Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Area cafe remains sunny, creative

Betty Bromley knows how to feed folks.

The owner of Sunflower Cafe fixes much of her food from scratch.

Her desserts and salads are made by her own hands.

As a matter of fact, she doesn't start making up the chicken salad until a customer comes through the door and asks for it.

It's a matter of freshness and common sense.

Why waste food when you don't have to?

Even if you could, Bromley knows it wouldn't be wise in an economy walking on broken legs.

"It's tough here," said Bromley, whose business occupies space in the former Vito's Italian Deli at 2523 Forestbrook Road in Myrtle Beach. "There are days I've sold one-half of a sandwich."

No matter the customer flow, Bromley manages to stay upbeat.

The former chef at Lazy River Cafe in Conway serves up bagels, speciality subs, double-deckers, wraps, pizza, salad and other good eats with a smile.

Bromley, who owns the business with her husband, Greg, also has branched out and decided to take on catering.

They bought the place in February, but expanded the business a couple of months ago to include a coffeehouse.

"I figured if I worked hard for someone else, I would be just as successful working for myself," she said.

She works hard making her desserts, which she avoids but manages to coax others into eating.

The brownies, which are extra large, are $1.50 each, while the cookies are $1 for two.

You can buy her homemade cheesecake for $12, while a slice costs $2.

There are varieties of desserts offered daily, with prices starting at 50 cents.

Subs are $6.50 for the small and $8.50 for the large, but the small is huge and not skimpy on the toppings.

Buffalo chicken, Italian and Sicily Salsalito (turkey with horseradish, cheddar cheese, spicy mustard, cherry peppers, lettuce, tomato and onions) are among the offerings.

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Call 236-9954.

Big beef at Thorny's

Cows somewhere are running fast at the mention of Thorny's.

The Myrtle Beach restaurant, at 600 S. Kings Highway, is testing the bellies of gluttons and thrill-seekers alike.

If you can eat an 80-ounce sirloin, a house salad, a yeast roll and an Idaho baked potato in an hour or less, you will get the meal for free.

Actually, you have to pay for the food up front first, which will be $69.99 plus tax and gratuity. You, and only you, can eat the meal. If you succeed in the challenge, Thorny's will reimburse the entire cost of the meal, minus gratuity.

No one has succeeded yet. There was even a challenge Oct. 14, but none of the 11 challengers could do it.

Some came pretty close. Maybe a customer can accomplish eating the slab of meat. I figured that is what Goliath's heart must have looked like. The sight of that much meat made me woozy.

Nevertheless, Joe Provencal, the owner, thinks the steak challenge is a way of helping spice up business at Thorny's.

If you decided to go there and take on the challenge, remember you must eat all the food yourself. If you fail, you can take it home and share it with whom you will, but you can't share it at the restaurant.

Customers wanting to take the challenge should inform Thorny's as soon as they arrive.

Hours are 3:30 p.m.-until Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-until Friday through Sunday.

Call 448-2333.

Halloween meal

Children ages 12 and younger can get a free kids meal at Abuelo's if they are dressed in costumes on Halloween.

The Mexican restaurant, at 740 Coastal Grand Circle, will allow families to receive a maximum of two free children's meals from 11 a.m. to closing time. An adult entree must be purchased with each free child's meal.

There will also be a costume contest, with the winner getting a $25 Toys R Us gift card.

The winner will be contacted after Halloween.

Call 448-5533.

LeGrand's closes

LeGrand's Prime Alaskan Seafood & Steaks has closed.

The eatery opened June 14, 2008, at Barefoot Landing.

Last Wednesday, Lauren Santagati, who did public relations for the eatery, sent an e-mail on the eatery's closing.

It said the restaurant closed "due to the current state of the economy." The e-mail thanked loyal friends and regular patrons for their support. Staff members were acknowledged for being hard-working, dedicated and simply amazing.

LeGrand's had a great happy hour. I'm sorry to see it go.