Something odd happens between Surfside Beach and Murrells Inlet when motorists turn off U.S. 17 Business onto Atlantic Avenue.
The development is so seamless along that part of 17 a visitor scarcely notices they’re in a village called Garden City. But once that eastward turn is made, their cars pass through a tunnel of live oaks that’s a gateway to a slower, serener world.
The passageway goes by tidy shaded mobile homes, then suddenly gives way to bright sunshine winking on the calm waters of Murrells Inlet. A causeway, where people often fish and dip crab lines, passes over the inlet and leads to the sandy haven called Garden City Beach.
Conch Café
1870 Waccamaw Drive
Garden City
651-6556
The oceanfront view is spectacular; the specialty cocktail list is long. For lunch there are Po’ Boys; salads; flounder or grouper sandwiches; the Beach Club sandwich with ham, turkey, bacon and melted provolone; a couple of burgers; Grouper Fingers; bacon-wrapped shrimp; Buffalo Shrimp; and Calamari. For dinner you can have Shrimp Scampi; Seafood Platters; Crabcake Dinner; Steak Oceanside that’s topped with shrimp, scallops, asparagus and Hollandaise; Chicken over Angel Hair Pasta; and Prime Rib on Fridays and Saturdays.
Finocchio’s
3100 U.S. 17 Business S.
Murrells Inlet
651-2110
http://finocchios-italian-ristorante.com/index.htm
Go here once, and it will likely become a place your heart and stomach often leads you. A few of our favorite dishes include Ravioli Rustici (sautéed with pancetta, onions, vodka, tomato sauce and cheese), Pasta al Forno (baked ziti with ground beef, peas, hard eggs and tomato sauce), Salmone al Pepeverde (grilled salmon with brandy/green peppercorn cream sauce), and Fettuccine Lizu where fresh noodles are sautéed with wild mushrooms, pancetta, roasted pignolis and brandy cream sauce.
K-Rae’s
120 Atlantic Avenue
Garden City
651-2869
www.kraes.com
K-Rae’s Pub in Garden City is a friendly place where drinks flow, burgers are whipped up in the kitchen and tails are whipped at the pool table and dart board. There’s also a martini and raw bar, and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. a breakfast buffet costs $7. The regular menu includes nachos with either tortilla chips or French fries; Gravy Fries; Sweet Potato Fries; Wings; and Steak and Cheese Subs. You can also get a deli sandwich such as pastrami, corned beef, turkey or bologna, and they make Italian Grinders with ham, turkey, salami, provolone, oil, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion on a fresh roll.
The Pier at Garden City
110 South Waccamaw Drive
Garden City
651-9700
http://www.pieratgardencity.com/index.htm
The cheerful women working behind the counter at the pier’s cafe say they have the “best breakfast on the beach.” For breakfast, which is served from 7 to 11 a.m., choices include omelets, bagels, French toast, pancakes, eggs and several sides. Starting at 11 a.m. and through 11 p.m. the menu includes crab cake sandwich, foot-long hot dogs and a burger called the Hugo Burger. They also have hand-dipped Mayfield ice cream. The pier also has a video arcade and live entertainment.
Reha’s Beach Café
The Oasis Shopping Center
Garden City
651-0811
The décor is bright and light, and while the menu’s claim to fame is many pie varieties and a bottomless 50-cent cup of coffee, which is rather down-home, the rest of the menu could be described as upscale comfort food. That doesn’t mean you can’t find classic pancakes, eggs and bacon at family-friendly Reha’s, because they’re all about that. But you can also get Polish kielbasa, or a plate-size waffle dusted with powdered sugar. Lunch choices include classic burgers and subs, but other selections include half a gourmet sandwich on marbled rye with a cup of lobster bisque (or whatever the soup of the day is), or an Asiago Grilled Cheese with jus to dip it in.
Sara J’s
314 Atlantic Ave.
Garden City
651-1657
Fried seafood, broiled seafood, steamed seafood and even stewed seafood – diners come in droves for the excellent and affordable seafood, and the view of the inlet is gorgeous. You can also call ahead to place an order and pick it up curbside.
Takara Japanese Express
Next to Krystal Burger
U.S. 17 Business in the South Beach Exchange shopping center
Garden City
651-4106
Jenny Wong owns this incredible Japanese restaurant. It’s not a chain, and she and her sister, Annie Wong, serve fantastic and inexpensive food in their beautifully decorated eatery. There are always several lunch specials such as Glazed Salmon with rice and vegetables. The salmon was cooked to a perfect moistness and the glaze coating was flavorful and generously applied. A few other dishes include Shrimp Lo Mein, Broccoli with Filet Mignon, Ginger Garden Salad, Miso Soup, Jumbo Black Tiger Shrimp and Hibachi Crab Bowl. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Take-out orders are welcome, and the number is 651-4106.
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