My Table 301 Story
Thank you to all who’ve sent us your stories! It’s been quite a walk down memory lane. We appreciate you all! Our staff has been reading them over the past few days and sending us votes for their favorites. They are all so wonderful – and the voting was SO close!
We appreciate everyone taking the time to send us their thoughts and memories. You’ll all be hearing from us in the near future.
Story Finalists
Soby’s was our place to go for a date night, it didn’t matter where we sat or who was the server it was always a memorable evening with delicious food and fabulous service. My mother and I always went to Soby’s for a meal before a performance at the Peace Center, it was a given that mom would order a vodka tonic and the pork tenderloin…always! We discovered the Thanksgiving buffet in 2013 and it became a family favorite for sure. Little did I know that Thanksgiving 2017 would be my last with my mom and sweet husband, both of them passed away in 2018. We lingered a little longer that day and I wonder if that was God telling us to slow down and savor. Soby’s is still my favorite spot! I have been there several times in the last few months, it’s a comfort in my new normal. I love to walk through those big wooden doors and have the smells of all the yummy hit me in the face. A good dirty martini and anything on the menu and I know I am home!
Becky B
My now husband and I started regularly visiting Table 301 restaurants a little more than 10 years ago during another tough time in our country – the Financial Crisis. At the time, Table 301 was doing $25 gift certificates that you’d receive on a monthly basis as long as you went to one of the restaurants once a month. We were college students at Clemson at the time, and it became a tradition for us to go into Greenville once a month for a fancy date night, which was made much more affordable by the gift certificate. We got married a year after college and are about to celebrate our 7th anniversary. Table 301 restaurants have remained a staple during our relationship, and I can’t tell you how many celebration dinners and date nights have taken place over the years at Table 301 restaurants. We have our favorite dishes at the various restaurants – Pimento Cheese and Fried Green Tomato appetizers at Soby’s (we usually request to sit at Table 301 or try to snag one of the window seats in the bar area), the brussels sprouts and Duck Duck Goat Pizza at Lazy Goat, the Baked Goat Cheese at Passerelle, and any of the pastas at Jianna. We’re always quick to recommend Table 301 restaurants to other people when asked, and I loved being able to work on the PR side of things when I worked with Taryn. It was easy to get excited about and promote a restaurant group I had always been a huge fan of.
I know this time is unprecedented and extremely hard on the restaurant industry, but thank you for all you do and have done for the Greenville restaurant scene over the years.
Laura M.
In early October 1998, I was engaged to my wife, Joan, and I invited Joan’s widowed mother to join Joan and me for dinner and a Peace Center performance. The day of the performance was cold and there was a misty rain falling. I called Soby’s and Carl answered the phone. I knew that at that time Soby’s did not take reservations for dinner, so I explained to Carl that my future mother-in-law would be joining Joan and me for dinner prior to going to the Peace Center. I asked for the table upstairs by the window and by the fireplace at six o’clock. Carl said that I was right in that Soby’s did not take reservations, but if we arrived at 6:00, the requested table would likely be available and it was. I don’t remember what we had for dinner nor do I remember the performance at the Peace Center. However I do remember that my future mother-in-law wanted just a taste of Vanilla Cream Brûlée for dessert. The dessert menu offered three mini Cream Brûlées, each in a different flavor. There was a Vanilla (for Joan’s mother), a Chocolate (Joan’s favorite), and I had the strawberry that was not my favorite, but I really enjoyed it. I will always remember that evening and that dessert. I have been lucky enough to have eaten in some of the finest restaurants in the US, Europe, and around the world. However that evening at Soby’s and the way that we were treated by Carl stands out as the best restaurant experience that I have had in my life. Thank you Carl.
P.S. This October 30 will be our twenty second wedding anniversary. Even though we have seen Wicked three times, including once at the Peace Center, we plan to see Wicked again. Also, we plan to enjoy another wonderful meal at Soby’s before the show, but this time having a real dinner reservation.
Marv D
When I walked into Soby’s in March of 2016 I had no clue it would turn into so much more than a job. I applied for a hostess position and was super intimidated by how big it was and how I had never had any restaurant experience before. I was a young 18 year old straight out of high-school and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Flash forward to today, 4 years later and I can’t even begin to tell you how much has changed. I have worked in almost every restaurant in our company, whether it’s hosting, serving, food running, making smoothies, helping out in the upstairs office, making biscuits in the kitchen or cleaning out the corner lot. I have spent countless hours volunteering with Euphoria and Fall for Greenville and have loved every minute of it. It’s crazy to think of a time that i wasn’t here in downtown greenville. Table 301 is my family. It’s not just a job, it’s my life. I love going to work and I love everyone I work with. Our morals here at Table 301 inspire me to be a better person and to always pay it forward. It’s such a special company Everyone knows your name and everyone asks you how you’re doing and how your day is going. I have made life long friendships through this job, and unbreakable bonds with people I had once never known. The managers and corporate office staff truly do care about you. I can’t tell you how many of them message me to check in or invite me to game night or to play dodge ball. It’s so nice having people in your corner that you can go to for anything even things that have nothing to do with work. Table 301 is so close to my heart and I am so very thankful to work with so many amazing souls.
Whitney M
First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me a chance to reminisce as I thought about all of the memories I have of good times at Soby’s. Although I have had the chance to visit and enjoy the other 301 restaurants (except Jianna – it’s on my list), Soby’s is the go-to for my family.
I can’t remember the first time I ate at Soby’s, but I know it was for girls’ night (and I use the term “girls” loosely, as our youngest member is in her 40s), and since that time, we have had so many fun evenings at Soby’s – talking, laughing, eating and drinking. We always start with a drink (I prefer a cocktail – my favorites are the blood orange martini and the brown derby!) and sometimes an appetizer before we begin our meal. Depending on how many of us are “dieting” at the moment, we may or may not have dessert (either the kind you have with a fork or spoon or something you drink!). One thing we always have; however, is impeccable service. I can’t tell you how much fun we have had with waiters and waitresses while enjoying our time together.
As time went by, my family began eating at Soby’s. We have eaten there for birthdays, anniversaries (our most recent was our 23rd anniversary, and we sat at table 301), all A report cards, when entertaining out of town guests, and just because we love everything about Soby’s. I have even talked my family into celebrating my “half birthday” just to have an excuse to dine at Soby’s!
One year my husband and I decided to celebrate our anniversary downtown with a hotel stay and a culinary tour. Soby’s is one of the restaurants on the tour, and although we had eaten at Soby’s several times, it was such a nice experience. It was also the first time (but definitely not the last) that I tried the fried green tomatoes (swoon, swoon).
But, my most memorable trips have been the ones when we were just walking downtown and decided to eat at Soby’s for no particular reason other than we love it there – the food, the drinks, the atmosphere, and the people. Sometimes we just stop by for a drink and something small (my favorite is the pimiento cheese) and other times we have a full meal. On one such occasion, we had one of the best waiters ever. I can never remember his name, but I’m pretty sure he is from South Africa and his grandmother is Latvian. He is an excellent server, and we enjoyed chatting with him through tour meal. When it came time for dessert, I was having trouble deciding. After asking me a couple of questions, he suggested pairing a dark chocolate martini with hibiscus sorbet. (Side note, I have mentioned this hibiscus sorbet to other servers on many occasions, but no one remembers it. It may be a different flavor and I am remembering incorrectly. It was a very bright pink/purple color, I believe) In any event, it was the most spectacular dessert ever. And years later, as I type this, my mouth is watering!
One year I was introduced to the lemon semifreddo by a waitress who (I believe) also was (or had been) a pastry chef. I became obsessed with this dessert, and we visited Soby’s quite frequently that summer just so I could have the lemon semifreddo- sometimes after a meal and other times just for dessert. I can’t tell you how many times I had it! I rarely see it on the menu anymore, but if I do see it, I definitely order it.
And as delicious as the food at Soby’s is, I think their secret is the people who work there. Whether I’m with family or friends (or both) we always get excited at seeing “Soby’s celebrities.” We were there one evening for girls’ night, and we had a “Carl sighting.” We were so excited just to see this man of legend up close! I have only had one other “Carl sighting,” and that was one evening my husband and I just decided to stop by for dinner. I’m pretty sure it was a weeknight, but the restaurant was packed due to a show at the Peace Center. As a result, we were seated in the bar area which was great. There was so much going on, and you can also see the foot traffic on Main Street. After a while, my husband noticed Carl sitting behind us dining with an older lady who looked like she could have been his mother. They looked like they were having such a good time! It was such a sweet sight. I’ve never had a face-to-face encounter with Carl, but I’m hoping there will be opportunities!
On another occasion, I told our waiter that I loved Shawn Garcia, but I had never met him. A few minutes later, Shawn came out and took a picture with me. That was years ago, but I still show that picture to anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest.
Another time we were dining on a Sunday evening. We love to dine at Soby’s on Sundays because we can usually walk right in without reservations. Our waiter was just fantastic. I wish I could remember his name. He was so willing to make our evening memorable and we chatted with him quite a bit. He told us about the specials, and one was a steak with something like a maple glaze and pecans. It sounded delicious, but I was not in the mood for steak. When I mentioned this to him, he told me that he could get the chef to prepare it with salmon. I have to say, that is one of the best dishes I have ever had at Soby’s. and I so appreciated our waiter taking the time to make it happen.
Another memorable experience was few years ago when the upstate was stricken with an ice storm. My husband wanted to get out (as he always does when the weather is bad), so we decided to go downtown and have a bite to eat. On the way, we picked up a friend of mine. We had been inside all day and were wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts so we decided to have a burger at a place nearby. However, while my husband was parking the car, we discovered that the burger place was closing early due to the weather conditions. My husband suggested we try Soby’s, but we were reluctant due to our clothing. However, because we were there, and Soby’s was staying open, we proceeded, and had an excellent dinner, as always. The hostess and waitstaff treated us as if we were dressed in our finest, and soon we were not self-conscious at all, but were enjoying ourselves as we usually do at Soby’s.
I believe the most memorable experience extends to two visits. On the first one, my husband had made reservations at Soby’s. There was no special occasion, but we just wanted a nice evening out. When we arrived at the restaurant, it was so nice outside (It was spring and just beginning to get warm) so we asked to be seated on the patio. After a few minutes, it became a little breezy, and our waiter asked if we needed anything. I jokingly asked him if he had a jacket I could wear, and he responded by saying that he could bring me one of Carl’s wine cellar jackets. Although I can’t even count the number of times I had eaten at Soby’s, I had no idea that Carl had a wine cellar. I was certainly intrigued, but I declined his offer as we had decided to move inside to finish our meal. Everyone who took care of us that evening was most gracious, as always. Then a few weeks later, we were just moseying by Soby’s with our children (They were in high school at the time.) and decided to dine outside again. It was much warmer, and everything was “Soby’s perfect.” After a while, we noticed something happening across the street. People were holding signs, there was chanting, etc. As it turns out, it was some kind of protest, and even though I was a little excited to see it (I was taking pictures and videos), my family and others dining outside were a little concerned. Our sweet waitress was so apologetic and kept saying she wished she could make it up to us. My husband jokingly suggested that she take us to see Carl’s wine cellar. . . and she obliged! It was so exciting to me even though we were only down there for a few minutes. We looked around, my son and I sat at the table, and our waitress took our picture, and I even toyed with the idea of having my 50th birthday party there.
And, even amid the quarantine, we have made a couple of Soby’s memories. One evening we went downtown and picked up dinner to go and took it to an outdoor seating area. And, even though I couldn’t have a brown derby cocktail, it was a most pleasant evening. We did this one more time, only we ate in front of the wind sculpture on McBee St. It was a beautiful setting, and the food was spectacular. We haven’t had an opportunity to do this again since the stay-at-home order, but we’re planning to get a family meal to go and enjoy it on our patio at home.
I know that this isolation time has been very difficult for many people for a variety of reasons, but I am so happy that the good folks at Soby’s are making the best of it. Hopefully, we’ll be back in their dining room again (maybe at table 301) and I’ll finally get to have that face-to-face with Carl!
Thanks, Soby’s for more memories than I can recall!
Scott W