Topsoil Restaurant — Restaurant in Travelers Rest

This restaurant has been on our list for some time, and we were finally able to try it. Although we didn’t order directly off the menu, we were treated to a wonderful family-style meal with several courses. From the moment we walked in, the staff impressed us with their patience and exceptional service, especially while managing a large party.

The meal began with a simple yet flavorful red oak lettuce salad—light and fresh, it was the perfect way to start the evening.

The sides were served in waves, and each one was a standout. The brown butter carrots were a hit, even among those who aren’t typically fans of carrots—many agreed they were some of the best they’ve had. The fingerling potatoes were another winner: hot, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. I was particularly excited for the Brussels sprouts, and they did not disappoint. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, they were just fantastic.

For the main courses, we were first served a free-range chicken breast. While it wasn’t the most memorable dish of the evening, it was still flavorful and well-prepared. As someone who isn’t usually fond of salmon, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the salmon dish turned out to be—it was flaky and flavorful, definitely a highlight. But the star of the evening was the prime rib. Cooked perfectly medium-rare, it was juicy and tender, with a crust that was seasoned just right.

Overall, this restaurant is a great choice if you're in the TR area. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it an excellent spot for both a romantic dinner or a business gathering. I highly recommend giving it a try if you...

When Debi, our wedding coordinator, told us about Topsoil for our reception (Oct 1st) we agreed without too much research. The trust has paid off! The food was amazing, the atmosphere was wonderful, everything was great! Let me expand:

Atmosphere: The cocktail hour was at the downstairs garden. It was intimate and sweet. The view is the garden, trail and beautiful sunset. The dinner itself was at a patio. Even though it was not screened they did a great job with pest and temperature control. Music is always playing without me having to think about it.

Food: This is the amazing part! The dinner is served family style. I have the menu attached. The only request I made was “Asian elements & creme brulee for dessert”. The delivered that and more! My favorite was the Brussels and the scallops. The scallops was a huge topic since a few of our guests don’t care for them in other contexts but loved these. They were seared perfectly with a light citrusy sauce. I don’t think I have seen yuzu in an American menu. What a nice surprise! How did they know my favorite citrus ;) Also really enjoyed the huge amount of vegetables. Wedding dinner can be delicious and good for you.

Another highlight is dessert. Creme Brulee has been an important part of my life. I had a lot of them from many places and this one is one of the best. The right amount of sweetness and the chai spice is balanced and delicate. The coffee with it was wonderful as well.

Bottom Line: Everything was done with sincerity and creativity. Incredible! Thank you Wendy, Adam, Debi and the...

Let me first say that my family has been to Topsoil a few times now and we’ve always had decent food and excellent customer service. We love supporting local businesses and are glad to have an up-scale restaurant in the downtown TR strip.

On our most recent trip, Hannah provided excellent service. The reason why I’m giving 2 stars for both the Food and Atmosphere are as follows:

1. Food: for $200+ I did not feel like we received enough food to adequately fill us up. We are not big people. Although the food was perfectly seasoned and delectable, the pictures attached might seem like miserly portions to some. It did to us. Moreover, unfortunately one of our meat dishes had some trace blood on it that we didn’t feel comfortable consuming, nor did we want to wait another 30 minutes to get another entrée.
2. Atmosphere: it took approximately 2 hours from the time we sat down for our 5:15 pm reservation to the time we left. That feels long to me. Also, the screened-in patio as advertised is actually covered in plastic sheeting (presumably to make it warmer in winter, but at the unfortunate cost of less airy ventilation). After 3 weeks of COVID we did not want to roll the dice on a non-ventilated “screened” patio. They did have an unscreened and un-plastic wrapped portion to their patio, and did offer us blankets, so, minor win. Unfortunately the one heater that didn’t work was being stored paradoxically in the unscreened patio area, so I’m taking that minor win back actually.

Are we bummed by our recent visit? Yes. Will we be back?...