Scoundrel — Restaurant in Greenville

I recently had the privilege of dining at Scoundrel in Greenville, SC, and let me tell you, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish!

Ambiance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) Upon stepping into Scoundrel, I was immediately captivated by its charming and inviting atmosphere. The rustic decor, combined with modern elements, creates a unique and cozy ambiance that makes you feel right at home. Whether you're looking for an intimate dinner with your loved one or a fun night out with friends, Scoundrel has got it all.

Drinks: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) The well-crafted drinks at Scoundrel definitely stole the show! Their extensive drink menu offers a wide range of options, and each cocktail is meticulously crafted with precision and care. From classic favorites to innovative concoctions, there's something to delight every palate. The expert mixologists truly know their craft, and you can taste the quality in every sip. Don't miss out on their signature drinks – they are truly something special!

Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) Now, let's talk about the food because, oh my goodness, it was phenomenal! Scoundrel takes pride in their culinary creations, and it shows in every dish that arrives at your table. I couldn't resist ordering their steak, and it turned out to be a true masterpiece. Cooked to perfection, each bite was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The presentation and attention to detail truly impressed me. Scoundrel has a menu that caters to different tastes and preferences, so whether you're a meat lover or a vegetarian, you'll find something delightful to satiate your cravings.

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) The attentive and professional staff at Scoundrel deserve a special mention. From the moment I stepped in, their welcoming and friendly demeanor immediately put me at ease. They were more than happy to guide me through the menu and offer recommendations, ensuring that I had an unforgettable dining experience. The staff's knowledge, promptness, and genuine passion for their work truly enhanced my overall visit.

Overall, Scoundrel in Greenville, SC, exceeded all my expectations and left me wanting more. The incredible ambiance, delicious and well-crafted drinks, and mouthwatering food make this place a true gem. If you're in Greenville, SC, and looking for an unforgettable dining experience, do yourself a favor and visit Scoundrel. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Note: The review provided is solely based on my personal experience and may vary...

We finally had a chance to try this newcomer to the dining scene downtown. While the ambiance is a step up from the usual, there are some detractors including that the individual tables are cramped and virtually on top of each other negating any privacy... a sign of the times to maximize profit over comfort as I suspect the lease at this location is quite expensive. Also the overall layout is very "bowling alley" style... elongated and quite loud, split lengthwise between dinning and bar areas.

Service was spot on... and here I would say a step up from the usual. Menus were thoroughly explained although they lack much depth. Drinks were good. The food was overall good... however not particularly exceptional for a restaurant touting "Exceptional". I will say the escargot was very well seasoned and prepared. The Steak (Filet) and Frites was somewhat lackluster. The beef was good and cooked to temperature as requested, however the au poivre was "weak"... completely lacking the essential "poivre" (pepper corns) and therefore also the expected flavor. Frites were also lackluster but crispy. For a restaurant inspired by "nowhere to eat (in Greenville) that’s on a level similar to... New York or LA or Paris" this restaurant unfortunately fails on all levels except two... Service... and Price! $74 for a filet is exorbitant by any standard unless dinning at a Michelin starred restaurant such as the Ritz in London which is worth the price of admission.

But even with all these detractors, the restaurant would still be OK... except here's where the wheels completely come off and we derailed! At the end of our evening, my wife came back from the unisex bathroom and explained in shock that the walls were covered in Centerfolds... literally straight out of mens magazines, plastering the walls was explicit pornography! I was left speechless. Not only lewd and offensive, but I also suspect this violates state and city decency codes...this is after all, a public restroom with unrestricted access to minors and not some over 21 bar or strip joint. Could you imagine an unsuspecting parent taking their child into such a restroom??? On these grounds alone, we could never recommend this establishment to our friends... or would we ever return. Incidentally, emails regarding this to the establishment were left unanswered... I would guess there is no appropriate excuse for such lack of...

The seating looked nice in the round booths, but we were seated at a small table only a foot or so between 2 other tables. With it being relatively quiet in the room, we found the conversations around us and the constant waiter at one of the 3 tables to be incredibly distracting.

My wife had a glass of wine, which she said was good and the waiter did know the wines well-enough to describe them. I had the penicillin cocktail, which was very good. Overall though, we found the cocktail menu a little lacking and thought some more unique variety was needed.

The food ended up being a little lackluster and pretty expensive for that it was. We got the blue crab dip to share… which was good but a little mayonnaise heavy. It needed some lemon or herbs or spices to break the mayonnaise up a bit.

My wife got the half chicken with the squash, both of which were pretty undeveloped on flavor. It’s almost hard to comment on since there wasn’t much complexity there… the chicken was tender but mostly water-flavored and the squash mostly just tasted like squash. We were pretty disappointed that the chicken entree was just chicken and not a fully thought-out dish with incorporated sides. It ended up being pretty expensive once you add a side.

I got the burger, which was probably one of the better burgers I’ve ever had. For a little less $, I’d consider coming back just for the burger. However, the fries didn’t really wow and seemed like the same, pre-made fries you can get anywhere. Nothing stood out for them other than the $6 jus add-on, which was good… but expensive for a necessary sauce. Hard to justify $34 for a great burger and okay fries when there are several places in Greenville where you can pay half that for a good burger and good fries.

In the end, we paid around $180 for 2 drinks, an appetizer, and 2 entrees. There are other restaurants in Greenville with better food and ambiance for under $100 (think Jianna, Coral, CAMP, etc.). I would recommend Scoundrel taking a look at some of those places for tips on price-point and food presentation.

As an aside, my wife was not pleased with the bathroom decor (her words, pornographic)… and since we could hear the tables around us so clearly, we were not the only ones. We honestly could not recommend Scoundrel to many of our friends for this reason alone… but the food price vs quality will push us anyways to recommend...