Greenville

...holiday - stop off at Greenville in South Carolina. It's an expanding city, home to a lot of high-technology companies now - Hitachi, MCIWorldcom, Teletech, 3M, Michelin, BMW - to name a few. The old Donaldson Air Base has been closed since the sixties but has been utilised as a haven for industry since that time. Lockheed Martin, Aamco Polymers and Stevens Aviation have found it conducive to their development.

The beauty of Greenville ...
...have seen.

Greenville has had an interesting history, and has taken to trying to keep a lot of the relics of it's past. Clapboard houses are lining streets just as they did in the early 1900's, yet the Peace Center and Bi-Lo Center (hubs of all manner of concerts, plays, operas, etc) oversee the downtown area with their modern architecture.

Jesse Jackson, outspoken civil rights activist who worked under Dr. Martin Luther ... more

For most people, a trip to America usually means one of the big tourist areas - visiting the Big Apple, or doing the Disney thing in Florida or California - but you could actually have an even better holdiay by driving through the USA. If you ever decide to give yourself that kind of a holiday - stop off at Greenville in South Carolina. It's an expanding city, home to a lot of high-technology companies now - Hitachi, MCIWorldcom, Teletech, 3M, Michelin, BMW - to name a few. The old Donaldson Air Base has been closed since the sixties but has been utilised as a haven for industry since that time. Lockheed Martin, Aamco Polymers and Stevens Aviation have found it conducive to their development.

The beauty of Greenville though, lies (for me) in it's history - much of which can still be seen. The area was once a hub of the cotton and textile industry. Land was mainly under cotton, mills utilised the power available from the Reedy River and other waterways to run the machinery that produced the material responsible for the employment of most of the working population. A particularly beautiful spot is at Conestee just outside of Greenville, where the old Conestee Mill stands derelict on the side of the Reedy River. The dam is to the right, and you can stand on the bridge and see the same vista that travellers 100 years ago would have seen.

Greenville has had an interesting history, and has taken to trying to keep a lot of the relics of it's past. Clapboard houses are lining streets just as they did in the early 1900's, yet the Peace Center and Bi-Lo Center (hubs of all manner of concerts, plays, operas, etc) oversee the downtown area with their modern architecture.

Jesse Jackson, outspoken civil rights activist who worked under Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up in Greenville and still returns to visit family in the area. It is also a thriving college town, Greenville Tech having a huge campus in the town.

There are plenty of hotels in the town, and the area is served by Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport. Shopping is plentiful, there are 2 main shopping malls, one has a movie theatre,a zoo, lots of smaller strip malls and a main drag - Woodruff Road - where you can find your Walmart in amongst the other grocery stores (there is even an Aldi!), banks and restaurants. There are clubs and bars catering to all manner of musical tastes.

So, if you want to give the rest of the USA a look see, come and give Greenville the once over. Explore the history, enjoy the good food, shop till you drop. Just come and say "hi". "Ah," I hear you say, "but where can we stop and get something to eat?" Where can you go for a good meal at a reasonable price? Are there any restaurants that might be a waste of money, or maybe don't give quite the value you'd expect for the price they want you to pay? Over the past few months, I've been out and about sampling some of the local eateries and have come up with some nice surprises, and one or two let downs. This is by no means complete and I will add other reviews to it, as I sample the wares of the yet to be visited.

Let's start with the casual - Subway. You could actually go through the drive-thru, grab your meal and take it downtown to the Reedy River Falls area and picnic amid the trees, watching the river rush over rocks and crash down below. We usually eat-in though, and I love Subway. They are the BEST sandwiches. I always go for the Club meal deal, and I have the Baked Lay's to go with it, so I'm actually getting a pretty low fat meal. In the USA, one guy has just lost over 100lbs on a diet having two Subway 6"sandwiches every day and now there are others soming forward too.

I love the decor; their wallpaper is just so interesting. It's great being able to watch the bread baking too. You know it's all fresh, and your sandwich is made fresh in front of you. Then, it's up to you. what do you like on your sandwich? I go for lettuce, tomato and onions. They have pickles, peppers, olives, all sorts, so that you can choose what you want, to make your sandwich taste the way that you like it.

They've recently come out with some new breads and four new sauces. I love the parmesan oregano bread, it really brings out the taste of the Club Sandwich, and to tempt those taste buds even further - try the new SouthWestern sauce. They advertise it for their steak sandwich but it goes equally well on the Club. Hubby's favourite is the Melt sandwich and he opts for the honey mustard sauce on his. That's the nice thing about this place though, every sandwich is unique. Meal deal for the two of us - footlong sandwich, chips and a drink, comes to around $13 - $15.

One of our usual can't-be-bothered-to-cook-let's-eat-out is our local Ryan's Steakhouse, on Woodruff Road in Greenville, South Carolina. One of the better quality casual dining places, we had been told. Well, they lived up to that. It was a very enjoyable experience and one we will definitely be doing again.

Our first time, we arrived for the lunch buffet - it was a Saturday - and it ran until 4pm. After 4pm, it'll be the all-you-can-eat steak buffet. No problem. There's a glazed ham, and prime rib roast at the carvery, rotisserie chicken, spaghetti sauce, breaded pork chop, salisbury steak and more on the entree section. Salad bar was excellent - everything fresh and crisp - not a wilted lettuce leaf in sight, and a good choice of veggies, chopped ham and eggs, cheese and dressings.

The hot vegetable/ pasta bar had quite a selection, but I'm not a pasta person and don't like butter or margarine, so (noticing that characteristic sheen that says one or other of these have been added) I gave that section a miss.

I did partake of some grapes and melon, from the fruit and dessert bar. Again, very fresh. Then my downfall - having to go past the ice cream/cake/cookies section. They had pies and cakes with fruity and fudge toppings, and a chocolate gateau that looked to die for. I was good and managed to leave that alone, but then fell victim to a chocolate/hot fudge combination - but I took only a small piece and a small twist of chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream.

When we first arrived, it was packed - obviously this place is not a well-kept secret. There are smoking and non-smikong sections, and we didn't smell smoke the whole time we were in there. The waitresses worked hard but remained cheerful and attentive. Amanda and Mikki, in particular, bustled around us.

The prime rib - well, I know everyone else likes it au jus but to me, I want to know my cow is dead before I eat it. Not a problem. Tony at the carvery was only too willing to pop it on the grill for me to brown it off.
Amanda cleared plates and used napkins away with a quiet efficiency, and refilled our drinks without being asked. All with a nice smile and friendly attitude. In fact, it seemed that all the staff were as happy in their work as anyone working in that environment could be.

Definitely family friendly, and a big pat on the back for the restrooms. Not only male and female, with large disabled -cum-baby change cubicle, but in the middle - a unisex one for all those dads and grandads who get to accompany little girls to the bathroom. And they were spotlessly clean.

Overall, an excellent place to eat. Comfortable and welcoming.

Tony Roma's claims to make the best ribs in America - well, I'm not going to argue on that one. And not just America, he's gradually taking over the world. One thing is for sure, you get your money's worth and you need a wheelbarrow to roll your belly out on afterwards! I suppose that tells you, in itself, that this was a good meal.

From the time you walk in, and are greeted by your hostess, you realise you are in for a treat. The background music is old soft rock 'n'roll, played just loud enough to be heard but not so noisy that it's intrusive. The open brick interior is highlighted by the prints of the "Cadillac Ranch" adorning it, and by the maroon/green/cream colour scheme throughout. The ceiling is all green, booth seat covers are a stripe of lal three colours, and tablecloths on the tables are of maroon and cream check. Live green plants are on ledges all over, but not so that you feel as if you're in a jungle - enough to accent nicely and not enough to be overpowering.

We were seated in the non-smoking section - and nary a whiff of smoke came our way. Our waiter was Travis, young, friendly and very attentive. We ordered our drinks as we perused the menu trying to decide what we would have. Our appetiser, the baked potato skins, was an excellent choice. The best we've tasted, and we've liked a few. Well seasoned, and coated liberally with cheese and bacon bits. They serve them with sour cream on the side, but they were good enough for me, without.

Hot home baked bread came with a seasoned butter. It was scrumptious. We had already decided on the special sampler plate - ribs, barbecued chicken and smoked sausage - but wondered where we were going to put all that food. Hubby was washing his down with a Michelob Light where I'd opted for Diet Pepsi. The main course came. The chicken breast was succulent, tender and juicy without being greasy or watery like some other restaurants. The ribs just fell away from the bone. The pleasant surprise was the smoked sausage, and here you must realise I am not a sausage fan in any way, shape or form. Not even the little porkies. This smoked sausage was exquisite - juicy and seasoned very succinctly. Just excellent.

Plates were whisked away immediately, no messy dishes sitting on the table through the meal. And when all was said and done, Travis returned with two warmed wet wipes for us to clean up with, and a mint to refresh the palate. Excellent meal, excellent service, a nice place to go for a meal. Seems to be everybody's favourite place. Tables emptied and were refilled, there were couples young and old, families and a few groups of friends, and the atmosphere was really nice.

Our favourite chinese restaurant is the Empire Buffet. Tastefully decorated, they have a good selection of oriental delights - soups, savoury entrees like beef and broccoli, General Tso's Chicken, boneless barbecue pork ribs, sushi, snow crab legs, spring rolls and plenty of rice and noodles. Their dessert bar offers fresh fruit and chinese sweet dumplings, as well as flavoured jello and puddings. It's family oriented, and very friendly. Situated in a little plaza on West Butler, not only do they do all-you-can-eat buffet but have a take out menu as well. They are very popular in the local area and do a constant trade.

My favourites are the fried rice, boneless ribs, beef and broccoli, and the teriyaki chicken sticks. Service is excellent, although a couple of the waitresses speak very little English and seem to get by on their smiles. Lunch is cheaper than dinner, but even dining at night, we spend maybe $15 with a tip, so definitely good value for money.

And, as always, I check out the bathrooms which are always clean and smell of almonds usually from the liquid soap in there. Nice touch.

La créme de la créme has to be the Arizona Steakhouse. It was hubby's birthday, and I wanted to take him somewhere special for dinner. We dine out a lot (and I post a lot of reviews!) so I wanted someplace different from all the regular places we go. From the moment we walked in, I knew we'd picked the right spot. It was cosy and casual, yet the manner was quieter, less hustle bustle than some other steakhouses. Definitely, a bit more upmarket.

The décor was tasteful, utilising artifacts and pictures of Indian culture - Arizona is well known for it's Navajo and Hopi heritage. Cacti grew in bowls, accented by pebbles, casting shadows by the candle lights glowing on the tables.

Our server, Nancy, appeared deftly at the table to take our drinks and appetizer order. We both opted for a Newcastle Brown - my first beer in ages - and iced water, and decided to share the baby back ribs appetizer. Oh joy! They were superb. They came on a bed of shoestring fries, fell off the bone, and were so tangy. Delicious. A warm damp napkin and wedge of lemon appeared unobtrusively on the table for wiping fingers afterwards. Likewise, empty plates were removed deftly without pomp or circumstance. Just quiet efficiency. Only once were we interrupted to ask whether all was satisfactory with our meal, unlike some restaurants where you almost feel hounded after every bite.

Hubby decided to try the Table Rock steak and passed me a taste. It was melt in your mouth, and the barbecue type sauce was piquant yet sweet. Absolutely awesome. His came with green salad, and a choice of side dish. He chose a baked potato. I went with the club sandwich - ham, turkey, bacon and 2 cheeses on toasted wheat bread with tomatoes and lettuce - and french fries. The sandwich was excellent, perfect. I wish they did home fries though instead of the shoestring - I dread to think of the fat grams I consumed tonight.

The overall experience was pleasant and relaxed. Hubby says it was an excellent place for a birthday celebration - and no cupcake with a candle and all the staff singing their rendition of "happy birthday", either. Definitely a bit more upscale, and the bill reflected that. Our meal and the 2 Newcastle Browns came to almost $37 - apt for hubby's 37th birthday, we joked. Not somewhere we can go to on a weekly basis but definitely our first choice now for those special occasions."Blazin' Bill's "restaurant is situated back from the road, on West Butler in Mauldin, almost hiding back there but known to it's regulars and, it seems, to Country and Western musicians. The walls are adorned with signed photographs of quite a few of those we listen to on the radio, or buy the music of.

The restaurant is a small operation, the hostess/waitress/cashier did all of the floor work - from greeting and seating us, bringing our drinks, taking our orders and clearing away the plates as we finished with them. I believe we saw two people working in the kitchen. The decor is basic, square wood tables and wood seats, very rustic looking.

The food itself is pretty much your staple southern barbecue. Their ribs were excellent, smoked, and they fell off the bone. The meat was seasoned just right, and there was barbecue sauce on the buffet bar, so that you could add as much or as little as you wanted. There was some pulled pork, but although tasty, it was a little dry for my particular taste.

The chicken though! Wow! This is THE BEST place for chicken in the Greenville area. I'm funny about chicken, I want it cooked properly, no pink bits once you begin to eat, no watery juices flooding out, and definitely no rubbery texture. There is nothing worse than a combination of those to turn me right off a meal. Theirs was excellent. Thoroughly cooked all the way through, not dry but not overly moist either. I tried both the fried chicken and the rotisserie/roast style. Both were excellent - seasoned nicely and very tasty.

The rest of the buffet bar, although small, gives plenty of choice for side dishes - there's macaroni cheese, fried okra, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes - all the good stuff that form the heart of country style cooking . I told the girl though, I have a much better recipe for barbecue baked beans - but I'm biased. Theirs were good, but mine are better! The salad bar was fresh and plentiful, all the staples that you find in bigger restaurants. I had a good plate full and had no complaints.

There were some desserts, hubby had some ice cream out of the machine and topped it with hot fudge, but there was also banana pudding with vanilla cookies, and chocolate pudding. I was already stuffed so passed on dessert.

The restaurant did a slow steady trade while we were there, and has smoking and non-smoking sections, divided by a wall so you are not bothered by the smoke if you are in the non-smoking section. I can honestly say we did not smell any smoke while we were eating. If you want somewhere quiet but you're looking for a pretty good meal - 2 people, all-you-can-eat buffet, including drinks came to just under $19.

Now, y'all come and stop by now .....

 

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