The last time the anticipation along Ocean Boulevard was as high as it was during the construction of RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar was seven years ago, when the SkyWheel’s frame spiked 20 stories above the sand a block south.

RipTydz’ architecture—said to be a modern interpretation of a pier with its tall, raw wood pillars and walls of glass—was a breathtaking beachfront site even before it was in business. Since its opening last summer, the three-level, 17,000-plus-square-foot restaurant is even more stunning, both inside and out.

After your car is valet parked, enter via stairs or elevator above a parking and patio level and onto the first floor, where 3D ocean wave structures curl out from the southern wall and a long bar swims up to the northern wall of windows.

Walk forward toward the Atlantic and into a multi-level dining area at the foot of the L-shaped building with a panoramic bird’s eye view of the ocean. On warm summer days, the salt breeze blows through the ceiling rafters and between the wood pilings that support the roof of the open air dining setting. In the winter, during our visit, a plastic covering and an army of heat lamps protected patrons from the chill.

The third floor houses a rooftop bar that’s immersed in iconic surroundings, complete with pretty drinks from the bar top, colorful wicker seating, TVs and a killer view. During summer months, RipTydz hopes the good times will spill out onto the sands that border the boardwalk below, courtesy of their provided live music and entertainment.

Chef Paul Ledwich says it’s all part of the RipTydz mission to make folks feel comfortable enough to shake off the sand from their flip-flops while sitting on their beach chair to climb the stairs and take a seat in one of their 500 within the hybrid beach bar/oceanfront restaurant. These are seats (or barstools) that aren’t just to be filled by millennials for happy hour, but guests and families of all ages for lunch, dinner or cocktails after a day at the beach.

But let’s talk about the food, which is nothing like your typical overpriced, blasé beach bar grub. It’s creative and thoughtfully delicious. You could make your rounds on this menu over the course of a summer—or several seasons—and not have the same dish twice (and not be disappointed). It’s like a culinary storybook with a happy ending.

After a round of brews, from the Beach Side Starters section you must try the Smoked Gouda Chicken Egg Rolls, hand-rolled in the kitchen each morning and stuffed with seasoned chicken, bacon, spinach and smoked gouda cheese. The cup of chipotle aioli dip is the perfect finishing touch. With a menu anchored in seafood, you must also order the Oysters Casino, a beautiful platter of the open shells kissed with bacon, garlic, red bell pepper, butter and a cracker crumb for an extra crunch. These oysters were tender and melt-in-your-mouth tasty.

Onto entrees, I chose to go with the Sea Lovers Steamer, a pot steamed full of fresh snow crab clusters, clams, mussels and shrimp, plus tender red potatoes, chunks of smoked rope sausage and mini corn on the cob. I enjoyed every crack, shelling and bite of this sweet seafood feast dipped in drawn cilantro lime butter. Needless to say, I had enough left to take home for another dinner portion.

My husband opted for one of the Dockside Tacos: blackened Fish Tacos folded into hand-crafted toasted flour tortillas with pico de gallo, a zesty RipTydz sauce and shredded cabbage blend. The presentation was pretty, and hubby confirmed that the tacos were delicious as well.

Up for walking on the raw side? RipTydz offers several impressive raw seafood bar towers chilled on ice. Or if you’d rather stick to land proteins, Mainland Favorites serve up a ribeye steak, ribs and jerk-style grilled chicken, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a special section of mac and cheese combinations that also add to the flair of this fare.

Walk away from your table at RipTydz and you’ll realize that the beauty of this place is not only in the curb appeal and the attention to detail throughout all levels of interior design. It’s also in the care and passion that they’ve put into their food. Bottom line: this is an oceanfront restaurant that will impress your out-of-town guests.

RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar

1210 N. Ocean Blvd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 945-1204
riptydz.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily