My Lunch/Dinner Places for Students on a Budget

[evilpoptart]

The No Name Deli located on Elmwood near Bull, this is a good change of pace type place with great atmosphere and very good food. Good salads, sandwhiches, and soups as well as some of the best sweet tea in town. I like the pimento cheeseburger. Most food reasonably priced around $7.
Cons: sometimes hard to get a parking spot for. Always very crowded at lunch time.
rating: 7.5/10

Palmetto Pig on Divine Street near the intersection of Huger st by Todd and Moore. Its actually gotten pretty expensive since I was a freshman. Today I think its 8.50 for students after 3pm Thursdays and Fridays. There isnt a lot of things on the buffet but what they do have is pretty phenominal. They also have hands down the best sweet tea in town. This place is a good way to introduce out of town folks to BBQ. They have several styles of sauce as well as plenty of other stuff to eat for people who arent into pulled pork and hash.
Cons: Pretty expensive and sometimes the fried chicken gets left out a little to long before getting changed out.
rating: 6/10


Little Pigs is truely what a southern bbq place is all about. Over 30 items on the buffet and a real pig picking. Hard to beat and I consider it the best BBQ in town. Price is around $8 but if you leave hungry, you are obviously an idiot. They even have a desert buffet. It is located on Alpine Rd near the intersection with Percival Rd.
Cons: Very far away from campus
rating: 9.5/10

Delaneys on Mondays Buy 1 get 1 Free Entre. Good food for ~$7 a meal after the deal. I suggest the whiskey steak. Located in 5 points, its Very tasty for bar food and they have a lot of very good beer on tap. Wednesday is $2 pint night.
Cons: trying to park in 5 points is a nightmare. You can easily get a parking ticket if you are not vigilant about keeping that meter running.
rating: 8/10

[USCocks3]

The No Name Deli located on Elmwood near Bull, this is a good change of pace type place with great atmosphere and very good food. Good salads, sandwhiches, and soups as well as some of the best sweet tea in town. I like the pimento cheeseburger. Most food reasonably priced around $7.
Cons: sometimes hard to get a parking spot for. Always very crowded at lunch time.
rating: 7.5/10

Palmetto Pig on Divine Street near the intersection of Huger st by Todd and Moore. Its actually gotten pretty expensive since I was a freshman. Today I think its 8.50 for students after 3pm Thursdays and Fridays. There isnt a lot of things on the buffet but what they do have is pretty phenominal. They also have hands down the best sweet tea in town. This place is a good way to introduce out of town folks to BBQ. They have several styles of sauce as well as plenty of other stuff to eat for people who arent into pulled pork and hash.
Cons: Pretty expensive and sometimes the fried chicken gets left out a little to long before getting changed out.
rating: 6/10


Little Pigs is truely what a southern bbq place is all about. Over 30 items on the buffet and a real pig picking. Hard to beat and I consider it the best BBQ in town. Price is around $8 but if you leave hungry, you are obviously an idiot. They even have a desert buffet. It is located on Alpine Rd near the intersection with Percival Rd.
Cons: Very far away from campus
rating: 9.5/10

Delaneys on Mondays Buy 1 get 1 Free Entre. Good food for ~$7 a meal after the deal. I suggest the whiskey steak. Located in 5 points, its Very tasty for bar food and they have a lot of very good beer on tap. Wednesday is $2 pint night.
Cons: trying to park in 5 points is a nightmare. You can easily get a parking ticket if you are not vigilant about keeping that meter running.
rating: 8/10

Pretty good list but I will clarify one thing. The Pig is only about $7 after tax for students. Ate there last week.

[09Gamecock]

How does Palmetto Pig compare to Maurice's. Maurice's is probably the best all around restaurant I've ever eaten at for the type of food they serve (whether it's BBQ, brisket, chicken, ribs, hash, etc., it's all delicious!), but I've never gone to Palmetto Pig. Do they do takeout? Is it sit down and order or do you order at a counter? When do they have the buffet?

[USCocks3]

How does Palmetto Pig compare to Maurice's. Maurice's is probably the best all around restaurant I've ever eaten at for the type of food they serve (whether it's BBQ, brisket, chicken, ribs, hash, etc., it's all delicious!), but I've never gone to Palmetto Pig. Do they do takeout? Is it sit down and order or do you order at a counter? When do they have the buffet?

Well it compares because, as far as I know, Maurice's doesn't do a buffet. Also, I despise mustard-based bbq and the Pig has several different choices of sauce that you can add yourself.

I don't know about takeout. You pay for your buffet at a counter and then you go to the buffet. They have buffet all the time.

[09Gamecock]

I like the idea of a full time buffet. I'll have to give it a shot once I'm back in Columbia after the break!

[ColaCock]

How does Palmetto Pig compare to Maurice's. Maurice's is probably the best all around restaurant I've ever eaten at for the type of food they serve (whether it's BBQ, brisket, chicken, ribs, hash, etc., it's all delicious!), but I've never gone to Palmetto Pig. Do they do takeout? Is it sit down and order or do you order at a counter? When do they have the buffet?

How does it compare? Hmm in the world of BBQ, I'd say it is something like this:


---best BBQ ever
-
-
- Duke's
-
- Palmetto Pig
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Maurices's
-
- McDonald's McRib Sandwich
-
- crappiest BBQ ever

Honestly, if you think Maurice's is the best food you have ate or that type...you really need to start visiting some real BBQ houses. Start with Palmetto Pig then try Little Pigs on Alpine Road next.

[09Gamecock]

I don't understand the hatred of Maurice's food!!! Everyone I've ever introduced to it LOVES IT. One break, I brought some Maurice's BBQ back home to Virginia for an extended family dinner (and this is for a family that grew up eating the vinegar based North Carolina BBQ) and I had numerous family members tell me it was the best BBQ they had ever tasted. And don't even get me started on Maurice's beef brisket; my mouth waters just thinking about it. What is there not to like about the food?! Honestly, once I graduate, one of the things I'll miss most is not having Maurice's around to grab a delicious dinner from. So yeah, maybe I'm missing something here...

[ammonsc]

the price is not to love about Maurice's, it expensive

[USCocks3]

Maurice's is not BAD. It's just not good. I could think of about 30 places I'd rather eat in Cola than Maurice's. Just as simple as that.

[JuggernautCock]

little pigs is the complete f-ing s... fwiw

doc's bbq on bluff rd. is good, too. the fried chicken and potato salad were my fav's there.

and shealy's of course...

but this thread isn't about bbq, so...

[GamecockNeal]

The No Name Deli located on Elmwood near Bull, this is a good change of pace type place with great atmosphere and very good food. Good salads, sandwhiches, and soups as well as some of the best sweet tea in town. I like the pimento cheeseburger. Most food reasonably priced around $7.
Cons: sometimes hard to get a parking spot for. Always very crowded at lunch time.
rating: 7.5/10


I used to work there for a while during college. While the owner can be a dick bc you have to work so fast, it is a great place to get hired if you can. Pays real well and its free food all the time!

[ShutTheSuccop]

I used to work there for a while during college. While the owner can be a dick bc you have to work so fast, it is a great place to get hired if you can. Pays real well and its free food all the time!


Key to a college job

[ColaCock]

Everyone I've ever introduced to it LOVES IT...I had numerous family members tell me it was the best BBQ they had ever tasted.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/SCHelmetProject/WTF_look.jpg

[garnet812]

Maurice's really isn't that great to me. We have a Melvin's here which is basically like a Maurice's. Both are sort of bland. There's a lot better local mom and pop BBQ places in Charleston.

[jaytda4th]

Drakes has to be in this convo..

There Chicken sandwich is AWESOME and.. HUGE!!..

I get a Hot Dog, a chicken sandwich, and a water for UNDER 5 bucks (you have to pay in cash i think, so remember that

[CoverTwo]

Egg Roll Station, FTW.

[horseshoefootball]

Beezer's

Moe's Monday ($5 for a burrito, chips, and a drink)

Early Week Special at Papa John's (Monday - Wednesday, 1 large 1 topping for carryout only)

Domino's Dominator ($5 pizza all the time)

Village Idiot's $1 slices

Main Moon

[Dirt Nasty]

what about--- MCDONALDS. $1 menu

[Spur's Addiction]

Egg Roll Station, FTW.

Can't beat egg roll station on a college budget.

[Zee]

how about the Lunch Box...tiny little deli on the corner of lady and sumter(I think). It's not anything special, but its cheap. They have like 2 dollar sandwiches and soups and stuff.

[ColaCock]

Drakes has to be in this convo..

There Chicken sandwich is AWESOME and.. HUGE!!..

I get a Hot Dog, a chicken sandwich, and a water for UNDER 5 bucks (you have to pay in cash i think, so remember that

Glad you enjoyed that! Best chicken sandwich ever. Drake's Duck-In is definitely a diamond in the rough.

Only problem is most people don't know about it because they are afraid to venture that far down Main Street.

Cheap, fast and tasty...great combination.

[Gamecock303]

The No Name Deli located on Elmwood near Bull, this is a good change of pace type place with great atmosphere and very good food. Good salads, sandwhiches, and soups as well as some of the best sweet tea in town. I like the pimento cheeseburger. Most food reasonably priced around $7.
Cons: sometimes hard to get a parking spot for. Always very crowded at lunch time.
rating: 7.5/10


to say No Name is crowded at lunch time is an understatement. I dont think I have ever seen a place as crowded. I used to work across the street from there and would always get sent over there to get lunch...it was so annoying it seems like you are always in someone's way. Parking over there really is bad

[sandstorm2001]

Andy's Deli.

[sandstorm2001]

Also,

D's does 35 cent wings on Monday nights

The new Buffalo Wild wings does 45 cent wings Tuesday nights

I think Wild Wings still does buy 12 get 12 on Tuesday nights, but you have to show a Carolina Card.

The Wild Hare has 35 cent wings on Tuesday.

I know Carolina Wings has some sort of all you can eat wing buffet which also features wing chips/buffalo chips/raw fries depending on what you know them as.

I'm guessing by now you've figured out what my favorite food is.

Monterreys is relatively cheap, and has some good specials throughout the week.

Sammi's Deli has some kinda ok deals.

Sandys is good for hot dogs if that's what you're into. I'm not a huge hot dog person myself.

[bullardt]

Beezer's

Moe's Monday ($5 for a burrito, chips, and a drink)

Early Week Special at Papa John's (Monday - Wednesday, 1 large 1 topping for carryout only)

Domino's Dominator ($5 pizza all the time)

Village Idiot's $1 slices

Main Moon

amen on the village and main moon! best chinese in cola. I personally prefer local resturants better than franchises just because it supports the locals and all. also, love all of cola bbq i would have to recently throw in firehouse and which wich even that those arent on the cheap side they are way better then beezers and jimmy johns that for sure! thanks for the heads up on the egg roll station and drakes! i plan on trying those very soon!

[RMCUSC]

I don't understand the hatred of Maurice's food!!! Everyone I've ever introduced to it LOVES IT. One break, I brought some Maurice's BBQ back home to Virginia for an extended family dinner (and this is for a family that grew up eating the vinegar based North Carolina BBQ) and I had numerous family members tell me it was the best BBQ they had ever tasted. And don't even get me started on Maurice's beef brisket; my mouth waters just thinking about it. What is there not to like about the food?! Honestly, once I graduate, one of the things I'll miss most is not having Maurice's around to grab a delicious dinner from. So yeah, maybe I'm missing something here...

maurices isn't bad, but most people that LOVE it have never been to many good BBQ restaurants, so they don't have anything to compare it to. Schoolhouse BBQ in Scranton, SC; Great, Case closed.

[RMCUSC]

Grilled teriyaki has a cheap late night menu

[mickeyrivers]

Glad you enjoyed that! Best chicken sandwich ever. Drake's Duck-In is definitely a diamond in the rough.

Only problem is most people don't know about it because they are afraid to venture that far down Main Street.

Cheap, fast and tasty...great combination.
drake's is off the chain, but the problem is that they aren't open past lumch. :thumbs:

[mickeyrivers]

maurices isn't bad, but most people that LOVE it have never been to many good BBQ restaurants, so they don't have anything to compare it to. Schoolhouse BBQ in Scranton, SC; Great, Case closed.
the great thing about maurice's though is that they have a drivethrough and have a bunch of different variety. it's basically fast-food bbq. i don't get the hate either. it's a little too pricey for what it is but it's nice for the convenience and it is good.

[HughDamright]

Is Vella's Deli in Cayce still around. The $1.99 Rib-eye was not great but the price was right.

If the Capitol Cafe was still open, the Spit Special was always a bargain. If you drank enough before you went, it didn't taste too bad either.

[mickeyrivers]

Is Vella's Deli in Cayce still around. The $1.99 Rib-eye was not great but the price was right.

If the Capitol Cafe was still open, the Spit Special was always a bargain. If you drank enough before you went, it didn't taste too bad either.
yup, vella's is still kickin'. i used to live in the avenues, the neighborhood right behind vella's... i don't remember a 1.99 ribeye. probabyl would have stayed away from that one, but the beer is cold and the atmosphere is good there.

[USCMM]

Egg Roll Chen!

You get more for your money than any other "fast food" Chinese and they give you so much food that you can probably have it for 3 meals. They have like 50 things to choose from and it's pretty tasty.

http://www.eggrollchen.com/home.html

yum.