The Farm-to-Table movement is growing rapidly in South Carolina. You can now find restaurants in small towns all over the state that are dedicated to highlighting local, homegrown ingredients. They might do so in different ways, but they certainly celebrate the integrity of our great state's local farms.
Grits and Groceries
What it's known for: Grits and Groceries put Belton on the map as a dining destination having earned accolades from the likes of Southern Living, the New York Times and other national media. A leader in the state's farm-to-table movement, Chef Heidi Trull, 2015 SC Chef Ambassador, sources ingredients within a self-imposed 100-mile radius to ensure local flavor. Along with husband, Joe, she has created a menu filled with Southern-inspired sensations like tomato pie, praline bacon, pimento cheese burgers, fried apple pie and other stellar offerings reflective of Southern food culture.
Style: Southern, farm-to-table, family-friendly, casual, lunch, Thursday night suppers
Address: 2440 Due West Highway, Belton
Phone: 864.296.3316
The Flipside Café
What it's known for: Tucked away in downtown Fort Mill, Flipside Café brings fresh, local goodness to good, local people. Open for breakfast lunch and dinner, with a weekend brunch menu, Flipside can be a quick stop for breakfast and coffee on your way to work, or a nice place to join friends for dinner. If you come for brunch, try the Flipside breakfast. Biscuit and gravy, bacon AND cheddar grits? Yum.
Style: Southern, farm-to-table, family-friendly, casual, breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner
Address: 3150 US 21 N., Fort Mill
Phone: 803.802.1711
Wagon Wheel
What it's known for: Using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, Wagon Wheel is a classic meat and veggies destination, creating farm-to-table meals all week long. Chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, pork chops, burgers, fish, hand-cut Angus steaks -- whatever you order comes with the huge salad bar and fresh baked bread.
Style: Casual, family-friendly, farm-to-table, lunch, weekend dinner, Sunday buffet
Address: 5724 Lancaster Highway, Fort Lawn
Phone: 803.872.4654
The New Moon Café
What it's known for: For a great meal on the lighter side, try New Moon Café in Aiken. They make everything from scratch, every day. They strive to use the best local ingredients to produce creative and healthy meals, even down to the coffee they roast themselves in-house.
Style: Southern, farm-to-table, family-friendly, casual, lunch
Address: 116 Laurens St. NW, Aiken
Phone: 803.643.7088
Stella's Southern Bistro
What it's known for: For refreshing, unique dishes full of Southern influences and the freshest local ingredients, Stella's is the place to be in Simpsonville. The soups are inspired daily by whatever ingredients chef and co-owner Jason Scholz finds particularly appealing that day and of course, the menus are always changing to highlight the best of the season. Choosing just one dish is no easy feat.
Style: Southern, farm-to-table, lunch, dinner
Address: 684 Fairview Road, Simpsonville
Phone: 864.757.1212
Stono Market & Tomato Shed Café
What it's known for: A Farmer's Market and Café birthed from the Ambrose Family Farm, everything they offer is organically grown in their own backyard. The Tomato Shed Café is a quaint little spot "inside the market" serving up daily changing Southern favorites for lunch or dinner with take-and-bake options for meals to-go. It's a great place to stop on the way to the beach (or on your way home).
Style: Southern, farm-to-table, family-friendly, casual, lunch, dinner
Address: 842 Main Road, Johns Island
Phone: 843.559.9999
The Kennedy
What it's known for: Located in downtown Spartanburg's East Kennedy Street, thus its name, this field-to-fork restaurant offers local-driven cuisine made with seasonal ingredients sourced from around the Upstate and South Carolina, along with specialty cocktails. Former S.C. Chef Ambassador William Cribb and partner Raj Patel opened the eatery in 2018, offering patrons an intimate setting to gather for dinner, drinks and quiet conversation.
Style: New American, fresh-from-the-farm plates, intimate, cocktails, dinner
Address: 221 E. Kennedy St., Spartanburg
Phone: 864.586.5554
