39th Ave. Bar & Grille: Still Serving Sushi
By Becky Billingsley
Although the little restaurant next to The Wine Shoppe in North Myrtle Beach has a new owner and a new name, 39th Ave. Bar & Grille is still serving succulent sushi.
Before it was 39th Ave. Bar & Grille the restaurant was Paradise Sushi, and diners came from throughout the Grand Strand to feast on fresh fish. The new owners are Greg Hicks and Kevin Richards from Filet's restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, and Chester Wheeler, who owned the spot since it was Stillwater Grille.
The partners hired Heath Hardee, an affable and hard-working general manager, and Culinary Institute of America graduate Chris Kirwin is their sushi chef. Now the little restaurant is more popular than ever with sushi, hibachi, steak and seafood fans.
The delicious fun begins at 4 p.m. daily when there is a three-hour window of opportunity for sushi specials. Until 7 p.m. waves of people arrive to enjoy Spicy Tuna, California, JB Dynamite or Salmon Skin rolls for $3 each; a choice of Shrimp Tempura, Crazy, half a Lava or half a Hawaiian roll for $5; Key West or Mexican rolls for $6; or a Spicy J.C. or Volcano Roll for $8.
A Spicy J.C. Roll is a chef's specialty with spicy tuna, avocado, asparagus and cucumber topped with "a variety of fish and wasabi mayo." The Lava Rolla contains spicy salmon, asparagus and cream cheese and is cooked tempura-style and topped with spicy scallop dynamite sauce. The Hawaiian Roll is also cooked tempura-style and is studded in coconut. It contains salmon, cream cheese and pineapple, and is topped with pineapple coconut sauce.
Dozens more rolls are offered, and there are also many sashimi choices, from tamago (sweet egg) and ika (squid) to hamachi (yellow tail) and ama ebi (sweet shrimp). No matter which type of sushi is chosen, Chef Kirwin presents the rolls with style and supreme good taste such as drizzling plates with Soy Caramel or constructing sushi pyramids.
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But while sushi is an extremely popular dining choice at 39th Ave. Bar & Grille, it is far from the only option.
The appetizer and small plate list includes Lobster Crepe, Fried Calamari, Fresh Jumbo shrimp Cocktail, English Muffin Pizza, Buffalo Scallops, Steamed or Raw Oysters, Wings, Cheeseburger and fries and a Shrimp Basket.
An extra-special offering in the finger food category is a pound of Alaskan Crab Legs for $7.
"People eat that up," Hardee said. "They can't get enough of it."
More appetizers include Tuna Tataki, Spring Rolls with sweet chili sauce, Ginger Salad, Seafood Ceviche and Mushroom Tempura.
Heartier appetites can be satisfied with entrees such as char-grilled Bone-In Pork Steak, Blackened Tuna Oscar, Seafood Fra Diablo, Strip Steak topped with sautéed onions and banana peppers, and Ahi Tuna Caesar Salad. There are also hibachi entrees prepared with premium beef, chicken and shrimp.
The ambiance at 39th Ave. Bar & Grille has bistro flair. You might see local fishmongers enjoying sashimi at one of the handful of sushi bar seats, girlfriends gathering for after-work happy hour specials at one of the black linen-jacketed cocktail tables, or thirsty golfers enjoying martinis at the roomy U-shape bar and catching up on the day's sports scores on the many televisions hanging above the mirrored bar back.
On Tuesdays the place fills up with local service industry employees for SIN food and drink specials and karaoke, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays there is live music. Every night the fun and food continues until late in the evening.
39th Ave. Bar & Grille is at 3809 U.S. 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach, and the number is (843) 427-7080. It's open starting at 4 p.m. daily, and the kitchen stays open late.
39th is OUTSTANDING!! Don’t tell TOO many people or we won’t get seats!