Greenville City Guide, 10 Best: Run On Over to Rainer's

10Best has a Greenville City Guide that boasts they know The Best Things to do in Greenville, & we're one them!  We love their take on our funky cafe, & although we disagree that our sandwiches are small, they're right on in our belief that you should always save room for homemade dessert!  Thanks Lydia Dishman & 10Best!  Check out the full article on the 10Best website here.

Run On Over to Rainer's

This eclectic café mixes creative cuisine with crafty art

Photo by www.talldudecafe.com. © 2009 10Best

Provided by

© 2009 10Best

by Lydia Dishman

"Lunch should be cancelled for lack of interest," said a friend as she pondered her choices for the noon meal at her desk. At the time, she worked in a small downtown 'ville (not of the Green variety) and was lamenting the lack of adequate shops to grab an interesting sandwich, soup, or salad. Sure, there was the local deli and the ubiquitous fast food chain but nothing that went beyond a tasteless sub or greasy burger.

She'd be singing a different tune if she'd been able to lunch at Rainer's.

A relative newcomer to the West End dining scene, Rainer's is located right next to Christopher Park Gallery at 610A South Main. Maybe you've passed Christopher Park and been startled to giggling by the stuffed grandma who sits in the window peering out of cat-eye glasses? Or seen the "Chicken Man" silhouette dancing across a sandwich board on the sidewalk? That's the touch of humor wielded by the witty and affable Betty Bercowski, owner of both establishments.

Bercowski has been the purveyor of affordable outsider art, conversation-starting furnishings, and statement jewelry for over five years. The whimsy of her gallery now infuses Rainer's café with an offbeat charm that makes waiting for lunch or coffee a visual treat.

Rough-hewn tables and stout, angular chairs flank the exposed brick wall to one side. On the other, a counter/bar of varying height alternately showcases dessert offerings, allows a glimpse of the French press paraphernalia, acts as a dining space, and conceals the work of the chef. The wood panels are painted with different iterations of the "Chicken Man," the light fixtures are quirky painted metal chandeliers, and the walls are studded with paintings, photographs, sculpture, and stained glass. Everything (even those hanging lamps that resemble fluffy fur hats) is for sale.

But you may be more interested in satisfying those hunger pangs than a craving for the creative. The menu is rather brief, but choices such as the zippy chicken salad made with orange zest – or Mindy's "Man" Bowl salad stuffed with tender cuts of ham, roast beef, and turkey drizzled with tangy Betty's Dressing – are artful departures from standard fare. So, too, are the side dishes, which are different daily but often include house-roasted potato salad, coleslaw crafted with apples and grapes, and "mango tango," featuring peaches and peppers and dressed with raspberry vinaigrette.

The sandwiches are rather small, but the sides are generous. Don't be too greedy, because a trip to Rainer's necessitates a sampling of dessert. Yes, there's Jell-O, but cakes are the stand-out. Made locally by artisan bakers, they include tender and tempting cheese, carrot, or German chocolate – just some of the selections that also change daily. The coffee is brewed from locally-roasted Leopard Forest beans, and the tea is a heavenly blend of lavender, rose petals, orange, and other spices that's sweetened with agave nectar.

Whether you're in the market for a table or a torte, Rainer's fits the bill.

Article by www.10Best.com ©2009 10Best Inc. All Rights Reserved.