Find good eats at a local greasy spoon in Travelers Rest
Posted by The Skyliner on April 1st, 2009James Turner
Staff Writer
Not exactly momma’s home cookin’—at least that’s the experience I had while visiting Carolina Fine Foods.
I arrived at 100 Hawkins Road in Travelers Rest to find the quaint little restaurant set upon a small hill. It was right off Highway 25 next to the Bi-Lo many NGU students pass every day on their way to Cherrydale or downtown Greenville.
Walking inside was an experience all to itself as the incongruous jumble of a classy eatery and a truck stop grease pit flooded my vision. The Tiffany Lamps were nice, and the smattering of wall art and trinkets dispersed throughout the restaurant added a touch of home. There were no tables, only pinkish booths that lined the walls and were coated in a noticeable layer of dust. The floor was a bit slick and the air seemed thick with cooking oil or grease—still, not enough to deter me from a potentially enjoyable dining experience.
Upon a quick review of the menu, which was not located at any of the tables, but instead behind the counter where one could place an order with the attendant, a number of dishes caught my eye. There was a wide variety of deli selections such as BLT, turkey and chicken sandwiches.
They also had a seafood menu, featuring mostly shrimp and a fish and chips type of platter. Burgers were, of course, a big feature. Big burgers, bacon burgers, any kind of burgers one could want. Barbeque was also on the menu. Personally, I love barbeque—especially on a sandwich. Carolina Find Foods featured both pork and beef barbeque sandwiches with the meat either minced or sliced.
I ordered a sliced pork barbeque sandwich which came with fries and a cup of coleslaw. It looked pretty good. When the food was delivered to our table, however, all I could think about was the substantial amount of grease to which I was subjecting my digestive system. The barbeque sauce on the sandwich was plentiful though, and the French fries had that warm, crunchy outside that is so satisfying.
“I thought the taste of my barbeque sandwich was very good, and the price was very reasonable,” North Greenville student and fellow customer Amber Henline said. “The atmosphere was unique, to say the least. The talking trash can made the trip entertaining.”