Myrtle Beach Seafood Restaurant News

Mr. Fish wants to be on food network! Send Guy Fieri an email saying he should visit our restaurant in Myrtle Beach. The show is Diners, Drive ins, and Dives...we would be perfect for it! Visit his website and then send him an email at DDDinfo@mac.com

MR. Fish In The News

Mr. Fish sez "If it smells like fish, eat it!"

The Original Mr. Fish

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Places to Be to bring you this special issue.

I know that in the last issue I told you about my plans to present you with some tourist oriented places that you might want to check out before the summer crowds arrive. However, two things happened over the last week: First, I had a terrible cold that put me out of the mood for visiting tourist spots, and second, I enjoyed a spectacular lunch from The Original Mr. Fish.

Fish is a trick food for me. I love it, but my desire to order it rarely comes up. I don’t know what it is exactly, but sometimes I will see a restaurant that specializes in fish and, blam, that is what I want. That is how I came across Mr. Fish..com.

I was heading toward the office after a morning meeting and I came across The Original Mr. Fish, located at 3401 N. Kings Highway. Right then, I knew it was lunchtime.

Mr. Fish is an intimate place. It is brightly colored and a friendly environment. There were maybe a half-dozen tables for seating, with a few tables outside on the sidewalk. It was lunchtime and the place was full. I was happy that I was getting take out and didn’t have to wait for a seat.

On the other hand, I was kind of jealous of the people eating in. While I waited, I watched some truly excellent customer service going on in the midst of the crazy lunchtime rush. The waiter was on the ball, and Ted Hammerman, the owner, seemed to make time to stop and talk to everyone.

It seems that Ted really knows his fish. Apparently, Ted is a well-respected consultant to the international fishing industry and has an impressive resume. He also offers catering in addition to the restaurant, consulting, seafood supply, bait and … well, just about every service you can think of that involves fish.

I ordered a fish sandwich and she-crab soup from the menu, which I almost regretted. The specials board listed a lot of tasty sounding meals, including seafood lasagna.

However, I had made my choice, and would have to live with it.

When I got to the office and finally got to dig into my meal, I had no regrets.

The sandwich had a perfectly cooked piece of fish.

There was a generous side of fries, and more importantly, a very generous supply of tartar sauce.

The she crab soup was something different. To be honest, I wasn’t impressed with my first taste of it, but with every spoonful, it got better and better. By the time I reached the bottom of the bowl, I found myself wanting more.

The Original Mr. Fish is a great place to be for lunch, but I suggest you plan ahead. It gets crowded, and even with the great customer service, it may take awhile. If you can, call ahead for take out orders (843.839.FISH), Mr. Fish is well worth the extra effort.

Christopher Huff is an entertainment reporter. You can reach him concerning information about the Entertainment pages at christopher@readtheherald.com.

Mr. Fish Seafood Restaurant Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach Online

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009

That's Mr. Fish to you

The Original Mr. Fish

By Ashley Morris -

That's Mr. Fish to you

Shrimp and fish combo basket at Mr. Fish in Myrtle Beach.

-Photo by Ashley Morris

Setting the table

Something smells fishy inside the little legendary restaurant and seafood market locals know as The Original Mr. Fish. That's a good thing. After all, the Mr. Fish mantra is, "If it smells like fish, eat it." And it's just what my gal pal and I did amidst the busy lunch crowd on our visit.

It's apparent that fish fans of the original Original Mr. Fish, which used to be located in downtown Myrtle Beach, didn't take long to hover in on its new home further north. Owner Ted Hammerman and daughter Sheina came out of the kitchen to knowingly greet practically all of their familiar clientele in suits and ties with a smile or pat on the back.

A revival of the Original Mr. Fish opened on Dec. 11 at 3401 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach.

We were lucky to squeeze into a tiny table for two by the fresh fish counter and cooler. The handful of other tables, as well as the stools lining the bar looking out at the front windows, were filled. Our friendly server later told us they're working on securing a city permit that would allow an outdoor patio with more seating on the side of the building - perfect when the weather warms.

Inside, a whimsical warmth radiated off the bright yellow walls and from the Chinese lantern globes hanging in the corners.

Down the hatch

It was only a few minutes' wait before our petite server welcomed us and took our order of two signature Southern sweet teas. We then dove into the fish-faring menu.

The Mr. Fish philosophy of "good food in large portions" was first tested - and easily passed - with our cups of Sheina's She-Crab soup ($4.95). The deliciously rich broth was balanced with flavor, chunks of crab and some diced veggies.

I was hankering for the Black 'n Blue Tuna Sandwich ($8.99), but decided to twist things up and order it "bunless" as a platter, with a side of fresh-cut fries and veggies of the day (a medley of yummy, sauteed zucchini and squash). The blackened, thick tuna steak was perfectly seasoned and seared, topped with crumbled, half-melted blue cheese. A dip of the tuna into a chic version of horseradish/wasabi sauce added another taste bud dimension. The fries reminded me of the boardwalk fries I'd always have to have on our summer vacations in Ocean City, Md. With a splash of some vinegar and a dash of some salt, they were melt-in-your mouth carb mania.

My lunch date went with a two-item fried combo basket of shrimp and fish ($9.99), which is also accompanied by those delightful fries and a cup of slaw. She couldn't get over how light and tasty the batter was, and said she really didn't need to gob on any cocktail sauce to make the fish more interesting.

That's because Hammerman, aka Mr. Fish, knows his fish. I'd love to go back and try the Fin & Feather special of fish and chicken (wings or tenders), the Baja Tacos (tuna, mahi or shrimp), the steam/raw bar selections, or one of the family meals to go: fish fry (whiting or flounder), combo platter options or four fish sandwiches with fries, slaw and drinks. And there's always something new (hot entrees, soup of the day, sandwiches and homemade desserts) written on the white special board.

Drinks served at Mr. Fish are non-alcoholic right now, but our server said that customers are welcome to bring their own bottle of wine or beer.

Check, please

The Original Mr. Fish is a result of Hammerman's decades of experience in the fish industry. And it shows. The seafood consultant's additional specialties include selling fresh fish retail (oysters, clams, crabmeat, tuna, octopus, squid and a school of fresh fish fillets), frozen seafood (clawmeat, snowcrab legs and king crab legs) and bait, plus on-site and mobile catering.

The Original Mr. Fish is located at 3401 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For additional info, visit www.mrfish.com; for delivery, call 839-3474 and for catering, call 568-3778.

MYRTLE BEACH OYSTER ROAST TO HELP CLEAN UP SWASH

Help clean up swash with oyster roast The Surfrider Foundation's Grand Strand chapter is holding an oyster roast to benefit cleanup efforts at Withers Swash. The Mr. Fish Oyster Festival will run from noon to 9 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Myrtle Beach Train Depot, 851 Broadway. Entry is free, but tickets will be sold for food and drink. There will be shucking and eating contests, Sumo wrestling, live music and much more. The proceeds will help the cleanup effort, as will the used oyster shells from the roast. For tickets, contact Sheina at 568-3778 or visit Mr. Fish, 3401 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. To learn more, visit surfridergrandstrand.org and www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/withers.html.

The Sun News December 27, 2009

02/11/2009 Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

The Original Mr. Fish Restaurant Opens Seafood Market in Myrtle Beach Feb. 15, 2010

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Original Mr. Fish Restaurant & Seafood Market, a member of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, has opened its seafood market just two doors from its Myrtle Beach restaurant. Ted and Sheina Hammerman are the father and daughter team who own and operate the restaurant, seafood market and full-service catering.

Locals and visitors alike have experienced Ted Hammerman’s recipes and cooking styles that have made Mr. Fish Restaurant a popular spot for years. The restaurant offers raw bar items, sandwiches, platters (fish, crab cakes and scallops) and other tasty treats. Platters are prepared to order—steamed, blackened, fried, broiled, grilled (you name it)—with an accompanying homemade sauce.

Expanding Mr. Fish’s food service, the seafood market offers fresh seafood to go, hand selected by Ted Hammerman, featuring a variety of crabs and fish, scallops, oysters, clams, lobster tails and more, complete with Mr. Fish’s homemade sauces. Frozen seafood items can be shipped worldwide. The seafood market also stocks frozen bait.

Mr. Fish’s offsite catering, including a mobile kitchen, is ideal for oyster roasts, weddings, business meetings, employee functions and fundraisers. Recently, Mr. Fish hosted an oyster roast, with the shells from the roast being used to revitalize oyster beds in Withers Swash. Surfrider Foundation’s Grand Strand chapter is playing a key role in the cleanup of the swash.

With more than 20 years of experience, Ted Hammerman says the most valuable product Mr. Fish could sell is information. “I’ve done seafood consulting worldwide and have been instrumental in starting or improving processing facilities in South America and Asia. My mantra is ‘advise, educate and monitor’ so I can help the seafood processor increase profits and save time and money.” Consulting is also provided for supermarket training and merchandising and for broadline distributors.

Editorial note: A digital image of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, held Feb. 11, is available by request.

Nancy E. Gray, APR

Media Communications Manager

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

1200 N. Oak Street

P.O. Box 2115

Myrtle Beach, SC 29578

(843) 916-7235

Fax: (843) 626-0009

Nancy.Gray@VisitMyrtleBeach.com