Where I grew up, there are a collection of diners, drive-ins and dives (to steal a phrase from food TV). These are the places a stranger might shake his or her head at and pass on by, but are like coming home for natives.
Every South Carolina town has at least one of these places, a little divey, with great food.
North Augusta on the western "border" of South Carolina has such a place: Gary's Hamburgers (803) 278-1314, 410 Georgia Ave.
Located on the main drag, Gary's doesn't have a website, but does have some seriously good burgers, chicken strips and fried okra. The burgers are cooked to order, juicy and flavorful and the fried okra is as good as you get at any Southern restaurant. The chicken strips are lightly breaded and are on the top of most folks' list of Gary's favorites.
We stopped by recently and lunch for three with some extra sides was less than $30, including sweet tea.
We were a little late for breakfast, but the locals say Gary's breakfast biscuits are not to be missed, especially the chicken, cheese and egg.
Gary's gets a little crowded around the lunch hour, so be sure to bring some extra patience, especially if you're visiting and the other customers at the counter have to get back to work.
Gary's opens at 6:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday and at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday and closes at 9 p.m.
Gary's also has a Graniteville location at 106 Bettis Academy Road, (803) 663-7788.
Gary's Hamburgers in North Augusta
