Greenville, SC
March Madness Elite 8: Which Greenville County restaurant serves the best shrimp & grits?
Welcome to the second round of our March Madness Greenville: shrimp and grits edition. In the spirit of the upcoming four-week college basketball tournament, we have pitted some of Greenville’s most popular and favorite shrimp and grits dishes against one another to determine the county’s favorite Southern delicacy.
Our first round was filled with a few upsets and close battles, as more than 2,000 votes were cast to name the best shrimp and grits dish. In seeding this battle of shrimp and grit restaurants, we ranked each local establishment by popularity, centralized location to downtown Greenville, and of course the unique spin on each dish available.
Elite-8 matchups:
(1) Soby’s v. (7) Local Cue
Soby’s beat out Gray Moon Breakfast & Brunch by a hefty amount, as their rendition of the shrimp & grits dish came out to a strong finish in the opening round by a score of 155 to 31. Maybe the most popular shrimp and grits dish in Greenville is at Soby’s. The trio of tomato creme sauce, Granda Padano cheese, and hints of tarragon make their shrimp and grits a rich bowl of warmth and goodness, so good, they’re served on the menu all day long.
Local Cue beat Ink & Ivy by only 20 votes in a tight first-round matchup. Local Cue makes their shrimp and grits with a twist of barbecue as a bourbon garlic cream sauce and Havarti cheese take their dish to an unheard level of savory. Shrimp at Local Cue are marinated in simple olive oil and deglazed in bourbon for a tasty seafood twist.
(3) Larkin’s v. (5) Smoke on the Water
Larkin’s beat Eggs Up Grill in a landslide victory, 113 to 41. At Larkin’s, almost everything on the menu makes sense. Their grits come directly from the Lowcountry and the Tasso ham gravy makes for a memorable Creole binder for the dish perfected by Chef Wilbert Sauceda.
Smoke on the Water won over Stax Omega Diner by a tally of 86 to 53. Presentation is key at Smoke on the Water. Cheesy grits, shrimp, and smoked andouille sausage come in a metal bowl as the traditional bowl of shrimp and grits is “spot on,” according to manager, Becky Sowar. “It’s one of my favorite dishes on the menu,” she added. Add bacon and leeks to top it off and the looks might match the taste.
(6) Southern Culture Kitchen & Bar v. (13) Shortfields
Southern Culture edged out a victory to Southern Fried Green Tomatoes by only five votes. Stone-ground grits come directly from Timms Mill in Pendleton as Southern Culture grills their shrimp and combines it with a Cajun creme sauce, andouille sausage, and more to make up this delightful concoction.
In a sweet-16 upset, Shortfields beat Sassafras by more than double the votes. Traveler’s Rest and Simpsonville both feature stone-ground grits and caramelized onions that make the difference in their bowl of shrimp and grits. It’s very underrated, but a definite treat for those who are familiar with Shortfields – a hidden gem.
(9) Roost Restaurant v. (15) Low Country Shrimper
Roost Restaurant beat Adam’s Bistro by 20 votes, by a score of 76 to 56. Roost Restaurant only offers shrimp and grits on their Sunday brunch menu. It features heavy cream and butter to make their shrimp and grits rich in flavor and one of the more savory options in Greenville.
A true Cinderella story: Low Country Shrimper beat Stella’s Southern Brasserie by only 2 votes. At a great price point, Low Country Shrimper offers an affordable and delicious bowl of grilled shrimp and a special andouille sauce that accompanies all that comes alongside. Well worth a trip to the Golden Strip.
