Cosmopolitan Eatery Marinates in Success of Second Venture

By Liza Martin

The term “rustic” may often bring to mind simple, antique, maybe even intentionally plain. 

 But the food and atmosphere at Pawleys Island’s Rustic Table, is anything but; especially with its Southern-spiked menu that combines your typical Lowcountry fare with innovative flair. It is, after all, another culinary brain child of restaurateur and co-owner Anne Hardee and her business partner/ Chef Adam Kirby, who gained attention together when they launched the globally-influenced and acclaimed gastronomic restaurant Bistro 217.

 “I have found food is my passion”, Hardee said. “I feel we’ve been successful because I have a great application for the chef, cooks and all the staff. It’s integral to our success.” 

 Chic yet rustic best describes the interior of the appropriately named “Rustic Table.” With the subdued, natural colors with plank wood accents makes you feel at home.

 Located at 10683 Ocean Highway., about a half hour from Myrtle Beach, this kid-friendly restaurant has consistently brought comfort and home-style food, served indoors or al fresco on Pawleys Island since 2015, to locals and tourists alike. The restaurant also hosts private events and dining that seats up to 35 guests, who can order off the menu or request private menus for certain events.

 “A lot more people are dining out now,” Hardee said. “And I know that as this (COVID) passes, guests want a social setting. We have it with an incredible atmosphere and beautiful service.”

 Brunch, lunch, and supper all boast eclectic, bold, and hearty dishes, including those made with beef, fresh seafood and shellfish, and chicken, along with several scratch-made sides, desserts, and a full bar serving craft cocktails. 

 Rustic Table pays deep homage to the south with several dishes on its menu; arguably and most notably, their Angry Alligator Bites are chunks of alligator mixed with pepper jelly, watercress, and lemon aioli. Then of course, there’s country fried steak or a cast-iron ribeye steak braised in brown butter and sprinkled with fresh rosemary. The fried chicken on the menu is most impressive when included in the “The Comfy,” a house made biscuit stacked with fried chicken, French fries, and sausage gravy. 

 The most popular presentations, according to Chef Adam, are a variety of Southern comfort dishes such as shrimp creole; Southern poke bowls; grilled Caesar salad (try it topped with fried oysters); a double smash burger; and a variety of po’ boys.

 “We have a lot of interesting and unique dishes,” said Chef Adam. But our brunch is it. It’s a huge hit.”

 At the award-winning “People’s Choice” brunch—served every Saturday and Sunday—Chef Adam recommends a belly-bulging variety of homemade biscuits, eggs benedict, and much more. But it’s the Pawleys Island Sandwich that stands out as distinctly different: grilled Texas toast piled with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, ham, and bacon.

 Their simple Southern sides pair well with the restaurant’s progressive menu. Here you’ll find sweet tea collards, mac n’ cheese, grits, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, and lima beans. And if that’s not enough, there are unique additions to add to almost any dish, such as cornmeal-fried shellfish, onion jam, and celery root slaw.

 “I cook a lot of the food I grew up with, but add different twists to it,” Chef Adam said. “Guests from here or just visiting seem to really like it.”

 And no meal would be complete without those decadent down-home desserts. The current menu delights with peach cobbler, key lime pie, and Pawleys Pie—a treat of whipped cream, chocolate chips, and pecans, served warm.

 While the restaurant has no immediate big plans, it does have high hopes for its future. In July the chef recently launched Driftwood Mercantile, a boutique store that offers souvenirs, to-go foods from the restaurant, and unique wares. The store is nestled in the Island Shops on Downtown Pawleys, a bustling collection of galleries, spas, restaurants, and retail venues.

 “(Rustic Table) makes for a wonderful work and family environment. We have a wonderful staff and gracious guests,” Hardee said.

 With so many restaurants opening — and sadly, others closing — Rustic Table seems to have thankfully anchored itself on the Lowcountry shore. 

 
Address: 10683 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, 29585

Phone: 843-314-0164

Website: www.rustictable.com