A Life of Slice(s), the Pie's the Limit! Pizza in Greenville

Perhaps you have gotten the impression that Greenvillians are a tad food obsessed.  Guilty as charged! Book my therapy session right away (and please provide snacks)!  With over 100 restaurants (and counting) downtown and 600 county wide, it's a fact.  Entrepreneurial passions tend toward edible enterprises here and the trend shows no sign of slowing.  Fresh, original, organic, artisan crafted, locally sourced... we're almost too tasty for our own good.  In this post I will illustrate the virtues of the local pizza scene because it is going off (or is that on wood fire?) in Greenville!

Speaking of passions, pizza is a word that inspires many, as well as opinions.  Everyone has their own ideas about what constitutes the perfect and "authentic" pie.  The first US pizzeria opened in New York in 1905 and it's been a free-for-all ever since.  Three main schools of thought have emerged: the classic New York thin crust style, Sicilian thick crust, and the Chicago or Greek deep dish style.  All claim "original" status.  Then there are the artisanal varieties, a mash up of crusts, methods, and toppings all seeking to attain core pizza consciousness.  Do keep toiling away, because we love every one of you to the very last bite!

Let's start by giving props to some local staples before we greet the newbies on this saucy scene.  All the shops in this post have accrued many local accolades, ranked on many "best of" lists and have gained hordes of faithful patrons.

 Vic's Pizza at 12 E. Coffee is straight outta Brooklyn and provides Greenville with New York soul starting at $3 a slice.  Their charitable giving enriches the community in the classic Italian style.  La famiglia!  They even have a White Pizza named for Mayor Knox White!  The menu also includes calzones, stromboli, subs, gyros, wings, canolis and "highly addictive" garlic knots.  Sigh!

Mellow Mushroom is (now) a chain with deep Southern roots that can be credited with getting the artisanal pizza dough ball rolling with alternative toppings, as only hippie dippy kids could in Atlanta back in 1974. Downtown Greenville has an outpost of their tie dyed goodness at 1 Augusta Street.  Click the link for the menu and particulars that many in these parts have committed to memory.

Barley's Tap Room has been in operation for 20 years, starting in Spindale NC in 1996.  We have been graced with a location in the heart of downtown at 25 W. Washington.  Come for the 72 craft beers on tap, stay for the bar games (pool, darts, foosball) and PIZZA!  This is one of the establishments on the boulevard that keeps Greenville nightlife hopping, so if you want a place to hang out with friends Barley's is a good spot.

When Sidewall Pizza opened just off the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest all creatures in the region big and small rejoiced.  Everyone has a gift, some stumble upon it later in life, but once they find their niche it can be magical.  Andy O'Mara is known for handsome canoe building but fell overboard and into his true calling with pizza.  Sidewall Pizza has just opened a new location in Downtown Greenville at 99 Cleveland Street.  Hooray!!!  In addition to the  handcrafted, brick oven pizzas made with premium local and Italian ingredients, extraordinary locavore salads, ice cream and old fashioned sodas, the new location will feature sandwiches.  Sidewall has also demonstrated a commitment to hosting unique fundraisers for local causes and already, in such a short time, holds a place in our hearts.

Save the date!  Bike to Lunch with the Swamp Rabbit Inn and Coastal Crust Greenville during Euphoria Greenville 2016!  Where would the South be without its rogues and rebels?  Enter Coastal Crust Pizza.  It's a brick pizza oven on a truck and they are rolling up to Greenville this summer for Euphoria and planning to park around town awhile.  Lucky us!

Their catering food truck is a newly restored 1956 Ford F600 that features a wood-fired Valoriana pizza oven that fires up gorgeous Neapolitan-style pizza.   They've been a hit in Charleston catering for special events, corporate events and weddings.  Along with the hot pizza, the truck also has a custom tap system that has drinks from local breweries. Coastal Crust Greenville will rely on fresh produce from local farmers.

Make sure you join us for Bike to Lunch on the Swamp Rabbit Trail Friday, Sept. 23 from Swamp Rabbit Inn & Properties to Trailblazer Park with Craig Rogers of Border Springs Farm, and enjoy lunch with Coastal Crust local TR eateries, and Williamsburg Winery.  Tickets for Euphoria can be found HERE.  Special Swamp Rabbit Inn Package HERE.

Urbanites in Greenville have been anticipating the opening of two major developments bracketing Downtown to the north and east.  Near neighbor of Sidewall Pizza, the South Ridge complex at Church Street and University Ridge, with 350 luxury apartment units, will not go hungry!  Joining much anticipated Biscuit Head will be The Toss Pizza Pub.  Owned and operated by Greenville's Jacob Billingsley, who also owns Blueberry Frog and Gringo's Cantina, Toss will offer artisan wood-fired pizza and a full-service bar.  Who wants to bet this will be a chic boîte to grab a bite during a night on the town?

As Main and Stone apartments are set to dominate the historic district of North Main, Stone Pizza is set to open at the corner of Stone Avenue and Park Avenue in July of this year.  Moving into the space of the former Park Avenue Pub,  the sports-oriented, casual concept will provide patio dining on wood-fired and craft brewed fare, and a bar service until 1 am.  It's sure to be an instant hit to liven the neighborhood in a cozy way for locals and newcomers alike.

Anchoring the new pizza news with a vivacious venture from the fun bunch at Swamp Rabbit Café,  they are making a shipping container into a brick oven pizza joint.  Oh, yes, they are!  Swamp Rabbit Pizza.  And you can be a "piece of the pie" by donating HERE.  Roll tape:

Now, we would be remiss if we did not include a couple of notable outliers who are yet integral pizza providers in the lives of many Greenvillians and deserve mention and praise.

Locally owned Frodo's Pizza at 511 S. Pleasantburg has been in operation for 32 years, and is a storied local favorite.  Choose homemade crust in thick or thin with fresh ingredients for a tasty experience dining in, or take one home to the Shire and make all your hobbits happy.

The unassuming City View House of Pizza is a surprise and locals swear by it.  At 702 Cedar Lane Rd it's a bit west past the Swamp Rabbit Café.  They offer a solid menu of pizzas, home made pastas, salads, subs and more in a family friendly atmosphere.

Honestly, when you are in Greenville you are bounded by pizza on all sides!  You could fill several weeks with investigative adventures on pizza alone.  And then you could ride your bike.  A lot.  Or, ride your bike to the pizza!  Either way, get yourself here and we promise to show you a delicious time.  Buono appetito! Ciao!

Did we miss any great pizza places in Greenville, SC??  Let us know by posting a comment below!

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--Percy

Oh Beans! Coffee Crawl, Caffeine Fix... Getting Your Joe on in G'ville

Are we feeling a little foggy?  We can "fix" that. Right this way...  This is a celebration of coffee, coffee roasters and coffee houses that can be found in what we will call for this post 'Greater Greenville',  what the locals consider within the near orbit of 'Greenville proper'.  Rest assured you are never far from a boost of brown when you are in our zone.  Fair warning:  after this excursion you may end up with a serious buzz, an insider's swagger, updated sense of hipster style, bags of goodies and gifts, extra piercings, ink, dreads, dye and possibly a man bun to help you vibrate all the way home.

Let's start, ironically, with the far northern outpost which is actually called Due South!

Due South is an industrial, hip café and roastery, roasting on the premises, that can be found in the new art enclave of Taylors Mill at 250 Mill Street in Taylors.

They are open later than most (heaven bless them) Mon - Thurs: 9 am - 9 pm, Fri - Sat: 9 am - 10 pm, and Sun: Noon - 7 pm.  They often host special foodie events and have live music so check their Facebook page for updates.

A Leopard prowls the town of Travelers Rest just north of Greenville and her den is at 27 South Main Street, The Forest Coffeehouse.

Leopard Forest Coffee Company roasts daily in Marietta, SC, just aways up the highway from Travelers Rest and the coffee can be enjoyed, among many other places, at The Forest.  The café is spacious and calm, usually filled with students reading.  It's proximity to the Swamp Rabbit Trail has its counter bustling with cyclists throughout the day.  Outdoor seating to watch the world go by.  Mon - Sat    7 am - 6 pm, Sun   10 am - 5 pm.

The Swamp Rabbit Café and grocery is now darn near a legend here after only a handful of years on the scene.  It can be found at 205 Cedar Lane but is also accessible directly from the Trail itself.

They offer a menu of local eats and treats, organic and locally sourced produce, groceries and baked goods,  AND they host many special events, AND offer cooking classes!  Open Mon -Fri 7:30 am - 7 pm, Sat 8 am - 6 pm, Sun 9 am - 6 pm.  If you are in town for more than 24 hours it will be hard NOT to wind up here.

Heading southward down to the heart of Greenville we come first to Methodical Coffee.

Opened only in the last year, their almost zen approach to coffee has caught on and Methodical is growing exponentially, adding a roastery that will be in operation a stone's throw from the cafe any day now.

Located in One City Plaza at 101 N. Main, many a business meeting is held here over yummy baked goods, and you may also rent their elegant space and patio for private gatherings.

Enjoy the sophisticated ambiance at Methodical,  Mon - Fri  7 am - 6 pm, Sat  8 am - 6 pm, and Sun 8 am - 5 pm.

There's something brewing down below!  Almost across the street from Methodical and down some steps is a place that Greenville's movers, shakers, artists and others have made into an institution.  Coffee Underground, literally in a basement space at 1 East Coffee Street (not even kidding - how cool is that??)  starts to crank early, so get in the queue and prepare to move fast.

Open and roasting for over 20 years, they also offer full breakfast, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, smoothies, milkshakes, fraps, beer, wine & cocktails.  As if that weren't enough they have a theater space adjacent to the cafe area where many a cool happening can be enjoyed.

Put your ear to the 'Ground Mon - Thurs 7 am - 10 pm, Friday 7 am - 12 am, Saturday 8 am - 12 am, Sunday 8 am - 10 pm.

Turning a little bit south down Main to 11 S. Main we come to Port City Java.  A bit of a chain with 32 locations but roasting in Wilmington NC and right on the Main drag.

Of note is the back patio which can be a lovely respite from a busy day in Downtown Greenville.  Mon - Thurs 6:30am - 7:00pm, Fri 6:30am - 11:00pm, Sat 7:00am - 11:00pm, Sun 7:00am - 7:00pm.

At the top of Falls Park before you get to the bridge, grab a cup and a gourmet, custom blended cone at the Spill the Beans!  This place smells scrumptious!  Lots of space indoor and outdoor, and waterfall views.  Sweet!  531 South Main Street, Mon–Sat 6:30 am – 11:00pm, Sun 1:30pm – 9:00pm.

Down, down, farther south we go to the new kid on the block and closest to the Swamp Rabbit Inn - Bex Cafe and Juice Bar!

A cozier corner cafe you could not find and we're partial, as we can roll uphill and right into it with minimal effort.  Great organic coffee, delicious healthy eats, like breakfast sandwiches and creative smoothies, it makes our little neighborhood complete!

In case you're not sure where you are, West End Coffee Roasters has a West End Coffee Shoppe at 1o21 South Main.  On the way in between Zanti Yoga and Fluor Field ballpark... you get the picture.

The coffee is roasted just a bit farther south of town with an array of  single origin, fair trade, blends and flavors like Toasted Carolina Pecan for retail or wholesale purchase.  You could say they are pouring far and wide!

If the coffee cafes of Greenville had a lantern rouge, The Village Grind would be it, our last stop on the crawl.  Are your teeth clattering yet?  Have we used the term cute? cozy? hip? stylish?  The Village Grind is all of these, also relatively new and kinda tucked away too.

At 1263 Pendleton Street, near the offices of Town Magazine, the shop has been through several hours extensions as more folks begin to find their way to Greenville's growing arts district.  So far, and hopefully subject to even further extension... Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.  The Village Grind is one of those places that makes you feel cool just settling into the décor.  Of course the coffee, supplied by Due South, and munchies from the Swamp Rabbit Cafés baker are indeed a collection of some of the best Greenville has to offer its visitors and so a perfect spot to end our romp.

I hope this little post offers some help on where to get your jump start, your motor running, your cockles warmed and your hippity hopping while in Greenville.  Just a few of our many "perks".  See you soon! We'll have coffee.

--Ppppppppercy

Cultured Swamp Rabbits Love Public Art in Greenville

I’ll let you two-legged folks in on a little secret:  rabbits LOVE art!  Especially the 3-dimensional kind.  We're more sophisticated than you might think!  If I had opposable thumbs I’m sure I would sculpt.  I’m rather an expert on the properties of wet, red clay.  Of course the furrier one is, the less likely to be allowed to enter a museum or gallery (except for the mice ; mice go EVERYWHERE!)

The rest of us with tails and snouts must make do with what is installed outdoors - public art.  But in that regard Greenville does not disappoint!  There are many different sculpture viewing opportunities all over Greenville.

Clockwise from upper left: Pietro Tacca, Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Anthony Howe, Brad Spencer, John Acorn, Dale Chihuly, Michael Gard.

This weekend, however, it got more personal.  The resident artist of our Inn family, Kathleen King, had an opening celebration for one of her works on The Swamp Rabbit Trail, and our Queen of Clean, AJ, joined in the fun. The press and interwebs are buzzing with the success of the event and our gals are front and center.  Here are some images from the day.  Several photos are from the article in the Greenville News as indicated.

"The Runner",  nicknamed "Ethyl", is a ten-foot metal sculpture and the second installation in the Swamp Rabbit Trail Public Art Collection.  The sculpture was funded by donations from the Greenville Track Club and VisitGreenvilleSC.  It was dedicated to the memory of  former GTC administrator Darrell Jennewine.  Darrell was beloved for his dedication to the running community in Greenville.  His last pair of running shoes were bronzed and set on a plaque under the bike rack bench designed by Ryan Calloway.

A great crowd came out on a beautiful day!

It takes a collaborative effort!

Reception at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe

What it's all about.

Come stroll the streets and trails of Greenville and enjoy the artistic inn-stallations!  The Swamp Rabbit Inn is conveniently close to all.

--Percy