Road Trip to SC

Because Ryan didn’t have to work today and Lauren was off from school, we decided to take a little family road trip down south. We left around 8:30am and headed down to South Carolina. The reason for our trip was to stop at the Pottery Barn Outlet (to look for some nursery items) and to have lunch at a world-famous landmark in Spartanburg called the Beacon Drive-In. We had actually heard about the restaurant on a Food Network show called “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”. After learning the history and finding out that it was only an hour and a half drive, we decided we had to check it out.

The Beacon Drive-In is one of the few drive-in restaurant legends remaining that offers curb service. Although, after driving all that way, we decided to eat in the dining room with the locals. This now-famous place was opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1946 following World War II. The founder, John White, began the drive-in using his own recipes and personally manned the cash register, along with his sons, for more than 50 years. He became such a legend, known for his integrity and caring spirit, that Reidville Road (where the drive-in is located) was re-named John B. White, Sr. Blvd. in 1999.

The Beacon ranks as the 2nd largest drive-in restaurant in the US. They use 3 tons of onions, 3 tons of potatoes, 4 tons of beef, chicken and seafood…every week! It is also the largest single seller of iced tea in the US. They go through 3,000 pounds of sugar per week, making 62,500 gallons per year (that’s enough to fill 24 tanker trucks)! The Beacon’s menu is huge, ranging from the usual hot dogs and cheeseburgers to catfish and other traditional southern fare to banana-mayo sandwiches on white bread that Elvis might have loved. Nearly all the specialties are available as A-Plenty plates, which is your main item buried on a plate underneath piles of sweet and oily onion rings and French fried potatoes. (We ordered the cheeseburger A-Plenty…see picture below. Yes, there really is a burger under all that!)

As wonderful as the food is, it’s the atmosphere that makes the Beacon a true southern experience. The moment you enter and approach the serving line, you are virtually accosted by an order-taker (see picture below) who will demand, “CALL IT OUT!” You have to say what you want to eat and say it quickly, or else he will tell you to stand back and allow other, swifter customers to say their piece. Once you manage to convey your order, he will shout it back to the huge open kitchen, then ask you in no uncertain terms to “MOVE ON DOWN THE LINE!” You then grab a tray and by the time you have moved twenty paces forward, there your order will be – miraculously, exactly as you ordered it. A bit farther down the line, you get your tea, lemonade, or soda and pay the cashier, then find a seat. Needless to say, we had a great time and felt so proud of ourselves for venturing outside of our state to enjoy a taste of southern cuisine and culture!