The Story Behind Capt. Dave’s Dockside Restaurant
In 1975, Mr. D. Frank Owens, Jr. and his brother Kenneth opened Capt. Dave’s Dockside Restaurant in its original form. In 1980, Mr. Owens bought the restaurant outright and ran it under his watchful eye until 1991 when he handed the reigns over to his son, David F. Owens, III.
Throughout the more than 30 year history of Capt. Dave’s Dockside Restaurant many changes have been made to both the decor and the menu. The original restaurant was a small waterfront eatery serving seafood platters for $2.95. Over time the building grew and expanded, providing more seats. In 1990, an outdoor deck was added.
The menu changed too with the addition of more sautéed and grilled items. Of course the prices went up too. In 2002, a roof was put on the deck and the deck was enclosed giving diners the option of eating "outdoors" even in the chilling winds of December.
It was in 2005 that a decision was made by David Owens to demolish the old building and erect a new edifice to the high quality meals that Capt. Dave’s Dockside Restaurant had been serving for years. As a result, on January 9th of 2006, a wrecking crew went to work. In less than a week, only an empty lot remained.
But…spring and its notions of rebirth were just around the corner. On March 20th, the first "boxes" were set into place and over the next few weeks things began to take shape pretty fast. It was on May 17th that the long time fans were once again able to enjoy eating at the restaurant..
The new building reflects the cool and casual attitude that is prevalent in the Low Country of South Carolina. Our menu reflects the culinary delights from the regional cuisine. Many diners were surprised when they saw our new Natural Lump Charcoal Grill and delighted when they tasted the wonderful flavors of both steaks and seafood when cooked this way.
The menu did change with the addition of the new grill but diners were also glad to see the return of some old favorites such as Crab Cakes, Shrimp & Grits and our signature dish, Pan Crusted Grouper.
The Charm of Murrells Inlet
The view of Murrells Inlet is another attraction for our guests and with the new building, we have capitalized on this view with the use of many windows and a second floor dining area. For many, watching the variety of wildlife that abounds in this saltwater tidal inlet provides a delightful respite to an otherwise hectic lifestyle.
Commonly referred to by locals as "The Creek", Murrells Inlet is full of life including fish, fowl and human. It is a tidal saltwater marsh fed by the Atlantic Ocean through a pair of jetties located at the Southern tip of Garden City Point and the Northern Tip of Huntington Beach State Park. Looking east, one can clearly see the forested and dune covered tip of Huntington Beach State Park.
In 1997, a group was formed to improve Murrells Inlet. Murrells Inlet 2007 took up the task of providing a bike path through the inlet, adding street lamps to Highway 17 and decorating our roads and walkways with flower beds and arrangements.
One of the walkways was also begun at this time, the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, which has become a huge draw for both locals and guests to our community. It extends from Bovine’s Restaurant to Spud’s Restaurant and then on to the Creek itself where it is know as the Ole Government Dock. This marshwalk provides a wonderful experience for those not familiar with the salt-water marshes of the Atlantic Coast.
Our Location
Capt. Dave’s Dockside Restaurant is located in historic Murrells Inlet, approximately 15 miles south from Myrtle Beach and 20 miles north of Georgetown, on Highway 17 Business and is located on the waterfront.
