From the coastal islands to the midlands and the mountains, South Carolina’s diverse geography, history and culture are reflected in its vibrant food and dining destinations.
Lowcountry dining in Charleston
Fueled by the regional Lowcountry cuisine, heritage foodstuffs and celebrated chefs such as Sean Brock, Charleston’s growing restaurant scene continues to gain critical attention.
Brock is the James Beard Award-winning executive chef of two groundbreaking restaurants at the heart of the excitement. It all started at McCrady's (2 Unity Alley, Charleston. 843-577-0025, www.mccradysrestaurant.com, @McCradys), the former historic tavern, where Brock landed in 2006. The menu, which changes daily, features peak-season ingredients sourced from Lowcountry farmers, artisans and fishermen, and dishes such as snapper with summer cucumbers, kale and buttermilk.
At Husk (76 Queen St., Charleston. 843-577-2500, www.huskrestaurant.com, @HuskRestaurant), Brock and chef de cuisine Travis Grimes, a Lowcountry native, continue to explore ingredient-driven cuisine with the likes of South Carolina shrimp and Choppee okra stew with Carolina Gold rice.
Other estimable dining spots include the Ordinary (544 King St., Charleston. 843-414-7060, http://eattheordinary.com/the-restaurant, @EatTheOrdinary), a Southern seafood hall and oyster bar from chef Mike Lata and the folks behind FIG (232 Meeting St., Charleston. 843-805-5900, http://eatatfig.com/about, @figrestaurant) located in an old bank in Charleston. Hominy Grill (207 Rutledge Ave., Charleston. 843-937-0930, http://hominygrill.com, @HominyGrill) is a longtime local favorite known for classic Southern fare at breakfast, lunch and dinner, including shrimp and grits.
Out in the Lowcountry, Bowens Island Restaurant (1870 Bowens Island Road, Charleston. 843-795-2757), nestled between Folly Beach and James Island, draws crowds for its rustic fish camp setting on the water and local oysters, fried seafood and Frogmore stew. At Fat Hen (3140 Maybank Highway, Johns Island. 843-559-9090, www.thefathen.com, @FatHenSC), chef Fred Neuville serves up "Lowcountry French" from crabcakes to coq au vin.
Also on Johns Island, the spreading Angel Oak Tree (3688 Angel Oak Road. 843-559-3496, www.angeloaktree.com, @savetheangeloak) is a must-see. Estimated to be 400-500 years old, it stands 66 feet tall and measures 28 feet around. Nearby on Wadmalaw Island, Charleston Tea Plantation (6617 Maybank Highway. 843-559-0383, ext. 4206, www.charlestonteaplantation.com, @ChasTeaPlant) is the home of American Classic Tea, the only tea grown in America. Tours explore the scenic grounds and factory and end at the plantation gift shop.
Greenville a ‘foodie paradise’
Though Charleston gets more press, revitalized Greenville (www.visitgreenvillesc.com, @Greenville_SC) has mounted a campaign to be known as a "foodie paradise," steadily growing into a culinary destination with some 600 restaurants and a downtown with food shops, galleries and boutiques, not to mention a natural waterfall.
Top restaurants include Hall's Chophouse (550 S. Main St., Greenville. 864-335-4200, hallschophousegreenville.com. In Simpsonville, Stella's Southern Bistro (684 Fairview Road. 864-757-1212, www.stellasbistro.com, @StellasSouthern) combines Lowcountry influences with Southern classics on lunch and dinner menus that feature the likes of Carolina quail, cheese grits and collard greens.
Among newer restaurants, Roost (220 N. Main St., Greenville. 864-298-2424, www.roostrestaurant.com, @RoostGreenville) is a "soil to city" concept, featuring local and seasonal menus for lunch, supper and breakfast. Bacon Bros. Public House (3620 Pelham Road, Greenville. 864-297-6000, www.baconbrospublichouse.com, @BaconBrosPUB) offers quality food at value prices with barbecue and entrees in the $12-$25 range.
While downtown festivals are common on the weekends, two large venues offer year-round arts and entertainment schedules. Bon Secours Wellness Arena (650 N. Academy St., Greenville. 864-241-3800, http://bonsecoursarena.com, @BSWArena) is a 15,000-seat arena for concerts and sporting events, including Road Warriors Hockey. The Peace Center (300 S. Main St., Greenville. 800-888-7768, www.peacecenter.org, @peacecenter) is a not-for-profit performing arts venue presenting concerts, touring Broadway shows, dance companies and resident companies such as the Carolina Ballet Theatre.
Spartanburg drive-in, diner and dive
Charleston and Greenville are definitely fine dining destinations, but Spartanburg has the kind of historic and quirky places the Food Network’s Guy Fieri likes to explore.
For "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," Fieri visited the Beacon Drive-In (255 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg. 864-585-9387, www.beacondrivein.com, @BeaconDriveInSC). The beloved Beacon has been in business since 1946, serving its famous specialty, the A-Plenty, a chili cheeseburger buried beneath piles of onion rings and french fries. Other favorites include sliced Pork A-Plenty, barbecue hash, and sweet iced tea served in cups packed with shaved ice.
Open since 1947, Wade's Southern Cooking (1000 N. Pine St., Spartanburg. 864-582-3800, www.eatatwades.com) is the epitome of a Southern diner, with rotating daily and weekly menus and meat-and-two plates served with yeast rolls, cornbread and iced tea for under $10. Look for baked ham, meatloaf, fried chicken, and country-style steak, with sides such as butter beans, fried okra, turnip greens and rice and gravy.
Dating back to 1938, Nu-Way Restaurant & Lounge (373 E. Kennedy St., Spartanburg. 864-582-9685, www.facebook.com/TheNuWay) is a proud dive bar and live music venue, with a Pabst Blue Ribbon sign out front and a reputation for big, sloppy food. Try the Redneck Cheeseburger or a jumbo hot dog all the way with a side of hand-cut fries and a Kool-Aid pickle.
Palmetto State food fests
In early March (March 1-5, 2017), the Charleston Wine + Food Festival (http://charlestonwineandfood.com, @ChsWineandFood) is one of the city's biggest annual events, showcasing local chefs and Lowcountry food and drink. In late spring (May 27-June 12, 2016), Charleston hosts the Spoleto Festival USA (https://spoletousa.org, @SpoletoFestival), a premier international performing arts festival featuring world-class opera, theater, music and dance, as well as literature and visual arts events.
Near Greenville, the Farm Fresh Fair, Sept. 17-18, at the Farm at Rabon Creek (125 Philips Lane, Fountain Inn. www.thefarmatraboncreek.com, @raboncreek) offers a festival of fresh, local food and vintage and artisan goods in a working farm setting with cows, goats and a big red bar, plus music and craft beer.
Founded in 2006 by restaurateur Carl Sobocinski and singer-songwriter Edwin McCain, Euphoria (www.euphoriagreenville.com, @AchieveEuphoria) is Greenville's premier food, wine and music festival and celebrates 11 years Sept. 22-25.
The annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival (Bay Street, Beaufort. 843-525-6644, www.downtownbeaufort.com/beaufort-shrimp-festival), Sept. 30-Oct. 1, is a local favorite celebrating Lowcountry cuisine with activities for all ages, restaurants offering samples of signature shrimp dishes and prizes awarded for "best recipe" and "most creative recipe."
The Columbia International Festival (1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. http://cifonline.org/the-festival, @Cola_Int_Fest), April 16-17, 2016, is all about the music, culture, food and performing arts of the cultures, nationalities, races and language groups in South Carolina. The event's International Food Court features exotic flavors and cuisines from around the world.
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