Lewis BBQ

BBQ is a way of life in the Southern US so if you are planning on visiting Greenville and the Upstate then you should add BBQ to your itinerary.  South Carolina is known for mustard based BBQ sauces and there are quite a few really tasty places around the area. Today we will be discussing Lewis BBQ.  Lewis BBQ is actually a chain but is a local chain with restaurants in Greenville and Charleston. 

If you arrive at a busy time of day such as a Friday night or during the lunch rush then be prepared to wait a bit.  The line can get quite long but it moves fairly quickly.  The line forms right down the middle of the restaurant and when you get to the counter you will go either left or right depending on which side frees up first.  The employees slicing meat always offer a sample of the brisket and I highly recommend taking them up on the taste.  You will let them know what type of meat you would like and how much.  They will slice and weigh it out.  My eyes always tend to be a bit bigger than my stomach so keep that in mind when ordering.  With brisket especially there are more questions that the employees will ask such as whether you prefer the lean side or fatty side.  Fat is where the flavor is but go with whatever your preference is.  After you have your meat they will pass you to the next station where you choose your sides.  Note that it is perfectly acceptable to share sides, the portion sizes are large and 2 sides are plenty for 2 people. After that you can choose what you want to drink then pay.  They accept cards and cash. Drinks are self service and there is a central drink counter where you can get water, sweet tea and sodas.  You will notice that the food is placed on a tray on top of a thick piece of butcher paper.  They will also hand you more pieces of paper depending on how many people are in your party.  There are no plates at Lewis BBQ so these pieces of paper will serve as your plates.  Find a table and dig in.  Note that the restaurant asks that you not attempt to save a table.  They prefer for you to order food before finding a table.

Now onto the food!  First we have the meat! My favorite meat is hands down the brisket!  Brisket is a cut of beef from the breast or lower chest.  It is a primal cut and is actually composed of two different muscles whose grain runs slightly different directions.  The brisket is rubbed with a seasoning mix then smoked for many hours low and slow.  Slicing a brisket is a bit of an art form since you want to cut against the grain.  Lewis BBQ has absolutely amazing brisket so I highly recommend it.  They also have pork, turkey, beef ribs, and sausage.  All the meats are smoked and you can get them stand alone or in a sandwich. We can go into the details of BBQ in another article but it is an interesting topic.  I have tried most of the meats on the menu and haven’t been disappointed yet!

Next we have the sides.  Their french fries are quite amazing,  thick cut and crispy.  I like to dip them in the BBQ sauces that they have available.  The Mac and Cheese and corn pudding are quite excellent as well.  Their collard greens are popular but have a bit more vinegar than I prefer.  They have other sides as well so enjoy exploring the options.  If you go with more people then it is fun to get multiple sides and have everyone try a bit of each one.  

The drink station also has silverware, napkins, and BBQ sauces.  There are three types of sauce to try.  A traditional sweet sauce,  a green chili sauce, and then a tangy sauce.  You aren’t limited to a single sauce so give all three a try and then enjoy your favorite.  When you finish eating you can leave your tray on the table and the staff will clean it up.  

Lewis BBQ is always high quality and tasty and I highly recommend it if you get a chance to try it. Average Price for 2 People:$40-50 USD Tipping: Tipping is available when you pay.  Employees clean the table after you leave but I believe most employees make more than minimum wage.  Tipping less than 20% is acceptable. Address: 

Lewis BBQ

214 Rutherford Street

Greenville, SC 29609 Access: There aren’t many hotels in the area and it would be a bit of a walk from downtown so driving is recommended.  The road out front can get quite busy so making a left hand turn across traffic can take some time during really busy periods.  There are two entrances with one being only one way.  Parking extends down both sides and across the back of the restaurant.