The Beach Shop & Grill

What started as the town of Surf City’s quick hotdog and hamburger joint in the 1950s has grown into one of the most high end and fancier dinner options on the island. My mom who has been coming to this beach since she was 9 years old, has memories of them walking off the beach and walking to the Beach Shop to grab lunch. Now days the wooden tabled that were probably once covered in sand are now drowning in white table cloths. 

Since the Beach Shop has transformed from quick hotdog joint to an extremely fancy dinner option, the meals have certainly  gone away from the traditional hotdog or chicken tenders with french fries. My family of 4 with the company of my aunt, uncle, 2 cousins and grandmother, enjoyed a wide range of delicious food. 

To start us off for the night, the table shared bacon braised Brussel sprouts, artesian bread with garlic bulb confit, and Cajun fried oysters. 

My mom, cousin and I all decided to enjoy the Shrimp & Grits. Shrimp & grits are a southern staple of a dinner meal is available everywhere with each place having a special twist or flavor to them. The Beach Shop’s shrimp & grits consisted of Tasso ham, holy trinity creole broth with white cheddar Anson mills grits. Not only were they delicious they came in a huge plate, almost cementing the idea we would need to go boxes, but the great taste overpowered our full stomachs with everyone finishing their entire plate.

The special of the night that was ate by my dad and uncle, was the short ribs in a rich broth with roasted cauliflower, fingerling potatoes, baby pearl onions, and wild mushrooms that slow cooked all day until dinner. 

What makes this restaurant different from others, is its stores actually beach shop that is connected to the dinning area. Known for their bulldogs that wonder the store, after eating your meal many wander the store looking for the newest beach dog design shirt. I know for my family, we get one every year, my mom probably has too many to count. 

While the Beach Shop has changed drastically in the food options it serves, those in the town of Topsail and Surf City always make it a priority to stop in for a meal and a new beach dog shirt!