Wow! Just Wow! I am delighted at the response from my post on South Carolina Restaurants last week.
The original article featuring a half dozen Hidden Gems in South Carolina’s Olde English Tourism District was a popular post, indeed. As you will recall, the Olde English District is the region of South Carolina that immediately borders the southern side of Charlotte.
And now, I am back with an update!
Today, I am recapping the six sensational South Carolina restaurants I first told you about on these digital pages last week. All an easy drive from Charlotte and the state line – nothing here over an hour away. Plus, look for some additional history on a few of the places and the video from my South Carolina restaurants Hidden Gems segment on Charlotte Today.
Your Bonus Reading for today: An updated list of six additional favorite nearby South Carolina restaurants I’ve told you about before.
Keep the links to post and use it as a guide of where to eat whenever you visit any of the counties in the Olde English Tourism District of South Carolina. I will be adding to it from time to time so stay tuned for more to come.
These South Carolina restaurants are all hidden gems!
Meanwhile, check out the video from my Charlotte Today appearance last week, first. These restaurant roundup segments with my friends Colleen Odegaard and Eugene Robinson are always so much fun!
My August List: Six Sensational South Carolina Restaurants You Simply Must Try…
If you got this post in your email and for some reason don’t see the Charlotte Today video here, no sweat! You know I have you covered. Simply click through to this same post at HeidiBillottoFood.com and you can watch and read it all here, directly on my website.
Here’s that go-to list for you again, with more of the story and all the where-to-find-them and when-to-go info. For all the delicious what-you-should-eat details, check out my must-try suggestions in the original August 2019 Restaurant Roundup.
The Garden Cafe, 307 W Liberty St, York, SC
Originally opened in 1995, the family run Garden Cafe has called York, SC its home ever since. The digs on Liberty Street are also home to the Cafe’s cute and eclectic Market Place. A fun stop to shop anytime, but particularly before or after a meal. Adjacent to the cafe is a large and beautifully done wedding and event venue. Check out all the details here , if you are looking for more info on planning a wedding or special soiree.
For lunch and dinner or just a fun shopping experience, The Garden Cafe is closed on Sunday and Monday. Plan to enjoy lunch there, Tuesday through Saturday and dinner Thursday through Saturday.
Legal Remedy Brewing, 129 Oakland Ave, Rock Hill, SC
In house craft brew and craft smoked meats are the name of the game here. Its a win-win at Legal Remedy. Plus, stop by on Saturday mornings to shop local as the LRB parking lot transforms into the Rock Hill Farmers’ Market. Plenty of parking and a dozen or so local vendors with everything you need to eat local the whole week through.
At the brewery, you can book a tour to find out how its done. And you can sample. With 24 different seasonal brews on tap, there is a lot to try. A flight of Legal Remedy’s tasting pours is the best way to check it out and find something you love.
Legal Remedy Brewing is closed on Mondays. Open for dinner Tuesday – Thursday at 4 pm. The brewery is open for lunch and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Taco Molino Mexican Kitchen, 1328 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill, SC | Kingsley Town Center
Tacos and Tequila, Ole!
Chef Driven, Taco Molino offers casual family dining inside and out at the new Kingsley Town Center in Ft. Mill, SC. Everything from tortillas to the tequila cocktails, from the hot sauce to the made in house ceviche is all done from scratch and made to order. You’re gonna love it!
Taco Molino is open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week. Sunday Brunch is served till 4pm.
Stay tuned… lots more on tap and ready to try at Kingsley Town Center, so, make it a point to go back to visit. As I try out some of the other restaurants there, I’ll be sure to circle back and share the scoop! Meanwhile, Taco Molino is a great place to start.
Z’s Bakery, Cafe and Venue, 124 Confederate St. Fort Mill, SC
Family owned by three generations of women who love to cook, entertain and know how to make you feel right at home. Great venue, too, for bridal and baby showers, meetings and all sorts of parties. Rent one of the rooms or rent the house for your private event; or have them cater for you offsite. For details just call – all the info is on their website.
If you go for breakfast or coffee, I suggest the strawberry stuffed croissants. But if you are there after 11 am, you’ll miss that option. Instead, order the croissant and blueberry bake. Its served warm and is light, fluffy and fruit filled. You’ll love every bite!
Z’s Bakery and Cafe is Closed on Monday. Open from 7:30 am to 3 pm on Tuesday – Friday and 9am – 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Available for special events anytime.
Laura’s Tea Room and Cafe, 105 N Palmer St., Ridgeway, SC
You might think Laura is the name of the owner of this fabulous shop, restaurant and tea room, a destination known to many in Ridgeway, SC. But that assumption would be incorrect. In fact, Laura was the last member of the Thomas family to run The Thomas Company, a well known South Carolina mercantile. You may be among the many who still remember shopping there. Originally built in 1911, the Thomas Company building still stands tall in all of its historic or nearly all original glory.
Carol Allen and her husband bought the building from the Thomas family in 2008. Carol’s hubby worked on recipes for deli sandwiches, soups and salads to be served downstairs; while Carol partnered with her mom on the tea room. Carol’s mom was and still is affectionally known as Grama to family, staff and customers alike.
Carol and Grama had made a hobby of collecting china tea cups for years. Then, that hobby became a business. Grama baked the scones and the cupcakes till she wasn’t able anymore. And when Grama recently passed , Carol’s daughter stepped in and started baking for her mom.
In the Charlotte Today video I said the high tea lunch service started with soup and a salad, but what I meant to say was soup and a scone. A delicious sugary sprinkled, fresh baked scone served with a heavenly Devonshire cream. The salad follows and tea sandwiches and pastries round out the meal.
Select your hat and your tea cup
Tea at Laura’s is an occasion you will love. Guests are invited to select a tea cup that speaks to them and ladies are invited to select a fancy hat to wear – or you can, of course, wear your own.
To see my fun video on selecting a hat for tea, check out the IGTV channel on my Instagram feed. Follow along at @heidibillotto
Knowing the history of the place, I was delighted when one of our tea room servers mentioned that I had selected one of Grama’s favorite tea cups. It spoke to me and maybe she did as well. I loved the whole afternoon – the surroundings, the tea, the food and the joie de vivre I know you will find here, too.
I’ve talked a lot about the high tea service at Laura’s but remember you can go in for lunch at the deli downstairs anytime for sandwiches, salads, soups and if you would like, tea!
More on Ridgeway, South Carolina
One of my cooking class students sent me this info after reading my August Restaurant Roundup post last week. I thought you all would be interested in having this info before you make your next trip to historic Ridgeway, SC.
Next time you are in Ridgeway, I hope you have a chance to go into some of the locally owned shops there. Tina Johnson owns Over the Top Boutique and Robbie and Dan Martin own Bella and Blue Boutique, Palmer Street Market and the Cotton Street Market.
To that, I can only add #TellThemHeidiSentYou – Heidi
It’s really quite a cool little town.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays, Laura’s Tea Room is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. The deli serves from 11am – 3 pm. High tea advance reservations are available from 11 am to 1:45 pm. The shop downstairs is open from 10 am – 4 pm.
RND Southern Eatery, 147 S Congress St., Winnsboro, SC
It’s the Restaurant Next Door to The Donut Guy. The two are situated side-by-side on Congress Street. Both are not-to-be missed places to eat in Winnsboro, SC – an that goes for their food trucks as well!
I love seeing the success of RND. Its a restaurant I sort of helped to name and now this new little place is turning out big flavors and taking the town of Winnsboro by storm.
I love, too, how tied into their community owners Shaun and Crystal Paulk have become. People like the Paulks and their family are the force driving the joys and success of small town life.
Case in point: When a number of people in town wanted more Keto Diet friendly options, the Paulks were delighted to oblige. And, to that end, have developed some fabulous recipes everyone can love. Everything on the menu is great here – all cooked to order with a great deal of love and caring. Do Not Miss, RND’s Mac Daddy featuring rich and creamy cauliflower mac and cheese and a host of toppings – delish!
PS – And as I said in the video, the chicken wings and the smothered pork chops are terrific, too – order up and enjoy!
RND Southern Eatery is open every day at 11 am. On Sundays till 8 pm; Monday – Saturday till 10 pm. Follow them on social media and stay tuned for some big news on a new fall Sunday brunch menu.
But wait, there are more South Carolina Restaurants just across the border …
In addition to the video and a a recap of my original list, here are six more South Carolina restaurants, all just across the border, that I have shared with you before. Keep this post as a guide and a friendly reminder of all the great places the Palmetto State has to offer. And none of them more than an hour’s drive from my home base of Charlotte NC!
The Flipside Cafe, The Flipside Restaurant and Flipside Catering
When it comes to dining in Ft. Mill and Rock Hill, honestly, my first thoughts turn to my friends Amy and Jon Fortes. This talented couple owns of The Flipside Cafe in Ft. Mill and The Flipside Restaurant in Rock Hill, SC. And, in their spare time, they have a very successful catering business as well!
I first wrote about this food-centric couple in 2014 when they opened The Flipside Cafe.
2014 – New Eats in Town – The Flipside Cafe
And, I have written about them several times since. ( just type Flipside in the search engine on my home page to read all the posts!) The Flipside Cafe in Ft. Mill is one of my go-tos for breakfast or burgers. Gotta love the warm asparagus salad topped with a sunny side up egg.
If you are looking for a great starter to share – go for the pull-apart avocado bread with a pepperoni sauce, served over the top or on the side. Consensus is Amy should just go ahead and bottle up the sauce to sell! Its a tasty addition to just about everything!
Lily’s Bistro in Lake Wylie, SC
You might remember my post on six spots to check out the eats for Charlotte Restaurant Week Summer 2019.
In this Queen’s Feast line up was another new South Carolina restaurant I’d love for you to try. Lily’s Bistro is just past the Buster Boyd Bridge going from Charlotte to SC. It’s on your right, a free standing building right off the road, with parking in front. Slow down as you drive through town or you will miss it.
The exteriors are rather plain, but once you get inside its a charming little restaurant and bar with a back patio you can enjoy if you love dining al fresco. The food is all from scratch and the kitchen supports a lot of local producers.
This little bistro serves lunch and dinner with a full bar and a great wine and cocktail list. Open Tuesdays through Thursday 11 am – 9 pm; Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm. Sunday brunch 10:30-3pm and Sunday dinner 4-8pm.
Next Stop in this list of Upstate SC restaurants; Midway BBQ
The iconic Midway BBQ, located at 811 Main Street in the tiny town of Buffalo, SC. I told you all about it – and the chicken stew and SC hash people come 100’s of miles to eat – in a Staycation SC roundup I published in July of 2018.
Several of the places in the article have changed, but Midway is – and most likely will be – forever the same. That’s one of the things I loved about this 100-mile BBQ joint. And one of the reasons Southern Living named this popular spot one of the “South’s Legendary BBQ Joints.” You are going to love it, too!
Midway BBQ in Buffalo, SC is open Monday through Saturday 10-6pm.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery in York, SC
Another of my favorite SC stops, is really more of a farm than a restaurant. But still, its a wonderful place to eat and drink local. Windy Hill Orchards in York, South Carolina – where the action is all about apples.
Located at 1860 Black Hwy in York, SC, Windy Hill has been closed for the summer but is now open for the fall season!! WooHoo!
Windy Hill is another family run operation, producing hard cider every day and on weekends they make the most wonderful apple cider doughnuts! I also adored their sweet cider and their Windy Hill Apple Cider Vinegar! Check out the cidery’s late summer/early fall events and tasting times here.
You can buy the apple cider vinegar and lots of the shelf stable apple cider products such as Apple butter and Apple Cider BBQ sauce at the Olde English District Market and Gift Shop.
Pick your own apple season starts in early September, hopefully around Sept 6. To be sure, keep an eye out on the Orchard’s website for all the details.
Saltwater Provisions & Test Kitchen, 715 Bethel Street in Clover, SC
If this last-on-the-list of restaurants this round, doesn’t sound familiar, its because it has a new name. And, a slightly new twist on the concept.
I first wrote about it as The Po Boy, a N’awluns style seafood-centric sandwich shop located next to Saltwater Markets Seafood Shop in Clover, SC.
Since then, owners and husband and wife team, Clint and Elizabeth Boyd, knocked through the wall dividing the two separate spaces. Then, they renamed the spot next door to their seafood market, “Saltwater Provisions and Test Kitchen.”
It lives up to its name offering cooking classes twice per month and a fun spot to grab a bite every single day! In addition to the fresh and cooked-to-order seafood, you’ll find lots of Charleston favorites for sale in the shop including the entire line of Geechie Boy grains and peas as well as local artisanal oyster knives and the like.
On the menu…
Stop in and meet Miss Lynn, who works her magic in the kitchen. She steams shrimp and crab legs every day for customers to enjoy on site or to take away to enjoy at home. She also has a simple daily special. Some days, Elizabeth and Clint randomly highjack the kitchen and put out something a little more fancy. They announce these daily specials as pop up dinners through Saltwater’s Facebook Page and before long, the place is packed. Talk about a delicious way to drive traffic!
Pro tip – Text “Fish” to 22452 and viola, you’re on the VIP list! With that, those pop up dinner announcements will come right to your phone. Stay tuned for lots of delicious things to come your way.
Here is just a taste of what you might expect. This “Carolina Red Rice,” is a play on Georgia Red rice, featuring a crispy Carolina Gold Rice by Geechie Boy Mills & fresh blue crabs from the coast. The rice is made with a shrimp stock made in house and organic veggies from Farm Fresh Carolinas. Wowzer!
With Thanks…
The Olde English Tourism District of South Carolina covers the region of South Carolina that immediately borders the southern side of Charlotte. This South Carolina region incorporates Chester, York, Lancaster, Chesterfield, Union, Fairfield and Kershaw counties and includes the cities of Ft. Mill, York, Rock Hill, Richburg, Lancaster, and Buffalo, just to name a few.
Thanks, again to Jayne Scarborough and her team at OED Tourism for their help in making this post possible. Go see them, just off I-77, 25 mins from Charlotte, at one of the official South Carolina Visitor’s Centers. Find all the info about all to do and experience in South Carolina; plus the center is a great place to shop local, too!
With all of these restaurants within a hour of Charlotte and the NC state line, the Olde English District offers lots of delicious reasons to visit to South Carolina soon.
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