By: Katie Sanders, Editor in Chief
When you’ve made the decision to opt for a dinner off campus in lieu of the school cafeteria, it’s easy to fall back on the same options: Panera, Chipotle or Cookout. Even if you spice it up with something foreign, it will probably be Japan House or Bronco’s. Coming from a city much larger than Spartanburg, I felt that there weren’t many food options during my first few months as a first-year student. As it turns out, the problem wasn’t a lack of options but a lack of willingness on my part to seek out Spartanburg’s hidden secrets.
My challenge to myself was to look for the restaurants that are lesser known but worth finding. I started by asking for suggestions from friends who had lived in Spartanburg during the summer for summer school, but after a while I became accustomed to looking for new places as I drove around. I want to extend the challenge to my fellow students, especially seniors who only have 3 months left of living in Spartanburg! You can start by checking out some of my favorites.
My first recommendation is Maria’s at 7824 Asheville Hwy. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, this is the place to go. It’s a house-turned-restaurant so if you’re not looking carefully you may pass it up. I frequented Mexico during high school and Maria’s food is exactly like something I would buy at a taco stand on the side of the road in Mexico; which means it’s delicious. You’ll also want to try the horchata, which is a traditional Mexican drink made of rice milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Recipes vary, however, so if you have allergies to dairy or nuts you may want to double check with your server about what’s in their recipe.
Skillet is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that is, in my opinion, a more sophisticated Waffle House. At 435 E. Main St. #1, it has the same diner feel but offers pancakes as well as waffles for breakfast options. They also serve sandwiches, salads and wraps for lunch but close at 2 p.m. every day of the week. Going on a Sunday around the time local churches let out is not the best time to go. You will most likely have to wait a while for a table to open up.
My last recommendation is Gerhard’s Café at 1200 E. Main St., otherwise known as the shopping center with Fresh Market, Pure Barre and Broadway Bagels. I had seen this place before but hadn’t thought much about it. They begin serving food at 5:30 p.m. but the bar opens at 4 p.m. They have an impressive amount of import beer for those of us who can legally consume alcohol. Their entrées are a bit pricey for the college budget, but they have soup, salad and make-your-own-pizza options that are more affordable. They host Trivia Tuesdays and have special prices on select food and alcohol during that time as well.
I really enjoyed broadening my horizons by searching for and trying these new places, so I hope my suggestions will encourage others to branch out from the typical chain restaurants as well. The next time you make the effort to leave the Wofford Bubble for an hour or two, head somewhere different. You may just find a new favorite go-to.
