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?

Clover: Quite Simply The City With "Love" in the middle

Nestled between York, SC and Gastonia, NC and about 30 minutes south of Charlotte, NC, off of SC Hwys 321 and Hwy 55 lies one of the best kept secrets in the Carolinas. It is a small town just shy of 4,000 people called Clover, SC.
Clover is very rich in its history and culture. Like many other small Southern hamlets, it has thrived from the mill and textile culture. Many residents know each other by name and their families and relatives.

During the 1970s and 80s, Clover was a bustling city to spend a night out. You had Howard Johnson's restaurant, the drive in theatre just outside of town, and Henry's Knob. Many, young and old, would drive up to the "Knob". Present day, it is now closed.

Clover is big on its festivals and community spirit. They recently had a BBQ and bluegrass festival and Clover Fest is coming up soon in this month of September.

Many businesses and restaurants have been part of the small city for years such as Boyd's Tire and Furniture, M.L. Ford and Son's Funeral Home, Patti-O's Grill, Victoria's Restaurant, The Eagles' Nest and Courtney's BBQ. Courtney's has brought notoriety to Clover, as the pitmasters that run this joint have won several regional and national BBQ competitions.

Clover has also has its fair share of famous names such as Herb Kirsch, Stan Spears, Poke Cobb, and Lamont Hall.  All of these figureheads still have a lot of pride in their hometown and regularly give back.

Personally, Clover is near and dear to my heart as any city. I have family members from both sides that are from and/or still live there. Many of my earliest memories are of the town with love in the middle and the mascot The Blue Eagle. One of Clover's sports mottos is "It's A Great Day To Be A Blue Eagle!".

Clover is one of those towns one may pass through enroute to Gastonia, Carowinds Amusement Park or to Lake Wylie. However, trust me, it is well worth it to stop and stay a spell. The love and history can truly be felt in this city.