I’ve been a local on the Grand Strand for over 20 years, and I’ve always been surprised to find that I’ve had far more questionable dining experiences than great ones in these parts. Over the years, I’ve come to understand a few reasons why. First of all, dining during the tourist season is always a gamble. Good help is hard to find for the sheer number of restaurants in the area, so hiring can be a challenge. Then, you have to consider that there is a distinct lack of concern at some of these restaurants that is present from cooks and servers to management. They assume they probably won’t see you again if you’re a tourist. My goal here is to find those places that care enough to be consistent through every diner’s experience.
You might want to check out my Facebook page for the most up to date information on where the Grand Strand Gastronome is dining. It’s hard to resist going back to my favorite places, and I don’t always post new reviews in a timely manner. But, I’ll often post something about what I’m eating on Facebook until I have time to write a full review.
Most of the restaurants you will see here are in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand area of South Carolina from Cherry Grove to Georgetown. I evaluate restaurants, cafés, and diners from an insider’s perspective having been in the industry for many years. Each restaurant is assessed on several factors:
- Is it family friendly?
- Is it economical?
- Is the food good?
- Are the drinks good?
- Is the customer service good?
- Is the location convenient?
- Is the restaurant clean?
- Would it impress a date?
- Is it special diet friendly?
- Does it accommodate groups?
- Do I need a reservation?
- Would I recommend it?
A little about locations…
Myrtle Beach:
You will notice that I have separated Myrtle Beach into the north end and south end. That’s because the municipality itself stretches about 12 miles along the coast not including areas designated as county between towns in the Grand Strand. If you’re staying on the north end, I’d be happy if you visited one of my favorite places on the south end, but you might want to look for some place closer for your convenience. For the sake of travelling time and traffic, my dividing line is 29th Ave. North.
Carolina Forest and lower Conway:
Carolina Forest certainly deserves it’s own designated location section. While it is only a few short miles from the beach, I have to take travelling time into account. To get in and out of these locations, it usually takes some time getting through the lights and traffic. At one time, there was talk of incorporating it into it’s own township called West Myrtle Beach. Growth here has been explosive, and it’s local population certainly qualifies it to be it’s own entity. For my purposes, this area covers restaurants along the Highway 501 corridor from the Intracoastal waterway to Myrtle Ridge Drive (Just after Myrtle Beach National golf course).
For the time being, I’m concentrating on Conway area locations. I find the town very charming and I don’t think it gets enough attention compared to the rest of the strand.
North Myrtle Beach:
This area includes Briarcliffe Acres and Atlantic Beach.
The remaining areas outside of the metropolitan area of Myrtle Beach are listed separately based on post office codes.
I welcome comments about your experiences at any restaurants I have reviewed. Also, feel free to ask any questions about any of the places I’ve visited. If you would like the Grand Strand Gastronome to visit your favorite restaurant, let me know by sending me a message on my contact page.
Grand Strand Gastronome 