Isla’s on the Square: Splashing into Spartanburg
113 North Church Street in the Palmetto Building; mural by Jeremy Kemp
After much anticipation, Isla's on the Square is officially open at 113 North Church St in Downtown Spartanburg, offering a coastal menu and craft cocktails. Isla's (pronounced “eye-luhs”) is open Tuesday through Saturday, with beverage and oyster service at 4pm, dinner at 5pm.
The upscale seafood restaurant is a welcome addition to downtown’s culinary scene, serving fresh oysters, classic coastal dishes updated with an emphasis on local ingredients, and weekly rotating fresh catch offerings.
For those wishing to imbibe, an extensive wine and beer list awaits, as well as a highly-curated cocktail line-up. Get your cameras ready; no step is skipped in presentation and flavor.
Standout, tiki-influenced drinks include The Yellowtooth Tiger, (a bright and tropical beverage with Castle and Key “Rise Gin, passionfruit, lime, orange juice, and ginger,) and Tropic Thunder, (Maestro Dobel Diamante, Stiggin’s Fancy Pineapple Rum, red pepper simple, lime, and tiki bitters.)
Looking for dessert before dinner? The Lemon Pound Cake features OYO Honey Vanilla Vodka, Domaine de Canton, Licor 43, egg white, and house sour- a light yet decadent sipper with a familiar taste. The house nitro espresso martini, From Amalfi to Austin, features Tito’s, Caffe Borghetti, Mexican Cake Rum, and local Little River Roasting espresso.
Oysters feature a prominent of the dining menu, as the house specialty dish. Enjoy rotating fresh varieties of oysters on the half shell, served in half or full dozens, including house oyster variety Kellum, hailing from York River and Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.
Or, get fancy, with “Drunken Oysters,” broiled pimento cheese and bacon oysters, garlic and herb compound butter grilled oysters, Buffalo-style, steamed, or oyster shooters.
For non-oyster starters, tempt your palate with mussels, shrimp, crab-stuffed mushrooms, smoked salmon bruschetta, and more. No seafood restaurant is complete without fritters, and we cannot recommend the Cheddar Corn Fritters enough.
Entrees feature seafood prevalently as expected, with dishes such as Blackened Cod Puttanesca, Clam Linguine, and Artichoke Grilled Swordfish. But parties with non-seafood-lovers are not ignored! The menu also features pork tenderloin, herbed chicken, and (dare we say decadent?) brown butter and parmesan King Trumpet Risotto.
While Isla’s is not currently accepting reservations, bar seating is first come first serve while waiting, with beverage and oyster service available. Table service is located on both floors, with window bars and an intimate side room.
Visitors to the restaurant may find a familiar, casual seating option on the second floor, albeit in cooler tones. Isla’s crowd favorite window seating overlooks Morgan Square, which was previously featured in the address’ former tenant, Growler Haus.
Isla’s on the Square is the newest restaurant venture by Brian Greene and Kevin Moore of Morgan Square Hospitality Group, whose businesses include Delaney’s Irish Pub (117 West Main St) and Gerhard’s Cafe (1200 East Main St.) The duo has a proven record of culinary success, catering, event hosting, and downtown collaboration.
Restaurant hours:
Tuesday - Thursday: 4pm-10pm
Friday - Saturday: 4pm-11pm
Bar service for drinks and oysters begins at 4pm daily. Dinner service begins at 5pm daily.
Follow Isla’s on the Square on Facebook and Instagram at @IslasOnTheSquare.