Top 7 places for a quick pick-me-up in downtown Greenville
I love walking up and down Main Street in downtown Greenville where there are always interesting stores to go into and browse. And as I walk, I often need just a little something fun to eat or drink. So here are my top 7 places to stop and get a quick pick-me-up treat.
The Chocolate Moose Bakery & Café. So what’s not to love about cupcakes, right? Well what I love most about the Chocolate Moose is the rotating seasonal flavors. This summer, my favorite is Peach Cobbler, available on Thursdays, but no matter which day you go in, there’ll be something tempting to try!
Luna Rosa Gelato Café. So many silky smooth, delicious gelato flavors. I love that there are over 20 flavors, and some that are dairy-free too. This time of year, I especially enjoy the Jamaican Lime Sorbetto. It’s just the right balance of sweetness and tartness and you can close your eyes and feel like you are on vacation in the Caribbean!
Port City Java. This is such a great place to just hang out and work, or meet friends for coffee. Inviting ambiance, friendly baristas and I love their Iced Mocha Shake, but this summer they rolled out an amazingly delicious Mango Banana smoothie with no added sweetener – so refreshing, so tasty, so good!
Dark Corner Distillery. I love to try different things and not just go back to the same beverage. In the heart of downtown when you want a boozy treat, I love to visit Dark Corner and get a flight of barrel-aged spirits and once you’ve tried the flight, it’s just fun to let the bartender craft a delicious cocktail from one of your favorites – all for just $10. I’m a whiskey girl, and I really enjoy their Whiskey Girl Butterscotch.
Sully’s Steamers. Breakfast foods are some of my most loved foods, even though I prefer eating them a little later in the day. Anytime you need a warm, soft, flavorful, filling sandwich, my go-to is Sully’s. There are so many delicious sandwiches here, but one of my regular choices is the Ridgeline with turkey, tomatoes, lettuce, sprouts and all those gooey cheeses. MMM, MMM, MMM!
Poppington’s Popcorn. Snack your way up the street with the unique flavors from this locally-owned popcorn store. Harvarti-dill, Cheesburger, garlic bread flavored, dark chocolate, lemon chiffon – and then, they will work with you to mix and match to create your own custom bag. The flavor possibilities are endless. I always have to buy my husband the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt popcorn, and I LOVE their slightly spicy Jalapeno Popper with some Cheddar. Make your own combo and munch away as you stroll downtown.
Kilwins. The only thing I “hate” about owning a store is being right next to Kilwins – the smell of caramel being made, walking past those cases of delicious chocolate, fudge, and ice-cream all the time. It’s too much for my willpower. I have sooo many quick pick-me-up’s that I love from this store, but my two absolute favorites are the caramel apples and the amazing Chocolate Salted Caramel ice-cream. Be still my heart!
Oil & Vinegar. Since I own this store, I thought I’d throw in a bonus pick-me-up. One that I love because it is so easy and quick to make and still amazingly flavorful is our bruschetta. It’s a dry mix to which we add water and oil, and it’s ready in about a minute. It’s the best quick snack when I am craving something savory. Come in and try it, we always have some ready to taste!
About the Author
Veera Gaul is a trained chef whose passion for food led her into the hospitality business, then into higher education at Johnson & Wales University — known for its culinary and hospitality programs. She began at JWU as a graduate student and went on to be a faculty member, vice president of operations for the Providence campus and Provost overseeing all academic programs and faculty. Veera left JWU in March of 2013 and moved to Greenville, SC where she and her husband, Joe, own Oil & Vinegar in downtown Greenville.
