Myrtle Beach Restaurant Says Goodbye After A Decade

This is a story I have been keeping my eye on for the past few weeks.  And, now we have our answer.  It's official that this Myrtle Beach restaurant is saying goodbye after a decade.  According to AOL News, Sam Snead's in Carolina Forest closed this month.  Through the years taking our vacations to the beach, we visited Sam Snead's several times and always enjoyed it.

So, the Myrtle Beach restaurant, as you might have guessed takes its name from legendary golfer Sam Snead.  The Carolina Forest location is just one of many locations in the chain.  They also have spots in Florida, Georgia, the Virginias and even Canada.  I've seen rumors lately that the Myrtle Beach location might be closing.  And, according to reports a sign on the door thanked customers and pointed to a permanent closing.

There are a couple of things I remember fondly about Sam Snead's.  Of course, my golfing family loved looking at the decor of this Myrtle Beach restaurant.   Memorabilia from the famous golfer's storied career adorned the walls.  And, the other thing I remember was their French Onion Soup.  It really was some of the best I ever had.  The restaurant served lots of tasty pub type food along with steaks and seafood.

It's always sad to see a favorite restaurant close its doors.  And, there's no word yet what the plans are for the empty space.  It's a great location near outlet malls and other restaurants on 501 near Coastal Carolina University in Conway.  But, I'll be searching for another French Onion Soup that reminds me of this Myrtle Beach restaurant we bid farewell!

We moved to the Carolinas in 2006.  Since then it's a tradition to visit Myrtle Beach at least twice a year.  Of course we love the beach and all the activities.  But, there are so many yummy restaurants, and we spend a lot of time sampling them all!  Here are a few of our trusted faves.

Charlie and his best friend, Jeff,  find this place to be paradise at the beach.  Every trip to the beach requires a visit to Biminis.  They lovingly refer to it as "The Office."  The only work getting done there is throwing back a "Bimini's Oyster Shooter."  This is a shot glass filled with beer, an oyster, a pickled jalapeno slice and hot sauce.  It is shaken, slammed on the bar to produce a foam, and then you shoot it.  My best friend Sherry, Jeff's wife, and I find this activity repulsive.  Our husbands laugh at our disgust.  But, the atmosphere, vibe and bar food at Bimini's are great.

The Crooked Hammock Brewery at Barefoot Landing is in my top 3 places to visit at the beach.  The atmosphere is super inviting.  The outdoor seating is scenic, and there's plenty for kids and adults to do on sunny afternoons.  There's always  cornhole or a ping pong match taking place.   Tortuga Island is the outside bar with a cool vibe.  The customer service is second to none.  They have a full drink menu of delicious cocktails and beers.  And, the food is incredible.  I highly recommend the "Long Board Nachos" for sharing at the table.  The burgers are amazing, as are the sandwiches, salads and sides.

Another must visit is Blueberry's Grill.  They have 2 locations.  One is located in Myrtle Beach, the other is in North Myrtle at Barefoot Landing.  The trick is to get there early, or put your name on the online wait list.  It does fill up fast.  Good news is that while you wait, there's plenty to see and do at the shops surrounding the restaurant.  The Barefoot Landing location is our usual go to.  It's large and open with a contemporary feel.  The outdoor seating is scenic and comfy.  Even the outdoor bar seating is fun.  I really enjoy the Spicy Bloody Mary with all the garnishes, including candied bacon.  They serve lunch as well as breakfast.  Lunch items are great, but we are typically there for breakfast.  Blueberry's has a wonderful assortment of sweet offerings from pancakes to bananas foster french toast.  And they offer lots of healthy options, too.  But, our favorites tend to be the skillets.  I highly recommend the Live and Give with kielbasa, bacon, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers and cheese.  We also love  the Cheezo Rizo skillet with ground chorizo, spinach and cheese.  Whatever you decide, just decide to go there!

We recently discovered this charming gem.  The Parson's Table in Little River is in a building from the 1800's that once served as the Little River Methodist Church.  As you might imagine, this adds to its charm.  Inside, you'll find beautiful stained glass windows and a warm, cozy feel with an upscale menu for special occasions.  They offer plenty of local favorites like fried green tomatoes, crab cakes and the Charleston She Crab Soup that I highly recommend.  When we visited, I had the bacon-wrapped filet.  Others at the table chose shrimp and grits, scallops and maple bourbon glazed pork chops.  Parson's Table has amazing desserts including the one we had...Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce.  Along with dessert, we enjoyed after dinner coffee drinks.  Try the Parson's Nip or the Frosty Nip.  Trust me.

Every now and then my friend and I need to occupy ourselves while the guys play golf.  If it's too cold or rainy to go to the beach, we explore other options.  That's when we stumbled into the North Myrtle Beach location of  The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar.  This place is over the top.  They are located within the 810 Billiards and Bowling, so you can play and eat!  I'll warn you, no one I know can finish one of these crazy creations.  The menu is extensive, and the shake names are inventive.  Just to give you an example, I ordered something called "How It All Pecan."  It was a mason jar filled with a scrumptious milkshake and topped with an entire piece of pecan pie!  It was delicious.  Definitely check this place out, and bring a big appetite.

We can't leave the beach without a visit to our favorite happy hour spot.  We love to grab some cocktails and sushi at the North Myrtle Beach location of Soho.  The outside bar looks out onto the intercoastal waterway.  The vibe is so relaxing, and the sushi is phenomenal.