Top 10 Restaurants in Greenville, SC
The Only List You Need Before You Eat in the Upstate
Greenville, South Carolina, is not a hidden gem anymore. When the first MICHELIN Guide American South came out in November 2025, the city got noticed. One restaurant earned a star, four more got listed, and the food scene finally got the national credit it deserved.
This list is not filled with safe picks or paid spots. Each restaurant earned its place based on real reviews, awards, and consistent feedback. What you get here is honest: the food, the story, the praise, and when needed, the flaws too.
These are the 10 best restaurants in Greenville, SC, ranked.
#1 — Scoundrel
18 N Main St, Greenville, SC 29601 | French Bistro | Tue-Thu and Sun: 5-9 PM | Fri-Sat: 5-10 PM | Closed Mon Google Rating: 4.6 ⭐
There is no debate here. Scoundrel is the most awarded restaurant Greenville has ever had, and it is not even close.
Chef and owner Joe Cash grew up in Greenville before leaving to train at some of the best kitchens in the world. He worked at Per Se in New York (three MICHELIN stars, four New York Times stars), Noma in Copenhagen (two MICHELIN stars, often called the best restaurant in the world), and later as Executive Chef of The Pool at the Seagram Building in Manhattan. In 2021, Cash came home. On October 21, 2022, Scoundrel opened on Main Street.
What came next was fast and impressive. In 2023, Esquire named it one of the Best New Restaurants in America. In 2024, the James Beard Foundation listed it as a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the country. In 2025, Scoundrel got Greenville's first and only MICHELIN Star, making history for the area. Chef Cash kept going. In 2026, he was named a James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Southeast, one of the hardest regional titles to earn.
The menu is French bistro food made with local, seasonal items. Look for tableside beef tartare, broiled oysters, escargot, steak frites cooked in house-made duck fat, a Caesar salad that fans say will change how you think about the dish, and a roasted half chicken with gnocchi and moutarde sauce that almost everyone loves. The wine list leans French and smart. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM and is a good way to try the place for less.
What people are saying: "The whole experience exceeded my expectations. The broiled oysters and the osetra duck fat caviar bites, every bite felt thoughtful and indulgent in the best way. The bartenders were outstanding, knowledgeable, warm, and clearly passionate." — Yelp reviewer "EVERY SINGLE BITE WAS BEYOND DELICIOUS. Subtle flavors that linger on the palate; excellent wine list."
The honest caveat: Not everyone leaves a fan. Some reviewers on TripAdvisor and Yelp say the MICHELIN Star sets expectations so high that the meal can feel hard to match. "Slightly underwhelming given the expectations" came up more than once. Seating is tight, the noise level is moderate to lively, and reservations often fill up weeks ahead. Plan your budget carefully. A full dinner for two can cost more than $200.
Must Order: Roasted half chicken, tableside beef tartare, broiled oysters, duck fat fries, crème brûlée
Best For: Date nights, special occasions, food lovers who want a real dining experience
New to Greenville or thinking about a move? Grab our free relocation guide to learn about the neighborhoods behind these restaurants, from downtown to the West End.
#2 — Soby's
New South Cuisine 207 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601 | Southern Contemporary | Mon-Thu: 5-9 PM | Fri-Sat: 5-10 PM | Sat-Sun Brunch: 11 AM-2 PM | Sun: 4:30-9 PM Google Rating: 4.6 ⭐
If one restaurant helped build Greenville into the food city it is today, it is Soby's. That is not a stretch.
On November 7, 1997, co-owner Carl Sobocinski, a 29-year-old with a big idea and a bold move, opened Soby's New South Cuisine at 207 South Main Street. The building was an old warehouse that had once been a shoe store. During the fix-up, the team found original brick walls under plaster and a skylight hidden behind ceiling tiles. The project won the Best Commercial Revitalization Project of 1998 from the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors. Soby's did not just open a restaurant. It helped bring life to the south end of Main Street when that area was still behind.
Nearly 30 years later, Soby's is the heart of the Table 301 Restaurant Group, a Greenville name that now runs more than 10 restaurants across the area. The wine program is the best in the state. A temperature-controlled underground cellar holds more than 15,000 bottles, with an off-site collection bringing the total to 17,000. The wine list has more than 4,000 choices. In July 2025, Soby's received the Wine Spectator Grand Award. Only 97 restaurants in the entire world hold this title, and Soby's is the first in South Carolina to ever get it. Soby's is also listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide to the American South.
The food is refined Southern cooking. Fried green tomatoes with jalapeño pimento cheese, shrimp and grits with Anson Mills corn and andouille, lump crab cakes, and braised short ribs are the stars. Warm cheddar biscuits come to every table.
What people are saying: "The signature dish is the shrimp and grits. One of the best you can get in the South. It is just a perfect dish." — TripAdvisor reviewer "5 stars ain't enough for our dining experience." — TripAdvisor reviewer "We started with the fried green tomatoes, she crab soup, and a salad. Our main dishes were the short rib and the fried chicken. The fried chicken was the moistest, crispiest, well-seasoned chicken ever." — Yelp reviewer
The honest caveat: Some TripAdvisor reviews mention slow service on busy Saturday nights. A small number of guests also raised concerns about being charged for items they did not order. For a restaurant with this kind of reputation, those moments stand out. Portions have also been called small for the price. Make a reservation on weekends.
Must Order: Barbecue Shrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes with Jalapeño Pimento Cheese, Crab Cakes Remoulade, banana cream pie
Best For: Wine lovers, special occasions, first-time Greenville visitors who want to understand the city's food history
#3 — Halls Chophouse
550 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601 | Steakhouse | Mon-Thu: 11 AM-10 PM | Fri-Sat: 11 AM-11 PM | Sun: 10 AM-10 PM Google Rating: 4.6 ⭐
Halls Chophouse is the big-night restaurant in Greenville. It is where people go when something important happens, when the bill goes over $500 and no one cares, when a server sends a handwritten note to a couple after finding out their son was born.
The Hall family opened the first Halls Chophouse in Charleston in 2009. It was founded by Bill Hall Sr., a hospitality veteran with more than 40 years of experience running hotels and restaurants from Napa Valley to Pebble Beach. Bill Hall passed away without warning in August 2020. His wife Jeanne and sons Tommy and Billy kept his dream alive. The Greenville spot came later at 550 South Main Street, with views of the Reedy River and a feel that earns the word "grand."
The menu focuses on wet- and dry-aged USDA Prime and Choice beef, including filets, ribeyes, Wagyu, and a 54-ounce tomahawk that regulars talk about like a legend. The she-crab soup, stuffed mushrooms, and mashed potatoes are the sides people come back for. There is live music every night, often jazz, and a Sunday brunch that has built a loyal crowd.
What people are saying: "This is my favorite restaurant I have ever been to. It is the perfect date night, perfect family night, perfect for everything. The staff is unbelievable, and they go above and beyond." — TripAdvisor reviewer (Emma C.) "This is more than a meal, it's an experience; your loved ones and you will remember for years. Almost everything was perfect. This place screams Five-Star and in my opinion is the best food in Greenville, SC." — Yelp reviewer "The food at Halls cannot be beat, and the service is impeccable. The collard greens, Prime Rib, and She Crab Soup are all amazing." — TripAdvisor reviewer (Monica C.)
The honest caveat: At this price, every detail matters. Some reviewers have had the kind of off nights that are hard to forgive when the bill is high: cold food sent back, service that did not match the reputation, and a few reports of staff being rude or not paying attention. These are rare in an overall very positive record, but they are real.
Must Order: Wagyu steak, She-Crab Soup, stuffed mushrooms, 54oz Tomahawk (if you are splurging), mashed potatoes
Best For: Celebrations, business dinners, and anyone who wants the full upscale steakhouse experience with live music
#4 — Jianna
600 S Main St, 2nd Floor, Greenville, SC 29601 | Modern Italian | Dinner: Tue-Thu and Sun 5-9 PM | Fri-Sat 5-9:30 PM | Weekend Lunch: Sat-Sun 11 AM-2:30 PM Google Rating: 4.6 ⭐
Jianna is named for a memory and a tribute. Chef Michael Kramer trained at the California Culinary Academy, worked at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Los Angeles, ran the kitchen at McCrady's in Charleston (Esquire's Best New Restaurant in America in 1999), and later served as Executive Chef of Culinary Operations for Table 301. He named his restaurant after a San Francisco eatery owned by his mentor, Marc Valiani, a chef who died from ALS in 2011. Kramer asked Valiani's widow for her blessing before using the name. She said yes.
Jianna opened in March 2017. In February 2020, Kramer bought it from Table 301 and became the sole owner, a goal he had worked toward his whole career. In 2024, he published his first cookbook, also called Jianna. The restaurant is listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide to the American South, and Kramer is a James Beard Award-nominated chef.
Jianna sits on the second floor of 600 South Main, above Lululemon. It has floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace looking out over Falls Park on the Reedy, one of the best dining views in Greenville. The open kitchen is the centerpiece inside. The menu is modern Italian: handmade pastas, oysters flown in daily, char-grilled octopus, potato gnocchi, ricotta crostini, and dishes like agnolotti with spinach and ricotta or pan-seared red snapper in a tomato broth.
What people are saying: "Best meatballs I've ever had. The pasta and sauce were also amazing. The salted caramel dessert was maybe one of the better things I've ever eaten in my life!" — OpenTable reviewer "We come about once a month and it's always incredible. We LOVE Jianna SO SO much!!" — Restaurant Guru reviewer "Beautiful ambiance and exquisite food! Service was outstanding!!" — OpenTable reviewer
The honest caveat: A few reviewers felt the portions were small for the price. Some mention that the online menu does not always match what is available, since items rotate with the season. One reviewer who said she was Italian was harder to please than most. Reservations are a good idea, but walk-ins at the bar are often possible.
Must Order: Char-grilled octopus, handmade pasta of the day, ricotta crostini, PEI oysters, olive oil cake with strawberry coulis
Best For: Date nights, special occasions, anyone who loves Italian food done with real skill
#5 — The Anchorage
586 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC 29611 | Small Plates / Farm-to-Table | Tue-Sat: 5-9:30 PM | Closed Sun and Mon Google Rating: 4.5 ⭐
The Anchorage earns its name through hard work, curiosity, and a real tie to the local area. Not through flash. It opened on January 17, 2017, in the Village of West Greenville, the city's arts neighborhood, and quickly became a key part of that area's identity.
Chef Steve Zurkey grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. He got his culinary degree from Johnson and Wales in Miami, then worked his way up through kitchens in Miami before moving to Oceanside, California. There, he became Executive Chef of 333 Pacific Steak and Seafood, then moved into a role overseeing more than a dozen restaurants with the Cohn Restaurant Group. In 2021, after a trip through the country's national parks, Zurkey ended up in Greenville. The first time he ever set foot in the city was actually outside The Anchorage itself, more than a year before he became its chef. The Anchorage is a 2025 MICHELIN Guide American South Recommended Restaurant and a past James Beard Award semi-finalist.
The menu changes based on what is in season and what is available locally, sometimes every day. Small plates are the format. The Tasting Table option lets you try the whole menu, and that is the way the kitchen is meant to be enjoyed. Local sourcing is not just a talking point here. It is how the place runs. Wine dinners with the winemaker have become a tradition, and Champagne dinners tend to sell out the same day they are announced.
What people are saying: "The Anchorage is simply put the best farm-to-table fine dining experience in Greenville." — Yelp reviewer "The tasting menu is an excellent decision. It showcases the chef's skill in balancing flavors, textures, and presentation using fresh, seasonal ingredients, perfect for a date night or small group gathering." — MenuPix reviewer (Ashley P., Aug 2025) "The menu rotates around seasonal and local ingredients. All uniquely cooked and beautifully plated." — Wanderlog reviewer
The honest caveat: Because the menu changes so often based on what is fresh, the experience can be very different from visit to visit. A few reviews noted dishes that did not land. One guest with a fish allergy arrived on a night when most of the menu was seafood and had a rough time. If you have food restrictions, call ahead. Small portions also come up often in reviews. Come ready to try a lot of different things, not to eat a big meal.
Must Order: The Tasting Table experience (the full menu in small portions), whatever the bread service is that night, seasonal vegetable dishes
Best For: Adventurous eaters, wine lovers, couples who want a quiet and beautiful night out
#6 — CAMP Modern American Eatery
2 E Broad St (Camperdown Plaza), Greenville, SC 29601 | Modern American | Mon-Thu: 5-9 PM | Fri: 5-10 PM | Sat: 11 AM-10 PM | Sun: 11 AM-9 PM Google Rating: 4.5 ⭐ | Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner
CAMP is the newest chapter of Greenville's most well-known restaurant family. It opened in 2021 as part of Table 301's build-out of Camperdown Plaza, a new mixed-use space in the heart of downtown. The founding Executive Chef was Drew Erickson, a Greenville native who trained at Soby's as a teenager, was guided by Soby's executive chef Shaun Garcia, and then spent four years cooking at Thomas Keller's The French Laundry in Napa Valley before coming back home.
In 2024, CAMP moved from Table 301 to independent ownership under Brian Crossan. The kitchen is now led by Executive Chef Diego Campos, a Table 301 veteran of more than a decade who brings strong Mexican and Latin cooking styles to the menu. The idea stays the same: globally influenced modern American food in a prime corner spot at Camperdown Plaza, with a rooftop terrace and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
The menu changes often, sometimes every week, and shows both Campos's roots and the kitchen's focus on seasonal ingredients. Shared plates include grilled octopus, jamon iberico, pork and shrimp dumplings, and creative proteins. The chef's counter is the best seat in the place.
What people are saying: "Everything about this experience exceeded my expectations. The grilled octopus, jamon iberico, pork and shrimp dumplings, grilled halibut, and crusted flat iron steak were delicious, creative, and perfectly prepared." — OpenTable reviewer "CAMP in Greenville, SC is a gem... This experience was as much about the people and ambience as the food. A perfect trifecta." — TripAdvisor reviewer
The honest caveat: A small number of OpenTable reviewers felt some dishes were bland or did not have enough seasoning. "The food was bland and lacked seasoning" was one direct comment from a recent guest. CAMP has been through changes in both ownership and kitchen leadership, and like any restaurant going through a shift, some ups and downs show up in the reviews.
Must Order: Grilled octopus, chef's daily specials, whatever the current pasta is; ask about wine pairings
Best For: Groups, date nights, guests who want creative food in a lively downtown spot
#7 — Windy City Burgers
12 E Coffee St, Greenville, SC 29601 | Craft Burgers | Tue-Fri: 4-9 PM | Sat: 4-10 PM | Sun: Noon-6 PM | Closed Mon Google Rating: 4.9 ⭐
Windy City Burgers has the highest Google rating on this entire list. That is not an accident.
Owner Nicole O'Brien spent years in the Chicago restaurant world, including as co-owner of Brgrbelly, a Chicago burger spot. She then teamed up with former Sassafras Southern Bistro owner Brant Kennedy to open Windy City Burgers on June 28, 2022, at 12 E. Coffee Street. The space was the old home of Vic's Pizza, right in the middle of downtown Greenville.
The focus here is quality above all else. Brioche buns are baked fresh in-house every day. Meat is hand-ground fresh from certified chuck and smoked pork belly. Fries are hand-cut daily. Everything is made from scratch. The menu is short, 10 burgers, a few fries, shakes, beer, and wine, and that is the point. When you care this much about one thing, a small menu is a strength, not a weakness. With only 16 to 18 seats and a strong focus on takeout and delivery, lines can get long on weekend nights. For regulars, the wait is part of the fun.
What people are saying: "I RARELY WRITE REVIEWS but had to for this place. 5 stars is too low a rating, 100/100. I've never had a burger this good!" — TripAdvisor reviewer "One of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants you stumble into and never want to leave. The burger was, no exaggeration, the best burger I've ever eaten." — Restaurant Guru reviewer "This place grinds their own meat, bakes their own bread and cuts their own fries daily... Worth every bit of the drive." — TripAdvisor reviewer
The honest caveat: This is a casual counter-service spot with very few seats. If you want table service, a nice setting, or a long sit-down meal, this is not the place. It is also closed on Mondays and has short Sunday hours. But for what it does, it does it better than almost anyone.
Must Order: The Damen, the Northwood (with house-made pimento cheese), salt and pepper fries, a milkshake
Best For: Lunch, casual dinners, anyone who wants the best burger in Greenville, full stop
#8 — Draper Purveying Company
25 W Washington St, Greenville, SC 29601 | Southern / American | Wed-Sun: Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch | Closed Mon-Tue Google Rating: 4.7 ⭐ |OpenTable Diner's Choice Winner 2025
Draper Purveying Company is the most exciting new restaurant to open in downtown Greenville in recent years, and it has made a strong first impression fast.
The building at 25 W. Washington Street has a long past. It was home to Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria for more than 27 years, one of the first craft beer spots in downtown Greenville, before Barley's closed in April 2023. Owner Howard Dozier, who is from Draper, North Carolina (the town that inspired the name), took the 19th-century, 8,000-square-foot building and remade it. The original wood floors, the grand staircase, the big windows, all of it was kept. But the energy inside is totally new. Downstairs is a full restaurant and bar. Upstairs is Cat's Pajamas, a 21+ supper club and live music venue with a stage that brings in local and national acts at least three nights a week.
Executive Chef Patrick Phillips leads a kitchen that does elevated Southern comfort food with a creative touch. Warm burrata, coffee-rubbed beef tenderloin, fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and hot honey, shrimp and grits, roasted salmon with pimento cheese risotto, and a chicken-fried chicken that gets great reviews every time. The weekend brunch menu has become a fast favorite with locals.
What people are saying: "Excellent brunch, cocktails, service, and atmosphere... you must try Draper Purveying Company! 5/5 on Food, 5/5 on Service, 5/5 on Atmosphere!" — Draper website reviewer "We thoroughly enjoyed our evening. I highly recommend the Coffee Rubbed Beef Tenderloin appetizer and the Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread. My friend loved the Roasted Salmon with Pimento Cheese Risotto." — TripAdvisor reviewer
The honest caveat: Draper opened in 2024 and is still finding its groove. As the newest place on this list, it does not yet have the long track record that the others do. On Friday and Saturday nights, the upstairs music venue means the whole place can start to feel more like a bar than a restaurant as the night goes on. It helps to know what kind of night you are looking for before you go.
Must Order: Coffee Rubbed Beef Tenderloin, Warm Burrata, Roasted Salmon with Pimento Cheese Risotto, weekend brunch Biscuit Benedict
Best For: Groups, date nights with live music, weekend brunch, anyone who loved Barley's space and wants to see it again
#9 — Asada
903 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29609 | Latin American Fusion | Tue-Sat: Open for lunch and dinner | Closed Sun-Mon Google Rating: 4.6 ⭐
Asada is Greenville's most important food story in the modern era, and going there means more than just a good meal.
Roberto Cortez was born in Nicaragua and grew up between Nicaragua and Mexico. He studied industrial design at San Francisco State University. His wife, Gina Petti, has Italian and Japanese roots. They met in San Francisco's Mission District and fell in love with food long before they ever thought about owning a restaurant. They moved to Greenville in 2007. In August 2012, they started Greenville's first food truck, Asada. Three years later, in 2015, they opened a sit-down restaurant at 903 Wade Hampton Boulevard.
The place is tucked between an IHOP and an auto repair shop. You would never find it unless someone told you. And once you do, you never forget it. The menu is Latin American fusion: tacos, empanadas, arepas, burritos, and rotating specials that mix Cortez's Central American roots with Petti's Japanese and Italian background and their shared love of the Mission District. Roberto often said cooking was like painting, and an empty plate was a blank canvas. His real paintings hung on the restaurant's walls.
On December 14, 2024, Roberto Cortez passed away without warning at 55. He was Greenville's most original food voice. Gina Petti said Asada would stay open. "It will absolutely continue for my husband," she told The Post and Courier. The restaurant closed briefly for the holidays, then came back to its regular hours. Asada has appeared on Eater's essential Greenville list and Southern Living's best restaurants in Greenville.
What people are saying: "The food of Asada stands more than favorably against the food of some Michelin one stars I've enjoyed. Each dish was balanced and beautifully presented. Asada, PLEASE STAY JUST AS YOU ARE." — TripAdvisor reviewer "Amazing fusion! You have to try the specials. The shrimp taco in mole is fantastic." — Asada website reviewer "Best restaurant in Greenville, hands down. Food is always amazing and fresh. The owners and staff are also great!" — Asada website reviewer
The honest caveat: The space is small, just 44 seats, and it is counter-order and casual. The seating is tight and there is no outdoor area. Some guests note the menu can feel limited on certain visits. With Roberto's passing, the restaurant is going through a change, and it is worth checking hours before you go.
Must Order: Empanadas, the rotating daily taco specials, Karaage chicken taco, Arepa Rellena, carne asada fries
Best For: Casual weeknight dinners, adventurous eaters who want bold flavor without the fine dining price tag
#10 — DeMarco's Italian
366 Field St, Suite A, Greenville, SC 29601 | Italian-American | Mon-Thu: 4-9 PM | Fri-Sat: 4-10 PM | Sun: 4-9 PM Google Rating: 4.3 ⭐
DeMarco's is the newest, least-reviewed, and most neighborhood-rooted restaurant on this list. It earns its spot because of what it stands for: the next wave of Greenville's food identity, growing up right next to Fluor Field in the West End.
Owners Anthony Pepe and Mike Wible, the team behind The Slice and Pasta Addict and already known locally for handmade pasta, spent nearly 18 months building out the space at 366 Field Street before opening. They traveled across the country, to Los Angeles and New York City, to taste and learn before settling on their menu. "We want to be us, our twist on Italian-American dishes," Wible told GVLtoday. The result is an open kitchen built around a wood-fired oven, a bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a room designed to look stunning at night. The dough is made fresh daily. The pasta is made in-house. The cocktails are Italian-inspired.
What people are saying: "Finally got a chance to get into the super busy DeMarcos and quickly understood why they are literally the hardest table to get in town. The food is excellent, the service is second to none." — Yelp reviewer "Such an amazing night with excellent service! The chicken Giuseppe is now a weekly crave." — Yelp reviewer "Best lasagna that I have ever had! Great twist on a classic!" — DeMarco's website
The honest caveat: DeMarco's has the thinnest and most mixed review record on this list. One TripAdvisor reviewer who had lived in Italy felt the prices were too high for the food. TripAdvisor's overall score of 2.3 is well below Yelp and Google, though that gap is partly because of how few reviews there are. DeMarco's is new and still growing. It ranks tenth not as a backup pick, but because the foundation, the sourcing, the concept, the craft, is real and the potential is clear.
Must Order: Mike and Pepe pizza, duck ragu, house-made mozzarella (served warm), wagyu meatballs, tiramisu
Best For: West End evenings, pre-game dinners before a Greenville Drive game at Fluor Field, casual Italian with quality ingredients
A Note on What Makes Greenville Special
Five of these ten restaurants have been recognized by the MICHELIN Guide. One holds a full MICHELIN Star. One carries a Wine Spectator Grand Award, held by fewer than 100 restaurants in the world. One started the city's food truck era. One is carrying forward the legacy of a man who helped shape Greenville's food scene for more than a decade.
None of this happened fast. The food scene you are reading about was built dish by dish, year by year, by chefs and owners who picked Greenville when they could have gone anywhere else. That choice means something. When you sit down at any of these restaurants, you are sitting at a table in a city that earned it.
Falling in love with Greenville's food scene? That is usually the first sign someone is falling in love with the city itself. The Whaley Group can help you find a neighborhood close to your new favorite spots. Reach out today, and let's find the right fit for you.