While you’re staying in your Myrtle Beach resort or North Myrtle Beach condo, we recommend exploring some of the south end of the beach and heading down to Pawleys Island. The “arrogantly shabby” beach town offers some of the best restaurants and heavenly date night spots for a romantic dinner. Explore the beach and the houses dating back to the 1700s and then head to one of these fine dining restaurants for a delicious night out.
Bistro 217 Restaurant & Bar
10707 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, SC
Bistro 217 was founded in 2004 and is co-owned by Anne Hardee and Chef Adam Kirby. The romantic interior is flanked with cozy nooks for a special date night. The outdoor courtyard is climate-controlled so you can enjoy the greenery and natural bricks year-round. The creative menu includes items like fried lobster wontons, Beef Carpaccio, a warm pistachio-encrusted goat cheese salad, and crab nachos – and that’s just the salads and starters. Entrees include a wide variety of cuisines like Trout Almondine, braised short ribs, horseradish-encrusted pork schnitzel, local flounder, Prime Ribeye, and Rack of Venison. Bistro 217’s Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding is served with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and bourbon cream and is certainly not to be missed! Honorable mention – their sister restaurant Rustic Table is located right across the street.
Frank’s & Frank’s Outback Restaurant & Bar
10434 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, SC
The building that is now Frank’s and Frank’s Outback was once home to a Supermarket that opened in the 1930s. In 1988 Salters and Elizabeth McClary opened the restaurant that’s now one of the top restaurants in the state. There are several dining areas at the restaurant including Outback which offers alfresco dining, inside dining, and Way Back with cozy seating and a fireplace. Their mouth-watering dishes are always made with the freshest local ingredients and feature classics like fried okra, coastal fried oysters, homemade jalapeño pimento cheese, and sautéed lump crab cakes. There’s a long list of small plates and entrees with favorites that range from Duck Two Ways to a New Zealand Lamb Chop Trio. The chophouse menu offers top cuts of beef including an 8-ounce barrel cut filet, a 12-ounce certified Angus New York Strip, a 21-ounce bone in cowboy ribeye, and a 16-ounce Prime New York Strip. Be sure to make your reservations well in advance or take your chances at finding seating for two at the bars.
Chive Blossom Restaurant & Bar
85 N. Causeway Rd., Pawleys Island, SC
Paul Kelly and Trina Renault own and operate Chive Blossom in Pawleys Island. They combine their passion and culinary skills to create the most delicious Mediterranean, French, and Asian-influenced dishes. Make reservations for the outdoor courtyard or inside the beautifully redecorated interior. Trina’s She Crab soup is raved about throughout town (and beyond) but there are plenty of other appetizers and small plates to consider like charred octopus with preserved lemon skordalia, fried capers, and harissa oil; crab nachos with artichoke hearts, spinach, tomatoes, asiago cheese, pico de Gallo, sour cream on top of a crisp lavash; and fried chicken livers with celery root puree, caramelized onions, and a Texas Pete drizzle. Cornmeal-crusted flounder is served with okra pancakes and a tomato shrimp stew and the Grilled East Coast Halibut comes with a warm dill potato salad made with lobster, silver queen corn, asparagus, and red onion.
Perrone’s Restaurant & Bar
13302 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, SC
Perrone’s prides themselves on “changing lives one meal at a time” and they really live up to this standard. Chef Steven Perrone takes his food, drinks, and ambiance very seriously and it’s truly reflected the moment you walk in and see the meats being carefully aged and the bright blue lights behind the bar. Perrone’s serves dry-aged prime steaks, Japanese and American Wagyu, local seafood, and even a caviar service. The a la carte steaks melt in your mouth and any cut can be embellished with truffle butter, imported sheep’s milk Roquefort bleu cheese, or a port, raspberry, and veal demi-glace. The menu changes frequently to offer seasonal, fresh items like butter-poached grouper with black forbidden rice with a saffron sauce, preserved lemon, shallots, white wine, shrimp stock, and cream. Be sure to check out their creative cocktail menu and have your drink of choice poured by a professional mixologist.
Caffe Piccolo
9428 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, SC
Simple. Fresh. Italian. That’s what Caffe Piccolo promises for your dining experience with them. The intimate restaurant offers cozy tables inside and outside on their patio out back. Executive Chef James Pronesti uses only farm-fresh tomatoes for sauces, homegrown herbs, and locally caught seafood to create dishes that are just as pretty as they are tasty. Each night, Caffe Piccolo offers a long list of specials featuring fresh fish, sustainable meats, and carefully crafted cuisine. Try the Mussels Alla Piccolo with pancetta and fennel in a creamy, tangy, herb-scented broth or their zesty calamari to start. Don’t miss the Pappardelle and Diver Scallops entree with Shiitake mushrooms, arugula, and parmagiano-reggiano, topped with a white truffle oil drizzle (my personal favorite). Reservations are strongly suggested for this popular Pawleys Island restaurant.
If you’re interested in staying near Pawleys Island, Condo-World has a wide variety of rentals at Litchfield Beach Resort located just a few miles north of these amazing restaurants.
