2 new restaurants offering Asian and Italian dishes will open soon in downtown Greenville

A.J. Jackson, Greenville News
Updated ·3 min read

The heart of downtown Greenville will receive two new dining options with one offering authentic Asian dishes and the other selling modern-Italian cuisine.

Indaco is a rustic Italian restaurant and O-Ku Greenville, provides seafood and classic Japanese dishes. Both will open soon at 40 W. Broad St.

Indaco is slated to open on Friday, June 9 and O-Ku has yet to set an opening date, but expects to open around the beginning of July, both sitting south of city hall adjacent to one another.

The outside bar section of Indaco, a modern-Italian restaurant, which sits adjacent to the greenspace located at 40 W. Broad St., downtown Greenville. The outdoor bar features 25 seats, and will offer after hour pizza slices, bonfires for s'mores and work in conjunction with Ice on Main and other greenspace events happening throughout the year.
The outside bar section of Indaco, a modern-Italian restaurant, which sits adjacent to the greenspace located at 40 W. Broad St., downtown Greenville. The outdoor bar features 25 seats, and will offer after hour pizza slices, bonfires for s'mores and work in conjunction with Ice on Main and other greenspace events happening throughout the year.

"We're so excited. Greenville is a city we've often said we need to get there. The admiration and the buzz that's in the city is really incredible," said Steve Palmer, founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, based out of Columbia. "Greenville has a vibrant dining scene, so we always try to be respectful of people in the community."

Indaco and O-Ku will introduce patrons to their non-profit Ben's Friends, a group created by Indigo Road to support people seeking sobriety who work within the hospitality and dining industries. In five years, the non-profit has opened in 29 cities. Those interested, follow up with bensfriendshope@gmail.com.

Storefront view of O-Ku, a Japanese inspired restaurant, slated to open at 40 W. Broad Street in July of 2023.
Storefront view of O-Ku, a Japanese inspired restaurant, slated to open at 40 W. Broad Street in July of 2023.

What to expect from both Incado and O-Ku in downtown Greenville

A site that is used mostly as a greenspace will transform into the Ice on Main skating rink during the Christmas holiday. Both restaurants will revitalize an area that opened in 2010, and has been used by the Courtyard by Marriot Greenville.

"The best way to activate a public space is by putting restaurants and dining opportunities on the edges of those spaces," said Bo Aughtry, CEO of Windsor Aughtry. He is responsible for all commercial development and investment within the company.

A dining section of the upcoming modern-Italian restaurant, Indaco, which opens on June 9, 2023 at 40 W. Broad St. in downtown Greenville, S.C.
A dining section of the upcoming modern-Italian restaurant, Indaco, which opens on June 9, 2023 at 40 W. Broad St. in downtown Greenville, S.C.

Indaco

According to Palmer, Indaco will feature a modern Italian cuisine complemented by local farm and produce, with pastas that are made in-house, and pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven, which will also be offered late nights at the outside bar.

Indaco will be open for both lunch and dinner seven days a week. There are currently two locations open, one in Charleston and the other in Charlotte, North Carolina. The upcoming downtown Greenville location will span 4,000 square feet and have close to 175 seats.

O-Ku

O-ku is expected to start with only offering a dinner menu, with the possibility of opening for lunch if the demand calls for it. O-Ku's menu focuses on new seafood and classic Japanese dishes, as well as classic and avant-garde sushi and artistic cocktails, according to its website.

The restaurant is 2,500 square feet and hosts 90 seats.

O-Ku is currently located in seven Southeastern cities including Charleston, Charlotte, Atlanta and Raleigh.

Amira Nustafa attempts to make her way around the ice rink after the opening of United Community Bank Ice on Main in downtown Greenville, Friday, November 12, 2021.
Amira Nustafa attempts to make her way around the ice rink after the opening of United Community Bank Ice on Main in downtown Greenville, Friday, November 12, 2021.

Ice Skating to remain downtown Greenville

According to Greenville Mayor Knox White, Ice on Main will continue in its 14th consecutive year this upcoming holiday season, as the opening of O-Ku and Indaco will not alter the Christmas festivities surrounding the square located outside of Greenville City Hall.

The city of Greenville anticipates the space to be filled year-round with activity, and more dining and tourist.

– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Indaco to offer Italian cuisine, O-Ku to bring Asian dishes to Greenville