The cure for your post-European vacay woes
Were you one of the tens of thousands of U.S. travelers who escaped to Europe this summer? And are you now part of the sad club of folks back at home missing your favorite overseas cuisine? We empathize. Maybe more than we’d like to admit. But, we also have the solution(s) to some of those culinary yearnings.
This may not be a total surprise but rather a reframing of what you already know: Greenville is home to international restaurants serving up some exceptionally convincing dishes that will have you wondering why all of the other guests around you are speaking English with a Southern accent. So while you’re planning your return trip to eat that perfectly flaky croissant or melt-in-your mouth pizza, do so while reminding yourselves that we have it pretty good here, too.
Here’s a healthy dose of our favorite OTGG spots to assist with the periodic and necessary dining teleportation.
Words by: Ariel H. Turner and Jackie Shapiro Brooker
Images by: Ariel H. Turner and Olivier Blanchard
For a croissant and baguette as close to the ones you’ll get in a traditional French boulangerie, head to The Commons on the weekends. Their hours tend to be on a more European schedule, too, so keep an eye on their Instagram for updates.
Real, traditional pizza is hard to come by on this side of the Atlantic, and especially away from Italian hubs in larger Northeastern cities. This limited edition variety is on a first-ordered, first-served basis and worth the often three-week wait.
In a little corner of downtown Simpsonville, find both traditional sweet crêpes and authentic savory buckwheat galettes. La Reine (mushrooms, garlic, herbs, ham, Swiss cheese, and a sunnyside egg) or La Nutella Banane will whisk you away to France for brunch.
For that northern French/Belgian flavor mashup, order the Moules Frites Mariniere (mussels and fries with a traditional white wine broth) or the Steak Frites with your choice of sauce. We recommend the au poivre. Looking for a taste of the Mediterranean? Moules Frites Provencale (tomato broth with fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil) will hit the spot.
Feel a world away with Bavarian and Prussian specialties along with tastes of Hungary. Fans and shade keep the outdoor biergarten comfortable year-round.
On the menu since opening, the beef carpaccio is consistently giving the Venetian flavors we crave.
Recently discovered a jambon-beurre? This traditional French ham and butter sandwich on a proper baguette is on the regular lunch menu at the bakery in the Village of West Greenville. They often sell out, so plan to get there at the beginning of the lunch rush.
Plan a little trip off Pelham Road to this Italian-owned pastry shop serving gelato, mousse ranging from vegan passionfruit to chocolate, traditional Sicilian cakes, and pastries. Enjoy an Italian espresso or affogato (espresso poured over gelato) while you scout treats for your next visit.
Fish & Chips with mushy peas will take you back across the pond but also remind you why fresh fish on this side is even better. 😉
Foie gras and pheasant are just two dishes the new fine dining restaurant at the Grand Bohemian Lodge get exactly right as a destination for French cuisine. No surprise since the French-born executive chef, Nicolas Abello, held a Michelin star at his previous Manhattan restaurant, L’Appart.
Though the menu rotates based on the freshest ingredient availability, you can be certain the fresh fish mains or seasonal dishes like rabbit andouille and risotto will remind you of a dinner from your travels and make you miss it just a little less.
A destination in Travelers Rest that excels in the “feels a world away” department, Restaurant 17’s menu of rotating fresh salads and larger plates hit all the northern and southern European notes while using authentically Southern ingredients.
Stay tuned for PT. 2 of our travel food guide, featuring your favorites from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Mexico you can find right here in Greenville.