Restaurants Near Ocean Lakes Family Campground (2026 Guide)

Ocean Lakes isn’t a food destination, and you don’t need to leave the gates for basics. Sandy Mart handles groceries, Meet ‘n Eat covers breakfast and burgers, Coffee & Creamery does coffee and ice cream, and Sandy Harbor Café works for pool-side lunch. But most families will want to eat out at least a few times during a week. Here’s what’s actually good within 10 minutes of the Ocean Lakes gate at 6001 S Kings Hwy.

These are some of our guests favorite places to dine-out during their stays!

Seafood (the reason most people are here)

You’re at the beach, you should eat seafood at least twice, right? Best options within 10 minutes:

Crabby Mike’s Calabash Seafood Buffet – Calabash-style all-you-can-eat seafood. Cash-flow-heavy portions of fried and steamed seafood. About 10 minutes south of Ocean Lakes. Best for families with kids or big groups who want variety without commitment.

Lobster House Seafood Restaurant – On South Kings Highway, so extremely close to Ocean Lakes. Sit-down seafood, more traditional menu than the buffets.

Reel – Highly rated locally, elevated seafood in a more polished setting than the buffets. Better for a nicer dinner without the kids or with older kids who can sit through a proper meal.

Tasty Crab House – Cajun-style seafood boils. Bibs, gloves, hammers, the whole thing. Kids love it.

 

Breakfast and coffee (outside Ocean Lakes)

Sandy’s Meet ‘n Eat and Coffee & Creamery inside the campground handle most breakfast needs. Sometimes you want a proper breakfast out or to go for a morning drive while you sip a yummy latte:

Raves Restaurant: Solid breakfast spot off Kings Highway. Casual, family-friendly, real diner-style breakfast without the tourist markup.

Dagwood’s Deli & Sports Bar: Dependable deli plus casual lunch.

 

Casual family dinner options

Villa Romana Italian Restaurant – Family-style Italian with generous portions. Kid-menu friendly, adult-menu enough. Popular with reunion groups because they can seat larger tables.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar – Southern comfort food with a slightly elevated take. Better for adults or older kids. About 10 minutes north.

Dirty Myrtle Wing Company – Wings, sports-bar casual, works for a low-effort dinner night.

BEACHED – Newer fast-casual concept in Myrtle Beach. Affordable, quick, better than fast food.

 

Where to grab a drink without the kids 

Prestwick Country Club clubhouse – Sister property of Ocean Lakes, 1 mile away. Quiet bar with a golf-course view.

Broadway at the Beach – Multiple bar and restaurant options with an outdoor promenade vibe. (15 min drive north)

Delivery options

Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub all deliver to Ocean Lakes.

Common delivery-friendly picks: local pizza, Chinese takeout, deli sandwiches from Dagwood’s.

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Where to go if you want the iconic Myrtle Beach dinner

Sea Captain’s House – oceanfront, been around for decades, tourist-classic

Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood – massive buffet, tourist-classic, works for large groups

Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant – Calabash buffet with iconic building signage

 

These are 15-20 minutes north, more of an outing than a casual dinner.

 

Ice cream and desserts

Coffee & Creamery inside the campground is the Ocean Lakes go-to, but if you are looking for a good local spot, this is a favorite:

Painters Homemade Ice Cream Local favorite. Real ice cream, not soft serve. (10-15 minutes north)

 

Grocery stops (for cooking at the house)

Food Lion – closest full grocery, 5 minutes outside the gate

Lowes Foods – 10 minutes, larger selection

Walmart Supercenter – 10-15 minutes, everything including pharmacy

Publix – 15 minutes, upmarket grocery

Sandy Mart inside the campground covers most week-of basics without leaving the gates.

 

What’s the best restaurant near Ocean Lakes for families?

Depends on the age of your kids.

Kids 3-7: Villa Romana (patient with kids), Crabby Mike’s, Meet ‘n Eat inside the campground

Kids 7-12: Tasty Crab House, Dirty Myrtle Wings, Family Kingdom-area quick-service

Teens: Broadway at the Beach dinner options, Boardwalk stops

Adults on a date night: Reel, Tupelo Honey, Prestwick Clubhouse

 

Frequently asked questions

What’s the closest restaurant to Ocean Lakes?

Sandy’s Meet ‘n Eat inside the campground. Outside the gates, Lobster House Seafood on South Kings Hwy is very close.

Do the restaurants take reservations?

Some (Reel, Villa Romana, Sea Captain’s) yes. Casual spots (Dagwood’s, Crabby Mike’s) are walk-in.

Is there a food scene inside Ocean Lakes?

Basic dining exists (Meet ‘n Eat, Sandy Harbor Café, Coffee & Creamery). Convenient, not destination-quality.

What’s the best seafood buffet near Ocean Lakes?

Crabby Mike’s Calabash Seafood is a solid, well-known option 10 minutes south.

Does Ocean Lakes have a full restaurant?

Sandy’s Meet ‘n Eat is the main sit-down spot inside the campground. Sandy Harbor Café is poolside during water park hours.

Can I order groceries for delivery?

Instacart and grocery delivery services work to Ocean Lakes. Confirm your rental address and gate access instructions.

Do restaurants near Ocean Lakes have kids’ menus?

Most do. Villa Romana, Crabby Mike’s, Tasty Crab, and Meet ‘n Eat all have kid options.

What about vegetarian or vegan options?

Limited but existing. Tupelo Honey has strong vegetarian options. Broadway at the Beach has more variety.

 

Sources

– Restaurant recommendations verified through Yelp Surfside Beach and Tripadvisor Myrtle Beach 2026 reviews

– Ocean Lakes food services: Ocean Lakes Camptown Center page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/amenities/camptown-center/)

– Sandy Harbor Café: Ocean Lakes Sandy Harbor Café page

 

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Last updated: September 21, 2026

 

About the author: Shawn Huffines is the owner of Dune Life Rentals. Looking for your next beach vacation? Visit https://duneliferentals.com/ to find your perfect stay!