No food pictures this time. This was going to be a leisurely few days getaway… and then we discovered restaurants worthy of your attention if in Greenville or Franklin (North Carolina) or Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Originally, my husband Russ and I booked a flight and hotel in Asheville, NC. When Hurricane Helene drove forceful winds and powerful floods throughout the artsy mountain community, we ended up staying instead at a Courtyard Hotel in Greenville. Attached to the ideally located downtown property is the Indaco restaurant, which specializes in modern Italian. The small chain of Indaco restaurants are also in Charleston, SC; Atlanta, GA; and Charlotte, NC.
Our first evening, we sat outside at a small table resting between a fireplace and the long oval bar whose stool seats overlooked a green plaza at which folks played cornhole on two boards. We drank Rosso Fizz, a layered refreshing drink of lambrusco, vodka, limoncello, prosecco, soda. Russ ordered a Margherita pizza to nibble on. Turned out to be not much more than a nibble left. Crunchy crust surrounding a thin base topped by San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and parmesan cheese.
The next day, we headed to Spartanburg to visit our granddaughter at her college. We wanted to find a place that felt like a treat for her at a restaurant she had not been to even during a parental visit. We landed at Mon Amie Morning Café for brunch. We figured the long line extending into the packed parking lot was a great indicator. It was. They serve stuffed crepes, omelets, eggs Benedicts, French toast, pancakes and many sides from grits to fruits or veggies. We each ordered a main dish and a side. Too many to describe what we each chose, but what’s important are the homey Southern charm, friendly staff, and large portions of dishes prepared excellently. There wasn’t one unhappy bite!
Later that evening, we walked around Greenville, admiring the city center waterfall and park area that drew families, couples, musical buskers, and inviting aromas stealing out from numerous outside cafes and bustling restaurants. We’d been recommended to Maestro Bistro and Dinner Club, a fine dining gem tucked away like a hidden treasure inside a hotel entrance.
We began with an order of traditional beef Argentinian empanadas, served with chimichurri. The pastry was flaky. The beef spiced delicately with savory notes that lingered. Russ chose Chicken Picatta tossed with a lemon and caper butter sauce and served with angel hair pasta (his favorite). He pronounced it one of the best he has ever had and trust me, it is an entrée he has tried frequently across the globe.
I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the Roasted Duck Breast, served with a polenta croquette, arugula salad and finished with an apricot demi-glaze. My one regret is that everything was fantastic, yet I couldn’t possibly eat it all, so I focused most of my attention to the two large portions of succulent duck. Regrettably, I couldn’t finish even half of the sides.
The next day we drove to Franklin, NC on a personal errand. The city was a hilly run of restaurants and boutiques, with no spare time to shop. Russ found Gracious Plates on Main noted on many sites as one of the best in Franklin. Minutes after we arrived on a Monday at lunch time, there was a long wait for an open table. Russ munched happily on a large juicy hamburger with fries. I downed a bowl of chicken noodle soup and four small lamb meatballs served with a Tzatziki Sauce unlike any I’d had before. I thought I wasn’t very hungry… until I began eating. Let’s just say it was one instance where I wouldn’t have been taking home leftovers.
That night, we returned to Indaco but sat inside for a more fine dining experience. Monday nights, bottles of wine are half-price, which certainly added to this celebratory meal. Russ feasted on pasta and we shared the Mixed Italian Salad: an airily tangy blend of greens, cucumber, provolone, Castelvetrano olives, radish, and bits of Soppressata in a creamy house made Italian dressing. I ordered two sides, crispy Brussel sprouts and parmesan polenta infused with chives. Both dishes were surprisingly larger than I could possibly eat. The star of the evening was the polenta, locally sourced from farmers who had been hit hard by the hurricanes and this was a way the restaurant was “giving back.” This was the silkiest, creamiest polenta I have ever had. Russ has never been a fan but after urging him to “just try a spoonful,” I was afraid he might resort to licking the bowl! Weeks later, that is the dish he remembers most from the trip.
We don’t travel just to find memorable meals, but gosh, it sure does make the journey flavorful!
Karen Kuzsel is a writer-editor based in the Orlando area who specializes in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings & events industries. She is an active member of International Live Events Association and Meeting Professionals International and is now serving on the 2023-2024 MPI Community Council for Small Business Owners. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Experience Kissimmee. Karen writes about food & wine, spas, destinations, venues, meetings & events in her blog, Hotel Happenings & Program Promotions. A career journalist, she has owned magazines, written for newspapers, trade publications, radio and TV. As her alter-ego, Natasha, The Psychic Lady, she is a featured entertainer for corporate and social events. Karen@KarenKuzsel.com; www.KarenKuzsel.com; www.ThePsychicLady.com; Karen@ThePsychicLady.com.
Indacogreenville@TheIndigoRoad.com