Drunken Jack's a Murrells Inlet Treasure

Had the ‘rents in for a recent visit from Long Island, and as usual I racked my feeble culinary brain for a waterfront dining option we hadn’t yet tried. It had been a long time since we’d been to the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet, so after we invited my wife’s parents to join us we took her father’s advice and checked out Drunken Jack’s.

We took advantage of a chilly but sunny Thursday afternoon last week to go there for lunch, figuring it wouldn’t be too crowded and we could get a table with a nice waterfront view. We not only got a window-side table with the best panoramic possible of all the surrounding islands, but saw plenty of wildlife off in the distance (birds dive-bombing the inlet for their own meal) and right outside the Marshwalk dock (peacocks).

Beyond its overall reputation as a Murrells Inlet mainstay, the one thing I’d constantly heard folks rave about was Drunken Jack’s “world famous hushpuppies” with sweet honey butter. The appetizer certainly lived up to their billing, but we were more anxious to see how this place would measure up for a group of six with wide-ranging tastes and appetites. On that score, Drunken Jack’s didn’t disappoint.

My wife’s parents tried their hand at two items from Drunken Jack’s seafood “po boy” list. Pete’s verdict on the fried oyster sandwich – “Oysters were a little overdone, but good” – was nevertheless followed by an empty plate. My mother-in-law was equally enthusiastic about her fried grouper po boy, but she raved even more about the sweet potato fries.

Like me, my wife’s not a seafood eater, but her hopes quickly rose when she saw the French dip sandwich on the menu. Lofty expectations were met when her plate arrived with a French roll bearing a heaping helping of shaved prime rib, and dressed with plenty of melted provolone and au jus. Mom, whose appetite is far from ravenous, took a chance and ordered the same thing. Initially overwhelmed, even she managed to polish off more than half of hers (and boxed up the rest).

Drunken Jack’s shrimp salad is a traditional Murrells Inlet recipe – mayonnaise-based with its own unique blend of onions, eggs and spices, and served on a bed of mixed greens. Dad’s portion was stacked like a volcano; thankfully, it didn’t have that kind of effect on his stomach. He loved it, and vowed to get it again next time.

As for me, I went for the pulled pork BBQ special. Generous portion, but no bun (I didn’t examine the menu closely enough to see they had a regular BBQ sandwich selection). That aside, I enjoyed it because it was a distinctly different taste than BBQ you’ll get at places like Little Pigs and North Carolina BBQ – hickory smoked, but with more of a spicy kick than I expected.

Overall, a really good meal, great atmosphere, and swift and gracious service. We’ll definitely be going back.

If you’ve been to Drunken Jack’s or any other restaurant along the Marshwalk, weigh in with your thoughts. Tell us how you think Drunken Jack’s stacks up with the rest!