South Carolina Dining: The official dining site of South Carolina

 

No matter where you live, the lure of a restaurant said to have the best “fried chicken,” sinfully delicious “she-crab soup,” or lip smacking “barbecue” is enough to stir the wanderlust. In South Carolina, good food can be found – well – most any place. From small town hamlets to vibrant cities, a sumptuous dish is just around the corner.

 

As a Southern coastal state, barbecue and seafood are probably the state’s most popular fare. Great barbecue houses stretch from the coast to the mountains with vinegar pepper, ketchup and mustard-based “cue" – Sweatman’s in Eutawville, School House in Scranton, Brown’s in Kingstree, Pink Pig in Hardeeville, Lone Star in Santee, Jackie Hite's BBQ in Batesburg-Leesville and Daddy Joe’s Beach House Barbecue in Gaffney among them.

 

Freshly caught fish and seafood dishes are prominent along the Carolina coast. In the Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand area, the menu at Divine Fish House features Tidelands sea bass encrusted in parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. On St. Helena Island locals attest to such favorites as the Shrimp Shack. Near Charleston, The Wreck overlooking Shem Creek offers grilled shrimp and fried oysters served with coleslaw, red rice, hushpuppy and a block of fried creamy grits. Ask locals to direct you there. Inland, Captain Steve’s in Fort Mill is said to have the best seafood miles around, with salt and pepper catfish a signature dish. In Clemson, Calhoun Corners’ shrimp and grits was featured during a football game on ESPN.

 

Near Clarks Hill, La Cantina Restaurant looks like a Mexican Roadhouse on the outside but actually is a gourmet spot that’s been frequented by such notables as Microsoft giant Bill Gates and members of the national press corps. Menu favorites include steaks cooked outside on a horno – a primitive American Indian oven, fresh Alaskan salmon lightly breaded, pan seared and served with a light wine sauce and Calypso chicken – breaded chicken breast stuffed with creamed cheese, artichoke hearts and herbs.

 

Lots of places claim to have the best burgers around but a few who actually “put the burger where the mouth is” are Spartanburg’s Beacon Drive-In where everything comes “a plenty,” – a chili cheeseburger smothered buried under a layer of fried sweet onion rings. In North Augusta, Gary’s Hamburgers claims the prize in the Central Savannah River Area and in Ridgeland, Jasper’s Porch is definitely the place to go. For tasty hotdogs – Skins Hotdogs, with locations throughout the Upcountry, is said to draw visitors far and wide. Sandy’s is the home town favorite in Columbia.

 

For down-home cooking, the Steak House Cafeteria in Walhalla, Mama Penn’s in Anderson, Pendleton’s Mac’s Drive-In, Gene’s in Chester and The Front Porch in Richburg are said to fit the bill. In Blackville, Miller’s Bread Basket offers a cafeteria-style lunch bar of homemade foods using local produce, when available. Don’t miss their specialty breads – onion garlic, cinnamon raisin and butternut.

 

In South Carolina eating is more than good food. It’s our pursuit of happiness.