Restaurant Review: Gulfstream Cafe Has Room with a View, Food to Match

There are more than 1,000 restaurants along the Grand Strand, and Gulfstream Cafe is almost universally regarded as one of the best.

Gulfstream is located beside Marlin Quay Marina, just south of the Garden City Connector, and much like Myrtle Beach, it’s an ideal blend of quality and casual. Specializing in seafood and steak, Gulfstream provides an outstanding dining experience and unforgettable views of Murrells Inlet.

Cost: $10-$30 per entree

Atmosphere: Casual. Seating is available indoors or outdoors.

What We Recommend: With all due respect to the various cuts of steak on the menu – both the filet and New York strip looked outstanding – you have to eat seafood at a restaurant that overlooks a marina.

Gulfstream’s specialties offer a stream of winners. The lowcountry crab cakes, which feature huge chunks of crab meat covered in a creole remoulade sauce, are outstanding (even residents of Maryland agree!).

The king crab legs, served with drawn butter, are very good and who doesn’t like to think they are keeping the boys of the Deadliest Catch gainfully employed.

But the best item on the menu, by one man’s estimation, is the grouper francais. Grouper fillets are dipped in Parmesan batter, topped with a lemon butter sauce, and sauteed to perfection. It’s a hardy dish that pleases the most discriminating of pallets.

One of Gulfstream’s most popular side dishes is its garlic mash potatoes. They are delicious, but consider yourself warned: there is an abundance of garlic and butter. For one night, consider it worth the price your arteries pay.

On the appetizer menu, here is a vote for the N’awlins shrimp, which are served over a cheesy grits cake and topped with a spicy gravy. For those from outside the area, do yourself a favor and try the grits cake.

The Verdict: Gulfstream lives up to its lofty reputation. The food is excellent and its exceeded only by the views – there isn’t a better place on the Grand Strand to watch the sunset. If your group is looking for a more moderately priced dinner, stop by for a drink and an appetizer on the deck. Gulfstream won’t disappoint.