Meat-and-Threes in the
Olde English District
South Carolina takes Southern-style cooking seriously. Think sweet tea, cornbread, fried chicken and all the Southern fixins. When you are craving a warm, home-cooked meal while exploring the Olde English District, there are several “meat-and-threes” throughout the region to satisfy your craving.
What Is A Meat-and-Three?
Meat-and-threes are exactly what they sound like. Many serve a variety of meats and veggies and typically have slam-packed parking lots during lunch and supper times. Plates traditionally come with a biscuit or cornbread and are washed down with an ice-cold glass of sweet tea.
Some meat-and-threes offer full service and have menus with a variety of meats and veggies. Others are set up like a buffet, where visitors can pile their plates as high as they desire. Here in the Olde English District, we have a variety of both types of Southern-style eateries. Here are a few:
The Front Porch
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a home-cooked meal in a quaint dining room with loved ones. That’s exactly what a meal at The Front Porch feels like; it feels a little like meals at home. Along with daily specials, its menu comprises a variety of sandwiches and fried and grilled meats. No meal is complete without cornbread or a biscuit and some veggies — of course. And in The Front Porch’s case, macaroni and cheese, fried green tomatoes and fried squash are all considered vegetables.
Leigh Anne’s Restaurant
Leigh Anne’s has been a local favorite since the 1980s. Its menu offerings include different types of salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, chicken, fish, and other delicious dishes, including meat and vegetable plates. Keep an eye out for the daily special to see what’s hot in the kitchen each day, and be sure to save some room for a slice of pie or fresh cobbler.
Haile Street Grill
Haile Street Grill has been an integral part of Camden since the restaurant first opened in 1928. Its traditional breakfast items, salads, sandwiches, and meat-and-three lunches are craved among locals and travelers alike. Meat selections change daily, varying between about five to eight different types of meats. Each plate can be paired with three of the restaurants’ vegetables, casseroles or soups.
Hearts Family Restaurant
Hearts Family Restaurant, located in Union, South Carolina, is a place where customers become friends and friends become family. The restaurant offers a delicious soul food menu from Tuesday to Friday, with daily rotations of tasty dishes. Every menu item is prepared fresh in the morning. The restaurant is praised for its hamburger steak and smothered chicken; their hand-bread and fried onion rings are also top contenders.
Mary’s Café
Grab lunch or dinner at Mary’s Café in Rock Hill for a taste of home-style cooking. On the menu are several appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and meat-and-three (or two) plates that are offered daily.
Midway BBQ
Don’t let the name fool you. Though Midway BBQ is known for serving some of the finest BBQ in Union County, it also offers several types of meats and sides. (The sweet potato souffle is a crowd-pleaser.) For the full Midway BBQ experience, order some of the most popular menu items: the beef hash and chicken stew.
Mully’s Restaurant
Known for serving delicious soul food, Mully’s Restaurant is a buffet-style meat-and-three restaurant in Lancaster County. Entreés rotate depending on the day of the week. (FYI: The restaurant is closed on Saturdays.) The buffets can be enjoyed at the restaurant, or if you are in a rush to explore Andrew Jackson State Park or Lindsay Pettus Greenway, take your plate to go.
Russell’s Smokin’ Good BBQ
If you are on the hunt for wood-cooked, old-school barbeque, Russell’s Smokin’ Good BBQ in Westville is the place to be. However, BBQ isn’t the only thing on the menu. Though this spot isn’t a traditional meat-and-three, it embodies the same Southern comfort food concept. Plates include one meat, hushpuppies and three sides, like collards or a smoky baked potato. All sauces are made in-house and include sweet, sweet & spicy, mustard, Lexington dip and white Alabama.
Wagon Wheel Restaurant
Wagon Wheel is a favorite among locals and has been since it opened in 1978. It is praised for its fried squash, which is sliced and hand-breaded to order. Specials are offered daily during lunch, and the buffet is open on Sundays. Pro tip: Before heading to this joint, make sure you have some cash handy; no cards are accepted here.