A First Look at Tin and Tallow’s new Hilton Head Island space
There’s a ton of excitement surrounding this burger in the Low Country. It is fair to say Tin and Tallow’s burgers have been the most popular burgers in the area since they first rolled out in the Fall of 2023. Tyler Bowdish and his wife Josi moved to the area from Michigan with plans to eventually have a restaurant. Less than a year and a half after they came on the scene, it is now a reality. Tin and Tallow Burgers opens Friday to the public at 2 Spanish Wells Road on Hilton Head Island. They’ve taken over the space formerly occupied by Jarvis Creek General Store.
The seating and televisions outside always get the attention at this venue, but Tyler tells us the makeover they gave the inside (it’s beautiful) was hoping that people would want to enjoy one of their burgers protected from the elements. Heat in the Summer or cold in the Winter.
My chat with Tyler, edited for brevity:
Jesse: When did you first roll out your food truck?
Tyler: October of 2023
Jesse: Did you think it would shoot out of a cannon popular like it has?
Tyler: I always try to stay positive. You know, just trust in the process of it. But no, not to the level that it did.
JB: How long after you opened in October of 2023 did you guys look at each other and say ‘oh wow, this is gonna be big.”
Tyler: When we first opened, we were behind Barnacle Bill’s. It was kind of a slow crawl back there. All word of mouth with friends and family.
We went to Locals Only first. They opened a week after we did. Then we went to the Farmers Market, which ironically was the first place we sold breakfast. The Farmer’s Market was from 9 until Noon and I thought “no one is getting a burger for breakfast” so I did those croissant sandwiches for it.
Captain Steve, who’s a regular at Locals Only told us they were looking for a food truck. So we went over there. That got us on the street and in front of different people. Then Lot 9 Brewing Company messaged us and said ‘hey, would you have interest in coming over here.’
We had 4 spots on a rotation where we kinda developed our consistency. It was at Lot 9 that people started telling us they were coming specifically to get our burger.
We didn’t go to Bluffton until, maybe 6 months after we opened. We almost had 2 separate followings. But it was really Locals Only that gave us the visibility.
JB: Was the goal always a brick and mortar? Did this happen more quickly than you thought?
Tyler: Yes. The goal was always a brick and mortar but we didn’t have the finances to do it. When this came up, it was kind of out of nowhere. We didn’t have to build out a kitchen. Financially, it put us in position to do it a lot sooner.

JB: Tell me about the work you guys did on the space?
Tyler: We took out a lot of coolers and shelving and merchandise type stuff. Being here late with some of our employees painting and putting together furniture and just watching the vision come alive has been pretty special. We’ve been coming here for over a year, but no ever really ate inside. That was a big thing we wanted to do was make it comfortable. So that even on a beautiful day, people will want to sit back there.

JB: Lets talk food. You told me the breakfast menu will stay small, you may add an avocado toast, but what about burgers? Are you going to do more now that you have space?
Tyler: We are still going to have the weekly specials. We are still going to have a feature burger every week. Come Springtime we are talking about having feature sandwiches. Maybe a week of Maine Lobster Rolls, or a Philly. It will always be handheld. Never a plated option. That’s just something we’ve been tossing around.
We’re gonna add a kids menu. Maybe an additional side like onion rings. Just another option for people. As a whole, the menu will stay pretty similar.

JB: Seven days a week? Six?
Tyler: Right now we will be six days a week. Closed Mondays. But in the Spring we will be open seven. Breakfast will be 7:30am until 10:30am. Then lunch and dinner will go 11:30am until 8pm.
JB: And the truck that made you famous? Parked for now, right?
Tyler: That’s correct. We are hoping to purchase a new mobile unit in the Spring.
# # #
