Some restaurants make you feel like you drove three hours to the coast without ever leaving the Upstate. The Jones Oyster Co. is one of them. Set on a historic corner just steps from Court Square, this small seafood spot brings raw bars, lobster rolls, and cold beer together under one roof, tucked right behind its well-known sister restaurant, Soby's.
If you love fresh oysters, a lively crowd, and a building with real history behind it, The Jones Oyster Co. is worth the trip downtown.
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Where Is The Jones Oyster Co. Located
The Jones Oyster Co. sits at 22 E Court Street in downtown Greenville, right in the heart of Court Square. The restaurant is walking distance from Main Street, so it fits easily into a night out downtown, whether you start with dinner here or end the evening with a walk along the Reedy River.
A Building With Real History
This corner has a story that goes back more than 150 years. The building is one of the oldest on the block, and its past stretches all the way to the Civil War era, when it first served as a dry goods business. Around the turn of the century, the owners Ellis and Pope turned the space into a wholesale grocery store, and it stayed a grocery store until after World War I.
Standard Furniture Company took over the building for a few years after that, and in 1929, Jones Furniture Co. moved its smaller North Main location into the space. Jones Furniture sold furniture to Greenville families for 38 years, right up until the late 1960s, when the company was purchased by Haverty's. After that, Carl and Helen Prosser ran a popular discount shoe business out of the building for years.
The building's next chapter came in the late 1990s, when Carl Prosser sold it to Carl Sobocinski and his Table 301 partners. They restored it into a new downtown restaurant called Soby's New South Cuisine. Years later, that same building would give birth to The Jones Oyster Co., a name chosen as a direct nod to the old Jones Furniture Company that once filled the space.
Today, exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and soft touches of blue and white bring that old building back to life, giving the restaurant a warm, lived in feel instead of a brand new one.
Part of the Table 301 Restaurant Group
The Jones Oyster Co. is part of Table 301 Restaurant Group, the same team behind Soby's and several other well known Greenville restaurants. That connection shows up in how the restaurant sources its food. The team builds close relationships with local farmers, purveyors, and small producers, and puts special focus on regional oyster farms.
One partner worth knowing about is Rappahannock Oyster Co., a family owned business based in Topping, Virginia. For more than a decade, that company has worked to bring back the native Chesapeake Bay oyster, teaming up with farmers, chefs, and conservation minded partners along the way. The Jones Oyster Co. is proud to serve oysters from that partnership, which supports both flavor and the health of the coast the oysters come from.
The Food and Drinks
At the center of the menu are raw and grilled oysters, served fresh and shucked to order. Guests often sit right at the bar to watch the shuckers work, prying open cold, briny oysters one at a time.
Beyond the raw bar, the kitchen turns out a full seafood menu, including Lobster Rolls served in both the classic Maine style and the buttery Connecticut style, Peel n' Eat Shrimp, Fried Oyster Po'Boys, New England Clam Chowder, and a smoked fish dip that regulars keep coming back for. Reviewers often point to the cheddar hush puppies and the Low Country Crab Rice as standout sides, along with grilled Gulf oysters served NOLA style.
The bar keeps pace with the kitchen, offering a thoughtful wine list, a wide range of popular beers, and handcrafted cocktails. One drink that comes up often in reviews is the playfully named We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat, a fitting pick for a restaurant built entirely around the sea.
What Guests Are Saying
The Jones Oyster Co. holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor, based on 45 reviews, and ranks among the top restaurants in downtown Greenville. Guests often mention the fresh oysters, the friendly and attentive service, and the lively, packed in energy of the small dining room. The restaurant is also an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau, holding an A+ rating.
Because the space is small, waiting is common, especially on weekends. Most guests agree it is worth it for the food and the atmosphere.
Hours and Location
The Jones Oyster Co. is located at 22 E Court Street, Greenville, SC 29601. The restaurant can be reached at (864) 549-0301 or by email at [email protected].
Hours run Monday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 10pm. The restaurant is walk-in only and does not take reservations, so guests should plan for a short wait, especially during peak dinner hours.
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