Amelie’s French Bakery
Fans of the French movie of the same name will be happy to encounter much of the film’s charm at this bakery. The whimsical atmosphere only adds to the quality of the food – think fresh French-style breads, quiches, and pastries at breakfast, then tartines or various other European sandwiches at lunch and dinner. If you don’t want a full meal, you’re in luck – the dessert menu is chock full of all of your French favorites, from macarons and petit-fours to crème brulee. Also worth noting is their supportive attitude towards their employees, many of whom have overcome great obstacles, like homelessness or a prison term, to find a steady job at Amelie’s.
Amelie’s Rock Hill, 157 E Main St, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 403 9409
Michael’s Rock Hill Grille
Rock Hill may not be a coastal town, but visitors might feel like they’re at the beach at Michael’s. The laid back attitude compliments a great selection of seafood dishes, but don’t worry– their menu has a little bit of everything from regional cuisines around the US. If you’re fortunate enough to show up for Sunday brunch, you’ll really enjoy their special brunch menu, including a tantalizing selection of cocktails to wake you up in the best possible way. The various fritattas, variations on eggs Benedict, and of course the blueberry pie French toast will ensure you’re spoiled for choice.
Michael’s Rock Hill Grille, 1039 Charlotte Ave, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 985 3663
Mario’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
You won’t see anything you don’t recognize on the menu of Mario’s – and that’s a very good thing. They take tried and true Italian classics, throw on an authentic New York pizza section, and as anyone who has every tried either of those things knows, that’s all anyone needs for a great meal. They also have calzones, strombolis and baked subs. It’s exactly like visiting New York’s ‘Little Italy,‘ but you don’t have to leave that South Carolina warmth. And as you would expect at any Italian restaurant, all the entrees come in generous portions with a side of garlic bread.
Mario’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 2349 Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 366 6777
Tequila Family Mexican Restaurant
It’s no wonder that Tequila Family Mexican Restaurant is the first choice for locals in Rock Hill. The menu is exactly what you’d want from a Mexican place – pages long and full of all your favorites, making the decision endlessly difficult. For some especially exciting flavors and combinations, have a look at their ‘La Fiesta Del Tequila’ page, where you can find the restaurant’s specialties. If you’re unfamiliar with the terminology of Mexican food, they even give you a glossary on the menu. And as you would expect, they serve delicious margaritas to go along with all that spicy food.
Tequila Family Mexican Restaurant, 1109 N Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 328 9909
The Yolk
The chef and manager of this establishment, a husband and wife who have worked their way up through the restaurant industry, are now sharing their ‘love affair with breakfast’ in the form of this lovely diner. They take that tagline very seriously – they use only the freshest ingredients from local outlets to treat guests to the best experience possible. They only opened the Yolk in 2012, but it has quickly become well known in the town as a great place to start the morning off right. Their menu covers all the most important breakfast categories; omelets, eggs any way you like, pancakes and even Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, and biscuits and gravy.
The Yolk, 1912 Mt Gallant Rd Ste 108, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 792 4449
Grumpy Brothers
Grumpy Brothers really captures the essence of the South in a restaurant. Their main goal is to keep the quality of the food as high as possible without gauging their loyal customers on the price, so you won’t find fancy silverware or white tablecloths here. What you will find, however, is food made with local ingredients, following old family recipes, served generously. Grumpy Brothers also includes a bakery, which makes adorable cakes and other treats for whatever occasion you need – how about a sock monkey cake or a triple-tiered cupcake? They’ve done both of those before. This is also a sanctuary for beer snobs – in addition to the American basics, you can always find beer from some of the best microbreweries around.
Grumpy Brothers, 295 Herlong Ave #401, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 328 2226
Sila Thai
When you want to escape from your everyday life, Sila Thai is right there to whisk you away to Southeast Asia, and you don’t even have to leave Rock Hill. It’s a little off the beaten path, but the quality of the food and the service makes it totally worthwhile. The servers are happy to answer questions for guests new to the flavors of Thai food, but even those who know it well will find all of their old favorites and more on their very authentic menu. A great time to come is for the daily lunch specials, which give you a generous helping of whichever dish you choose, plus a crispy spring roll and a cup of soup for only $8.
Sila Thai, 979 N Anderson Rd, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 980 0048
Five & Dine
Five & Dine is so many things. It’s a Southern diner with a twist – a familiar restaurant with just the right amount of unfamiliarity. You’ll find some of the best the South has to offer with starters like the fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese. But what about putting those two on a burger to create the Southern Charm burger? You can get that too. They don’t limit themselves to just one region either, as their lunch menu lists the Philly cheesesteak and the shrimp po boy right next to one another. As is the case with any good diner, they’ve got a great breakfast menu. For something new, Southern and exciting, try the pulled pork eggs Benedict.
Five & Dine, 135 E Main St #101, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 328 3463
Pier 51
The goal at Pier 51 is to bring high quality seafood to the masses. You can’t always expect a cheap meal here, but you can trust that fish you get will be fresh and tasty, prepared in whichever style you prefer – boiled, broiled or fried – they’ve got whatever you like. They also have a good surf and turf menu if you want to add a little protein to your meal. The sides, which come with almost every meal on the menu, are Southern classics; hush puppies, coleslaw and your choice of potato side. This is a great place to come with a family, get a few seafood platters so you can try everything and enjoy the day.
Pier 51, 3921 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 980 1234
Culina
Culina is taking the idea of comfort food and really running with it. Most people imagine comfort food to be what they know, but Culina has taken various comfort foods from around the globe and combined them in to one fabulous menu. They want guests to push their own comfort zones to the edge, so they make small plates that encourage people to try multiple things in one sitting. Where else can you find Korean pork belly sliders and eggplant parmesan on the same menu, all made by the capable hands at Culina? Hardcore Southerners will love the Cheerwine chicken, which is made with a reduction of that much-loved soda from the North Carolina.
Culina, 295 Herlong Ave #404, Rock Hill, SC, USA, +1 803 323 5000