Casual Dining
South Carolina takes Southern-style cooking seriously. Think sweet tea, cornbread, fried chicken, and all the Southern fixin’s. When you are craving a warm, home-cooked meal while exploring the Olde English District, there are several “meat-and-threes” throughout the region that are perfect for a casual bite to eat.
Richburg
The Front Porch in Richburg is a taste of Southern comfort. 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. In The Front Porch’s case, macaroni and cheese, fried green tomatoes and fried squash are also considered vegetables.
Wagon Wheel Restaurant, also in Chester County, has been open since 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. Just be sure to have some cash handy; no cards are accepted here.
Lancaster
Leigh Anne’s Restaurant in Lancaster serves a variety 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. Known for serving delicious soul food, Mully’s Restaurant, also in Lancaster, is a buffet-style meat-and-three restaurant with a rotating menu.
Camden
In Camden, Haile Street Grill has been serving locals and visitors since 1928. Its menu consists of traditional breakfast items, salads, sandwiches and meat-and-three lunches. Meat selections change daily, varying between about five to eight different types of meats. Each plate can be paired with three of the restaurant’s vegetables, casseroles or soups.
Union
Hearts Family Restaurant in Union 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-breaded and fried onion rings are also top contenders.
Also in Union, Midway BBQ is notorious for serving delicious BBQ. The restaurant 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.
Speaking of 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. Plates include one meat, hushpuppies and three sides, such as collards or a smoky baked potato. Or grab Texas-style brisket from Sweet Caroline’s in McConnells and relax at a picnic table on the restaurant’s patio.