Dining out has come to halt, but that hasn’t stopped my stomach from growling when I think about some of my favorite restaurants. (Yes, I’m aware of curbside pick-up and delivery, but eating somewhere other than your house is part of the experience).

Here are the five restaurants I’m most looking forward to grabbing a post-round meal at when we begin to emerge from our pandemic lockdown.

— The Grumpy Monk provides the daily double – outstanding food and a great happy hour. The half-price apps can’t be beat, 100+ craft beers offer plenty of variety, and the atmosphere is always good. The 501 location offers easy access if you are playing at Legends, Myrtle Beach National, Wild Wing, Burning Ridge, Wizard or Man O’War. You can also check out their location at Broadway at the Beach. (pictured above)

— After playing a round at Myrtlewood or Pine Lakes, I can’t wait to head to Dagwood’s for an Italian and a fresh-baked cookie. This is the area’s best sandwich shop – one traveling golfers should frequent more often.

— With eight locations along the Grand Strand, El Cerro is the area’s dominant Mexican restaurant and deservedly so. The chips and salsa, combined with a cold beer while awaiting the arrival of a chili relleno, are calling my name. You are never more than a Rory McIlroy drive from an El Cerro and it’s worth a stop.

— The Hammock Shops Village in Pawleys Island isn’t a hot spot for golfers, but it’s worth frequenting to eat at BisQit, which offers one of the area’s most eclectic menus. As the name suggests, breakfast is a specialty but the burgers served at lunch and dinner are to die for. The Pittsburgher, which features Belgian fries, diced tomatoes, house-made queso and lowcountry slaw on a burger is particularly good.

— Buffets – often known for delivering quantity over quality – were understandably red-flagged from the outset of the coronavirus, but when normalcy, hopefully, returns, I’m looking forward to a trip to Simply Southern. They don’t serve typically bland smorgasbord fare. The food is homemade – you owe it to yourself to try and the mac and cheese and peach cobbler – and the fried chicken and barbeque might be the area’s best.

We are getting closer the reopening of restaurants, and I can’t wait.