8 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.

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.

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.

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.