A big part of the holidays is the traditional family dinner, but all the hours of preparation and cleanup make it far from enjoyable for the entire family. Forget about all the shopping, cooking and cleaning this holiday season and let one of the many fine-dining establishments on the Grand Strand provide the perfect setting, food and service.
There’s no shortage of upscale restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area to choose from, and many of them are open during the holidays to host your family dinner or special occasion. Whether for a romantic dinner for two or a family gathering, here are 10 of our top recommendations for an outstanding holiday feast:
21 Main: If you find yourself at Barefoot Landing and you’re looking for something special, this North Beach Plantation steakhouse and sushi bar is a multi-year Four Diamond Award recipient for its amazing food and service. The view isn’t bad either.
Aspen Grille: Experience Southern cuisine with a fine-dining twist at this Myrtle Beach establishment. The creative chef goes the extra mile for the holidays with nightly specials featuring continental classics like lamb, salmon and quail.
Brentwood House: This French-inspired restaurant is perfect for formal affairs. Located in a century-old Victorian home in Little River, Brentwood House offers private rooms for special occasions and serves four-course prix fixe feasts of Chateau Briand, Escargot and an extensive list of fine wines.
Collector’s Cafe & Gallery: Artwork and ambiance await couples with discriminating tastes and taste buds. Creative dishes match the vibe of an on-site art gallery, coffee house and private rooms with sofas and love seats for groups. You might even find an ideal Christmas present hanging on the walls of the art gallery.
Croissants Bistro & Bakery: European cuisine and fresh ingredients are the cornerstone of this upscale eatery. Croissants serves excellent lunches, dinners and Sunday brunches. Take home a couple of muffins from the bakery for breakfast the next morning.
Frank’s/Frank’s Outback: Two restaurants in one offer the perfect 1-2 punch to your appetite. The more formal Frank’s is better in chilly weather, but the Outback has a fireplace, candles and live oak trees. Both serve excellent Lowcountry cuisine.
Gulfstream Cafe: The sunset view overlooking Murrells Inlet is reason enough to visit this Garden City Beach establishment, but the fresh seafood served in an elegant atmosphere make this place one of the Grand Strand’s best restaurants any time of year.
The Library: This formal restaurant has been a fixture in downtown Myrtle Beach for decades due to its upscale atmosphere, tableside service and European and continental cuisine. The awesome book collection explains the name “The Library” which provides an elegant environment for special occasions.
New York Prime: If your idea of a great dinner involves steak, this is your place. Prime cuts of beef are aged in-house for 28 days before being seared to perfection. The sea bass is incredible too if you are up for some surf and turf, and the wine list is extensive and impressive.
Sea Captain’s House: This award-winning oceanfront restaurant has been featured in national publications for its Southern cooking and incredible views. Serving three meals a day (you can even get fresh seafood for breakfast) like the award-winning Shrimp & Grits or a Crab Omelet. For lunch and dinner, try the acclaimed Seafood Platters.
The holidays can be a stressful time, but at least you know that you can eat well during your winter visit to the Grand Strand and Bay View Resort. If you can’t make it to one of these 10, there are many more to choose from.