There are only a few select tenants that opened up for business atop the newly rebuilt Surfside Pier, and The Whistling Duck is one of them. I took to their concept right away, like a duck to water.

Self-acclaimed as Surfside’s only wine and charcuterie bar on the pier, The Whistling Duck is a beauty drenched in a boho-beach-industrial design, with a centered bar and the piece de resistance: that breathtaking oceanfront view beyond the restaurant’s wall of windows.

There is another reason the Surfside Pier is special to restaurant owners Mike and Rebecca Wallace. It’s where Mike proposed to Rebecca near the old pier on a past Fourth of July. The couple named their restaurant The Whistling Duck after the black-bellied whistling duck native to the South Carolina coast. It is a reflection of the Wallaces’ goal to serve fresh-to-order menu items crafted from locally sourced ingredients.

The Whistling Duck offers a menu like no other here at the beach, featuring shareables, charcuterie boards, salads, light fare, and toasts. 

^{Light fare has taken flight at The Whistling Duck, with bruschetta, charcuterie boards, toasts, and more in store.}

Shared plates include your choice of three bruschetta creations, and you cannot go wrong with any of the five options listed. We went with the bruschetta carefully topped with whipped ricotta, thyme-infused strawberries, and a delicate drizzle of balsamic; creamy smoked gouda over locally sourced fig jam, prosciutto, and thinly sliced apples; and roasted baby bella mushrooms over a creamy brie, fresh thyme, and balsamic. Other starting bites are Whipped Feta, Crispy Artichokes, Stuffed Dates (stuffed with goat cheese and topped with local honey and walnuts), and Stuffed Speck.

The charcuterie boards are the true star of the show as works of culinary artistry that double as art palettes and are easily large enough to share with two or three people. We chose the Italian Stallion, a spread of burrata, fontina, pecorino, capicola, and salami, plus crackers, fresh fruits, locally sourced honey, and nuts. More boards are the Irish Delight, Queso Con Carne, Sir Eiffel, and Southern Hospitality.

There are also kids’ menu offerings, grab-and-go picnic-style beachside baskets, and an incredible array of local craft beers, creative cocktails, and a wine list that spans regional and global labels. 

Thank you, The Whistling Duck, for your refreshing introduction into my neighborhood’s culinary scene, with your elevated, yet hospitable taste and charming, Southern service.

11 Ocean Blvd, Surfside Beach
www.whistlingducksurfside.com
(843) 213-1898
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.