Top 5 Seafood Restaurants in Myrtle Beach

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Myrtle Beach is famous for its abundance of fresh seafood and restaurants that serve it, so trying to narrow that list down to a top five is a tall task. It’s sort of like trying to choose your favorite child – they are all special in their own way, but a select few really stand out. So if you are looking for the best seafood in town, this top-five list of popular favorites is a good place to start:

Bimini's Oyster Bar: Hidden behind the dozens of more visible establishments on Restaurant Row, this small oyster shack serves some of the best seafood on the Strand. Specializing in raw-bar favorites like steamed local oysters and fresh shrimp steamed in Old Bay and beer, Bimini's also offers an extensive menu of seafood cooked to your specifications. Bimini's is laid-back and party casual, with a small patio deck and indoor picnic tables providing a relaxed beach-themed environment. Live music and a vibrant night-owl scene add to the fun atmosphere.

Captain George's: It would be remiss to leave a buffet off this list, and it would be a bigger injustice to exclude this seafood smorgasbord. Located across from Broadway at the Beach, this ship-shaped building is home to the biggest bounty of seafood on the Grand Strand. Featuring all the traditional favorites, such as crab legs, oysters, shrimp, scallops, fish, mussels and clams, Captain George's serves Chesapeake Bay-style dishes you won't find at other buffets, like the famous seafood pie. Salad bar, steam table, dessert bar and a bakery station make sure you don't go home hungry.

Mr. Fish: You don't get the title “Mr. Fish” without knowing a thing or two about seafood, and namesake Teddy Hammerman, who co-owns this popular eatery with daughter Shaina, earned the nickname honestly. After years of international commercial fishing, Hammerman returned to the Grand Strand to run his own local fish market. He opened a side grill to move product, and a legend was born. This is Mr. Fish's third location, each one tripling in size to accommodate growing crowds. His connections in the seafood industry allow Mr. Fish to serve the freshest and widest selection of fish, shrimp, scallops, oysters and more. The sushi bar offers great rolls and the happy hour menu features $5 appetizers. Call the Mr. Fish bus for a free ride.

Original Benjamin's Calabash Seafood Buffet: For folks who prefer their seafood prepared Calabash-style, which is lightly battered and deep-fried to a crunchy exterior and most interior, Original Benjamin's is the place to get it. Offering 170 items on its buffet, O.B.'s offers fried shrimp, fish, scallops and hushpuppies, along with non-fried favorites like the crab legs, steamed shrimp and shellfish such as crabs, clams and mussels. “Landfood” favorites like prime rib and fried chicken, and tons of tasty side dishes, desserts and more are available.

Sea Captain's House: If you only visit one seafood restaurant while you are in Myrtle Beach, make it the Sea Captain's. Not only does it serve award-winning seafood dishes with a delicious Southern twist, but the former guest house also holds a special place in local history. Once slated to become a high-rise hotel, this cottage was used as a dining hall while awaiting demolition. More than 60 years later the Sea Captain's House is still packing them in for its famous seafood platters, shrimp and grits, she-crab soup and long list of house specialties. Sea Captain's serves three meals a day and offers scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

(Posted: 5/11/15)