February 2012 Archives

When dining along the Grand Strand of South Carolina, the biggest problem is choosing where to eat from the more than 1700 restaurants in the area. The Myrtle Beach area is famous for extraordinary, fresh seafood, but you’ll also find something to please everyone in the family including: Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, German and more. Some of our favorites are Captain Dave's Dockside Restaurant, Original Benjamines, Captain Georges's, Sea Captain's House and a new favorite is Mykonos.

After a day on the beach many visitors decide to unwind at one of the areas many nightclubs, discos, sports bars or beach clubs. Want to enjoy some live music? Strand clubs offer a variety: pop, rock, country, R&B and more. Whether you are a teenager looking for the hot teen club, a fan of shag music or just want to dance the night away we have something for you. The hottest nightlife in Myrtle Beach can be found at Broadway At The Beach

Myrtle Beach Shopping is the 3rd biggest reason people visit the Strand (behind the beach and golfing). The area is home to 3 huge factory outlet centers as well as 3 shopping malls, including the new Coastal Grand Mall (the largest in SC). For a change of pace from the mega-shopping complexes, visit the many specialty shops in the low country setting of Pawley’s Island.

Myrtle Beach is also home to a growing number of new attractions. We have an amazing Sky Wheel that is the largest east of the Mississippi, Wonder Works and the all new Pirate’s Voyage. Your North Myrtle Beach Vacation is sure to be fun filled with our sandy beaches, oceanfront boardwalk and amazing nightlife.

 If you've never tasted fresh local oysters from the South Carolina coast, you're missing a savory, salty treat that's served by the bucket or in blue speckled roasting pans at Myrtle Beach area restaurants.

In either case, you get about two to three-and-a-half dozen oysters in a typical batch. Many people share a roast as an appetizer, or order a whole one as an entree.

Local South Carolina oysters do not look like the single select oysters such as you'd get if you ordered Oysters Rockefeller. The local variety is Cluster Oysters, and the name comes from how the oysters clump together in clusters. Some look like oyster condos with a big one in the middle and several small oysters stuck around it.

When you're shucking a Cluster Oyster, don't stop until you're sure you've reached the middle, because often the biggest and juiciest prize is tucked away at the cluster's core. Cluster oysters have notoriously jagged edges, so placing a rag of some sort in the hand that holds the oyster during shucking is a good precaution against cuts.

Your server might ask you how you want your oysters cooked. Some diners like them cooked dry, so the oysters are firm and there is no "oyster liquor," or juice, left in the shells. Others prefer them juicy and jiggly and savor every drop of the oyster liquor. If you're not sure what you'd prefer, order them medium.

Normal condiments that come with a roast are hot sauce, lemon and cocktail sauce. Some people like to put the oyster on a Saltine cracker and add a couple drops of hot sauce before relishing the treat. Melted butter is also nice to dip your oysters in before popping the salty morsels in your mouth.

Big E's Seafood & Barbeque, 1250 S.C. 9 E., Longs, 843-399-3399.

Locals who live west of the waterway swear by the oysters at Big E's.

Bimini's Oyster Bar & Seafood Cafe, 930 Lake Arrowhead Rd., Myrtle Beach, 843-449-5549.

Much great seafood and finger foods are on the menu at Bimini's, but they're known for Oyster Roasts.

Boom Boom's Raw Bar, 1407 13th Ave. N., North Myrtle Beach, 843-427-7304.

The kitchen cooks the delectable clusters just right. Boom Boom's is a great spend-the-evening party spot with its deck overlooking Vereen's Marina and the Intracoastal Waterway, and they have live music.

Crab Catcher's on the Waterfront, 4474 Waterfront Ave., Little River, 843-280-2025.

The restaurant is on the second story of this ramshackle building overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, and the seafood sandwiches are yummy.

Creek Ratz, 4065 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, 843-357-2891.

If the weather is temperate, most people enjoy sitting on the waterfront patio to enjoy sandwiches and raw bar seafood.

Gulfstream Cafe, 1536 S. Waccamaw Dr., Garden City, 843-651-8808.

There is hardly a better place to catch a sunset in the entire Grand Strand, because this beautiful and spacious restaurant is at the south end of Waccamaw Drive on Garden City Beach and faces the inlet, toward the west. The setting sun over the inlet is magical. Oyster Roasts are not on the menu, but here's an insider's tip: Call ahead before you visit, and they'll steam a batch for you for $15.

Hot Fish Club, 4911 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, 843-357-9175.

The Hot Fish Club has a gorgeous setting on the west bank of Murrells Inlet with a large lawn, children's playground and incredible view. A nicely appointed restaurant and bar are in the main building, and outside is a roomy gazebo where some legendary parties have taken place. You can eat inside or at the gazebo, where after 9 p.m. there's often live music.

J&J Cafeteria, 1301 4th Ave., Conway, 843-248-6281.

This home-spun restaurant in downtown Conway serves a lot of great food from a popular lunch buffet to salads and seafood baskets.

Mr. Fish Seafood Restaurant, 3401 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, 843-492-3474.

Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, Mr. Fish (Ted Hammerman) and his daughter, Sheina Hammerman, serve a variety of seafood, including sushi.

Nance's Creekfront Restaurant, 4883 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, 843-651-2696.

Located on the waterfront in picturesque Murrells Inlet, Nance's has its own oyster beds.

Steven's Oyster Roast, 3912 Sea Mountain Highway, Little River, 843-399-3508.

Those looking for an authentic rustic oyster-eating experience should check out Steven's, which is all about the food instead of the decor. They're known for Calabash-style (fried and crispy) seafood and their oysters.

Here’s a list of the top 10 places to celebrate the holiday on the Grand Strand, ranked from north to south for your convenience so you can hit as many as you can. Good (Irish) luck:

10) Get the party started early at the 24th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in North Myrtle Beach. Crowds line Main Street at 9 a.m. as the floats and convertibles ride by and wave and throw out candy, so this is one of the few kid-friendly events on the Strand. Live music, food booths and, of course, green beer are available from vendors.

9) Just crawling distance away from the parade is one of the best Irish pubs on the Strand - Flynn’s Irish Tavern, formerly known as The Pale. Owned by an Irish family, Flynn’s offers authentic draft beer from all over the U.K., but the Guinness will be flowing for this celebration, which features great Irish food like Shepherd’s pie and live Irish music.

8) Also on the north end of the Grand Strand, residents of Little River flock to Pat and Mike’s Irish Pub for a full day of good food, beer, music and times. Pat and Mike’s rolls out authentic Irish music for this occasion and serves up its usual tasty Irish dishes. But the main course for this holiday is green beer, as it should be.

7) Working our way south, one of the best St. Paddy’s Day celebrations on the Strand can be found at Finn McCool’s Irish Pub on Lake Arrowhead Road. This place puts on the party every year, with the crowds usually spilling out onto the porch and the parking lot. Lots of good food and cold beer are on tap and live music for those lucky enough to get a seat inside.

6) The next stop on our Tour de Strand is Broadway at the Beach, where all the clubs of Celebrity Square and beyond will be celebrating St. Paddy’s Day into the next morning. Pub-crawl your way around the usual bars of Celebrity Square, like Froggy Bottom’s, Malibu’s, Sharkey’s and Crocodile Rocks, and check out some new hot spots like Carlos and Charlie’s, the Tilted Kilt and Wet Willie’s.

5) Downtown Conway has gotten into the St. Paddy’s Day spirit and will again this year with the second annual Gathering of the Green at the Conway Farmers Market. The event begins at 5 p.m. and will feature live music, a costume contest and other entertainment for the whole family. In addition to the good food and fun, of course, green beer will be on tap. It’s worth the trip to Conway.

4) The newest St. Paddy’s party to the Grand Strand scene has quickly become one of the biggest. The third annual Downtown Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Celebration has become one of the biggest block parties of the year, with Ocean Boulevard being closed for food, beer and dancing in the streets. This year’s headliner, Rusted Root, is sure to induce plenty of the latter. There’s also an alcohol-free kids’ zone featuring rides and games.

3) Next on our venture south is another growing celebration is the third annual Irish Fest. Held in Valor Park at The Market Common, this festival features Irish food, beer and entertainment as well as lots of activities for the kids. Best of all, patrons can walk (or crawl) a short distance to more St. Paddy’s Day parties at Market Common’s many bars and restaurants.

2) Another newcomer to the Strand has quickly become one of the can’t-miss places to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. O’Keefe’s Irish Pub gets the indoor/outdoor festivities started before anyone else on the Strand with its “Kegs and Eggs” party bright and early at 9 a.m., followed by a full day of Irish food, beer and music. Last year’s inaugural event was a blast, but not necessarily memorable.

1) Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day in true Lowcountry style at the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. This walkway along the inlet allows patrons to pub crawl to restaurants and bars located up and down the Marsh Walk, including the Dead Dog Saloon, Bubba’s Love Shack, Creek Ratz and Drunken Jack’s. Relax by the waterfront, enjoy the live music and drink in the green beer.