Google “Myrtle Beach Buffet” and you get flooded by all-you-can-eat seafood restaurants, and rightfully so. The close proximity to “The Seafood Capital of South Carolina” in nearby Murrells Inlet to the south, “The Seafood Capital of the World” just north of the Carolina border in Calabash, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east makes Myrtle Beach a mecca for seafood smorgasbords. The Grand Strand is like one big 60-mile seafood buffet table.
But lost amid the sea of seafood eateries are some “land food” buffets that are also top-notch, especially if you need a break from the fresh catch of the day. From American country cooking to good ol’ Southern barbecue and from Asian to South American cuisine, Myrtle Beach has a wide variety of all-you-can-eat establishments to choose from. Here’s a list of the best buffets in the Myrtle Beach area:
* Captain George’s: This huge building across from Broadway at the Beach also boasts one of the best seafood buffets in town. Housed in a replica clipper ship from the Colonial era, Captain George’s features spacious dining rooms and food stations. They need the room because seafood-lovers flock to this buffet for the Chesapeake Bay-style cuisine, including Maryland crab cakes, stuffed crab and seafood pie. Even non-seafood eaters will enjoy the Prime Rib and other meats from the carving station, as well as a long list of homestyle vegetables. Be sure to save room for the dessert bar.
* Magnolia’s at 26th: Home cooking away from home is the concept of the Ocean Boulevard eatery. Located on the ground floor of a hotel, this Southern style buffet serves up three meals a day – all you can eat, all the time. Start your day with a hearty breakfast bar of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, fried potatoes, French toast, and more, followed by a lunch and dinner of fried chicken, smothered steak, pork chops and a plethora of veggies and desserts. The highest praise: This one of the few downtown diners that locals patronize year-round.
* Original Benjamin’s: Boat-loads of fresh seafood are served Calabash-style at this Restaurant Row establishment. Famous for its lightly battered and deep-fried seafood, Original Benjamin’s feeds the masses exactly what they are looking for – shrimp, crab and fresh catch cooked to a crispy finish outside yet still juicy on the inside. Original Benjamin’s is known for its hot hushpuppies dipped in honey butter, but don’t fill up on them. There’s lots of seafood, meats, vegetables, breads and desserts on the buffet stations, as well as a special spread just for kids that’s loaded with pizza, chicken nuggets and more.
* Prosser’s BBQ: If you want to taste the unique flavor of Carolina barbecue, look no farther than this family establishment. Originally based in nearby Hemingway, SC, the Prosser’s brought their brand of slow-smoked pulled pork to the coast for Grand Strand locals and visitors to enjoy. But the buffet features much more than barbecue, like Southern-fried chicken, spare ribs and regional dishes such as chicken bog and Frogmore Stew. Comfort food favorites like mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese and banana pudding are part of this bountiful spread.
* Rioz: Located across from Broadway at the Beach, this Brazilian steakhouse has a unique buffet concept that delivers the food directly to your table. Gauchos roam the dining room with flaming skewers of beef, pork, chicken and seafood, as well as grilled vegetables and roasted peppers. Turn your table sign to green for more meat, or turn it to red for “No mas.” Rioz also boasts a huge salad bar with fresh sushi and other tasty items. Come hungry and leave happy.
(Posted: 2/3/15)
