Murrells Inlet, S.C — On a recent trip to visit friends in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, I had a morning to kill, so I saddled up on the Harley and went exploring.  It was my first trip to this part of the country.

I love being anywhere near a beach.  The atmosphere is refreshing, the excitement of being in a popular tourist destination is satisfying, but most of all, the food.  Fresh fish and seafood is a real favorite of mine.  There’s nothing like enjoying a dozen oysters, or a fresh grilled plate of fish that you just know has  recently been pulled from the water.

On this particular day, I needed a lunch spot.  I had rolled through the Myrtle Beach area, done some sightseeing, visited the Harley Davidson dealership, so when it was lunch time, I was hungry.

My friends told me about Dead Dog Saloon.  “You’ll love it” they said.

They were right.

Dead Dog Saloon Murrell’s Inlet South Carolina. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/DeadDogSaloon/

Murrell’s Inlet is described as a quiet little drinking village with a “fishing problem.”  The perfect home for the Dead Dog Saloon and its tongue-in-cheek homage to its mythical canine mascot, Dudley.

You walk into the place and immediately look out into the Inlet, with outdoor seating and an amazing bar.  The hostess knows I want to be somewhere I can smell the ocean, look at the beautiful blue sky and ponder my selection from the menu.

She’s done this before.

I chose to sit just under the awning at the corner of the bar where I could take in the whole scene.  My server brings me a cold glass of tea, and a plate of hush puppies.

Hush puppies are a big deal in South Carolina.  Sort of like bread in some restaurants, or okra.  And they were “Delish!!!”

Not wanting to ruin my appetite for dinner, I ordered Fido’s Flounder Sandwich.  It was grilled to perfection with a leaf of lettuce, some mayonnaise and pickle.  The bread was fresh and with a squirt of lemon onto the fish, I had the most marvelous sandwich you could eat.

My server was a sweet young lady who was excited about finally moving out of her parent’s house and was finally on her own.  She was a delight.

Other popular items from the menu include; New England Clam Chowder, fresh salads, burgers, barbeque, Nathans foot-long hot dogs and a Po Boy topped with fried oysters or shrimp on a fresh hoagie roll.

After my meal, I chatted with a couple of other servers who had visited Nashville, and I continued my curiosity over hush-puppies.  They laughed.

There are literally a “gazillion” food choices in this area, but if you want a winner, then stop in and visit Dudley, at the Dead Dog Saloon.