Medley of Flavors at Midtown Bistro
By Becky Billingsley
If you'd like to dine where other restaurant owners go for lunch, you'll love the affordable and impeccable fare at Midtown Bistro in North Myrtle Beach.
Midtown Bistro is not the sort of place that out-of-town visitors would immediately notice, with its low-key sign in a strip shopping center along U.S. 17. But locals know that the chef/owner Jeff Martini is an experienced restaurateur who is dedicated to serving exquisite food, and he keeps prices reasonable.
The surroundings are extremely pleasant, with leopard print carpet, warm rust-colored walls, colorful local folk art, lots of cozy tables and an approachable bar where many people prefer to eat. Through a door to the left are more tables, and both spaces have plenty of televisions. Jazzy/bluesy/soft rock/reggae plays softly.
The menu has a lot of variety with an Italian emphasis. Midtown Bistro has an all-day menu, which means you can have dinner entrees any time. They include Yellow Fin Tuna served with soy sauce and wasabi; Sausage and peppers; Blackened Chicken Dinner with mushroom brandy cream sauce; Ribeye Steak with shoestring potatoes; Lasagna; and Beer Battered Fish with fries and a side of malt vinegar.
On the appetizer list Quesadillas are next to Fish Bites, and Eggplant Flat Bread is ahead of Surf or Turf Alfredo that can be topped with scallops or beef. Chicken Margherita Flat Bread is crispy-thin bread topped with diced chicken breast, tomatoes, cheese and fresh basil enhanced by a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze.
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No one who tastes Martini’s Shrimp Alfredo with hand-made fettuccine will doubt the Italian finesse. The chef's Stuffed Banana Peppers - filled with sausage and topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce - will take you to the verge of tears, make you grab your water and hurry to pick up your fork to do it again.
There are several salad choices - served on properly chilled plates - that can be turned into entree salads with the addition of chicken breast, shrimp or tuna. Apple Pecan has candied nuts and apple vinaigrette; Asian Tuna is served over spinach with julienne vegetables and sauteed mushrooms and has an Asian sesame dressing; and the Spinach Salad has mushrooms, bacon, sliced egg and warm apple wood bacon vinaigrette. Other salads include Caprese, Wedge, Caesar, Antipasta, Blackened Chicken, and Shrimp Salad where greens tossed in orange vinaigrette are topped with blackened shrimp, vegetables and roasted red peppers.
The house creamy Italian dressing is a nice balance of fresh flavors without being too tangy.
A few sandwich choices include a Blue Cheeseburger, Triple Decker Club, Sausage Sub, French Dip and a hearty Veggie Sandwich with grilled eggplant, squash, mushrooms, onions, fresh tomatoes, cheese and Cajun mayonnaise. The Monte Cristo is delicious with layers of honey ham, smoked turkey breast and American cheese encased in battered and grilled bread.
That leaves the pizzas, which are a favorite among those who've tried them. The 12" pies are made with crispy flatbread, and many diners have salads and share the Youngstown Briar Hill Pizza with sauteed tomatoes and bell peppers, herbs and Parmesan.
A full range of bar choices are served, from beer and wine to specialty drinks and dessert coffees, and there are daily meal specials. Children have several $4 meal choices.
Midtown Bistro is at 2004 U.S. 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach. It's open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with happy hour from 4-7 p.m., and the number is 843-427-4720.
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