Rivera's: Greer, South Carolina

So my husband has been raving about this little joint called "Rivera's" for months. He had been there a couple of times and was originally drawn to it because they boast a "juicy luci" on the lunch menu...something that is commonplace where we come from (MN) but totally out of the ordinary here. He had only been there for lunch, but wanted to check it out at dinner-time, so one Friday night we packed up the family and headed up to Greer.

Upon walking into Rivera's, I felt immediately comfortable. It is a "fancy" restaurant if you will, but it is kept simple so as not to come across as too "white-linnen-ish". It really caters to all types of diners. We have 3 small kids and no one to babysit, so we bring the entourage with us everywhere we go. Sometimes there are those places that are just not kid-friendly. Rivera's IS NOT one of them. They have high-chairs and a kids menu to boot. For me, personally, I love it when I can go get some good food, REAL food in a nice restaurant and have my kids with me and be welcomed. But we also saw many couples of all ages as well as several tables of the older and wiser generation enjoying the same superb food.

While my kids enjoyed some fresh homemade bread with guava butter (yes, I said guava and it is AMAZING)...the hubby and I feasted on some ceviche tostadas. Got nothin' bad to say about those. They were phenomenal.


For my entree, I opted for the Surf & Turf which is a 5 oz. filet and either 4 jumbo shrimp or 2 diver scallops. I couldn't decide between the shrimp or the scallops, so I ordered the shrimp and for a few extra bucks, added some scallops also. The meal came with mashed potatoes (topped with a fried plantain of which I had one small bite before my daughters inhaled the rest) and vegetable (in this case green beans). I also asked for the Herbed Pesto Sauce for dipping (you can request from several sauces per the menu).

The shrimp...perfectly seasoned and crispy on the outside but tender to the bite. The steak...prepared exactly to my liking and so amazing it actually nearly brought tears to my eyes. Paired with the herbed pesto sauce it was a very different but delicious flavor combination. And as for the scallops...holy cow. I took one bite and looked at my husband and proclaimed that these scallops were proof that every single scallop I had ever eaten up to that point were clearly overdone. These scallops melted like butter in your mouth. The mashed potatoes and green beans were incredible also.

The hubby had wanted lamb chops but the server informed him that the chef wasn't happy with the cut of meat he had gotten that day and therefore they wouldn't serve it. Although disappointed, he was totally impressed that they cared enough to send out only the very best to their customers. He opted instead for the Veal Milanese (pictured above with fried egg) and could not have been happier. Panko crusted and fried to perfection. The fried eggs were some of the best eggs he has ever tasted.


So...up to this point I had consumed bread with guava butter, ceviche tostadas, a 5 oz. filet, 4 shirmp, 1 jumbo scallop (I shared the other with the hubby), mashed potatoes AND green beans. I did not leave a single bite of food behind because it was so damn good. That did not, however, stop us from ordering dessert. See...the awesome thing about bringing your kids along is that you can say you're really ordering dessert for them...but after a couple bites, they are done and you get to finish it off!

We ordered a key lime pie for the eldest and a chocolate cake for the middle. The pie was good...I only managed to get one bite of that because the 6-year-old ate the entire thing. But it was very authentic and fresh tasting. The cake...oh my gosh. I want that cake every day for the rest of my life! Usually I don't really like cake unless there is ice cream to go with it because usually cake is dry. This cake...not so much. Not at all, in fact. Apparently it is soaked in milk and the result is a cake that is not fudgey and not undercooked...but super moist and fantastically delicious.

Needless to say, I have never had a better meal at a restaurant...EVER. And it was a place that was not just for adults and date-nights, but a place my whole family could enjoy. The food was out of this world...I should know...I ate enough of it! Whoever the head chef is, he knows what the hell he is doing! He knows food...good food...and he knows how to prepare it perfectly. The people behind Rivera's have a passion for their restaurant and it is 110% obvious why they are ranked #1 on Urbanspoon. There is nothing out there that tops them... At least not yet...

Our family will absolutely be back. Probably not as often as we'd like (once a week) since it is on the other end of town from us...but when we want to treat the family to a "fancy" dinner...Rivera's will, without question, be the place we go!

Cheddar's Casual Cafe: Greenville, SC

This goes against everything I believe in and I have procrastinated this day for about a month now, but I just had to check out what all the hype was about. If you have driven down Woodruff Rd (worst road in America, avoid at all cost) near the old Greenville Mall, I'm sure you have noticed a new restaurant or two. Cheddar's Casual Cafe, AKA Corporate American Dining at its finest. The parking lot is always packed and people are talking - a lot about this new Corporate player in the already over filled Chain style dinning theme of Greenville.

The new beautiful building is simply amazing on the outside, but watch out on the inside. It is inviting and boasting with character that makes you want to come in. But once you are on the inside, you feel as if you on the main floor, right in the middle of a 1993 Beastie Boys mosh pit. The biggest complaints about this restaurant isn't typically the food, rather the poor service and the long waits. Knowing this prior to our visit, we decided to stop in at 11:15 on a Sunday morning for an early lunch. When we arrived with the restaurant only being open for 15 minutes, the parking lot was already packed full and over flowing into the vacant mall behind. As we walked in, people were everywhere. We were told that they just seated the last table a few seconds prior and it would be a 20-30 minute wait. I amused the hostess and took the little vibrating drink holder and stood in the way along with everyone else. After about 5 minutes, just as I was ready to tell the wife "lets go find something different", the buzzer went off.

After we were seated, our very lovely server came for a visit and took our drink orders and as she arrived with those, she quickly offered us information about the menu and some of her favorite items on it.

"At Cheddar’s, our always fresh, always satisfying and always-affordable food is made by hand especially for you."

 Now, not knowing of Cheddar's existence until they arrived in Greenville, I honestly had no idea that they were a Corporate run chain or as huge as they are having representation on 23 of the 50 states until i looked them up on the interweb. And to claim that everything is fresh and made from scratch is just laughable for another TGIFridays or Chillies wannabe restaurant. I would love the opportunity to step into the kitchen of this restaurant to see for myself as I am unsure of this claim even after my visit. If everything is A) FRESH and B) MADE-FROM-SCRATCH, how many cooks do they have behind that wall? This place is huge and can seat a ton of people and from the looks of it, all of those tables usually have people sitting at them. I am also willing to bet that they have one of the largest freezers in the restaurant Biz and have it packed full of food.

The food was decent, nothing spectacular or special in anyway. My Chicken Fried Steak - ($7.99 - Hand-breaded fork tender steak fried and covered with a blanket of our country gravy. Served with Texas toast and two sides) was a little different than I would have expected, but it was palatable.The steak was no where near "fork tender" and the batter was about twice the size of the actual ground chuck on the inside. The Texas toast was served underneath this pile of grease and for good reason. It acted as an absorption mat to capture all of the grease that trapped itself in the empty pockets between the breading and the chuck. The only reason I say that the food was decent was for the price. I'm a strong believer that you get what you pay for and in Cheddar's case, you get what you pay for. Large portions of mediocre food for an unbelievable price. Our total bill for three kids meals, two sodas and two entree's was a mere $26.95 plus tip.

Overall: I cannot say one way or another if I like Cheddar's or not, you will have to decide that on your own. For the price, I cannot take my family to a local sub shop or any of the overrated fast food chicken places in town. The service was exceptional and probably the most enjoyable part of this dinning experience. The food was nothing more than OK and the wait time was good for us, but we planned ahead (the wait time at 11:30 was already up to 90 minutes). You can compare the food served here to the same thing you would get at any other corporate chain on Woodruff Rd with the exception that your wallet will be a little heaver when you walk out and depending on what you order, it might just slightly be a little better.

Golden Strip Diner: Simpsonville, SC

Being from a small town in Minnesota and growing up spending my summers at an 'Up North' cabin in an even smaller town, I appreciate the long-lost small town diner. In fact, I have very fond memories of  spending many a day and night with extended family and friends at just such a place. When my family and I relocated to Simpsonville last June, The Wife and I had got that small-town feeling instantly as we took our first drive down Main Street, past the old clock tower and the old "station turned into an ice cream joint". This was how we grew up and we knew that we wanted the same thing for our children. When I first stepped foot into The Golden Strip Diner, I knew I was home.

I am going to look at this review in two parts, one for the diner itself and one for the food.

The Diner: I felt as if I had just stepped back in time to the summer of my 7th grade all over again. Very dingy, but clean with newspapers laying around. Air filled with smoke, but contained to only a small portion of the diner. Locals hanging out and spreading local gossip, who then drop everything they were conspiring the second a newbie walks through the door and the bells hanging ring. Daily specials plastered all over boards on grease-covered walls and a fancy rotating desert case.The classic waitresses have this presence about them that makes you feel as if they have worked in the diner for 20 years (although some probably not as mine was a very young lady). The service is straight forward, not necessarily in your face, but to the point and they do not hover or harass you as the whole place is open and they can see from any place in the joint. Plain and simple, this diner was everything that I was hoping for in my new small town that I relocated my family to just a short 10 months ago.

The food: I wish it was better. I am not a breakfast eater, so I cannot say anything about the very large breakfast menu that is available all day. I hear it is good, cheap and a local favorite. They have about anything you can imagine that a greasy spoon diner would offer plus the ever popular meat and two. The daily special on Wednesdays is meatloaf plus two sides, corn bread and sweet tea for $5.99. Growing up in the Midwest, meatloaf is one of my favorite comfort foods and one that I still have not found better than my fathers. Unfortunately, this is one meal I cannot cook at home due to The Wife's complete and utter despise of this wholesome meal. I'm just going to throw this out there and not candy coat it, if you are looking for a boat anchor, head on over to The Golden Strip Diner on Wednesday and pick up a 5 lb. brick of what they call meatloaf. It was absolutely horrible in every single way. They topped this thing with ice cold Heinz ketchup and slapped it in the microwave for about 30 seconds only warming up two of the four corners. The middle was just about frozen and you needed a knife to get through this thing. Needless to say, I am just a big pussy when it comes to telling the truth to someones face when they ask me "how is everything"?! I wish I would have told my waitress how it really was in person rather than having to type this, but again, lesson learned and I am just here to let people know so they don't repeat my mistakes. The mashed potatoes and gravy were nothing more than boxed powder and the stuffing was very dry, even with the gravy poured over the top. About the only thing here that was enjoyable was the corn bread muffin I received and that isn't saying much.

Bottom-line: The Golden Strip Diner is one restaurant that I will not completely rule out yet simply on the fact that the diner is so nostalgic and brings back many memories of my childhood. Just don't expect to receive amazing or even edible food when you visit. I'm sure I will be able to find something on the menu at one point or another that will satisfy my greasy spoon diner experience, but the meatloaf sure isn't it. The feeling when you walk in is way too awesome to miss, but when you walk back out and you are still hungry, a quick and swift slap to the face hits you.

Have you ever been to the Golden Strip Diner? If so, how was the food? What other small town diners in the Upstate would you recommend?

Pasta House, Wine Tasting Event: Simpsonville, SC

Wine Tasting Event Review:

If you’ve read my husband’s review of The Pasta House in Simpsonville, you know we are big fans. The restaurant is owned by a local couple and everything is made from scratch. We care about eating good food; they care about providing good food…simple as that! So it is no surprise we are both fans of them on Facebook and we look forward to seeing their specials. In February, one special in particular caught my eye. They were doing a wine tasting event on Saturday, March 10 from 8-10 p.m. The post said something to the effect of, “wine tasting and appetizers for $10 per person.” Now…I don’t care who you are…just one glass of wine and some appetizers alone are worth 10 bucks. So, I gathered some of the girls and made reservations.

Two days before the event the person whom I believe to be the owner called to confirm my reservation. Initially I had told them between 5 and 8 people as I was still waiting on a few to let me know for sure, but I did let the woman know at this point it would be just 5 of us. I asked specifically what the evening all included and I was told we’d be tasting 2 whites, a blush and 3 reds. As for appetizers, she said she didn’t know what all was coming out of the kitchen but there would be plenty to go around. Call me crazy, but if you are planning an event and are two days out, I would think you should know what is going to be served. But, again, for $10…it was a good deal regardless.

The girls and I decided to go grab a pizza first, seeing as the event didn’t start until 8 p.m. and we weren’t totally sure what or how much food we would be getting. That took less time than anticipated so we walked into The Pasta House at about 7:40 p.m. We told the owner we were a bit early and she asked which party we were. Now, we did only have 3 in our party at this point because 2 of us had unexpected emergencies that arose that morning (death in the family and sick kid) but the reaction I got when I told her my name was nothing short of rude. She blurted out, “Weren’t you supposed to have 5? You told me 5!” I just calmly explained the situation and although she was clearly upset, she told us we could order something at the bar and go have a seat at the table for 3 in the back corner.

The girls and I each got a glass of wine and headed back to our table. We were also given menus and told we were free to order from those if we chose to. But, since we had just had pizza and had appetizers coming, we just sat and sipped our wine. We got to chatting away and didn’t realize it was already after 8 p.m. At about 8:05 p.m. the owner came out and told us we were going to get started and that she was expecting several more people but we were not going to wait on them. She explained that we would be tasting six different wines and handed out a print-out of what each wine was and the different notes about it. We were told to head up to the bar to get our samples and to just go at our own pace. Appetizers were on a table off to the side and those were also self-serve. I don’t know about you, but when you put 3 moms of young kids together on a girls-night-out…we talk. And we talk A LOT because we are not being interrupted and we can actually carry on an adult-like conversation. So most people were on their third or fourth sample when we realized we hadn’t even gotten our second. We fell so far behind it was ridiculous. We also forgot completely about the appetizers and didn’t even go up to get a plate until our second sample of wine was half-gone. The appetizers were just OK. Nothing special as they were made in larger batches to accommodate many people at once. Nothing was labeled so if you didn’t know for sure what it was, you just had to guess. I am assuming what was in the buffet style warmer was a spinach dip and it was served with crackers. They also had a fruit and cheese platter, bruschetta and some type of chicken wings. Later in the night they added a fried ball of something to the table and we asked the owner what it was. She said, “It’s a rice ball. It’s an Italian thing. They’re really good.” Even though that description didn’t tell us anything about it, we all grabbed one with curiosity. I cut into mine with a fork just so I could see what the middle looked like. Let’s just be honest…it was a fried ball of mush. There was no rice even in it…which with a name like “rice ball” I would have assumed I would see. I didn’t take a bite, nor did the other girls. It was one of those things that if we knew what was in it, we may have tasted it but it didn’t look appetizing in the least and was deemed more of a mystery food than anything else.

Eventually we did finish all our samples of wine and as the evening wound down, the owner came around to all the tables to see what we thought of the wines and said they would like to feature some new wines on the menu. AHA! So THAT’S why they held the event in the first place. To get people’s opinions on wines so they could chose those that appeal to the most people. Makes total sense!

I did at one point hear the owner telling a group of people behind us that they wanted to do an event like this again but next time they would possibly sell tickets. She said, “We had 15 people that didn’t show up. Isn’t that rude? We probably lost money because all that leftover food over there is wasted and will just go in the trash.” Immediately I felt awful. I knew our party didn’t account for the majority of those 15 who were no-shows, and I know that I did everything in my power to keep them updated on how many people we had coming and that those last-minute drop-outs from our group were beyond anyone’s control. Even so, I felt partly responsible. Although I don’t blame the owner for her feelings and I agree that if they do something like this, changes would need to be made…I still feel as though her comments throughout the night regarding the no-shows were completely unprofessional. As a business owner, you need to have a poker face when it comes to that kind of stuff. It is totally fine and completely reasonable that you feel that those people let you down and that your business may suffer because of it, but that is not something you should be sharing with your patrons. You do not EVER want your customers to leave feeling like they have contributed to your losses or that your business isn’t flourishing in any way. In my opinion, she should have been more positive and focused on the future rather than what went wrong this first attempt at such an event.

Despite the fact that the food that night was mediocre and I left feeling awful about the people in our party who weren’t able to make it, we had a great time. The concept was great and I would more than likely do it again. I would suggest a couple things to make the event better for them, and their customers in the future though. First of all, I would recommend that they actually SERVE their guests. The constant getting up and down and shimmying around other tables to get to the bar/food was really ridiculous. Most of the enjoyment we got was in the company and conversation. To have to get up at least 6 times (once for each wine sample, possible more often to get food) was really disruptive not only for the person doing it, but also for the person sitting at their table who had to constantly scoot their chair this way or that to accommodate passers-by. Secondly, your staff needs to be knowledgeable about what they are serving. You can’t just tell people it’s good…people want to know what’s in it that makes it good! And your staff need to be able to build that trust with the guest so the guest feels confident that you’re running the ship right. Also, have the supplier whose wine you’re sampling go around to all of the tables! That way they become more involved and can have a more one-on-one conversation with everyone about the wines and what they may pair with. Speaking of pairings…a typical wine tasting with food does involve just that. At this event, we saw none of that. The Pasta House wants to get the word out about their food…and they should because it’s good. So instead of setting up a mass-produced appetizer buffet and handing out menus to everyone hoping they’ll order food too…use the six wines to pair with six dishes off their menu! Take maybe 2 appetizers, 3 entrees and a dessert. Just divide a regular sized portion of the dish into mini-servings. You can make less food and better quality food this way while showcasing your menu. Also, if you did this and advertised it as more of a six-course dinner event, you could easily charge $25 to $30 per person. You’d make more money, generate more interest in your restaurant and come out ahead in the long run. Not to mention they could then put these wine/food pairings on their menus and boost sales of wine, which seems to have been the goal anyhow.

I really do love The Pasta House. I want them to succeed. They obviously have a passion for the food that they serve which is probably what I love about them the most. They just need a little help on how to execute things to give them the most bang for their buck. I hope they read this and can take something from it so that next time they do an event like this, they don’t just break even (or lose money). I hope that they can create positive atmosphere so their guests will feel comfortable coming back. I hope they can generate positive word-of-mouth to help them gain new and lasting customers. I hope that they can showcase their food and pair it with amazing wines and then I hope they advertise the hell out of those pairings and boost their sales. And I hope that next time, instead of being frustrated and feeling defeated, they can walk away with their heads held high and smiles on their faces.

*This review has been brought to you by "The Wife."

Rafferty's Restaurant and Bar: Greenville

If you have ever seen the movie "Office Space" then you are very aware of what it means to sport "pieces of flair". And, if you have ever been to Rafferty's then you know what I'm saying when I tell you the atmosphere of that place feels like a scene right out of that movie. Although not awful, Rafferty's is really just another ho-hum chain like Applebee's or TGI Fridays. The food is cookie-cutter, the tables are sticky and the service is lackluster. I kinda wish we had known this before we stopped in there, but I guess sometimes the only way to figure things out is to try them. I won't go making that mistake again...



On this occasion the hubby ordered a Chicken Finger Salad. As you can see, it is essentially bagged lettuce mix with some overly breaded chicken nuggets, diced tomato and some grated cheese. According to the menu there are supposed to be diced eggs and crispy potato sticks on there, but I don't see them, do you? Let's be honest about this one...my 6-year-old can put together a nicer looking salad than this. The only bonus is a few of the salads do offer a small or large portion option, but honestly if you're feeding me that...then small is still too big. It's just not appetizing.



I opted for a 1/2 salad and 1/2 sandwich combo. What you don't see is my Caesar Salad which was more white than green due to an overload of very anchovy-ish dressing. As for the sandwich...I got the basic Club. Nothing wrong with that...if you're into cheap pressed deli meats and store-brand wheat bread. It was typical of any Club Sandwich I've ever ordered at a Chain so I can't say I was disappointed.

The bottom line is...this is just another chain restaurant serving mediocre food (at best). They don't care about quality food...or even good food. They just do what corporate tells them to do and churn out pre-packaged, pre-molded meals like they're going out of style. If you happen to like Applebee's, then give it a try. It might be right up your alley. As for me and my family...we won't be back.

*This review has been brought to you by "The Wife."

Zarza Eclectic Cuisine: Spartanburg, SC

A 120-seat Latin and American fusion eatery, with dishes that blend regional favorites from across the world with local flavors. Jose and Jackie Landa are committed to giving people a true dining experience. … Something that can't be found anywhere else in Spartanburg. The dining room is decorated in a bright color scheme that includes pastels, light woods and elegant textiles — elements that tap into the building's historic qualities and its location in the Grain District. The name of the restaurant speaks to Jose Landa's side profession. “Zarza,” literally translated from Spanish, means “the vine of a blackberry plant.” One of the eatery's house wines will be a blackberry vintage made by Landa.

Zarzas just opened the doors on Black Friday and in a short 3 months have a very loyal following. Up until today, I didn't even know that they excised (they really need to work on this). Just two days prior to my visit they introduced a new lunch menu to try to keep-up with the ever changing times and to keep the doors open for the lunch traffic. The restaurant opens at 11:30 for lunch service and when I walked in at 11:45, I was the only person in sight. By the time I had left around 12:30, only three other tables had come through the door. So why the loyal following with such a small crowd you ask? All three tables knew everyone by name and the staff dropped everything to greet these loyalists and one lady had the privilege to dine here for her third straight day in-a-row. With that said, Soup or salad is no longer included in the menu prices and can be added to any menu item for an additional $1.95. I must say that I was a bit disappointed when I discovered this as my heart was already set on a bowl of soup with my meal. Along with having to fork over a few bucks for soup, the menu prices of a few of the popular dishes have also increased by a buck. Although disappointed at first, I quickly got over it as my food was brought out. Along with some minor price changes, they have also added a full line of sandwich options along with a bunch of burger choices to try to appeal more to a variety of diners.

First off, the soup du jour. Today's feature was lentil and beef soup. As soon as I heard "Joe" say Lentil, I was all ears. Good lentil soup is hard to come by and I have a weakness for perfectly cooked lentils. This is one particular item that I find very difficult to make myself. Unfortunately the soup was just OK. It had a lot of slow cooked beef and some nice spices and flavors going on. The biggest complaint about this dish was its lack of intense flavors. I was waiting for the extra kick of flavor, but it never showed up within the soup. The lentils had turned into the next day soup mush and everything was blended together. Please don't get the wrong impression though or take the above comments as negative, it was just average at best. Not the worst letil soup ever, but definitely not the best I have had or the best that Zarza could put out of that kitchen.

For the main course on this visit I went with the Pabellon, A very traditional Venezuelan dish is composed of shredded shank steak slowly cooked with sautéed onions, red and green peppers, and basil leaves in red wine. Served with white rice, stewed black beans, and sweet fried plantains. Online price: $8.95 Restaurant price: $9.95. How could I go wrong with what many would consider to be the Venezuelan national dish.

The fried plantains were about fried as perfectly as they could have been. They had a very thick "candy coating" and paired very well with the Pabellon and rice. The black beans were decent at best, very bland in comparison to the rest of the dish and the rice was just rice. The slow cooked steak with sautéed onions and peppers was amazing and well worth the extra buck I had to fork over due to the change in menu. The beef and wine sauce had this taste that makes all of your senses go crazy. I was disappointed at first with the lack of fresh basil as described on the menu, but in the end I was glad that the basil wasn't present as the dish was perfect the way it was. The only thing negative I would say about this dish is that I would have preferred it to be served with a fried egg rather than the sweet plantains, but that is just a personal preference and how I am used to this dish being prepared.

In addition to some amazing Pabellon, they also feature many other very traditional and tasty Southern/Latin American dishes including Pasticcio, Picanha, Paella Valenciana (a portion for two) and a very extensive small plate menu featuring some truly amazing Crepes (just to name a few).

Bottom line, Zarza Eclectic Cuisine in Spartanburg is in a terrible location and one that you are not sure if you should leave your car alone while you run inside. About 2 blocks off the main strip and in a very run down part of town. Besides Zarza's website, they have absolutely zero interweb hype about them at all. I'm afraid that this restaurant has gone unnoticed for way too long due to the location and lack of advertising/social media. However, what they have done with the space on the inside is simply amazing. The restaurant is gorgeous and you truly feel invited and welcome by the vast open spaces that surround you along with the huge windows on the main road. Please help get the word out on this truly great Latin American restaurant in the Burg. Their food is too amazing to go unnoticed. Located just a short block or two down from RJ Rockers and Cribbs Kitchen.

Duffy Street Seafood Shack: North Myrtle Beach

If you have ever been to Myrtle Beach you are well aware that there are plenty of places to get yourself some seafood. Some are overpriced chains, some are Calabash buffets and some are just your little hole-in-the-wall places with good food and good service. Duffy's in North Myrtle Beach falls into the 3rd category.

We left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa one night and ventured out to find dinner someplace within walking distance of our resort. Duffy's looked like a decent place so we gave it a whirl. The good food, fair prices and fun atmosphere of Duffy's caused us to chow down there not once, but twice, in a 3-night trip. If you want some damn good seafood, you MUST go to Duffy's. Now MB does get busy if you're not there over New Year's like we were...and if that's the case and you aren't in North Myrtle Beach, don't worry! You don't have to sit in traffic for 2 hours to get there because they have one in Myrtle Beach and one way up north in Cherry Grove too. Basically what I am saying is that you have NO EXCUSE. Get thee to the nearest Duffy's!



I, personally, was won over immediately because they serve peanuts. Out of beach pails! How sweet is that?



My husband has a thing for oysters. He had never shucked his own before, though, and was a little taken aback by the additional charge for shucking fees. He didn't want to pay any extra but really wanted his oysters so he figured what the heck! He ended up ordering a steam pot full of them and shucked them himself. People from all over the restaurant kept watching as he kept shucking and eating, some even complimenting him on his "skill" as if he'd done it a million times before. He actually rather enjoyed doing it himself!



I couldn't decide what on earth to get, but I knew I didn't want anything fried so I ordered the Pirate's Plate which includes fresh fish, 1/4 lb steamed shrimp, 1/2 lb steamed Alaskan Snow Crab and 1/4 lb broiled scallops. On the menu it is described as "The perfect non-fried seafood combination." I had never had a blue crab before, so I decided to add one of those in the soft-shell for an extra $6.99. My food was fantastic. The only problem was there was so much of it, I couldn't eat it all fast enough for it to stay warm. That is more of a personal problem though!



Our meals came with cole slaw and choice of sides. We both chose Fried Corn on the Cob but I wouldn't do it again. It was more chewy and burnt-tasting that I cared for. We also tried the hush puppies and the cornbread. Both were tasty.



We sampled the Fish, Corn & Crab Bisque on our second visit and I was quite impressed. Sometimes you get a bisque with next to no seafood in it, but this had big chunks of crab meat. I would definitely recommend it.

The bottom line is that we both loved Duffy's. It has the free-sprited, easy-going, beach atmosphere you'd expect to have in Myrtle Beach. It is casual but serves fantastic food. There is something for everyone on the menu. And...it is a really good value because you get a TON of food for a fair price. Duffy's will be our #1 restaurant choice during future visits to the Myrtle Beach area...no question!

*This review has been brought to you by "The Wife."

Cribbs Kitchen: Spartanburg, SC

This is exactly what Spartanburg needed to help revamp the same old boring dining options available downtown. Cribbs Kitchen invites you into a revamped space that makes you feel as if you just walked into an Urban Nirvana{esq} setting. I'm still scratching my head at the folks who don't get what the theme is supposed to be here and how anyone can get the impression that the place is dry and depressing. Cribbs Kitchen is anything but. Very upbeat, happy and retro-remix{ish} vibes going on in both the very large bar area you fist encounter as you walk through the front door to your brief walk up the ramp to the back dinning room. The best way to describe the atmosphere is to picture the way a happening 50's diner was back in the 50's and then picture that same diner brought back to life in 2012 with a complete upbeat and uptown nostalgic feel.

Cribbs does a very good lunch and happy hour business while being located in an adjoining building to the local RJ Rockers Brewery and Main Street Pub, you really cannot go wrong with the location either. Don't worry, they have a huge parking lot and a dining room to match. The kitchen does a fantastic job getting food out without giving the impression that it is a challenge. The place just runs so smooth and it makes you enjoy your visit that much more.

Your probably wondering why I have the same picture of soup listed twice? Well, I was just as confused as you probably are or aren't right now. When you order your meal, you get to choose one side item. In a normal restaurant, you would pay a little more if you selected soup and quite possibly a salad over the standard fries. Not at Cribbs Kitchen, the side salad or the soup de jour are included as side items along with the smokey potato salad, chips or orzo pasta salad. What is not included are the fries. For an extra $1, you can either choose a huge portion of home-cut sweet potato fries or Parmesan fries. Both well worth the extra buck as they are delicious, but today they happened to have Shrimp Bisque as the soup of the day and I cannot pass up on a good homemade Bisque. Bonus for me, they brought me a bowl ahead of my entree along with a second bowl with my entree. The soup was very well balanced with a ton of fresh herbs present along with a nice Sherry scent that took over control. Tons of small, cut-up pieces of shrimp that maybe were a little too over done for my liking as I am sure they were tossed in the soup that morning and have been cooking all afternoon, but overall delicious.

For my main dish, I had a hard time passing up the daily special. Just the description of The Big Dipper had me drooling (flat iron steak braised with RJ Rockers Spartanburg Stout, sliced thinly and piled on a fresh hoagie roll with Swiss cheese & caramelized onions for $9.95), but I went with my gut and ordered the Singapore Fireball (after all, the four tables around me had a total of 6 orders for this exact same item), Roasted chicken, Asian slaw, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, Sambol sauce and Peanut sauces. Although the online menu states it is $7.95, the restaurant price is actually $8.95.

The wrap was brought out with a second bowl of soup and presented very nicely. I wasn't sure if I should eat the soup at first, but finally decided that they were not going to take it back to the kitchen and serve it to another guest, so I went for it. I'll start with bowl #2 of the soup. When paired with the Singapore Fireball wrap, it wasn't very enjoyable. I think with the pickled Asian slaw, the soup was way to salty to even enjoy. On its own, the soup is great, when paired with a chicken wrap that has a ton of flavors going on, not so enjoyable. Get your soup ahead of time, it is worth it.

The wrap itself I must admit, my very first bite was disappointing. The chicken was dried out and the veggies were so over powering that I really wasn't impressed. Then it finally hit, the Asian (pickled) slaw and the combination of the sambol and peanut sauces finally came together. Once the chicken was coated with the spicy sauces, it was like a completely different meal. Although a little messy, I must say that this wrap (a little bit far out) along with the vibe of the restaurant, this was my most enjoyable meal thus far in the Spartanburg area.

Bottom line is that Cribbs Kitchen has a very fun and upbeat feel with a menu to match. Hands down one of the best new restaurants to come to the Spartanburg area and what a great location to feature local beer just brewed across the parking lot. Bring your friends and co-workers because once you visit, you will be back often. They also post daily specials/menu each and everyday, sometimes even twice on Facebook.

Harbor Inn Seafood Restaurant: Greenville, SC

You get what you pay for!

If you enjoy dining at the geriatrics cafeteria of Greenville, this is the place for you. As you walk in, all you see are awards hanging on the wall. They were voted "Best of the Upstate" in 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009. Sounds impressive doesn't it? Well once you look a little further and realize what "Best of the Upstate" is, it all makes sense. "Best of the Upstate" is published by The Greenville News and voted on by the readers. So who reads the newspaper anymore? Elderly people, that's who.

So where to begin with this worthless dining experience that I wish I could have back. The booth that they sat the 5 of us in was tiny. I'm not that big of a person, but I barley could fit my gut between me and the table. Pitchers of tea and soda were left at random table throughout the restaurant. Fried shrimp and fried whatever white non-seafoodish things laying all over the floor. The restaurant is dated to a 1970's Jaws musuem and you fell as if you are in an omnitheater waiting for the lights to dim so you can watch the re-release of Jaws 3D.

We chose this restaurant because we were driving in the area and #2 wanted shrimp as this is her new favorite food and about the only thing we can bank on that she will eat. I would have been better off over at the Long John Silver's. I had the fried perch (Pictured at top). It was so soggy and greasy that the 3"-4" sections could not be picked up with my hands or my fork. The Perch had absolutely zero taste other than old/stale grease. I was lucky to eat maybe four bites. The wife ordered the broiled scallops and shrimp (pictured above) for $13.95. The scallops were tiny and very over done. The wife asked if I wanted to play a game of table hockey with her and we could use one of the over fried hush-puppies as our sticks and the scallops as the puck (it might have made dinner more enjoyable). The shrimp were also way over done for anyone's liking and the only thing that could be tasted was the paprika they sprinkled on them right before coming out of the kitchen. The slaw was miserable to even place in your mouth and the baked potatoes had been sitting in the warmer for at least three days and was pitch black on the outside.

The only saving Grace for the evening was my child's kids meal. What I would consider a portion and a half for any adult, was this. #2 had no complaints, but she had honey mustard to dip them in. A little strange, but it actually made them taste decent.

Overall, don't believe what you see as "Best of the Upstate" and please do not put yourself through what we just experienced. I have to image that you can get much better seafood (I'm not even sure what they served me was real seafood) just about anywhere than the crap they are serving at Harbor Inn on Haywood Rd. If your thing is over fried, extra greasy and extra large portions of what I would challenge of being real seafood, then the daily $5.95 special is for you.

Papa's and Beer: Simpsonville, SC

So if you have seen my review of the Papa's & Beer in Greenville, you know we thought pretty highly of it. But we wanted to see how it compared to the location in Simpsonville, so one rainy night when no one felt like cooking, we ventured out. Just a tip if you head to this location, get there EARLY or be prepared to wait. The building is tiny and if I am counting right, I believe there are only about 12 tables in the whole restaurant. In fact, once the wait begins, the front door area is as crowded as Wal-Mart on Black Friday.

This location offers the same chips, bean dip and salsa bar...just on a smaller scale. Again we decided to go with the table-side guac. Same deal as in Greenville, although our server here made it more fun. For some ridiculous reason we decided to order entrees as well. Not really sure what we were thinking because I was already full...but it's the kind of food where even if that is the case, you still keep eating. It really is THAT good.

The Hubby looked over the menu (which if I haven't mentioned is the same at both locations and offers a wide variety of traditional Mexican favorites as well as things with more of a Tex-Mex flair) and when the server came over to take his order, he pointed at two different items and said, "I want that." I ordered for the kids and then opted for a fajita style quesadilla for myself. I asked my husband what he had ordered and he replied, "I have no idea. It just looked like it would be good." He ended up with some type of sandwich and some chicken dish with traditional sides. He said both were amazing, and since I didn't try either, I will have to take his word for it.

(Below: Carnes con Salsa de Molcajetes, A traditional Mexican plate served with molcajete sauce, rice, beans, tortillas and pico de gallo topped with choice of meat)

My quesadilla was HUGE, but again, I have no complaints. Even after the chips, salsa and guacamole, I actually managed to eat the whole thing. I just hit the gym a little harder the next morning. The hubby ended up taking over half of his sandwich home, but considering that he ordered two entrees, I'd say he still did pretty well.

This location does have the same lemon-fresh cleaning product scent as the one in Greenville...but I no longer complain. Seems all of their locations are on the same page when it comes to cleanliness and whatever they are doing, it works. Coming from someone who can't stand dirt and is grossed out by something as ridiculous as a sticky table, it is quite impressive. We've been back to the Simpsonville location 3 times since our initial visit. I will say the food is about equal...if not maybe just slightly better at the Greenville location. Perhaps their kitchen offers a little more space than a 3x3 area large enough for one guy to turn around in. But, the service at the Simpsonville location seems much better. They are just so dang nice. Regardless...this has quickly become one of our new favorite restaurants. We will be back to whichever location we are nearest to when hungry!

And the huge $3 beers and $2.25 margaritas for happy hour are just an added bonus!

*This review has been brought to you by "The Wife."

Papa's and Beer: Greenville, SC

One Saturday afternoon we were out running errands around the lunch hour. Now we have seen the Papa's & Beer in Simpsonville many-a-time but have never stopped. Little did we know they have a larger location (if you've seen the one in Simpsonville you know it doesn't take much to get larger than that!) on Haywood Road in Greenville. Curious and craving chips and salsa, we stopped in.

The first thing you notice as you walk in the door is an almost overwhelming smell of lemon-scented cleaner. Now...I, for one, am a pretty big germophobe and I like everything to be clean and sanitized. Although I was comforted by the fact that it at least SMELLED clean (and therefore hopefully was), I was still a little turned off by the strong odor. My feelings about the lemon-scented restaurant quickly changed though as I realized they brought fresh, warm, home-made tortilla chips to your table and encouraged you to go help yourself at the salsa bar. They do give you bean dip also, but as a very well-known hater of legumes...I was pleased to find a wide variety of other dips to choose from including red salsas from mild to extreme, tomatillo salsa (one of my fav's), spicy avocado dip and more! Having 3 kids ages 6 and under, I was pleased to find a good variety on the kids menu. They had some traditional Mexican fare such as a burrito, taco or quesedilla with rice and beans, but they also had corn dogs, chicken strips and french fries. Heck...they even have fried shrimp! And the price was affordable in my book coming in at under $4 each including a drink.

We decided to try the table-side guacamole which, even though a little pricey, did not disappoint! They come out to your table with everything prepped and fix it all up right in front of you. They use 1.5 avocados, fresh diced tomato, onion, cilantro and jalepeno to your level of spiciness. Paired with the fresh chips, it could honestly be a meal in itself! I am actually drooling a little just thinking about it now...

My husband ordered one of his traditional Mexican favorites...enchiladas. He said it was fantastic so I guess since I do not like Mole sauce, I'll take his word for it. I opted for more of a Tex-Mex option and went with the Warm Fajita Chicken Salad and I gotta tell ya...this thing is completely amazing. Sure it has your typical romaine lettuce, but then that is topped with a sizzling warm fajita mixture including some of the best chicken I have ever tasted, bell pepper, onion, zuchini and squash. They drizzle a home-made avocado/ranch/caesar style dressing on top and add some crispy tortilla strips, white cheese and fresh slices of avocado. Ok...I am drooling again just thinking about it! Don't expect to finish anything if you go there...it is simply so much food you can't possibly do it. Which, given their fair prices to begin with, makes it an excellent value.

Overall, we were extremely pleased with Papas & Beer and will definitely be going back. Perhaps next time we will try the Simpsonville location since it is a bit closer to our neck of the woods. We'll let you know how it turns out when we do!

*This review has been brought to you by "The Wife".

Royal Thai Inc. - Greenville, SC

At the suggestion of a loyal follower of Strugglinghomebrewer, I finally made my way over to Royal Thai on Old Mauldin Road in Greenville to see if they could make me sweat. I walked into a half filled front dinning room around 12:15 on a Friday afternoon and was quickly greeted by, well the only employee I ever saw the entire hour I was there. He just pointed to the corner, and I obeyed and sat down. This man was running around with his head chopped off the entire time, and finally greeted me some 15 minutes later. Very nice man, maybe a language barrier, but nothing that wasn't manageable. The inside was a bit dirty and run down. The table tops where held together with Scotch tape and the walls looked like they could use a good steam cleaning. The floor was filthy and the booths were in some dire need of repair, maybe beyond repair and should get tossed out with the trash. It was tolerable, but they have a ton of room for improvement that could get first time customers to return.

While I was sitting and sitting and waiting and waiting, I noticed the table of 4 sitting just in-front of me acting a little strange. The one man, trapped on the inside of a small booth with four adults was about to pass out. He was bright red in the face and had sweat pouring down from his balding head. He was wiggling back and fourth and appeared to be very uncomfortable. Maybe it was something he ate or that he needed more water to make the burn intensify more. Well after he stopped eating and 15 minutes or so passed, he started to complain to the other diners that it was way to ridiculously hot and that he didn't understand why it had to be so hot and that he basically accused the restaurant of "trying to kill him". This is when I knew, even before I ordered that I was going to be in for a real treat.

After my water was delivered I proceed to place my order. I went with the Thai Basil with chicken and Soup (Hot and Sour was the soup of the day). Upon ordering, I made sure to ask for it to be spicy. He immediately replied with a 6 and started to walk away. I stopped him and asked him to explain how the heat scale works and what he would consider to be Thai Hot for this type of dish and then I asked him for just one level spicier. In the end, my dish was ordered at a heat level of 8. My soup arrived, and it wasn't very good. It had an off taste to it, almost a plastic scent that ruined it for me. It also had about 5 or 6 crunchy things that reminded me of animal bones that were unpleasant. I'm sure they were some sort of Chinese noodle or fried tempura or something, but it was weird to me. My Hot and Sour soup should not go crunch. I did however overhear another couple talking about how you have to come in on Tuesdays for the Tom Yum. I got excited when I heard this as I have not had good Tom Yum since August when I was out of town.

Finally, my meal arrived, but I cannot complain as the man running the joint did warn me that it may be a little while. I always do appreciate honestly from a restaurant server who prepares me prior to putting my order in if it is going to take a little longer than normal to prepare my food. This just tells me that they are not going to sacrifice quality for quantity. The fresh basil smelled so good that I couldn't wait to dig in. I was now pissed at this point in my meal, not at the restaurant or anything they had done, but the fact that what I had in front of me looked and smelled so good, it was too DAMN hot (hot hot, not spicy hot) to eat. After awhile had passed, it had finally cooled down to a manageable temperature.

This Thai dish is the BEST Thai dish I have had in over a year. It was absolutely the perfect spice level for me and even made me sweat a little. The chicken was not dried out like everything I have found in the Upstate thus far and the ratio to chicken and veggies was perfect. It had more flavors going on in this one dish than anything I was ever used too. Every bite brought on a new flavor and opened up senses that I have never encountered. Lets just say that the chicken dish was that damn good, I have had dreams about it already.

Bottom-Line, after trying 7 different Thai restaurants in the Upstate, this place is by far the clear winner of the most truly authentic Thai cuisine. Well maybe not the most authentic as I have never been to Thailand, but in taste, quality and most enjoyable Thai dish, it is the clear stand-out for me. It also helps that it is located in the strip mall right next door to the Upstate's Home brewing store, Grapes and Grains. For me, I will still continue to try out all of the other Thai restaurants out there, but I will be making frequent stops to Royal Thai Incorporated every time I need to make a stop at Grapes and Grains for some supplies.

Does anyone else have a good recommendation for a good Thai restaurant located in the Upstate? They are very difficult to find as they all seem to be located just off the beaten path enough that unless you know about them, they are non-existent. Thai restaurants are also very difficult to research online as very few have actual web sites or any reviews about them. Lets try to change this.