Before we talk about the food at Myrtle Beach’s newest restaurant – Cantina Imperfecto – let’s start by addressing the name.
Imperfecto isn’t an advance acknowledgement that a restaurant that touts itself as serving modern, Mexican cuisine is less than perfect. In Spanish, imperfecto can be used to talk about repeated actions or habits, and following a couple visits to Cantina Imperfecto, I can confidently say it’s a place you will be delighted to make a regular part of your Myrtle Beach golf trip.
Located just off 82nd Avenue North, directly across the Grande Dunes Resort Course, Cantina Imperfecto offers modern decor, two bars – one by the hostess stand and larger bar in the back, complete with high top tables – and an elegant dining room.
The atmosphere is among the best the area has to offer, but your primary interest is the food, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Appetizers
The selection of starters from the empanadas (buffalo chicken or beef) to the carne asada fries (topped with chopped steak queso dip, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole and jalapenos) all sound incredible, but I can only offer personal testimony to the quality of the table side guacamole ($10).
It’s great. Made fresh with avocados (obviously!), tomatoes, red onions, jalapenos, cilantro, lime and cotija cheese, I couldn’t more highly recommend the guacamole.
The tone is set for every meal by the complimentary chips and salsa, which may negate the need for a starter.
Entrees
There are a range of offerings, including tacos, burritos, fajitas, salads, chimichangas and a selection of specials that feature steak, grilled salmon and octopus.
At the top of your list should be the steak burrito ($17), which is filled with Mexican rice, black beans and topped with queso. Pico, guacamole and sour cream are served on the side, as is red salsa.
So many restaurants stuff burritos with cheap ingredients, allowing the condiments to carry the day, but that’s not the case here. The steak is flavorful, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the queso is an asset to everything but your waistline.
The shrimp tacos ($16 for 3) come grilled or fried and they are served with chipotle mayo, shaved cabbage, pickled onions and pico de gallo. Throw in rice and refried beans served on the side and you will be telling your buddies about them upon your return home. In addition to shrimp, the taco options include carne asada, al pastor, fish and quesabirria, among many other choices.
As for dessert, the Tres Leche sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, topped with mixed berries and whipped cream, is a winner.
Bottom Line: Make a reservation now. Your next Myrtle Beach golf trip will be better with a visit to Cantina Imperfecto. In the event you are wondering, I have no idea how Cantina Imperfecto could be as nice as it is, the food so moderately priced, and the quality still be so high. It’s no more expensive to go to Cantina Imperfecto than TGI Fridays, and I don’t think I need to tell you which one is better.
Photos for this piece from Cantina Imperfecto’s Facebook Page
