In a market with more than 1,500 restaurants, Sun City Cafe is one-of-a-kind establishment.
Located on Main Street in Myrtle Beach, Sun City is small, the service isn’t fast, the decor is quirky, and it’s only open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Strange as it may sound, all of those things are part of its considerable charm.
This isn’t a food factory, trying to run people in and out as quickly as possible. Instead, it’s an eclectic dining experience that might be a great spot to hit on your next Myrtle Beach golf trip.
(In the interest of full disclosure, it’s not ideal for groups larger than 12 and you will want make reservations no matter how many people are in your traveling party. )
What can you expect at Sun City, which brands itself as offering Myrtle Mex cuisine? The dining room is vibrant as the walls are adorned with the work of local artists, setting the stage for an enjoyable evening.
I mentioned the service wasn’t fast but there is good reason for that. Everything at Sun City is made from scratch. As they like to say, the only thing frozen are the mugs used to serve their signature margaritas, which include fresh ingredients and a Grand Marnier topper. The folks at Sun City say it’s the best margarita on the beach and it’s hard to argue otherwise.
The Menu
Your evening should begin with an appetizer though it’s difficult to choose among the four offerings on the menu. The made to order “Holy Guacamole” ($12.95), featuring Hass avocados, tomatoes, onions and cilantro, is outstanding.
For the cheese lovers among us, the biggest question is whether to go with the Sun City cheese dip ($11.95) or the shrimp dip ($14.95), which shares a similar base but includes a hint of chipotle and (obviously) shrimp. It’s as good a queso type dip as I’ve ever had, a sentiment shared by my fellow diners.
The entree menu is built around tacos, burritos and quesadillas, but the burritos are the house specialty.
A flour tortilla is filled with mashed potatoes, spices and your choice of slow braised chicken ($23.95/Old School), seasoned ground beef ($23.95/New School), or fish and shrimp ($27.95/Middle School). There are vegan and vegetarian offerings as well.
Once the flour tortilla is stuffed with the ingredients of your choice, it is smothered with cheese and baked before being topped with lettuce, tomato and homemade sour cream and delivered to your table.
Sure, the mashed potato filling may sound a little odd, but live a little. It’s outstanding.
The ingredients are creative and the flavors robust. Did we mention the portions are huge, leaving room for leftovers?
The Verdict
Sun City is a different kind of restaurant, in all the best ways. If you have a relatively small group, take the trip downtown, order the margarita, and have dinner at a place that delivers great food, a cool atmosphere, and value. It’s a decision you won’t regret.
