“Freshness is probably really our biggest thing,” he said. “If we don’t think it’s up to par, we’re not going to serve it to you.”
The eclectic diner features sandwiches, salads, coffee and desserts in an atmosphere that’s part café, part art gallery.
“Betty (Bercowski, owner of Rainer’s and attached Christopher Park Gallery) wanted her customers at the gallery to be able to sit down and have a quick bite, a cup of coffee, something sweet and be able to do that in a relaxed atmosphere where you felt like you were sort of sitting in the gallery,” Blalock said.
And if you like what you can see, you can take it home. Everything from the dishes and glasses to the furniture and light fixtures is for sale.
While Bercowski keeps the décor cool and fresh, it’s mainly Blalock who has crafted the simple menu, which includes things like the “not so plain green” salad ($4.95), Matthew’s signature chicken salad sandwich ($5.95), egg salad ($4.95) and Blalock’s nod to his own childhood – Jell-O.
“Everybody loves Jell-O. People always talk about it but nobody sells it anywhere or if they do sell it, it’s three little cubes in a cup,” he said.
So he took his mom’s recipe and tweaked it a little to create a multi-layer concoction with Jell-O, fruit, cream cheese topping and whipped cream. It’s available as a side dish with a sandwich or on its own for dessert.
Regularly changing side dishes are available to accompany sandwiches, including the black bean salad that migrated from occasional special to regular menu feature by popular demand.
And if you don’t see something you like, just ask. “We want you to feel like it’s Grandma’s kitchen in that if we have it here, we’ll make it for you even if it’s not on the menu,” Blalock said. “If we can do it, we will.”
If your bent runs to the sweets, there are also a variety of cakes available, all homemade locally, for $4.25 to $4.75.
“We enjoy the happiness that sweets bring to our customers,” Blalock said with a laugh.
Enjoy a fresh-brewed (or French-pressed) cup of coffee with your cake. It’s a special blend made for Rainer’s by Leopard Forest Coffee in Travelers Rest.
Rainer’s (pronounced “Rhy-nurz”) is located at 601-A S. Main St. and is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; closed Sundays and Mondays. Blalock said closing times are usually amended with “ish” since he’ll stay open when people want to eat.
“We want you to be able to come down here and have dessert and coffee after you go see something at the Peace Center or after you see Shakespeare in the park or after you go listen to the music behind the Peace Center,” he said. “We’re a great place to come have a quick, fast meal; a quick, fresh meal.”
Call 232-1753 or visit www.talldudecafe.com.
Courtesy of Amy Clarke & GreenvilleOnline.com
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