Myrtle Beach Family Restaurants

You're in Myrtle Beach. So you have to visit one of those touristy seafood buffets, right? Right! Our pick for top seafood buffet is the lovably kitschy Crabby Mike's. Here's what you can look forward to: plenty of fish- and pirate-themed decor, fish cooked almost every way imaginable (steamed, fried, baked and boiled), a salad buffet and even a buffet with non-fishy foods like pasta and chicken. The restaurant is located in nearby Surfside Beach, but it's worth the trip.

Older kids and teens will be excited to eat in this eye-catching restaurant, which just happens to be shaped like an enormous Egyptian pyramid. The Hard Rock Cafe is located at Broadway at the Beach, and it's a good choice for a hearty dinner or lunch if you're spending the day there. Dine on twisted macaroni and cheese, juicy hamburgers, salads, steak and more, all while taking in a colorful rock 'n' roll ambience.

Medieval Times is an engaging dinner show, during which visitors are served a four-course banquet as knights compete in historic games of skill. Feast like kings on roasted chicken and potatoes, garlic bread, tomato bisque and other delights (vegetarian meals available upon request) as brave noblemen engage in jousting, falconry, swordsmanship and more before your very eyes! Dig into your meal with your bare hands -- just like 11th-century men and women once did.

Amidst the seafood, steaks and bottomless buffets that proliferate in Myrtle Beach, Panini 38 offers a refreshing option of healthier, Mediterranean-style cuisine. Yes, there are some calorie-heavy choices on the menu (chicken alfredo and aged beef, just to name a couple). But, your family will also find tasty salad and hot vegetable dishes at this restaurant.

Fresh seafood is a must during any coastal vacation, and many locals claim The Sea Captain's House offers the best in Myrtle Beach. This quaint house overlooking the ocean is a welcome respite from the big and bustling seafood buffet restaurants set along Myrtle Beach's highways. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert at this local favorite. For an interesting start to your morning, try the seafarer's omelet (eggs with shrimp, lump crabmeat, mushrooms and cheese) or the crab cakes Benedict. Dinner choices include crab cakes, shrimp Creole and pan-crusted grouper, plus chicken and steak dishes. A children's menu offers seafood in addition to kids' menu classics like pasta and hamburgers.

Villa Romana is all about Italian hospitality and big, hearty, saucy dishes inspired by the Boot's best cuisine. The food served there is classic American-style Italian: cheese-smothered eggplant parmesan, decadent fettuccine alfredo, breaded veal stuffed with ham and cheese. The best parts about Villa Romana are the friendly atmosphere (an accordion player sets the mood) and the pricing. No need to spend money on appetizers! All entrees include homemade soup, tomato bruschetta, rolls with dipping sauce and garden salads. Kids are more than welcome there, but reservations are recommended.