I had the pleasure of vacationing in Surfside Beach last week and played at Pawleys Plantation. During my visit I picked up one of the local rags and an article caught my attention that alluded to several restaurants that won recognition by several senior golf writers with one of the national golf publications and websites. Since I was born and raised in South Carolina, ran away to live at the beach at the tender age of 18, and have subsequently visited the beach every year since - I figured I was every bit as good a judge as some of those that posted the story I was reading. If you take into consideration that I also "live to eat" rather than the other way around - then perhaps I am even more qualified than those critics that I have already twice alluded to! My final qualifying comment will be that I stayed in Surfside for eight days, and only played one round of golf while dining out nearly every night. That is a trend that was established many years ago - unfortunately!

With that said, let me share some of this golf writer's faves and welcome you guys and gals to email us with your entries that should be included on future updates of this article.

First - ANY listing of top eateries for the Grand Strand area should be organized into some semblance of territory as the Grand Strand is an expansive stretch from Ocean Isle Beach just across the NC/SC state line, down through Calabash, North Myrtle, Myrtle Beach, Surfside/Garden City, through Murrells Inlet and south into Pawleys Island. As detailed as I just stated that - I left out more than a dozen beach communities.

So for my "top eateries" list, I will take you north to south and keep the comments to a minimum (where possible).

The Isles Restaurant
417 W Second Street
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
ph 910-575-5988

The Isles Restaurant on Ocean Isle proudly provides oceanfront dining at its finest. The Isles has one of the best menus on the beach with something for every craving. The food is always prepared with the freshest regional ingredients. From private romantic dinners and family gatherings to banquets, wedding receptions, and corporate events, the serene oceanfront atmosphere of The Isles Restaurant comfortably provides the perfect ambiance for all of your dining needs.

The Isles oceanfront Tiki bar and deck is the perfect place to kick back and relax.

Calabash Seafood Hut
1125 River Road
Calabash, NC 28467
ph 910-579-6723

The seafood platters offer an abundant amount of food. If you don't like seafood there's hamburgers and grilled chicken sandwiches.

Excellent, excellent, excellent!!! The best seafood around. It is most definitely worth the wait if you don't get there early. The Seafood Hut is a mandatory stop whenever I'm in southern NC. We LOVE the scallop sandwiches! Its just a tiny restaurant packed full of delicious seafood. YUM!

Coleman's Original Calabash Restaurant
9931 Nance St.
Calabash, NC 28467
ph 910-579-6875

Located on the waterfront in Calabash, Coleman's Original has been serving you fresh Calabash-style seafood since 1940. Its family-friendly atmosphere is the perfect place to stop when traveling between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.

There are tons more great seafood restaurants in Calabash but these made our staff's faves list.

Moving down into South Carolina, you can't miss these great eateries.

Greg Norman's Australian Grille (Rated Numero Uno by GolfSC.com)
4930 Hwy 17 South
Barefoot Landing
843-361-0000

This place has everything! If you're into great dining, this place is beautiful and offers some of the finest steaks and seafood at the beach. If you're an advocate of the golfer's man code, they even have a cigar bar. However, families and couples love this place. Tidewater Golf Club (http://www.golfsc.com/details.php?mode=search&table=courses&id=807&back=1&Start=0) and Barefoot Resort & Golf http://www.golfsc.com/details.php?mode=search&table=courses&id=650&back=1&Start=0 are close enough to have you off the course and into a steak or adult beverage in minutes!

Great waterway view. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Amazing for MB as we had 7:30 reservations. Most fine restaraunts that take reservations still have a wait to get seated, but not here!

Martinis Continental Dining & Piano Bar
98 Hwy 17 South
North Myrtle Beach
843-249-1134

Martini's is kind of local favorite and for good reason. Absolutely one of the best prime rib steaks in the Myrtle Beach area and the rest of the menu is fabulous too...lots of local fresh seafood...not frozen! The place can become a bit roudy late in the evening and this is another nice stop close to Barefoot and Tidewater courses.

Chuck's Steak House
9695 N. Kings Hwy
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
(843) 449-7611

Chuck's is a MUST visit every single trip that we make to the beach every year. I have had the pleasure of dining at Chuck's Steak House locations in Myrtle Beach and Boone, NC. (They've since closed the Boone location.) The food there is simply perfect and they have a ribeye or prime rib that is out of this world. The lobster tails are great and the salad bar is simply a must visit. The beer mugs come HUGE, and the dinner rolls are a meal all to themselves. We highly recommend the place and while you can wait up to three hours at some restaurants at the beach, I've never had more than a 30 minute wait to dine. Not sure WHY that is, but it's great dining, great location, great views and a wonderful staff that enjoys working there.

This story could be way too long and boring so I'm going to skip on down to some favorites further south.

Sara J's
314 Atlantic Ave.
Garden City
843-651-1657

I am kind of reluctant to share this great eatery with you guys. It is tucked away on the inlet waterway just off Atlantic Avenue in Garden City. Lots of local, Garden City and Surfside vacationers and locals know about it, but it isn't one of the "restaurant row" kind of busy places. If it WAS located on restaurant row you'd have to make reservations months in advance. The atmosphere and food is THAT good. We'd made it a yearly visit for 5-6 years now and sometimes make it twice during a trip. The seafood here is simply among the best you'll find in the area and the waterway-side views are great. Often there are people out crabbing just a stone throw away from your table. Great, great little place. I can't recommend it enough.

Divine Fish House
3993 Hwy 17 Business
Murrells Inlet
843-651-5800

I have made Murrells Inlet my personal seafood capital of the world for years now and love Drunken Jack's, the old Ghost Ship Seafood and others. Although a bit pricier than most, Divine Fish House is one scrumpcious place to eat. With great dockside views and a phenomenal menu, you can't go wrong. I love the seafood platters there and the lobster tails are huge AND tender! This is a place to go to for a higher grade of seafood specialties. They have live entertainment out on the deck on weekends and you'll love this place.

Capt Dave's Dockside Restaurant
4037 Highway 17
Murrells Inlet
843-651-5850

Great food! Great service! GREAT waiters! I have enjoyed Capt Daves Dockside at dinner for years. Shrimp and grits, peel and eat shrimp, antipasti plate, salads, crabcakes, ham, fish, chicken,cake and pies...ect.The service is always top notch.

Drunken Jacks
4031 Highway 17 Business
Murrells Inlet
843-651-2044

Okay, we HAD to include DJ's on this list! Our family has been enoying "DJ"'s for years. The hush puppies are unique and are far better than anywhere else we have ever been. You'll hear people complain about the long waits but that's a testament to how good the food is. Go get your name on the list and spend some time walking the dockside pier or grab an adult beverage from any one of the little nooks adjacent to the water. IT IS SOME OF THE BEST FOOD YOU WILL EVER EAT!

The entertainment is always great, the bar serves excellent drinks, and everyone is aways friendly.

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