Gangster-themed Wiseguys Bar & Grill opens in Myrtle Beach SC

The crime bosses and the kitchen of the Rentko food truck have found a spot in Myrtle Beach.

Wiseguys Bar & Grill opened last week on 20th Ave. North and Kings Highway and features Rentko’s favorites such as fresh Polish dishes and several versions of London steak sandwiches, as well as live music and televised sports.

Business partners are Phil Goldman and brothers David and John Eric Rentko, who runs the kitchen.

Polish cuisine includes boiled or fried pierogies, golumpki (stuffed cabbage), haluski (sautéed cabbage and noodles), a breaded pork chop sandwich, klupskies (pork / beef burger), and sausage casings.

Other menu items include several versions of fresh ground mandrel burgers; pulled pork that has been slow roasted for 14 hours with a homemade dry rub; several hand-breaded chicken sandwiches; several appetizers including beef tips, spicy pork balls and stuffed cherry peppers; salads; French onion soup; Pizza; wings; all-beef hot dogs; and other sandwiches, including a homemade Parmigiana Meatball Sub.

A big hit was a half london broil, half shredded cheesesteak sandwich with pepperjack.

“We do pretty much everything from scratch,” said John Eric Rentko, whose family had a restaurant in Pennsylvania before operating a food truck. “We wanted to stay true to what our family has always done and made people happy, but then to move forward with a bar, we adapted and tried to change it up a bit. We will constantly try to change this once we get more and more comfortable. “

The space was previously Knuckleheads and the interior has been completely renovated including new floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, bathrooms and kitchen equipment.

A carpenter built the bar, tables and other interior items. “He gave the image of our dream,” Rentko said. “It’s beautiful. That’s all we wanted.

Wiseguys will have live music at least five days a week (Monday through Friday) on a small stage near the entrance that can accommodate up to four musicians. The musical genres will be varied and will include rock, alternative and reggae. College and professional football will be shown on Saturdays and Sundays on nine televisions, including a larger projection screen.

Scott Byrd of Songbyrd Entertainment is reserving groups.

A spray-painted mural of organized crime figures John Gotti, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Al Capone adorns one wall, and black-and-white photos of gangsters during Prohibition in the 1920s decorate a wall near the stage .

Goldman and John Eric Rentko had been discussing a bar / restaurant partnership for a few years to combine their areas of expertise – Goldman at the front of the house and Rentko at the back of the house.

The start of the coronavirus pandemic ended up driving the partnership. John Eric Rentko was the food and beverage director of Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, which closed for a while, David Rentko had to quit an engineering job, and Goldman was able to pursue another business.

“It happened at the right time. We were all in a different place and it was time to take that leap, ”Rentko said. “We found this place. We just wanted to do a little dive bar … but we went too far and this beautiful place is what happened. ”

They were running through the names for a while. “Wiseguys, the three of us, you know we’re a bunch of goofballs,” Rentko said. “Then with the name Wiseguys, let’s make it look like a sweatshop vibe. “

Wiseguys offers a wide selection of spirits which includes a number of premium bourbons, whiskeys and tequilas. There will be featured cocktails every month. Nine beers are on tap and most are craft beers from local breweries including New South and Grand Strand, and there are also around 20 bottled or canned beers from local breweries.

“These breweries are booming and they are finally coming to this region as it should have been a long time ago,” Rentko said.

A grand opening night featuring two groups will take place on November 17, and regular special events are planned, including full moon parties.

Wiseguys serves lunch from 11 a.m. and is open until 2 p.m., with an MF happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Permanent discounts include 20% for first responders and 10% for locals.