The buzz about a new gastropub opening in Myrtle Beach started long before Fire & Smoke hung out a shingle or printed up menus.

In a covert strip mall location that has seen a revolving door of owners, many locals speculated that the unlucky address would take down another hopeful business owner … that such a refined menu may be too ambitious … that there wasn’t enough bar space to make a go of it.

But since its opening in early 2014, naysayers have had to eat their words as rave reviews continue to come in from natives and tourists alike who have been hungry for upscale pub grub, exciting cocktails and craft beers.

Consider this for a snack to share: A Charcuterie Plate laid out with black truffle salumi, Wagyu bresaola, wild boar proscuitto, cornichons, spicy mustard and French bread. Or a sizzling cast iron of Poutine, with layers of fresh cut fries, cheddar cheese curd and beef gravy. Or tuck into Duck Confit Nachos ballasted on blue corn tortilla chips and piled with duck confit, tomato jam, manchego crema and a pineapple pico.

Fire & Smoke refers to its main dinner menu as “small plates,” but there’s nothing diminutive about the taste or portions. New-found faves that have set tongues a-wagging include a crispy, cured pork belly lacquered by mustard and maple with cider braised mustard greens, buffalo meatloaf glazed in blackberry-chipotle with smoked porter gravy and the house version of shrimp and grits built around a white cheddar and applewood smoked bacon grit cake.

Not to mention Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in Belgian ale, red curry, coconut milk, lemongrass and Thai basil.

The 411 Burger is always on the menu, but for hand-crafted sandwiches, come for lunch. This is when you can experience the Croque Monsieur with house smoked Black Forest ham, Gruyere cheese and mornay; Oyster Po’Boy Sliders spruced up with homemade heirloom tomato jam and remoulade; a BLT of fried green tomatoes and bacon jam; plus a variety of posh paninis.

Want somewhere new and different to eat? Fire & Smoke is worth talking about.

Fire & Smoke
A Gastropub
411 79th Ave. N.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
(843) 449-0085
www.fireandsmokegastropub.com
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner: 4–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4–11 p.m. Friday & Saturday