By Becky Billingsley

Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, Myrtle Beach – Several new restaurants have recently opened or are opening soon, others are closed or closing, and there is news about many deals and specials events.

 

Southside Grill Closing

 

It was 16 years ago that Rick and Mimi McKee opened their Steelers-friendly restaurant, Southside Grill, at 355 U.S. 17 Business in Surfside Beach, and their last day of business will be Sept. 15.

 

The couple is moving to Tryon, N.C., a place they have visited often and love, to open a new Southside Grill there. For all the friends they’ve made in the Grand Strand area, they will be coming back regularly to visit.

 

“It’s hard to say goodbye,” Rick said on Sept. 6. “We’ve seen children of our customers grow up, get married and come back with their own kids.”

 

Now North Carolina diners will enjoy the McKee’s Crab Cakes, Burgers, Pierogies, Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Fresh Fish, Ribeye Quesadilla, Chicken a la Rick, Buffalo Chicken and from-scratch desserts.

 

Sweet Spot Closed For Now

 

Sweet Spot Café, which opened in March at 1011 4^th Ave. in Conway, is closed. It may reopen, owner Leigh Andersen said by phone on Sept. 6, but she is trying to work out “issues with the landlord and the building.”

 

9/11 Benefits

 

Dead Dog Saloon at 4079 U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet will hold an all-day 911 memorial starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 11 with live music, free food and drawings. Donations will benefit local emergency response services.

 

Fox’s Pizza Den at 4620-B Dick Pond Rd. (S.C. 544) in the Socastee area of Myrtle Beach will sell on Sept. 11 its Big Daddy Cheese Pizza (normally $14.99) for $9.11 plus tax. Proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Certificates for future use will also be available at this special price. The number is (843) 294-3697.

 

Serving Spots

 

John and Kim Cherry, who formerly owned Kimberly’s Bar & Grill at 304 Elm St. in Conway, recently opened Conway Seafood Market at 1518 4^th Ave. in Conway. That’s the former original location of Burger Brothers.

 

The Cherrys have a lot of fresh local seafood on ice – most of it comes from the Georgetown area – like 16/20 shrimp for $8 per pound; spot, croaker, mullet, catfish and sea bream for $3.25 per pound; flounder for $6.50; black sea bass for $4.65; and clams for $4 per dozen.

 

They’re also serving meals with seafood, slaw, hushpuppies and a choice of sides (fries, stewed tomatoes and rice or fish grease and rice) for $7-$8.50. Other choices include Fish Stew Bowls, Catfish Nuggets, Shrimp Cocktail and Seafood Sandwiches.

 

The Cherrys have a drive-through window for fast pickup on call-ahead orders, and calls are taken all week for once-a-week live blue crab pickup. In season, this will also be a source for local cluster oysters.

 

“Fresh spots are a big seller right now,” John Cherry said on Sept. 6 at the restaurant that was filled with customers enjoying seafood lunches. “We opened a week ago, and we’re already serving 100 lunches a day.”

 

Soon EBT cards will be accepted.

 

Conway Seafood Market is open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The number is (843) 488-3474.

 

Cheesesteak U Open

 

Anthony and Sarah Asmer are the new owners of Cheesesteak U at 1867 S.C. 544 a bit east of Conway, and they offer delivery and catering. The menu has expanded.

 

Now in addition to many types of Cheesesteaks ($6-$9) such as Pizza, Teriyaki and Buffalo Chicken on Amoroso rolls, there are also Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, lamb or chicken Gyros, Hoagies, Salads, Deli Sandwiches and Wings (hot, teriyaki, barbecue, lemon pepper, garlic pepper, teriyaki hot, spicy Ranch, honey mustard, Ranch and spicy blue cheese), plus sides like Sausage Dog, Loaded Fries and House-Made Chips.

 

Children’s meals are $4 (chicken tenders, corn dog, grilled cheese, hot dog) and come with fries, a drink and fruit chews.

 

Cheesesteak U does not serve alcohol.

 

My son and I had several restaurants to visit the day we stopped by Cheesesteak U, and we decided to split the day’s $9 lunch special of a large Cheesesteak, fries and a drink. To our delight, Sarah Asmer gave us two drink cups and split our food into two baskets without being asked. She definitely added two loyal customers to her clientele.

 

Cheesesteak U is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The number is (843) 234-2666.

 

Ooey Gooey

 

Kevin Cottingham, formerly a Cisco Foods sales representative, opened K.C.’s Deli a week ago at 1129 3^rd Ave. in Conway, where Carolina Skillet was formerly located. He is serving breakfasts, lunches and early suppers.

 

Breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m., and choices include locally baked Benjamin’s Bagels; Croissants; a $4.50 Breakfast Bowl with eggs, meat and hash browns; and breakfast sandwiches for $3-$4.50 like the Waccamaw with two eggs, cheese and Taylor Pork Roll on a Portuguese bread roll.

 

For lunch and supper, Cottingham says his biggest seller – by far – is his Philly Cheesesteak, which features shaved ribeye steak. He uses Boar’s Head meats for sandwiches that include a Reuben ($6.79), Rachel (turkey instead of corned beef), Blackwater Bologna and Hog Wild Turkey Club on a choice of sourdough, wheat or marbled rye.

 

All specialty sandwiches are served with horseradish pickles.

 

Two daily special sandwiches were so popular they’ve also been added to the menu. The Ooey Gooey Chicken Sandwich has breast meat with onions, mushrooms, mozzarella and honey mustard on a hoagie roll; while Harry’s English Dip has roast beef, onions, mushrooms, mozzarella and jus.

 

Other choices include salads that can be topped with chicken or shrimp, deli sandwiches, grilled pimento cheese sandwich, chicken salad and soups. Sides are potato salad, pasta salad, mixed olive salad, antipasto and house-made chips.

 

K.C.’s Deli is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and the number is (843) 248-3377.

 

Mozzarella Mania

 

Donato’s Pizza at 2607 U.S. 17 Business in Garden City has a special price right now on their Chicken Spinach Mozzarella ($16.09) and Pepperoni Zinger ($14.69) pizzas featuring fresh mozzarella. You can go to their Web site and sign up to receive coupons; I just got one for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more. The number is (843) 651-0011.

 

Coffee Coming Soon

 

Coastal Coffee Bar is opening in a few weeks at 748 S.C. 544 east of Conway, in the former Santino’s Pizza location.

 

Seasonal Gourmet Treats

 

At Louis’s at Sanford’s, Chefs Louis Osteen and Michael Keough have some ultra-luxurious specials for the start of locals’ season:

 

Pan Seared North Carolina Sheepshead with Carolina Gold Rice, Benton’s Bacon, Okra, Squash and Grape Tomatoes.

 

Veal Scallopine with Caramelized Onion and Apple Confit.

 

Petit Filet Mignon with Sorghum and Bourbon Sauce and Potatoes Dauphinoise.

 

And a nice new finger food is Brown Turkey Figs wrapped in Prosciutto with Gorgonzola.

 

Louis’s is at 251 Willbrook Blvd. in Pawleys Island, and the number is (843) 237-5400.

 

Tasty Donation

 

During September, every time a customer orders the Bruschetta appetizer at Mellow Mushroom, $1 will be donated to the company’s Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry program. This is the fifth year Mellow Mushroom has had this annual offer, and so far the chain has raised more than $4 million that supports school breakfasts, summer and after-school meal programs and healthy-yet-inexpensive cooking education for children and their families. 

 

Mellow Mushroom is at 1571 21st Ave. N. in Myrtle Beach, and the number is (843) 444-1122.

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