More Downtown Eateries to Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving Day

One of my favorite holiday movies has to be The Christmas Story. Who can forget that hilarious scene when Ralphie & his family, holiday dinner having been devoured by the Bumpuses’ dogs, are forced to have their holiday meal at the only restaurant in town that is open…Chop Suey Palace. If you find yourself without Thanksgiving dinner (from consumption by the neighbors’ dogs or for some other reason), don’t resort to “Chinese Turkey”…head Downtown to one of these fine eateries for a Thanksgiving meal worthy of its own holiday movie!

If you want a home-cooked meal to rival Grandma’s, look no further than Spoonbread Restaurant at The Westin Poinsett.  Deriving its name from the famous ‘spoonbread” long served at the Poinsett Hotel, this iconic eatery offers both brunch & dinner options on Thanksgiving Day. Start your holiday off right with Virginia Ham & its Maple Mustard Glaze and some Maple Rosemary Biscuits.  Or visit their Made To Order Omelet & Pasta Station…with over 25 different ingredients to choose from. Come back for dinner and enjoy such Thanksgiving classics as Sage Rubbed Turkey served with all the traditional sides such as Cornbread Dressing & giblet gravy or Cinnamon Pumpkin Soup. Or, for a twist on tradition, try the Seared Salmon, served with a Mustard Glaze over Goat Cheese Grits and Braised Collard Greens. Finish it all off with a big slice of Pecan Pie or Red Velvet Cake and your taste buds will be thanking you!

Another longtime favorite of Downtown foodies, Soby’s, will also be open Thanksgiving Day. Chef Shaun Garcia & his team are putting together a wonderful Thanksgiving menu featuring all your favorites such as Buttermilk Braised Turkey & Pineapple Glazed Pit Ham and sides such as Brown Sugar Spiced Sweet Potatoes, Maple Butternut Squash Succotash & Soby’s delicious Garlic Cheddar Biscuits. Add a dessert of their delightful Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites & it will be a day well-spent. Soby’s Table 301 partner, Devereaux’s, will also be serving a special menu on Thanksgiving Day. Oven Roasted Turkey with Sage & Rosemary and Roasted Pork Loin will be taking center stage, supported by such appetizing sides as Green Bean Casserole & Sweet Potato Puree. Their dessert menu looks mighty tasty as well, with Apple Spice Cake & Chocolate Mousse Cake & more – making it hard to choose!

If you prefer your Thanksgiving to be a little more laid-back and Lowcountry, then head to High Cotton for some down-home cooking, Charleston style!  For starters, try the Roasted African Squash Soup –Maine Lobster, Pumpkin Seed Brittle & Vanilla Crème Fraiche.  Want to forego the traditional Thanksgiving fare in favor of some traditional Lowcountry delicacies?  Then try the famous High Cotton Shrimp & Grits – featuring huge Shrimp with Chicken Andouille Sausage, Melted Leeks, Sharp Cheddar Grits & Tarragon Broth…you may never have turkey for Thanksgiving again! For dessert, try the Pecan Tart with decadent Chocolate Sauce & Cranberry Compote…YUM! If you want to go even more laid-back, visit Sticky Fingers, who will be preparing a delicious Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. Not feeling Turkey? They will also be offering their regular menu of amazing BBQ favorites.

The weather on Thanksgiving Day promises to be gorgeous, with sunny skies & highs in the mid-60, so you may opt for dining al fresco. The Green Room, with its cozy outdoor seating and its delectable menu, is an excellent choice.  Start things off with a Southern classic appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes, served with Herbed Cream Cheese & Red Pepper Relish.  Move on to something a little unexpected, like their Braised Short Ribs, served with Horseradish Mashed Potatoes & Bacon Brussell Spouts. Thanksgiving traditionalists need not fret, The Green Room will be serving Brined & Roasted Turkey, as well as the expected sides such as Herbed Stuffing and Macaroni & Cheese (which is considered a vegetable here in the South) as well as Pecan Pie (although I tend to opt for the sinfully delicious Chocolate Brownie, a la mode & topped with a yummy Blackberry Sauce). The bar will remain open late for those wishing to hang out and get in the “Holiday Spirit” of the alcohol-inspired sort.

Speaking of the Holiday Spirit, several bars will also be open Thanksgiving Day for those who want to escape all the “family togetherness” for a little while, or who maybe just want to get together with friends (who I call my “urban family”). Downtown watering holes that will be welcoming guests on the 22^nd include such local favorites as Sharkey’s Pub, Barley’s Tap Room (upstairs only), Blue Ridge Brewing Company, On The Roxx, City Tavern & the bar at Ford’s Oyster House & Cajun Kitchen.  As always, if you imbibe in too much of the Turkey of the bottled, Wild variety…PLEASE take a cab home! We want you around to enjoy many more good times Downtown. Well, have fun & be safe Downtownies…and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

More Info on Restaurants:

■High Cotton: 550 S. Main Street, 335-4200 – Open 1PM-7PM – http://www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com/highcotton/greenville

■Spoonbread Restaurant at The Westin Poinsett: 421-9700 – Open for Brunch 10:30AM-2:30PM & for Dinner 5:30PM-9:30PM- Brunch Cost: $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for children 7-12; Dinner Cost: $32.00 – http://www.westinpoinsettgreenville.com/restaurant

■The Green Room: 116 N. Main Street, 335-8222 – Open 11AM-8PM – Cost:  $30 for adults, $12 for kids under 12 – http://www.thegreenroomupstate.com (Bar to remain open late)

■Soby’s: 207 S. Main Street, 232-7007 – Open 11AM-7PM – http://www.sobys.com

■Sticky Fingers: 1 S. Main Street, 331-7427 – Open Noon – 7PM – Cost: $17.99 for adults, $8.99 kids 4-12 – http://www.stickyfingers.com

■Devereaux’s: 25 E. Court Street, 241-3030 – Open Noon-4PM – Cost: $28 for adults, $14 for children 7-12 – www.devereauxsdining.com

 

Downtown Greenville Restaurants To Be Thankful For

Ahhh Thanksgiving…the turkey, the dressing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie…what’s not to love? Most people dream of that Norman Rockwell-esque family dinner…Dad carving the delicious turkey that Mom has loving prepared. But what if your cooking skills are not so much “Rachel Ray” as they are”Flambe”(heavy on the flame part)? Or you have had some unforseen kitchen disaster (did anyone remember to put the dog outside)? Don’t worry, our wonderful DTGVL restaurants are here to help you out!

With a name like Spoonbread, you know the Westin Poinsett’s restaurant will serve delicious food that will rival your Grandma’s home cooking. Start your Thanksgiving Day off with brunch, a good idea if the one preparing your Thanksgiving dinner is a bit “culinary-challenged”. For those wanting the “breakfast” side of brunch, Spoonbread offers Eggs Benedict, Virginia Ham, Maple Rosemary Biscuits and an Omelet Station with over 25 ingredients to choose from. Spoonbread also tempts diners with a wonderful selection of soups and salads like Butternut Squash soup and Autumn Greens with Pecan Vinaigrette as well as traditional favorites such as Baked Macaroni Pie and unique entrees like Pecan Crusted Mahi Mahi. They even have a special kid’s menu. Brunch will be served 11AM to 3PM.

Boasting Sage Rubbed Turkey with all the traditional trimmings, if you need to feed your crew the entire Thanksgiving meal, Spoonbread aims to please. Start your 3-Course meal with soup, salad or an appetizer like Cinnamon Pumpkin soup or a Spinach Salad with Crispy Goat Cheese. As an entree, if Turkey’s not your thing, select something a little different like Seared Salmon served over goat cheese grits with braised collard greens. For dessert, go with a Holiday classic like Pumpkin Pie or satisfy your chocolate craving with a warm Lava Cake…YUM!

If you want add a little Lowcountry flavor to your Thanksgiving celebration, then head to High Cotton. As an appetizer to the big meal, nothing beats their Buttermilk Fried Oysters…except, maybe, the Blue Crab and Butter Bean soup. In addition to the expected turkey dinner, High Cotton offers Lowcountry favorites such as Shrimp and Grits and Grilled Charleston Grouper. And as a fitting finish to your delicious meal, have a slice of their sinfully good Pecan Pie…or to really be in “High Cotton”, try their Grand Marnier Creme Brulee…so good, it’ll make your toes curl up!

The weather on Thanksgiving Day promises to be gorgeous, so you may want to consider dining outdoors at The Green Room. Rev up your appetite with a southern classic, Fried Green Tomatoes, served with herbed cream cheese and red pepper relish. For the main event, enjoy a Brined and Roasted Turkey with all the trimmings, or you may want to break tradition and try the Braised Short Ribs, served with Horseradish Mashed Potates and Bacon Brussel Sprouts. On the side, try the Roasted Butternut Squash or everyone’s favorite, Baked Macaroni and Cheese (which, in the Carolinas, counts as a vegetable). For dessert, indulge in a little chocolate decadence with a Brownie drizzled in Blackberry Sauce or go lighter with their Apple and Pear Cobbler. And for those “indoor types”, no worries…The Green Room will be serving this delectable menu inside as well.

Don’t feel the need to leave when your meal is over? The Green Room invites you to hang out with bartender, Larry, at the bar to wash down that wonderful meal with a cocktail or two. In addition to The Green Room, several other Downtown establishments will be opening their doors to welcome guests with a need to escape all that “family togetherness” for a while. Sharkey’s Pub, Sky Sports Bar, Blue Ridge Brewing and On The Roxx will be open later that evening (and, rumor has it, so will City Tavern, Blu Martini, Connolly’s Irish Pub and Park Avenue Pub).

So, as you see, Downtown Greenville offers plenty of options for Thanksgiving festivities to help you get in the spirit of the holidays1 But, if you’ve gotten the spirit through liquid form, please take a cab home. We want you around to enjoy all the fun Downtown has to offer visitors and locals alike. Happy Thanksgiving!