A-Z International Dining Guide: Off The Grid Greenville Edition #local
A is for…
Argentina
📌 Maestro Bistro Dinner Club
104 S. Main Street, Suite 105, Greenville, SC 29601
Helmed by Sammy Dominguez, the menu at Maestro Bistro Dinner Club features Argentinian favorites like puff pastry empanadas while simultaneously offering Wagyu filets and Osetra caviar, talk about range! The bistro’s open kitchen concept, rotating specials, and occasional live music create an inviting “dinner club” atmosphere. The Argentina Milanese, a slightly pan-fried steak served on brioche with an over-easy egg and finished with chimichurri, was an OTGG standout. However, no matter what you get, Maestro effortlessly blends classic technique with Argentinian charm.
B is for…
Belgium
📌 Trappe Door
23 W. Washington Street, Greenville, SC 29601
Down a staircase and inconspicuously located below street level, The Trappe Door offers downtown Greenville an intimate, cozy dining experience. Best known for the extensive selection of Belgian ales and over 150 options at any given time, the kitchen is also churning out some distinctive fare.
Think crispy fish and frites with house-made dipping sauces (pictured), mussels served in several traditional styles, from white wine and garlic to spicy tomato and well-loved Euro pub food Bitterballen (all you need to know is fried meat and cheese balls). Exposed brick, candlelit tables, and all the vibes.
C is for…
China
📌 Asia Pacific Grocery & Restaurant
420 N. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607
Proudly offering The Upstate’s authentic Chinese cuisine reminiscent of her upbringing, owner Alva Suk-Yin Mak, a Hong Kong native, offers 100 dishes. It’s normal to encounter some paralysis by analysis at Asia Pacific, so we’re here to help! Don’t sleep on the crispy-skinned roast duck and tender char siu pork. While you wait, explore the adjacent supermarket offering an expansive sampling of international snacks, produce, sauces, and pantry staples you won’t find elsewhere in Greenville.
Colombia
📌 Empanadas y Salsas
📌 Pereira Bakery
📌 Sacha’s Café
📌 La Delicia
And a few more spots here: Scouted: Best Latinx Bites in Greenville, SC.
D is for…
Dominican Republic
📌 Sofrito Latin Restaurant and Bar
1757 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607
Owners Ana and Hector, proud natives of the Dominican Republic, are serving up soulful dishes that feature vibrant Latin flavors conveniently located off of Woodruff Road. Our recommendation? Go for the mofongo, a garlicky green plantain mash (garlic shrimp pictured) with chicharron that’s pure comfort food, or the ropa vieja beef marinated in the namesake sofrito and slow-braised. No matter what you choose, this one-of-a-kind spot is a flavorful passport to the islands—no airfare required.
Pro tip: Sunday brunch is served from 11:00-2:30 pm.
Image Provided.
E is for…
Ethiopia
Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant
📌 48 Commerce St, Asheville, NC 28801
While Greenville has yet to welcome its own Ethiopian restaurant, Addissae in Asheville is the closest authentic option -just under 90 minutes away, making it the perfect day trip!
Most dishes are served family‑style, and while silverware is available upon request, guests are encouraged to use a more common Ethiopian utensil, injera. This traditional flatbread is the perfect sauce-soaking vessel, made from a blend of brown rice and teff, a naturally gluten-free ancient grain.
The cooked-to-order kitfo is made with extra-lean, hand-ground beef cooked in Ethiopian-spiced butter and served with a homemade cottage cheese called ayib and gomen (collard greens). For a memorable finish, choose an Ethiopian-style coffee service for up to four people, because just like all life experiences, meals are best when shared.
F is for
France
Voila French Café
755 Hammett Bridge Road, Greer, SC 29650
Owner Fabrice DiNonno, originally from Marseille, France, brings decades of experience to Greer’s counter service French café concept. Enjoy scratch-made soups, sandwiches, salads, and sweet treats. The Croque Monsieur—ham, gruyère, and béchamel layered on toasted sourdough bread is a signature standout for a reason. If it’s patisserie you’re after, plan to get there early and enjoy sitting either inside or out to cast sidelong glances at those not-so-early birds who roll in late.
G is for…
Greece
📌 JiRoz
644 N. Main Street, Unit 100, Greenville, SC 29601
Owned and operated by Greenville local John Makkas, Ji-Roz is downtown’s spot for fresh, flavorful Mediterranean fare. Cheese lovers can rejoice in either the bouyourdi or saganaki, both of which consist of baked slabs of the good stuff oozing with flavor.
While the gyros (lamb, chicken, or falafel) remain a local favorite, don’t miss out on the more intricate dishes like the slow-braised lamb shank or seafood specialties like whole branzino or octopus, both wood-fired.
Prepared family meals are also available for advance order and include a salad, main course, and side to feed up to four for $48.00, perfect for a low-effort, high-reward kind of night.
Greektown Grille
Kouzina
Zorba Lounge
H is for
Hondouras
Pupuseria La Estrella
📌 1129 Cedar Lane Road, Greenville, SC 29617
For a true taste of Honduran street food, head over to La Estrella, offering a no-frills yet utterly delicious menu packed with Central American classics. The beloved baleadas, a thick flour tortilla folded over a creamy layer of refried beans, are a simple yet irresistible offering, especially when accompanied by cheese, avocado, and sour cream.
Or, if you’d rather, the pupusa, an equally thick and delicious handmade griddle cake that is sizzled to perfection and stuffed with your choice of protein. Breakfast is served all day for those who dream of “brinner” or have had a late start and/or a hangover.
I is for…
Italy
Ristorante Bergamo
📌 100 N. Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601
A cornerstone of downtown Greenville since 1986, Bergamo offers an authentic Northern Italian dining experience. The restaurant is now helmed by Chef Gian Pietro Ferro, a native of the Bergamo, Italy area, who brings decades of culinary expertise from New York City. A standout dish is the Fegato alla Veneziana, featuring sautéed calf’s liver with onions and white wine vinegar, inspired by Chef Ferro’s Venetian grandmother. Made with ingredients sourced from Revival Butchery, the dish exemplifies the restaurant’s commitment to traditional flavors made with ingredients boasting Carolina pride.
DYK: Bergamo, Italy, and Greenville, SC have been sister cities since 1985 due to their shared textile history.
AND a few more:
- Bocca Pure Italian — Family-owned Italian restaurant
- Dolce Vita Gelato & Pastry — Family-owned Italian gelato and pastries
- Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant — Old school vibes and flavors (no reservations)
- Johnny’s Parm — Italian-American dishes (order online for kitchen pickup)
- Pizza Parchecco — American-Italian pizza (stay tuned for MAJOR announcement FALL 2025)
- L’Ancanto —Northern Italian restaurant (new owners + yes to reservations)
- Trattoria Giorgio — Intimate, chef-owned Italian eatery
India
- Green Laundry Lounge
- Handi
- Indigo Kitchen
- Kolapasi Indian Kitchen
- Perses Indian Cuisine
- Saffron Indian Cuisine
And there's more to come.
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