Bumstead’s Complements Dagwood’s

By Becky Billingsley

Of course with a name like Dagwood's Deli, it's a given that sandwiches are involved, and the two Dagwood's restaurants in Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach stack up excellent specimens.

And while the two restaurants have unique characteristics, they also have qualities that make them appealingly alike.

Both Dagwood's have comfortability, where setting foot in them is like slipping on your favorite flip-flops. The ambiance is casual, the food is excellent, the beer is cold and there is a laid-back crowd of local and visiting devotees.

The Dagwood's in Myrtle Beach is much older; it has been located in the heart of town for more than 20 years. The vintage restaurant is old school all the way with a sort of utilitarian and slightly seedy beach ambiance, in a cozy and pleasing way.

Its menu is almost all about the sandwiches. You can get a good old Turkey and Swiss or Roast Beef and Cheddar, but it is the specialty sandwiches that keep customers craving. It seems everyone in town has a favorite.

A few of those include the Triple Decker Bumstead's Club; The Southern with turkey, and Swiss and jalapeno cheeses; the Lynn Swann Dipper with turkey, roast beef, melted Swiss, bacon bits and dill mayonnaise for dipping; Blackened Mahi with lettuce, tomato, tartar sauce and pineapple cilantro salsa; and Bubba's Kickin' Chicken with grilled bite-size chicken breast and sauteed onions and banana peppers with barbecue sauce and melted Cheddar.

The Myrtle Beach Dagwood's also has burgers, salads and finger foods, and a variety of Philly sandwiches from a classic Philly Cheesesteak to an Oriental Shrimp Philly.

Next door to Dagwood's is the newer Bumstead's Pub where the furnishings are spiffier and the light a little dimmer. This atmosphere is more like an English pub with high-backed booths and a wide variety of small batch hand-crafted beers. A low-key model train theme prevails, and one even trundles around a track near the ceiling.

You can grab your Dagwood's sandwich and take it over to the Bumstead's side, and you can also order Dagwood's food while at Bumstead's if you just want to hang out over there instead of venturing into the restaurant. These are both longtime locals' favorite haunts.

The Surfside Beach location called Dagwood's Deli & Sports Bar has been around only a few years, but practically from the moment its doors opened it was heralded by locals and seasonal visitors as one of the best restaurants in that area. The setting is like a blend of the best aspects of Dagwood's and Bumstead's in Myrtle Beach. It's dim but not too dark, there are lots of high-backed booths with their own personal televisions, plenty of big TVs behind an enormous bar, and even more televisions around the pool table and video games.

You really could happily spend a whole day here, especially with the kind of food they serve.

This Dagwood's has a better appetizer list, such as Blackened Shrimp served with spicy Ranch dressing; plump and moist Blackened Mahi with a side of their delicious pineapple cilantro salsa; and Southwest Chicken Egg Rolls stuffed with chicken, Monterey jack cheese, corn, jalapenos, spinach and red bell peppers that's served with a dipping sauce of Avocado Ranch.

All the same favorite subs that people grew up with at the original Dagwood's are also available here, from the Rebel Reuben made with turkey to the Caribbean Jerk Chicken Sub.

But this menu has some extra sections, like one labeled Spuds with Smothered Fries and Tater Tots; another for cheese/meaty Quesadillas; and a selection of baskets from Fish and Chips to Burgers and Fries.

If you just want to relax, chat with friends, eat great food, have a few drinks and/or catch the game, either location will give you the pleasant escape you're hoping for.

Dagwood’s Deli (http://www.dagwoodsdeli.com/) is at:

400 Mr. Joe White Ave., Myrtle Beach, 843-448-0100, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays;

and

600 U.S. 17 Business N., Surfside Beach, 843-828-4600, open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Categories

Restaurant Reviews   Visitor Info   Myrtle Beach Area   Blog