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?

1st Annual Drewsies Awards

I have been reading and collecting newspapers for two decades now and am  a loyal subscriber to the Gaffney Ledger. That being said, one of my favorite parts of the newspaper is when they give out awards for best restaurants, businesses, etc. I am adding a bit of a twist to my awards show "the Drewsies".  I am awarding 36 different categories, one for each year I have been alive. This will be tough, and I will do my best to be fair and unbiased.

Best journalist/writer: Joe Hughes II
Best photographer: Alvin Hinton
Best DJ: Mike Dawkins

Realest on social media (and life): Billy Moore

Best bar and grill: Patti O's
Best BBQ: Courtney's BBQ
Best service organization: Smokin Rita and Friends
Best gym: Anytime Fitness
Best fitness instructor: Angie Dover
Best trainer: Simone Mack
Best buffet: Best Pizza Buffet
Best fitness community: Upstate SC
Best running club: Run The Rock
Best teacher: Erin Helms
Best civil rights activist: Will Pruitt
Best TV comedy: The Middle
Best TV drama: Orange Is The New Black
Best parties/cookouts: The Morris Boys
Best social network: Twitter
Best chiropractor: Bill and Chad
Best dentist: Brown and Harrell
Best place for tires: Roberts Tire
Best seafood: Captain Steve's
Best steak house: Texas Roadhouse
Best salad bar: Ruby Tuesday
Best birthday freebie: Moe's Southwest Grill
Best sub sandwiches: Sub Station II in Gaffney
Best supermarket: Publix
Best movie theater: NCG theatres
Best pizza, calzones and strombolis: Venus Pie
Best retail store: Target
Best pharmacy: CVS
Best late night hangout spot: Empire Pizza
Best mall: Village of Sandhills
Best shoe store: Nike Factory Outlet
Best new TV drama: Empire

OK I could go on and on but I will stop at 36. Hope all of you enjoyed this year's Drewsies!

Have We Become Spoiled And Entitled As A Society

It appears the gritty old school working class mentality is dying off. We rely too heavily on technology and electronics, we rarely cook meals from scratch anymore, and we are ready to sue someone or a company in a New York minute.

Now does this mean we as a society and people have gotten softer and even spoiled?

Think about it for a minute. We will start with technology. I love my smartphone and laptop. Nevertheless, I no longer have the need for certain things such an alarm clock, map, flashlight, music player or even phone book due to all of the bells and whistles my phone has. Many people can function better without a live human than they can without their cell phones.

Then you have folks wanting to lead a healthier life and think they deserve it just because. Or food is always so readily available thanks to fast food restaurants, frozen dinners, and after hour spots. How many people do you know who actually prepare their meals for the week, or cook more than one meal/everyday? Yep that number is low.

And speaking of restaurants and other retail businesses, we expect the help to cater to our every need and to treat us like we are the only person there. I wrote a piece about proper tipping a while back. Now while I expect to be treated with a certain level of respect, I understand things can and will go wrong. There are certain things I can let go as I pick my battles.

Finally, this is lawn season, one of the many things we don't do for themselves. We expect them to be done for free or cheap. Not many people do for themselves anymore: cut grass, wash their car, or even clean their own home. I understand you may lead a busy lifestyle but so did the generations before us. Many of them didn't even have electricity or indoor plumbing but they made things work, especially marriage.

So does all this make us spoiled? Perhaps a little bit. I believe we are more desynthesized and separated from our roots and history. We all need to pause and reflect on the sacrifices the ones before us had to overcome. It is also very important, especially when calculators have made adults with diplomas, degrees and high paying jobs forget their multiplication tables.

I'm not saying we don't deserve to live abundant lives. However, if we want to prove our worth, we have to put in harder work and not expect an award everytime we do something that we were supposed to do in the first place. Regain your perspective and place in history!

In what ways has your adult life become less complicated than your childhood life? Could you survive for a few weeks without certain luxuries?

Why It's Cool For Women To Join The Clean Plate Club

It seems for a while, especially in certain regions and areas, men have been taking women to dinner. Also for a while, it appears that many women don't clean their plate or even take home leftovers.

This can be problematic for a number of reasons. 

Women, please read carefully. Now in the early stages of dating, nerves are expected and often eating isn't the main coursr at a restaurant. However, eventually, you should feel comfortable enough around a man to eat, REALLY eat, and not feel shameful about it.

Being a member of the clean plate club can have its benefits. We men like women that are secure in themselves and their own skin. That being said, this doesn't mean pigging out and ignoring table manners. But if you're hungry, eat!

Bringing leftovers is the least you can do. I understand many people don't eat a lot at a single setting. However, it can be rude and expensive if you continuously want your significant other taking you out for dinner, but you simply nibble around. Perhaps you should simply stick to appetizers or stay at home and cook. 

You will have to reach a point of comfort in a romantic relationship. This can start with simply making an effort at the dinner table and eating if you're hungry. It can humanize you more.

Do you have this problem on dates? When it comes to dating, are you in the clean plate club?

How To Complain About A Company Or A Service

'Tis the season where we are out in the public much more through shopping, eating out and just being exposed to good and bad customer service. Those that know me well, know I will not hesitate to go above an employee's head and as high as the corporate office if necessary. I have done this a few times and have gotten various results, even have corporate reps and executives call and personally apologize to me, then rectify the problem.

There are right and wrong ways to get your way and let your voice and thoughts be heard. Here are some of the right ways.

1. Be proactive not reactive.

Don't lose your cool instantly but don't waste a lot of time in reporting the incident. If you're out and about, report it immediately, then go up the ladder until you get satisfaction. Prompt and quick, polite action can get you far.

2. Make your complaints at appropriate time periods and methods.

Emails and voicemails only go so far. Make sure you speak to a live person and or manager. Try not to call first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, or near a weekend. Your complaints will be best heard when the other party is most alert and focused on the task at hand.

3. Remember all pertinent information, and if out in public, record a video of the incident.

YouTube and WorldStar HipHol have been putting companies and people on blast for quite some time now. In addition to video evidence, gather employee and manager's names, descriptions, exactly what the problem is and how it was mishandled.

4. Diffuse the blame and make it interpersonal.

I realize this can be difficult. However, be sure to let customer service reps or anyone not directly involved that you are complaining against their company and NOT necessarily them. Often they are doing as they are told. This is when you need to do #5.

5. Climb the ladder as far up as necessary.

Know the basic hierarchy and try to stick to it when making complaints. Keep it in house if possible. If not, continue to make your voice heard and be relentless until this happens, even if you have to reach owners, CEOS, and the like.

6. Know your rights, regulations and use them.

You can do a lot of good for yourself when you understand the code of conduct and decorum. For example, restaurants have to comply to health and labor regulations, and phone services have to comply by the FCC. If it goes to the point of using legal council and law enforcement, by all means use your judgment and do it! You don't want to be the enemy, but places of businesses need to know you're no pushover.

OK well go get them and good luck!

Have you ever complained publicly about a company or a service? What useful tips do you have to add?

Fish-Tales Fish Camp Review

Blacksburg, SC, my hometown, doesn't have many restaurants or businesses.  However, the ones we do have tend to hang around for years.  I believe Fish-Tales Fish Camp has this potential.

Fish-Tales is owned and operated by Scott Willis and his family. They provide the good Southern flavor and hospitality that will keep you coming back. They are located off of Hwy 29 across from the infamous Kelly's Steakhouse. Scott took over the restaurant in January from the previous owner, Roy Hale, who called it Crystal Sea Fish Camp. They have not missed a beat since.

Thursdays-Saturdays, they offer a delicious seafood buffet complete with salad bar and desserts. Catfish, flounder, calabash chicken, home fries, and onion rings can regularly be found on this bar. I'm a bit of a seafood connoseuir and the fish and chicken there are quite tasty. There are also tasty menu items such as various fish, hamburger steaks, ribeyes, and blooming onions.

Perhaps the biggest change Scott made when he took over was the addition of a Sunday country buffet.  This buffet is always delicious and filling if you're looking for a good home cooked meal after church and before the various Sunday sports comes on. Salad and desserts are also included. The main items on this buffet are fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, home fries, fried okra, mac n cheese, bread (varies from week to week), green beans, cabbage and collard greens. Scott will occassionally sub out and in items such as meatloaf, pork chops and blackeyed peas. If it's country cooking and soul food, it's bound to be found on the Fish-Tales buffet.
The prices cannot be beaten either. $11 for dine-in, $8 for carry out, and discounts for children and seniors.

Therefore, if you're in the Upstate area on a weekend evening, or particularly early Sunday, come by Fish-Tales and let Scott and his family do the cooking. They can be found on Facebook, and reached at (864)839-3100.  Type 1639 West Cherokee Street, Blacksburg, SC 29702 into your GPS to locate them.
Do yourself a favor and give them a try. You are sure not to regret it. 

Birthday Freebies 2.0

Birthdays are intended to be a special celebration, regardless of the age. Those who know me well are aware how serious I take mine.

That being said, I wrote a Facebook note four years ago about the various restaurants I found that offer freebies or discounts on or around your birthdate. When the same friends that introduced me to those found two more websites with various deals, a part 2 was in order.  These two sites are MrFreeStuff and FatWallet.

These two sites send me frequent alerts with coupons, discount and freebies from several businesses, restaurants included. Also, they have a listing of many restaurants with birthday e-clubs. I will allow you, the reader, to research most of these on your own as the list was quite long. However, the new ones I found included Copper River Grill, MarbleSlab Creamery, Steak 'N' Shake, Del Taco, IHOP, and FuddRuckers. Tony Romas still remains the best in my opinion and also in the thoughts of several others. Now I will see if any of these other restaurants can best them when my birthday arrives in July.

The reason I write about finances and discounts often is because it's good to save and put back money. It does not make good sense to pay full price  for the same quality of service you can receive free or discounted. No one should turn their noses up at this.

My goal is to eat all 31 days of July for free. I get closer every year and maybe 2013 will be that magic year.