Spartanburg Eats Challenge: How many of these county restaurants have you tried?

Samantha Swann, Herald-Journal
·4 min read
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In Spartanburg County's rapidly changing food scene, there are announcements of openings, closings, expansions, new owners and new menus coming almost weekly. It can be all too easy to get caught up in a continuous chase after the newest thing.

To celebrate all of Spartanburg's restaurants, new and old, we recently revisited three county restaurants that have been serving specialties ranging from sandwiches and specialty burgers to soul food and sweets since we last saw them at their grand openings.

In addition to highlighting a few county restaurants, this story also functions as a new monthly challenge for members of our Spartanburg Eats Facebook group and the wider Spartanburg foodie community. Share your experiences at these restaurants using the hashtag #SpartanburgEatsChallenge on the Facebook group or Instagram this month to continue the conversation and shine the spotlight on the great restaurants beyond downtown.

Kitchen 292 in Inman

Kitchen 292 is a restaurant in Inman specializing in hot subs and gourmet burgers. Robert Moore, center, managing partner of the restaurant, and his staff show off a Beef Philly with onions and peppers, left, and a Drunken Hawaiian Burger made with bacon caramelized pineapple in a Bourbon sauce with an onion stack.
Kitchen 292 is a restaurant in Inman specializing in hot subs and gourmet burgers. Robert Moore, center, managing partner of the restaurant, and his staff show off a Beef Philly with onions and peppers, left, and a Drunken Hawaiian Burger made with bacon caramelized pineapple in a Bourbon sauce with an onion stack.

Kitchen 292 opened in Inman in March 2019. Rob Moore, the restaurant's managing partner, said the goal when opening the restaurant was to offer a creative menu and a cozy atmosphere.

"We wanted a rustic, Old World kind of charm. The interior of the restaurant is mostly recycled (materials). Most of the artwork is done by local artists," Moore said. "I would say we're a rustic burger joint with a really cool decor and a really cool atmosphere."

The restaurant is best known for its specialty burgers, like the Southern Stop burger with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and fried onions, and the California burger with avocado salsa, a fried egg, and jalapeños. Customers can also design their own burger or choose a Philly, Po'boy, patty melt, or a decadent dessert from their local bakery partner, The Tasty Fox.

Kitchen 292 is a restaurant in Inman specializing in hot subs and gourmet burgers. This is a a Beef Philly with onions and peppers, left, and Drunken Hawaiian Burger made with bacon caramelized pineapple in a Bourbon sauce with an onion stack.
Kitchen 292 is a restaurant in Inman specializing in hot subs and gourmet burgers. This is a a Beef Philly with onions and peppers, left, and Drunken Hawaiian Burger made with bacon caramelized pineapple in a Bourbon sauce with an onion stack.

Recommended bites:

  • Fried banana peppers, a unique appetizer.

  • The Drunken Hawaiian Burger, a 6-ounce burger topped with bacon, caramelized pineapple, an onion stack and brown sugar bourbon sauce.

  • The onion stack, a pile of super thin and crispy onion rings available as an appetizer, side or burger topper.

Kitchen 292 (2870 Highway 292, Inman) is open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

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Crazy & Edible Creations in Lyman

Crazy & Edible Creations is a soul food restaurant in Lyman. The restaurant offers made-to-order meals during the week and a soul food line on Sundays. The owners are Joyce and Douglas Mallory.
Crazy & Edible Creations is a soul food restaurant in Lyman. The restaurant offers made-to-order meals during the week and a soul food line on Sundays. The owners are Joyce and Douglas Mallory.

Joyce and Douglas Mallory opened Crazy & Edible Creations in October 2015 and have been serving up soul food and made-to-order crowd-pleasers ever since. The restaurant is located between Casa Carrion and Botanical Brews in Lyman.

Crazy & Edible Creations offers a rotating menu of made-to-order meals during the week with options including Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes, and chili cheeseburgers. Customers can call 864- 279-7587 to hear the menu and place an order.

However, the Mallorys' most popular offering is their Sunday soul food buffet, which features a variety of mains, vegetables, sides and desserts.

"I basically turn it into a cafeteria, where people can come in and choose a meat and one, two or three," said Joyce Mallory. "We call it Soul Food Sunday. I cook, and basically, that's what people are looking for (on Sundays). Nobody really wants to cook anymore."

Crazy & Edible Creations is a soul food restaurant in Lyman. The restaurant offers made-to-order meals during the week and a soul food line on Sundays. Owners are Joyce and Douglas Mallory. Baked chicken and a side of macaroni & cheese, rice and green beans on the line.
Crazy & Edible Creations is a soul food restaurant in Lyman. The restaurant offers made-to-order meals during the week and a soul food line on Sundays. Owners are Joyce and Douglas Mallory. Baked chicken and a side of macaroni & cheese, rice and green beans on the line.

Recommended bites:

  • The teriyaki salmon is a popular main course available on the soul food buffet on Sundays.

  • In the Chicken Philly, a weekday meal option, chicken takes the place of steak for a twist on the classic sandwich.

  • The baked chicken, a smothered chicken over rice and gravy, is always a big hit on Sundays, says Joyce.

Crazy & Edible Creations (107A Spartanburg Highway, Lyman) is open from 12-8 p.m. Thursday, 12-6 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed every second Sunday.

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Rotties 221 Biergarten in Woodruff

Rotties 221 Biergarten is a beer garden and restaurant in downtown Woodruff. Owner Yana Allen pours a beer for a guest.
Rotties 221 Biergarten is a beer garden and restaurant in downtown Woodruff. Owner Yana Allen pours a beer for a guest.

Yana Kosic Allen and John Allen opened Rotties 221 Biergarten in September 2019. Inspired by FR8yard, they renovated their location from the dirt floor up to create a community-oriented hang-out spot on Woodruff’s Main Street.

Rotties 221 Biergarten offers a wide variety of beers, including a selection of European options, 15 flavors of wings, and three Phillies. Beergarden classics like brats, pretzels and beer cheese are available, as well as a couple of vegetarian options like their Greek salad, appetizers of mozzarella sticks and seasoned fries, and the Eat Your Veggies Philly.

"When it comes to beer, I pick out the beer, and I just love doing that ... You'll have ciders; you'll have sours; you'll have light beers, pilsners, loggers, the dark beers. We are also bringing in a nonalcoholic beer, too. So a little bit for everybody," Kosic Allen said. "And when it comes to the food, coming from the Rochester, New York area, I am wings, wings, wings. We are known for our wings and Phillies."

Rotties 221 Biergarten is a beer garden and restaurant in downtown Woodruff. These are the wings with Italian (dry rub) with sides.
Rotties 221 Biergarten is a beer garden and restaurant in downtown Woodruff. These are the wings with Italian (dry rub) with sides.

Recommended bites: 

  • Lemon Pepper Wings, a favorite of Mac Arnold, who has played at the biergarten several times. Other popular flavors include their Italian dry rub, Bourbon Kick, and Old Bay wings.

  • Muffaletta, an Italian sandwich originating in New Orleans, one of the Allens' favorite cities. The olive dressing used on the sandwich comes from a New Orleans supplier.

  • Hofbräu, a German beer.

Rotties 221 Biergarten (228 S. Main St., Woodruff) is open 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, 5-10 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 12-11 p.m. Saturday, and 12-5 p.m. Sunday.

Samantha Swann covers food and restaurants in Spartanburg County. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her with your burning restaurant questions, recipes, and new dinner specials at sswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sameatsspartanburg. Can't get enough food news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for foodies, Spartanburg Eats.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg Eats Challenge: Have you tried any of these restaurants?