The Ultimate Seafood Feast: This Restaurant Offers Endless Shrimp and Crab
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, one long-running seafood-focused restaurant stands out for its scale and consistency. Opened in 1986, The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood built its reputation on an all-you-can-eat model centered on shrimp and crab. With seating for roughly 1,000 guests and a buffet that regularly exceeds 170 items, the restaurant has become a frequent reference point in national discussions about seafood buffets that still thrive.
Shrimp And Crab, Front and Center
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Shrimp and crab carry the buffet. Shrimp is fried, steamed, scampi-style, and peeled for fast refills, while snow crab legs anchor the room, supported by sauces and sides that encourage repeat trips without slowing traffic. The consistency explains why guests return. Regulars know what the shrimp tastes like and how fast the crab comes back out.
Calabash Style As A Regional Anchor
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Calabash-style seafood connects the restaurant to the Carolina coast rather than to generic buffet culture. The technique relies on minimal seasoning and quick frying. It also supports speed. Faster cook times mean fewer gaps at the buffet and less waiting during peak hours. The regional tie helps explain why this place draws both vacationers and locals.
The Role Of Scale And Space
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Multiple dining rooms are spread across the floor, which eases pressure on any single buffet line. There is also plenty of nautical decor. This layout encourages roaming, as guests circle, sample, return, then repeat. The rhythm supports the endless model better than a single straight buffet line ever could.
Timing, Crowds, And Expectations
Busy seasons bring waits, especially during dinner hours. The restaurant embraces that reality. Hours start mid-afternoon and stretch late into the evening, smoothing demand across the day. Pricing is more than a standard casual meal, but the math works for diners who commit to the format.
Guests who treat the buffet as a sprint miss its strengths. Those who slow down, rotate plates, and lean into shrimp and crab usually leave satisfied.