Ate here tonight with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law as our dinner after a long day out in…read moreDirty Myrtle. We were craving a local seafood joint where we could get some fried fish, fresh seafood, etc. Upon first glance, the place looked like a cute, charming little seafood shack on the main stretch. However, after getting out of our car in the parking lot, we were met with an absolutely devious, horrible sour smell. The smell could best be compared to a canine anal gland smoke bomb thrown at us as soon as we opened the door. After making our way through the stench cloud, we made it inside and were seated immediately.
Our waitress, Shannon, seemed nice at the first interaction. Our drinks arrived fairly fast and we were ready to order. My husband, who has a shellfish allergy, made it a point to relay his allergy to the waitress after ordering a fish sandwich. Yes, we brought my husband to a shellfish restaurant, and yes he was fine with it. Shannon relayed to him that all of their fried items are fried in the same oil, so cross contamination is very likely. (Understandable, I guess, since they probably don't have a ton of people with shellfish allergies coming to a shellfish restaurant.) So, my husband asked the waitress what menu item she would recommend that would best avoid any cross contamination. She replied, and I quote, "I don't know, I guess a salad?" ......
After we all just stared at her for a few moments in confusion, my husband just decided to take the risk with the fish sandwich. Maybe shouldn't have, but it IS the end of our vacation and maybe he would rather die than go back to work, I don't know. So, we all just prayed he didn't swell up like a blowfish as we ate our food. (all ended up being fine with no epi pen stabbing needed, however, it probably wouldn't have been the only stabbing in Myrtle that night anyways).
All of the food was genuinely very good. My seafood boil for one was HUGE and probably could have fed the entire table (excluding my allergenic husband. Even though he was getting pelted by my seafood juices and rogue remnants the entire time I ripped the heads off innocent crawfish).
Something that was a bit odd was they had a photographer going around the restaurant and asking if people wanted group photos. In a nicer restaurant, it would maybe make sense as a keepsake since everyone looks nice and put together. But do you think I want a photo memory of my bare bingo wings swinging as I shove my fat mouth full of dripping seafood boil with my rubber gloved hands. Naw man. Leave that shit in the past. I wouldn't take that photo for free, let alone pay for it. (Not to mention I'm probably in the background of all the photos other tables were suckered into. I can't wait to be forever housed in a family memory as the big girl downing 10 pounds of seafood boil like a dog who is trying to quickly get something they shouldn't have down their throat.)
A little after we received our food, we wanted some waters for the table. Shannon literally disappeared. Nowhere to be found. My husband and brother-in-law even went up to the bar to ask for waters, but it was so crowded, they couldn't get anyone's attention. Finally, Shannon, returned from what seemed like a great journey across the state of South Carolina and was able to get us our waters. Not sure if this is understaffing, or if she genuinely just didn't care to check up on us. Maybe I frightened her away when I snapped the rubber gloves onto my hands to begin my feast.
18% gratuity is also automatically added on to parties of 4+, which not sure if I agree with that. I understand doing that for larger parties, but for 4 people is interesting. Not sure if the service we received was in line with an 18% gratuity, but the food was overall pretty good.
My takeout container for the seafood boil was a foil loaf pan and a sheet of aluminum foil the size of the American flag. Shannon did wave it with pride as she walked across the restaurant with it. We appreciate the patriotism and thank her for her service.
Was the food good? Yes. Would I go back? Maybe. Best meal I ever had? Absolutely not. But it was good and can't wait to sensually undress my remaining leftover 5 pounds of seafood boil later in the peace of our condo. Unphotographed and with a promptly arriving glass of water.