Thursday, Apr. 09, 2009
three steps down gets three thumbs up
three steps down grille & tavern
Grilled grouper and baked potato at Three Steps Down Grille & Tavern in Myrtle Beach - photo by Ashley Morris, for Weekly Surge.
setting the table
Three steps down. I took them carefully and counted them aloud to my preschooler – 1, 2, 3 – after another afternoon downpour of rain made everything slippery when wet.
The Three Steps Down Grille & Tavern is located three brick patio steps below Breakfast at Tena’s, which is connected and located next to Jason’s Café, an ice cream shop – all part of the dining options available at Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort Hotel across the boulevard. On this rainy day, a scattering of umbrellas sprouting from the outdoor patio tables were cinched closed and the black restaurant awnings dripping wet.
Here in Myrtle Beach’s hotel district, parking might be an issue, so plan ahead. I had to circle around the block and luckily found a spot on the street (probably wouldn’t have been as lucky in peak tourist season).
The restaurant’s wide, wooden front doors were propped open to capture that refreshing ocean air. Three Steps Down’s ambiance inside was captivating, with hardwood floors, warm pendant lighting, and gold and mahogany color tones.
We were seated at a spacious booth with a view of the boulevard; the rear of the restaurant, busier on a Friday during happy hour, hosted dining smokers and the bar.
down the hatch
Servers were clad in what resembled chef’s uniforms, which was professional, but confusing at first because I kept wondering why chefs were stepping out of the kitchen to come to the front server station and computer.
Our server-chef was cheery and chatty, and she promptly took our drink orders of a house blush wine ($4) for my grandmother and good ol’ ice water for me, plus a take-home, lidded plastic cup of milk ($1.95) equipped with a straw for my excited son.
His kids’ meal of chicken fingers and fries, a basket of three, large, fried fingers and seasoned fries, was a large enough helping for an adult, let alone a 2-year-old. So thumbs up on portions-a-plenty and price-efficiency at Three Steps Down.
My grandmother, who just loves cheeseburgers, thought her Three Bite Burgers ($6.95), a trio of burger sliders sprinkled with caramelized onions and melted cheddar, were just darling. The presentation was basket gourmet, complete with each burger bun pierced with a grape tomato-topped skewer, a garnish of thin onion rings, and a side of sautéed vegetables (her healthy choice of a side over fries).
I opted for the evening’s entree special of grilled grouper ($15.95), requesting it lightly blackened. My first course of a fresh salad was pleasantly better than most restaurant-caliber salads – limp lettuce leaves surrounding one tiny tomato, a day-old afterthought. Three Steps’ field greens were tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, carrot slivers and its house raspberry vinaigrette. The grilled grouper fillet was prepared and seasoned perfectly, just a bit on the small side, but was accompanied by hefty baked potato I lathered with butter and sour cream.
check, please
Three Steps Down received three thumbs up from me (and my dinner guests that night). While I think it’s especially convenient for Sea Mist hotel guests, the restaurant is also a viable dinner option for locals who have friends in town staying at said hotel – or those hotels nearby. And with its independent location across the street, Three Steps isn’t hampered by that hotel lounge look and feel. Besides, you can feel like you’re on a stay-cation.
Three Steps Down Grille & Tavern is at 1200 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday (bar only open on Sundays). For additional info, call 282-5109.
Click here for previous Gut Reaction Reviews