Pouring Pints at Handley’s Pub
By Becky Billingsley
A cozy sporting pub experience, complete with several British dishes on the menu and televisions tuned to many sports events, can be had at Handley's Pub in the Carolina Forest section of Myrtle Beach.
The ambiance is warm and relaxed with subdued lighting. Patrons gather at the bar, sit at cocktail tables or settle into booths to enjoy beverages and dining menus full of comfort. The pub's proximity to Coastal Carolina University has made it a favorite of students and staff.
Exceptional value is offered from 4-7 p.m. daily when 14 finger foods are offered for $4.50 or less. An outstanding choice from that list includes crispy and zesty Spicy Thai Shrimp where the shrimp are flash-fried to pleasant plumpness and coated in a creamy sauce. With a price of $4 during happy hour, the portion size is generous.
Beer lovers congregate at Handley's to enjoy a stellar brew menu. There are 14 beers on draft (including Dundee Honey Brown Ale, Guinness, Skull Coast Watermelon and Sam Adams Seasonal) and more than 50 bottled varieties, from Pabst Blue Ribbon to Wells Banana Bread Beer. The bartender can also mix up a beer cocktail such as a Lager and Lime or an Eclipse, which combines Blue Moon and Guinness Stout. Also, be sure to check out the chalkboard behind the bar for specials.
Like any respectable pub, Handley's offers many finger foods. The appetizer list includes traditional favorites such as Wings in nine flavors, Manley Handley Nachos, Chicken Tenders and Quesadillas, but there are also many more unique dishes such as Buffalo Chicken Dip, Fried Peppers, Tuna Sashimi, Barbecue Pork Skins where pork barbecue is piled on potato skins, and Brit Chips covered with brown gravy, Cheddar cheese, onions, diced tomato and bacon.
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Several salads are served, from Cobb and house-made Chicken Salad to Spinach Salad with red onions, tomatoes, bacon, eggs, almonds and warm bacon vinaigrette. There's also Buffalo Chicken Salad, Sesame Crusted Tuna Salad and Caesar Salad that can be topped with chicken, shrimp or steak.
Many diners opt for a bowl of chili to go with their salads, or pair the chili with one of many sandwiches and wraps. Bobby's Beef Wrap is a unique recipe where roast beef, French fries, Ranch dressing, bacon, lettuce and tomato are rolled up in a soft tortilla and served with a side of gravy. Pork Barbecue, French Dip, Cheeseburger, Meatball Sub and Reuben sandwiches are dependable choices, along with Thee Herbster where blackened chicken is topped with barbecue sauce, Pepper Jack cheese and sauteed onions; or the Portabello Club sandwich piled high with veggies and cheese.
Entrees are a mixture of American and British comfort food. If you've never before had Yorkshire Pudding, it is served here accompanied by shaved roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and steamed mixed vegetables. Yorkshire Pudding isn't the type of pudding Americans are accustomed to; it's more like bread in the shape of a hollow cupcake, and it's savory instead of sweet.
More entrees are Bangers and Mash (authentic English sausage, mashed potatoes, gravy and English-style baked beans), Shrimp and Chips (fried beer-battered shrimp and fries), Shepard's Pie, Prime Rib, Meatloaf and Pork Loin.
Since this is a lively gathering spot where the early evening crowd transitions into night owls converging until the wee hours, a special late night menu is served from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Those dishes include pizzas, fingers foods and sandwiches like Chicken Parmesan and Turkey Melt.
Special fun events are scheduled several times per week. On Mondays Tacos are $2, Sol beers are $2.50, and Margaritas are $3, plus at 7 p.m. Mondays there's Team Trivia. On Tuesdays 20-ounce domestic pints are $2, and 20-ounce import and craft pints are $3. Team Bingo gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and Team Trivia returns at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Handley's Pub (www.handleyspub.com/) opens at 11 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and at noon on Sundays. The number is 843-903-4904.
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