The USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year 2025 list, published today, features 44 restaurants that range from fine dining to supper clubs to seafood shacks.
USA TODAY Network food journalists from across the country pooled their expertise to select the restaurants, which include the places they know, love, and recommend.
Comal 864, nestled in between Parker, West Greenville, and City View neighborhoods, made the list. However, many other restaurants are worth celebrating across Greenville County.
Here are 10 other spots we wish were on the Restaurants of the Year list, presented alphabetically.
What’s the best restaurant near you?Check out USA TODAY’s 2025 Restaurants of the Year
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Comal 864 review:South Texas-inspired Greenville restaurant named one of best in U.S.
Anonymous Burger
215 Trade St., Greer; 864-554-8810; anonymousburgers.com
Anonymous Burger may sound like another hamburger joint but their approach to the handheld delicacy makes them stand out. Duck fat caramelized onions, season fries and “Area 51 sauce” are some of the hidden elements and backbone to one of the best burgers in the Upstate, as the operation near downtown Greer is owned and guided by South Carolina Chef Ambassador Mike Sibert. Although Anonymous Burger has only been around since mid-2023, their space inside of Cartwright Food Hall is usually the most popular stop for those visiting, and for good reason.
Coral
654 S. Main St., Greenville; 864-619-0017; CoralGreenville.com
Coral possesses a swanky yet mature approach to fine dining as the downtown restaurant specializes in creative seafood dishes and complementary turf concepts that speak to their expertise and attention to detail, depending upon the season and occasion. The ambiance, taste, and skill presented by owners Jennifer White, Chris Schilling, and Dakota Schilling continue to make Coral one of Greenville’s favorite spaces to eat for sea, land, salad, or bar food — all delivered exceptionally.
Jianna
600 S. Main St., Greenville; 864-720-2200; jiannagreenville.com
Jianna is Greenville’s most popular modern Italian restaurant and oyster bar, as the view overlooking downtown Main Street is just as good as their menu options. Boasting Negroni-inspired cocktails, house-made pasta, and a chilled oyster bar paired with some of the best hospitality is what Jianna is known to offer. With a 40-foot signature bar, some of the best-curated cuisine in the South, and a name that pays an ode to former Chef Valiani in San Francisco, Jianna’s overall experience is one to none regarding elegant dining in Greenville.
See last year’s listCheck out USA TODAY’s 2024 Restaurants of the Year
Jones Oyster Co.
22 E. Court St., Greenville; 864-549-0301; thejonesoysterco.com
Carl Sobocinski always wanted to add a seafood, lobster rolls, and fried belly clam establishment to his Table 301 Hospitality portfolio, and in 2022, he brought Jones Oyster Co. to life. His coastal seafood concept brings everything in the water, from Maine to Charleston, as Jones has become a popular lunch-and-dinner stop for many. Their kitchen specializes in raw oysters, crab rice, and hot and cold lobster rolls, with many in-season sea dishes to boast.
Out of all of Sobocinski’s creations, Jones may be the best.
Scoundrel
18 N. Main St., Greenville; 864-283-0095; scoundrelgvl.com
The French-inspired restaurant run by Chef Joe Cash is known for its steaks, duck, and fresh seafood, alongside other specialty menu items that complement the ambiance and class of the dining room. Over the past two years, Scoundrel and Chef Cash have been highlighted by Esquire Magazine and the James Beard Foundation for their outstanding work and commitment to the culinary experience in downtown Greenville. Scoundrel is also home to private collaboration dinners that bring international guest chefs to Greenville for a one-of-a-kind dining experience.
Larkin’s
32 E. Broad St., Greenville; 864-467-9777; larkinsgvl.com
Larkin’s joined Greenville’s restaurant scene in 2005 but has started to make an even greater name for itself as a popular location for fine dining, some of the best shrimp & grits, and outdoor patio seating in Greenville. Larkin Hammond, owner of Larkin’s, is hands-on in her approach to the cuisine: knowing where their beef comes from, who grew it, how it was raised, and how it was brought to market; all of the details that make Larkin’s a great place to begin or end an evening when looking to dine downtown.
Book your reservation now on OpenTable
L’Incanto
117 E. Poinsett St., Greer; 864-479-9333; lincantosc.com
L’incanto is a bit out of the city limits. Still, the trip is worth it as this Northern Italian restaurant near Greer’s downtown area — is perfect for a solo meal, business meeting, dinner date, or fine dining with the family. Owner Kristi Echeverri takes pride in their cuisine as truffles, veal, seabass, and more are all accompanied by scratch-made sauces and dressings, such as house-made truffle ravioli, Bolognese, shrimp riviera, and flavor-filled mascarpone mashed potatoes to make their menu quite the experience.
Quaint enough to miss but good enough to remember; L’Incanto is so good.
Kitchen Sync
1609 Laurens Road, Greenville; 864-568-8115; kitchensyncgreenville.com
Kitchen Sync is one of the most beloved American craft restaurants in the Upstate as “the soulful neighborhood joint” is great at everything it tries on the lunch and dinner menu. Most of the items on their menu are scratch-made and farm-fresh, as Kitchen Sync is consistently recognized as Greenville’s first and only Green Certified Restaurant, from their eight hand-tossed pizza options to dinner plates that remind its diners of good southern eating. Kitchen Sync is a space that gives a one-of-a-kind approach to upscale dining with American diner practicality.
Sum Bar
307 E. Washington St., Greenville; 864-860-1004; eatsumbar.com
A place for dumplings, Asian-inspired snacks, and more is Sum Bar, as it has become, for many, a place for up-and-coming chefs’ pop-up restaurants, relief aid efforts, and one of the best date night spaces in Greenville. Sum Bar opened its doors during the Lunar New Year in January 2023 with over 2,000 guests in attendance. Since then, it has been a staple in downtown Greenville’s culinary scene, cultivating itself as one of Greenville’s premier Chinese cuisine experiences.
The 05 at Hartness
3016 Augusta St., Greenville; 864-412-8150; the05.net
Owners Anmar Natheer and Geno Iozzino have nailed dining in Greenville, as their three existing restaurants exude a charm and uniqueness about themselves. The 05 may be their best fine-dining venture, as seasonal ingredients are at the core of a menu of shareable plates and entrees. The 05 gets tremendous help from a partnership with some of the best local purveyors in Hartness Farms, Upstate Greens, and Joyce Farms based out of North Carolina.
From tuna nachos to tempura sweet potatoes, The 05 takes risks with its menu but consistently delivers a fantastic meal.
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.Sign up today for a digital subscription.
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See the entire list of USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year here:
