This Tiny But Delicious Restaurant In South Carolina Proves That Good Things Come In Small Packages
By AnneMarie|Published June 06, 2023
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AnneMarie
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South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
Tucked away in South Carolina’s beautiful upstate area is a national historic district in the city of Seneca known as Ram Cat Alley. It was so named because in the early 1900s, dozens of stray cats roamed along the street looking for food, especially around Fred Hopkin’s Meat Market, which was located at 117 Ram Cat Alley. Today, you’ll find independent boutiques, antique stores, and restaurants in this district, one of which is Hogs and Hops, which came to the Alley not so long ago and is a tiny restaurant in South Carolina serving up some big flavor in its dishes!
This little eatery is found at 106 North Fairplay Street. You can't miss it with its location right by the cheery colorful Ram Cat Mural, a project to lift the spirits of the community after the heartbreaking destruction of a tornado in April 2020. The mural was commissioned by Mary and Jason Tannery and was completed using 64 aerosol cans of paint!
Hogs and Hops got its start as a team name when its owner, Joey, was competing in South Carolina Barbecue Association competitions in 2008, which was just the beginning of awards and recognition.
Eventually, Joey's passion for good food and grilling was destined to culminate in opening this little spot so that people would not have to wait until the next competition to enjoy his tasty recipe.
Sides to complement your BBQ include pasta salad, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, potato chips, and Brunswick stew.
And then, there are dessert items also available, such as yummy peach cobbler.
For "hops" ... you'll just need to take a few steps across the street to Brews on the Alley, which serves craft beer, coffee, and wine with 20 taps. It's a winning partnership between two wonderful local gems!