South Carolina BBQ

Bo-B-Q.....

2006-04-05T23:14:00.000-04:00

is on 739 Knox Abbott Drive in Cayce/West Columbia, South Carolina. They are unique in that they have all four BBQ sauces known to South Carolinians. Their dining area is limited to the front half of this facility seen in the photograph. I've been told that the first Po Pigs Bo-B-Q is on Edisto Island, South Carolina. (803)-791-5374. Take out, buffet, and made to order plates.

Maurice's BBQ.....

2006-03-30T23:30:00.000-05:00

I don't usually frequent Maurice's BBQ although it is good. I got a Little Pig's dinner and it was plenty of lunch and money. I did get a menu. The BBQ was good as were the hash & rice, and cole slaw. The hush puppies were burnt. My two co-workers wanted cheeseburgers. One was medium and the other came to the table nearly rare. It had to be sent back. I suppose that's what you get for ordering a cheeseburger in a BBQ place.

Porky D's Bar-B-Que.....

2006-02-24T19:19:00.000-05:00

Porky D's has been open for many years at the intersection of Old Two Notch Road and Emmanuel Church Road in between Lexington and West Columbia, SC. The old site didn't have run for seating customers and was strictly care out. You also had to make sure you went early enough on a Saturday afternoon or they might run out of BBQ. :-( Porky D's has great ribs, chicken, and BBQ in a mustard vinegar sauce. Their hash is one of my favorites. :-)

When I recently took this pic of Porky D's new home it wasn't quite ready for operation (end of January). It has since opened. I haven't been to the new place yet, but I've been told by all my sources that the BBQ is still wonderful. And they picked Homey up a MENU. The new restaurant has plenty of seating and is located just west of the old site on Old Two Notch Road (just off Highway #6 to the east). Mmmmmmmmmm BBQ!

Doc's Bar-B-Que! Coming Soon!.....

2006-02-23T18:45:00.000-05:00

LOL. This sign's has been displayed for nearly a year on Shop road in Columbia across from the state's highway department. What a tease. I don't think Doc's is ever going to open. I'll keep you posted.
February 23, 2006 I went by the future site of Doc's BBQ. The sign seen in the picture above had been removed and an aluminum storefront door and a porch has been added to that wall. On the other wall a pair of aluminum storefront doors have been added and a cover over them. I stopped and talked to the gentleman doing the renovations and asked when Doc's would open. First of April.

Three Girls Jumping for BBQ.....

2006-02-20T10:04:00.000-05:00

This is a postcard once my grandmother's from the early 1900's. One of the other cards was dated 1909. What has it got to do with bbq? Other than the words "mustard vinegar" showing up at the bottom of postcard? It doesn't have anything to do with jump roping, so it has to be BBQ. Mmmmmmm BBQ!

Hammy's Bar B Q.....

2006-02-12T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hammy's Bar B Q is in the small town of Elgin, South Carolina on US Highway #1 / 2436 Main Street, (803)438-3249.A short drive from Northeast Columbia to the sleepy Southern "Home of the Catfish Stomp" town.
Hammy's has been in business at the same location for over 20 years in Kershaw County. It hasn't changed much. They have a buffet style serving area with a mustard vinegar based BBQ and chicken. I honestly haven't been to Hammy's in awhile. I enjoyed the BBQ the last time there. I'm not as big a fan of their hash, however my taste for hash is very particular at best.

South Carolina Barbeque Sauce.....

2006-02-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

South Carolina Barbeque Sauce

2/3 c Yellow prepared mustard
1/2 c White sugar
1/4 c Light brown sugar
1 c Cider vinegar
2 tb Chili powder
1 ts Black pepper
1 ts White pepper
1/4 ts Cayenne pepper
4 dr Tabasco sauce
1/2 ts Soy sauce
2 tb Butter
Combine all ingredients except soy sauce and butter
in saucepan and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in soy sauce and butter. May be used as a basting
sauce for barbecue meat or as a condiment when served
with grilled pork, beef or chicken.

This is one of many. It's got a little pop to it. There are many variations.

Little Pigs Barbeque.....

2006-02-05T18:42:00.000-05:00

Little Pigs Barbeque is on Alpine Road in Northeast Columbia just south of Interstate 20 and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Twin Towers. They are on the Percival Road end of Alpine Road instead of the Two Notch Road side.

Little Pigs has been in business at the same location for over 25 years. They have an above average buffet with mustard vinegar based BBQ. I really enjoy Little Pigs BBQ/Hash and their casual country ambience. LOL. Sounds funny to hear ambience and BBQ in the same sentence. Their business has increased over the years. I'm going back.

Shealy's Bar-B-Que.....

2006-01-29T19:26:00.000-05:00

Shealy's Bar-B-Que is on US Highway #1/East Columbia Avenue in Batesburg-Leesville, SC. This Midlands area BBQ institution has been in business for nearly 40 years. Bar-B-Que is how Shealy's started and it's become bigger and better without losing it's Southern hospitality and charm. They have the largest and best variety of any buffet and the most seating of any BBQ restaurant found on this site. On the left hand side of the building is the carry out/pick-up area. They also have a fleet of trucks to cater events. Shealy's is not open on Wednesday or Sunday's. The photo below was taken on a Sunday. It's the only way to actually see the front of the building.
The writer grew up in Batesburg-Leesville and has eaten at Shealy's countless times over his 50 years on this good earth. My favorite's are their pulley-bone fried chicken (both front breasts with wishbone intact). If you don't see it on the buffet "ask for it". Some fried chicken livers and gizzards. Of course I always get bar-b-que(flavored up with Shealy's mustard vinegar sauce), hash and rice. What's that green stuff and yellow stuff. Oh yeah... vegetables beans and corn. And then top it off with banana pudding and ice cream. Come hungry (early to beat the crowd) and leave full. On Friday and Saturday's during peak hours expect a full house and line out the door waiting for the self serve buffet.
Shealy's is one of the best BBQ restaurants in the Midlands of South Carolina. They are located approximately 30 miles west of Columbia off I20 and North(right) on Highway #34/Pond Branch Road 8 miles to Highway #1/East Columbia Avenue. Take a left on #1 and Shealy's is on the left less than one mile away. Even if you don't like bar-b-que(heaven forbid)wear big pant. You'll leave full. Visit Shealy's BBQ on the web.

Jackie Hite's Bar-B-Que.....

2006-01-29T19:24:00.000-05:00

Jackie Hite's Bar-B-Que is located in Batesburg-Leesville, SC between Highway #1 and #23 beside the railroad track. The sign above is on Highway #1 as you come into Leesville from the east (Lexington side). Or from I20 approximately 30 miles west of Columbia and North(right) on Highway #34/Pond Branch Road 8 miles to Highway #1. Drive straight across #1 past the sign and you'll see Hite's on the left before the railroad tracks.
They haven't been in business as long, nor are they as big as neighboring Shealy's BBQ (probably half the seating), but I enjoy their BBQ and hash more. And their pit cooked chicken slathered in Hite's sauce (mustard vinegar typical of the Midlands of South Carolina). I've been to Hite's countless times over the years and everytime I'm in Batesburg-Leesville I pick up a pound of BBQ. Got a pound in the freezer now always ready for a quick thaw and warm up for a BBQ sandwich or two.

Big T Bar-B-Que.....

2006-01-26T19:48:00.000-05:00

Big T's BBQ on Sparkleberry. Just across Two Notch Road/US Highway #1 from Spring Valley High School in Northeast Columbia.

Big T's has two locations in Columbia with their main location and pits in Gadsden, SC. I went to the Garners Ferry Road location today. It's in the "old" Walmart and "new" Sears shopping center just south of I77. There's plenty of room for dining. They have a buffet style serving line where they can make a plate for you. I had Big T's BBQ, hash & rice, string beans and rolls for lunch for $6.95. It was more than I could eat and very good. I had them splash the BBQ and hash with their sweet mustard sauce. They also have fried chicken, pork chops, ribs, collard greens, cole slaw, and string beans.
The front of Big T's menu. They do catering and also provide BBQ to other restaurants in the Columbia area. Big T's has fish. Whiting and flounder. Deserts. Cakes, banana pudding and peach cobbler. Hamburger, Pork Chop sandwich, Rib sandwich.

The back menu shows Big T's Dinners & Baskets. I've been to Big T's many times over the years. And I'll go back again.

Little Pigs Bar-B-Q Sign.....

2006-01-22T07:29:00.000-05:00

LOL. Real sign with the bottom text photoshopped by a SIF friend. BBQ and Cereal Buffet? LOL. The F-Tones? LOL. I believe this sign is in Anderson, South Carolina. If you know where it's at please comment.

Maurice's Piggy Park Barbeque.....

2006-01-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

Maurice Bessinger's BBQ has Columbia, SC area covered with his outlets. His main and oldest facility is on 1600 Charleston Highway in West Columbia, SC. Maurice's restaurants are everywhere including Elmwood Drive (downtown), O'Neil Court (between Two Notch Road and Parklane Road), Irmo, Lexington, Edmund, and the newest at Clemson Road and I20 in Northeast Columbia.
including Two Notch Road (The picture on the left if you notice the sign it welcomes South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) employees which were banned from parking company vehicles on the restaurant's property) across from Sesquicentenniel State Park, All of the restaurants are clean, have good service, and excellent food. Maurice has some of the best BBQ and mustard vinegar based sauce found anywhere. Chopped BBQ pork, beef, chicken, ribs, slaw, hushpuppies, and sweet iced tea. So why is it every time I go by one of his restaurants there's little to no cars in the parking lot? Welllllll Maurice couldn't just let his BBQ sell itself.....He had to promote it by opening his mouth about politics on his website. :-( Maurice had his BBQ sauce in many stores and it was suddenly pulled from the shelves. Have you ever heard of that saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."?
Maurice's location just off I20 and south towards Pelion on Highway #6 on the right.

This is NOT BBQ.....

2006-01-14T14:29:00.000-05:00

I enjoy cooking out either with my propane gas grill or charcoal grill, however, there's a difference between cooking out and having a barbeque or BBQ. My definition of BBQ is PORK cooked over an open pit with hickory coals. The picture to the left is a cookout with chicken and beef ribs over a open pit with hickory coals. It is NOT BBQ. Confused?

South Carolina BBQ.....

2006-01-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome to South Carolina BBQ. Southerners have as strong of opinions and beliefs about their BBQ as they do about politics, religion and college football. This blog will feature BBQ restaurants in the midlands area of South Carolina. The Midlands area has mainly a mustard based BBQ sauce or some call it gold or yellow sauce. There are distinct differences in sauces around the state. The Pee Dee Area has more of a red pepper sauce. Hemingway, SC claims to be the BBQ Capital of the World and has a BBQ/Shag Festival annually in mid April.

I'll give you a picture, directions, menu, and my review of restaurants I've visited recently and over the years. I would appreciate your comments. Thank you. Enjoy. Homer J. Simpson