A new Myrtle Beach restaurant offers whiskey-inspired foods. It also has karaoke.
“I love whiskey,” Argenis Rojo said.
The Myrtle Beach resident said he acquired his love of the popular spirit after visiting Tennessee distilleries and whiskey-inspired restaurants.
“I worked a lot there,” he said. “I mean, you kind of fall in love with the place.”
Rojo, who has lived in the area for 22 years, said Myrtle Beach was lacking that kind of themed eatery.
“I always felt like something is missing, something we needed,” He said. “But ... I think what we put together is a pretty cool, nice concept.”
That concept is Whiskey Roots Bar and Grill. The new restaurant will have its grand opening July 25 at 4 p.m. It opened for the first time Friday, July 21 from 5-11 p.m.
Rojo will run the restaurant with his business partners Maria Garcia and Nay Barreto, who also own the South American-themed eatery La Vinotinto located at 1311 North Kings Highway.
The group’s third restaurant, Whiskey Roots serves alcohol-inspired food like its namesake sauce, a combination of barbecue sauce and bourbon, not whiskey.
The restaurant’s menu includes its own homemade burger, chicken quesadillas and Red Snapper. Whiskey Roots will also have a “Sea Trilogy” with classic, tropical and dark ceviche topped with various fruits, vegetables and sauces available for hungry customers to enjoy.
Aside from having plenty of popular spirits on hand, Rojo also said he hopes to over time develop a stock of bespoke whiskeys for people to taste.
“I’m hunting (for) different types of bottles that you’re not gonna see everywhere,” Rojo said.
Aside from being a tribute to his love of whiskey, the eatery is also a tribute to America, Rojo said.
“I came here 22 years ago, and I came with literally, absolutely nothing,” Rojo said. “I want something to support that American feeling.”
The restaurant will also have more features than just food and whiskey. Rojo, who also builds houses in Myrtle Beach, said Whiskey Roots will have 2 karaoke rooms he built himself. Customers can book the rooms on the restaurant’s website.
This will not be the only Whiskey Roots, Rojo added. The ownership group is also looking at adding locations in Wilmington and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Whiskey Roots Bar and Grill’s Myrtle Beach establishment is located at 205 N. Kings Highway. Rojo said it will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. The new eatery has 17-20 people on staff, and Rojo added Whiskey Roots is still hiring.
This story was originally published July 22, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "A new Myrtle Beach restaurant offers whiskey-inspired foods. It also has karaoke.."
