About Soby's New South Cuisine
Soby's opened on South Main Street in early November 1997, when downtown Greenville was just beginning its comeback. Carl Sobocinski and David Williams bought the old Shoe Mart building and renovated it with wine director Frank Kapp; the work uncovered brick hidden under plaster and a skylight above the ceiling tiles, and the team restored the fireplace. The restaurant marked its 29th birthday in October 2026 and is one of the ten restaurants in the Table 301 group.
The cooking is Southern with a modern hand, built on local, seasonal ingredients. Signatures on the 2026 menu include fried green tomatoes ($11), shrimp and grits ($27) and crab cakes ($35). The wine program is the other reason to come: Soby's received a Wine Spectator Grand Award in 2025, and its cellar holds thousands of bottles. It is also recommended in the MICHELIN guide to the American South.
Brunch runs Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm, with dishes like a fried green tomato BLT. Desserts on the 2026 menu include white chocolate banana cream pie and a gluten-free Brazilian caramel flan. Upstairs, The Loft at Soby's offers a rooftop view of downtown for private events, and the restaurant holds wine dinners and a Thanksgiving meal (November 26, 2026).
Valensole Farm, which grows lavender and berries in the Upstate near Travelers Rest, is about 30 minutes north by US-25. Check their website for open days, then plan a Main Street brunch or dinner here around it.
What to do
- Order shrimp and grits or crab cakes at dinner
- Come for weekend brunch, Saturday 11-2 or Sunday 10-2
- Explore a Grand Award wine list of thousands of bottles
- Book The Loft at Soby's for a private rooftop event
- Watch for wine dinners and the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 26, 2026
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round; brunch Saturdays and Sundays
- Hours
- As published October 2026: brunch Saturday 11 am-2 pm and Sunday 10 am-2 pm; call for dinner hours
Tips for your visit
- Reserve through their website or by phone at 864.232.7007, especially for weekend brunch.
- Ask about the Loft if you're planning a group dinner.
- There is a gluten-free flan on the dessert menu.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Valensole Farm · about 30 minutes away
Valensole Farm near Travelers Rest is about 30 minutes north, so a Main Street brunch here pairs with an Upstate lavender outing.
Getting there
Questions
When did Soby's open?
In early November 1997, in the former Shoe Mart building at 207 South Main Street.
Does Soby's serve brunch?
Yes: Saturday 11 am-2 pm and Sunday 10 am-2 pm (as published October 2026).
What is Soby's known for?
Southern dishes like shrimp and grits and crab cakes, and a wine list that won a Wine Spectator Grand Award in 2025.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Travelers Rest & Landrum, South Carolina
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
