The seafood at Gulfstream Cafe is often the equal of its stunning views. (Courtesy of Gulfstream Cafe)

Hungry after golf and want more than a buffet? Here are 5 top sit-down seafood restaurants in Myrtle Beach

By Chris King,
Contributor

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Sure golf is the main attraction on a trip to Myrtle Beach, but the bounty offered by the nearby Atlantic ocean is hard to resist, especially at dinner time.

Seafood tops everyone's menu when they come to town, and Myrtle Beach's stream of all-you-can-eat buffets is the answer for many. But some prefer quality over quantity. For those with a more discerning palette, we offer up the five best places in the Myrtle Beach area for a great seafood dinner.

Gulfstream Cafe

The only restaurant in the area where the Atlantic is visible on one side and Murrells Inlet on the other, the food at Gulfstream Cafe (1536 S. Waccamaw Dr., Garden City) is often the equal of its stunning views. The she-crab soup is a must, and if you are looking for a recommendation, the grouper francais is a good one.

Divine Fish House

Murrell's Inlet is the seafood capital of South Carolina and Divine Fish House (www.divinefishhouse.com) is one of the reasons why. A breathtaking view of the marsh is accompanied by a fresh fish menu that includes flounder, yellowfin ahi tuna, swordfish and mahi-mahi. Divine is divine indeed.

Sea Captain's House

The area's oldest and most popular seafood restaurant, Sea Captain's House (www.seacaptains.com) could easily occupy the top spot. Overlooking the ocean, Sea Captain's starts every meal with complimentary hush puppies and things only get better from there. The jambalaya is outstanding, but the Captain's Seafood Muddle -- sauteed shrimp, fish, mussels, scallops and clams in a saffron tomato broth with bacon, celery, potatoes and herbs – is a house specialty.

Rivertown Bistro

Located in Conway, approximately 12 miles west of Myrtle Beach, Rivertown Bistro (www.rivertownbistro.net) is off the beaten path but worth the trip. Nine different types of sushi are available and the entree menu is as creative as any. You won't go wrong with the blue crab creme, lightly blackened dolphin, sautéed swiss chard and jalapeno grit cake.

Collectors Cafe

The Myrtle Beach area's most unique eatery, Collectors Cafe (www.collectorscafeandgallery.com) is a world-class restaurant and a working art gallery rolled into one. The sonoran spiced yellowfin tuna, which is caught locally, is excellent, but the scallop cake is an original dish that is as good as any entree on the Grand Strand.

April 28, 2010

Chris King is the content manager for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. He has covered golf travel and college athletics for more than 15 years. King has lost many night's sleep familiarizing himself with the entire Myrtle Beach golf scene, and he has a swing that has helped him see the Grand’s Strand's 100-plus courses from every imaginable angle.