Updated 7/26/18: It's been a few years since the initial review, and the quality has been consistent. There have been some nice updates to the furnishings in the dining room, and the parking lot situation has improved quite a bit. This remains our go-to place when we want takeout. It has our highest recommendation!
My wife and I have been Camden residents for years, and thus we are familiar with many of the local restaurants in Kershaw county. A few months ago, we gave The Shack a try. Since then, it has become our default takeout joint. The menu is your standard sports bar fare, but The Shack has some interesting burger choices, and their chicken wings are superb - easily the best we've had in this area. More importantly, the quality has been consistent, and the staff has always been friendly and professional. If your looking for a quick place to pop in and have a beer and some excellent comfort food, or you want some well-priced takeout that is leaps and bounds over fast-food options, then you can't go wrong with The Shack.
While there are great alternatives on the menu, the wings are what really shine at the Shack. The wings themselves are sized well and plump, and are of much higher quality than the pathetically anemic wings you'd get at a certain bar down the road in Lugoff. The variety of sauces and dry rubs available for choosing means that there is at least one flavor that is likely to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. The sauced wings are always super-crisp, juicy underneath the skin, and glazed with a generous amount of sauce that is not too thin or messy. Our favorites include the Terihot, Hot, Vinegar Pepper, and the Honey Mustard. For those not a fan of heat, the Mild wings manage to be flavorful and not bland, despite the lack of heat. The Teriyaki and Terihot sauces are sticky, earthy, with just the right amount of sweetness. The Honey Mustard sauce is tangy, thick, and rich. The Vinegar Pepper sauce is as you'd expect from a good North Carolina sauce - tart with a pleasant jolt of heat. The Hot are peppery and great with an ice-cold beer, and not so intense to the point of unpleasantness.
The burger choices, and the execution of said burgers, are also excellent. If Pimento cheese is your thing, then the Pimento Shack Burger, topped with fresh Pimento cheese, will not disappoint. Another favorite in the household is the burger topped with fresh spinach and feta cheese. If you're ravenous and craving meat, the Shack Show Stopper is easily the one of the best things on the menu. A fair warning though, this full-sized patty is topped by a generous helping of honey-barbecue pulled pork, so even a big guy like this reviewer will have a hard time finishing this in one sitting. It is so juicy and flavorful, however, that you'll be tempted to bust a gut to finish it!
As a final note on the food, the sides are well-executed as well. The wing chips are fried to your desired level of crispness, and the seasoning applied gives them personality when compared to raw fries from other establishments. As for the service, the ladies serving and tending bar are always friendly and efficient. Even when the place is packed, all customers are acknowledged, and updates are provided when a wait is necessary. Sadly, this competent type of service is not the norm in the modern age, but it certainly is at The Shack.
Considering all this praise, there is one important piece of criticism a potential customer should consider. Specifically, the parking lot is borderline hazardous! The lot itself is diet and gravel, but there are no less than a half-dozen deep, wide potholes in it. Worse, when it rains, the potholes are concealed, so one might not know you're about to run into one until it's too late. When you go, drive carefully through the lot, and consider leaving the low-rider at home (pickups and soccer-mom chariots should be just fine!). If you want to be super-careful, don't turn into The Shack from DeKalb (undated, turn at the light and approach from the rear, where the potholes aren't as bad). In conclusion, if you're careful to avoid tire damage, The Shack is a great place for a quick bite, an ice-cold beer, and a joyous gathering of friends. read more