Sushi Murasaki: Downtown Greenville

Sushi Murasaki located in Downtown Greenville has been a regular stop for us for the past year. This was the very first sushi the wife and I ever had in this town and one that we find ourselves returning to often. The quality of the fish is always consistent and one that we can always count on. The sushi chefs are always fun to chat with and to encourage them on. If you challenge a sushi chef with some of the freshest ingredients, you are going to get something special. On this particular visit, it was just No. 1 and I out for a little daddy/daughter fun day full of ice cream from the Marble Slab Creamery and cupcakes from The Chocolate Moose. After spending all morning and afternoon downtown running from one end to the other doing whatever No. 1 wanted to do, I found myself hungry for a real solid meal before the 7 o'clock Greenville Drive game that we were going to. The sweet little girl that I call No. 1 looked up at me with the biggest eyes and said, "Dad, you like sushi so much, why don't we go get you that. I can just eat those hot green beans that I like." So that's exactly what we did.

No. 1 ordered some Edamame for $3.50 and would not even share one with me, but that's OK, I snuck one anyway and wasn't too thrilled with them. They were a little soggy and did not snap like they should have and not one single morsel of salt was present. That is the best part, sucking the salt off the shell before you eat the soy bean inside. However, No. 1 had no complaints and actually impresses quit a few folks around with her mad chop-stick talents.

I on the other hand went with Ume Bento Box for $25.It included 3 pieces of shrimp tempura, shumai, gyoza, spicy tuna tempura roll, 3 pieces of Nigiri, chefs choice sashimi and a bowl of miso soup. This is probably the single most delicious thing you could possible image for the price. I think I ended up with 14 - 16 pieces of assorted Sashimi and probably the largest 3 shrimp tempura I have ever had. The gyoza was tasty as always and the freshness of everything keeps one coming back.

I wish I could say the same thing for the service as I do about the food. This is the place where you need to stay away from the bar unless you are a single male looking to hit on some of the most stuck-up bartenders in the world. Sit at a table and if the place is packed, wait for a table, it is worth it. The male bartenders are the work horse behind the bar and the female bartenders just sit there and look pretty while they fix their hair and look down upon you. You can come to your own conclusions about the service, but make sure that when you walk past the sushi counter, say hello to the sushi chefs as they will keep an eye on you and where you are sitting and make your order a little extra special.

Bottom line: Sushi Murasaki has some of the freshest fish I have yet to encounter in Downtown Greenville. It is always consistent and you can trust that your meal will always be served with the utmost care and attention to all the details that you never knew was imaginable. Some of the prices on the specialty rolls are a little high, but don't let the price scare you away, they are worth every single penny and once they arrive, you will agree. I personally recommend the Texas Rainbow roll and the Aquarium roll. Those two rolls alone are enough to feed two people and probably not clear the plate. The creativity that goes on behind that counter is simply indescribable.

Downtown Greenville has a total of 5, maybe 6 sushi restaurants and this is the only one I have ever been to. I would love to hear what other sushi restaurants in the downtown area other people enjoy and what their favorite items are.

Sushi Murasaki
2 South Main Street
Greenville, SC  29601
http://www.sushimurasaki.net

Sugar 'n Spice Drive In Restaurant: Spartanburg, SC

When you think of Drive-In restaurants and Spartanburg, SC most people think of the Beacon because all the hype is happening over on that side of town. Not for me however, the Beacon is just average (and I say average very loosely) greasy spoon food that you get thrown at you while being yelled at. When I think of Classic Drive-In food, Sugar -n- Spice is where the real greasy spoon food and passion is at.

As I walked through the door and figured out how the cafeteria style dining works, I was quickly reminded how wonderful "Southern Hospitality" really is again. I stepped up to the order window and was greeted by Mr. Pete Copses himself, the legend behind the counter for more than 50 years.. He quickly realized that I wasn't from around these parts and that he didn't recognize me and quickly started asking me questions. When I said that I had just relocated to South Carolina just a short 11 months ago, he along with everyone in the entire kitchen stopped what they were doing, turned around and welcomed me to South Carolina and Sugar -n- Spice. While my Jumbo Cheeseburger was cooking, he was very quick to tell me exactly what I needed to order and try on my next visit (apparently the chili here is the real deal).

I went with what many say is the most popular menu item, the Jumbo Cheeseburger, Double patty burger topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo served with fries and onion rings. A-Plenty - $6.95. After about 3 minutes I found myself sitting in a booth drooling over this plate full of food. Looking all around the restaurant and seeing people of all type enjoying the hospitality and tables piled high full of food, I quickly dug-in. This burger was no Juicy Lucy, but let me tell you, this burger is absolutely worth everyone's time to make the trip up to Spartanburg for. The soft classic seed bun with a very tasty pile of meat and some darn fresh ingredients piled high to perfection. I think I know what the secret is behind this burger tasting so good, but you will have to be your own judge on that. The staff taking frequent breaks (during a slowdown in the line) from behind the counter to pop-a-squat with the regulars and strike up conversations. They even stopped by after I had completed my meal to make sure everything was good and Mr. Pete Copses striking up another conversation as I was on my way out.

Bottom line: The secret behind the grilled burgers (and everything that comes off the grill for that matter) is the 51 years that they have been cooking on that thing. Good burgers come with time and decades of seasoning that piece of iron with quality and fresh ingredients. The fact that for 51 years a restaurant hasn't changed one single thing about its recipes and is still with the original family is what makes this place so amazing to visit. This place is by far the number one on my list for that small town, greasy spoon meal that everyone craves every now and then. Please don't listen to me though, make a stop and find out for yourself. Once you pull into the parking lot and find a parking space under the old drive in, the smells coming from the building will start to make your mouth water. My only problem is that you can smell it for a three block radius and I drive by this place every single day! It is hard to resist.

Sugar -n- Spice Drive-In:
http://www.thespicerocks.com
 212 South Pine St
Spartanburg, SC 29302
864-585-3991

Olive Tree Pizza and Grill: Mauldin, SC

Out of desperation and at the request of my 4 year old, I found myself sitting at a dirty table in the middle of yet another Greek/Italian restaurant. Olive Tree Pizza and Grill describes themselves as, "Healthy food, good prices, excellent service in one of the best dinning places in upstate South Carolina. A Greek-Italian restaurant where tradition is still present!! Homemade lasagna, delicious pasta dishes, fresh salads and traditional Greek plates." I would describe them as, "Store bought pizza dough, greasy and over priced".

The place was nearly a ghost town with a whopping two other people in the joint at 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon (I now know why). Service was severely lacking and the place was filthy. I had to clean my own table and wipe off the booth seats before I could allow my child to take her seat. Lets just say that it really didn't start off with a bang!

Pizza it was, half Pepperoni and half Sausage. Since I ordered half and half, one would imagine that they would only charge you for a total of one topping, but nope, I was charged an additional $4.50 for one topping on each half of the pizza. What seemed like an eternity our pizza finally arrived. I'll keep this as simple as possible for everyone, it wasn't even eatable pizza. The first bite was just OK, but after all the grease had penetrated its way through the very nasty and fake tasting cheese layer, the crust became cardboard. Actually, I think I would have rather eaten cardboard.

That is all I got to say about that!

As you can see, my little one still had a good time and is always ready for any and all photo opportunities that come her way! I asked her for her review of the place and her comment was, "Daddy lets go home and just leave the pizza here. I don't think mommy will really like this, Tony's is way better."

Monsoon Noodle House: Spartanburg, SC

The Monsoon Noodle House in Spartanburg burnt down right before I moved to this wonderful state. It is finally OPEN for business again. When I asked about the re-opening, no one really seemed to know anything about it, "I think we have been open a week or three" was the most common answer. I cannot compare the new design to what the old restaurant used to look like or how the food is (although I am going to assume the food is very similar if not the same) to the old restaurant, but I can say that the decor and layout of this place is wonderful. It is very clean and open with a vibe that encourages conversation with the two strangers sitting across from you.

Ever since I left Minnesota last May and my old office right down the street from the best Pho restaurant I have ever stepped foot into, I have been a little scared to try it in the south. That doesn't mean I haven't been craving it almost every single week. Not only that, not a single noodle or Vietnamese restaurant is convenient to anything in Greenville. They are all north of the city in an area that I am rarely ever seen.


With that said, I ordered the #1 Noodle Bowl, Pho Vietnamese Noodle Soup with beef for $7.35. Typical Pho is served up in some super rich beef broth with not too much in it to start with. This is one of the great things about Pho if you have never experienced it for yourself (every bowl is made to your liking by YOU). Along with a massive portion of "soup" larger than your head, you get a side plate with all the fixings. You then get to doctor it up to your liking. I have to say, the only negative thing about Monsoon Noodle House was the side plate of garnishing. It was missing the Cilantro as the Pho itself already was served with two or three leaves in it (clearly not enough) already and no fresh jalapeno slices. The Basil was not the freshest and had started to wilt and go bad the day prior and only one tiny lime wedge. Other than this little issue I got nothing else bad to say about this place.

The Pho itself was freaking fantastic (after adding tons of hot chili sauce and a few dashes of hoisin), the huge portion of beef that was served with it was the most tender beef I have ever encountered in this type of dish. I actually felt bad watching the petite waitress trying to carry this massive sized bowl with the side plate and all the condiments that come along with it, but she managed to get it delivered in one piece. People actually turned their heads to see this thing get delivered and one man commented to the waitress if she needed help with that.

The "M" below I thought was supper cool. This is the engraving of all the new chairs in the place. Not one single thing was sacrificed or a single corner cut in the new opening of this place, including the portion sizes and quality of food. Prices are below what "normal" should be which just makes this place an even bigger draw for me and the hundred or so people that were piling through the door.

Bottom Line:  This place is a true gem, but you don't need me to tell you that as I am just one among the thousands of people who love this place. The food is kept very simple, yet the quality and intense flavors are not left behind. You could tell that the staff was still in that "chaotic, new restaurant" stage, but it wasn't bad as things seemed to run fairly smooth (just one manager politely telling staff what to do when doing nothing) . I just wish that they had more marketing to get the word out that they are once again open for business after being closed for nearly a year. I honestly didn't even know they were open again and I cannot find anything on the interweb stating this. I just happened to be walking past by mistake after losing out on my parking spot to a cop on Main Street.

Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine: Greenville, SC

Having cravings for Thai food at least once a week, Sweet Basil on Pelham and 14 was this week’s restaurant of choice. Not really knowing too much about it prior to walking into the strip mall restaurant, I had very high expectations instantly. As I walked in I was overwhelmed, it wasn't like anything I have ever experienced in Thai dining before. The restaurant was actually nice and the wait staff actually was "REAL" wait staff. They were friendly from the second I walked in the door to the second I steeped foot out the door.

After having issues with the spice level at so many Thai restaurants in the Upstate, I decided I would go back to my roots and just order my food "Thai HOT" rather than this silly 1-10 scale that actually can go up to 30 at select restaurants, but only if you are in the know.

The online menu shows a lunch menu option, but I was given what appears to be just the standard dinner menu without any lunch options. This was fine by me as this menu is simply amazing. It is like nothing I have ever seen in my life. It is a combination of all of my favorite Thai restaurants rolled-up into one menu. The fresh seafood items, duck, all the different curry options along with Chef Mana's Specials make this the most complete and interesting menu I have ever come across.

I knew that I needed some good Tom Yum and ordered myself a small bowl of Tom-Yum Goong, Thai spicy shrimp soup with lemon grass, lime juice, chili paste, cilantro, red onion and mushroom. $5.95. Unfortunately my picture never made it onto my phone, but let me tell you, this soup was amazing and I have been craving it ever since. The server even asked me how spicy I would like my soup as this place is the real deal. It was a very nice size portion and included three perfectly cooked jumbo shrimp. If you have never tried Tom Yum or never have had good Tom Yum, this is a must try if you never try anything new again.

For my main entree, I decided to try something from the Wok menu and ended up with the Pad Prik-King. A choice of meat (beef) stir-fried in Thai wild curry paste (no coconut milk) with red/green bell pepper, green bean, and kaffir lime leaf. $10.95. I was quickly brought this beautifully presentation of an egg roll and sauce on a miniature platter. Normally egg rolls don't do too much for me after being spoiled for so long with fresh made egg rolls back in Minnesota, but I can honestly say this thing was good. So good in fact I actually wanted more of them. What a wonderful way to start off the perfect meal. As soon as I finished with my little appetizer, my meal had arrived. At first glance and a few smells of the plate full of spices, I knew I was going to be in trouble. "Thai HOT" is how I like almost everything I eat regardless of what it is. And I could see that this plate had a hand full, if not two of fresh Thai peppers, both green and red chopped up and incorporated throughout the entire meal. What a wonderful addition, usually I am used to a restaurant just throwing in some additional cayenne or crushed peppers with some sriracha to spice it up for the crazies.

The dish itself was extremely spicy and I loved every single bite of it. My only complaint would be that the kaffir lime leaves were not present at all in the dish, but that is probably due to all the Thai chili peppers I had consumed. The beef was perfectly cooked and tender as could be. The portion size was decent, although for $11 I would have liked to see a little more beef on the plate, but I won't be too picky as this was seriously one of the best Thai meals I have ever had. Not only was the food perfect in every way, the service and environment in which you dine in was everything I have been looking for.

Bottom line: If you love Thai food or hate it, Sweet Basil has something on the menu that will satisfy anyone. The elaborate menu to the truly authentic Thai dishes makes this place a must visit for everyone and one place that I will be returning to as often as possible. It is worth a stop just for the Tom Yum and make sure you order it however spicy or not spicy you like it.

Fiddler's Crab House: River Street - Savannah, GA

Steamed Seafood Platter: Steamed snow crab legs, shrimp, oysters, mussels, clams, and crawfish served with choice of 2 side items. $28.99

After doing as much research as one would possibly want to do on finding the best place in a new town to eat, the Hubby decided that Fiddler's Crab House was the lucky winner of our final meal in Savannah.With so many choices on the River Walk, this was almost the most difficult decision that we had to make while on our 9-day family vacation. Turns out that our decision was a good, although pricey, one.

Seafood Alfredo: Large shrimp and tender sea scallops sauteed with sliced mushrooms in a creamy Alfredo sauce. Served with garlic bread and your choice of Garden or Caesar Salad. $21.99

The Hubby ordered the Steamed Seafood Platter (top photo) which was a huge portion of perfectly seasoned steamed shellfish of all varieties. I was in a pasta mood so I ordered the Seafood Alfredo (above) which was delicious. I was a bit surprised at the portion size of pasta, however as my eldest ordered the children's Alfredo (below) and had nearly the same about of noodles on her plate. The seafood in mine was fantastic and plentiful, but I'm not sure it accounted for the difference of $15 in the two dishes.

Children's Alfredo. $6.99

Our middle and more adventurous child chose the fried shrimp (below). The children's entrees were good, they both enjoyed them, but if you've read any of my other posts, you'll know that I HATE overpaying for kids' meals. And again, that is exactly how I felt about Fiddlers. $6.99 for some noodles and sauce is just too expensive and 6 fried shrimp should run a person no more than $6.99. BUT, to their credit, the food is delicious and they happen to be one of the most popular restaurants in the most popular area of Savannah, so hey...if people will pay for it (we obviously did) kudos to them for profiting from it.

Children's Fried Shrimp. $8.99

Even after all the food pictured above, we still couldn't leave without dessert. We ordered 3 items to share and between our family of 5, I don't think there was a single morsel left on any of the plates. The seafood was good...the dessert was surprisingly fantastic. The price, again, was a bit steep in my opinion at $5.99 per small slice, but sometimes a person/family just has to splurge.

Key Lime Pie, Raspberry Cheese Cake & Chocolate Cake. $5.99 each

Bottom line with Fiddlers is that you'll get a pretty cool, relaxed, river-town atmosphere with excellent food. You'll get a good menu selection with both seafood and non-seafood items that appeals to everyone. You'll pay a steeper price on many of the items than you might at a similar joint that wasn't on River Street in Savannah, GA...but like I said before...sometimes you just gotta splurge.