You’ve concluded your morning round and, after going light on breakfast, want a good lunch – a meal that’s as hearty as it is tasty.

Sure, Myrtle Beach is home to countless chain restaurants that might please your palate, but here are five local establishments that serve a lunch you won’t forget.

— If Southern comfort food made from scratch is what you want, Rustic Table in Pawleys Island is the place for you. The country-fried steak, complete with mashed potatoes, collard greens and sausage gravy, is delectable. The “Comfy,” a plate of boneless fried chicken breast served over a homemade biscuit with sausage gravy and fries might be the best item on the menu (no, not every entrée includes gravy but I’m a sucker for it!). Nearby courses: Pawleys Plantation, Caledonia, Founders Club, True Blue, Heritage Club. (Rustic Table’s Flounder Po’ Boy pictured above)

— Staying in Pawleys Island, bisQit is home to one of the most eclectic menus along the Myrtle Beach golf scene. The bisQit sandwich is obviously the calling card, and here is a vote for the “Lowcountry,” which features root beer braised pork belly, smoked gouda, lowcountry slaw and a bearnaise aioli. If you really want to go all out, finish your meal with the S’mores milkshake, which can be spiked. Nearby courses: Litchfield, Willbrook, River Club.

— Dagwood’s Deli, which has locations in Myrtle Beach and Surfside, isn’t just a sandwich shop. They make the best subs – hot or cold – in the area. The bread is homemade and the meat portions are generous. I’ll put a Dagwood’s sub against anyone’s. Seriously. Nearby courses: Pine Lakes, Myrtlewood, Grande Dunes, Dunes Club. (Dagwood’s deli sandwich pictured right)

— River City Café is a locally owned hamburger chain and it comes with the highest of recommendations. With six locales, you are never far from a River City and a burger that is fresh, never frozen. The specialty burgers, which include the fried mac and cheese burger and the three-alarm burger, are as tasty as they are creative. Throw in free peanuts and a basket of fries and River City is always a winner. Nearby courses: practically every one of them!

— Using a custom-made rotisserie barbeque pit smoker (it weighs 4,200 pounds and will hold 750 pounds of meat!!), Brisket is one of North Myrtle Beach’s best kept secrets. Meats covered in a Texas style dry rub are smoked for up to 14 hours and served with your choice of homemade sauces. With a name like Brisket, I’ll let you guess what the signature meat is, but you won’t go wrong no matter your order. Nearby courses: Barefoot Resort, Tidewater, Long Bay, Glen Dornoch.

**If you are on a diet, I’m not sure any of these selections are for you, though good salads are available on each menu!