Bistro 217

10707 Ocean Highway

Pawleys Island
(843) 235-8217

www.bistro217.com

It’s a busy little bistro with cozy banquettes and booths inside and a pretty courtyard outside. Lunch selections are eclectic and varied such as Tomato, Crab and Jalapeno Soup, Parmesan Encrusted Soft Shell Crab, Grilled Asiago BLT, Crunchy Thai Shrimp Salad, Bistro Style Chicken and Dumplings and Pan Sautéed Grouper with fried spinach and lobster sauce. At dinner a few choices include the 217 Organic Field Green Salad, Warm Pistachio Encrusted Goat Cheese Salad, Rosemary Ginger Pork Tenderloin and the Pan-seared Lobster, Shrimp and Scallops with sun-dried tomatoes, shallots and Parmesan cream sauce over linguine.

Bubba’s Fish Shack

16 South Ocean Blvd.

Surfside Beach

232-9798

www.bubbasfishshack.com

Bubba’s is a fun place for couples, large families or other groups. Great seafood and sandwiches are presented in a casual atmosphere.

Capt. Dave’s Dockside Restaurant

4037 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-5850

www.captdavesdockside.com

The old Dave’s was torn down to make way for this new upscale waterfront haven. A high-tech grill allows for superbly cooked meats and succulent sushi-grade seafood. Southern Living magazine recommended the bacon-wrapped scallops. The inlet view and atmosphere are outstanding. A brunch buffet is now being served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The price is $16.95 for ages 12 and older and $8.95 ages 11 and younger.

Captain John’s Seafood Grill

13057 U.S. 17

Indigo Exchange Plaza

Pawleys Island

235-9300

captainjohnsseafoodgrill.com

You can choose Seafood Gumbo, Garlic Shrimp, Blackened Scallops, Calamari with Homemade Marinara or a Jumbo Lump Crabcake. Or maybe you’d like a Haddock Sandwich, Maine Lobster Roll or Ipswich Whole-Belly Clam Roll. You could also have a salad topped with a variety of seafoods, or a dinner entrée (ranging in price from $10 to $20) featuring fresh haddock, oysters, ahi tuna, clams, scallops, shrimp, crab, marinated chicken and steak. The interior is modern and artistic while exuding a welcoming ambiance.

Capt. Juel’s Hurricane Restaurant

4499 Mineola Ave., on the waterfront

Little River

249-2211

Capt. Juel’s has been serving fresh seafood since 1945. For lunch there are specials like Fried Grouper with grits and sun-dried tomato sauce, and the menu has Barbecue Shrimp, Key West Coconut Shrimp, Crab Cakes, Blackened Mahi with grits, Mahi Rockefeller, Seafood Au Gratin and Capt. Juel’s famous seafood stew. You can also order Greek Salad, Caesar Salad, Blackened Chicken, Bourbon Street Steak and a Cheeseburger. For dessert there are Coconut Cake (“Grandmom Bernice’s old recipe”), Banana Bread Pudding, Derby Pie and Key Lime Pie. They also have desserts of the day like Red Velvet Cake or Coconut Pineapple Cake.

Crab Catchers on the Waterfront

4474 Waterfront Ave.

Little River

280-2025

Crab Catchers has a dining deck with a great view of the downtown marina, including the casino boats, and of Little River Inlet. The menu is mostly seafood presented in a no-nonsense casual manner. They have fresh catch of the day, Buffalo Shrimp, Steamed Mussels, Calamari, Oysters on the Half Shell, Grouper Bites, Sea Scallops, Crabcake Sandwich, Fish Fry Dinner and a Seafood Platter. In the non-seafood category, you can order Chicken Wings, Hushpuppies, Cheeseburger, Deep-fried Corn and Flat Iron Steak.

Crab Catcher’s opens daily at 11 a.m.

Creek Ratz

4065 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

357-2891

www.creekratz.com

Life just doesn’t get much better than sipping a cool drink on the deck at Creek Ratz. Fresh seafood and the awesome inlet view bring diners back. For lunch or dinner, this is a happy and casual place. The Grouper Sandwich is delicious.

Divine Fish House

3993 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-5800

www.divinefishhouse.com

If you want a more upscale atmosphere, dine inside and appreciate the inlet view and gorgeous décor. If you’re wearing shorts and flip-flops, dine outside at their Wahoo’s Bar. The seafood is great inside or out. Divine Fish House does not use any oils containing trans fats.

Driftwood’s Seafood & Steak

10799 S.C. 707

in St. James Plaza

Myrtle Beach

650-3278

The menu is heavy on seafood, which can be fried or broiled. The seafood platters are popular, and there’s even a Driftwood Steam Platter for Two with grilled shrimp, boiled shrimp, scallops, flounder, deviled crab and crab legs. Seniors have special choices that cost $9, and lunchtime specials are $5 to $8. An Early Bird Special from 4 to 6 p.m. costs $8 to $9. There are all-you-care-to-eat specials Sundays through Thursdays, and if you bring in a church bulletin on Sundays you get an extra 10 percent off your meal.

Drunken Jack’s

4031 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-2044

www.drunkenjacks.com

The atmosphere is casual, but the seafood prepared by longtime Executive Chef Casey Blake is serious. You get a great view of the inlet, plus excellent local seafood like crab cakes, shrimp and flounder. They also have char-grilled steaks. Don’t forget to “Say hey” to Bubba Love’s statue outside.

Emi Bistro and Sushi Bar

47 Da Gullah Way (beside U.S. 17)

Pawleys Island

235-2313

www.emibistro.com

Shozo Sakata is one of the best sushi chefs in the Grand Strand area, and his lovely and delicious creations are featured in the sushi bar. It’s fun to get a ringside seat and watch him perform amazing knife skills. The regular menu has an esteemed reputation for its unique upscale Asian cuisine that fuses some of the best elements of French and continental cooking methods.

Filet’s

2120 Sea Mountain Highway

at Harbourgate Marina

by the Swing Bridge

North Myrtle Beach

280-5200

The sushi here is excellent, as are the steaks, seafood and incredible views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the expensive boats docked at Harbourgate Marina. This is a huge restaurant with lower- and upper-level seating, and loads of both indoor and outdoor seating. A few menu items include Prime Rib, Stuffed Grouper, Chicken Oscar, Beef & Brie Salad and Filet Neptune.

Fire Island Grille

4924 U.S. 17 S.

In Barefoot Landing

North Myrtle Beach

272-FIRE (3473)

www.fireislandgrille.com

A Pacific Rim/Caribbean theme infuses the décor and the menu, with dishes such as Mayan Crab Cakes, Asian Shrimp Salad, Muffuletta Panini, Swordfish Skewers, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna and Cuban Mojo Pork Chops.

Fresh Seafood Company Restaurant & Market

1343 North Kings Highway (by K-Mart)

Myrtle Beach

448-9043

The specialty of the house is Alaskan Snow Cod. It’s a delicate and delectable fish that the Cerullos only serve cooked – not fresh – because it’s difficult to get the knack of handling it. Other dishes include “Boats” filled with fish, clams, shrimp, perch, catfish or chicken with French fries and hushpuppies; Shrimp Cocktail, Frog Legs, Coconut Shrimp, Shrimp Scampi, Surf & Turf; many different sandwiches like Catfish or Swordfish; Fish Dinners with Grouper, Mahi-Mahi, Orange Roughy, Red Snapper, Salmon and more; Scallops; Oysters; Lobster; Dungeness Crab Legs; and Pots of Seafood with mussels, crab legs, shrimp or frog legs. There’s also a case of fresh seafood where you can make selections to take home and cook yourself.

Harrelson’s Seafood Market

4368 U.S. 17 Business South

Murrells Inlet

651-5707

Harrelson’s has been in business for many years, but it was recently purchased by members of the Springs family; they’re the ones who own the hugely popular Crab Cake Lady shop featuring An Mathis Spring’s delectable crab dishes. Now An and her grandsons, Sean and Denny, provide fresh seafood for retail customers and to commercial businesses. They also cook some of that fresh local seafood and serve it to a grateful public for lunch. Their Blackened Grouper Sandwich is quite possibly the best in the world.

Hot Fish Club

4911 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

357-9175

www.hotfishclub.com

The setting at this popular waterfront restaurant is pure Southern charm with loads of ancient live oaks, a grassy lawn with a playground and an outdoor gazebo that heats up at night with live music and dancing. The menu features Lowcountry cuisine and seafood; try the Grouper Francaise or Seafood Pomodoro.

Inlet Crab House

3572 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-8452

www.inletcrabhouseandrawbar.com

Now you can enjoy lunch and dinner on Sundays too at this locals’ favorite seafood-and-burger spot. Choices include Crab Bisque, Fish Chowder, Shrimp Tacos, Bacon-wrapped Scallops, Oysters Rockefeller, Blue Crab Claws, Soft Shell Crab dinner and steaks, ribs and chicken.

Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant

Colonial Mall-Myrtle Beach

U.S. 17 at S.C. 22

Myrtle Beach

361-4700

www.fishcompany.com

This restaurant (and it’s pronounced EYE-luh-more-AH-duh) is all about hunting and fishing, so of course the menu is full of seafood and wild game. A few of the most popular dishes include Dolphin Chardonnay, Grouper Portofino and Venison-stuffed Mushrooms. The sushi menu is extensive and executed with flair by Sushi Chef Harry Heriyadi. There’s a beautiful 2,500-gallon salt water reef aquarium, two 42-inch hi-def plasma TVs, interesting celebrity hunting/fishing memorabilia and a pleasant outdoor patio area.

Island Café & Deli

10683 U.S. 17

In the Island Shops

Pawleys Island

237-9527

www.islandcafeanddeli.com

This eatery is a favorite of locals, but visitors are delighted to find it. It is a casual spot open daily for lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating. In the season there is live entertainment out on the patio. Regular specials include Monday nights when a pound of shrimp prepared any way you like is $12, and on Tuesday and Wednesday nights a 1 1/4-pound Maine Lobster is $14. The regular menu is a seafood lover’s dream, but there are also steaks, chicken and non-seafood sandwiches.

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville

1114 Celebrity Circle

Broadway at the Beach

U.S. 17 Bypass at 29^th Avenue North

Myrtle Beach

448-5455

www.margaritaville.com

If you’ve never been to a Margaritaville, you need to check out the spectacle of a giant blender with a hurricane rising out of it, and a balloon-shaper on stilts. There’s always a party here with plenty of Buffet tunes and tasty things to sip and munch. We like the Crab, Shrimp and Mushroom Dip, Coconut Shrimp, Jerk Chicken, Corn and Crab Chowder, Lobster and Shrimp Salad and Chocolate Hurricane dessert. And of course you can get a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Key West Grill

1214 Celebrity Circle

Broadway at the Beach

U.S. 17 Bypass between 21^st and 29^th avenues North

Myrtle Beach

444-3663

www.keywestgrill.net

The décor transports you to the open-air tropical lushness and Spanish hardwood motif of Key West, and the menu takes its influence from the Spanish, Cubans and a Native American tribe called the Calusa. The Conch Fritters and Blue Crab Spread are fabulous, as are any of the fresh catches that can be prepared a variety of ways.

Latitude 22

11 N. Seaside Dr.

Surfside Beach

232-9796

www.latitude22bar.com

Latitude is a treat because of its third-story ocean view, the signature cocktails and an interesting Caribbean-inspired menu. Tuesday nights are shrimp nights, with a pound of shrimp served a variety of ways for $13.95. Latitude does not use any oils containing trans fats.

Lee’s Inlet Kitchen

4460 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-2881

www.leesinletkitchen.com

Fried seafood, broiled seafood and grilled seafood are what has been served here for six decades. They do it well. Dress comfortably, including a loose waistband.

Marina Raw Bar

U.S. 17 at Vereen’s Marina

North Myrtle Beach

249-3972

Situated by a marina off the Intracoastal Waterway, the nice view of yachts does not overshadow the delights of a bucket of steamed oysters, a nice piece of flounder or a soft shell crab.

Mrs. Fish

919 Broadway St.

Myrtle Beach

946-6869

The place isn’t fancy; there are a dozen tables and a counter where you can sit and watch owner Andrew Chu cook up a storm, and the décor is what you’d expect in a no-nonsense beach diner: nothing special. But what is special is their fish, such as Grilled Grouper with Spicy Asian Sauce; Crab Rangoon with Gumbo; Atlantic Mussels; and Coconut Shrimp.

Nance’s Cedar Hill Landing Restaurant

5225 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-8706

Try a seafood platter or a bucket of steamed oysters, and while you’re loving those you can also enjoy the beautiful inlet view. It’s a very casual place.

Ocean Fish Market

302 Kingston Street (a block north of Main Street), beside the Waccamaw River

Conway

248-4334

For now, as it has been for 60 years, the dining area is seven picnic tables under ancient live oak trees; plans are in the works for a two-tier waterfront deck. is bordered by an old brick wall with iron rings set in them. Sandwiches include fillets of whiting, flounder, croaker, spot and catfish, and barbecue, soft shell crab and crab cake. You can also get seafood dinners, including a flounder-shrimp combo, plus hot dogs, corn dogs, onion petals, sweet potato fries, cole slaw and hush puppies. This is a fish market, so of course you can also get fresh seafood to take home and cook.

Oliver’s Lodge

4204 U.S. 17 Business

Murrells Inlet

651-9523

www.oliverslodgerestaurant.com

This gem started life as a private residence, then became a boarding house. Fresh seafood has been served there since 1910, making it the oldest restaurant on the Grand Strand. It’s popular for good reason – the food is incredible. Try the Flounder Roosevelt stuffed with crab and topped with lobster cream sauce, or Tasso Cream Shrimp over creamy grits. The building has been lovingly restored, and the dining room overlooks a lush lawn, live oaks and the inlet. The Sunday brunch is famous for its fried chicken cooked in a cast iron skillet.

Phillips Seafood

U.S. 17 Bypass at 21^st Avenue North

Myrtle Beach

626-CRAB (2722)

www.phillipsseafood.com

Crab is the specialty of the house – the Phillips Crab Cakes overflow with so much lump crab meat you’ll wonder how they hold together. There’s also an abundance of other fresh catches, and you can get a fine hand-cut steak. At lunchtime you can’t beat the seafood sandwiches at their market, where you can also buy fresh seafood to take home and cook.

Rice Paddy Restaurant

732 Front St.

Georgetown

546-2021

The location inside an old bank exudes Southern charm and hospitable gentility. Be sure to check out the former bank vault that’s now a wine cellar. Gourmet Southern cuisine is on the menu; the lump crab cakes, and specials like shrimp and grits, are outrageously delicious. While the meals are upscale, about any manner of dress would work here except for T-shirts and flip-flops.

River Room

801 Front St.

Georgetown

527-4110

www.riverroomgeorgetown.com

The specialty is Shrimp and Grits with tasso ham and Andouille sausage; a bonus is a fresh-baked fluffy biscuit hidden under the grits. The Herb-crusted Grouper, McClellanville Crab Cakes and Pecan Chicken Salad are all delicious. The building is historic, the ambiance cozy and warm and there’s a great view of the Sampit River.

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.

SeaBlue

503 U.S. 17 N.

North Myrtle Beach

249-8800

www.seablueonline.com

This romantic little restaurant has quickly earned a stellar reputation for its tapas (small-portion plates) and discriminating wine list. Chef proprietor Kelly Graham and executive chef Bryan Bodle are an excellent team for creating exciting menus with dishes such as Pan Fried Black Bass with creamed leeks, celery heart and grape salad.

Sea Captain’s House

3002 N. Ocean Blvd.

Myrtle Beach

448-8082

www.seacaptains.com

This former beach cottage is a landmark for locals and visitors. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily in a spectacular oceanfront setting, and reservations are never accepted except for large private parties. There is a breakfast buffet, but we like the Crab Cakes Benedict off the menu. Daily lunch specials are always a treat, and for dinner you can’t go wrong with any seafood dish.

Sea Oats Café

Inside the Blockade Runner Motor Inn

1910 N. Ocean Blvd.

North Myrtle Beach

249-3561, ext. 222

The immaculate cleanliness and the ocean view will dazzle you, but the incredibly delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners will thrill you. Breakfasts feature fresh pork products the chef travels to buy; for lunch you must try the lump crab-studded She-Crab Soup; and at dinner the Seafood Platter comes highly recommended. Go early; there are only a dozen tables inside and a few more outside.

Umi Pacific Grille

U.S. 17 at Lake Arrowhead Road, in the Galleria Shopping Center

Myrtle Beach

497-6016

Umi is a new entry in Myrtle Beach’s upscale dining ranks, and reactions are favorable. The décor is sleek and sophisticated to match the splendid Pacific Rim menu. As with most Grand Strand restaurants, you don’t need to go over the top with your manner of dress; “nice casual” works almost anywhere in town. Umi does not use any oils containing trans fats.