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Restaurant Reviews - North Myrtle Beach Area
There are a LOT of restaurants in North Myrtle Beach. From Sea Winds you can probably walk to more than 50 of them. Regardless of location, the 17 Restaurants we recommend most are listed here: (The 8 not recommended are below):
Benito’s Brick Oven $$ - No atmosphere but still our favorite. Great Italian, fair prices. Located at Broadway At The Beach and also on Highway 17 a few miles north of Barefoot Landing on the left. The food is excellent.
- Breezes Pool Bar & Grill $$
- This is the closest bar. It is a two minute walk north to Beach
Cove (next door to Sea Winds) It is on the beach and open Spring to
Autumn. It is an open-air, poolside bar that is accessible from the
beach. They serve burgers, hot dogs, snack foods, smoothies, tropical drinks,
liquor and beer. If he is not surfing in Costa Rica, tell Kenny
the bartender that we said hello. The sign on the beach says "Beach Cove
Residents and Guests Only", but as well-heeled visitors with cash to spend
on $7 drinks, we have always been welcomed. There are always one or two
interesting people to meet here. Most of them paid more than double than
you paid for our condo - but don't rub it in.
- $$$- A bit pricey, but the menu is totally excellent. Good appetizers, tender steaks, and sides are well prepared. The service is good. The decor showcases an interesting and varied collection of architectural furnishings. The owner’s are proud and successful. They deserve to be both. Located at the northern most tip of Restaurant Row in North Myrtle Beach on Highway 17. They also own Flamingo’s which is reviewed below. Both consistently get excellent reviews from every customer too.
Captain George's Seafood $$$ – (Across HWY 17 Bypass from Broadway At The Beach) This is a huge buffet that is also VERY clean. They have All-You-Can-Eat crab legs, some good items and a few mediocre items - typical large buffet fare. There are no memorable entrées except for the she-crab soup which was so-so and they do not have Splenda or Equal for your coffee/tea.. It can be quite a walk from the buffet back to your table too. The service was friendly. We will go back. Discount coupons are available in most local magazines. 1401 29th Avenue, Myrtle Beach. Tel: 843-916-2278
Carrabba's $$$ - Without question, our favorite Italian restaurant chain - Period. Get the Pasta Carrabba, Sirloin Marsala, Chicken Marsala, or the Linguini Pescatore. Owned by Outback Steakhouse, so you know the have their act together. This is a brilliant concept. 1015 Hwy 17, North Myrtle Beach.
Chestnut Hill $$$ - Good Food. Good Service. Nice Atmosphere. Fair prices. We had a nice, calm evening with no surprises. It is always packed. There must be a reason. 9922 Hwy. 17 North, Myrtle Beach, Tel: 843-449-3984. Reservations recommend in high season.
- $$$ - Excellent, also a bit pricey - get the Oyster Rockefeller and/or the Seafood Bar. It is a bit noisy. There is a nice view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Located at Barefoot Landing.
Flamingo Grill $$$$ - This is great food. The atmosphere is a harsh combination of beach, art deco, and 1970's Carnival, but it is still quaint and warm. The service was superior. The food was excellent. Even the owner, a 30 year veteran of the Myrtle Beach restaurant business, made his way to our table on a Saturday evening to see if our dinner was acceptable. That is a level of commitment that MUST make its way to your plate. It does. Still, even with reasonable prices, by the time you get some she-crab soup, a lobster and a bottle of wine, it adds up to $$$$. There was a brief moment of "ouch" when I looked at the check, but no regrets. We will go back soon. 7100 North Kings Hwy. (17 business) Myrtle Beach, Tel: 843-449-5388
- $$$- Great for drinks and the food is pretty good. (I think the Hard Rock people have their fingers in this, so our opinion may change with time) The outside deck and bar are great in warm weather. They usually have a talented one-man band on the deck. The main entrées are excellent, plentiful and fairly priced. Sunday Gospel Brunch is a rip-off and a little too ethnic for me with some large black ladies wearing big hats and a LOT of purple. Headliner show tickets are pricey for seating that "cannot be reserved, standing room only" for all shows. We're getting a little old for that. It is too bad that the list of "up and coming" and "has been" acts is so impressive. Have lunch or drinks on the deck in the Spring and Fall months and it is an excellent value. If you are are crazy fan for a particular band, then the venue is warm and cozy - otherwise the shows are an elbow-to-elbow madhouse. Located at Barefoot Landing.
- $$- Skimpy, overpriced burger, but the 1950s atmosphere is fun. The sing-along is cute. Do it once – especially if you have kids. Overall, it is OK. Located at Barefoot Landing and Broadway At The Beach
The Library $$$$ – The way dinner should be served. A quaint and cozy hole-in-the wall with one of the best menus in town. Dinner for 3 with one bottle of lower-end wine and dessert was over $300 (No kidding) so make an evening of it. Highly recommended, but both the waiter and the owner talked too much on my nickel. Also, this place has changed owners a few times, so things could change again quickly. 1212 North Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, Tel: 843-448-4527
Ocean Garden Buffet $$ - This is a Chinese buffet with a seafood kicker. It fits our leisurely lunch schedules well on the weekends. Personally, I view this as a Chinese buffet, not a seafood buffet. There is something about eating crab legs at a Chinese buffet that bothers me (even at 1/3 the price of Preston's). Still, the food is quite good, the selections are broad and we have never once waited in line. They have a regular menu, but why? The buffet prices are so low that I almost feel bad paying with a credit card...almost. Located at 1400 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach.
Olive Garden $$ – Fairly good chain fare, but noisy. We like it because we can walk there very easily from the condo. Simply walk west on 48th Ave South to Hwy 17 and then walk north a few hundred yards. 4701 Hwy 17 South, NMB. Tel: 843-272-7530
- $$$ – This used to be our favorite, but over the years we have grown weary of the experience. The food is OK, but not great. We have had great crab legs, great service and good food before. We have also had cold crab legs, slow service, messy surroundings, and all the canned vegetables you can eat. Go early to get the freshest food. This is a buffet. It is NOT gourmet, but it is acceptable and you can order All-You-Can Eat crab legs for a few dollars more. The long line moves quickly while you fight off the timeshare salespeople who rent space from the restaurant owners. (Q: Are you Married? A: Yes we are, but not to each other. This shuts them down every time!) Located in North Myrtle Beach next to the Alligator Adventure at 4530 Hwy 17 South, NMB. Tel: 843-272-3338
Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse $$$$ - (Near Broadway, behind Planet Hollywood) - Without question, this is my favorite restaurant in Myrtle Beach. I love this place! We went to a Brazilian Steakhouse a few years ago at Horton Plaza in San Diego. It was interesting - but pure tourist fare and just so-so. Rioz, however, is fantastic! The deal is this: They carve roasted, skewered meats at your table until you either give up or die. We almost did not go to Rioz because of our mediocre experience in San Diego. Luckily, because of our need for local variety, we decided to try Rioz anyway. It was wonderful. I have now been there about 5 times. The salad bar is THE finest salad bar I have ever visited (except for the peeled shrimp which are consistently rubbery). The meats are superb. The only meat I did not like was the Filet Mignon which tasted gamey. The other 14 or so meats were overwhelmingly good. $35 per person plus drinks and dessert if you must. The wine list seemed very pricey for a modest list of wines I have never heard of. We paid $46 for a bottle of Stonestreet Merlot which was excellent, but also one of the least expensive wines on the list. I have been to Napa and wine school in Sienna, Italy, but I am not a wine snob. To me, an "all you can eat" meal is not the time for an expensive wine. In subsequent visits the wine prices have come down. The atmosphere was slightly upscale but the loud golfers often do not know how to act. The service was the only negative. The service was fantastic, but pesky. Too much. There are too many people tending to you. You must therefore turn down wine lists and dessert offers from four different people. It is a little like the straw market on any Caribbean island: "LEAVE ME ALONE, PLEASE?!" Still, the food is possibly the best meal I have ever had in Myrtle Beach. The bill for two including wine plus tip was $145.00 2920 Hollywood Drive, Myrtle Beach. 843-839-0777 (Directly behind Planet Hollywood, next to Broadway At The Beach)
Spring House Restaurant $ - (Across from Alligator Adventure) - Great Breakfast, great prices and good food. Sadly, for years it was almost impossible to get a coffee cup without lipstick on it - but I think they have since seen my review. This is a pretty good diner with an excellent menu. Across from Alligator Adventure and House of Blues.
T-Bonz $$$ - This was formerly on the Not-Recommended list, but they have pulled it together. The Dixie Chicken lunch entrée is an excellent value. The She Crab soup is also quite good. The menu has a nice variety and they brew their own excellent beers too. We eat here for lunch often. Their own microbrews are quite good too. Two locations: across from Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing. We eat at the Barefoot Landing location for lunch almost every time we go to he beach, but almost never for dinner unless we simply cannot decide what we want.
Thoroughbreds $$$$ - Excellent dinning. Period. The decor can change dramatically depending on where you are seated. We prefer the older section downstairs which is stately and dimly lighted with dark walnut paneling. The newer upstairs area is a a tad "country-fied". Of all the upscale restaurants in the area, we come back here more than all the others combined. Highly recommended.
- $$$ - (at Broadway) - Good ribs.
- Tradewinds Restaurant $$ - Located right next door in Beach Cove Resort on the main level (One building south of Sea Winds) Buffet and à la carte breakfast service daily. Open in summer season for dinner. It looks dated, but it is convenient - especially if you want to walk to a quick breakfast.
Rossi's Italian Grill
$$$
- This was a totally disgusting experience. After seeing years of TV advertisements
on TV-33, we finally visited Rossi's on
Monday night, December 15, 2003. Never again. The older blonde lady at the
front desk literally sneered at us. There is no non-smoking section. Two
strikes and we were not even seated yet! In the lobby there is a picture
of the founder. The label under the picture gives him a name that is
obviously Greek. I love Greek food and have been to Greece many
times, but it is not Italy! We should have left right then, but it was
getting late. In this town 7:30 is late for a Monday night in December.Dick’s Last Resort ??? - Rude is the game. Serious rudeness. They even advertise it. It is their official theme. Somebody should have warned me because I/we did not know. I said to the Host: "Four people, non-smoking please". Reply from Host: "Too bad." I am still waiting for the funny part. We walked out and have never been back.. If this is really your "last resort"…stay hungry. I’ve never been that hungry. I simply do not understand this business model. With so many nice places to eat, why go here? Don’t do it! Also, we have no idea about the prices. We never got that far. Go ahead...click their link and see for yourself! If you really like this place, you will probably also do damage to our condo and think it is funny. Obviously, I just don't get it.
Giant Crab $$$ - (Hah! Out of business!) The long buffet line seemed to be a quarter of a mile away from my table. You might get lost as you negotiate screaming babies and dropped plates of food that seem have been there for a little while. I thought the entire place was pure chaos. The food is actually pretty good and you can certainly find something you like because the selection is vast, but the lines were long and place looks like a bus terminal. You want Prime Rib? It is available at the buffet carving station...BUT here's the deal: 50% chance it is overcooked. 50% chance the carving guy is on break. 90% chance there are 10 people waiting in line for a slice....then you have to find your table again. The dessert selections (including several Greek desserts) were quite good. If you are so hungry that you could eat a frozen dog, this is your place! Personally, I need a cleaner place at any price.
UPDATE: April 2009 CLOSED!
Joe's Bar & Grill $$$$ - Exceptionally poor service. We asked for non-smoking and were told it was available but we were surrounded by smoke anyway. Brownish, limp lettuce on a comically small salad. The entrées were almost superb, but we need to have a fund raising telethon for our waiter. He was "special". It is hard to overcome a waiter who is annoying while picking through an inedible salad in a smoky non-smoking section. Sadly, you can walk to this restaurant from our condo and the menu is excellent. We would love to make Joe's "our favorite little place", but there is just too much to overcome. Oh, yeah...its pricy too - Steee Rike Three! If you love crappy service and lots of smoke while you eat - this might just be your little slice of heaven.
Hamburger Joe's $$$ - How can two people spend $24.00 on mediocre burgers and fries and still have to squeeze mayo from a packet? This is beyond my comprehension...but you can do here! No redeeming qualities to be found. Go to T-Bonz and get a better burger and more atmosphere for less money. Sadly, you can walk to Hamburger Joe's from the condo.
- $$ - Look at the neat Egyptian stuff, buy your T-shirt and then get out. The overpriced hamburger was as "hard as a rock". Good for a drink and desserts are OK. Have dinner somewhere else. Located at Broadway at the Beach.
- $$$ - (Closed) They brew their own beer – but who doesn’t these days? No non-smoking area and very blunt about it. (There was a look on the hostess's face that said, "Any more stupid questions"?) We stayed because we were really hungry. Service was slow, smokers were everywhere, steak was overcooked and a bit tough...and they consider themselves to be a steakhouse/brewery? $24.95 for a 10 oz steak is harsh, no? How about $31.95 for a prime rib? There is an "idiot assistance section" above the steaks on the menu in case whoever orders a $32 prime rib does not know what medium rare means. They need to show this to the cook, not me! (Maybe he needs to cook by the pictures?) Located at Barefoot Landing. Instead of eating here, T-Bonz is only a two minute walk away.
- $$ - A bastion of Los Angeles tourism gone horribly bad. The most miserable $7.95 hamburger on Earth. I simply do not understand the madness for this place. Do you really want to pay homage to a low quality wax dummy of Sly Stallone? The decor reminds me of a three-way collision between a Flea Market, a traveling carnival and the Vincent Price movie "House of Wax". Is this where you want to eat? Located just North of Broadway at the Beach on 17 Bypass.
Rossi's brought out oiled down bread topped with 1/2 inch thick garlic chunks. We could literally smell it coming. We have also been to Italy and have never seen even one touch of garlic on anything. When our entrées arrived, my veal parmesan was refrigerator-cold on the inside and had enough marinara sauce dumped on top to feed a family of six. I guess they tried to heat it with the sauce? My wife's Italian sausage was also ice-cold and hard. Obviously it was semi-re-heated and probably day-old food. Nothing was fresh except the garlic. You can get this exact same meal in a microwave bag at a convenience store for $3. We both pushed it away in disgust. For some moral reason we got doggie bags. We hate to waste food. We still threw it all away before we got home because 1) it was nasty, 2) it was pungent and 3) why make the condo refrigerator smell like garlic for days just to throw it away later? $60 for two...never, ever again. Located in the Galleria Shopping Center, a few doors down from Kroger, 9636 North Hwy 17, MB Go to Carrabba's instead !! You have been warned !!! (Or go to McDonalds, or go to bed, or just starve! You will be happier!)
UPDATE: April 2007 CLOSED! (See? I told you!)
Our Guide to prices:
Inexpensive = $, Moderate = $$, Pricey = $$$, "Maybe I should have worn a jacket" = $$$$
Disclaimer: The above represents our opinions. We are a two career family with no children. As such, we eat out often.. We are down-to-earth people who enjoy fine dining, a good hamburger and/or a simple coffee shop. We look for good service, courtesy, value, quality, atmosphere and a non-smoking section. We will trade some of one category for more of another, but usually insist on a non-smoking section. When we occasionally pay top-dollar for a steak, we want a quiet, yet attentive waiter and a touch of atmosphere – no attitudes. We have lived in Beverly Hills and (Oh, yawn) we were not impressed. We also assume that those restaurants without a non-smoking section are owned by smokers - who if taken as a whole are the most inconsiderate lot on the planet. We assume that they openly do not care about my dining experience as well.
The perfect restaurant is private, warm, friendly, generous, delicious, has a great view, is all-healthy, always open and free.
As such, no restaurant is perfect. We’ll recommend a restaurant that falls far short of perfection when we like it. All of these comments are our own. We paid for the experience and have a right to share our opinions with those who may have an interest. Bon Appétit!
Of course, every now and then we sleep in and make ham sandwiches in the condo too. We rarely cook up a feast at the beach because when we are there it is our play time!
For a list of other Myrtle Beach Area Restaurants click here
Scott, the well-fed guy in the middle, and his wife Teresa are the owners of
Sea Winds 609. Here they are accompanied by Scott's cousin Andy
(who also likes to eat) on a tour of South Tirol in northern Italy.
Sea Winds in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a frequent
destinations for these travelers. Let the feasting begin!
Having dinner in South Tirol, Italy with my cousin Andy
He only smiles when he eats.