A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
Since we both work and have no kids, we eat out a lot. I like trying new places, and am happy to pass along my opinions on these new restaurants. For these reviews, I try to stay away from the obvious chains (Chili’s, Applebees, Wendy’s, and other things ending with a long ee sound.) I’m also confining my reviews to the general Upstate area. We’ve had lot’s of fantastic meals on our travels, but I’d rather pass along the cuisine of this area.
You guessed it. Laura is out of town, so I’m trying a new restaurant. My visit to The Bohemian was partly out of interest, and partly motivated by charity. Several of the local restaurants were donating tonight’s proceeds to Katrina Relief, so I can have a good meal and feel good about doing it. The irony of this type of charity is not lost on me – I pig out so people don’t starve. The Bohemian and 33 Liberty are participating.
What I really wanted for dinner was comfort food. Specifically, macaroni and cheese with black-eyed peas and stewed tomatoes. However, since Laura’s still in DC I suppose I need to try another new place. This time I decided to try Pho Noodleville in the Orchard Park shopping center. This was one of the places recommended by John Mallick, so I thought I would give it a shot.
The Helix has a marvelous champagne social from 5:00 until 6:00. After a day of exploring DC, Laura and I enjoyed a complimentary beverage while watching traffic in the lobby. Not long after we got our drinks, Tim H arrived and joined us. After a couple of glasses, we left him to continue checking in, … Read More “Shaken, Not Stirred” »
The concierge at Helix recommended an Asian, Hispanic fusion restaurant nearby, so we set off in search of the Merkado.
You may remember sometime back I complained about the Greenville News (yet again), this time regarding their restaurant reviewers. Seems they couldn’t identify some basic Indian cuisine. I got this e-mail from John Malik, chef and owner of 33 Liberty, complaining about the same thing…
We were at Taco Bell on Wade Hampton, next door to the Market Square Deli. The deli has been closed for some time, supposedly undergoing renovations. However, restaurant equipment has been sitting out in the weather for nearly a week. The past week, this sign has been out in front. Maybe we’ve passed?? What does … Read More “Maybe we’ve passed??” »
It’s my last free Friday for the summer. Next week we go back on our regular schedule, which on the plus side means shorter days Monday through Thursday. At least once during the summer, now on my free Fridays, I like to wander downtown, look in the shops, and try a new place to eat. On this rainy Friday I selected Island Blend Jerk and BBQ.
I’m breaking my rules a bit here. I usually don’t review chain restaurants, but I’ll do a quick mini-review of Cheeseburger in Paradise. Laura and I had both finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this afternoon, and [SPOILER] needed something light and happy to cheer us up. Since it was only 5:30, we figured we could beat the dinner crowds still stuck on the novelty of the place.
Justin’s Steakhouse has recently opened in the space that used to be occupied by La Boheme. One evening we passed by, and La Boheme had suddenly become Bistro 40. That lasted about six months before becoming Justin’s. We decided to give it a try before it morphed into something else.
NOTE: This restaurant had been closed, but has recently re-opened. This has long been one of my favorite places in Greenville. I remember many years ago talking with a snooty German exchange student about German cuisine. I mentioned Haus Edelweiss, and she derided both the name and the possibilty that authentic German food could be … Read More “Haus Edelweiss” »