Part One: More To These Restaurants Than Meets The Eye: Some Local Restaurants That You Should Try Out

I saw an article on Facebook recently with a list of mom and pop restaurants that are much better than their appearance would lead you to be. Well to that end, I decided to write a listing of some places around the way that were omitted.

I like to try out the local cuisine whenever I road trip and leave the chain restaurants alone. Hopefully I can help some of you out.

Here is a listing by city:

Blacksburg, SC:

Bailey's Fish Camp.

A long time staple in Blacksburg, it is ran exclusively by the Bailey family. They have good food, a relaxed atmosphere and even fed the local football team for many seasons.

Gaffney, SC

Daddy Joe's BBQ and Grill

I have written about my former Thursday night hangout a few other times. Surface wise, some may think it's an old barn. But that is the look owner Shag Stepp wants: the beach house BBQ look. They have some of the best ribs and hush puppies you will eat, and always have some sort of entertainment on Thursday nights: live music on the patio, corn hole, trivia, etc. Add in the free Pac-man machine and you have a place built to entertain.

Colonial Fish Camp

No disrespect to Bailey's, but this may be the best seafood restaurant in the Upstate. Delicious food, mid-week specials, and large portions make this place a must try.

Sticks

When you're in downtown Gaffney, you think of Harold's. It was on the Food Network of course. Many neglect Sticks.  This bar and grill has a quaint atmosphere, with a wide selection of wings, and homemade hand cut fries. Wednesday night gets the weekend started as it is wing night, and all wings are at a discount.

Spartanburg, SC

Dudley's

You may not think much about this place on the East Side (the old side of Spartanburg). However, I'm here to tell you that their food is first class all the way. It's great as either a date restaurant or a hang out. The prices are steep but the food is well worth it.

Venus Pie Pizzeria:

This looks like an artsy place to the naked eye. Deep inside is some of the best pizza you will find along these parts, and the largest calzones. All it usually takes are a couple of large slices to satisfy your appetite.

The Junction

Located off of Hearon Circle, it looks run down, closed and the billboard doesn't have all of the letters. But if you want good, home cooked food that's clean and all you can eat, look no further. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner except on Sundays (no breakfast then). I don't recommend many buffets anymore but this one is definitely worth a try.

York:

Chinese Kitchen:

They have some awesome, giant wings and other specials, which include a heaping portion of their delicious rice.

York Family Seafood

This is another tasty, down home place, and one of the few restaurants that still has a salad bar. They still handwrite their specials on the tables and believe in giving you a good, small town dining experience.

I will wrap up the rest of South Carolina next week. But for now, these give you ideas to chew on.

Have you ever been to these places? Any you would add or delete?