“This place is like Cracker Barrel, but for real,” my best friend Jennifer joked as we sat down with our paper plates filled with crispy fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits, at the green and white checkered table in the eclectic dining room. Now the restaurant’s designated seating area, the open concept space was once a vintage car garage. “You know, nobody curated this — it’s just left here the way it was.” And despite a devasting fire in 1999, that’s exactly the way it seems.

The former old-fashioned garage and filling station turned Harold’s Country Club, emphasis on country in the very best way, has been a gathering place for locals since the 1970s when it was purchased by the late Harold Peeples. Shelves of antique glass Coca-Cola bottles line the rustic strand board walls, along with fitting automobile memorabilia, stacks of Pepsi crates, and political campaign signage from elections gone by. The guests are a mix of church folks, salt-of-the-earth kind of people, families and rural South Carolinians who appreciate a cold beer and down-home Southern cooking.

Upon walking inside, there’s a lot to take in—taxidermy, floats in the shape of beer cans and sharks dangling from the ceiling, historic press clippings are framed on the wall, and a life-size skeleton wearing a Santa hat, sits atop a shelf holding bottled drinks. The bar is to the right and to the left is a large open room with pool tables. A hallway leads to the buffet, but before entering, you’ll pass the cashier who takes your payment, and in exchange hands over a paper plate cheerfully as she says, “Y’all enjoy!” Dessert is pre-plated as you go through the line—large squares of red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting were served on the evening we were there. A large cooler filled with ice and a metal scoop sits next to the sweet and unsweet tea. If you grew up in the South, it feels much like visiting your uncle or as though you’re at a relative’s home. In this case, Harold’s. You serve yourself and get up and get what you need, but someone may come around to take your plate and discard it.

Open just three days a week, Thursday – Saturday, diners feast on the evening’s theme: Thursday is Potluck Supper (a nod to how it all began!), Friday is Wings & Things, and Saturday is Steak Night by reservation only. During my visit, the Potluck Supper all-you-can-eat buffet featured the aforementioned fried chicken and biscuits, Chicken & Rice Perlo, Green Beans, Stewed Summer Squash, Potato Salad and dessert. My favorite part was the casual large open jar of blackberry jelly and butter at the end of the line, complete with butter knives sticking out of the top so folks could help themselves. They have live music and karaoke most nights; the menu and entertainment line-up are shared in advance at HaroldsCountryClub.com.

Now, I didn’t know Harold, but after dining here, it feels like I did, and I’ve got a feeling, we’d have been good friends. In a world of pretentious, overpriced restaurants, Harold’s Country Club is a refreshing, laid back, come-as-you-are kind of joint that makes one nostalgic for a simpler time. The name is quite ironic when you think about it. Harold’s Country Club is everything an actual country club is not. Stop in next time you’re nearby or go out of your way to visit. It’s as unique a dining experience as you could possibly have.

In a world of pretentious, overpriced restaurants, Harold’s Country Club is a refreshing, laid back, come-as-you-are kind of joint that makes one nostalgic for a simpler time. The name is quite ironic when you think about it. Harold’s Country Club is everything an actual country club is not.

-Chef and Author Rebekah Faulk Lingenfelser

Harold’s Country Club is “proud to be in the middle of nowhere, but close to everywhere.”
97 Low Country Highway, Yemassee, South Carolina 29945 | 843-589-4360

---

New to Some Kinda Good?

Rebekah Faulk Lingenfelser is a five-star private chef, culinary TV personality, and the 2x bestselling author of Unique Eats and Eateries of Savannah and Some Kinda Good: Good Food and Good Company, That’s What It’s All About!  She founded her award-winning blog, Some Kinda Good™ in November 2011 and also owns Some Kinda Good, LLC, a private chef business and Southern, coastal brand.

Featured in Forbes, on Food Network, and on ABC, she is a Georgia Southern University alumna (c/o ’05) and an honors graduate of the Savannah Culinary Institute (c/o ’24). Connect with Some Kinda Good on social media, visit RebekahLingenfelser.com or email SKGFoodBlog@gmail.com.