Restaurants in Conway
Conway has all the charm and scenery you could ask for in a Southern city. The Conway Riverwalk, which runs alongside the gorgeous Waccamaw River, provides a most magnificent view. What most visitors don’t expect to find in Conway though, is the vast selection of fantastic restaurants.
To help you experience some of the city’s culinary scene for yourself, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best places to eat in Conway.
Big D’s BBQ Trough
It’s no secret that Carolina barbeque is one of the best barbeque experiences known to humankind, especially when it’s done right. And that’s exactly what Big D’s BBQ Trough is serving every single time. This family-owned restaurant has constantly been perfecting the craft since 1972 and has been one of the best restaurants in Conway for decades.
Located near Church St., Big D’s offers one of the best buffets in town, never sacrificing quality for quantity. You can enjoy genuine South Carolina barbeque along with heaping helpings of Southern comfort food like chicken and sweet potatoes. Big D’s also offers meals outside their buffet, like their Hog Through Specials. So if you pass through Church Street, make sure to visit Big D’s BBQ Trough.
Bellissimo Italian Pizzeria
Bellisimo Italian Pizzeria is a slice of simple goodness near Main Street. They serve honest-to-goodness Italian staples — and everything is made in-house. They have been offering brick oven New York-style pizza for over 25 years. The owners were raised in Sicily, so you know you’re getting the real deal.
Their Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Philly Cheese Steak pizza are definite must-tries. The strombolis are huge and can be enough for you and your family. You’d want to order more once you taste it, though. Bellissimo’s is a worthy addition to the list for your Conway visit.
Crooked Oak Tavern
Crooked Oak Tavern is a family-owned restaurant along Lauren Street near 4th Avenue. They pride themselves in serving one of the best farm-to-table experiences in Conway. They strive to serve hormone-free meats and poultry alongside locally-raised produce and sustainably caught seafood from local waters. Their recipes are passed down from their family to you, making a unique blend of flavors created by time and heritage.
While they have the juiciest steaks on the menu, make sure not to sleep on their seafood selections. Crooked Oak’s Carolina Crunchy Dijon Flounder and Maryland Crab Cake dinner is a must to taste the restaurant’s unique flavor. If you’re looking to class it up, Crooked Oaks has an expansive yet carefully curated collection of bourbons. Be it good food or good drinks — you’re sure to find what you’re looking for here.
Pickled Cucumber
Pickled Cucumber seems like an unassuming joint at the corner of 3rd and Elm. However, the simple, homey storefront echoes Pickled Cucumber’s concept: honest, simple, and homemade Southern staples. Pickled Cucumber follows a classic “meat-and’’ system so you can fill your plate to your liking with one meat and one, two, or three sides.
For your mains, we suggest getting the juicy Country Fried Steak and Country Fried Chicken. You might also want to try their Tilapia and Chicken Bog. The sides are all so delicious that you’ll have trouble calling them sides. Try out their homemade mashed potatoes, cornbread, and okra. For a homey dining experience, Pickled Cucumber is the restaurant for you.
Donzelle’s Restaurant
On Main and 17th lies a quaint little diner right before Collins Park — Donzelle’s Restaurant. It has a humble facade that can easily be ignored. It may not be modern or fancy, but once inside this family-operated local staple, you’ll be welcomed by an ambiance that can only be described as home. Locals usually flock here, so if you want to soak in what “local” is, then this is your spot.
The food itself is a surprising treat. You may even say that it’s just like what your grandma used to make. They serve good homecooked Southern food at modest prices. Some of the notable items on the menu are the smothered pork chop, fried catfish, fried flounder, and of course, the fried chicken. Meals are served at a “meat-plus-three” system, so you get your choice of meat plus three sides, all for a modest price.
Crafty Rooster
A stone’s throw away from Riverfront Park lies the Crafty Rooster, a down-to-earth American bar and pub that serves honest American favorites like chips, fries, wings, mac and cheese, and quesadillas. Here, you can get the sinful yet sultry Bacon Jam Burger and the decadent Beer Cheese Burger. You might also want to try Rivertown Mac and Cheese that’s topped with juicy grilled chicken, ranch, and good ‘ol bacon.
What’s even better than eating these classics but to eat it with a cold one in hand? Crafty Rooster is proud to be home to a wide variety of craft beers, from IPAs, lagers, and ales. No matter how discerning you may be about your beer, you’re sure to find something from their list that hits the right notes. Crafty Rooster is one of the best spots to chill and relax in Conway.
Ala Mario’s Pizza
If you’re looking for something good yet laid-back in Conway, then Ala Mario’s is the pizza joint for you. It’s a little humble hole-in-the-wall pizzeria near Singleton Ridge that serves one of the best New York-style pizzas outside of New York. You may try looking for other restaurants, but once you get a taste of Ala Mario’s, you’ll keep coming back for more.
The pizza here has perfected the fundamentals: crispy crust, a killer sauce, and lots of cheese. You can’t go wrong ordering the classics like the Meat Lovers or Margarita pizza, although you might want to try Mario’s Special. They also offer a wide selection of pasta, gyros, and subs to fill you up. What’s better is that Ala Mario’s serves pizza by the slice, so if you’re in for a quick bite or a long lunch, Ala Mario’s Pizza makes for a great stop.
Sam’s Southern Eatery
At the corner of Broad Street and Columbia Drive sits a Southern-style restaurant that should be on any Conway must-visit list. Sam’s Southern Eatery offers genuine Southern cooking. They started in 2008 at Lousiana and slowly spread throughout the South. While growing, they were refining their recipes with the wisdom of every location’s cuisine and culture to create the gems they are serving today.
If you’re visiting Conway, you can get fresh seafood two ways: grilled or fried. They also serve po’boys, burgers, chicken and salads. If you’re hungry hungry, Sam’s has got you covered. Their portions are huge — enough to be shared or to be solo-ed. That’s up to you, and they won’t judge you for it.
Spice C
Spice C is one of Conway’s most photo-perfect, classy restaurants. This joint is best for those to jazz up a date night. Spice C can help spice up your day with Asian flavors that’ll get your culinary adrenaline pumping. They even serve vegetarian and vegan options, which means they will try their best to serve you with consideration to your dietary needs.
They have traditional Asian classic noodles like udon and pad thai. Don’t fret about the spice levels of their noodles. It’s all perfectly balanced and not too spicy. They also have a variety of dumplings, sushi rolls and hibachis. We recommend giving them all a taste, but try their Pink Lady and Rainbow rolls if you must choose.
