10707 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, (843) 235-8217. bistro217.com
The “second child” of the owners of Rustic Table, another Pawleys Island favorite, Bistro 217 has a unique and eclectic atmosphere. Serving lunch and dinner daily except Sundays, diners rave about the tomato, crab & jalapeno soup, the pecan-encrusted tuna and the amazing homemade ice cream flights. Oftentimes at restaurants the salad section is quickly scanned over and abandoned for something heartier, but don’t make that mistake here. Bistro 217 has creative and varied offerings that definitely deserve a taste. The fried shrimp caprese salad features mozzarella, local tomato, a basil pine nut pesto and a balsamic reduction. The warm pistachio-encrusted goat cheese salad is full of fresh spinach and candied beets, finished off with a balsamic dressing and herb aioli. There is also the 217 organic field green salad, the pear salad, a classic Caesar, a wedge salad with blackened shrimp and a seared scallop salad with roasted goat cheese. Going green here will not leave you disappointed (and will help you justify that delicious ice cream flight).
1136 Oak Forest Drive, Myrtle Beach, (843) 839-4666; 4511 U.S. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach, (843) 272-3435. logansroadhouse.com
Logan’s Roadhouse is a laidback “come as you are” kind of place that’s a welcome rest for the hard work that’s rooted in American tradition. Here you can crack open a cold one, throw peanut shells on the floor and enjoy quality food in jeans and a T-shirt. The atmosphere is lively and the delicious steaks are grilled over real mesquite wood. While these steaks (along with ribs, burgers, sandwiches and seafood) are all mouth-watering options, the salads at Logan’s truly stand out. The Logan’s Kickin’ Chicken Salad (not for the faint of heart) is crisp romaine, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, roasted corn and black bean salad and tortilla chips topped with blackened chicken and tossed in house-made Roadhouse Ranch. The Roadhouse Steak Cobb Salad features mixed greens, chopped bacon, tomatoes, avocado, hard boiled egg and croutons topped with USDA choice sirloin. Other salad options are the Mesquite Grilled Chicken Caesar and the Fried Chicken. The Parmesan Peppercorn is another favorite dressing and the made-from-scratch endless yeast rolls make a great accompaniment. There are no strangers at Logan’s, only friends. So come have a salad (or any of the other options) for lunch or dinner, as the restaurant is open daily for both meals.
3040 Howard Ave. (The Market Common), Myrtle Beach, (843) 238-3900. thekingstreetgrille.com
The scratch-made menu at King Street Grille, open daily for lunch and dinner, makes this eatery an “upscale sports bar experience.” As you peruse delicious appetizers, burgers and wings, don’t overlook the Build Your Own Salad section. With tons of toppings to choose from and a variety of homemade dressings like peppercorn parmesan, start by picking your base. Then choose five toppings from a huge list (from your standard carrots to the exotic hearts of palm). Then add a protein like shrimp or steak. If this isn’t enough to entice you, every Tuesday salads are half price.
Carolina Roadhouse: 4617 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, (843) 497-9911. carolinaroadhouse.com
California Dreaming: 10429 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, (843) 663-2050; 2657 Beaver Run Blvd., Surfside Beach, (843) 215-5255. californiadreaming.rest
These two eateries, both owned by CentraArchy Restaurants (who are also behind New York Prime and Gulfstream Cafe), serve up a mix of hearty American classics and notable favorites. The Columbia, South Carolina, California Dreaming kicked it all off in 1984. Carolina Roadhouse was added to the mix as its unruly cousin. One thing the pair of eateries has in common is their undeniably delicious salad options. Homemade dressings like the house (a honey mustard and hot bacon), vinaigrette and bleu cheese make a great starting point for a stellar bed of greens. The Roadhouse Chef Salad comes with chopped sugar cured ham, smoked turkey, two cheeses, eggs, tomatoes, almonds and real bacon. The California Dreaming Salad is mixed greens, shredded ham and turkey, cheddar and monetary jack, chopped eggs, almonds, ham and bacon. Both restaurants offer a broiled chicken or salmon salad and a Caesar with your choice to add seafood (like shrimp, crab or oysters) or chicken. The special house salad paired with the baked potato soup is also a great route. A warm, flaky croissant with honey butter completes the experience. All three locations on the Grand Stand are open for lunch and dinner daily, so go get your green on!
7611 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, (843) 448-0011; 566 U.S. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach, (843) 272-4436. baynaturals.com
Angela Holmes grew up in the food business and became involved in the health food industry in 1993. She opened the first location of Bay Naturals (in the Northwoods Shopping Plaza) after several years in business in the area as New Life Natural Foods, which had a number of different locations over the years. The new location was named Bay Naturals and offered three times the space, including five aisles of healthy selections (from groceries to herbs to organic beer) and a kitchen with indoor and outdoor patio seating. The menu offers a variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, from smoothies to baked goods to sandwiches. But some of the real stars are the salad selections. The Bay Chef Salad is a standout and includes organic mixed lettuces, carrots, shredded beets, tomatoes, clover sprouts, sliced cucumbers, avocado and sunflower seeds with the option to add a protein like grilled tofu, curry chicken or hummus. Don’t forget the homemade dressings like Goddess, Ginger, Balsamic Vinaigrette and Olive Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar. Bay Naturals is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Be sure to check out the second location in North Myrtle Beach.
