A one-of-a-kind bar/restaurant, The Grumpy Monk first opened for business in March 2015, focusing on gourmet burgers, clever twists on bar food, small plates, sushi, craft beer and an entree menu that might make a few fine dining establishments blush. But linen table clothes and back waiters are nowhere to be seen in this ultra-casual, sometimes irreverent, hipster hangout.

Part sports bar, part neighborhood pub, part family eatery, The Grumpy Monk caters to residents from the Forestbrook, Legends and Carolina Forest neighborhoods, along with Coastal Carolina University students and road-weary travelers driving by on U.S. 501. With two-plus years under its belt fine-tuning the concept, the owners are opening a second restaurant of the same name in Monroe, N.C., sometime this year.

You might find the five-page menu frustrating as you try to decide between Shareables, which include spicy breaded shrimp, fried pickles, fresh mussels in white wine and garlic, house-smoked wings, crab dip, steamed clams, nachos, combo plates and something bravely called “Monk Turds,” which are jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and bacon and then lightly fried.

Your eyes will scan the Soup & Salad offerings, and then be drawn to Sandwiches (Traditional and Monk Creations), including The Monk Buffalo chicken, Reuben, Big Easy Shrimp Po’ Boy, Philly Cheesesteak, Italian sausage, fresh flounder and more. The Burger, Wraps and Tacos page will further slow your decision-making process as you weave your way through some 15 options from the classic cheeseburger, to a Caribbean Jack Burger, a bacon mushroom Swiss, and the Rodeo Burger made from dry rub seasoned beef topped with bacon, cheddar, spicy aioli BBQ sauce and onion rings on a brioche bun.

Entrees include smothered chicken, open-faced hanger steak sandwich, hand-breaded “Big Kid” chicken tenders, pecan chicken and waffles, sirloin steaks, a crab leg dinner served with two sides, Charleston Crab Cake Dinner and even a traditional Calabash Seafood Platter with hand-battered fried shrimp and flounder.

Nearly 50 of the most popular sushi creations include the tamer California Roll and Veggie Roll, all the way to Grumpy Seafood Fiesta made with lobster, lump crab, avocado and asparagus topped with tuna, salmon, white tuna and masago. The usual Dynamite Rolls, Spicy Crab Rolls, Crunch Roll and tempura rolls, smoked eel, and a dozen specialty sushi rolls round out the menu.

The always-evolving craft beer list includes around 50 drafts, 10 of which are local/regional, 30 bottles and plenty of low-to-high gravity selections. Growlers-to-go mean you can take your favorites home with you.

Upon entering you’ll first notice the 20-tap faux beer waterfall, leading to a decent-sized bar with plenty of big screens. The bar area is separated from the large dining room by a clever water and glass installation. Daily specials, Team Trivia, live music (Friday nights), a small outside patio and an indoor banquet room (which doubles as an all-seasons cornhole arena) combine to make this attempt at “something for everyone” one of the few times the approach works.

The Grumpy Monk

4545 U.S. 501 Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-5888
www.grumpymonkmyrtlebeach.com
Open daily, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.