From menus to ingredients to plating, Downtown Spartanburg’s restaurants offer some truly tantalizing options for your favorite foodie.

Check out this guide to some foodie favorites in Spartanburg, including the inside scoop on some of the best bites you can find at each.

THE KENNEDY

The Kennedy offers key elements needed for any foodie experience – photo-worthy décor and delicious dishes featuring local ingredients. The Art Deco-inspired interior of the restaurant adds to its intricate cocktails and thoughtfully-plated, palette-pleasing meals.

Best Bites:

Grilled Carrots, served with an herbaceous combination of fennel honey and basil pesto
Duck & Dumplings, featuring succulent duck confit, ricotta gnocchi, peas, carrots and gravy

INITIAL Q

Initial Q Smokehouse, which shares a space with boutique bowling alley UnderPin Lanes N’ Lounge, puts an upscale twist on classic barbecue favorites, including offering ingredients and meats you don’t typically find on the menus of barbecue joints.

Best Bites:

Burnt ends (charred but still tender smoked meat)
Bourbon-braised greens, elevating a Southern favorite
Weekend brunch options, including the IQ Brisket Benedict, which eschews an English muffin and ham for a flaky buttermilk biscuit and brisket

TULIP TREE

Highlighting elevated farm-to-table cuisine, and offering a casual fine-dining atmosphere, Tulip Tree’s menu is full of ingredients sourced from the Carolinas and Georgia. Tulip Tree is also one of several restaurants with outdoor seating on Morgan Square available to diners.

Best Bites:

Pecan-crusted catfish, served with Carolina gold rice
Beef ragout pasta, featuring beef slow-braised with flavorful beer served over perfectly-cooked spaghetti

SOPHIA’S RESTAURANT

Sophia’s offers Italian favorites from the heart of Downtown Spartanburg, perfect for a date-night, celebration, or just an excuse to treat yourself to something delicious. The cozy atmosphere at Sophia’s perfectly matches their well-executed, well-assembled menu.

Best bites:

Rigatoni al Forno, with a tomato-basil sauce, ricotta and mozzarella, then baked to make the cheese gooey perfection
Chicken marsala, with seared chicken breast, porcini mushrooms, and a wine sauce
Tiramisu, Italian cookies soaked in coffee and layered with sweet mascarpone
Lemon mascarpone cake, a lemony cake with tart lemon curd and a smooth, whipped mascarpone cream

RICK ERWIN’S LEVEL 10

Atop the luxurious AC Hotel downtown, Rick Erwin’s Level 10 features a swanky dining room and open-air, 360-degree views of the city. Here you can expect white-tablecloth service and a variety of well-executed dishes.

Best bites:

Fried green tomatoes, topped with Louisiana crawfish
Chargrilled oysters, served with champagne butter, parmesan, herbs and lemon
Dry-aged steak, with a variety of sauces and side dishes