<b>By Pamela Brownstein</b>

Just off Paris Avenue, Moondoggies Cafe &amp; Grill sits nestled among tall trees and Spanish moss in downtown Port Royal. The fabulous food, fun decor and friendly service represent the best of what a local restaurant should be. Owners Jeff and Dawn Harris continue to create outstanding dishes and, as they say, it’s where great American food meets Southern hospitality. Whether for lunch or dinner, Moondoggies is an experience that should not be missed.

[caption id="attachment_19206" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0048.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19206" alt="Roasted red pepper artichoke bake with tortilla chips." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0048-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Roasted red pepper artichoke bake with tortilla chips.[/caption]

The Lunch Bunch ordered a variety of appetizers because they are all so good. The coconut fried shrimp is excellent, and the fried pickle chips are so addicting, even for someone like me who doesn’t usually like pickles. But our favorite was the Roasted Red Pepper Artichoke Bake served with crispy tortilla chips.

For the main meal, Irene had the lump crab cakes served with hush puppies, remoulade sauce and asparagus spears. There’s a reason the crab cakes are a house specialty because they are super.

Kim Turner tried the Beef on Weck sandwich — thin-sliced roast beef dipped in savory hot au jus and piled high on a Kummelweck roll.

April and Kim Newton both ordered the fajitas special really liked it.

[caption id="attachment_19207" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_00491.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19207" alt="Fried coconut shrimp appetizer" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_00491-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Fried coconut shrimp appetizer[/caption]

I ate every bite of my Mahi Mahi sandwich, grilled to perfection on a Kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato, onion and homemade tartar sauce. My side of pimento mac n’ cheese was also yummy.

Elizabeth loved her hearty salad made with mixed greens and tomatoes and her choice of grilled strip steak and Bleu cheese crumbles.

The desserts are homemade daily and can vary, but they are all so scrumptious, so save room. We sampled Chocolate Bread Pudding, a piece of Peanut Butter Pie, Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake and Banana Pudding — which we all agreed was a must-have.

Moondoggies Cafe &amp; Grill is located at 10th Street and Paris Avenue, downtown Port Royal, SC. It is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and dinner 5 to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Call 843-522-1222 or like them on Facebook.

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[caption id="attachment_19222" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_00591.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19222" alt="Lump crab cakes with hush puppies and asparagus spears." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_00591-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Lump crab cakes with hush puppies and asparagus spears.[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_19233" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_00621.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19233" alt="Salad with greens, tomatoes and bleu cheese crumbles and topped with grilled steak strips." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_00621-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Salad with greens, tomatoes and bleu cheese crumbles and topped with grilled steak strips.[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_19234" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0055.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19234" alt="Beef on Weck" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0055-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Beef on Weck[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_19235" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0052.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19235" alt="Grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich with pimento mac n' cheese " src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0052-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich with pimento mac n' cheese[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_19236" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0065.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19236" alt="Homemade banana pudding" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0065-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Homemade banana pudding[/caption]

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