Delicious, as usual! Costa is one of the best restaurants we've encountered in Murrells Inlet, and it remains a favorite.
Tonight's meal started with the Calamari Frite and Shrimp Olivia. Now you might think fried calamari is an easy dish, and it is...to cook. What isn't easy is getting the right squid. If it has grown old and big before harvesting, you get big rings which are tough and chewy. These were tiny, tiny rings that were so tender they melted in your mouth. And what can I say about the Shrimp Olivia? Four large sauteed shrimp, each on a crispy piece of toasted bread and covered in this utterly divine pancetta(?) and sun-dried tomato cream sauce that will have you sopping the plate. That sauce is absolutely wonderful.
Next followed an unremarkable salad topped with a delicious gorgonzola bleu cheese dressing. You could top grass clippings with this stuff and it would be delicious.
For our main course we had the shrimp scampi and veal marsala. Again, an array of large shrimp, cooked to perfection, and served with a garlic butter sauce over linguini. Who says a delightful dish has to be complicated. The veal was underwhelming, but I blame the product, not the chef. The shitake mushroom/marsala sauce itself was slightly sweet with a beefy undertone and nice finish in the nostrils. That, I did sop up with bread.
And finally, dessert. Tiramisu, which was quite good. I despise the taste of coffee but in this dessert what you taste is a smoky chocolate and cool, sweet cream. The Limoncello -- a perfection confection if ever one existed. Layers of cake, limoncello mascarpone, and whipped cream all come together to form this cloud of lemon sweetness that just melts on the tongue. At our servers, suggestion, we had a swirl of raspberry sauce added decoratively to the plate that only served to enhance an already delightful experience. To say the Limoncello was the best part of this whole meal is a dramatic understatement.
My thanks to the chef and staff of Costa for a delightful evening, and special thanks to our server, Lexie C. She provided excellent service, suggestions, and guidance that did nothing but enhance our meal experience. Another spectacular meal. Many thanks to the chef and staff of Costa for making Mother's Day an event. Special thanks to our server, Chris S, for making us feel so special. You are always delightful and we...
Read moreFrom the moment we sat at our table for four, I knew I had my new favorite server on hand. LeeAnn greeted us with a smile and lots of pep!!!. From start to finish, she was completely on her game.. efficient, courteous, knowledgeable, and everything in between. I loved that she took the time to engage with us (and make us laugh and smile quite a bit) all while she was super busy. She never let on that her hands were full, but I could tell she was very much in demand this evening.
Our drinks were served quickly, our food was hot and well presented (as always). LeeAnn put a lot of effort into making sure everything for me was prepared in accordance with my (vegan) dietary restrictions; which is not an easy feat in this area, especially for really good food. Thanks to the kitchen and management as well for accommodating me. Everyone loved their food and the service. I'm eternally grateful for such a wonderful dining occasion.
In all my years of dining in Myrtle Beach, I have to say that this was one of, if not THE best, experience I've ever had along the Grand Strand. LeeAnn is actually the type of person I would choose as a friend and I plan to go back and request her for every special occasion:). She really made our meal extra special; thank you!
I do wish they kept the mushroom ravioli on hand, as that was my go to. I understand they stopped stocking it because it wasn't selling, yet it was not on the menu...ever:( Still, very grateful to LeeAnn and the restaurant for making this such a...
Read moreWhere do I start, I was pleasantly surprised to find they offered Fume Blanc by the glass, a great glass of wine to have with our meals, we did as we often do and split everything. Could Costa's chef keep me intrigued with the food? We started with a Arugula salad with mozzarella balls stuffed with macerated cranberries served, with a wonderful reduced balsamic drizzle served on a beautiful wooden plate. This would be the beginning to a wonderful dining experience. For an appetizer we went with Mussel's ala Costa, steamed mussells , Sweet Vermouth, toasted garlic, grape tomatoes, fresh rosemary, we would continue to partake in spoonfuls of the sauce even after the Mussels were long gone, the only part wrong with this dish was... the spoon could of been bigger! I'm going to give this sauce a go at home! That left the main dish was spectacular, true Diver Scallops U-10's. The scallops were seared magnificently, a great caramelzation to enhance the sweet taste of the scallop. We took home for dessert a creamy cannoli. To sum up the experience up the wine was a great pairing for the entire meal. The Arugula salad was served cold for great texture. The scallops were the winner of the best dish of the night. Our server was Chris, he was very knowledgeable and friendly. The only suggestion I have, is to step up the dining room decor, needs some touches to make the whole experience well... WOW. Great job, never compromise your standards along with your fresh...
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