Where to eat American food in Aiken: The Best Restaurants and Bars

February 22, 2020 Roseanne Arnett

Discover Restaurants offering the best American food in Aiken, South Carolina, United States. Aiken is the largest city and county seat of Aiken County, in the western portion of the state of South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Things to do in Aiken

10. Mellow Mushroom

151 Bee Ln, Aiken, SC 29801-3801 Italian, American, Pizza, Bar Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service [email protected] +1 803-474-8454 http://mellowmushroom.com/location/sc-aiken-151-bee-ln-29801/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 167 reviews

Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom is proud to serve Aiken with delicious pizza, hoagies, calzones and salads. Providing quality food since 1974, we use fresh ingredients on all our menu items. Mellow Mushroom is more than just a pizza restaurant; it is where Aiken pizza lo

Reviewed By DogCBR5

We love mellow mushroom. I called in a pizza last night for pick up. When I got the pizza it was cold. This is unusual for them. Will definitely go back.Thank you for your feedback. I'm so sorry you had a sub par experience at Mellow Aiken. I do hope the manager took good care of you due to your cold food? If your issue was not properly handled, please feel free to e-mail me directly at [email protected]. Thank you for your business. Katy Ledford, owner

9. Whiskey Alley

227 The Alley, Aiken, SC 29801-3837 American, Bar, Gastropub, Pub Dinner, Drinks Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Table Service [email protected] +1 803-226-0579 http://www.whiskeyalley.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 44 reviews

Whiskey Alley

Whiskey and New American Small Plates. Focus on Hand Crafted Cocktials and Seasonal Chef Driven Menus. Located in Historic Downtown Aiken, SC

Reviewed By queen231c

The usual brunch favorites, but with a twist! I had a Burrito omelet - the omelet was the tortilla, filled with beans, cheese, sauce and topped with fresh salsa and crema. Served with wonderful roasted potatoes. My dish was V and GF. Right now only have wine and beer on Sunday, but the menu said liquor will be available soon. Very nice outdoor seating area.

8. Prime Steakhouse

316 Richland Ave W, Aiken, SC 29801-3868 American, Steakhouse Dinner Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service 803-642-4488 http://www.primesteakhouseaiken.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 234 reviews

Prime Steakhouse

(803) 642-4488

Reviewed By williamagush

When a restaurant disappoints me, I wait a few weeks before writing a review. I want to be certain that what I write is the bigger picture and not the heat of the moment. But even with distance, Prime Steakhouse barely deserves an average rating. We were visiting Aiken over new year's a needed a place to go to ring in 2019. After calling around we were able to get an early seating.When we arrived the restaurant was empty, so we asked if we could have a glass of wine at the bar and then move to our table in 15-20 minutes. As it turned out we didn't have to move far because they had all of the couples seated in the bar area at high top tables. This gave us a great view of every tray of food exiting the kitchen. When challenged the owner (or at least I think he was the owner) was not the least bit apologetic.To her credit the server stepped in to rescue the evening by being friendly and professional. She explained that our meals came with a "family style" salad, mashed potato and onion rings. I ordered the dry aged NY Strip and my wife ordered the pork chop.The salad was delivered to the table in a bowl that took up most of the table (remember all of the couples were seated at bar tables) and was awash in acidic dressing. Basically it was iceberg lettuce, a few tomatoes and olives. The steak was cooked properly but it just didn't have the texture or richness of a dry aged piece of meat. The mashed potato was minuscule and the one onion ring was over cooked. My wife's pork chop was ok, nothing out of the ordinary. The world is full of great steakhouses and we've eaten in many of them - from Grill 23 in Boston to The Steak House in Reykjavik, Iceland to the Old Homestead in New York, to Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak in Vegas. The Prime Steakhouse doesn't measure up despite the owner's resume and having owned 20 restaurants - especially at the big city prices he's charging. The wine list is average with a very overpriced "reserve list" - and while they serve wine by the glass there was no menu offered and the best information we could get was the varietal - as in "we have Cabernet..."Aiken is charming "city" surrounded by great homes and horse farms. It deserves a better steak house than this one.

7. City Billiards

208 Richland Ave W, Aiken, SC 29801-3866 American, Bar, Pub Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Seating, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar, Table Service +1 803-649-7632 http://www.citybilliardsaikensc.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 114 reviews

City Billiards

Reviewed By Bbqman3341

We have always found the chili dogs so exceptionally good as to struggle with ordering anything else, even the crab legs. I was feeling kind of Whimpy so I fore saked my chili dog and ordered a cheeseburger. It was indeed the finest cheeseburger I have ever eaten. Great big ole fatboy hand pattied burger made from fresh ground meat and grilled on the flat top the way nature had intended. The Frys were crisp, hot salted and real tasting even if there was a freezer involved. Mrs bbq stayed true to the chili dogs and they were as tantalizing as ever. Premium weenie all lays up cozy in a fresh bun with a ladle of mild chili that rode the bun well. It ended up being a mess to eat not that she cared. There was a reason momma didn’t put out silverware when chili dogs were on the menu. Yankees do that sort of thing. Sort of expect it. Not me

6. Duke's Bar-B-Q

4248 Whiskey Rd, Aiken, SC 29803-8508 American, Barbecue Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible +1 803-649-7675 http://www.dukesbarbque.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 100 reviews

Duke's Bar-B-Q

Reviewed By Bbqman3341

Huge buffet dominated by pork bbq, hash n rice, fried chicken, squash casserole, Devine fried okra, field peas and according to my resident collard expert wonderfully seasoned collard greens. The peach cobble is a work of art and worthy of a bust by itself. Folks are friendly here. Staff is glad to see you, cordial and all but that lady taking up the money don’t take no guff off of anybody. It’s the kind of place that makes you linger at the table after eating. Daddy called is dawdling, but most folks shoot the breeze after lunch, maybe get another drumstick or bowl of cobbler. I like that.

5. Aiken Brewing CO

140 Laurens St SW, Aiken, SC 29801-3848 American, Bar, Pub Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service +1 803-502-0707 http://www.aikenbrewingcompany.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 458 reviews

Aiken Brewing CO

Reviewed By tracywpaul

Ok so a group of us are in town for a wedding and decided to stop here for dinner and drinks. The beer selection is ok, the stout was great ....but the food and service left a lot to be desired. Both were slow and not at all good. To have to wait an hour and a half for sandwiches and an app ( pretzel bites ) that tasted like they came from Costco and the “beer cheese” which I still question had any beer in it. It’s a very small space so if your claustrophobic don’t go here . We as a group will look elsewhere.

4. What's Cookin' Downtown

123 B Laurens Street North West, Aiken, SC 29801-2444 American, Cafe Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks, Dinner Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Parking Available, Accepts Credit Cards, Non-smoking re +1 803-649-1068 http://www.whatscookindowntown.com/contactus.html
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 130 reviews

What's Cookin' Downtown

Family owned and operated. Dine-in, takeout, casseroles, and catering to-go. Breakfast and lunch served Monday-Saturday.

Reviewed By Resort276668

Ordered take out with some girls from work. When we arrived to pick up we had the rudest lady complain to us about us splitting our check up. It could have been handled in a much better manner. The food was mediocre at best with the chicken being over cooked and the lettuce was obviously missing in my tuna salad (served on a bed of lettuce was the description) When we called to complain about the rudeness of the staff we were told that the manager was too busy to speak to us. Also wanted to mention that the extra long fake purple nails were a total turn off and I half expected to see one in my tuna salad with no lettuce. Needless to say we will not be returning.Thank for taking the time to give us your input. Rest assured that the situation has been handled adequately. If you would ever like to speak to the owner please do not hesitate to call the restaurant at (803) 649-1068. We have made it clear to all of our employees that behavior ,such as the poor service that you received, is below our standards and completely unacceptable. Please call the restaurant and ask for David or Mac Poplin. We would love a chance to make amends.

3. Betsy's Round The Corner

224 Park Ave SW Between Mellow Mushroom and Palmetto Package Store on Park Ave., Aiken, SC 29801 American, Diner Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 803-226-0078 http://betsysroundthecorner.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 526 reviews

Betsy's Round The Corner

We cover a lot of ground: We're an old-fashioned diner, soda fountain, ice cream shop. We also have an upstairs lounge with drinks and live music. We’re open for lunch and dinner (M-Sat) and breakfast on Saturdays. Enjoy our hand-pattied hamburgers, a var

Reviewed By AngieVStewart

First impression walking in the door of the diner like atmosphere is quite welcoming. The hostess and wait staff were all friendly. Menu is stacked full of good things, including the deserts! Had the pimento bacon sandwich and it was fantastic! Desert offered some challenge because of choices. Finally decided on the key lime cake! It did not disappoint.....I had to come back the next day and get 4 more pieces to take home. Value is reasonable. Will definitely be on the list of places to stop on my next trip into town.Thank you for such a nice review and rating! We are so happy that you enjoyed eating with us! Please come again soon!

2. The Willcox Restaurant

100 Colleton Ave, Aiken, SC 29801 American, Bar, Gastropub Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music +1 803-648-1898 http://www.thewillcox.com/restaurant
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 535 reviews

The Willcox Restaurant

Reviewed By EmilyMarquez

We invited a group of VIPs from the Aiken-area to join us for dinner and although the food is classic - filet mignon, onion soup, pralines & cream ice cream - it was very good. The place has a good wine list and the traditional post-colonial architecture is very pleasant. Our waiter was trying hard but it was obvious that he was not trained to manage a large group of about 15. The bar area was happening when we arrived so I would assume that’s a place where many go for a drink. A would definitely go again!

What to do and see in Aiken, United States: The Best Places and Tips

1. Malia's

120 Laurens St SW, Aiken, SC 29801-3888 American, International Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Parking Available, Free Wifi, Reservations, Seating, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Car [email protected] +1 803-643-3086 http://www.maliasrestaurant.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 575 reviews

Malia's

In our 30th year, we remain dedicated to the culinary excitement afforded by the finest, freshest and most ethically produced ingredients. We source locally whenever possible, befriending our farmers who are so vital to the kind of dining experience we’re

Reviewed By DCGene11

Wait staff was attentive . Nice wine and cocktail list with decent beer choices. Ordered Citrus Chicken with lemon rosemary risotto and Marsala mushroom ragu and citrus gremolata. Duroc Pork Chop with Herb Risotto, roasted Artichokes and Prosciutto. Perfect. Nice wine pairings offered. The deserts were eaten quickly. Chocolate Brownie with Homemade cinnamon ice cream and sauce. Fresh Raspberry pie with ice cream and mixed berry sauce. Yummy.

Aiken Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Aiken

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