Main St Cafe

Sam and Melissa’s Score = 20 F

(Categories scored out of 5)

Cleanliness: 2 – hairy ketchup bottle

Ambiance: 4 – played Sinatra, always a good choice

Atmosphere: 3 – comfortable temp, awkward entrance

Seat comfort: 2 – hard wooden chairs

Service: 2 – vanishing server; no hostess

Food quality: 3 – not bad, not great, just average

Food quantity: 2 – tiny burger

Price:  2 – $8 tiny burger

Notes:

Owned by Trifos family, Main St Cafe serves Greek-inspired pub food in the middle of downtown Lexington, South Carolina. The restaurant is half bar, half sit-down restaurant. The décor and atmosphere were casual with a splash of artsy-fartsy. They get kudos for playing Sinatra on the stereo.

Though the few outside tables are usually full when we drive past, Main St Cafe was so empty I wasn’t sure they were open when we got there at 6:30 pm on Tuesday. Then due to a sticky front door we thought was locked, Sam and I entered through the bar and wandered through the bar and the restaurant looking for guidance. No one greeted us or even acknowledged our presence until we tried the front door again.

Sam note: The front door violates fire safety laws by opening inwards. All egresses should open outwards to facilitate emergency exit from the building.

Main St Cafe’s staff was...there. We saw a guy who was probably a chef, the lady who seated us was probably the manager, and there was one server. And that is a perfectly adequate staff for the three occupied tables they had. However, the lack of hostess or greeter when we arrived left us feeling confused and not all that welcome. And while our server was a little slow to take our order and refill our drinks, we didn't feel neglected until after the meal was over at which point Sam and I wondered if he was ever going to bring us the check.

Melissa note: What is up with the rampant can-I-get-the-check-itis? And where’s-my-receipt-itis is even worse. At some point they’re just holding my credit card hostage. I feel like I should open negotiations. “For each minute I have to wait to get my credit card returned, I deduct a dollar from your tip.” I mean, they want us to pay for dinner, right? I’m baffled by this behavior.

Main St Cafe’s food tasted fine though it didn't stand out, but the quantity was disappointing especially for the price. Sam’s fries were good, but his feta burger was tiny. The patty did not even extend over the entire radius of the bun. We expect more from an $8.00 burger.  

My Greek-style gyro was fine as well, but I've had better, and my Greek salad was just iceberg lettuce, a tomato wedge, and a cucumber slice. The house Greek dressing tasted bland which is not how Greek dressing should ever be described. Again, disappointing for the $9.00 it cost us.

Bland is actually a good adjective for the entire dining experience. Well, except for finding that hair on the outside of the ketchup bottle. That was just yucky. Perhaps most telling of all, Sam and I went elsewhere for coffee and dessert.

Maybe it was an off night, but we’re not going back anytime soon. Badly done, Main St Cafe.

Main St. Cafe

131 West Main Street

Lexington SC 29072

(803) 808-5886

www.mainstreetcafelexington.com

Libby's of Lexington

Sam and Melissa’s Score = 27 D+

(Categories scored out of 5)

Cleanliness:  4

Ambiance:  3

Atmosphere: 2 – it was a bit too warm

Seat comfort:  2 – hard wooden chairs

Service: 3

Food quality: 4

Food quantity: 5

Price: 4

Notes:

Family-owned Libby’s of Lexington offers casual dining in an intimate atmosphere in the heart of downtown Lexington, South Carolina. For a while now, we’ve been intrigued by the building’s simplicity combined with it’s constantly crowded parking lot—both good signs that they focus on their food. True to form, Libby’s was full when we arrived around 7:30 pm on a Thursday. Not surprising as there were ten to twelve tables plus a small six-person bar inside and maybe another ten tables on the patio. And while the waiting area was a single park bench next to the kitchen/cashier/hostess station, our five-minute wait was short enough we didn’t mind.

Libby’s staff was friendly and outgoing, especially the manager on duty who greeted and seated us. Several patrons were clearly regulars, greeted by name by the staff, and it’s easy to see why. The relaxed, casual-yet-intimate ambiance combined with great food and affordable prices can’t help but draw repeat customers.

Libby’s is part deli, part gourmet pizza shop with a decidedly South Carolina flare. There’s lots of shrimp giving it a low country flavor and several dishes incorporate a bourbon BBQ sauce that I’m trying next time we go. But Libby’s chef and co-owner, Clint LaCoe, has created an eclectic menu that crosses food genres and refuses definition. However, it all sounded and smelled good.

While the customers ranged from young adults to senior citizens and the owners’ children are often at the restaurant (according to the website), I wouldn’t label this a family-friendly restaurant. The kids’ menu lists hamburgers, chicken fingers, fried shrimp, and pita pizzas, and you can order pizzas custom made, much of the menu is just different enough to turn off most small children. There’s a bit of “sports bar meets gourmet sandwich shop” feel to the place. If you’re feeding the whole family, definitely call in your order to-go and pick it up. And I recommend that anyway since the pizza was fantastic.

Sam and I ordered the “The Islander,” one of the gourmet pizzas, with sweet tea. The Islander is made with “garlic infused olive oil topped with mozzarella cheese, grilled shrimp, fresh basil, and feta cheese.” The crust was just crusty enough without being crunchy and the toppings were scrumptious together. The Islander was delicious, the smaller 12” pizza was plenty of food for the two of us, and we felt the $15.00 price was perfect. Finally, the sweet tea was refreshing and not too sweet.

All in all, though we were too warm and the chairs were hard, Sam and I enjoyed dining at Libby’s of Lexington and would love to go back sometime.

Libby’s of Lexington

116 West Main Street

Lexington SC 29072

803-520-4689

www.libbysoflexington.com