When head chef Dewy Fowler and owner Roger Davisson joined forces, the result was Dunes Bistro, a club/restaurant catering to patrons looking for just about everything, including great food and live music.

Located in the Grande Dunes Marketplace, Dunes Bistro is already serving residents flocking to the north end of Myrtle Beach. This includes the Dunes and Grande Dunes neighborhoods and all the ancillary dwellings that seemingly popped up overnight. The restaurant sits at the very busy convergence of Grande Dunes Boulevard, 82nd Parkway, Cipriana Drive and U.S. 17 Bypass.

“We’re open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, and dinner only on Saturday and Sunday, and we have a great happy hour, too,” said Fowler, the man charged with executing an eclectic menu. Fowler formerly worked at The Wicked Tuna, Locals on the Water and Rivertown Bistro. Dunes Bistro’s nights belong to Davisson, whose Grand Strand club resume reads like an iconic list of the brightest hotspots over the past 30 years, including 2001 and the Beach Wagon. Davisson is booking music seven nights a week. With a pleasantly curved back wall and small stage, patrons can sit at the large bar, on tall stools at one of several group party tables or at traditional four-tops.

Opened in October 2019, the restaurant has a diverse menu that is constantly being fine-tuned, but generally features daily chef’s specials and plenty of comfort food.

“We wanted a fast lunch for business folks and shoppers,” said Fowler, “and I love comfort food, too.” Weekday blue-plate specials include meatloaf with two sides and fried chicken, as well as lunch menu items like grilled cheese and tomato bisque, Philly cheesesteaks and burgers.

Happy hour (4–6 p.m.) drink specials combine with discounted apps. “People are loving our lobster egg rolls and our hot, giant soft pretzel with jumbo lump crab meat and stout beer cheese sauce,” said Fowler. The Surf & Turf Nachos combine seafood, filet, pico de gallo and stout beer cheese sauce, all piled on blue corn chips.

Dinner shines with bone-in pork chops, filet mignon, garlic ribeye, turkey burgers, salads and soups.

On Fridays, enjoy happy hour entertainment from 5–9 p.m., followed by partying with theater entertainers coming in at 10 p.m. for a more intimate show. “I’ve always been a live music guy,” said Davisson. “There’s a lot of talent here and we want to make it available in a small club setting.”

As the population swells around this neighborhood, Dunes Bistro hopes to become a favorite for locals and visitors who are looking for one stop with a bit of everything, soup to song.—Paul Grimshaw

Dunes Bistro
960 Cipriana Dr.
(843) 712-2212
dunesbistro.com

Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday–Friday; Dinner nightly at 4 p.m. Bar stays open later on weekends.