17 Best Restaurants in The Midlands and Upstate, South Carolina

Named after a freshwater sunfish and set in a former auto repair garage, this casual-cool joint serves up whole-hog barbecue from its wood-fired outdoor pit as well as hearty Southern specialties like chicken bog, quail legs, and catfish stew. Have a nightcap of craft cocktails at the popular bar.

Stacks of colorful shipping containers house mini-kitchens circling a central courtyard at this outdoor food hall. Grab an acai bowl, a signature sushi roll, or a basket of fried chicken, and find a spot to kick back and enjoy the live bands on weekends.

Mirrors and art adorn the walls at this French-inspired bakery and café serving coffee, sandwiches, soups, and cheese plates. Next door, the retail shop sells wine, kitchen gadgets, French table linens, and fancy food items.

This cozy bistro with upscale French fare is set in a below-ground-level dining room in one of the first buildings constructed in the city after Sherman's infamous march. It has exposed brick walls, arched windows, and original wide-plank floors, plus sidewalk seating, and feels like a true city bistro. Dinners are creative but not over the top, with entrées such as seared breast of duck with orange and fennel, and a classic steak frites.

This coffee shop roasts its own beans, and from its location immediately next to the State House, it's helped to fuel many a legislative session for more than two decades.

Warm lighting, wood-paneled walls, and wide windows that open to the sidewalk beckon passersby into this new hot spot for raw oysters, and treats like a fried clam roll, a shrimp burger, and the Lowcountry Crab Rice keep them coming back.

Enjoy the laid-back Southern atmosphere at this Carolina barbecue joint. Grab a plate, get in the buffet line, and load up on brisket, pulled pork barbecue, fried chicken, ribs, and fried fish, along with fixings such as collards, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese.

Locals love this busy contemporary restaurant, with dim lighting and dark decor that conveys a cool class. The menu changes monthly and may include American, Caribbean, French, and Italian entrées. Dinner reservations are recommended on weekends.

Who knew that barbecue sauce could be the base for such tasty salad dressing or that pimento cheese could elevate a fillet to near perfection? Appetizers of fried pickles and country ham–spinach dip only add to the creative thinking that makes Mr. Friendly's such a local treasure. The ever-changing wine-by-the-glass menu is another.

This funky café pairs Aiken's best coffee (the coffee beans are roasted right next door) with freshly baked muffins and sweet rolls, panini sandwiches and salads, and homemade soups. The crab bisque is particularly good.

The exposed brick wall and high-back booths offer the perfect upscale backdrop for steak or seafood, including tuna sashimi and shrimp in garlic chili sauce. The menu also features an extensive list of more than 100 wines. It's a surprisingly modern, upscale spot for a rural part of the state.

Grab a cold brew and shakshouka for breakfast or a roasted sweet potato bowl with a side of marinated cucumbers at this veggie-forward counter-serve café.

This contemporary diner's menu features a little of everything, from bacon and eggs, burgers, and souvlaki to Greek-style chicken and shrimp and grits. Sit in the booths or at the half-circle counter with stools to enjoy your meal; when you're done, check out the sweets menu from the Stax Bakery next door.

This popular restaurant with pomegranate-color walls and high ceilings has the fillets and pastas, but the reason many locals come is for the herb rotisserie chicken. The beef for the burgers is ground on the spot, and salads consist of locally grown organic vegetables.