Carolina Forest Pub Crawl

They say that churches often follow the population. When folks move to the suburbs, so do houses of worship, to be near their flock. But churches aren’t the only ones moving to Myrtle Beach's most booming bedroom community — pubs and bars are cropping up in Carolina Forest like wildflowers. Up until recently, Beef O' Brady's and Handley's Pub & Grub were the main options for locals not willing to brave U.S. 501 traffic to get their food and drink on. Within the last year, however, there’s been a boom with more than a half dozen new watering holes. And the trend toward nightlife west of the waterway only seems to be growing; a third installment of Myrtle Beach-based Murphy’s Law plans to open in Carolina Forest in October. So, in order to see if this burgeoning scene is the next hotspot or just another random string of bars, we took a tour of the area, stopping at each establishment along the way. What came about was a Kicks! pub crawl — and one very interesting night.

Max & Erma’s 1004 Glenforest Road, 903-1030‎ www.maxandermas.com The look: The sleek, modern decor looks more fit for a martini bar than a chain restaurant. The bar features a small area with couches and tables that doubles as a waiting area in addition to booths. The crowd: A single older gentleman was waiting for his food at 5 p.m. on a recent Friday, but the bartender assured us she gets a variety of folks in for dinner. What they said: “We have a really great happy hour, but since we opened in December not a lot of people know about it.” — Bartender Hannah Olsen, Myrtle Beach Food options: That “really great” happy hour featured $3 off appetizers, $2 off draft beer and $1 off liquor from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. This offers a great chance to try out the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, which is made with a 6 oz. chicken breast and is more like a full meal, according to Olsen. Signature drink: While it’s an ambitious way to start out an evening out, the Pomegranate Citrus Martini would go great with dinner. The orange twist blends nicely with the pomegranate for a tart, but refreshing taste. Service: Very attentive staff treated us like we were their only customers…because we pretty much were. Noise level: Low. Random chatter between employees and adult contemporary music. Smoke factor: 0. Non-smoking.

Chili’s Bar & Grill 100 Orchard Road, 903-0607 www.chilis.com‎ The look: Wood everywhere, with the colorful paintings and quirky decor of a typical chain restaurant. The good-size patio and large HDTV over the bar were nice touches. The crowd: The bar crowd was mostly older folks, out for a drink after work, but the restaurant was filled with diners of all types and ages. What they said: “His middle name is Hussein,” said Cheryl Boulware, of Myrtle Beach, referring to bartender Kevin Gee. And while she assured us she was just joking in reference to a political conversation the two had been having, she was sincere in adding, “This is our favorite place, because the bartenders are friendly here. We’ve been to all the other [restaurants] around here, but this is the best.” Food options: There’s a full menu to choose from, but our bartender suggested the chicken nachos. These are not your average nachos, and according to him are made in “Top Chef” fashion by piling three 12-inch tortillas with layers including a tasty seasoned meat queso dip, large jalapeno slices, and of course, chicken. Signature drink: Presidente Margarita. The bartender seemed to think the added bit of brandy was what sets this margarita apart, but the sheer size of the drink is what got me. Served in a salted martini-size glass, the drink also came with a frozen shaker which easily filled my glass twice more with a bit left over. Service: The teenage hostess wasn’t particularly eager to help, but since we were headed to the bar it didn’t matter much. The bartender was personable and fun, and claimed to have more than 10 years behind the bar. Noise level: Medium. Bar chatter wasn’t loud, but the frequent whirring of the margarita blender could get annoying if you sit up close. Smoke factor: Low. Smoking allowed at bar, but air was completely clear.

Stefano's Cucina Rustica‎ 2005 Oakheart Road, 903-7238 The look: High-class Italian eatery meets down-home southern diner. The crowd: Not a single person at the bar, which from the setup doesn’t look as though it sees much action. Dinner crowd consisted of mostly families. What they said: “It’s Everclear and the skin of a lemon. I promise it doesn’t taste as bad as it sounds,” said barkeep Ashley Dean in reference to her signature shot called a Limoncello. Dean says she came to Myrtle Beach by way of Florence to help open Stefano’s second location, which opened in August 2007. Food options: There were no lack of tasty-sounding entrees on this menu. Our bartender suggested her favorite, the Chicken Tortellini Forentine, and also offered up that day’s special: a Blackened Tilapia served with a unique peach vanilla slaw. Signature drink: Stefano’s Signature Espresso Martini. After a bottle of Peroni and a sample of the Limoncello, I was too cautious to try one, but the mix of Kahlua, Stoli vanilla, cream and a shot of espresso sounded like a great dessert drink. Service: The staff was very friendly and gave the feel of a family-owned business, but with no one specifically assigned as a bartender it did take a few minutes before we got served. Noise level: Low. Hushed dinner conversation and the crooning of Tony Bennett and Dean Martin set the tone. Smoke factor: 0. Non-smoking.

Handleys Pub & Grub 3873 Renee Dr., 903-4904‎ www.handleyspub.com The look: Half authentic English pub, half sports bar, with no lack of activities. An L-shaped bar in the main room leads to a separate billiards area with a few tables. Huge covered patio offers plenty of space to socialize, and features dart boards, a shuffleboard game and a cornhole playing area. The crowd: Has that neighborhood bar feel, and although there were definitely some older regulars, the crowd skewed younger than most of the places we visited with a fair share of college kids and young professionals. What they said: “This place at night gets crazy. By 9:30 or 10 p.m. it gets packed with kids,” said Murphy’s Law owner Marty Mullen who happened to be sitting next to us at the bar enjoying a drink with Heather Kent, of Myrtle Beach, and her husband. Kent added, “They’ve got a great setup [on the patio] with all the cornhole stuff on the right and the bar of the left, it’s really nice.” Food options: Pretty typical sports bar fare, with mostly burgers and sandwiches. The staff recommended we try the Pork Loin French Dip and pointed out the 40-cent wings from 4 to 7 p.m. every day. Signature drink: Beer. A glance through the bar cooler showed English/Irish staples including Newcastle, Bass, Harp and Guinness as well as a selection of less common stouts and porters which looked a bit intimidating. Service: The somewhat busy staff didn’t go out of their way to be friendly, but were very attentive to the food and beverage needs of the patrons. Noise level: Medium to high. The conversations of bar patrons talking over the sound of sports news mixed with classic pop from Michael Jackson on the jukebox. Smoke factor: Medium. The air at the bar wasn’t bad, but the stench of smoke was noticeable upon entrance.

Beef O’ Bradys 3689 Renee Dr., 236-7761 www.beefobradys.com The look: Big dining area filled with wooden booths gives way to U-shaped bar at the back of the room. Walls (and even ceiling tiles) adorned with logos and flags for various sports teams. The crowd: Has a definitely family feel, with a packed house of young and old diners and a steady stream of kids going back and forth to the game room in back. What they said: “It’s got a good variety of sports, people and food,” said an unnamed Washington Redskins fan who promptly broke into an in depth conversation about the Skins’ chances this season. Food options: Full menu features an assortment of appetizers, sandwiches and salads. Our bartender, Mike Demiccio, was high on the wings which come in 12 sauces including flavors such as Sweet Jalapeno, Kickin’ Bayou BBQ and Chipotle Lime. Signature drink: Beer. The special was $1.75 Natural Light drafts, which despite taking me back to my college days, was surprisingly refreshing on tap. Service: Not bad, but there was only one bartender for the 20-plus people at the bar. Manager ended up being too busy to speak with us. Noise level: High. A few heated sports conversations were accented by TV noise and bloops and bings from the game room. Smoke factor: Medium. Dining are remained pretty clear, but the bar was a bit smoky. King Kong Sushi Bar & Grill 2120 Oakheart Road, 236-5676‎ www.kingkongsushi.com The look: Unassuming storefront opened up to a surprisingly nice inside. Interesting decor features various pieces of art with a sketched gorilla. Sheet hanging over one wall will soon give way to an expanded dining room area. The crowd: Noticeably younger, yet not spilling over with college students. A kind of hip, in-the-know crowd of locals that might be good company for young professionals on a first date. What they said: “We get a good bar crowd in here on Thursdays for college night. We clear off the area over there for live music.” said local English teacher Mark Godaire, who spends his weekends serving at King Kong. He also offered up the fact that they are planning to open a second location at Broadway at the Beach in January. Food options: The sushi menu features more than 100 different options, with 40-plus variations we were told are unique to King Kong. Some of the most popular choices include Gyoza, a spicy beef and vegetable dumpling served as an appetizer and the half-cooked, half-raw No Name Rolls which consist of shrimp tempura and crab topped with tuna, avocado, spicy mayo and a sweet glaze. Signature drink: A mix of Capt. Morgan’s Spiced Rum, Malibu, 99 Bananas and orange juice called King Kong Punch. Service: Very friendly and helpful, staff went out of their way to explain the menu to a sushi novice such as myself. Noise level: Low. Laid back southern rock played at a low level over the speakers so as not to overwhelm dinner conversation. Smoke factor: None. Non-smoking.

Junior’s Pizzeria & Pub 2070 Oakheart Road, 903-7499 www.juniorspizzamb.com The look: Stripped down decor and dim lighting with quaint Italian charm. The random photos of the Rat Pack in the bathroom struck me as charming, but in my defense, I was eight drinks deep at that point. The crowd: Nice folks, but not the liveliest bunch we ran across. Mostly middle-aged or older, with a few families finishing up dinner in the dining area. What they said: “Junior’s is the best pizza in Carolina Forest,” said one man sitting at the bar. “That’s true. Never had a complaint about the pizza,” added bartender Neil Player, of Myrtle Beach. Food options: Although someone suggested Veal Piccata, I think the pizza is the way to go here. You can try it for $1 a slice during Junior’s happy hour (4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday) which also includes $2 Sam Adams drafts and $3 house wine and liquor. Signature drink: Junior’s Tea is a high-impact version of a southern staple. It starts with some gold fashioned sweet tea, but also includes bourbon, Triple Sec and Peach Schnapps. Service: Our bartender, a CCU student, was very helpful and was gracious in putting up with questioning by a half-drunk reporter. Noise level: Low. The trumpet-heavy dinner music was nice and I’m pretty sure we were the loudest people in the bar. Smoke factor: Low. A few smokers dotted the bar, but it was nothing overwhelming.

Buffalo Wild Wings 2000 Oakheart Road, 236-6868‎ www.buffalowildwings.com The look: Tall ceilings and brightly colored walls covered with varying sizes of TV and team banners. The crowd: Sports fans. The dining room gets an OK family crowd, but the bar is filled for every big game. Also gets its fair share of students, especially on Wednesday nights when the bar hosts team trivia. What they said: “There’s always something on to get people going. I’ll come in on a Tuesday night and I didn’t even know there was a game and we’ve got the place half filled for a baseball game. I didn’t know there were that many Phillies fans here,” said manager Tim Salgiver. Food options: A full menu featuring options from appetizers to desserts and salads to burgers, but wings are the main draw. They come in 14 signature sauces from Mild to Wild and everywhere in between. We tried the new Southwest Chipotle which were sweet and not too spicy with a bit of a smoky kick. Signature drink: Beer. There are too many to list, but there is always some sort of special going on with daily drink specials, beers of the month, and a happy hour with $0.50 off drafts and half-price appetizers. Service: Polite hostesses and staff. You never get the best service sitting at the actual bar, but the wait staff is generally very attentive to the tables in the bar section. Noise level: High. Even on off nights there is always someone yelling at a TV. Smoke factor: High. Sitting at the bar, there were smokers on all sides.

Tavern in the Forest 4999 Carolina Forest Blvd., 236-5030‎ The look: Half indoor, half outdoor bar gives patrons the option of enjoying the weather on nice days, or having a quiet drink inside. The crowd: Lots of locals and a good amount of regulars. According to the bartender, probably 90 percent of folks that come there live within 5-10 miles. What they said: “Your local pub,” reads the quote on the front of the menu. Food options: There’s plenty to choose from, including some high-priced options such as ribs, shrimp, and prime rib. On Wednesday’s they offer three different sized cuts of prime rib, and according to owner Dave Murphy “It’s great. They slow cook it overnight and the stuff just melts in your mouth.” Signature drink: “The Beast.” For $12 every Sunday you can order a margarita with five shots of tequila that according to the bar staff is “this big” (hold out both palms cupped and imagine large frozen drink there.) They also offer a Bloody Mary bar starting at 10 a.m. each Sunday which I’m told is popular amongst NFL fans who like to line up in front of their team’s TV hours ahead of time. Service: The staff gives off a “Cheers” vibe, as if everyone there knows each other and does a good job of make newcomers feel welcome. Noise level: Medium. Conversations range from sports to politics and beyond with the jukebox playing mainly ‘80s and ‘90s rock songs. Smoke factor: Low. The indoor bar is non-smoking, smoking allowed outside.

Villa Mare Restaurant 49994 Carolina Forest Blvd., 903-8654 www.villamarerestaurant.com The look: Very classy inside features a lowly lit dining room decorated with a mix of modern and classical art and a bar that seats 8-10 people. The crowd: Doesn’t seem to attract a big bar crowd, mostly just folks waiting for a table in the dining room. The owner, however, assured me that they get plenty of regulars that have followed them from their previous location on 79th Avenue in Myrtle Beach. What they said: “We stick to the true Italian tradition here. Everything is made to order,” said owner Fred Fusco of Myrtle Beach. Food options: Specialties include veal, pastas, chicken and nightly chef creations featuring fresh fish & steak entrees. Also, the eggplant Parmesan came highly recommended. Signature drink: Dreamsicle. This frothy, creamy creation served in a martini glass is a mix of vodka, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine and cream. Service: Staff exudes authentic Italian charm and was very helpful. Noise level: Low. Could use a bit of ambience though, as there was no dinner music playing when I was there. Smoke factor: None. Non-smoking.