Lowco Meal Maestros: Michael Cirafesi, OMBRA Cucina Italiana

Courtesy Ritterbeck Photography

When Michael Cirafesi arrived on Hilton Head Island 20 years ago, this was a very different place. Especially from a culinary standpoint.

“I was a little punk,” he said with a laugh. “But I was a very driven, radical little punk. And what I saw here 20 years ago was terrible. I thought to myself, ‘This place needs a serious Italian restaurant.’”

That driven, radical little punk did exactly what he set out to do, launching the island’s culinary profile into the stratosphere with the opening of OMBRA. Built on the solid foundation of perfectionism and authentic Italian recipes that Cirafesi have made his twin trademarks, OMBRA presents a true epicurean high-water mark and a standard bearer for island cuisine.

It’s been 20 years since he arrived here, and Cirafesi has only evolved.

“I’m a radical, but not a little punk anymore,” he said. “And even after all these years, I still use the best ingredients and still go by the classic techniques that were taught to me as a child. Some chefs as they get old start working smarter, not harder. I’ve gotten smarter over the years, but I still work just as hard.”

And as anyone who has tasted the results of his hard work can attest, this young chef has only gotten better with age.

Ombra CUCINA ITALIANA
1000 William Hilton Pkwy, G-2 Hilton Head Island 843-842-5505 | ombrahhi.com.com