Eating, shopping and supporting local has never been so vital as it is now. And making time to “tavern local” is the mantra of the new Tavern in Surfside across from Queen’s Harbour (just shy of Surfside Beach proper, but close enough).

It’s a sister location, opened by the same owners of Tavern in the Forest in Carolina Forest. As a much-needed dine-in restaurant in the neighborhood, the locals in Surfside are eating it up.

Choose to sit inside the cool, funky dining room and bar area or dine alfresco on the charming covered patio. Either way, you’re in good hands with the smiling servers at the Tavern, from when you first order to when you pay your check.

The menu at the Tavern is a delicious blend of American classics with a Southern twist, peppered with a few Asian bites as well. For starters, they offer a diverse blend of eccentric munchies. The fried oysters, lightly breaded Calabash-style, are the most tender, served with zesty Tavern sauce and cocktail sauce. Honorable mentions are the Tavern Nachos (fresh-fried tortilla chips loaded with melted cheddar, jack and beer cheeses, chili, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and fresh jalapeno), Duck Wontons stuffed with duck bacon and cream cheese, buffalo chicken dip, wings, and Seared Ahi Tuna placed on a bed of their signature zucchini slaw sprinkled with sesame seeds and scallions.

Rounding out the robust menu are a variety of soups and massive salads. Don’t miss the chance to try one of their specialty pizzas, like the unique Closed on Sundays pie topped with crispy fried chicken, fresh dill pickle chips, and honey mustard and barbecue sauce drizzles, or one of their creative burgers, sandwiches and comfort food entrees, like the Tavern Pot Pie (roasted chicken breast and veggies smothered in housemade bechamel and topped with a Parmesan-dusted biscuit), or the Pork Porterhouse. That’s just to name a few. The bar taps into a lineup of local craft beer, wine and signature cocktails, like the Myrtle Margarita or the Tavern Punch, which includes Reyka Vodka, Malibu, pineapple and orange juices, lemon-lime soda and a splash of grenadine.

Brunch is available Saturdays and Sundays, and live music adds to the excitement Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8 p.m.

Tavern in Surfside

8739 U.S. Highway 17, Myrtle Beach
Daily, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
tavernlikealocal.com