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Greenville’s status as a burgeoning culinary destination draws countless visitors to South Carolina’s Upstate. A rising star on the state’s dining scene, it boasts an impressive lineup of restaurants offering dishes that are diverse, delicious and, in many cases, unforgettable.
Here is a sampling of crave-inducing dishes that have achieved star status with locals and visitors. Each has a proven track record for turning first-time diners into repeat customers.
22 E. Court Street
Fan Favorite: New England Clam Chowdah
The fishing villages of New England may be a far cry from the Upstate of South Carolina, but you can experience the flavor at Jones Oyster Co. Their “chowdah” embodies all the creamy, clammy goodness of the beloved Northern dish. A topping of crisp oyster crackers is the perfect finishing touch.
16 W McBee Avenue
Fan Favorite: Lobster Cigars
Lobster cigars are a deeply rooted habit among the clientele of this intimate, hip little tapas bar. You don’t have to light up to indulge, either. Lobster, cream cheese and ginger are tucked inside crispy wontons and served up with Asian noodles, seaweed salad, wasabi aioli and teriyaki sauce for dipping. This is one addiction you’ll never want to kick.
1629 E North Street
Fan Favorite: Shitake Swiss Burger
This inspired, farm-to-fork eatery features a menu that rotates daily. But when customers fawn over a dish, it’s a good move to make that dish a daily item. Meet Fork and Plough’s Shitake Swiss Burger, a work of beefy, ’shroomy, cheesy art festooned with just enough arugula to replace the need for a side salad. Warm and melty, this burger is all you need for a satisfying, mouthwatering meal, though the house-cut fries make a great accompaniment.
1414 E Washington Avenue
This no-frills Greenville institution has been serving the area since the 1970s. In that time, Zorba’s steak sandwich has eclipsed all other menu offerings to become a truly iconic dish. Mounds of thinly sliced, freshly grilled rib loin, generously slathered with mayo and hit with a bit of salt and pepper, are served on an onion roll. It’s that simple, but therein lies the beauty of this delectable beast. Kick it up a few notches with peppers, onions and cheese. Any way you slice it, when you are seated in a vinyl chair with a bottle of beer and take that first bite, you’ll be a believer.
23 W Washington Street
Fan Favorite: Steak Frites
Head down-under—literally—to get a taste of one of Greenville’s most lauded dining standards. This basement cafe is known for a dish called Steak Frites—choose from a filet, ribeye or New York strip, then select a sauce: herb butter, au poivre, red wine demi, sherry or onion gravy. When your steak arrives upon a bed of Belgian frites (or fries, which are cooked twice according to Belgian tradition), toast the dish with a mug of Trappist ale and just dig in.
170 River Place
Fan Favorite: Brussels Sprouts
This oft-maligned vegetable is a real mind-changer thanks to a few brilliant touches in the Lazy Goat kitchen. Roasted sprouts are appointed by crispy bits of Jamon serrano ham, shaved Manchego cheese and a sherry glace. Every day, the caramelized sweet-savoriness of the dish is turning Brussels sprouts haters into lovers. Ah. Maze. Ing.
608-B S Main Street
Fan Favorite: Ben’s Cheese & Grapes
Fresh flavors creatively combined make this appetizer one of the most intriguing dishes around. Named for Chicora Alley owner, Ben Dixon, Ben’s Cheese & Grapes are a quirky offering of warm queso and chips served with a cup of grape salsa. (It is also on the menu at the Travelers Rest location.) Red and green grapes, onion, cilantro, lime, jalapenos and a dash of hot sauce—this is a salsa that aims to deliver a spicy hot/cooling effect and it works. The contrast of creamy queso is a stroke of genius. Alternate your chip dipping or stir a bit of grape salsa into your queso for a treat that is uniquely Greenville.
