Blue Moon's second location, the Blue Moon Bodega, is open for business on Daniel Morgan Avenue. The new neighborhood grocery store and casual eatery is in a prime spot, located within walking distance of the Spartanburg Marriott, Wofford College, and the new residential community, The Charles.

The other reason to stop into the Blue Moon Bodega are the vittles. Order straight from the pre-determined menu of salads, sandwiches and charcuterie boards, or venture out and create your own. 

And with that, let's dive into some of the dishes I've been delighted to try...

I've had this board twice, and it seems to be the most popular pre-made pick for a crowd! A great variety of items that are easy on the palate and pair well together. Excellent choice all around.

How much fun is this kid's charcuterie board?! The only thing you need to know is that my kids ate every single bite on this board with huge smiles on their faces! 

This is one of two salads I've tried, and it is a great choice for those that like sweet and savory together. The combination of goat cheese and spiced pecans is *chef's kiss*. 

This salad gave me everything I want in a chef's salad. Not only visually stunning, but packed with flavor and texture with unexpected ingredients, particularly the brie, taking it to the next level.

The Kim-Cheesy...I honestly can't wait to have this again. PERFECTION.

All sandwiches include the choice of a house side. In addition to the three pictured below, you can choose chips, giddyup snack mix, southwestern corn and bean salad, or dilly beans.

After making the excruciating decision of what to eat, stop in the wine cellar with nearly 100 curated wines to buy a bottle for the group, or order by the glass. There's also plenty of craft beer in the cold cave! 

I'm obsessed with the art behind the bar - I always had a moon calendar in my room as a child so it brings back fond memories. You'll have to stop by in-person to see Wishbone's custom bar chair ;)

The patio is airy and fun with pops of yellow and murals, textured chairs, and lovely heaters. It has been excellent over the past couple of cooler months, and I can only imagine how great it will be this spring and summer!

I hope you have a chance to check out the Bodega soon, and if you're looking for more Spartanburg Restaurant Reviews, look no further!

There is an entire additional seating area of El Chinchorro that includes a bar and a karaoke stage. I couldn't find any additional information on their website about when this occurs, but rest assured, I will be asking the next time I go in so I can report back!

A resounding welcome to The Fretwell has been echoing through Spartanburg this week, and my voice is among those shouting it from the rooftops! What a fun new place that has landed on the scene: The Fretwell is a restaurant and retail collective with big plans in store for the future.

When you arrive you'll be greeted by a huge open space with lots of sun, shade, seating, and room to roam. It is kid and pet friendly, with multiple access points - you can approach it from from the Mary Black Rail Trail on either side, and there is a small parking lot if you aren't arriving by foot or bike. Access to the parking lot is on Fretwell Street off of Marion Street between Pine and Union.

Pull up a seat to any of the tables - there are both picnic-style tables and 4-tops, both under umbrellas and in the sun - or grab a place at the bar that overlooks the Rail Trail! I imagine you could also bring blankets and/or camping chairs to set up your own space in the grass.

In all her glory, here is The Spartan. She serves a wide variety of drinks and snacks to guests who are passing by or planning to stay a while.

In addition to adult beverages, there is a great selection of non-alcoholic bevs, and everything is served through this precious vintage window.

The menus above show the variety of beverages, snacks, small bites and sweet treats that are available. My kids were begging for popsicles and ice cream of course, but for our first visit we went with the boiled peanuts, house charcuterie box, and the traveling taco with Doritos.

The House Charcuterie box features apples, pickles, olives, meat, cheese, crackers, hummus and jam. If you know me you know I love all the goodies that you can use to make different flavorful bites, and this basket offers a lot of variety! I loved the meat and cheese on a cracker with a little bit of jam.

If you pick the Traveling Taco, you get to choose from Doritos or Fritos, which are then loaded up with beef, cheese, sour cream, and salsa. This was all the crunchy, cheesy, salty goodness I was hoping for.

I can never get enough Bullhded peanuts out of Tryon, NC, and no, that is not a typo. To see them on this menu is quite a treat!! Read more about them here.

As you can see, The Fretwell is a beautiful space in a great location for all kinds of people and activities. In the future there are plans to feature food trucks and musical artists, as well as host local events. You can visit their site here to learn more about all of that. 

From June 8th through August 3rd you can find the Hub City Farmer's Market at The Fretwell on Wednesdays from 6 - 8:30pm with vendors, food trucks, live music, and drinks!

​Thanks for reading, and if you're looking for more Spartanburg restaurant reviews, start here!

Ali Baba opened in Spartanburg in February of 2022 on Wall Street and brings a (IMHO) much needed middle eastern menu to town. I don't know about you, but I regularly get cravings for gyros, and they have been hard to find locally since Cuzina closed. 

The hummus platter features a fresh and creamy mound of hummus and is chock full of dippers which makes it super fun to create different taste combinations: bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, olives, cubed cheeses, pistachios, and pita. It also comes with a side of za'atar, a traditional middle eastern spice blend of things like oregano, marjoram, cumin, thyme, coriander, salt and sumac. I love the brightness that it adds and suggest you sprinkle it on every bite!!

Ali Baba has four different gyros to choose from. Above is the Classic Gyro which comes with seasoned lamb, but you can also get chicken, smoked pork, or a simple veggie gyro. BTW, this is a great restaurant to try if you are vegetarian as pretty much everything has a veggie option!

For a fun twist, try the pizzas! They are made on traditional toasted pita bread with a special red sauce and mozzarella cheese. For meat toppings you can pick from seasoned lamb, chicken, or smoked pork, or you can order a veggie version of this too. 

There are lots of drink options here with a good selection of wine and beer as well as specialty coffee. The bar area is pretty funky with three huge TVs (where else can you be at Bayside High, a sporting event, and solving a murder with Samuel L. Jackson all at the same time?!) and a disco ball!

While the inside of the restaurant is on the smaller side, they have the advantage of being on Wall Street where there is plenty of outdoor seating. Grab a hummus platter or sandwich for a delicious evening out, or you can also order Ali Baba from Hub City Delivery!

Thanks for reading, and if you're looking for more Spartanburg restaurant reviews, start here!