Burky’s Grill: Legendary Local Comfort Food

By Becky Billingsley

The little restaurant at the Village Square shopping center in Myrtle Beach has had different names in its more than two decades in business, but throughout the changes Burky’s Grill has served a comfort food menu that a second generation is now enjoying.

Wayne Burkart opened the restaurant in the mid-1980s as G.D. Ritzy’s, which was a South Carolina chain with three Myrtle Beach locations. In 1987 a corporate decision was made to close the unit at Village Square, so Burkart bought it, renamed it Ritzy’s (the G.D. was offensive to some church-goers, although it was merely the initials of one of the founders’ name) and operated it successfully for 18 years.

Burkart sold Ritzy’s in 1999 and went fishing for a couple of years before becoming bored. He went back to work and eventually had three restaurant jobs, all at the same time. When Ritzy’s went up for sale in 2003 he bought it again.

“We just had the best year we ever had here last year,” Burkart recently said.

That successful formula includes a spotless restaurant where a longtime staff cares about the quality of their products.

“The average crew member has been here six years,” Burkart said. “They’re all like little managers. Harriet Small – she is my utility everything, expert at everything – has been here 14 or 15 years.”

That crew cooks up a menu of town favorites. Burgers are thin patties with lacy, crispy edges, and they’re served on toasted buns. Get fries with that and you’ll receive a pile of crispy shoestrings big enough to share.

Hot dogs are scrumptious juicy Sabretts, and it is highly recommended to order them topped with chili. The chili is made fresh in-house every day, and it simmers for at least six hours before being served.

That chili can also be ordered Cincinnati-style on top of spaghetti noodles and topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, beans, peppers, onions or tomatoes. Other good uses of cheese are in Stuffed Baked Potatoes that can also be topped with broccoli or bacon; Grilled Cheese; or on the Taco Salad.

There are five salad choices at Burky’s including Pasta Salad and the Deluxe Grilled Chicken Salad. Light diners also appreciate being able to choose Steamed Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots), or those same veggies can be ordered raw and served with a choice of dips.

Another favorite menu item includes soups served on rotating days: Cream of Broccoli, Chicken Noodle, Lumberjack Vegetable and Creamy Clam Chowder. Those soups go well with a Fried Bologna Sandwich, Corn Dog, Barbecue Sandwich or a Veggie Burger.

Anyone feeling in need of an ultimate dose of comfort may opt for the Deluxe Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, which comes studded with peanuts. Children have a special $3.65 meal deal that includes a choice of a hamburger, hot dog or corn dog with fries, drink and scoop of ice cream.

Ah, the ice cream. Burky’s serves luxurious Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, and it is sold by the scoop, pint or quart, and in sundaes, shakes and floats.

Many a Myrtle Beach resident has a favorite Burky’s meal, and Burkhart is often writing down orders before certain customers get to the counter.

Hundreds of those regular customers are members of the Myrtle Beach Car Club. Burky’s has 1950s flair in its décor, and these classic car owners have weekly cruise-ins. From 1-4 p.m. Saturdays from October through early March, and from 6-9 p.m. Friday nights from March through September, the Burky’s parking lot is a car lover’s dream.

Plenty of locals visit Burky’s during the cruise-ins for an inexpensive family activity, because nothing on the Burky’s menu costs more than $5.50 except for a quart of ice cream, which is $9.95.

Burky’s Grill is at 3901 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, at the front of Village Square shopping center. It is open daily for lunch and dinner, and the number is (843) 626-2888. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available.

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