Spartanburg SC Report

[Niki in Dayton]

We spent the weekend in Spartanburg and ate at the Beacon Drive-In and at Brasserie Ecosse. We shared a burger-a-plenty at the Beacon, LOVED the onion rings. Huge portion of fries and onion rings, the burger was probably 1/4 lb (just got the "regular" burger). Later we visited the Spring Fling festival downtown and stopped in Delaney's Irish Pub for an adult refreshment. The bartender asked if we wanted a menu and we told her we'd just eaten at the Beacon; she asked if we needed an oil change. I said no, then ordered a double shot of Lipitor (just kidding...)

We made reservations for Brasserie Ecosse for 7:00 pm on Saturday, and the place was mostly empty. Perhaps the spring fling impacted their business? Nice wine list, although they didn't have the first wine we ordered (a Gruner Veltliner). The food was OK, not outstanding but not horrible. The French Onion soup appeared to be a pile of carmelized onions with just a touch of broth and a piece of parmesan cheese on top; I was glad I didn't order that to start. I got the salad nicoise with duck confit to start; had to ask about the duck confit as it wasn't on the salad she brought. They replaced it with another salad, this time with duck, but it wasn't duck confit, just roasted duck. Still good, though. They were out of the rainbow trout, so our friend had the salmon, which was fine, although personally I never order salmon unless it's wild Pacific. My husband had the whole fried bass, and it was very nice. I had mussels; I've had better and these weren't at optimum freshness. Our other friend had the smoked porkchop, which turned out to be the best choice; it was large, delicious, and very smoky in flavor. We shared a chocolate creme brulee for dessert and it was outstanding. I'd go back to this place if I lived nearby, but I'm wondering if it will survive...

Thanks for the recommendations, folks!

[danna]

thanks for reporting in...your review of the Beacon pretty-much somes it up! And unfortunately, your review of the other place is pretty-much what one expects of restaurants around here trying to be upscale... they aren't all mediocre...but it's the way to bet :-(