The Anchorage: Greenville SC's Best Small Plates Restaurant

If you are new to Greenville or thinking about making it home, the food scene here will not disappoint you. And there is one spot in particular that locals keep coming back to.

The Anchorage at 586 Perry Ave in the Village of West Greenville is one of those rare places that feels special without trying too hard. It is casual, creative, and quietly impressive. In 2025, it earned a spot as a recommended restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide American South, and it is not hard to see why.

A Neighborhood Spot with National Recognition

The Anchorage opened in 2017. Greg and Beth McPhee wanted to bring bold, creative cooking to West Greenville using locally sourced ingredients and a genuine love for good food and wine.

It did not take long for people to notice. In 2018, the restaurant was named a semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. It was also honored as a semi-finalist in the "No Reservations Required" category by The World Restaurant Awards.

Today, the kitchen is led by Chef Steve Zurkey. The food continues to reflect the same values the McPhees built the restaurant on: fresh ingredients, local partnerships, and a menu that keeps evolving.

Where Is It Located?

The restaurant sits in the heart of the Village of West Greenville, one of the city's most vibrant and creative neighborhoods. The area is packed with local art galleries, boutique shops, and independent restaurants.

The building itself is a two-story space with brick and wood walls, low lighting, and a relaxed atmosphere. The first floor has the dining room and a semi-open kitchen, so you can watch the team at work. The second floor has a bar and additional seating, plus an outdoor deck that guests love for after-dinner drinks.

Right next door is Taxi House Wines, the restaurant's in-house wine shop. You can browse more than 80 wines from sustainable, family-owned wineries. If one catches your eye, they can open it for you right there at the table.

What to Expect on the Menu

The menu is concise and intentional. There are usually around eight to ten dishes available, all designed to be shared and enjoyed at a relaxed pace. Everything is made from scratch using ingredients sourced from local farms, artisans, and regional producers.

The menu rotates with the seasons, so each visit brings something new.

Popular Food Picks:

• Yellowfin Tuna Crudo with lemon, orange, spring onion oil, dill, pickled fennel, creme fraiche, and smoked salmon roe
• Mushroom Makhani with lion's mane, blue oyster, and pioppino mushrooms in a "butter chicken" sauce with carrot, mint raita, and bhel puri
• Piselli Verdi Pasta featuring spinach dough, boudin blanc, house ricotta, heirloom cherry tomato, and green pea emulsion
• Wild Caught Gulf Cobia served with Farm and Sparrow cornbread puree, Bradford collards, field peas, and Calabrian vinaigrette
• Caroland Farms Wagyu Flank Steak with Covington patatas bravas, pipian verde, pickled cabbage, and watermelon radish
• Smoked Beetroot Tartare with truffle aioli, golden beet yolk, and caraway toast
• Bread Service with bourbon liver mousse and house-cultured butter

If you want the full experience, the Tasting Table is the way to go. It is a four-course menu with appropriately sized portions of everything on the menu. The whole table participates together, and it is a great way to try dishes you might not order on your own.

Drinks You Should Try:

• The Midnight Special cocktail with Old Overholt whiskey, Punt e Mes, amaro, and Herbsaint
• We Got More Soul with pisco, amaro, lime, and pineapple gomme
• Up in Flames with Westland Single Malt, espresso, chicory, and pandan liqueur
• A rotating selection of wines by the glass from sustainable producers in France, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Oregon

The wine list is carefully chosen and deeply sourced. Guests regularly call it one of the best wine selections in Greenville.

The Atmosphere and Experience

This is not a loud or flashy restaurant. It is warm, intimate, and welcoming. The kind of place where you feel comfortable on a date night, a birthday dinner, or even a casual Tuesday after work.

The staff is known for being knowledgeable and genuine. They know the menu well and will talk you through wine pairings, seasonal ingredients, and what the kitchen is excited about that week.

The upstairs deck is a hidden favorite. After dinner, head up for a drink and enjoy the West Greenville energy around you.

Location and Hours

Restaurant: The Anchorage

Phone: (864) 219-3082

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Closed: Sunday and Monday

Reservations: Accepted and recommended

Parking is available on the street. If you arrive with a larger group of six or more, check ahead as the tasting menu is required for larger parties.

Why Locals Love It

The Anchorage is the kind of restaurant that feels like Greenville at its best. It supports local farms, champions small producers, and creates food that is creative without being pretentious.

If you are relocating to Greenville or exploring the area before a move, this is exactly the kind of local gem that shows you what life here really feels like. Independent, thoughtful, and full of character.

It is also a great example of what the Village of West Greenville has become. This neighborhood is one of the most exciting and livable areas in the city, and The Anchorage is right in the middle of it.