As the rebuilding of both business and residential structures started, it didn’t take long for people to discover there was a boom going on in Spartanburg. The surge is notably noticeable in Spartanburg’s numerous eateries. It doesn’t have the immediate familiarity of adjacent nationally recognized gourmet cities Greenville, SC, or Asheville, NC. Yet, given that a development occurred just two years ago,
Spartanburg, nicknamed Hub City in the late 1800s owing to its function as a major transportation hub, is working hard to remind tourists of what residents already know.
Spartanburg, SC shines with its two-hundred-year-old music-making heritage, art galleries, museums, over seventy-five public art installations, and literary arts venues, and the State Art Commission designating downtown Spartanburg as a cultural area. At least, that’s what the people claim when they refer to their town as Sparkle City.
From the Chapman Cultural Center, the only place in the United States where performing arts, visual arts, history, and science can be found under one roof, to the Spartanburg Art Museum, the oldest contemporary art museum in the South, to its Philharmonic Orchestra, Regional History Museum with one of the best map collections in the southeast, and its Historic Walking Tour with fourteen significant sights highlighting architecture, transportation, entertainment, and even war, the city of Spartanburg has it all.
Spartanburg, SC, a historic transportation center and large textile town, today has a vibrant culinary arts sector with breweries, coffee roasters, fine restaurants, and every ethnic meal you can think.
Many are stating that something is occurring in Spartanburg because of the redevelopment plan. Its gastronomic scene demonstrates this. Now, this 75,000-person southern town is home to six schools and institutions, BMW’s North American headquarters, and a $292 million development.
These are seven downtown Spartanburg eateries worth the trip the next time you’re in the neighborhood.
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Spartanburg’s Top 7 Restaurants
The Drive-In at Beacon
864-585-9387255 Blvd. John B. White Sr.
With all of the changes taking place in Spartanburg, there is still a sense of nostalgia.
As you arrive to this Spartanburg icon, the first thing you see is the large parking area, several American flags, and, of course, a beacon.
Within is a somewhat industrial place that seems to be frozen in time. The massive kitchen, which is flooded with fluorescent lights, is open to a large dining room where diners sit on vinyl-covered chairs and Formica-covered tables.
Even the menu is extensive. With over 150 products ranging from a banana-mayo sandwich on white bread to sliced turkey, footlong Coney hotdogs, fried pickles, and Frito chili pie, not to mention malts and shakes, picking what you want may take some time.
Salads, such as a strawberry and spinach salad and a coriander crusted ahi tuna salad, are available for those seeking lighter fare. Surprisingly, given the quantity of fried choices available, salads are the last thing I would expect to see on the menu.
The Beacon, which was established in 1946, also has several records. It was the country’s second-largest drive-in restaurant when it first opened. It now sells the most iced tea in the United States. And I’m guessing it still serves world-renowned grease, as I like to call it, courtesy to its legendary Chili Cheese A Plenty, which I urge everyone get on their first visit.
When you order anything with A Plenty, you receive a heaping serving of half onion rings and half French fries heaped up very high on top of your choice of burger, which is delivered on a Styrofoam plate that you take to your seat on a plastic, cafeteria-style tray.
This is not the place to go if you want to lose weight or improve your heart health. Yet it is where you go when you want what the Beacon is most renowned for: wonderful cuisine at a reasonable price, sweet tea, and plenty of charity.
The Beacon was founded long before cuisine became Instagram-worthy. Now, it’s one of those Spartanburg places where every politician that comes through town eats, as well as local families who have been there for decades. It’s not fashionable, but it’s Spartanburg’s history, and it’s worth the trip next time you’re in town.
Every day of the week. Costs range from $3 to $15. This is a terrific spot to dine in Spartanburg for outstanding comfort cuisine.
Wades
1000 N. Pine Street 864-582-3800
Wade and Betty Lindsey founded a modest grocery shop with a six-seat lunch counter in 1947. Betty would prepare a beef dinner with veggies every day. and prepare platters for local mill employees seeking for a cheap home-cooked lunch. Tremendous success and a desire for additional alternatives led to a lot of expansion between then and today, but what remains are home-cooked meals, courteous services, and reasonable rates.
As you go up to Wades, you can’t help but notice the enormous neon sign out front that says Have you eaten your veggies today? Or the walls that are covered with the same charming cartoon veggies that have been used as billboard marketing material for years. The art deco-style pendant lights that dangle from the drop ceiling, for example, are a tribute to its heritage. Much of this is related to Wade’s past as a popular destination in Spartanburg.
Those in a hurry can use the express area, which offers cafeteria-style service. A dining area with sit-down table service is located farther inside.
All of the meals are cooked from scratch, just as they were in the beginning, using family recipes handed down through the years. Each meal comes with a yeast bun or cornbread as well as coffee or tea. Costs vary between $8 and $10 per dish and include grilled chicken, hamburger steak, and even pasta with meat sauce.
Green beans, mac and cheese, and sweet potato souffle are among the many vegetable and side dish options. Check the website for a list of the daily offers.
While I was there, I realized that it was difficult for customers to depart without a piece of pie.
Customers may expect a complete homecooked supper with pecan, apple, and a variety of other options. Every day of the week. Visit this downtown Spartanburg restaurant for a taste of terrific cuisine and a flavor of history.
Cribbs Restaurant
W. Main Street
When you have a large gathering and want to please everyone, this is the Spartanburg restaurant to go to.
The menu includes inventive burgers, salads, and wraps, as well as beer and beverages. The setting is contemporary, the service is excellent, and the food, servings, and pricing are all perfect.
Expect a wait since it is located in the burgeoning arts and entertainment district known as the Grain District, across from the new AC hotel and adjacent to the Silo at RJ Rockers. Reservations are welcome.
Three friends and I came into Cribbs Kitchen for an early meal before a live music at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. For our vegetarian companion, we ordered sliced beef tenderloin with horseradish, Singapore duck rolls, and bacon-wrapped scallops, as well as fried tofu skewers and goat cheese with wild mushroom tartlets.
Given that this restaurant launched in 2010, long before Spartanburg began to see rebirth, I’m glad to see it has become a local favorite. Parking might be difficult at times, but I assume that comes with being downtown and busy.
Cribbs Kitchen, with its broad menu, competent service, and cool and relaxed ambiance, is not only worth the wait, but also worth the travel when you have a crowd to impress. Costs range from $8 to $28. Mondays are closed.
Cribbs is one of Spartanburg’s greatest restaurants for an evening of good dining before a cultural performance.
Farmers’ Table
864-582-6554149 Daniel Morgan Avenue, S.
Our space is your place, a local farm-to-fork restaurant. This Spartanburg restaurant is also an excellent choice for weddings, meetings, and other special occasions. It has a complete bar with handmade drinks as well as a menu that serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch until 2 p.m.
The decor is both cozy and trendy. Exposed brick walls and wooden tables provide the stage for elegantly served meals. Brunch is written all over this place in my opinion.
The Farmers Table creates inventive burgers and sandwiches, as well as specialities like avocado toast, shrimp and grits, and paleo eggs benedict, using locally sourced ingredients.
My personal favorite is the combination of Brussels sprouts, bacon, and goat cheese. Not only are they attractive, but they are also tasty.
You cant go wrong with a visit to The Farmers Table, situated just off Main Street in downtown Spartanburg, whether you want a complete dinner, an appetizer, or just one of their several mimosas with their fresh-squeezed juices. It’s a terrific place to eat in Spartanburg.
Morning Caf Mon Amie
E. Main Street, 864-541-79812601 E. Main Street
There are a few things you should know about this informal eatery, which is situated far from downtown Spartanburg. Be prepared to wait. But it’s worthwhile. Another thing to keep in mind is that it shuts at 3 p.m. and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
They also provide crepes.
Sweet crepes such as Nutella and banana crepes, as well as Meyer lemon and blueberry crepes.
And savory crepes with sausage, cheese, spinach, hambasically everything goes in a crepe.
It’s worth mentioning that Mon Amie, which translates to “my buddy” in English, provides French toast, eggs benedict, omelets, salads, and even champagne. But it’s all about the crepes for me, and that’s where my problem starts everytime I visit Mon Amie.
I’ve never met a Nutella crepe that I didn’t like. Thus, whenever I visit Mon Amie, I order the Nutella and Banana Crepe. If I’m fortunate, I can get a buddy to order a savory crepe as well, and we can divide it. That way, I can pretend I didn’t have dessert for breakfast since the Nutella crepe is on the dessert menu.
Bettys Perfect Morning Crepe is my fave among the savory crepe alternatives at Mon Ami. It’s a big crepe stuffed with two eggs, Monterrey jack and cheddar cheese, shredded SC sausage, and honey Dijon sauce.
Everything here is essentially French with a southern spin. The inside is sunflower yellow, with a black and white checkered floor and striped awnings.
The open, center-of-the-room crepe station, where you can witness your crepes being created in front of your eyes, sticks out the most. In line with the French motif, the chef wears a beret while swirling crepe batter with a wooden dowel and filling it with anything you request. Patrons may sit at a counter surrounding this station and watch the activity as they dine.
Mon Amie is worth the trek with pricing ranging from $5 to $15 and always excellent cuisine and service. Make a point of visiting one of the greatest Spartanburg restaurants for both the cuisine and the entertainment.
Coffee from the Pharmacies
187 N. Church Street, 864-913-1010
To be honest, this enters my list for two reasons, none of which has anything to do with eating.
One, the inside is stunning.
Second, they make excellent coffee. I know. I used to run two coffee shops just outside of Chicago. Therefore, when I saw the kind of goods they were producing, I knew I had to come check out this company.
The inside of the historic Montgomery building is bright, open, and spacious, with high ceilings, deep blue walls, burnished gold fittings, and the most gorgeous floor tile! You’d assume you’re in Morocco.
What occurs behind the bar, though, is what matters. Espresso shots that are well pulled. Milk that has been perfectly steamed. The industry refers to it as microfoam.
Poppyseed toast, tomato tartlets, cheddar garlic biscuits, lemon poppy seed muffins, lemon scones, and blueberry muffins are all on the menu. You get the picture. goat cheese whipped Little nibbles include house-made bread used to make avocado toast and marmalade.
Pharmaceutical Coffee, a subsidiary of Little River Roasting Company, takes its coffee seriously. The baristas are the finest of the best, and the atmosphere is very friendly.
Pharmacy Coffee is worth the trek if you want to hang out, read a book, work on your computer, or meet with a buddy. Every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays are closed. Check out this Spartanburg eatery if you’re looking for something out of the norm.
Level10
864-596-5069225 West Main St.
Here is an illustration of what is taking place in Spartanburg. Level 10 is located on the 10th story of the new AC Hotel, which is very stunning both inside and out. It is exactly what its name implies: elevated, cosmopolitan gastronomy. In Spartanburg, South Carolina! There was a time when no one would have associated Spartanburg with refined world cuisine. Nonetheless, this is all part of the boom.
Now, with Level 10, legendary restauranteur Rick Ewin has done it again, presenting sophisticated southern food with an international flare.
I was delighted to attend Level 10 since I am a lover of attractively prepared meals with catchy names like grilled lamb lollipops. I went early in the evening, largely for the sunset vista I had heard so much about. And what they say is true: the vistas and sunset from its outdoor terrace overlooking the city are breathtaking.
I like small dishes and lobster, so I got lobster gnocchi and a glass of red wine to go with my nicely prepared meal. What could possibly go wrong? My companion had the seared scallops and a martini, both of which she claimed were delicious.
Level 10 is not inexpensive. Yet that is not the case. This is a fine eating experience. The fact that it is a Rick Erwin restaurant forewarns you of what to anticipate. a fantastic environment, a fantastic audience, fantastic service, and, of course, fantastic cuisine. If you’re searching for exquisite dining in Spartanburg, this is the place to go. Every day at 4:30 a.m. Sundays are closed.