Murrells Inlet getting a new restaurant, with a 60’s and 70’s vibe and a southern kick
Hippie Hen House a new restaurant opening soon in Murrells Inlet will have a 60 and 70’s vibe.
When driving down U.S. 17 business look for the lit-up Volkswagen Beetle in front of the restaurant. If that doesn’t get your attention maybe the 7-foot rooster will. When asked about the bug being lit up owner Stephen Hock stated, “When the bug’s a-glowing the beer’s a-flowing.”
Hippie Hen House is a new American restaurant that will be opening later this month. Located at 3256 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, which was a former location for J Peters Bar & Grill, neighboring with TGI Friday’s, and Player 1 up.
Owners Stephen Hock and Shelly Frey, originally from Maryland have searched up and down the East Coast from Maryland to Florida, looking to find that special location. Hock and Frey have the concept of “from beach to barn to table” by offering the freshest seafood and local products. They together will be going and picking out the seafood themselves and bringing it back to the restaurant.
Hock and Frey’s passion is to bring as much local as possible to the restaurant so they have paired up with many local vendors to do just that. Keeping in mind to offer clean food with Maryland seafood traditions and adding a southern twist melted into one.
Giving a salute to Hock’s grandmother and Frey’s father you will be able to admire a tribute picture of their grandparent and parent displayed in the restaurant. Hock explained how his grandmother influenced his work ethic and instilled in him his love for cooking, the restaurant idea just exploded from there. Hock’s also explained the idea of the roosters came from his grandmother who collected them.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland Chef Brian “Bull” Durham will be in the massive kitchen preparing some mouth-watering recipes. Taking southern traditions and putting a little twist on the recipes, from crispy chicken bog balls to red eye gravy to vegan options there is something sure to please everyone’s palette. Hippie Hen House will have a staff of approximately 25-30 employees.
Looking through the menu diners will definitely be able to identify how this time period is all tied together.
The extensive menu with a 60’s and 70’s vibe, “Get your motor running” lists the appetizers on the menu. Ordering an entree you will find “The Supremes” which offers something for everyone’s palette. The menu also includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options in each category. Entrees include “The Woodstock Pot Pie,” a vegan pot pie.
All bread will be baked daily by Benjamin’s Bakery in Surfside Beach. House-made kettle chips, hand-cut fries, and Carolina slaw will be served on the side when you order from the “That’s a stack jack!” part of the menu, which offers a huge variety of sandwiches.
How does a hot Belgium waffle pancake chicken wrap sound? The Gamecock Maple Hot Belgium Waffle wrap has crispy hand-breaded chicken, homemade pickles with roasted red onions served in a light Belgium pancake wrap with cheddar cheese and a drizzle of buttermilk ranch aioli.
Local produce and fresh-grown herbs will accompany many recipes on the menu, remember that no preservatives will be used.
Local seafood will be served, so when you order shrimp you will be able to see the date and location it was caught, by local captain Charlie owner of Lila Lee Shrimping. He will also have the freshest flounder and crabs which will be sourced locally whenever possible. Those crabs will probably turn into the famous Maryland crab cakes that will have a southern kick to them.
Locally, prestige farms will be farming in chicken for the restaurant.
Boylans soda will be offered in glass bottles. They are made with pure cane sugar and no high fructose corn syrups. Cocktails will also be served.. One very interesting specialty cocktail that will be served is “The State Fair,” Named after the Maryland State Fair.
This story was originally published February 19, 2023 at 7:00 AM.