GREENVILLE
Big flavors in a small Southern town
In less than 25 years, the Greenville, South Carolina dining scene has gone from downtrodden to sparkling. Nationally recognized revitalization efforts have brought Main Street and environs back from the dead, with weekly summer concerts, a 32-acre park in the middle of town, superb shopping, and riverfront dining.
One of the most obvious differences in today's Greenville is the vibrant restaurant scene. There has been a complete shift from fast-food fixes to a large number of diverse restaurants and chefs that rival anything found in the region.
greenville | where to eatFOR STARTERS
SOBY'S NEW SOUTH CUISINE
This is the one that started Greenville's restaurant revitalization. Opened in 1997 by namesake copartner and cofounder Carl Sobocinski, Soby's attracts locals and visitors with a bustling atmosphere framed by brick walls and a busy bar. The menu offers chef Shaun Garcia's takes on Southern favorites, like the Gullah Shrimp & Grits, which features wild American shrimp, Anson Mills grits, and Caw Caw Creek bacon. Many of the ingredients used nightly are grown on Garcia's nearby 10-acre sustainable farm. Around the corner, Soby's on the Side features freshly baked breads and pastries and breakfast and lunch to eat in or take away for a picnic along South Main Street.
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207 South Main Street
864-232-7007
Lunch, Dinner, Sunday brunch
sobys.com
DEVEREAUX'S
This contemporary jewel for locals and visiting corporate bigwigs from BMW and Michelin (both companies have North American headquarters here) features impeccable dishes from chef Spencer Thomson, who many believe might be South Carolina's next James Beard winner. Thompson crafts each night's dishes on the basis of the best available ingredients, each bringing incredible flavor and creativity to the table. When the black grouper graces the menu, it always sells out. Other summer favorites are teh heirloom-tomato gazpacho and the crab-cake-encrusted grouper with roasted Roma tomato and spinach zucchini lasagna rolls.
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25 East Court Street
864-241-3030
Dinner
devereauxsdining.com
THE LAZY GOAT
Located right on the banks of the Reedy River, with equally enjoyable views inside and out, is The Lazy Goat, another of Sobocinski's downtown treats. Chef Victoria Moore (named in Esquire magazine by writer John Mariani as one of his "Breakout Chefs to Watch") delivers a tapaslike menu, including ever-changing meats and cheeses plates and a variety of "Graze & Nibble" options meant to be shared. Don't miss the harissa-spiced hummus; grilled calamari; minted lamb rib-eye; and duck, duck, goat pizza, which is topped with duck confit, drunken goat cheese, a duck egg, arugula, and sour cherry vinaigrette.
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170 River Place
864-679-5299
Lunch, Dinner
thelazygoat.com
RICK ERWIN'S WEST END GRILLE
Restaurateur Rick Erwin brought this well-respected chophouse to downtown Greenville in 2005, and it remains an outstanding choice for steaks and seafood. One can't go wrong with the 20-ounce bone-in rib-eye, as well as appropriate sides like succotash and sauces (green peppercorn highly recommended). Those not into red meat will love chef Jason McCarthy's crab cakes served with crawfish risotto and beurre blanc. Erwin also owns and operates the Nantucket Seafood Grill in the new Courtyard Greenville Downtown.
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648 South Main Street
864-232-8999
Dinner
rickerwins.com
AMERICAN GROCERY
Continuing the tasty charge down southern Main Street, front-of-house charmer and sommelier Darlene Mann-Clark joins husband and chef Joe Clarke to present a true farm-to-table experience that regularly lures those in the know. Joe works wonders with local "groceries" like trout, rabbit, and whatever else he likes and gets that day.
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732 South Main Street
864-232-7665
Dinner
americangr.com
greenville | get euphoric
If anything defines the Greenville food scene beyond the world-class restaurants, it's Euphoria. Founded by restaurateur Carl Sobocinski and rocker Edwin McCain, Euphoria features food, wine, and music through a variety of events. Highlights include cooking demos (often accompanied by live music); restaurant wine dinners featuring guest and resident chefs; a premier wine tasting; wine seminars; and the landmark "Taste of the South" night that features food from Greenville's best restaurants and a concert by Edwin McCain (he typically invites other musicians as well). The dates fro 2011 are September 22-25.
euphoriagreenville.com
greenville | where to eat
GOT MORE TO DINE?
BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA
Locals love this casual place in a former 19th-century hardware and feed store that has more than 50-plus beers on draft. Ask the bartenders for local recommendations, including anything from nearby Thomas Creek Brewery. Creative New York-style pizzas provide a perfect pairing.
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25 West Washington Street
864-232-3706
Lunch, Dinner
barleystaproom.com/greenville
HIGH COTTON
With floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking Reedy River, High Cotton's striking space is as alluring as chef Anthony Gray's great food. Part of Maverick Southern Kitchens--including Charleston's famed Slightly North of Broad and the original High Cotton, as well as Mount Pleasant's Old Village Post House--High Cotton features locally sourced seafood, meats, and produce prepared in maverick ways (like Gray's Sunburst Farms trout, which is served with sweet potato rice pilaf, Marcona almonds, leeks, and ginger brown butter). Be sure to check out the list of High Cotton's farmers and sources right on the menu.
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550 South Main Street
864-335-4200
Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch
mavericksouthernkitchens.com
LARKIN'S ON THE RIVER
The she-crab soup is dreamy, as is the historic location at the Peace Center for Performing Arts in teh old Gower Coach Factory, along the Reedy River. You'll find aged steaks, Caesar salads made tableside, fresh fish, an impressive wine list, and incredible outdoor dining, particularly during weekly summer concerts.
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318 South Main Street
864-467-9777
Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch
larkinsontheriver.com
POMEGRANATE ON MAIN
The colorful kabob combinations (Soltani) are the order of choice at this Persian restaurant, located on the southern end of Main Street, which has sublime seating inside and out. But you'll also find mirza ghasemi--a blend of eggplant, tomato, and garlic--daily seafood specials, and its famous pomegranate martini.
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618 South Main Street
864-241-3012
Lunch, Dinner
pomegranateonmain.com
greenville | local food finds
If you need something to keep you busy between meals, check out these fun food finds:
Greenville Culinary Tours: What foodie can resist these new tours offered by Greenville History Tours and the Table 301 Restaurant Group? The 2 1/2- to three-hour tour visits five foodie destinations with high-profile chefs cooking with regional ingredients at each. Held on Saturdays and Tuesdays, these tasty tours are a bargain at $39. (864-567-3940, greenvillehistorytours.com)
Carolina First Saturday Market: This bustling Saturday market has a little of everything from more than 50 area farmers and restaurants. It's open from 8:00 a.m. until noon, May to October. (Main Street between Washington and Court, saturdaymarketlive.com)
Fluor Field at the West End: This contemporary minor-league diamond gem features the Greenville Drive, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Forget the standard ball-park concession fare and head to the Spinx 500 Club down the right field line for restaurant-style service and food with a Southern accent (just watch for foul balls). (945 South Main Street)
The Cook's Station: This sprawling space is food lover's heaven, with everything for the kitchen, from appliances to cookware and accessories to gourmet foods and wines. (659 South Main Street, thecooksstation.com)
Michelin on Main: Michelin's North American headquarters is in Greenville, and this retail store sells everything Michelin (except the tires). Culinary tourists will love the selection of varied Michelin Guides, which have been published since 1900. (550 South Main Street, #102)
greenville | where to stay (and eat!)
HAMPTON INN & SUITES GREENVILLE RIVERPLACE
With rooms (many with balconies) overlooking the river, rocker and road warrior Edwin McCain calls this "the best Hampton Inn in America." It's across from The Lazy Goat and guests can charge their dinner to their hotel account.
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171 River Place
864-271-8700
hamptoninn.com
THE WESTIN POINSETT
This 1920s historic Main Street hotel is in the heart of downtown, and it's renovation was a landmark event in the revival of the area. You'll find many original details yet all the modern luxuries today's travelers expect. Little touches like chilled "spa" water with fresh fruit that greet you on warm summer days reinforce the great hospitality. The hotel's Spoonbread Restaurant has a tasty Southern accent, while Carl Sobocinski's newest gastropub venture, Nose Dive, is adjacent.
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120 South Main Street
864-421-9700
starwoodhotels.com
Longtime Southern Foodways Alliance member Lynn Seldon is based on the North Carolina coast but makes frequent forays to favorite South Carolina foodie destinations like Greenville, Charleston, and many restaurants (and meals) in between.