COUNTER CULTURE:

5 Diverse Diners Dish it Up South Carolina Style

Like a fried egg sliding easily out of a pan, it’s hard to pin down a single definition of a diner. In South Carolina, a diner can be served up in many sizes, styles, and menus — but they definitely all share tasty food, interesting interiors, and southern hospitality. We’ve found five across the state that make dining in South Carolina a diner affair. So, please pass the grits!

Originally published in the Official Vacation Guide for South Carolina

Grits & Groceries, Greenville

Who wouldn’t want to dine somewhere with a name like Grits & Groceries that sells T-shirts with “Praise the Lard” printed on them? Situated in South Carolina’s Upcountry on Due West Highway, Grits & Groceries has a seriously loyal following. The one-time country store at Saylors Crossroads now serves up gussied up southern fare for lunch from Tuesday to Saturday (including brunch on Saturday), as well as “Thursday Dinner” at the restaurant and — in season — green plate specials and more from four to seven on Tuesdays at The Filling Station Farmers Market in Anderson.

Heidi and Joe Trull have owned and operated Grits & Groceries since 2005 and use locally-grown organic produce and dairy goods whenever possible (like Happy Cow Creamery in nearby Pelzer). Lunch menu highlights have to include the homemade pimento cheese (on white or wheat bread or atop a juicy burger), the shrimp salad, fresh cut sweet potato fries, and homemade desserts often topped with homemade ice cream using Happy Cow Creamery cream.

The varied Thursday Dinner menu might include Hattie Mae’s Tomato Pie, BeerBQue oysters, and more for starters, with entrée possibilities including Carolina Shrimp Gravy and Grits, Mike McCall’s Pork Picks (a local pork expert’s hand-picked pork chops), or a Shrimp Po-Boy (which is also popular at lunch). Come Saturday morning, there’s Praline Bacon, frog legs, and several more delectable dishes with…grits, of course.

Harold’s Restaurant, Gaffney

Located 20 miles northeast of Spartanburg in downtown Gaffney, Harold’s Restaurant is a classic spot that’s been serving up diner fare since 1932 when it was founded by Harold Tindall. Just the third owners in more than 80 years, Tony and Holly Lipscomb have continued Tindall’s goal of serving homemade food in a friendly small town southern atmosphere.

As with many diners, sandwiches are featured in abundance. Food Network rock star Guy Fieri made the Chili Burger famous on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives back in 2007. It’s actually called the World Famous Chili Burger on the menu and it’s truly a unique diner menu item. It’s made with meatballs instead of a hamburger patty and was still just $1.39 when we went to press.

There’s also the World Famous Hot Dog for $1.19 (add cheese and bacon for just 80 cents and chili for another 59). Then there’s bologna that can arrive many ways, including thick-sliced with cheese and toasted or fried, a bologna burger with chili, mustard, and onions, or as a more traditional sandwich with lettuce and tomato. Insiders also know to order at least a half-dozen of the (truly) Jumbo Wings, with a choice of nine homemade flavors. Those same insiders also know about the all you can eat offering on Wednesdays, featuring cooked pinto beans with ham, cornbread, fatback (don’t ask) and onions, and homemade chow-chow — their creative version of this classic dish is a tangy pickled cabbage and green tomato relish.

Judy’s At The Market, West Columbia

Conveniently situated at the new South Carolina State Farmers Market right next to lots of local ingredients from the likes of Monitel Produce, Rawls Collards, Senn Brothers, Severt & Sons, and Ernest & Ann’s, Judy’s At The Market serves up breakfast and lunch seven days a week to hungry farmers and smart Farmers Market shoppers.

This is simply comfort food at its finest. At breakfast, varied fresh egg options come with hash brown potatoes or grits—and the pancakes and biscuits are both legendary with farmers and locals. At lunch and dinner, there’s fried chicken livers, southern fried chicken, country fried steak, “Market” meatloaf (made with Angus beef as are the burgers), and Granny’s Veggie Plate (a choice of three sides).

For another Judy’s fix, locals always know where the Judy’s No Frills Grill food truck is parked. The colorful truck is easy to spot and it serves some of the same comfort food. It’s like bringing the South Carolina State Farmers Market on the road!

Peaches Corner, Myrtle Beach

Having celebrated its 75^th anniversary in 2012, Peaches Corner is better than ever. Located at the corner of famed Ocean Boulevard and 9^th Avenue across from the Old Pavilion and named after the original owners, Peaches Corner has been in the Burroughs family since 1943 and is now owned by Pam Crutchfield, the daughter of Johnny Burroughs.

The stools at the counter are as popular as ever and so are the famous hot dogs, burgers, fountain drinks, and draft beer. Foot long hot dogs are the norm, as are quarter-pound and half-pound burgers.

There’s even an “Anniversary Combo” that comes with a hot dog or burger, fries, drink and a Peaches Corner T-shirt. Corn dogs and catfish also remain popular, as does the hand-scooped ice cream that somehow tastes better when enjoyed right at the counter after a dog or burger.

SeeWee Restaurant, Awendaw

Located right on US 17 (“Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway”) SeeWee Restaurant is a one-time general store that still feels like one and smells even better. This home cooking haven has been dishing out Lowcountry fare since 1993, with daily specials and counter classics one can only find in South Carolina.

  

Open for lunch and dinner, SeeWee’s menu is simply hunger-inducing. Starters include She Crab Soup and Fried Green Tomatoes, with large meal-making salads featuring possibilities like grilled shrimp, fried oysters, and crab salad.

There’s lots more fresh seafood on the docket, including local shrimp, flounder, crab cakes, whole fried catfish, and much more. The filling See Wee Platter features shrimp, oysters, scallops, and flounder with a choice of three sides. Veterans know to save room for SeeWee’s famous sides (think butter beans, fried okra, sweet potato casserole, and lots more), as well as the homemade pies and cakes for dessert.