The toughest thing about visiting the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk is trying to decide which one of the award-winning waterfront restaurants to go to for lunch or dinner. It's a good problem to have because it's hard to go wrong at any of these eateries.
Located along the inlet and the Crazy Sisters Marina, this wooden walkway carries visitors from door to door of some of the best seafood and family-casual dining on the Grand Strand. Stroll alongside the shore where fishing boats dock after a day at sea and deliver their fresh catches directly to the kitchens of these establishments.
But you don't have to like seafood to find something your taste buds will love at the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, and you won't have to choose just one if you attend this year's Taste of the Marshwalk on Feb. 7-8. Visitors can sample cuisine from all seven of the participating restaurants as chefs create their favorite dishes for the event.
For an average cost of $3 and $5 per dish, patrons can get a feel for the flavor of each restaurant before deciding where they would like to have dinner, but save those plans for another night. Here's your chance to sample fresh scallops, shrimp and grits, sushi, Lowcountry boil, fish tacos, crawfish, crab cakes and more straight from the sea. And don't forget “land food” favorites like barbecue, chicken bog and beef kebobs.
Live music will be held throughout the Marshwalk, including local artists Randy McQuay, Sweet Sweet, Ronnie O’Briant, The Matt Parker Duo, Julio Navarro, Fret Buzz, Ed Torres, and more. Local vendors also will line the Marshwalk, shopping their arts and crafts, such as jewelry, woodcarvings and clothing items.
For the kids and the young at heart, the Taste of the Marshwalk features inflatable play equipment like bouncy houses and slides, as well as a crabbing demonstration, face-painting and temporary tattoos. The little ones will also have the opportunity to order more kid-friendly dishes, such as pizza and chicken fingers.
The event is free to the public and runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Individual restaurants and bars will also offer specials during and after those hours, including late-night live music at Bubba’s Love Shack and the Dead Dog Saloon. Here's a quick look at the restaurants that will be serving their signature dishes:
* Bovine’s: Specializing in prime cuts of beef and chops, this “land food” eatery is a welcome sight for some amid a long stretch of seafood shacks.
* Captain Dave’s Dockside: Award-winning cuisine and a beautiful indoor and patio view of the inlet are the hallmark of this establishment.
* Creek Ratz: Named after the locals who grew up playing in the tidal inlets, not the scurrying little creature, this place is known for its raw bar.
* Dead Dog Saloon: Named for the late house pet that is said to still haunt this joint, the Dead Dog is a popular indoor and outdoor hangout with live music and a huge open-air patio complete with hammocks.
* Drunken Jack’s: Named for the legendary pirate whose bones were found on a nearby island amid empty rum bottles, this restaurant has a wide seafood selection.
* Wahoo’s Fish House: This seafood establishment is famous for its first-class sushi and its outdoor patio bar where bands play almost nightly during the warmer months.
* Wicked Tuna: The name says it all at this place – wicked good Ahi tuna, blackened tuna steaks and a whole lot more fresh from the sea.
(Posted: 1/26/15)
