Upward Star Center – Foodie Guide
Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a sports complex that prioritizes the athletic and personal development of young athletes. They believe that sports are more than physical performance on the field, but discipline and integrity off the field as well.
With this mission in mind, Upward Star Center hosts hundreds of events for more than a dozen sports. The facility contains a sand court for volleyball, six basketball courts, a rock wall, batting cages, and more.
Upward Star Center has been a positive addition to Spartanburg, a city with a bustling downtown area and plenty to offer visitors. In addition to festivals, nightlife, history, and music performances, Spartanburg has a thriving food scene. Those in search of outstanding culinary experiences will certainly have plenty of options. The following guide provides a look into some of the foodie-approved eateries nearby Upward Star Center.
Peak Cafe
Brunch is an especially popular meal for foodies, making Peak Cafe a great place to start the day. They’re proud of their unique combination of offerings: coffee, crepes, and cocktails. What more could a brunch-loving foodie want? Peak Cafe roasts their coffee beans in house, creating an outstanding cup for coffee-lovers to enjoy with their crepes. Crepes come in both sweet and savory varieties, and include vegan and gluten-free options. Guests can also build their own crepe if they’d like.
In addition to classic breakfast fare, Peak Cafe has some unique creations. The most photogenic item on their menu is the Bubble Waffle Fruit Pie. This dessert consists of a bubbly egg waffle, made popular in Hong Kong, folded up and filled with delicious sweets. Guests can fill their Bubble Waffle with various ice cream flavors, fruits, and toppings like sprinkles, an entire Kit Kat bar, or an Oreo. Foodies will adore this Instagram-worthy ice cream dish that’s as photogenic as it is delicious.
The Silo at RJ Rockers
While RJ Rockers Brewing Company is primarily a beer-focused business, their kitchen has a lot to offer as well. The brewing company created their own restaurant, The Silo at RJ Rockers, to showcase their culinary talent with dishes inspired by beer. Try their beer-braised bratwurst, drunken chicken pasta, or charred street corn.
The Silo at RJ Rockers is a down-to-earth eatery where folks gather to enjoy a beer and a great meal out on the patio. Foodies will love the casual and friendly atmosphere that includes, of course, a silo.
Level 10
Level 10 is the go-to destination for foodies in search of an upscale experience. This elegant restaurant and bar is located at the top of the A.C. Hotel, which is 14 minutes from Upward Star Center. Since the restaurant is located on the tenth floor, guests are treated to a beautiful, unobstructed views of the Spartanburg skyline. Guests can admire this view while dining on Level 10’s outdoor patio.
Their expertly crafted dishes are plated with the utmost attention to detail. Foodies with a refined palate are sure to enjoy Level 10’s whipped ricotta appetizer with grilled peaches and pistachios, some grilled oysters barbecued on the half shell, or their Moroccan spiced lamb with apricots, couscous, mint, and spiced yogurt.
The Farmer’s Table
Farm-to-table restaurants are sprouting up all over the country, making all-natural food all the more accessible. The Farmer’s Table, 14 minutes from Upward Star Center, provides the Spartanburg area with wholesome, sustainable food. This restaurant is committed to using local and seasonal ingredients, and makes every meal to order from scratch. Because of this, the food at The Farmer’s Table is some of the freshest you can possibly find.
There are options for almost any dietary preference. Menu items include apple crumble French toast, a vegan quinoa burger, jerk chicken melt, skillet salmon, and a paleo Benedict. Foodies of all kinds can enjoy a fresh meal in this minimalist, industrial chic restaurant.
Pokenori
Pokenori, 15 minutes from Upward Star Center, invites foodies to take part in the sushi burrito and poke bowl trends. This restaurant is proud to be the first Hawaiian poke restaurant in the area, introducing the community to their unique food. Pokenori offers fresh, delicious ingredients that customers use to create a completely personalized meal.
There’s an almost unlimited number of combinations at Pokenori, as guests can choose ingredients like different rices, types of seafood, vegetables, and sauces. Indecisive foodies can go with the Pokenori Classic, which includes ahi tuna, lettuce, sweet onion, cucumber, sesame seeds, and fresh ponzu.
No matter the combination, poke bowls always end up colorful, photogenic, and delicious. Get a taste for the poke bowl trend and feel good doing it by visiting Pokenori.
Cakehead
Foodies with a sweet tooth in search of a perfect cupcake picture will love Cakehead, a bakeshop 16 minutes from Upward Star Center. Baker and owner Liz Blanchard uses wholesome family recipes with a unique twist, bringing homemade baked goods to all of Spartanburg.
At Cakehead, foodies can get plenty of pictures of the charming, cozy bakery and their delicious cupcakes. For example, try the Cakehead Mostess, made of devil’s food cake, marshmallow cream, and ganache. The Stephen’s Muse cupcake features a cappuccino cake, dark chocolate chips, and white chocolate icing. There are more than 20 cupcake flavors in total, so there’s a flavor for every foodie to enjoy.
The Kennedy
An exceptional meal awaits all food-lovers at The Kennedy, located 17 minutes from Upward Star Center. The Kennedy is committed to hospitality and using superior ingredients to create an outstanding dining experience. The dim lighting and Art Deco decor creates a classy, 1920s-era atmosphere.
Start off with an expertly crafted cocktail, such as the Somerset Smuggler. This drink contains spiced rum, lime, sparkling grapefruit, and cherry. Next, choose from an array of small, yet satisfying, dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients. Try the cabbage pancake with shrimp sauce, charred octopus, heirloom carrots, or a meat board.
The food at The Kennedy is plated with such care to the point where the kitchen staff uses tweezers and toothpicks to ensure every detail is just right. The Kennedy also serves some dishes on flat, circular slats of wood instead of plates. This distinctive detail sets the restaurant apart, especially for foodies.
After visiting Upward Star Center, take the ultimate food journey through Spartanburg and taste everything there is to offer. This city is filled with more options, such as classic Southern barbecue, Mexican dishes, and Italian fare. But by starting off with these seven eateries, a foodie will be satisfied with both a full stomach and a full camera roll.