SC seafood restaurant is 3rd-best casual dining spot in the US, Tripadvisor says. Here’s why
Hook & Barrel, a popular Myrtle Beach seafood restaurant, was just named the third-best casual dining spot in the nation.
“To be placed third in the in the country, it’s kind of mind boggling,” said owner and operator Heidi Vukov. “It takes a village and we have an amazing staff that does just a great job, from the staff in the kitchen to the staff in the front of the house, we’re just a really good team, and I think that from the moment that people walk in the door up to the host stand, until they leave the restaurant, I feel like they realize that we really care about what we’re doing.”
Travel site Tripadvisor released its Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best restaurant rankings. The awards highlight spots that have received a high volume of “above-and-beyond reviews and opinions” from Tripadvisor users over the last 12 months. According to Tripadvisor, out of the more than 8 million listings, fewer than 1% make the cut.
With an overall score of 4.7 out of 5 and more than 1,240 reviews, Hook & Barrel took the number three spot in the United States in the Casual Dining category. Hook & Barrel opened its doors to the public at 8014 N. Kings Highway in 2017. The restaurant has garnered scores of fans and rave reviews in the years since.
“Best food I’ve ever had at any restaurant in Myrtle Beach in 55 years,” one Tripadvisor user wrote. “Amazing service and amazing atmosphere. This place focuses on giving customers a wonderful night out!”
Those reviews matter to Vukov, who said she reads every one. While the Hook & Barrel team enjoys the good reviews, it’s the bad ones that staff go over weekly to see how they can improve.
The local favorite changes its menu seasonally, but some fan favorites are permanent fixtures on the menu. Tripadvisor reviewers rave about the shrimp, scallops and crab cakes, which are a crowd pleaser for crab lovers and those who avoid gluten because they have no filler.
“Probably our top seller would be the fresh catch, which changes on a regular basis. So it’s a different fish, a different preparation, different sauce, different accompaniments,” Vukov said. “And interestingly enough, although we’re a seafood restaurant, we sell a lot of beef tenderloin and we sell a lot of braised short ribs, and they cook all day, every day, and they just melt in your mouth.”
Tripadvisor lists Hook & Barrel in the $$-$$$ range, but there’s some flexibility with the dishes. Entrees run from $25 to $58, while small plates and options from the steam galley cost $11 to $26.
Devoted fans and interested newcomers can try Hook & Barrel for themselves from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 4 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“We have an amazing team of chefs. I would say we have some of the most talented people in our state working here, and it’s not just one person, it’s a lot of people,” Vukov said. “Everybody offers their creativity, and then we kind of put our heads together and come up with dishes that we think would please our guests.”
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM.