2011
RUNNER-UP
John D. Hite’s
West Columbia/Cayce: 240 Dreher Rd., 794-4120 Fri 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Don’t let the plain cinder block building deter you. No-frills tasty pulled pork barbecue, roasted chicken, ribs and ham. Meats and the usual fixins available to go by the pound or the pint. Takeout only. ¢. 2011
RUNNER-UP
Little Pigs
Northeast: 4927 Alpine Rd., 788-8238 Wed 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thu 11 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Amazing spread of lunch buffet offerings including yams, corn, baked beans, fried okra, onion rings, hush puppies, green beans and more. The three varieties of barbecue are nothing to sneeze at, either. Just stellar local barbecue beloved by regulars. littlepigs.biz. ¢.
Alfresco Mobilista File photo
Maurice’s Barbecue
Downtown: 800 Elmwood Ave., 256-4377 Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri -Sat 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Harbison/Irmo: 1141 Lake Murray Blvd., 732-5555 Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Lexington: 766 W. Main St., 359-8789 Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Lexington: 1010 S. Lake Drive, 356-1909 Mon-Sun 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Northeast: 252 O’Neil Ct., 865-0608 Mon-Sun 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Northeast: 9563 Two Notch Rd., 462-0882 Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
St. Andrews/Dutch Square: 622 St. Andrews Rd., 772-6999 Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
West Columbia/Cayce: 1600 Charleston Hwy., 796-0220 Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
West Columbia/Cayce: 2450 Augusta Rd., 796-4777 Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Maurice Bessinger finally pulled the Confederate flag down from some of his locations — citing the
high costs of dry cleaning — but the flag still flies over the barbecue chain’s Lexington and West Columbia outposts. Serves fresh pork, ribs, beef and chicken pit-cooked over hickory coals and doused with Carolina Gold mustard-based sauce. mauricesbbq.com. ¢.
Palmetto Pig
Downtown: 530 Devine St., 733-2556 Tue-Wed 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Thu-Fri 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fabulous all-you-can-eat buffet featuring pulled pork barbecue, hash, green beans, slaw and crispy fried chicken. A great downtown option if you’re craving Shealy’s but don’t want to drive so far. Be sure to arrive early or late to beat the rush. Discount available for USC students. palmettopig.com. ¢.
Publick House
Shandon: 2307 Devine St., 256-2207 Mon-Sun 4 p.m.-until (kitchen until midnight Sun-Thu, 1 a.m. Fri-Sat)
This restaurant and bar is a Devine Street icon, and rightfully so. Offers billiards and wide range of beers on tap, as well as several wing flavors, including three types of buffalo style and honey mustard, teriyaki, barbecue, pterodactyl, garlic butter and buttery barbecue. Salads, burgers and pasta round out the menu. Irish music on Sundays a plus. myspace.com/publickhouse. ¢.
RB’s Bodacious Bistro
Downtown: 1901 Main St., 251-0303 Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Surprisingly smoky, down-home pulled pork wonderfulness tucked away inside a straight-laced bank tower. The macaroni and cheese is splendid. Includes wraps, pimento cheese sandwiches, burgers and other lunch items. Serves real breakfast, too — eggs, biscuits, hash browns and more. ¢-$
Rease’s Southern Swine BBQ
Rosewood: 2910 Rosewood Dr., Suite 1 , 255-0201 Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
One of the few barbecue joints where you can sip beer and wine instead of just sweet tea, Rease’s serves not just pulled pork and sides, but chicken, quail, burgers and fish, too. ¢-$
Shealy’s Bar-B-Que House Leesville: 340 E. Columbia Ave., 532-8135
Mon-Tue 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thu-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Carry Out 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat breakfast buffet 7-9:30 a.m.
More than 40 amazing buffet items. The pork is lovingly pulled from slow-cooked whole hogs and served with a thick and tangy mustard sauce. Widely considered the best barbecue place in the entire state, maybe the country. Every bit worth the drive from town, or have them cater if you want your event to be remembered. shealysbbq.com. ¢.
WG’s Chicken Wings
St. Andrews/Dutch Square: 736 St. Andrews Rd., 772-1489 Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Several flavors of wings, including dry-seasoned flavors, along with salads, sandwiches and appetizers in a family atmosphere. Lounge area for 21 and older. wgschickenwings.com. ¢.
Wild Wing Café
Harbison/Irmo: 100150 Bower Pkwy., 749-9464 Mon-Wed 11 a.m.-midnight, Thu-Sun 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Northeast: 480 Town Center Place, 865-3365 The Vista: 729 Lady St., 252-9464 Mon-Sun 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
First opened in Hilton Head, Wild Wing has become a national chain on the strength of its 30-plus wing flavors like Jalapeño Cheddar and Old Yeller. The overwhelming menu also offers appetizers like its Hot Shots in addition to soups, salads, wraps, ribs, skewers, sandwiches and a variety of platters. wildwingcafe.com. ¢.
Wing Zone
Downtown: 132 Assembly St., 933-9464 Mon-Wed 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Thu-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun noon-1 a.m.
Wings are the reason they’re in business, and they specialize in delivering to hungry USC students late. More flavors than you can shake a stick at as well as chicken fingers, buffalo shrimp and sides. wingzone.com. ¢.
Wings & Ale
St. Andrews/Dutch Square: 125-C Outlet Pointe Blvd., 750-1600 Sun-Thu 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Family atmosphere, live entertainment and wings. Features jukebox, pool tables, sporting events on large-projection TV and many other big-screen TVs. Live entertainment steers toward the classic rock crowd. Never a cover charge. scwingsandale.com. ¢.
Bistro/ New American @116 Espresso & Wine Bar
West Columbia/Cayce: 116 State St., 791-5663 Tue-Thurs 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri 4 p.m.-midnight; Sat 10 a.m.-midnight; Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
True BBQ
Combine a coffee shop atmosphere with great wine and food, and you have @116 on State Street. Fresh-baked pastries and homemade soups accompany coffee-spiced steak, pizzas and empanadas. A Sunday brunch features omelets, sweet potato pancakes and more. Also has Spanish wines, great sangria, martinis and a White Russian drinks menu. ¢-$.
Wed-Sat 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Alfresco Mobilista
West Columbia-Cayce: 1237 D Ave., 791-9950 Serves pork ribs and classic chopped pork barbecue, smoked on site; hash and rice; barbecue chicken; barbecue sandwiches; and the usual slew of sides and desserts. Choose between Pretty Lady and Sexy Lady sauce.
Mobile food truck: 979-4263 Call for hours
The AlfMob truck, as it’s known, serves up fresh food — shrimp burgers, housemade potato chips, salads galore and more. The Redneck Cuban, with hickory smoked pulled pork, blue cheese aioli, homemade pickles and grilled ham, is a specialty. Check alfmob.com or call for locations. ¢-$ continues on page 24
20 freetimes | bites&sights
Spring 2012 | free-times.com