The Library Restaurant — Restaurant in Myrtle Beach

My friends and I are foodies, and we were excited to try this restaurant based on their table-side preparations. The restaurant was quite lovely, and the waiter was friendly. We ordered an appetizer that was “special” for that day – feta cheese Santorini. I have been to Santorini twice, so I was eager to try it. I ordered the French onion soup, and I am very picky about my soup. We also ordered the Caesar salad prepared tableside for all 3 of us. One friend ordered the shrimp scampi, and I ordered the Chicken Chardonnay.

The feta cheese dish was truly nothing more than baked feta with a tomato-based sauce and some toast points. It tasted fine but I was disappointed about the reference to Santorini as it was not Greek-like at all. So, I like my French onion soup with the cheese flowing over the edges of the bowl and a rich broth. This was most definitely not that – there was barely any cheese on the biscuit and the broth was almost clear, it was so weak. The Caesar salad was the worst part of the entire meal. I have had it prepared tableside all over the world. I make it from scratch at home even. The waiter came over with the cart, but I did not see any of the usual accoutrement that comes with the preparation of the dressing. Instead, he started by grinding pepper into the wooden bowl. I looked and there was nothing else in the bowl. I asked where the anchovies were, and he told me an interesting story about “health code violations” preventing this due to the raw eggs. The night before we ate at another restaurant down the street from this one who also did tableside preparation of Caesar salad, and they prepared the dressing as expected so take that for what its worth. He brought out a small dish of already prepared dressing which was too little dressing for 3 salads and their croutons although they tasted fine were crumbly and coated the lettuce soaking up what little dressing there was making for a tasteless mess.

The shrimp scampi was also a mess. The red sauce was bland and made it fun to get the tails off the shrimp. The angel hair pasta was so overdone that it was mush. The chicken chardonnay was basically chicken picatta with fatter chicken breasts. It was just okay. At this point we did not want to even try their desserts as the food did not recommend that. So, I asked for the bill and that is when the true fun began.

I handed him 3 $25 Amex gift cards and my debit card. He proceeded to tell me that he could not run these gift cards for the full amount and the story he told was so full of inconsistencies that I was flabbergasted. He suggested he run them for $20 each and that I could “zero” them out by applying a $5 tip to each. So, I thought that was ok. That would be $15 dollars of the $30 tip that was suggested. So, I applied a $15 tip to my debit card and thought I was done. What proceeded was an amazing scam that I am ashamed to admit I fell for. He said the $5 tip I had applied would not go to him at all and he made it sound like that would be applied to the overall balance. So, I changed my receipt to out the entire tip on my debit card and just like that he conned me out of at least $20. I feel like such a fool. The food was terrible, and I overpaid – lesson learned – never ever eat at the...

The good: The waiter said the steaks are so tender you can cut them with a butter knife - and he was 100% correct! They were absolutely delicious, and cooked perfectly to temp for all 3 in my party. The feta appetizer special was divine! The steak prep by the table was very cool, fun experience!

The bad: The manager and wait staff were very rude, condescending, and borderline inappropriate with my table's server. He did not greet us quickly enough upon arrival per the managers standards. The manager yelled at him behind the scenes, causing him to approach our table visibly shaken. Throughout the evening, rude comments were made to him while he was doing his absolute best to make our experience enjoyable by both the manager and other wait staff on the floor - no care taken to make sure no patrons overheard. This behavior made my entire party very uncomfortable, to the point we wanted to leave by the end of the salad course. The server was new, but we are patient and were not bothered - this was just totally uncalled for. Wine is mostly by the bottle, and very over priced. My friend ordered the equivalent of the chicken pacata and it was almost inedible. Had she not felt so uncomfortable, or as if her complaint would cause repercussions for this poor waiter, she would have sent it back. The chicken had no flavor. The side dish for most of the entrees was a single red potato and sliced carrots. The potato was very dry and had no flavor, and the carrots were overly sweet and certainly nothing special. The table side Caesar is only prep - the dressing is not made from scratch as it would seem on the menu. They mix different sauces but it's not the full mayo prep + anchovies, etc. The various accompanying steak sauces were just OK - we tried the Diane, au poivre, and filet mignon. The bananas foster looked very appealing but I noticed other tables were waiting up to 15 minutes for the prep to begin (and again, uncomfortable) so we skipped that. The sherry in the she-crab soup is too overpowering, it's almost inedible. Other patrons who ordered the soup made the same face I did - almost as if you drank vinegar milk. Overall this was a very long experience, even for fine dining. We all agreed that had the staff experience been better, it might not have felt so long/awkward but we were there for almost 3 hours total. The ambiance is a little odd with a lighted cocktail menu (tablet kind of situation), a TV with a fireplace picture, and scrolls for food menus.

TLDR: Bad management/rude to waiters + $250 on an "ehhh" meal + $47 bottle of wine I can also get anywhere else for $17 = 0/10 do not recommend. Save your money and time, do not support management like this.

Note: they do have a dress code for the dining room, although it isn't listed anywhere on their website or Google listing. No jeans. Most men were in slacks/button ups/polos/blazer jackets. Women mostly in dresses but not formal. Cocktail or business would be...

We had a GREAT experience at The Library! We recently visited this restaurant for a special dinner to celebrate my sister's bachelorette party, and it exceeded all our expectations. From the moment we stepped in, it was evident that this place was something special.

Our waiter, Ryan, was simply incredible. His attentiveness and dedication to ensuring our visit was exceptional made a lasting impression on us. He went above and beyond to make sure all our needs were met, and his warm and friendly demeanor added a personal touch to the evening. Ryan's expertise and knowledge of the menu were commendable, as he guided us through the dining experience with grace and enthusiasm.

The entire staff at The Library made us feel welcome and valued. Their friendliness and genuine hospitality truly added to the overall atmosphere. It's rare to find such a dedicated team that consistently provides outstanding service, and we were grateful to have experienced it.

Now, let's talk about the food! The Library's menu featured an impressive range of options, and each dish we ordered was a delectable delight. The flavors were expertly crafted, and the presentation was visually stunning. It was evident that the chefs took great pride in their culinary creations. From appetizers to desserts, every bite was a culinary journey that left us wanting more.

The ambiance of The Library was enchanting. The restaurant's interior was tastefully designed, with a charming blend of rustic and modern elements. The lighting and decor created an intimate and cozy atmosphere, perfect for a memorable celebration. We also appreciated the attention to detail, such as the soft background music that added to the overall ambiance.

Our overall experience at The Library was beyond exceptional, and we unanimously rated it a 10/10. The combination of outstanding service from Ryan, the friendly and welcoming staff, the exquisite food, and the enchanting ambiance made it an unforgettable evening for our bachelorette party. We highly recommend The Library for any special occasion or even a romantic dinner for two.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire team at The Library for making our visit truly extraordinary. We look forward to returning in the future to create more...