MARCH MADNESS GUIDE TO LOCAL SPORTS BARS
As several college basketball teams duke it out in their conference tournaments this week and others sit waiting in the wings, they've all got their eyes on the Big Dance, with bids being handed out Sunday (March 16).
And if you're eyeing a place to watch all the NCAA basketball tournament action that begins March 20, we've done the legwork for you, assembling Surge's March Madness guide to Grand Strand sports bars.
Seems like everybody wants to call their establishment a sports bar these days (see sidebar), but we all know a couple of faux-wood-paneled, boxy RCAs with rabbit ears sticking out hoisted above the bar and a cooler full of Schaefer Light ain't gonna cut it with today's discerning sports fanatic.
In order to provide our readers with the most comprehensive information on the beach, we scoured the phone book, online Yellow Pages, our databases, maps and our collective memories to come up with a list of area bars, lounges, and taverns that have the word "sports" in their names, or other terms to clearly identify the estab-
lishment as a sports bar. In addition, we tossed in some places that didn't have such a moniker, but are clearly sports bars any way you slice it.
Then we mailed each business a 10-question March Madness survey which was used in compiling the bar profiles listed below. We also made follow-up calls and sent e-mails to make sure that the surveys were received. When you see entries with less information that means we did not receive those bars' completed surveys in time for our publication deadline.
Lastly, in honor of the Final Four and rather than simply review four local sports bars (cough, cough) we broke our guide down into four distinctive geographic regions of the Grand Strand - North, South, East, and Central - to make it easier to find a spot in your neighborhood or near your office, or somewhere in between.
{Editor's Note: Nobody's going to turn away a paying customer, especially a college basketball fan, so don't feel intimidated by our listing team colors. That information was simply included if you want to gather with like-minded Tarheels, Dukies, Buckeyes, etc. - or heckle them.}
Beef O' Brady's Family Sports Pub,
3914 U.S. 17 S., Suite C-3, North Myrtle Beach
663-BEEF www.beefobradys.com
The newest Grand Strand member of the popular sports pub chain (with other locations near Surfside Beach and in Carolina Forest) opened in February and the concept is based upon a model catering to families, so you can bring the tykes along for a bite while you catch the big game.
Sports grub and swill: 12 flavors of chicken wings; menu also features crab cakes, potato skins, garlic fried mushrooms, boneless wings, and buffalo shrimp; eight beers on tap.
Other diversions: Video game room.
Number of TVs: 16
Team colors: N.A.
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Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar,
518 U.S. 17 North, North Myrtle Beach
281-9464 www.bw3.com
Features a dining room/non-smoking section that seats 146 people, and a bar/smoking section that seats approximately 120. Shows all the major sports packages (football, baseball, basketball, hockey), and is loaded with sports memorabilia, including more than a few signed jerseys.
Sports grub and swill: Offerings include 14 flavors of chicken wings, a $10.99 sampler platter, a buffalo ranch chicken sandwich with fries; 20 beers on tap, plus a signature drink menu with more than a dozen cocktails.
Other diversions: Features a wide variety of video games, Mega Touch, and a TouchTunes jukebox.
Number of TVs: Six big screens, five plasma TVs, 35 hanging televisions.
Team colors: South Carolina, Ohio State, North Carolina, Syracuse, West Virginia.
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Bullys Pub and Grill,
4868 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
272-4123 www.myspace.com/bullyspub
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Clubhouse Food and Spirits,
77 U.S. 17, North Myrtle Beach
272-4623
A locals' hangout since 1992, customers rave about the food and cold beverages, friendly and cozy atmosphere and the Clubhouse features sports on its TVs all the time, including ESPN College Gameday, NFL packages, ESPNU and SportsSouth (Atlanta Braves fans take note).
Sports grub and swill: Chicken wing flavors include hot, mild, teriyaki, and garlic parmesan; other menu items include homemade onion rings, burgers, chili, steaks and ribs; seven beers on tap.
Other diversions: Video games and outdoor patio.
Number of TVs: Nine large TVs.
Team colors: West Virginia, Marshall, and North Carolina.
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Crawdaddy's Sports Bar,
2009 U.S. 17, North Myrtle Beach
272-9933
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Derbsters Dining and Sports Lounge,
10101 Beach Drive, Calabash, N.C.
910-579-6228
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Finish Line Bar and Grill,
1676 U.S. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach
280-9744
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Hooters
(by Myrtle Beach Mall, formerly Colonial Mall), 10133 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
272-3739 www.hooters.com
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Hooters of North Myrtle Beach,
1211 U.S. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach
280-9850 www.hooters.com
Best known for its hottie Hooters Girls dressed in tight orange shorts and friendly smiles, but this location of Hooters is a sports haven as sporting events are the only programming shown on the restaurant's TVs, including the Direct TV NCAA Tournament package. Also, during March Madness, patrons can enter Hooters' bracket contest and win up to $100,000.
Sports grub and swill: 11 flavors of chicken wings; boneless wings, fried pickles, chicken sandwiches, shrimp, oysters, raw and steamed oysters, crab legs, salads and desserts; 10 beers on tap and 12 signature drinks including the most popular, Clearwater Punch.
Other diversions: Pool tables, video games and those ladies in tight, orange shorts.
Number of TVs: 11 big screens, 18 medium-sized screens (including five brand new TVs added in anticipation of March Madness)
Team colors: South Carolina and Clemson
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Jimmagan's End Zone,
2551 U.S. 17, Little River
249-1655
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Little River Par 5
(formerly The Varsity Sports Bar and Grill), 1537 U.S. 17 North, Little River.
Phone: 280-8804
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Macatz Spirits Sport & Nite Life,
1200 U.S. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach
272-7389
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Mick & Mike's Seafood Sports Bar and Grill,
1008 U.S. 17 S.,
North Myrtle Beach
272-4378 www.mickandmikes.com
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Oscars Food and Spirits,
4101 U.S. 17 South, North Myrtle Beach
272-0707
Established in 1986, Oscars is a laid-back, yet inviting brand of sports bar: there is a glass display case of bobblehead dolls, and various home-y bric-a-brac around along with the requisite beer signs and sports paraphernalia. Look for the display of full-size NFL helmets above the bar, which even includes a few teams no longer in existence (see the Houston Oilers).
Sports grub and swill: Seven flavors of chicken wings, loads of sandwiches (most also available with fries and slaw inside the sammich, Pittsburgh-style), and 12 beers on tap, including Stella Artois, Bass, and Guinness.
Other diversions: NTN Trivia, video games, small arcade area for the kiddies.
Number of TVs: More than 100 (one large projector).
Team colors: South Carolina and Clemson (check out the giant Steeler helmet painted on front of the building).
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Overtime Sports Cafe,
1409 U.S. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach
361-1514
This massive enterprise and we mean massive, open since 1999, is awash in TVs - including the video wall - and sports memorabilia and there's a non-smoking seating section, too, if you don't want to gather around the octagonal-ish bar. Overtime subscribes to all major sports packages, including college sports, along with UFC fights and boxing.
Online: Working on it.
Sports grub and swill: 10 flavors of chicken wings; patrons rave about the Overtime Homemade Nachos and other menu items include Overtime Cheeseburger and for dessert, the Overtime Fried Oreo Sundae; 15 beers on tap; the bar's signature drink is Overtime Summer Tea.
Other diversions: A game room.
Number of TVs: 160, including seven 10-foot projectors, and the aforementioned 12-foot video wall
Team colors: For basketball, Syracuse, North Carolina and Duke.
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Underdog Family Sports Grill & Pub
(at the SportsZone Center), 304 East S.C. 90, Little River
249-2333 sportszonecenter.com/underdog
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Victoria's Restaurant and Sports Bar,
125 Causeway Dr., Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
910-575-4746
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Wild Wing Cafe,
4706 U.S. 17 South, Barefoot Landing,
North Myrtle Beach
361-9464 www.wildwingcafe.com
A recent addition to Barefoot Landing, Wild Wing Café is a two-tiered restaurant featuring a larger, less-sports-centric booth-style dining area to the left upon entering, with a raised bar/smoking section on the right, replete with flat-screen TVs tucked into every corner and lining the back bar. Nightly themed drink and food specials.
Sports grub and swill: A whopping 33 different flavors of wings (China Syndrome, Braveheart, The Wild West Wing, The Ragin' Cajun, The Carolina Fireball, Rasta San, Old Yeller, to name but a few), sliders, ribs, Super Snacker platters and more; 20 beers on tap.
Other diversions: Video games, darts.
Number of TVs: 28, one projection television.
Team colors: None specified.
Beef O' Brady's Family Sports Pub,
8703-F U.S. 17 Bypass, Surfside Beach
215-6523 www.beefobradys.com
Opened since Sept. 2005, this Southside outlet of the family sports pub chain offers continuous sports coverage, including ESPN Full Court, College Game Day, NFL Sunday Ticket, and MLB Extra Innings packages.
Sports grub and swill: 10 flavors of chicken wings, burgers and fries, eight specialty salads; nine beers on tap; 99-cent Natural Light and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Other diversions: Video games; Live Team Trivia on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Number of TVs: 27
Team colors: South Carolina, Clemson Ohio State, West Virginia.
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Brick House Lounge
(connected to Surfside Bowling Center),
510 U.S. 17 N., Surfside Beach
839-2000
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Dagwood's Sports Bar and Deli,
600 U.S. 17 Business
N., Surfside Beach
828-460 website under construction
Opened Dec. 17, 2006, it's literally wall-to-wall TVs - including two so-called "mafia booths'' with seating for 10 people each facing 18 flat panel screens - in this sister location to the popular Dagwood's/Bumstead's Pub combo in Myrtle Beach. Smoking prohibited.
Sports grub and swill: 10 flavors of chicken wings, plus the deli's jumbo subs and specialty sandwiches, "Macho Nachos," deserts; nine beers on tap.
Other diversions: Pool, darts, Silver Strike, Golden Tee, Megatouch; outdoor patio.
Number of TVs: 62
Team colors: South Carolina and North Carolina.
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Greg's Cabana,
2800 U.S. 17 S., Garden City Beach
651-1836
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Habaneros Mexican Sports Bar,
11151 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island
235-9595
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Hooters,
825 Mall Dr., Murrells Inlet
357-9666 www.hooters.com
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Island Bar and Grill,
2272 Glenn's Bay Road, Surfside Beach
650-3157 www.islandbarandgrill.com
Opened since Aug. 2004 at site of the former Cat Island, an Asian-themed restaurant and bar, this neighborhood hangout has transitioned into being a sports bar, adding banks of TVs and sports memorabilia along the way. You can still catch live music here, but big games and big time sporting events definitely take center stage as the bar has all of the major sports packages, including the March Madness package.
Sports grub and swill: 21 flavors of chicken wings (although the staff is open to more); burgers, wraps, quesadillas and subs; six beers on tap - Miller Lite, Yuengling, Purple Haze, Blue Moon, New South Nut Brown and Terrapin Pale Ale.
Other diversions: Pool table, darts, Silver Strike Bowling, PGA Golf, and NTN Buzztime Trivia.
Number of TVs: 17, including an 8-foot projector screen and several plasma screens.
Team colors: Michigan State, South Carolina, Clemson, Villanova, Connecticut and Harvard.
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Island Bar and Grill South,
10744-F Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island
235-3399 www.islandbarandgrill.com
Sister location of Surfside Beach area neighborhood bar, the upstairs portion of this Waccamaw Neck establishment, which opened April 2007, was designed as a sports bar, boasting all major sports TV packages, including the March Madness package - all games, all the time, on multiple screens.
Sports grub and swill: 21 flavors of chicken wings (and special requests if you can dream it up); typical bar appetizers, but also a line of atypical wraps and quesadillas; no draft beer, but there's the bar's signature $2.50 Margaritas.
Other diversions: Pool table, dart boards, Silver Strike, PGA Golf video game, and NTN Buzztime Trivia; a spacious outdoor deck often featuring live entertainment.
Number of TVs: 26 HD flat screens, two 42-inch TVs outside on the deck.
Team colors: Michigan State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Clemson, with ties to Villanova and Connecticut.
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Jimmagan's Island Sports Bar & Grill,
4891 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet
357-3746
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Johnny's Sports Bar-Nite Life,
616 Atlantic Ave., Garden City Beach.
652-3400
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Murphy's Law Sports & Raw Bar South,
2859 U.S. 17 Business, Garden City Beach
651-6063
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Rebar Sports Tavern,
532 Church St., Georgetown
527-7665
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Spencer'z Sports Pub,
5910 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
238-4500 www.spencerzsportspub.com
Established Aug. 2003 in a building that was once painted multiple pastel hues to look like a carousel, Spencer'z is not trying to be anything but a sports bar: multiple TVs, major sports packages, including UFC fights, food and drink, and most importantly - no jukebox.
Sports grub and swill: Six flavors of chicken wings, but menu also gets adventurous with crab-stuff Portobello mushrooms, baby back ribs and steaks; 4 beers on tap.
Other diversions: Pool table, video games, shuffleboard.
Number of TVs: 64
Team colors: South Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, West Virginia.
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Stadium Club,
317 U.S. 17 N., Surfside Beach
238-1754
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SunDown Sports Pub,
810 Surfside Dr., Surfside Beach
238-1240
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T.D.'s Sports Bar,
1880 U.S. 17 N., Surfside Beach
839-5006
Under new ownership since mid-February, this sports bar located in the parking lot next to Old Time Pottery sports lots of memorabilia, and instead of happy hour, there's "crazy hour'' every day from 7-8 p.m. featuring 50-cent draft beer.
Sports grub and swill: Six flavors of chicken wings, including Old Bay and Hot 'Yaki; also serving burger bites, spicy ravioli, mozzarella sticks and chili; two beers on tap (Bud Light and Michelob Ultra).
Other diversions: Two pool tables, three dartboards, Silver Strike Bowling, and pinball.
Number of TVs: 12
Team colors: None.
AJ's Sports Bar & Grill,
1004 Chester St., Myrtle Beach
916-1400 www.myspace.com/ajssportsbar
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Ape Hangers Sports Bar,
819 Main St., Myrtle Beach
448-2467
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Tha Bar Sports Pub and Grub,
405 8th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach
916-0794 www.myspace.com/tha_bar
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The Barrel Sports Bar and Grill,
2303 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
448-0097 www.thebarrelmyrtlebeach.com
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The Boathouse,
201 Hard Rock Parkway (formerly Outlet Blvd.), Myrtle Beach
903-BOAT www.myspace.com/theboathousemb
Overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and with a bird's eye view of the still-under-construction Hard Rock Park, this popular West Myrtle Beach watering hole open since 2005 is spacious and feels sort of like a river lodge, as folks pull up in their boats and jet skis, especially during warmer weather and come ashore.
Sports grub and swill: Seven flavors of chicken wings; also sporting a diverse menu with items such as shrimp and grits, avocado chicken egg rolls, and blackened chicken Caesar hoagie; four beers on tap.
Other diversions: Pool tables, Silver Strike Bowling, Golden Tee, darts; room to roam on outdoor decks and grassy lawn.
Number of TVs: 14, half of which are the large screen variety.
Team colors: South Carolina.
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Broadway Louie's,
1320 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach
445-6885 www.celebrationsnitelife.com
This spacious double-decker Celebrity Square watering hole established in 1999 is a hotspot for Karaoke on many nights, but also transforms itself into a sports bar on game days. And there's an adjoining arcade where you can let off some pent-up aggression by playing air hockey - all while sipping a beer.
Sports grub and swill: Seven flavors of chicken wings; but pizza is the thing here - either by the slice or full pies - to fill up your gut; menu also features burgers, salads, and subs; 8 beers on tap, including light beer alternatives Samuel Adams, Yeungling and Blue Moon.
Other diversions: An adjoining arcade features video games, seven pool tables, a batting cage, four air hockey tables and carnival/midway-style games.
Number of TVs: One 25-foot jumbo screen, five projector screens, six HD plasma screens and 30 smaller TVs.
Team colors: West Virginia.
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Choppers Sports Bar & Grill,
9708 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
449-4433 www.myspace.com/choppersbarmb
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Five O' Clock Somewhere,
1803 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
448-0619
With a nod to the Jimmy Buffett/Alan Jackson smash collaboration, may very well have kick-started the Grand Strand's so called "upscale sports bar'' trend when it opened in April 2005, as the interior is decked out with private booths, plasma screen TVs galore, plush couch in the front, and martini bar in the back. Five O' Clock features pay-per-view events such as UFC bouts and boxing (no cover charge), along with major sports packages including NCAA tournament action.
Sports grub and swill: Eight flavors of chicken wings; also serving quesadillas, chicken fingers, nachos and combo platters; four beers on tap: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Yuengling, and AmberBock
Other diversions: Two pool tables, video games and darts.
Number of TVs: 65
Team colors: Clemson, South Carolina, Michigan, Ohio State, North Carolina and Duke.
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Heads Up Tails Down Sports Bar and Grill,
4735 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
828-4180
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Hooters,
3901 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
626-3467 www.hooters.com
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Magoo Sports & Spirits,
905 Oak Street, Myrtle Beach
946-6683
This downtown Myrtle Beach sports tavern will move to new location soon - 3308 Waccawmaw Drive in the former Dojo building - but for now the old digs attract a regular customer base, especially darts throwers. Lots of non-bar seating with a variety of tables and booths.
Sports grub and swill: 10 flavors of chicken wings; the pub's Panini sandwiches are big sellers and the menu also features The Big Magoo Burger, quesadillas and 25-cent peel-n-eat shrimp; seven beers on tap.
Other diversions: Dart boards, video games, pool tables.
Number of TVs: 12 (at the new location there'll be ten large screen TVs, a projector screen and ten 32-inchers).
Team colors: Penn State, Rutgers, North Carolina.
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Melon's Restaurant & Bar,
205 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
445-9693
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Murphy's Law Sports and Raw Bar,
405 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
448-6021
Open since 1991, this shamrock-adorned Myrtle Beach sports bar is a definite hangout for Pittsburg Steelers fans, but its sports-loving staff professes to love all college teams - and if there's a sport out there, it'll be on the tube at Murphy's, including basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer. What about jai-alai?
Sports grub and swill: 10 flavors of chicken wings; tastes from the ocean include crab legs, steamed shrimp and oysters and fish sandwich; seven beers on tap; the bar's signature drinks are Iron City Beer and I.C. Light.
Other diversions: Pool tables, darts and video games.
Number of TVs: 30
Team colors: All college teams.
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NASCAR Sports Grille,
1808 21st Avenue N., Myrtle Beach
946-7223 www.nascarsportsgrille.com
The former NASCAR Cafe has been opened since 1997 before recently being retooled, and it's not just about racin'as the staff comprises self-professed sports fans, each booth is outfitted with its own flat panel TV, and there's interactive raffles and contests during sporting events.
Sports grub and swill: Chicken wing flavors include: dry, Asian, and regular; menu covers everything from burgers and pulled pork to ribs, nachos, chicken dishes and slider baskets; Coors Light, Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Natural Light and Yuengling on tap; specialty drinks include the Triple C Punch Pitcher and Daytona Dare (Absolut Vanilla Vodka, De Kuyper Melon and Banana Liquer, Cruzan Coconut Rum and pineapple juice on the rocks)
Other diversions: New shipment of games on the way, air hockey, basketball, pool tables, racing simulator; gift shop/retail store.
Number of TVs: Five projector screens, two 50-inch plasmas, and 30 booth-side flat panels
Team colors: Coastal Carolina.
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The Oasis Sports Emporium,
4517 U.S. 17 Bypass S., Myrtle Beach
293-4445
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Remedies Bar and Grill,
4803 U.S. 17 Bypass S., Myrtle Beach
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Scores Sports Bar,
3562 U.S. 17 Bypass S., Myrtle Beach
293-2582
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Shamrock's Sports Pub and Grill,
2510 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
448-2532 (re-opening soon)
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Stool Pigeons Coop & Grill,
1318 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach
444-8277 www.stoolpigeons.biz
Established in 1996, feels like a neighborhood pub in classic, narrow shotgun style. Despite the neighborhood being a mega shopping/entertainment/tourist attraction, Stoolies (as locals call it) is a laid-back and neighborly place to catch a game - until late night on weekends during the summer when it gets jam-packed as waves of partiers shuffle in and out on the way to and from the nearby dance clubs at Celebrity Square.
Sports grub and swill: Five flavors of chicken wings (which are 35 cents during sporting events); beef, chicken and pulled pork sliders (which resemble mini-burgers); a whopping 32 beer taps featuring 31 different flavors.
Other diversions: two pool tables, three dart boards; outdoor patio
Number of TVs: 14
Team colors: Penn State.
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Sun Up Sports Pub and Grill,
4520 Socastee Blvd., Myrtle Beach
293-1499
Beef O' Brady's (Carolina Forest),
3689 Renee Dr., Myrtle Beach
236-7761 www.beefobradys.com
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Breakroom Billiards and Sports Bar,
1871 S.C. 544, Conway
234-1802
Just around the bend from Coastal Carolina University, this pool hall established in 2004 is well known by students but it's also a sports bar with multiple TVs featuring sporting events, and non-bar seating at tables and in its conversation pit featuring swivel chairs.
Online: N.A.
Sports grub and swill: Chicken tenders (but apparently no wings), pizza, burgers, submarine sandwiches, and shrimp baskets; five beers on tap.
Other diversions: Silver Strike Bowling, PGA Tour Golf game, and, oh yeah, 17 pool tables to get your Minnesota Fats on.
Number of TVs: 20, including three 65-inchers.
Team colors: None.
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Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar,
1990 Oak Heart Road, Myrtle Beach (Carolina Forest)
236-6868 www.buffalowildwings.com
Carolina Forest sports fans have more options now that another location of this wing/sports bar chain has landed in the neighborhood bringing in televised UFC action and Direct TV packages, signature sauce chicken wings and cold beer. Main dining area is non-smoking.
Sports grub and swill: 14 signature sauces for chicken wings; 20 beers on tap; and for March, the beer of the month is Miller Lite ($3 for 23-ounce).
Other diversions: Video games, including Silver Strike, PGA Tour Golf, and Atari "Multicade'' which features older game titles; outdoor patio.
Number of TVs: Eight projector screens, six 50-inch plasmas, 28 of the 42-inch LCD screens, and six 32-inchers.
Team colors: Coastal Carolina, Ohio State, and North Carolina.
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Handley's Pub & Grub,
3873 Renee Dr., Myrtle Beach
903-4904
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NZone Sports Bar & Grill,
201 Graduate Blvd., Suite 117A, Conway
349-9663
Geared to the college crowd, NZone hosts regular promotions by the Bud girls, Jager girls, and Miller Lite girls, hosts live team trivia, and runs specials for all events (football, NASCAR, basketball). If you're looking to be seen, you're doubly in luck: there's usually lots of CCU/HGTC co-eds, plus the place is more or less floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides.
Sports grub and swill: Burgers, wings (six varieties), grilled chicken sandwiches, cheese sticks, grouper bites; wash it down with six beers on tap, king pitchers, and fishbowl margaritas and hurricanes.
Other diversions: three pool tables, MegaTouch, Golden Tee, SilverStrike, dartboard.
Number of TVs: 15.
Team colors: Coastal Carolina.
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