By Becky Billingsley

Tuesday, April 14 – Black River Grill in southern Myrtle Beach opens Friday and its proprietor, veteran restaurateur Kurt Klepper, has put much thought into developing a restaurant with regional cuisine and décor. It’s at 1000 S. Commons Drive, in an outparcel by the Surfside Beach-area Lowe’s Home Improvement formerly occupied by Qdoba Mexican Grill.

Key to the décor is the gorgeous black-and-white photography depicting areas around Georgetown and Murrells Inlet shot by Kurt’s sister, Sarah Klepper-Guess. She is a professional photographer from Toledo, Ohio, who flew into the Grand Strand just to shoot the photos for Black River Grill. Please don’t judge Sarah’s work by my pitiful photo-of-her-photo depicted here. It really is worth a trip to the restaurant to see all of her photos lining the walls, and they are available for purchase.You need to visit Black River Grill to properly view the Lowcountry Series by photographer Sarah Klepper-Guess; this image is my pitiful photo-of-a-photo, complete with the reflection of the blue dress I was wearing.

So the local photos, plus the low-key wrought iron black, stainless steel and terra cotta color scheme, set a laid-back tone for a menu that is partly comfortable and reliable, partly Lowcountry standards, and partly exciting regional innovation.

Kurt is not a restaurant newbie. His previous experience in the Grand Strand area includes seven years as a manager at Joe’s Crab Shack, and at Buckhead Colorado Steakhouse by Coastal Grand Mall, which is now a Texas Roadhouse Grill.

But Kurt always wanted to have his own restaurant, and when this location became available it seemed like the right time to make his move. He developed his menu with a mind to giving people what they want and introducing them to local flavors.

Appetizers ($5.95-$11.95) include a Crab Cake made with backfin meat, Oysters Rockefeller and Oysters on the Half Shell (Gulf Coast oysters), Artichoke Dip, Buffalo Shrimp, Blue Crab Dip, Beer-Boiled Shrimp, Crab-Stuffed Jalapenos, Fried Clam Strips, Sesame Seared Tuna and Chicken Tenders. An appetizer I’ve not seen before is Lobster Bites where the tail meat is coated in coconut breading.

Three soups ($4.75-$5.95) are Kickin’ Crab Corn Chowder, Tomato Basil Bisque and She-Crab; and four salads ($2.45-$2.95) span a Dinner Salad and Caesar Salad, and smaller side versions of them. Any salad can be topped with fried, grilled or blackened chicken, steak or shrimp.

That Coconut Lobster comes back as a sandwich (sandwiches range from $6.75-$12.95) and is served with plum sauce. All sandwiches come with fries and a pickle, and other choices include Sashimi-grade Tuna, French Dip, Prime Rib, Grouper, Philly Steak, Black & Blue Burger, Grilled Chicken, Portabello, and the Black River Burger with smoked gouda cheese, sautéed portabellos, onions, peppers and applewood smoked bacon.

Penne pasta can come with Alfredo or marinara sauces and topped with chicken, shrimp or steak; and shrimp ($12.95-$14.95) can be fried, coconut-crusted, grilled, scampi-style or filled with crab stuffing. Shrimp come with wild rice and vegetables, and you can add a side salad for $1.45. You can order Marinated Chicken and Barbecue Chicken, or a plateful of Chicken Tenders. Black River Chicken ($12.95) is a pair of marinated and grilled breasts topped with smoked provolone, sautéed onions, peppers and portabello mushrooms. Another fowl option is Pan-Seared Duck Breast that’s served medium-rare with plum sauce.

Certified Angus Beef Steak choices ($13.95-$20.95) include Ribeye, Flat Iron, Filet and Prime Rib, and come with Loaded Smashed Potato Casserole and vegetables. Some Seafood Entrees ($14.95-$22.95) are Grouper, Sashimi Tuna, Salmon, Crab Cakes and Lobster Tails.

Starting April 17, and then for two or three weeks while the staff becomes familiar with the menu and before the liquor license comes through, Black River Grill will be open only for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Around the first or second week of May the hours will expand to 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. At that time, Kurt says, he will hire more staff.

Black River Grill’s phone number is (843) 750-0296.