Have you seen this show on the Food Network? Guy Fieri travels around the country visiting greasy spoons and interesting restaurants. In South Carolina he has visited the following:

1. Harold’s in Gaffney

2. Pawley’s Front Porch, Columbia

3. The Farmer’s Shed Lexington, SC

4. Just over the border in NC: South21 Drivein in Charlotte, NC

5. The Beaconin Spartanburg, SC

I have eaten at the Beacon and Harolds. My question for YOU is… which local restaurant would appeal to Guy? I think we should decide on one and have a write in campaign for the winner. If you comment below, I will pick the top five and then run a poll for everyone to vote on the top pick.

Ready, set… comment! What is Florence’s best Diner, Drive-in, or dive? (I can really only manage comments on the blog, not facebook so put them here please.)

(Special thanks to the reader that inspired this post.)

Saturday night Mr. Flossip and I had a hot date. We have been wanting to try the Peddler since it opened and I finally had the opportunity to go. He is just glad there is a Florence location as I have been known to make him go to the Dillon location when I just can’t decide what I want here in Florence.

It was bittersweet going to the old Benton’s location. I couldn’t help but think of some of my favorite Benton’s dishes as we approached the hostess stand. Fortunately, the restaurant has been redone so I was able to move past that stumbling block. The tables are arranged in a way that makes the setting seem more intimate. There are still booths, but they are situated in a better way. There are also two rooms that can be private or can be an extension of the main dining area.

We did not have a reservation, but fortunately were seated at the last available table. Our server was EXCELLENT. I meant to get her name as I like to take note of these things but I forgot.

We both got a salad with our meal. Some people don’t like the setup of the salad in that you have to make your own. I, however, would rather make my own salad. That way I don’t end up with jicima or something that I don’t like. It is an expensive meal and some people have said for that amount of money they don’t want to get their own salad. I think its just a matter of opinion and you have to decide how you feel about that. The salad bar is well done, it isn’t like the salad bar at Qunicy’s. I was perfectly happy getting my own.

I had the prime rib and my date had the ribeye. The waitress highly recommended the prime rib. We both had ours cooked medium rare. If you are not familiar with prime rib, you may not want to have it medium rare. To my tastebuds though it was cooked perfectly. The ribeye was also cooked perfectly, I tasted it as well– the lengths I go to for my readers.

I had the baked potato as a side, and I don’t know why. It was fine as far as baked potatoes go, but I should have gotten the sweet potato or something different. That was my own fault though, I just wasn’t thinking about how boring I think baked potatoes are.

I WISH I could tell you how dessert tasted. I did look at the dessert menu but I was so FULL after all that I had to eat I could not even think about dessert.

They do have a bar which is off to the left when you enter the restaurant. The outdoor seating is still available and I think that will be really nice when it cools off a little. The colors throughout the restaurant and bar are very soothing and it has a metropolitan feel. It doesn’t feel like a chain, it feels more like a nice local restaurant.

Overall, I had a great meal and a great experience. The owner even stopped by the table and introduced herself and asked questions about our food and service experience. I think she was very open to suggestions and wanted to make sure that we were happy. We will definitely be going back.

(This post by Flossip. I like to get dressed up and go out on dates with my cute husband. Feel free to send me gift certificates. Follow me on twitter for even more thoughts on life in Florence, SC.)

Local Restaurant for sale: (Note that you can not keep the name.) (Also note that the new buyer needs to figure out why their floor is so slippery. I hate wearing any kind of heel when I go there.)

http://columbia.craigslist.org/bfs/1751015579.html

Carolina Wings For Sale – $1550000 (Florence)

Size: Approximately 6500 Square Feet. Large Private Lot Approximately 1.73 Acres!
Description: Great Location with many restaurants in the high traffic area. The Bar Seats 15 and the dining area seats 186 with another 28 on the outside covered patio! Parking Lot is huge with 115 spaces. It even has a drive through! There is a Secondary Kitchen for Appetizers!
Price: $1,550,000.00 Includes Building, Land, Furniture,
Fixtures & Equipment – Name Does Not Convey
Information: Neville Poots
Cell: (803) 269-9934 Office: (843) 577-8877

I had a lovely lunch today at Fat Boys Backyard Grill. Fat Boys is located in th old Cafe Florentine in Huntington Plaza on Second Loop Road.

I had catfish, cream corn, and slaw. Not the healthiest option on the menu, but very good. I prefer a different type of slaw, but my catfish was cooked perfectly. Cream corn was delightful comfort food.  I also tasted my friends grilled chicken and it was great. (I wasn’t in the mood to be so healthy!)  I have been to a few fish camps in my lifetime, and this catfish is on par with any of them.  I took a picture of part of the menu so you can see the variety of options that they offer.

I have long lamented the loss of Cafe Florentine because it was such an easy place to meet friends for lunch.  I think Fat Boys, while a different type of restaurant, it has the same potential. They have updated the interior and it is quite spiffy looking.  The prices are reasonable and you can easily have lunch under $10.00.  It was approximately $18.00 for both of us, though the catfish is a pricer option.  They offer a very reasonable kids menu as well. (You can even shop at Pattycakes next door when you finish.)

It’s only their first week, so plan a few extra minutes if you go. Our waitress was so sweet and did an excellent job.

I recently went to the new Zapata’s on Second Loop. It is tucked away and faces sideways so you may have missed it.

I consider myself to be something of a “Mexican food” connoisseur. After all I ate at Monterrey’s in Columbia 10,230 times in college. Surely that counts for something? Personally I prefer Zapatas and Corona in Florence. The Zapatas on 2d Loop was very nice. The food was good and the service was excellent. (A little hover-y but I think that was because we stayed too late.)

I had the beef fajitas. A little trick here– I don’t like steaming fajitas. All that smelly steam just grosses me out. However, I ordered the lunch portion at dinner for a dollar more and got non-steaming fajitas. Perfect! (Cheaper, too.)

I will definitely be making a second trip. (Speaking of second trips… Can the google street view camera PLEASE come back in Spring?  Florence looks so ugly in these cold, wet, winter pictures.)

2211 2nd Loop Road, Florence, SC 29501-1603
(843) 673-1732?

View Larger Map

I have been to Victor’s for lunch twice already… and both times I forgot to take pictures. Oh well, just imagine me chatting, eating, and laughing at Victors.

In all honesty, I think that Victor’s offers the nicest lunch in Florence. If you are looking for a place to entertain business people, take your mom to lunch, hire someone (or even fire someone) this is the place to go.

Most entrees are priced around $10.00 which I think is very reasonable for this quality and atmosphere. I am a big fan of “atmosphere”. Victor’s allows you to take a step back from a busy day and breathe. I have had their chicken salad and their 4 ounce salmon (with french fries and green beans).

I enjoyed both meals. I am funny about chicken salad, and thought theirs was very nice. It was lighter than many recipes and will be perfect on a hot, summer day. It isn’t too sweet, which I liked. The salmon was cooked perfectly and my only complaint is that I wanted just an ounce or two more.

I emailed Tim Norwood and learned that anyone that has lunch at Victors now will also receive a certificate for a free glass of wine at dinner. I will certainly be happy to take advantage of that offer!

(I promise next time that I will take pictures. Continue to read theflossip.com for news, reviews, and things to do in Florence, SC.)

I first ate at Carols Cake and Candy Kitchen when it was located on West Evans Street. It was in a rather small house and was always jam-packed with people. The atmosphere was lively, and I could always count on knowing at least ten people dining there. When they moved out towards Timmonsville, it became a Sunday lunch special for us. I remember waiting in line one Mothers Day for so long that I thought I would be a mother before it was time to eat. It never occurred to us to leave though, the food was that good.

I grew up in a Southern family that only ate “Southern cooking” on special occasions. My grandmother was health conscious and I can’t tell you how many times she said “A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!” We generally reserve the big dishes for three occasions every year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. That’s right, no stuffing, no lima beans, no ham, no turkey, no stewed tomatoes any other time of year.

Now you understand why I needed to eat at Carols?

I love Carol and Bill Hall. They are truly good, hard working people who want to make your day a little brighter. I went to them about making my wedding cake with a picture from a magazine in hand. I was determined to have this cake. I was not picky about many things, but this cake was beautiful. Carol looked the picture over and assured me it would be no problem. I didn’t need to worry– it was absolutely perfect.

I will miss seeing them as well. However, I understand that they want to retire and have a few hours to themselves.

I went to Carol’s on Friday with some friends because I knew it would be packed on Sunday. I even let myself have dessert AND a blueberry biscuit as a special treat since it would be my last meal there.  (As my friend said, “You can’t eat here and NOT get a blueberry biscuit!”)

Then, Sunday morning Mr. Flossip said he wanted to go on the last day. I could not blame him and I wanted one last meal as well. We headed over as soon as they opened and just beat the crowd (sorry if you wanted our table). (I limited myself to a piece of pecan pie in deference to the calories consumed on Friday.) (I also ran a mile or two.)

There was definitely some sadness in the air, but hopefully wonderful things will come to the Halls as they start this new chapter in their lives.

I believe in the wisdom of Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

(I am told that they will still be doing some cakes and catering.)

I went to Victor’s Friday night and had a great time. They are revamping their menu. I am always nervous when a favorite restaurant does this as I tend to have several “go-to” menu items and I don’t want them to disappear. I need not wory about Victor’s though, so far all of the changes are positive. My favorite new item has to be the She Crab soup. Until now I don’t think you could find she crab soup in Florence. (Please correct me if I am wrong!) According to What’s Cooking America, “Charleston, South Carolina is known for their elegant she Crab Soup. A cross between a bisque and a chowder, made with their famous blue crab meat. This soup/bisque/chowder is considered the city’s signature dish. Local restaurants offer their own version, and in many Charleston restaurants, the soup du jour is often She Crab Soup.”

Victor’s version was light but filling. There was plenty of crab, not like those cheap, touristy versions where you have to hunt for your one bite of crab. Every bite provided ample tastes of delicious crab meat. The soup itself was warm, perfect for a cold, winter night.

I had this with a salad and it was a perfect meal. If you are really hungry, I would get an entree or another tapas item to follow, but for a light dinner it is perfect with just a salad.

I have been meaning to tell you about Joe’s Grill for a while now.

Recently I was in Darlington and was invited to lunch at “Joe’s.” My friend said “Don’t be expecting linen tablecloths and sterling silver. Its just good food and good people.”

Hmmm. I really don’t care about linen tablecloths and sterling silver, but I DO care about good food. I was in.

Joe’s is almost like taking a step back in time. You turn off the main drag onto a side street in Darlington. It is set back from the road a bit, parking lot is ample enough for many people.

You walk in and feel like you are walking into a family dinner– but a family you are welcome to join. Everyone spoke and said hello, though certainly they had never seen me before. There is a handwritten menu with the day’s choices. If you friend Joe on facebook you can get the menu every day. Today’s status reads:
“WEDNESDAY LUNCH AT JOE’S GRILL…BEEF STEW ON RICE, BROILED CHICKEN, PORK STROGANOFF ON RICE AND 2 SLIDER BURGERS WITH SOUP AND SALAD.. VEGGIES ARE RICE AND GRAVY, LIMA BEANS, GARDEN PEAS, CABBAGE, POTATO SALAD, MAC AND CHEESE, TOMATOES ON RICE AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE FOR DESSERT. YUMMY! 393-9140. JUST A REMINDER…WE ARE OPEN THIS SUNDAY FOR LUNCH”

I can tell you that I have had quite a variety at Joe’s. Once I had spaghetti. Another time I had beef stew. I can honestly tell you that I have liked every meal that Joe has served me.

You won’t find linen tablecloths and sterling silver… but you will find good food and good people. What more could you really want?

(843) 393-9140
Darlington
306 Russell St
Darlington, SC 29532

to go, that is.

Florence’s newest restaraunt is called “All that & a bag of chips.” I went last week for research purposes and took my chief investigator (CI) with me. I had the roast beef sandwich. She had shrimp salad. We ordered ahead. We checked out the new Drinkin’ Donuts on the way and everything was waiting for us when we drove up.

We used the coupon for a free sandwich or combo, so it was less than $8.00 for the both of us to have lunch. That alone is enough for you to eat there today. Everything smelled yummy, so we took it back to our headquarters. We analyzed everything. The bread? Homemade and delicious. I have to confess that for an instant it was as if Benton’s was still open and I had a to go box. CI was a little nervous about the shrimp salad. I have to admit, that was an ambitious first order. I usually stay with something safe… like roast beed. CI took a bite and deemed it DELICIOUS. She has already been back and had the chicken salad… also awesome.

There you have it, its a HIT. It is drive through only, so I recommend calling ahead if you can. The hours for November are 10:30-2:30. Try it out this week, and be sure to tell them that you read about it on the Flossip! Don’t forget the COUPON!!

If you are going:
All That & A Bag of Chips
400 Pamplico Highway
Florence, South Carolina 29505

(In the spirit of full disclosure this post is written in conjunction with an advertisement. However, I bought my sandwich as myself and used my own money.)
843•669•8851