For a taste of the Mediterranean here on our East Coast, the Bosphorus Grill in Myrtle Beach is the place to get it. The cool café in the Food Lion shopping complex on 38th Avenue North is named after The Bosphorus Strait, or Instanbul Strait, a narrow waterway that runs through northwestern Turkey. Straddld by the city of Instanbul, it’s a popular destination to settle down on the shores.

The Turkish-themed Bosphorus Grill, too, has become a popular place for an authentic Mediterranean dining experience. The interior of the grill is sleek and modern, with black seating and lighting, light hardwood floors and subway-tiled walls. The restaurant’s front sidewalk has been transformed into a fenced-in patio for alfresco dining.

When you approach the front counter, the glass deli display is lined with picture-perfect rows of sweet homemade tiramisu, baklava, and rice pudding. Two rotisseries of stacked beef and lamb slowly spin behind the counter. My husband and I ordered a Pick 5 Appetizer Combo to sample a smattering of the menu’s hard-to-choose options. Our picks were hummus (our server suggested their butter hummus; it was to-die-for) pureed with tahini, a hint of garlic, fresh lemon juice, and EEVO; Borek, which is feta cheese rolled and baked into filo pastry; Baba ganush, another amazing pureed dip of grilled eggplant and seasonings; Shakshuka, fried cubes of eggplant sauteed with green and red pepper, onion, tomato, and fresh garlic; and Dolmas, delicious grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, currants, and pine nuts. All are served with warm pita bread.

All five of the appetizers were our favorites, which only made us want to return to Bosphorus for more tempting menu items in the near future. Med marvels, like any of their wraps, which are all served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and their famous tzatziki sauce: beef or chicken gyro, and chicken, beef or lamb shish wrap. There are also the Mediterranean Cheeseburger, a traditional family recipe hand-patted with special spices, served with fries; the house salad, Med-style, tossed with lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, feta cheese, EEVO and lemon juice; and the Lentil Soup, a traditional Turkish soup swimming with chickpeas, potatoes, carrots, mint pepper paste, and herbs. The grill also serves wine and beer.

Bosphorus Grill is a refreshing example of Myrtle Beach mixing up its culinary diversity – thinking outside the box of Southern fried chicken and Calabash (Clockwise from top) The delicious Pick 5 Appetizer Combo, the rice pudding dessert, and the charming front sidewalk patio at Bosphorus Grill. on the Grand Strand.

1225 38th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach
Web: Visit Them on Facebook
(843) 712-2093
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.