The new Neal’s Creekhouse that’s settled in a quiet cove of Murrells Inlet, the creekside cousin of Neal & Pam’s Bar & Grill in Surfside Beach, is making waves in the South Strand dining scene.

Neal’s seems to be following in the wake of success that Neal & Pam’s has garnered over the decades, with a packed parking lot for lunchtime on a Friday afternoon. Owner Zach Baker certainly knows how to attract a crowd!

But, despite the full lot outside and our fear that there would be a wait for a table, there are plenty of seating options, indoors and out, on multiple levels of decks. Hubby and I chose a two-top on the patio closest to the creek at low tide, where great egrets, with their thin, stilt legs, tiptoed  through the pluff mud. 

Also, despite the bustling dining rooms on the afternoon of our visit, service didn’t skip a beat, starting with a friendly introduction at the front door and tableside, grabbing  our drink order (two Grand Strand Brewing beers). The menu is robust and well-rounded, featuring sandwiches, salads, apps, seafood, burgers, and soups.

We kicked things off with a “Creek-tizer”: a cup of “Pam-ento” cheese from Sandlapper Provision Co. surrounded by crispy house chips. We’ve had our fair share of pimento cheese—in fact, my husband makes a killer pimento from time to time and I always tell him he should bottle it up and sell it, so I’m picky—and this was one of our faves. The cheese was thick and creamy, with an unexpected ingredient of sundried tomatoes stirred in. 

There were many tempting “Creek-tizers” listed, so we also ordered the fried oysters. Six plump, juicy oysters were drizzled with lemon and Old Bay aioli and paired with a fresh, flavorful cold succotash salad. It was such a creative combination, so kudos to the Creekhouse. More appetizers include grilled, blackened, or fried mahi nuggets, gator nuggets with their signature Creek Sauce, and black-eyed pea hummus. 

Onto our main lunch course… I chose from the Greens section: The Wifey Special, a delicious toss-up of arugula, sweet potatoes, blueberries, Carolina goat cheese, candied pecans, and shaved red onion (which I did not include), topped with a roasted shallot vinaigrette. The salad was a brilliant balance of salty and savory.

My husband opted for the blackened mahi in the “Creek to Your Beak” section, served with fries and the house slaw. He loved how fresh and filling this entrée was. More menu standouts for lunch and dinner include the Carolina Burger smothered with chili, house slaw, pickles, and onion on a toasted bun; the Palmetto Shrimp ’n Grits, a blend of shrimp, smoked sausage etouffee gravy, and wilted spinach over stone ground grits; the Girth Brooks “Creek-wich,” a thick slice of Carolina Pride bologna, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and cheese on a sesame seed bun; and the Hunky Dorie Salad Co. Deluxe ’wich stacked with your choice of Mamma Dorie’s homemade chicken or shrimp salad on a toasted bun. 

For the early birds, breakfast is also on the menu at Neal’s, with build-your-own breakfast platters, morning handhelds, and their “Hangover Specials,” like Filet Mignon and Eggs, the Breakfast Bomb (two eggs, sawmill gravy, crumbled bacon, roasted potatoes, and shredded cheese), or the Redneck Casserole, a blend of housemade corned beef, an over-easy egg, smoked cheddar, chives, and Hollandaise. 

Or, if you want to stop by for some Marsh Munchies, such as tater tots or the Homewrecker (footlong corn dog that if you eat it one bite, it’s free), cocktails, and live music or karaoke, that’s OK, too.

Neal’s Creekhouse, where they tout they’re at Low Tide and High Spirits, is off to a running start in the inlet, with a bright future on the horizon.

Neal’s Creekhouse 
3797 US 17 Business, Murrells Inlet
Phone: (843) 651-0022
Web: Nealscreekhouse.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to midnight