As I think the saying goes, “Lunch is the most important meal of the day.” A lunch out on the weekend is a very common treat around our house. As connoisseurs of the Pawleys Island lunch restaurants, we have sampled many of the options in the area, from the lowly sandwich or slice of pizza to the white tablecloth sit-down meal. No stone is left unturned in the search of the perfect lunch.

Along the way, we’ve developed some favorites. These are the places we always go back to, that always deliver a satisfying way to tie up an hour or two on a warm Saturday in Pawleys.

Anything at Bistro 217

Bistro 217 is my gold standard for lunch, not just in Pawleys, but anywhere. It is hands down the best tasting, most affordable lunch you can get. The whole menu is great, and almost everything is under $20. The salads in particular are an amazing lunch choice. They come with generous portions of protein and are always interesting and extremely fresh. Be sure to listen to the specials, as some of my favorite things I’ve had at Bistro were on the specials menu. Yes, I’m talking about you, soft-shelled crab sandwich.

My personal favorites are the Trigger Fish Salad, which delivers juicy, crispy, crunch triggerfish filets on top of an elevated salad that fills me up but leaves me contemplating ordering a second one, and the Cheesesteak, piled high with sliced ribeye with not only a side of fries but also a side salad. I never even think of ordering a second one of those, because I’m too full. If we walk in starving, we will sometimes split a side of the fried okra as an appetizer. Warning: large portion!

The cocktails and beer/wine menus are worth a look if you’re interested in a lunchtime tipple (as I almost always am). They stock an interesting selection of craft beers in a town where many places stock the same beers. The specialty cocktails, like much of the menu, rotates with seasonal ingredients, and the bartenders make a fine drink.

Don’t sleep on the dessert either. While Landolfi’s (see below) will always hold the title for dessert in Pawleys, Bistro has a great selection that has never left us disappointed. My favorites are the chocolate lava cake and the coconut pie, but it may also be of interest that they make a selection of homemade ice creams, and you can order a flight. Perfect for those hot summer days.

If you haven’t eaten lunch at Bistro, whether you’re visiting or you live here, fix it right away.

Landolfi’s Salad and Pie (and Dessert)

The current site of Landolfi’s, across from the South Causeway Food Lion, used to be the Montessori School that I attended through kindergarten. Every time I stop in, it takes me back, though you’d never recognize the space.

What brings me back though, is the absolutely killer lunch combination for two. We like to split a large house salad, an amazing hybrid-greek style salad that comes with some bread, and a Trentonian pizza. If you go for this, add pepperoni and garlic like the menu tells you to, it’s worth it. This alone is a decent amount of food, but it never stops us from getting what is undoubtedly the best dessert in town.

Dominating the front of the store at Landolfi’s is the massive display case of pastries made in house. The quality and range of these plates is absolutely unmatched. I have never had a single thing from this display case that I dislike. My two personal favorites are the lobster tail, an almost unbelievably crunchy pastry with a texture you’ve never experienced before enclosing a soft, sweet, delicate cream, and the carrot cake which is just a great carrot cake, ‘nuff said.

Though I almost always get the same thing these days, all of the food at Landolfi’s is great. The pizzas are wood fired, and if you need to see how much effort and love go into making them, take a peek behind the coffee bar and watch the pizza maestro make a couple pies. The sandwiches are all on delicious bread and range from hot and filling to light and summery. The coffee is great too. As a teenager, I used to come and just drink a cappuccino back before Pawleys had really any other options in the way of espresso drinks. I still think Landolfi’s might have the best coffee in town.

Kudzu Bakery Lunch Special

Though Kudzu changed ownership fairly recently, it’s still an amazing place for baked goods and, though many may not know this, a quick lunch. The Kudzu lunch special includes a prepared sandwich from the cooler (tuna salad or chicken salad are my favorites), a bag of chips (jalapeno kettle chips obviously), a drink (sparkling water), and a cookie from the case, all for less than a value meal at McDonalds. We love to grab a couple of these and head to a picnic at Huntington or Brookgreen.

While you’re there, make sure to check out the curated wine selection, which includes some very interesting bottles and much better mid-shelf fare than you’ll find at the grocery stores. The local cookbooks often show up as gifts in our family, with some really great recipes coming out of the lowcountry books. The prepared food in general is all killer. I like to give pot pies and soups to folks dealing with sickness or grief. They reheat well and are delicious.

And of course, the baked goods. Their cakes are fantastic and very affordable. Though we like to cook and bake, we often will grab one of Kudzu’s cakes for a birthday or other party. The cookies and pastries are sold by the pound and are awesome. Give Kudzu a try!

La Famiglia Slices

Nothing beats hot pizza-by-the-slice for a quick, delicious lunch. For my money, La Famiglia has the best slices in town. You can find La Famiglia beside the Lowe’s Foods just south of the south causeway. It’s a family-run spot, and it shows - everyone is very friendly and invested in you enjoying your food. They have a lunch special for slices and a drink, but I can never manage to constrain myself when I’m confronted with the specialty slices, which are awesome.

The rest of their food is also great. Though we often go back to my old ways and get DeRoma’s when we order pizza, we’ve gotten whole pies from La Famiglia before and they’re so, so good. Swing through and try their stuff! The one thing I will say is that I haven’t been able to crack the code of when they’re open, so it can be worth calling ahead.

Bonus: Graham’s Landing Fish Sandwich

While Graham’s isn’t technically in Pawleys, I’d be remiss to not include it on this list. As the first restaurant you get to on Murrells Inlet, it’s as close to Pawleys as you can get and still be north of Pawleys. And once you’re there, you’ll see why my family keeps going back. The back deck overlooks the creek, and is a wonderful, scenic place to take in some seafood.

My favorite meal here is actually a special, but it’s one they always seem to have: a blackened, fresh-catch fish sandwich with onion rings. Their tots are the epitome of crispy deliciousness, so if you’re not in the mood for fried onion, you can’t go wrong with tots. I also really like to get a Red Stripe at Graham’s for some reason. You don’t see Red Stripe that often, and the weird bottle always gives me a little taste of joy. I don’t know man, I’m weird.

So there you have it. At the risk of blowing up my favorite spots, I’ve given you a fantastic gift: a curated list of some amazing, affordable food in Pawleys Island. Give these options a try, and if you like them, head over to the Facebook group and let’s talk about it!