Photos (clockwise from top left) Old Daufuskie Crab Company, Daufuskie Island; McLeod Farms, McBee; Pawleys Island Tavern, Pawley's Island meats. On Wednesdays, however, the fried quail flies out the door. Get yours with peas, rice and gravy for a filling country lunch. Eclectic farm-to-table fare issues from the kitchen of Belton’s Grits and Groceries , cited by the likes of The New York Times . If you’re hooked on the praline bacon here, blame co-owner Heidi Trull, a 2015 South Carolina Chef Ambassador. Imagine roasted thick-sliced bacon coated with brown sugar and pecans—this is one craving you’ll want to satisfy. In Pawleys Island, visit the ramshackle Pawleys Island Tavern , recognized in Southern Living magazine and beloved for its “classically shabby” digs, cold beverages, live music and an over-the-top Psychoburger: a half-pound beef burger topped with pimento cheese, chili, sautéed onions, bacon, jalapeños, slaw, an over-easy egg and hot sauce. Crazy delicious. Come dinnertime, Seewee Restaurant in Awendaw really gets you in the feels with its rustic vibe, checked tablecloths and dishes brimming with local ingredients. The hearty fish stew, a spicy, tomato-based concoction studded with fresh fish, potatoes and celery, is swimming with regional flavor. Freeport Marina’s lively Old Daufuskie Crab Company is the headquarters for an island tradition: Ernestine Smith’s spicy, baked deviled crab. Made from a time-honored Gullah recipe, this dish defines Daufuskie Island dining. Getting there requires a boat, but that’s part of the charm. Harold’s Restaurant in Gaffney has been operating since 1932. It found fame with its Sloppy the all-you-can-eat pintos on Wednesdays are delish, too. Spiked with ham, they come with an array of homestyle accompaniments: cornbread, fatback, onions and house-made chow-chow. And throughout the day, satisfy your sweet tooth at a roadside farm market. Nobody tooling down Highway 151 can resist the allure of McLeod Farms in McBee, where the peach enchiladas are all the rage. PHOTO CREDIT (PAWLEYS ISLAND TAVERN): TANYA ACKERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY/CHASING THE LIGHT > 20 Joe-style chili burgers, but Find more incredible dining secrets at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com/ must-eats . Snag a rocker on the porch while you down one for the ultimate dessert experience.
South Carolina Vacation Guide SC 2023: Page 20
