Relaxed Gourmet at Roz’s
By Becky Billingsley
Historic charm draws diners in, and great food keeps diners coming back to Roz's Rice Mill Cafe in Pawleys Island for many repeat visits.
The weathered Lowcountry building was originally a post office on a nearby rice plantation. The mid-1800s structure was moved to the middle of the Pawleys Island Hammock Shops where it has been the culinary domain of Roz Wyndham since 1997.
Picture a cool old building under massive live oak trees where you can enjoy heritage recipes with gourmet ingredients, plus a glass of fine wine or beer.
When Roz's first opened, it had only lunch service. But what a popular lunch it was, and still is, due to delicious salads, soups and sandwiches.
Some of the choices are standards for excellence among Grand Strand locals, such as Country Shrimp Salad on mixed greens with Dijon Vinaigrette or on a Croissant, Chutney Chicken Salad, and the Egg Salad and Bacon Sandwich served with Swiss cheese.
All of the dressings are made in-house, and recently they also became available for purchase by the bottle. Diners can find the ones they like best by sampling Spinach Salad with grilled chicken, mushrooms, green onions and Chinese noodles, with ginger soy dressing; or Grilled Portabello Mushroom Salad with goat cheese and roasted red pepper balsamic vinaigrette.
More terrific tastes on the lunch menu include Tomato Basil and Cheese Pie, Black Bean and Artichoke Cakes that come with freshly made salsa, green onion and sour cream; Shrimp Salad Avocado Wrap; and Grilled Chicken Panino on Tomato Basil Focaccia with Jerusalem artichoke relish and Swiss cheese.
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As for those lunchtime soups - there are three new ones every day. A few recently served recipes include Chilled Avocado Cucumber, Gazpacho, Creamy Artichoke, Sherry Mushroom, Potato Leek, New England Clam Chowder, Asparagus and Shrimp Vichyssoise and Roasted Red Pepper and Pimento Cheese with Crab.
A few years ago Roz added dinner service and built a side porch with a bar and extra seating. To her credit, Roz has maintained a dinner menu that's almost completely different from her lunch menu, but it is equally as tempting. The extra space has made it possible for diners to arrange for large groups to reserve space for birthday parties, club meetings and wedding showers.
Some diners go here just for drinks and dinner appetizers such as Lobster and Shrimp Nachos in a creamy white Cheddar sauce, or Jalapeno Pimento Cheese and Crab Dip that can be served hot or cold.
Dinners are lavishly wonderful, and they stay true to Coastal Carolina culinary traditions.
Much seafood is featured in dishes such as Bacon-wrapped Scallops with mango chutney; Lobster and Grits; a Triple Platter of Flounder, Soft Shell Crab and Scallops; Shrimp Creole Egg Rolls; and Crab Cake Low Country Gumbo.
On the meat side, there are Hunter Duck Stew that can be served over rice, grits or mashed potatoes; Steak Grillades and Grits; and Chicken Scaloppini with Marsala Marinara. Vegetarians can choose the pasta of the evening and ask for extra veggies instead of the meat; or go for side dishes such as Asparagus Relish Salad, Black Beans and Cream Spinach, Vidalia Onion Slaw; Creamy Grits; and Butter Rice.
Roz’s Rice Mill Cafe is at 10880 Ocean Highway, in the Pawleys Island Hammock Shops, and the phone number is (843) 235-0196. It's open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
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