Hunt for excellent barbecue elsewhere, the camp is just not cutting it
Posted by The Skyliner on March 25th, 2009Jennilyn Dempsey
News & Features Editor
Hunting for a restaurant that serves great barbecue at a fair price? Maybe you should consider someplace other than Huntin’ Camp.
Huntin’ Camp Barbecue and Grill serves up a buffet that includes pulled pork barbecue, barbecue chicken, rice, green beans, potato salad, slaw and sweet potatoes. The menu also includes sandwich plates, ribs and wings.
Travelers Rest’s newest barbecue restaurant, Huntin’ Camp, has an inviting, rustic atmosphere. The mediocre food may not be worth the money, though. (Photo by: Jennilyn Dempsey/ The Skyliner)
My fiancé and I decided to go with the buffet, but we finished our meal a bit disappointed. Everything tasted fine, but the food could have been a little warmer and a little tastier, considering we spent over $20 for our meal.
The pulled pork tasted fine to me, but some may find that it isn’t chopped finely enough to provide the perfect texture. I chose to drizzle both hot and mustard barbecue sauces on my pulled pork, which tasted pretty good. But I nibbled on my fiancé’s barbecue with mild sauce, and it did nothing for my taste buds.
The choice of side items is excellent. When I started filling my plate, I was looking forward to trying a taste of the steamed rice, southern-style green beans, baked beans, slaw and sweet potatoes.
Everything would have been excellent had it not been for food temperature. The green beans were cold, and everything else was just lukewarm. Even the slaw was bordering on room temperature.
On a more positive note, the wait staff at Huntin’ Camp are friendly. We were given the option of a table or a booth and immediately served with warm hush puppies once we sat down.
The waitress returned with our drinks right after we ordered them, and she checked on us at least once or twice.
The atmosphere of the restaurant matches its country-sounding name. Huntin’ Camp is essentially a glorified log cabin with a wide, rocking chair laden front porch.
Inside is cozy, with cushy booths and family-style tables ready for guests. The walls are exposed wood with antlers and other boondocks paraphernalia hanging on them.
The so-so food and the relatively high price is the reason I give Huntin’ Camp a rating of three out of five. It’s definitely not a good date night destination, but it could possibly satisfy a desperate craving for barbecue.
Huntin’ Camp is located about five miles from campus at 2221 Highway 25 in Travelers Rest. The restaurant is open every day except Monday. Hours are: Tuesday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Try Mutt’s BBQ in Greer for better barbecue. The price range is about the same as Huntin’ Camp, but the food is much more satisfying.
The pulled pork is chopped finer, all the barbecue sauces are excellent and the sides are always delicious and served fresh.
For a great value, grab a Family Pack for a double date or dorm room picnic and get one and one-half pounds of barbecue, three pints of sides, six buns, 12 hush puppies and a gallon of tea for $24.99.
Mutt’s is located at the corner of West Road and Highway 14 between I-85 and downtown Greer. Hours are: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.