.Additionally, the lack of quality control and attention to detail demonstrated by Bess' Delicatessen & Catering's team is concerning. How could such a fundamental mistake happen? This incident reveals a serious oversight in the food preparation process, reflecting a disregard for basic food safety protocols. Such negligence not only marred our event but also put the children's health at risk.The impact of this incident cannot be downplayed.. I am appalled that Bess' Delicatessen & Catering failed to meet basic standards.In terms of customer service, the response from Bess' Delicatessen & Catering was unsatisfactory. The lack of urgency and accountability in addressing the issue was disappointing. It seemed as though they were more concerned with minimizing the incident rather than taking immediate action to rectify the situation and prevent future occurrences
Julianne S
Diner beware !!!! Undercooked/raw chicken - and no follow up. We pre-arranged a chicken and salmon dinner for a party of 12 - delivered with a server (Karen who did a great job in a very awkward situation). Unfortunately the served chicken parm was very undercooked (pink and rubbery) which no one was able to eat. We tried to reheat, but it was too undercooked...so ended up disposing of all the chicken. Needless to say, an expensive and anticipated family meal was ruined. The worst part and primary reason I'm writing a rare review is there was no follow up from the owner after 3 days despite numerous calls from the server the nite of the event, and follow up emails from me. Disappointed....then a bit upset. Did I mention that there were 2 children served the raw chicken first, but thankfully we realized it was undercooked before they tried to eat. The green beans and potatoes looked and tasted good.
Bob Straka
Diner beware !!!! Undercooked/raw chicken - and no follow up. We pre-arranged a chicken and salmon dinner for a party of 12 - delivered with a server (Karen who did a great job in a very awkward situation). Unfortunately the served chicken parm was very undercooked (pink and rubbery) which no one was able to eat. We tried to reheat, but it was too undercooked...so ended up disposing of all the chicken. Needless to say, an expensive and anticipated family meal was ruined.The worst part and primary reason I'm writing a rare review is there was no follow up from the owner after 3 days despite numerous calls from the server the nite of the event, and follow up emails from me. Disappointed....then a bit upset. Did I mention that there were 2 children served the raw chicken first, but thankfully we realized it was undercooked before they tried to eat. The green beans and potatoes looked and tasted good. Ordered dough boys pizza which was cooked and excellent.
Matthew Doebler
Boy oh boy … I hate to give a negative review to a mom-and-pop place like this. The ladies behind the counter were all smiles and very friendly and—I must admit—the experience was very nice.But I am STUNNED by the prices. I had ONE sandwich and two deviled eggs (and when I say “two” I mean two halves of ONE egg, so ONE egg) and the bill was TWENTY-SIX dollars. No drink, no chips. ONE sandwich and two deviled eggs: $26.Worse yet, the sandwich was not that good. After I paid the bill, I thought, “Well, you DID order shrimp salad … maybe if it’s packed full of shrimp, the cost of goods justifies that price.” But it was—basically—egg salad with a FEW small shrimp.Again, I feel bad throwing cold water on somebody’s hard work. But after a tip, this sandwich cost over $30 and I still provided my own drink and chips. I had a hard time justifying that to my wife and I can guarantee that she would never green light a trip back there. I have paid for some expensive meals on Hilton Head Island, but I may be priced out of this one.
Kevin Ratliff
Great place to work....and eat as the food is delicious!
Scott Williams
Friendly HHI established deli with a true personal flare. As a local resident, this is among my favorites.
On December 4th, I hosted a birthday party for a friend who turned 100. I wanted to spend my time with Ellen and my guests - not worrying about food and drinks. Bess and Samantha let me do this. They were wonderful. The food was fantastic. Lots of compliments from the guests. While I was still enjoying the last of my guests, they cleaned up the kitchen, put away leftover food and quietly left. Couldn't have asked for a better catering experience. Will use them again next year for my Christmas party. If you need a caterer or just a good sandwich, visit Bess' Deli. You won't be disappointed
259evab
Very friendly service. I had an egg salad sandwich and soup. Both were amazing. Cute deli with a lot of interesting choices and combinations.
Tanya Grant
Delicious as always!Bess and her staff are wonderful!
Lauryn A.
Woman behind counter acted annoyed that I walked in the door to order some salads. Very unwelcoming. Piles of papers, books, stuff, I don't know what all over, seems very unsanitary for a professional food and beverage business. The potato salad was inedible, potatoes hard and raw inside. We will never return.
Ray Z
Fantastic place to get fresh or frozen dishes to eat at home. Pot pies are awesome, and you can order in advance.
If you wanna feel like you’re eating at home with family, this is definitely the place, so warm and inviting, without all the pretentiousness that this island is full of. If you’re trying to impress your friends, this isn’t the place. But if you are missing the feeling of home you won’t find a place better
Wonderful experience working with Bess and her team.
Best lunch sandwich on Hilton Head Island / and the oldest restaurant! The owner, Bess, and her team are delightful. This is a don’t miss it type of place.
Food was very good and freshly made. I had a London broil sandwich (called the cloudy) on rye and macaroni salad that was very good. My mom had the quiche as well as butternut squash soup and said was good. The quiche could have been a little hotter :/
Disappointing Experience: Raw Chicken Served to Children by Bess' Delicatessen & CateringI wanted to share my disappointing experience with a recent catering order from Bess' Delicatessen & Catering. The incident that occurred during our event was concerning and unsettling, particularly considering the potential health risks it posed to the children in attendance.The most significant issue was the discovery of raw chicken in the food that was served to the children. It is highly unacceptable for a catering company like Bess' Delicatessen & Catering to provide such subpar and unsafe food. Raw chicken carries the risk of salmonella contamination, which can have severe health consequences. It is essential to prioritize the well-being and safety of children, and it is disheartening that this aspect was overlooked.Additionally, the lack of quality control and attention to detail demonstrated by Bess' Delicatessen & Catering's team is concerning. How could such a fundamental mistake happen? This incident reveals a serious oversight in the food preparation process, reflecting a disregard for basic food safety protocols. Such negligence not only marred our event but also put the children's health at risk.The impact of this incident cannot be downplayed.. I am appalled that Bess' Delicatessen & Catering failed to meet basic standards.In terms of customer service, the response from Bess' Delicatessen & Catering was unsatisfactory. The lack of urgency and accountability in addressing the issue was disappointing. It seemed as though they were more concerned with minimizing the incident rather than taking immediate action to rectify the situation and prevent future occurrences
Diner beware !!!! Undercooked/raw chicken - and no follow up. We pre-arranged a chicken and salmon dinner for a party of 12 - delivered with a server (Karen who did a great job in a very awkward situation). Unfortunately the served chicken parm was very undercooked (pink and rubbery) which no one was able to eat. We tried to reheat, but it was too undercooked...so ended up disposing of all the chicken. Needless to say, an expensive and anticipated family meal was ruined. The worst part and primary reason I'm writing a rare review is there was no follow up from the owner after 3 days despite numerous calls from the server the nite of the event, and follow up emails from me. Disappointed....then a bit upset. Did I mention that there were 2 children served the raw chicken first, but thankfully we realized it was undercooked before they tried to eat. The green beans and potatoes looked and tasted good.
Diner beware !!!! Undercooked/raw chicken - and no follow up. We pre-arranged a chicken and salmon dinner for a party of 12 - delivered with a server (Karen who did a great job in a very awkward situation). Unfortunately the served chicken parm was very undercooked (pink and rubbery) which no one was able to eat. We tried to reheat, but it was too undercooked...so ended up disposing of all the chicken. Needless to say, an expensive and anticipated family meal was ruined.The worst part and primary reason I'm writing a rare review is there was no follow up from the owner after 3 days despite numerous calls from the server the nite of the event, and follow up emails from me. Disappointed....then a bit upset. Did I mention that there were 2 children served the raw chicken first, but thankfully we realized it was undercooked before they tried to eat. The green beans and potatoes looked and tasted good. Ordered dough boys pizza which was cooked and excellent.
Boy oh boy … I hate to give a negative review to a mom-and-pop place like this. The ladies behind the counter were all smiles and very friendly and—I must admit—the experience was very nice.But I am STUNNED by the prices. I had ONE sandwich and two deviled eggs (and when I say “two” I mean two halves of ONE egg, so ONE egg) and the bill was TWENTY-SIX dollars. No drink, no chips. ONE sandwich and two deviled eggs: $26.Worse yet, the sandwich was not that good. After I paid the bill, I thought, “Well, you DID order shrimp salad … maybe if it’s packed full of shrimp, the cost of goods justifies that price.” But it was—basically—egg salad with a FEW small shrimp.Again, I feel bad throwing cold water on somebody’s hard work. But after a tip, this sandwich cost over $30 and I still provided my own drink and chips. I had a hard time justifying that to my wife and I can guarantee that she would never green light a trip back there. I have paid for some expensive meals on Hilton Head Island, but I may be priced out of this one.
Great place to work....and eat as the food is delicious!
Friendly HHI established deli with a true personal flare. As a local resident, this is among my favorites.
Restaurantji Recommends
On December 4th, I hosted a birthday party for a friend who turned 100. I wanted to spend my time with Ellen and my guests - not worrying about food and drinks. Bess and Samantha let me do this. They were wonderful. The food was fantastic. Lots of compliments from the guests. While I was still enjoying the last of my guests, they cleaned up the kitchen, put away leftover food and quietly left. Couldn't have asked for a better catering experience. Will use them again next year for my Christmas party. If you need a caterer or just a good sandwich, visit Bess' Deli. You won't be disappointed
Very friendly service. I had an egg salad sandwich and soup. Both were amazing. Cute deli with a lot of interesting choices and combinations.
Delicious as always!Bess and her staff are wonderful!
Woman behind counter acted annoyed that I walked in the door to order some salads. Very unwelcoming. Piles of papers, books, stuff, I don't know what all over, seems very unsanitary for a professional food and beverage business. The potato salad was inedible, potatoes hard and raw inside. We will never return.
Fantastic place to get fresh or frozen dishes to eat at home. Pot pies are awesome, and you can order in advance.