Local Guide: Jhami Sullivan

Read Jhami’s blog: Adventures of a Southern Fellow

IG: @mr_j_sully

FB/southernfellow

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I enjoy Jhami’s IG feed immensely because he is always eating and drinking adventurously and it opens my eyes to menu items I may never have thought to order. Word of caution: don’t scroll through his feed if you’re at all hungry.

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Favorite Hole-In-The-Wall:

While Greenville is being looked at as the next big “foodie” town because of places like The Anchorage, Bacon Bros., Restaurant 17 and pretty much all of Table 301 making the “Top…” list, we can’t forget those hole in the walls that draw in all of the locals. My favorite hole in the wall is actually relatively new, Grindhouse Grill, located on Augusta Road. Grindhouse Grill specializes in burgers with 100% grass-fed and grass finished, pasture raised, no antibiotics, no added hormones and non-GMO beef! They also have a burger for the veggie fans!

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The “Hang 05” from Grindhouse Grill

 

Greenville also seems to have a very inclusive nightlife community, as most-places do not cater to a specific category of people. But as a member of the LGBT community, Blu (also known as Blu Martini) has become a favorite “hole in the wall” spot for me, as they host Proud and Out at Blu on Wednesday nights, where you can enjoy simple things such as bingo early in the evening, or fun times with drag queen nuns, depending on the weekly schedule.

Favorite Local Band:

I am not a huge music person, but I do enjoy live music every once in a while. One band that continuously stays on my radar is The Jamie Wright Band- so much that she is playing my wedding! Jamie Wright can be found singing all over the Upstate from Seneca and Anderson to Downtown Greenville and Spartanburg. Jamie’s soulful sounds and beautiful voice can often be found at Rainer’s in Downtown Greenville on Friday or Saturday nights and Halls Chophouse during brunch almost every Sunday.

Favorite Brunch Spot:

Oh, how I love brunch! Brunch is bae. Breakfast meets lunch meets mimosas! Yes, please. My favorite brunch spot is a difficult choice. On Saturdays, I would say my favorite brunch is Bacon Bros. Public House. Bacon Bros and all of it’s locally sourced pork goodness is not open on Sundays. While open for lunch and dinner throughout the week, they offer a brunch-focused menu with locally sourced products on Saturdays from 11-2.

Sundays, however, are another ball-game. The Anchorage, The Bohemian Café, and Southern Culture, the order depends on the day. The Anchorage offers some great brunch classics using locally sourced products and the sweet patatas bravas with chimichurri are sooooo good. The Bohemian Café is just a solid brunch choice in Greenville- think the classics done right. They also have a bloody mary bar! Southern Culture takes the brunch classics and gives them a little bit of an extra southern fare, but with bottomless mimosas starting at $12!

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Greenbriar Farm Steak Sandwich with Sweet Patatas Bravas from The Anchorage

 

Dream Neighborhood:

As a native Greenvillian and growing up just off of Laurens Road and watching Greenville grow into the city it has become, it has become really difficult for me decide what area is my favorite and which would be ideal for me to reside. I have two areas that would be my dream neighborhoods, Augusta Road and North Main.

The Augusta Road area offers unique shopping from locally owned shops like 4rooms and Roots, owned by recent HGTV stars Wesley Turner and Daniel Schavey, and Gage’s on Augusta, along with chains such as Talbots and Chico’s. There are also great places for dinner or drinks along the popular corridor, such as The Common Cure, Grindhouse Grill, The 05 and Divani’s.

The North Main area offers access to several corridors in the area- Cherrydale, Wade Hampton Boulevard, and Downtown. Some of my personal favorite businesses that I would frequent even more living in the North Main neighborhood are The Community Tap to enjoy wine and local food trucks, Asada to indulge in their sangria and chimichurri wings, Stone Pin Company, and Universal Joint eat, drink and socialize on the patio. Plus, to be honest, it would be pretty cool to get a golf cart and go to dinner, like some of the residents in this area.

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Chimichurri Wings from Asada

 

Favorite Locally Sourced Eats:

Locally sourced eateries have started popping up all over this beautiful city and it is so hard for me to choose my favorites with places like Bacon Bros, The Anchorage, Stella’s Bistro, and Stella’s Brasserie filling this category, but if I had to narrow it down to my top two, I think I would choose Kitchen Sync and Restaurant 17. Kitchen Sync is locally-owned, locally-sourced, and Greenville’s only green certified restaurant. While the pork chop is my personal favorite, my sister believes in the shrimp burger and the house-made ketchup for the fries.

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Grilled pork chop from Kitchen Sync

 

Restaurant 17 provides the high-end aspect of locally sourced here in Greenville. While offering beautiful views of the mountains in the Travelers Rest area, Chef Nick and his crew at Restaurant 17 offer phenomenal seasonal dishes with food from local farms. With a seasonal changing menu, it is so hard to choose a favorite, but so easy to want more!

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Steambuns from Restaurant 17

Local Guide: Christen Eats



Christen Clinkscales – @christeneats – Christen Eats

Locally Sourced Eats

Farm Fresh Fast – One of my newest obsessions is Farm Fresh Fast, a quick-service restaurant that prides itself on its healthy, locally-sourced menu. Farm Fresh Fast uses the freshest local ingredients to make clean-eating delicious. Looking for something hearty and guilt-free? Try their Almost Heaven burger made with grass-fed beef, stuffed with low-fat cheese, and topped with lettuce and house-made pickles. Or their newest menu item, the Heritage Smokehaus Sandwich made with local pork, sugar & gluten-free BBQ sauce, and red cabbage slaw. They also have vegetarian & vegan dishes and offer meal-prep services.

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“Almost Heaven” Burger

 

Best Cocktails

Vault & Vator – When it comes to sipping on craft cocktails, no one does it better than the speakeasy. With dim lighting, cozy couches, and jazz music, Vault & Vator‘s vibe is the embodiment of the modern cocktail lounge. There is a dress code. And no cell phones use inside. So you’ll have to discreetly snap that pic of your cocktail. And trust me, you’ll want to with Instagram-worthy drinks like the JJ Smash. My advice: order the Bartender’s Choice by picking two words from their list like “smoky and sweet” or “fruity and fizzy.” They won’t disappoint.

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“JJ Smash”

 

Up on the Roof – If you’re looking for cocktails and a view of #yeahTHATgreenville, there’s no better place than Up on the Roof. This rooftop bar not only has great views, but bottled cocktails to die for! Grab a seat on one of their couches by the fire pit and order something pretty, like “It’s Strawberry Thyme,” a gin drink with Cointreau, muddled strawberries, and thyme. Or “Saints and Sinners’ with whiskey, prickly pear vodka, blueberry simple syrup, lime and grapefruit juice. If whiskey and gin aren’t your taste, they have vodka, rum, and tequila cocktails as well.

up on the roof

 

Date Night

Stone Pin Company – Looking for an unconventional date night? Stone Pin Company is right up your alley – pun intended. This boutique bowling alley is the perfect date spot- even a first date should you be so bold! Order “The Lebowski” with espresso vodka, Kahlua, and cream at the bar while you wait. Or “Split Happens,” a citrusy rum drink that’s totally apropos. Once you hit the lane, order the McMoat, a flatbread that basically tasted like a Big Mac. YUM! If you aren’t afraid of getting messy, get the ‘Smokey, Mark it a Zero’ nachos to share. You won’t strike out with those.

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“Smokey, Mark it a Zero” Nachos

 

Farmers Market Finds

No Evil Foods – One of the coolest booths at the Saturday market is without a doubt No Evil Foods. They sell completely plant-based meats – low in calories and fat, packed with protein, and devoid of cholesterol. Not a vegetarian or vegan? Me either. But I dare you to sample their products and tell me you don’t like them. One of my personal favorites is El Zapatista – their plant-based chorizo. I’ve used it in tacos and on top of a pizza. There’s also Italian sausage, chickenesque, and smoked BBQ. Check them out next time you’re at the market!

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“No Evil Foods” @ the downtown Greenville Saturday Market

 

Nellie T’s Pimento CheeseNellie T’s Pimento Cheese is another great Farmer’s Market find. If you’re a true southerner, you can’t get enough of the caviar of the south. My personal favorite is their blue cheese spread made with Clemson Blue Cheese. It’s perfect for on top or inside a burger. If you can take the heat, get the Spicy spread. Pair any of their cheeses with their amazing Skillet Jam – just add bacon and you will be the hit of the party. They also make different kinds of nut butters as well like Salted Caramel Peanut Butter.