The Sun News readers, Myrtle Beach SC visitors vote on area's best

Every year our parent company The Sun News, the area’s only daily newspaper, conducts a poll to ask locals and guests alike what their favorite places in the Myrtle Beach SC area are.

The annual contest is voted on by hundreds, and the recognition in the accompanying publication is highly coveted.

This year, categories were broken up into the three sites: MyrtleBeachOnline.com, WeeklySurge.com and GoToMyrtleBeach.com.

In the results, one can find the favorite place to enjoy a romantic dinner, dance the night away, enjoy a good brew, have a late-night meal, watch a movie and even get your car repaired.

Here’s the top vote-getters, and watch GoToMyrtleBeach.com for more of our favorite picks in these and other categories.

Best 19th hole

▪  First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, Icon Sports and Spirits

▪ Finalist, Marlin Quay Marina Bar

Best Annual Event/Festival

• First, Blue Crab Festival

• Finalist, Murrells Inlet 4th of July Boat Parade

• Finalist, Night of A Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens

Best Attraction/Amusement

• First, Broadway at the Beach

• Finalist, Brookgreen Gardens

• Finalist, Family Kingdom

Best Bakery

• First, Pawleys Island Bakery

• Finalist, Coccadotts Cake Shop

• Finalist, Croissants Bistro and Bakery

Best Breakfast Place

• First, Johnny D’s Waffles and Bakery

• Finalist, Eggs Up Grill

• Finalist, The Golden Egg

Best Buffet Non-Seafood

▪ First Place, Prosser’s BBQ Restaurant & Buffet

▪ Finalist, Golden Corral

▪ Finalist, Simply Southern Smokehouse

Best Coffee Shop

• First, Starbucks

• Finalist, Dunkin’ Donuts

• Finalist, Second Cup

Best Cupcake Shop

• First, Coccadotts Cake Shop

• Finalist, Johnny D’s Waffles and Bakery

• Finalist, Pawleys Island Bakery

Best Donut Shop

• First, Krispy Kreme

• Finalist, Dunkin’ Donuts

• Finalist, Fractured Prune

Best Early-Bird Special

• First, Gulfstream Café

• Finalist, California Dreaming

• Finalist, Salt Water Creek Café

Best Fine Dining Restaurant

▪ First Place, Frank’s

▪ Finalist, Bistro 90

▪ Finalist, Collectors Café

Best Golf Course

• First, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

• Finalist, Dunes Golf and Beach Club

• Finalist, Legends Resort

Best Golf Hole

• First, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National No. 6

• Finalist, Wachesaw East No. 18

• Finalist, The Dunes Golf and Beach Club No. 13

Best Hotel

• First, Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort

• Finalist, Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront

• Finalist, Marriott at Grande Dunes

Best Italian Restaurant

• First, Carrabba’s

• Finalist, Pacino’s Mediterranean Grille

• Finalist, Scatori’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

▪ First Place, Bar-B-Que House

▪ Finalist, Angelo’s Steak and Pasta

▪ Finalist, Dead Dog Saloon

Best Live Entertainment Theater

▪ First Place, Alabama Theatre

▪ Finalist, The Carolina Opry

▪ Finalist, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show

Best Mexican Restaurant

▪ First Place, El Cerro Grande

▪ Finalist, Abuelos’s

▪ Finalist, Habanero’s

Best Miniature Golf Course

▪ First Place, Mount Atlanticus

▪ Finalist, Gilligan’s Island

▪ Finalist, Hawaiian Rumble

Best Movie Theater

▪ First Place, Grand 14 at Market Common

▪ Finalist, Carmike Twelve at Myrtle Beach Mall

▪ Finalist, Frank’s Cinebowl

Best Pier

▪ First Place, The Pier at Garden City

▪ Finalist, Second Avenue Pier

▪ Finalist, Surfside Pier

Best Place for a Hotdog

▪ First Place, Sam’s Corner

▪ Finalist, Burky’s Grill

▪ Finalist, Sonic

Best Place for Barbecue

▪ First Place, Bar-B-Que House

▪ Finalist, Little Pigs BBQ

▪ Finalist, Prosser’s BBQ Restaurant & Buffet

Best Place for Dessert

▪ First Place, Collectors Café

▪ Finalist, Croissants Bistro and Bakery

▪ Finalist, Johnny D’s Waffles and Bakery

Best Place for Hushpuppies

▪ First Place, Drunken Jack’s

▪ Finalist, Bar-B-Que House

▪ Finalist, Dead Dog Saloon

Best Place for Ice Cream

▪ First Place, Painters Ice Cream – Garden City

▪ Finalist, Bruster’s Ice Cream

▪ Finalist, Meyer’s Ice Cream Parlor

Best Place for Pancakes

▪ First Place, Johnny D’s Waffles and Bakery

▪ Finalist, Applewood House of Pancakes

▪ Finalist, IHOP

Best Place for Ribs

▪ First Place, Damon’s Oceanfront

▪ Finalist, Sticky Fingers

▪ Finalist, Texas Roadhouse

Best Place for Seafood

▪ First Place, Lee’s Inlet Kitchen

▪ Finalist, Bonefish Grill

▪ Finalist, Drunken Jack’s

Best Place for Steak

▪ First Place, Angelo’s Steak and Pasta

▪ Finalist, Outback Steakhouse

▪ Finalist, Texas Roadhouse

Best Place for Subs

▪ First Place, Jersey Mike’s Subs

▪ Finalist, Firehouse Subs

▪ Finalist, Subway

Best Place for Sushi

▪ First Place, King Kong Sushi

▪ Finalist, Miyabi Japanese Steak & Seafood House

▪ Finalist, Wicked Tuna

Best Rainy Day Amusement Venue

▪ First Place, Ripley’s Aquarium

▪ Finalist, Fun Warehouse

▪ Finalist, WonderWorks

Best Restaurant with a View

▪ First Place, Gulfstream Café

▪ Finalist, Conch Café

▪ Finalist, Sea Captain’s House

Best Romantic Restaurant

▪ First Place, The Melting Pot

▪ Finalist, Frank’s

▪ Finalist, Gulfstream Café

Best RV/Camping Facility

▪ First Place, Ocean Lakes Campground

▪ Finalist, Huntington Beach State Park

▪ Finalist, Lakewood Camping Resort

Best Seafood Buffet

▪ First Place, Crabby Mikes

▪ Finalist, Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant

▪ Finalist, Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood

Best Vacation Rental Company

▪ First Place, Dunes Realty

▪ Finalist, Elliott Realty

▪ Finalist, Garden City Realty

Best Wedding Venue

▪ First Place, Brookgreen Gardens

▪ Finalist, Litchfield Plantation

▪ Finalist, Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club

From our other publications

Here are results from The Sun News categories

Best Antiques Store

▪ First Place, New to You 2 Consignment

▪ Finalist, Legacy Antiques Mall

▪ Finalist, Peggy’s Antiques and Collectible

Best Auto Dealer

▪ First Place, East Coast Honda

▪ Finalist, Myrtle Beach Automotive

▪ Finalist, Sparks Toyota

Best Barber Shop

▪ First Place, Rubio’s Barber Shop

▪ Finalist, Cutting Loose – Surfside Beach

▪ Finalist, Enoch’s Barber Shop

Best month to be a local

▪ First Place, October

▪ Finalist, January

▪ Finalist, September

Best Bridal Boutique

▪ First Place, Fancy Frocks

▪ Finalist, Amanda’s Collection

▪ Finalist, The Little White Dress

Best Computer Repair Shop

▪ First Place, Just Ask Hal

▪ Finalist, ASAP Computers

▪ Finalist, Millennium Computers

Best Cosmetic Surgery/Med Spa

▪ First Place, DermaVogue

▪ Finalist, Myrtle Beach Plastic Surgery

▪ Finalist, Visible Results

Best Day Care Center

▪ First Place, The Learning Tree

▪ Finalist, Belin Creative Learning Center

▪ Finalist, Palmetto Preschool

Best Day Spa

▪ First Place, Coastal Holistics

▪ Finalist, Celestial Spa

▪ Finalist, Lazy Daisy Spa

Best Dental Office

▪ First Place, Glenns Bay Dental Associates

▪ Finalist, Dunes Dental Services

▪ Finalist, Myrtle Beach Dental Associates

Best Dog Grooming Service

▪ First Place, Shampooches

▪ Finalist, Angel Pets

▪ Finalist, Bubbles and Fluff

Best Dry Cleaner

▪ First Place, Sunshine Cleaners

▪ Finalist, Lapels

▪ Finalist, Royal Cleaners

Best Farmers Market

▪ First Place, Lee’s Farmers Market

▪ Finalist, North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market

▪ Finalist, Surfside Beach Farmers Market

Best Financial Adviser

▪ First Place, Edward Jones

▪ Finalist, BB&T Scott and Stringfellow

▪ Finalist, Wells Fargo Advisors

Best Financial Institution

▪ First Place, BB&T

▪ Finalist, Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union

▪ Finalist, Wells Fargo

Best Fitness Trainer

▪ First Place, Molly Piercy, Finish Strong Training

▪ Finalist, Empower Performance Physical Training

▪ Finalist, Nikki Shaffer, Fitness Edge

Best Florist

▪ First Place, Flowers by Richard

▪ Finalist, Callas Florist

▪ Finalist, Kings Florist

Best Furniture Store

▪ First Place, Garden City Furniture

▪ Finalist, Rooms to Go

▪ Finalist, Seaside Furniture Gallery & Accents

Best Grocery Store

▪ First Place, Kroger

▪ Finalist, BiLo

▪ Finalist, Lowes Foods

Best Hair Salon

▪ First Place, Laura and Co. Salon

▪ Finalist, Lazy Daisy Spa

▪ Finalist, Mirage Hair Studio

Best Heating/Air Conditioning Service

▪ First Place, Swift Services Heating and Cooling

▪ Finalist, Carolina Cool

▪ Finalist, One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating

Best Home Supplies or Appliances

▪ First Place, Lowes Home Improvement

▪ Finalist, Home Depot

▪ Finalist, Sears

Best Homebuilder

▪ First Place, Creekside Custom Homes

▪ Finalist, BEC Construction

▪ Finalist, Flagship Construction

Best Hospital

▪ First Place, Tidelands Health (Waccamaw Hospital)

▪ Finalist, Conway Medical Center

▪ Finalist, Grand Strand Medial Center

Best Kennel

▪ First Place, Tamroc Kennels

▪ Finalist, A Dog’s Way Inn

▪ Finalist, Sit and Stay Awhile

Best Law Office

▪ First Place, Murray Law Offices

▪ Finalist, Dunes Law Firm

▪ Finalist, Floyd Law Firm

Best Library

▪ First Place, Surfside Beach Library

▪ Finalist, Carolina Forest Library

▪ Finalist, Socastee Library

Best Manicure/Nail Shop

▪ First Place, LA Nails

▪ Finalist, Royal Nails

▪ Finalist, Signature Nails

Best Mattress Retailer

▪ First Place, Bedman

▪ Finalist, America’s Mattress

▪ Finalist, Mattress Firm

Best Medical Clinic, Group or Office

▪ First Place, Young Talkers

▪ Finalist, Inlet Medial Associates

▪ Finalist, Tidelands Health – Waccamaw Community Care

Best Oil Change/Tire service

▪ First Place, Tire Town

▪ Finalist, Mason Tire & Auto Service

▪ Finalist, Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers

Best Pest Control Service

▪ First Place, Lane’s Pest Control

▪ Finalist, Strand Termite and Pest Control

▪ Finalist, ZAP! Pest Control

Best Real Estate Agency

▪ First Place, Dunes Realty

▪ Finalist, Garden City Realty

▪ Finalist, RE/MAX Southern Shores

Best Real Estate Agent

▪ First Place, Amy Smith, RE/MAX Beach and Golf

▪ Finalist, Bobby Streett, Garden City Realty

▪ Finalist, Glenda West, KingOne Properties

Best Recreational Sports Complex

▪ First Place, North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex

▪ Finalist, Pepper Geddings Rec Complex

▪ Finalist, Planet Fitness

Best Shopping Center/Mall

▪ First Place, Coastal Grand mall

▪ Finalist, Tanger Outlets

▪ Finalist, The Market Common

Best Veterinary Hospital/Office

▪ First Place, Murrells Inlet Veterinary Hospital

▪ Finalist, Ark Animal Hospital

▪ Finalist, Carolina Forest Veterinary Hospital

Best Wireless Phone Company

▪ First Place, Verizon Wireless

▪ Finalist, AT&T

▪ Finalist, T-Mobile

Here are results from the Weekly Surge categories

Best 24-hour Restaurant

▪ First Place, Denny’s

▪ Finalist, IHOP

▪ Finalist, Waffle House

Best Bar

▪ First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, Draft’s Sports Bar and Grill

▪ Finalist, The Sportsman

Best Bargain Shopping

▪ First Place, Tanger Outlets

▪ Finalist, Hamrick’s

▪ Finalist, Old Time Pottery

Best Bark Park

▪ First Place, Barc Parc at 62nd Ave. N.

▪ Finalist, Myrtle Beach Barc Parc

▪ Finalist, North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex

Best Beach Bar

▪ First Place, Bummz

▪ Finalist, Draft’s Sports Bar and Grill

▪ Finalist, Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar

Best Biker bar

▪ First Place, The Beaver Bar

▪ Finalist, Suck Bang Blow

▪ Finalist, The Sportsman

Best Bottled Craft Beer Selection

▪ First Place, The Grumpy Monk

▪ Finalist, Bumsteads

▪ Finalist, Island Bar and Grill – Surfside

Best Bowling Center

▪  First Place, 710 Bowling

▪ Finalist. Frank’s Cinebowl

▪ Finalist, Surfside Bowl

Best Chinese Food

▪ First Place, PF Chang’s

▪ Finalist, Lucky Panda

▪ Finalist, New China Buffet

Best Daytime Drinking Spot

▪ First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar

▪ Finalist, The Sportsman

Best Draft Beer Selection

▪ First Place, The Grumpy Monk

▪ Finalist, Draft’s Sports Bar and Grill

▪ Finalist, Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery

Best Gym/Fitness Facility

▪ First Place, Planet Fitness

▪ Finalist, Fitness Edge

▪ Finalist, Myrtle Beach Athletic Club

Best Happy Hour

▪ First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, Flying Fish Market & Grill

▪ Finalist, Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery

Best Liquor Store

▪ First Place, Green’s Warehouse Discount Beverages

▪ Finalist, Owens Liquors

▪ Finalist, Pavilion Discount Beverage

Best Local Band

▪ First Place, Tru Soul

▪ Finalist, Jukebox Elly

▪ Finalist, The Izm

Best Local Car Wash

▪ First Place, Detrick’s Car Wash

▪ Finalist, Clearwater Car Wash

▪ Finalist, Sparkle Car Wash

Best Local Charity/ Non-Profit Group

▪ First Place, Help 4 Kids

▪ Finalist, All 4 Paws

▪ Finalist, Salvation Army

Best Local TV personality

▪ First Place, Ed Piotrowski

▪ Finalist, Abbi Neal

▪ Finalist, Amanda Kinseth

Best Local’s Hangout

▪ First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, Bumsteads

▪ Finalist, The Boathouse

Best Location for People Watching

▪ First Place, Broadway at the Beach

▪ Finalist, Murrells Inlet Marshwalk

▪ Finalist, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

Best Outdoor Dining Spot

▪ First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, Creek Ratz

▪ Finalist, King Street Grill – Murrells Inlet

Best Pet Service/ Supplies

▪ First Place, Petsmart

▪ Finalist, Pet Galley

▪ Finalist, Petco

Best Photographer

▪ First Place, SJM Photography

▪ Finalist, Kara Stovall Photography

▪ Finalist, Scott Smallin Photography

Best Place for a Burger

▪ First Place, River City Café

▪ Finalist, Five Guys Burgers and Fries

▪ Finalist, Hamburger Joes

Best Place for a Salad

▪ First Place, California Dreaming

▪ Finalist, Carolina Roadhouse

▪ Finalist, King Street Grill

Best Place for Bagels

▪ First Place, Big Apple Bagels

▪ Finalist, Jersey Bagels and Subs

▪ Finalist, The Bagel Factory

Best Place for Brunch

▪ First Place, Gulfstream Café

▪ Finalist, Chestnut Hill

▪ Finalist, Dead Dog Saloon

Best Place for French Fries

▪ First Place, Five Guys Burgers and Fries

▪ Finalist, BurgerFi

▪ Finalist, McDonalds

Best Place for Hot Wings

▪ First Place, Fat Jacks Wings

▪ Finalist, Magoo’s

▪ Finalist, Wild Wing Café

Best Place for Live Music

▪ First Place, Dead Dog Saloon

▪ Finalist, The Boathouse

▪ Finalist, The Pier at Garden City

Best Place for Margaritas

▪ First Place, Margaritaville

▪ Finalist, Abuelos’s

▪ Finalist, El Cerro Grande

Best Place for Nachos

▪ First Place, Nacho Hippo

▪ Finalist, King Street Grille

▪ Finalist, Margaritaville

Best Place for Pizza

▪ First Place, Ultimate California Pizza

▪ Finalist, Gino’s Real NY Pizza

▪ Finalist, Scatori’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

Best Place to Volunteer

▪ First Place, Grand Strand Humane Society

▪ Finalist, All 4 Paws

▪ Finalist, Brookgreen Gardens

Best Public Beach Access

▪ First Place, The Pier at Garden City

▪ Finalist, Huntington Beach State Park

▪ Finalist, Surfside Beach

Best Sports Bar

▪ First Place, Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar

▪ Finalist, Draft’s Sports Bar and Grill

▪ Finalist, King Street Grille

Best Tattoo Artist

▪ First Place, Hank Spencer, Elite Ink

▪ Finalist, Bob Seprish, Myrtle Beach Ink

▪ Finalist, Jessica Fernandez, Myrtle Beach Ink

Best Tattoo Parlor

▪ First Place, Myrtle Beach Ink

▪ Finalist, Elite Ink

▪ Finalist, Hero Tattoo

Best Thrift/Re-sale Store

▪ First Place, Goodwill

▪ Finalist, Good Times Consignment

▪ Finalist, Nicole’s Consignment

Best Trivia Night

▪ First Place, Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar

▪ Finalist, Handley’s Pub & Grub

▪ Finalist, Island Bar and Grill – Surfside

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 4:10 AM.