Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Georgetown / Pawleys Island

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Georgetown / Pawleys Island? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Frank's Restaurant - Inside Dining

4.9

4.9 (1177)

$31 to $50

American

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Frank's Restaurant in Pawleys Island, South Carolina is an Italian-influenced American steakhouse and seafood joint that serves a range of traditional dishes for dinner. Frank's Restaurant has been featured in national press such as Bon Appétit and Southern Living and its kitchen strives to provide tasty dishes made with only the freshest, local and seasonally available ingredients. The atmosphere is elegant and refined and the full bar and extensive wine list complement the meals at Frank's Restaurant.

Start with an appetizer like fried oysters, Caribbean sautéed conch or a low country egg roll. Larger dishes include seafood like pan-seared New Bedford scallops and sautéed veal scallopini.

Top review

Angela

Dined 2 days ago

The batter on the fried oysters was light which was perfect. Generous portion sizes and good service.

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Grilled Trio of Lamb Chops

Bistro 217

4.9

4.9 (1380)

$31 to $50

American

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Bistro 217 offers an eclectic menu that features seafood, steak, pasta and other delicious dishes. Owners Anne Hardee and Adam Kirby who was elected Chef Ambassador of South Carolina have created a culinary haven. Guests can gather indoors or in the newly renovated courtyard where you may enjoy libations and savory cuisine. You can begin your dining experience at Bistro 217 with an appetizer of Asian ribs or petite crab cakes with a lemon aioli. A main course of Herb-encrusted Grouper with a caper brown butter or Grilled Filet Mignon with seared shrimp will please the palate. The lunch menu offers sandwiches and burgers, as well as tasty fish tacos. Don't forget the incredible array of in-house made desserts and icecreams, you won't want to skip! Bistro 217 has reviews in publications like Southern Living and Grand Strand Magazine.

Top review

Brinkley

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent Excellent Excellent! Need I Say More!!!!👍👍👍

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Popular dish

Bistro Burger

Popular dish

Tomato Crab & Jalapeño Soup

Perrone's Restaurant and Bar

4.9

4.9 (316)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

World Cuisine with a Mediterranean Focus - Complete Chophouse Menu with USDA Prime (In-House) Dry Aged Beef, Local Wagyu Beef, Complete with Compound Butters, Sauces, and Steakhouse Sides - Responsibly Sourced, Fresh Local Seafood - Craft Cocktail Bar - Extensive Award Winning Wine List - Upscale Dining in a Casual, Laid Back Atmosphere with Local Art Laden Walls, Low Lighting, and Relaxing Jazz Music (P.S. We are not an Italian Restaurant! )

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined today

Perrone’s has a spectacular drinks menu. The food is creatively prepared and delicious! This restaurant is one of the top two or three on the Grand Strand.

Frank's Outback - Outside Dining

4.9

4.9 (1350)

$31 to $50

American

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Frank’s Outback has 45 seats inside the building and interestingly, the patrons get to walk through the open kitchen to enter the dining room. Once inside, you sense a warm welcoming atmosphere. The walls are painted in a cool blue with original artwork on the walls. White tablecloths, candle light, hand polished silverware and glassware grace the tables. There are also 100 seats outside, set in a garden setting under a canopy of trees. The outdoor seats are covered and not affected by weather. In the Fall and Winter guests are warmed by infrared heaters and the large outdoor fireplace.

Top review

Richard

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent food, service was great! Excellent choice for casual dining.

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Popular dish

Blue Crab Ravioli

Popular dish

Whole 14 Layer Caramel Cake

Costa Coastal Kitchen & Bar

4.8

4.8 (726)

$30 and under

Italian

Murrells Inlet

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Richard

Dined 1 day ago

Excellence in dining. Leann was the best server we have ever had at this restaurant & she gave us great info on what to order from the days specials.

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4.8

4.8 (1062)

$30 and under

Southern

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Rustic Table brings comfort food and home-style dining to Pawley's Island.

Top review

Paula

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food and service. Very fresh and always consistent.

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4.8

4.8 (700)

$31 to $50

Low Country

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Lunch is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dinner reservations are recommended for the indoor dining room. Please note that indoor reservations are not transferable to our outdoor courtyard.

Our outdoor courtyard operates on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on the weather. If you have a large party, please call the restaurant at 843-237-1438.

Chive Blossom Restaurant & Bar is one of Pawleys Island’s most popular dining destinations. Shaded by iconic Lowcountry live oaks, the establishment is owned by Paul Kelly and Trina Renualt, culinary professionals who skillfully combine their expertise to create Southern classics with a twist, along with delicious dishes inspired by Mediterranean, French, and Asian cuisine.

Trina’s crab soup is a local favorite. Enjoy a variety of specialty salads, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Top review

DarleneVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Tiara was the BEST server ever!!!!!!! We so enjoyed our dinner but her service is the main reason our evening was so enjoyable! Ask for Tiara!!!!!

Gios Italian Kitchen - Pawleys Island

4.8

4.8 (261)

$30 and under

Italian

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Prepare to be thrilled at this all-star Italian restaurant located off Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island, SC. Gios Italian Kitchen is family owned and operated since August 7th, 2014. Brothers/Chefs Klodjan & Renato Hoxha run the kitchen while the sister/GM Eri handles the front. Parents are also involved in the business operation on a daily basis. The Hoxha family was born in Albania and moved to the United States in 2003, seeking the American dream. The family has 17 years of experience in cooking. Our chefs make all the dishes with the freshest ingredients and highest quality of product. Gios serves the best marinara sauce and some of the tastiest authentic Italian dishes in the Grand Strand. We pride ourselves in providing quality consistent good food while emphasizing in excellent guest service. Eat Fresh. Eat Well. Eat Local.

Top review

ThomasVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Our waiter was not as good as most there. Nice but inexperienced.

Quigley's Pint & Plate

4.7

4.7 (41)

$30 and under

American

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Quigley's Pint & Plate, in Pawleys Island, crafts a modern interpretation of elevated pub grub in its relaxing restaurant with English pub-inspired décor and in-house handcrafted brews. The spicy pimento cheese blend and the fried green tomatoes topped with blackened shrimp, goat cheese, and Thai chili glaze are updated and delicious versions of classic Southern dishes. Some of Quigley's Pint & Plate's specialty entrées include the pub steak topped with gorgonzola cheese and red-eye gravy, the beer-battered cod fish tacos, the chicken and waffles with honey-pecan butter and sausage gravy, and the veggie-friendly and hand-made vegan burger. Quigley's Pint & Plate also hosts trivia nights and features daily happy hour specials with discounted drinks and appetizers, making it a great spot for a fun night out!

If you don't see the reservation you wanted call the restaurant to see if we have any openings!
Parties over 8 must call the restaurant to make a reservation!

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined on Apr 28, 2025

Not as good as usual. Think the chef/cook was having an off-day with overdone burgers and meat. Not usually the case. We will come back as it has historically been very good, but this trip was disappointing.

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Experience

Happy Hour

The Independent

4.6

4.6 (423)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Georgetown

About the restaurant

The Independent is an ingredient-driven, seafood restaurant and raw bar showcasing the Lowcountry's surrounding local fisherman, farmers, and purveyors. Located on historic Front Street, the restaurant pays homage to the community's former, yet iconic seafood market by the same name, with a seasonal menu of Southern-inspired dishes guided by the region's bounty of fresh seafood.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We had Blue Crab Fingers, Blackened Swordfish with mashed potatoes and blue crab and the fish special; whole Red Fish! From drinks to dinner our server Hunter did a great job and was a great conversationist!

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