Hook & Barrel — Restaurant in Myrtle Beach

Great food and values, server quite grumpy

We have been wanting to try this for some time. We deeply appreciate their commitment to sustainability. My mom and dad once lived down the street in Grande Dunes, so we know the location well.

First, it’s a beautiful building! All of the features are here: high ceilings, and a muted, lovely color palette. The grey tables were a nice change from heavy brown found in many places. There was a customer next to us who was complaining because I guess the tables were painted gray? He seems pretty grumpy all around, so we are going to ignore him, because he kept saying “ not in my neighborhood” to the server, which was uncomfortable and classist and weird. We found the booths and tables very very comfortable and elegant! Again, it’s refreshing not to have dark wood tables.

Let’s move on to the food. I really came for the she-crab soup, because I had heard so much about it, but when we looked online, and there seemed to be really fun items on the happy hour menu: ceviche, sliders, fish bites, and other assorted fun food and drinks.

And this may be why our server was grumpy. We ordered off the happy hour menu. I know that some places only serve happy hour items in the bar, but it was only 4:45, so it wasn’t like we were there instead of having a large paying party at a prime hour. Also, we ordered a lot of food. About $100. So, again, it's not like we ordered $20 worth of food and took up a prime table. Though we did mostly order off the happy hour menu. And a Caesar salad! And the she-crab. Maybe the server was just having an off-day, or perhaps, he really did not like us ordering from mostly the happy hour menu, but he was not very personable at all! He seemed really bit put out that we even asked for the happy hour menu. It could’ve been one of two things. You are not allowed to order from the happy hour menu in the main dining room. He was upset that we were ordering off the happy hour menu and wanted a table that spent more. . I’d like to imagine it’s the first one. That he was gracious and didn’t want to embarrass us and perhaps that menu was not supposed to be served in the main dining room. Either way, he really made us feel unwelcome.

Back to the food They brought some complimentary nice crispy flat crackers and some pimento cheese to table Then we ordered the following items. ceviche Slider Fish bites Sangria, special (2) rum drink special (2) caesar salad pizza/flatbread

Then I was really craving that she crab soup because I’ve heard so much about it My husband got a Cesar. This was a disappointment. It was very tangy. I thought potentially it had too much garlic and some Caesar dressings are too garlicky, but it could’ve just been too much lemon. It was just a bit tangy. Keep in mind we make our own Caesar at home with lots of good anchovy paste, so it’s not like a bottle, but this was a little too light.. Then he decided he wanted some flatbread off of the happy hour menu. Interesting, and somewhere between a pizza and a bread . Certainly it wasn’t a sophisticated flatbread with unusual toppings, but for the price was pretty good. We said we would not order it again. The ceviche was not worth ordering again. Lots of cucumber and other elements and not enough fish.

What is my Takeaway? I think next time I would love to come back and sit at the steam table. I enjoy sitting at the oyster bars in Boston, and I think this would be a treat. And then they could make my soup in front of me! Soup is worth coming again. And the fish bites were outstanding! If I am shopping, and I happen to be in the area, I would just go pop in for some fish bites and a drink. That is how tender these were. Super juicy! But I'd not make a point of having this as a destination meal just in case the servers are upset over ordering from the happy hour menu, as I really do want those fish bites again. (we still tipped 20% even though the servers was not nice, as he still...

From the moment we walked into Hook & Barrel, we knew we were in for something special. Even though we arrived just 15 minutes before closing, we were warmly welcomed and never felt rushed. The space itself is a stunning tribute to coastal charm—my kids were captivated by the whimsical fish sculptures and vibrant art throughout the restaurant.

As always, Chef Heidi Vukov’s culinary excellence shined through in every bite. Our evening began with a standout recommendation from our server: the Oysters à la Heidi. This dish was a masterclass in balance—sweet mascarpone, sambuca, and a tarragon cream paired with savory bacon, spinach, and onions. The flavors were indulgent yet refined.

We also enjoyed small Caesar and wedge salads that were anything but ordinary. Every component seemed hand-crafted, from the parmesan crisps and house-made croutons to the perfectly crisp lettuce and beautifully aged blue cheese. These dishes reflect Chef Heidi’s thoughtful and from-scratch approach to every plate.

A true mark of a great restaurant is how it treats its youngest diners, and Hook & Barrel exceeded expectations. The kids’ grilled chicken was juicy and expertly seasoned, and the fried shrimp was golden and flavorful—not your typical kids' fare.

For entrees, I had the blackened swordfish special, which was tender, moist, and full of flavor—hands down the best swordfish I’ve ever had. My wife’s citrus-rubbed tuna was equally impressive, beautifully complemented by pineapple coconut rice, crisp asparagus, and a wasabi aioli that brought everything together in a fresh, vibrant way.

The drinks were just as memorable. I enjoyed a perfectly crafted Hook & Barrel Old Fashioned, and my wife’s Hibiscus Cosmo was a showstopper—gorgeous presentation and an equally stunning flavor profile. She also loved her Ferrari-Carano Sauvignon Blanc, which paired wonderfully with her meal.

We capped the evening with key lime pie, which quickly became a family favorite.

Chef Heidi has once again proven why she’s one of the best in the business. Hook & Barrel is more than just a restaurant—it’s an experience, and one I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for exceptional food, outstanding service, and a warm,...

Wanted to go somewhere that gave 1 of 1 energy and this delivered. We sat on the patio, which although off the main street, had screens and foliage to make it feel a little more private. Our sever Bridget was awesome- personable, quick, and offered great recommendations.

We recieved a complimentary pimento cheese board, which was pretty good. For apps I got 4 oysters (great flavor and presentation) and the fish bites. Fish bites were light and full of flavor, a nice diversion from the abundance of callabash seafood in the area. The sauce it was served with was fantastic too - just the right amount of heat and acidity, but not too overwhelming. The cocktails were great too. I got the lazy alligator and it was the perfect sweet little treat I needed.

For our entrées: I got the crab stuffed flounder, my brother the crab cake, and my mother the buratta salad w/ shrimp. Overall, no complaints. The salad was delicious - especially the peach vinaigrette - and it was quickly devoured. The crab cake mixture was fantastic, the remoulade and corn purée being perfect accompaniments. My one and only small critque has to be regarding my dish. While delicious, I found the dish overall desperately needing a sauce by default. While not necessarily dry, a sauce would tie it together beautifully. That being said, I requested a side of their Oahu sauce (a tropical take on a hollandaise - 10/10!!!) and that did the job for me. The way the flounder was finished gave it almost a crisp exteriour that was great.

Somehow, 4 oysters, an app, and an entrée weren't enough, so I ordered a scoop of their maple brown sugar ice cream. I am at a loss for words to truly describe how transcending this ice cream was. It was like an ice cream-related ego death, I was brought to tears. Genuinely one of, if not the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. After yapping Bridget's ear off, she let me know that they get their ice cream from Coffee and Cream next door. My wallet is not prepared for when I step foot in the door, because if any of the other flavors come close to that MBB - oh boy.

TDLR; if you want to go somewhere unique, somewhat upscale with locally sourced dishes and fantastic service, run - don't walk - to...