Ok, maybe I just don't have an expensive taste but for the price and the food I have had far better. Was here for a company dinner and we had a private room upstairs. The serves were very attentive and great. The food however just left me saying "Thats it?" I had the bacon wrapped chicken and tasted pretty dry. I added a baked potato which is very hard to screw up. All in all, it's a nice place and right on the water. I just have to believe there are better places in Greenville for the price. I myself wouldn't go back because I couldn't see me spending that much for a meal. I am sure for others who enjoy fine dinning would rate this better just not my thing.
(2)
Vim I.
Recently, I attended a wedding reception at Larkin's and the venue was just spectacular. The exposed brick and open layout made it cozy and inviting. And the views of the river are unbeatable. The foods was delicious, and the staff was friendly and prompt.
(5)
Cary A.
I have to say that Larkins never fails to deliver consistently... I can trust them to have exemplary service and food, every time. The menu could move a little more often to keep it interesting and new for me, but their staple dishes are extremely delicious. Make sure to get the table side Cesar salad and definitely try the She-Crab soup, one of the best in town. I always get a rib-eye which seems to be consistently trimmed with a good balance of marble to meat, and they keep the fat cap to about 1/4 inch for the most part . I suggest the mid 130s for temperature as the steak will cook up if you have a large table... I like my rib-eyes a little more done than most cuts I eat simply because of the high fat content that needs to render to really sweat out the meats flavor. As with most rib-eyes, a little dab of Bearnaise, Bordelaise, warm Chevre or even browned butter can take this item to unexpected levels of sensory bliss. Don't be scared to try one them with your steak. No regrets!
(5)
Larry H.
Great food! Good selection of beef items. Great views of the fountains and the sunset.
(4)
Yefri N.
Looking for a nice fancy environment with a really friendly staff? Then this is your place. I have to say this is the best restaurant I have ever been too.
(5)
Kern T.
This is a very solid restaurant where the standard of food and service is always going to be high but it's not going to knock off your sox. I have awarded 4-stars.... just and 3-stars would not be fair. Starters were fried green tomatoes with crab cakes and scallops wrapped in bacon. The mains were Chilean sea bass and pecan crusted sword fish. The food was good but not superb and the portions were large. My advice would be to improve the quality and cut the size of the portions by a third but then this may not suit the clientele. Good, high-end eatery but it could do better.
(4)
Anthony G.
What a great meal. Quality food, excellent presentation great ambience. Steak is amazing. Filet is like butter, usually do med rare but rare was great here. Pricey but worth it. Along a river obviously but in a very great part of Greenville. Beautiful surroundings.
(4)
Brett H.
This is hands down one of the best places in Greenville to eat. The atmosphere, food and services is above all. My wife and I always have dinner here when in town for a weekend getaway. I have misplaced the name of our server, but he was originally from Columbia and he by far made the meal, that and the steaks are out of this world. Thanks to our amazing waiter and the amazing cooks and everyone else that gives so much to make your dinning experience the best. We will be back soon!
(5)
Brent G.
Great steaks. Try the bone in anything! Great wines, classic atmosphere, great town. I hope to be a regular!
(5)
Phil Y.
Filet mignon for lunch was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented but under seasoned and surprisingly bland.
(3)
Melissa R.
My now-fiancee and I went here for our engagement dinner after getting engaged on the track at the BMW Performance Center. I made reservations on Open Table, and I mentioned it was our engagement dinner. The staff made us a congratulations card. I thought that was such a nice touch. We asked to sit outside - the reservation was at 7:30, so we got to watch the sunset and then enjoy the lighting and fans on the outdoor terrace. I am a sucker for outdoor overhead lighting. It made it a bit more romantic. Our meal started with the steak and goat cheese quesadilla - YUM! We both ordered steaks for dinner. We cannot eat pork, and I was slightly disappointed that the chicken I wanted was apparently pre-cooked with the bacon around it, so I could not actually get it without bacon (they offered to just peel the bacon off, but that's not in keeping with my beliefs). Even though I found this to be slightly negative, I also thought it was especially nice of them to offer full disclosure - I know many restaurants that would've said, "sure, it's fine," and then just peeled the bacon off and served it to me without telling me that. So, I was really happy that the waitress was honest. PS the steaks were cooked to the absolute perfect temperature that we asked for and were delicious. One thing that was a bit funny, but in a cute way, is they made a very elaborate congratulations dessert plate (I added a photo), but they spelled congratulations wrong (with a "d"). Hehe. Nonetheless, we did not mind, and the design below the congrats was amazing - it looked like this cool fire design. It actually reminded me of my dad, who is a terrible speller, and that warmed my heart. I must say, I would dress 'smart' or 'business casual', but I really wouldn't dress over-the-top fancy for this restaurant. I mention this because of the attire listed on Yelp as 'Dressy'. I think maybe dressy means different things to different people - dressy where we are from, North Jersey, means you basically won't be admitted to the restaurant if a man is not in a sport coat and tie, and a woman is not in similarly appropriate skirt/dress/pants suit. It's not uptight like that at all, and I think that's in keeping with the whole feel of Greenville. I think it's easily the fanciest restaurant in Greenville, but if you're from the North, don't overdress (but don't underdress either!). I would say even polos/khakis would fly for men. After our nice dinner, we walked into the park and listened to the waterfall for awhile. It was very beautiful.
(4)
Kevin B.
Best steak I've had period hands down in Greenville since I moved here a year ago. Will definitely be returning worth every penny.
(5)
Emily E.
Came here for restaurant week and tried the delicious she crab soup. I ordered the flat iron steak as medium and it came out extremely rare, which was my only complaint for the evening. Ambiance and service were good.
(3)
Peter S.
Went there before a concert. Thought 2 hours would have been sufficient time for apps, dinner and dessert but were rushed to get to concert on time. Had an assortment of apps and overall they were good. The bacon wrapped scallop and crab cakes were super. The sea bass bites seemed over cooked especially the smaller pieces. My bone in fillet was very tender but lacked seasoning.One individual had the special NY strip special and she said it was very good. Truffle oil fries were great.
(3)
DaveD W.
A business associate and I selected Larkins for dinner because of the 4.5 rating {recommended reviews}.. the highest in Greenville. Seated promptly. A well established and popular venue, almost full dining room at 8 pm on a Wednesday. Fairly standard premium liquors at the bar and the table set ups were white linen and above average china, glassware and utensils. Service was efficient, our server was well informed but the amuse bouche followed the first course. unusual.. and now the food... First courses; "Jumbo lump crab cake" and "Truffled parmesan fries". Both were OK, nothing special; not any "jumbo lumps" to be found in a rather small crab cake and the salty parmesan and more sea salt overwhelmed the massive portion of truffle oiled fries. Salad; "House salad" of "mixed green" topped with seasonal veg and pecans. Mine was topped with nothing, on a warm plate and room temp greens. I'd asked for a "small" salad and got a mountain of warm mixed greens. About 1/2 of this went back. By now the room was finishing meals and they weren't busy. Couldn't a handful of greens on a smaller chilled plate be possible, at such a highly rated restaurant? Mains; "Veal Osso Bucco" ,rich red wine sauce and "creamy risotto". The braised veal was very well cooked and of good quality.. The creamy risotto had been prepared long before we ordered and was dry, overcooked. The sauce {red wind reduction} was so salty it almost went back, but by then we just wanted to be finished. The meat courses were ruined by careless preparation of the sauce and very, very tired rice. Wine list: a good and varied selection. Whites are kept chilled BUT the reds are in a giant wall display at the merci of ambient temp from floor to 20 foot ceiling almost. Our excellent Shiraz had to go into an ice bucket to get it to the proper temp. This is a close call but must be mentioned; I asked the bartender if she could put our bar tab on the table bill. No problem. Upon sitting down 2 more drinks appeared. Maybe she misunderstood me.. No problem. We drank them. At dessert decision time I chatted with our server about their cheesecake; creamy or baked, house made, etc. etc.. We both were quite clear NO dessert, just the bill. She proudly arrived with cheesecake !!! Another mistake ?? it appears to be highly unlikely. The manager of course removed the charges and apologized For the money there are far better choices in Greenville.
(2)
Heath W.
Southern excellent cuisine and top shelf shrimp and grits. Wonderful location right on the Reedy River, outdoor patio has heaters and is very comfortable in the cold weather days. Staff are very professional, embody the essence of southern charm and hospitality and are very attentive to needs of the patrons. Extensive wine list, creative cocktails, crab dip appetizer is to die for, and highly recommend Shrimp and Grits for your meal.
(5)
brice b.
They need to up their game if they want to compete in Greenville's rising restaurant scene. The setting is great but the food is just OK it is not great. Sad!!!
(3)
Jennifer S.
Truly a great place in downtown Greenville! I consider myself a foodie and have eaten at many fine establishments across the US and this was definitely a good find. The atmosphere is rustic and comfortable...apparently, the building is an old mill. I love the exposed brick work and open ceilings. Our server was efficient, friendly and helpful...especially for a large group of 10 people. The food was incredible. We started with appetizer plates of beef bites, bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp cocktail - all were delicious! The house salad with creamy dressing was quite tasty too. I stole a bite of the she crab soup from my coworker and was very impressed - just like in Charleston, or even better. My entree was creative and flavorful...sauteed lobster with veggies topped with a citrus beurre blanc sauce and orange/grapefruit pieces on top. The desserts didn't disappoint either...we shared the creme brulee, volcano cake, turtle cheesecake and the amazing bourbon bread pudding - yummy! All in all, this place was incredible and comes highly recommended.
(5)
Andrew D.
Went there about a week ago and love it. The drinks are tasty and strong, but the real strength are the steaks and location! Nothing better than walking over the bridge of the waterfall and walking right into Larkin's. There was a band playing in the amphitheater and the place was packed. While the steaks are pricey, you are getting great service and a great meal. My favorite dish wasn't my steak, it was the Shrimp and Grits! These aren't your regular Shrimp and Grits, these are on steroids filled with cheese, peppers, large prawns and just an amazing flavor. I honestly would go back just for the Shrimp and Grits, it was that good. Service was great and about what you expect from a chophouse. Would definitely recommend, but seriously order the SHRIMP AND GRITS! Yum.
(4)
Maureen H.
Lovely venue on the river and we had great food there. We were there for a wedding reception. The staff was very attentive and thoughtful. Can't think of better when I've had better service. Our reception was buffet but very good. The view onto the river was great and we heard good things about their regular menus.
(4)
Robin W.
My husband and I recently enjoyed dinner at larkins on a weeknight. We had reservations and were seated immediately. This was not our first time eating here. The atmosphere is classic, warm, with a nice rustic charm. The dining room is small, so it is quieter than most, which I appreciate. There are many awesome dining options in greenville, and larkins certainly belongs in that group, but the consistent quality of the food, the excellent service, and the intimate setting sets it apart from some of the more trendy options downtown.
(4)
Clay H.
We went here for brunch one Sunday morning. I had the Cajun Eggs Benedict, it was top shelf. I also had one of the best Bloody Marys in my life, though to be fair, I don't drink those often. To sum it all up, this is a top scale restaurant with top scale food.
(5)
Kathleen A.
My husband and I went for Sunday brunch. I had the Low Country Eggs Benedict and my husband had the All American Breakfast. Not cheap but one of the best restaurants in Greenville! Also the best Bloody Mary I have ever had!
Fantastic service. Very elegant atmosphere. Very friendly and accommodating to those who are wheat and gluten intolerant. Everything we ordered was simply delicious. Of course it is a pricier place, so save it for a special occasion. Unless you're rich :-) then you can go on Tuesday.
(4)
Ronnie P.
Can't eat dairy and the menu has items to fill this need that are out if this world. U
(4)
Steve H.
Had a fanatic dinner experience. I ate with 3 of my colleagues. All of us enjoyed the meal. Only 1 complaint (minor) about the tuna app being over cooked. I had the green tomato and crab app. My mouth is watering as I think about it while writing this review. For my main I had the 14 ounce fillet. Absolutely perfectly cooked as I ordered. Right up there with some of the best steaks I've had. The price is up there but not crazy. For four of us we each had an app a main and several cocktails and the bill was $300. A great value. I would eat here again.
(4)
Heather K.
I'm extremely disappointed to post a 2 for Larkin's. I've dined there 4 times now and feel I have earned the right to post this. I continued to go there for a couple reasons, mostly because we go to a lot of Peace Center shows and it's super close and everyone wants to try it. But have decided my last time was THE last time. I had heard such amazing reviews of the place that when my birthday rolled around I got some of my closest friends to join me, and some very stingy with the cash flow so I was really hoping it was going to live up to the hype. Here is my list of visits in order and why I will not be returning. I honestly think most of the hype is created by insider's or those who have never traveled much outside of Greenville or at least recently. 1. My birthday - Since I cajoled my friends to part with a good chunk of their money to come here I ordered a bunch of appetizers to get us all started. Along with Mojito's to start. The Mojito's were fine, nothing significant about them. The appetizer's were also good but I can't even remember what we had, which is a bad sign because I remember what I eat at the places I love and recommend even years later. When we ordered dinner I wasn't as hungry as I thought since I had so much appetizer. So my husband and I split a Filet and Lobster tail entree. We were charged a hefty price for sharing. Now the menu says $5 but in this case it was much more but can't recall the amount. I find that incredible to charge to split an entree because it's on 2 plates instead of one but whatever. Most entress are ala carte so you get this huge salad or side dishes but not everyone wants the same sides so it can get costly and then you're left with a bunch of side dish left overs. Everything was prepared fine although the service this night was good but slow. The lobster on the other hand was small for 6 oz and a Fillet and Lobster tail I can't recall is definitely not worthy of the $60.00 entree. This visit was good enough to warrant a return visit hoping for a little better. 2. Peace Center show - this night everything was pretty good. We all had the 3 course meal and I had the Filet. It was quite good and those came with sides which complimented the meal well. I was sure this had changed my tune about Larkin's. 3. Went again before another Peace Center show. The service was really good. The Osso Bucco was horrible!! I'm a huge connoisseur of this dish and usually judge a place by how it is. The meat was bland and somewhat dry, the risotto tasted like plain, way overcooked white rice that was served in a timabli shape. Risotto should be creamy and should probably never stand up on it's own. The sauce was very lacking and no gremolata (traditional garnish) was served with it. I was incredibly disappointed. I wasn't going to say anything and just suck it up but the waitress overheard me talking and the manager came over to try and make things right. Which I do greatly appreciate, he even took it off of the bill without mentioning that during his apology. This is normally my 3 strikes and out time. I was not impressed with much here especially for the crazy high prices. I don't mind paying a lot for great food at all so this was disheartening. I think the prices are a bit out of line for the quality and size of what you get including drinks. 4. Another Peace Center show another disappointing meal at Larkin's. Sigh! I did not choose to eat here, we rotate who picks for a girls night, so I was stuck. I ended up running way late so I ordered light so I could catch up to the group and stay on time. My first obstacle was the waiter, this I had not expected here. I had read on the menu online (trying to be ready to order before I got there) that if you have reservations in advance for the Peace Center show that night that each person gets a complimentary glass of champagne. When I arrived and asked the server if this was true he looked like a deer in head lights and had no clue. Obviously something he was not trained on nor do they provide without being asked about. When he did agree that was true he only brought me a glass and never asked anyone else at the table if they wanted one. Which irritated the rest of the ladies and they did end up having to ask and much later than sooner got. it So I only ordered Oysters on the half shell, in season. The oysters were puny, tasted like the refrigerator they came out of and were slightly dried out as if they had been shucked earlier.. as in the day before. The crackers were a pile of Saltines, not in wrappers and tasted stale as if sitting on the shelf for ages before getting to me. Nothing great to say about the lame cocktail sauce it came with either. Overall I think most of what you pay for there is the location and frankly I don't see how the onus to pay rent should be on the guest when they don't even do a good enough job to fool you into believing it was worth every penny!
(2)
Jan D.
We had a very difficult experience here a couple of weeks ago. We were in the area for a couple of nights, and my husband made a lunch reservation that morning for 1:45p to help us celebrate an occasion. We had some difficulty with finding the restaurant, as it is tucked off the street behind other buildings, and then we couldn't find parking. Being handicapped, it was also difficult to walk the area of small hills and stairs, but I was finally able to do it. We went into an entrance of Larkin's that led us into a function area but we couldn't figure out the direction of the main entrance. Since I was having difficulty walking, I called the restaurant and asked how to easily access the restaurant area. The woman who answered told me how to get to the front door but then promptly added, "We're closed". I couldn't believe it, and thought she was joking, as my husband had just made the reservation 2-3 hours earlier and there was no mention that the reservation he made was being taken just 15 min ahead of closing time. When we appeared at the front door a minute or two later, they refused to seat us and said "no one would have taken a reservation at 1:45p - we never do that!". Well, someone did, and I was very upset to be accused of lying. I also recounted what my husband had told me.......that whoever did take the reservation said she was going to "seat us in my favorite booth, and although there isn't a direct view of the river because of an old building in front of the river, I think you'll like it". The woman acting as maitre d' handled the situation poorly, as she kept saying "no one would have done that"......well, they did, and we left hungry and angry. She could have graciously recommended another place, and even called ahead to let them know we were coming, and given us directions - as we were strangers to the area, but she did none of that and we felt very mistreated. To not honor a reservation or to not offer sustenance to potential customers is poor business practice, but to embarrass and humiliate those potential customers while other customers are sitting nearby enjoying their lunch is really unforgivable. We will probably never return to Greenville again, but if we do, we would never go to Larkin's..... and we suggest that you don't either.
(1)
Katie H.
We wanted to go to a nice restaurant for our anniversary in December 2012, and Larkin's on the River provided a great romantic environment. Our booth was cozy and intimate even though the restaurant was pretty busy. The dress was a little more casual than I expected, but it wasn't a big deal. Our server Michael was one of the best I've ever had--attentive, thorough, and not intrusive. He recommended the Table-side Caesar salad which was a delightful surprise. I wish more restaurants made their Caesar salads this way, which as Michael explained, was the way Caesar salads were originally served. You have to try it! For an appetizer, we ordered the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail which had 5 big pieces of shrimp. I enjoyed the Pan-seared Ahi Tuna but the edamame side didn't have much flavor. My husband enjoyed the Smoked Salmon. I had to try the cheddar mashed potatoes and they were heavenly. For dessert, the chocolate Volcano cake was rich and tasty and ice cream was delicious. The valet parking was a plus and visiting the Web site before hand gave us a better idea of how to access that. I was also impressed afterward when I forgot my scarf there and the restaurant called to let me know.
(4)
Eve K.
Gluten free foodie's paradise! Lovely brunch on the patio. 4.7 stars Atmosphere: 4.5, Service: 4, Food: 4.7 Cost to worth it rating: 4 (~12 for brunch items) Eve award: best upscale gluten free dining Highlights: - Gluten free friendly: fantastic options without compromising taste. That is so very hard to find. Not just boring salads or dry bread options. - French toast: bread was moist and with a spongey texture almost like a firmer version of a pancake. Was stuffed with raspberries so almost like a jam sandwich. Almond custard drizzle added another layer of deliciousness. So happy with this dish that tastes fantastic and is tummy friendly. Love that it comes with fresh fruit as well. - She-crab soup: wow was this just packed full of crab meat. Very impressive. Good amount of creaminess but not overdone. - Atmosphere: outside patio was delightful on a nice Sunday afternoon - Tableside Bloody Marys: I'm not a Bloody Mary fan, but loved watching the fully stocked cart come up with vodka and fixing options. Fully customized and made to order! - Housemade potato chips: came with the hub's sandwich and super crispy lay's can't eat just one addicting Lowlights: - River view: name of the place is Larkins on the River and it is, however the way the patio is oriented the view is more of buildings, as the river is on the side. If I lived here I'd be s regular for sure. Next time I'm in town I'll be back--maybe to try a steak dinner in addition to brunch.
(5)
Jonathan Y.
Larkin's is this old school, Savannah-with-a-Southern-Accent, White-Gentleman's-Suit kinda place. At least to this Californian boy. It borders a river and has a beautiful view, especially sitting outside on the patio with a loved one or two or five. It's ALMOST romantic enough, with an ALMOST old-fashioned gentile attraction. I can't quite pinpoint it but I feel like the ambiance isn't quite there. It fizzles on that line between must see/must eat and dare I say it, expensive chain restaurant. Everything feels a bit manufactured from the lighting to the setting. Larkin's doesn't have that identity quite right. However, and this is a big however... ...the food is incredible. Pricey, but INCREDDIBLE. With two D's. I ordered the 3 course option, mainly because I wanted to try different things and the steak (it's a steakhouse) are all huge cuts. For appetizer I chose the she-crab soup that, on the menu, was followed with at least 3 exclamation marks. I'm a sucker for marketing like that. And boy was that marketing right. This is a soup that will change your life. The best soup I have ever had, it tastes like what you, in the bottom of your gluttonous heart always wished clam/crab/seafood chowder would taste like but never knew it. It really is that good. With the fresh basket of bread say hello to Carb and Cream because you can't run away from true love. The filet mignon was beautiful as well, perfectly tender just shy of medium rare with a ramekin of sherry mushrooms that were almost smoky, and mashed sweet potato that very comfortably embraces sweetness instead of trying for a garlicky touch. Leave that to the steak and mushrooms. By the time I got to the decadent, thick, chocolate tart I was beyond done but I kept stuffing myself. I don't know who the chef is here but I would probably kill you for that soup recipe. ;)
(5)
Mark C.
Let me preface this review by saying that I dislike eating dinner at a group function with 20+ people if you really want to enjoy your food. There is just no way for you to mass produce 20 steaks that all come out at exactly the same time and have people all be satisfied. Especially when the person next to me orders his steak medium well (read: shoe leather). Larkin's on the River is consistently voted as one of the best steakhouses in South Carolina. In my opinion, this should be revoked based on the steak I had. When a person asks for his steak rare, give it to him rare. If it is too rare, he will send it back. My steak was definitely past medium, but as mentioned above... I am sure they did the best they can due to the circumstances. The overall taste of the meat was fine, but would be only an average score in Texas. I actually have tasted better at Cheddar's a mass produced steak place across the country. Ambience: Not so much for me. I was slightly disappointed that they stuck our group in an upstairs abandoned warehouse while we were paying good dollars for dinner, yet people in smaller parties had all of the great views of the river and a nice outdoor setting. I was also deeply saddened by having metal conference room chairs at such a "fine dining" establishment. If you are going to charge what they charged for dinner, please include good seating. Dessert: Luckily for Larkin's they finished the meal with an excellent cheesecake. It had a little spice to it, which made it the highlight of the meal. I really would have liked to have this after a great steak, however it did bring my overall perception of the restaurant up a notch.
(3)
Tim G.
This review is actually from July 2011 when my wife and I stopped by for lunch during a day walking around Greenville. I wanted to go back and post a review of this restaurant after giving a very bad review of their Larkin's by the Lake flagship restaurant in Lake Lure. If I didn't know it, I wouldn't have believed they were owned by the same group. Lakrin's on the River is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at ... bar none. From the moment we walked in the door we were treated like visiting royalty. The location is beautiful, just off of the river in downtown Greenville and mere blocks from the River Park and the Peace Center. I joked with the waiter and said I just wanted something "ordinary" and ordered a Ruben sandwich. My wife ordered fish. The food was presented like a work of art ... even my "ordinary" sandwich ... and tasted even better than it looked. I love Ruben's, but I've been spoiled for life! Nothing can live up to this delight. When I told the waiter how good our meal was, he grinned and said "Chef aims to please!" I said to tell him he succeeded beyond his wldest dreams. I can safely say this is the first time I have ever sent compliments to the chef for a sandwich! Even though it is about a 1.5 hour drive from my house, I will gladly go back to this rstaurant at a moments notice.
(5)
Amanda V. Stepp-Marcum S.
Truly a special place! Do not miss out on this one! Perfection and well worth the money and service is fabulous!!
(5)
Tia M.
We loved the brunch and the Bloody Mary cart is a must. Great service.
(5)
Darrel M.
As a business traveler who frequently eats in good restuarants this one is simply an amazing place to eat if you are in Greenville. Service - The server was very friendly, helpful, and offered a lot of suggestions from the menu for our group of 12. The server was very accomodating with everyone's special requests throughout our meal. Food: Melt in your mouth amazing with incredible taste. I started with the homemade potato chips followed by the spinach salad then had the 28 ounce bone in ribeye with blue cheese. Everything was prepared as ordered and every bite of my meal has amazing flavors. Dessert - Apple tart with homemade icecream was simply amazing. I also tried the creme brulee which was also fantastic. I would rate this as one of the top 10 overall dining experiences I have had in my past 20 years of business travel. This is a place that is worth the 2 hour drive from Atlanta to have dinner at.
(5)
Kimberly W.
Delicious. Visiting from Southern California and spent a lovely day at Falls Park on the Reedy. We were hungry and looking for a local restaurant just before 5:00. They were able to get us a table just as they opened for dinner. We had the tablseside ceasar salad, my husband and kids all had filet mignon and I had the salmon. Everything was wonderful.
Hands down one of the best restaurants in Greenville. Excellent steaks and even offer a reasonable 3 course dinner for such a fancy place. Great service too.
(5)
Alan A.
Awesome New Year's Eve Dinner with my wife. Service was top notch and the food was wonderful. We had the calamari (which was out of this world), Caesar Salad ( made tableside), Chilian Sea Bass (me - very good), Filet Mignon (wife - melt in your mouth). A great experience we will not soon forget and we will be back on future trips to Greenville.
(5)
Allison F.
Beautiful patio situated along the serene waters of the Reedy River and a prime spot for a 'free' concert during the summer (Larkin's is right next to the amphitheater by the river). The food here is usually pretty good, but on a recent visit I ordered the Kobe beef burger and promptly sent it back because it was bone dry and charred on the outside. We did have a nice experience with the Mother's Day buffet. Mom was totally impressed, I think more with the setting than the food itself. I highly recommend the sorbet trio for dessert.
(3)
Jessica H.
To start things off my friend and I noticed this gem tucked behind and underneath the bridge. Coming down the stairs was a bit of a hike and put me off, but that was the worst part of the experience. We decided to sit outside. While we were enjoying the scenery outside a personable server named Stephen greeted us pleasantly and went over their daily specials. Being a sommelier he also suggested the Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. We took him up on his wine suggestion, and it was truly perfect with the humid Carolina weather. Due to his success we asked him to order for us. He happily agreed, asking if there were any allergies, requests, and how we cared for our steaks. He almost immediately brought back bread and a shrimp cocktail. A wonderful caprese style tomato mozzerella salad for the two of us to share followed, the summer tomatoes being perfectly ripe. Before our mystery entrees arrived we had asked to move inside due to an insect problem (gnats on the grass, the cleanliness of the restaurant is NOT in question). I wish we came in to begin with! An impressive wine rack graced the room, the booth we were sat in was intimate as well. Classical music softly played, and the restaurant was hardly crowded with everyone sitting outside. The entrees consisted of a goat cheese and chipotle chicken quesadilla and their certified angus brand filet, a perfect medium rare with a veal demiglace. Stephen informed us their menu quesadilla was generally prepared with steak, but he modified it to give us variety in protein. He even split a glass of a Chianti for us just to pair with the filet. The manager checked on us almost immediately after we got our food, but before we knew it we were finished and the last two in the restaurant! The food, wine, and service was immaculate. Being a California native I am extremely jealous of my friend Taylor, as she's already had the chance to return. PROS: Amazing atmosphere, wonderful wine, fantastic food, gluten free options, and stellar server named Stephen. One of the best lunch experiences ever! CONS: Pricey (but worth it!), long walk to get to the restaurant from the street, insects when dining outside.
(5)
Nikki P.
Larkin's has some of the best food in Greenville. The steaks are phenomenal and the wine selection is great as well. The ambience in the afternoon is perfect for a business lunch, and dinner is a great setting for a romantic date. The outdoor seating is my favorite when the weather is nice. There is a great view of the river. Also, if you are a chocolate fan, please do yourself a favor and order their lava cake. It is really the best I have ever had!
(5)
Robert P.
Loved it. GF menu as well! Loved the French Onion soup, wedge, filet & wine!
(5)
Deena S.
The 12-oz special did not seem to be of the best quality, nor was it well seasoned. I ordered it medium rare and it came perfectly purple all the way through plus the fried green tomato side was cold. The extra charge for the tiny serving of the cole slaw side was almost insulting. My husband did enjoy his filet, however. Service was good, the noise level was moderate-high and I think we expected much more from a steakhouse that is supposed to be rated one of the tops in the nation.
(3)
Cheryl R.
The cheese grits with lobster sauce was so good that I wouldn't even share a bite. My favorite thing that I've eaten in Greenville yet.
(5)
C B.
Despite the positive reviews, I have to go with only 4 stars. Three of us had dinner. Ambiance is great -- an old warehouse, brick walls, lovely. Service very nice. Food is what makes it a 4 instead of 5 stars. The Warm Shrimp & Crab Dip was excellent. The Caesar salad fixed at the table was so-so as far as I was concerned, lettuce was not cold or crisp enough; but, my husband thought it was good -- however, it was big enough to qualify as an entree! Our friend had the she crab soup and felt it was too rich. Husband had the country chicken as his entree and said it was "fine." I had the filet mignon and it was wonderful -- as good as it gets. The Chilean Sea Bass & Shrimp Sofrito was "ok" according to our friend. The wine list is good. The desserts looked very good, but we were too full to taste them. I'd go back, but have to say I was a little disappointed.
(4)
Ruta f.
Just had lunch there.... beautiful setting outside. But ordered the peppered salmon, it was kinda bland and lukewarm. We waited for at least 30 minutes for our food, The bloody mary had an old stick of celery in it. The carrots on the plate were old, they were actually dried out. I called the manager over and he apologized, and took the "bloody mary" off the bill, but charged me instead for an orange juice...jeez.
(1)
Dirk W.
We took some clients here last week while traveling to Greenville on business. Two words "Bread Pudding". Simply the best I've had anywhere. Our waiter also recommended a great bottle of wine. NxNW Cabernet Sauvignon from Oregon. Excellent.
(4)
SJ G.
The sea bass on a bed of spinach was smothered in a bland oily sauce that made me nauseated. The Tuna was good but was served with edamame and quinoa. These are cheap bland foods, but they are trendy foods. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(1)
M B.
Wonderful meal from the sharing Caesar salad for two, the delicious entrees to the delicious desserts! The elegance and attentive staff add to the lovely evening, may be the best in Greenville!! The view, service and food equal a lovely evening and terrific place e for a special occasion or just for a grand meal overlooking the water.
(5)
Kel T.
We enjoyed our Valentine's Day dinner as our first visit to Larkin's. The beef tenderloin was very tender and juicy, and my husband's salmon was perfectly cooked. The mushroom mashed potatoes were especially good as the plump mushrooms had been marinated and were oh, so tasty. My only complaint was the pre-made lukewarm romaine salad that was soggy from sitting in the tomato vinagrette for too long. The bourbon bread pudding for dessert was crumbly but still delicious (but deserved a larger scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it!) Overall, a very nice evening. Wonderful atmosphere, friendly service, and a beautiful rose handed to all ladies at the end of the meal was a nice touch!
(4)
Rob H.
Excellent Food and Wine. The waiter and sommelier were very attentive. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Josh S.
There's a reason this place is considered one of the finest in Greenville, even the state. The staff knows the menu and the drink list. This restaurant is set in a turn of the century building, but you wouldn't know it. It is furnished with modern decor appealing to the eye. This place get's coined as a steak house, but let me tell you - I've had some of the finest seafood here - specifically the SEA BASS. You afraid to order the sea bass because you're hungry and don't think it will be enough? WRONG! This is the largest, flakiest, best fucking piece of sea bass I've ever had. This filet of bass is served atop a bed of spinach and covered in a bacony cream sauce. Start your night with a perfect dirty martini, of course they have bleu cheese stuffed olives - I wouldn't give it 5 stars otherwise. Get a great glass of wine from their extensive list to enjoy while you dine. Finish with the best damn hot chocolate you've had outside of Switzerland. Yup, that's right folks - go ahead and go here on your next trip to Greenville. I assume if you live here, you've obviously been.
(5)
Richard G.
The ambiance is warm and friendly, great service, food is deliciious. I was surprised the menu had so many choices, and not just a steak house. I would take any of my clients there to dine.
(5)
Scott M.
Excellent meal while visiting on business. Excellent location on river. Close to Courtyard and Westin. Solo on trip so ate at the bar. She crab soup was tasty but a little too thick. Sea Bass on spinach was excellent. Spinach is the bed and comes fresh but softens as the fish and sauce integrate down. Apple tart with homemade cinnamon ice cream for dessert. Yummy, but best to share. Friendly patrons. Friendly service. Reasonably priced. Would absolutely eat here again.
(5)
Chris S.
Great food, wine, staff, one of our favorites.
(5)
Blake D.
Great scenery, but kinda pricey for the serving sizes.
(3)
Bridger N.
Was in Greenville on vacation and had an early dinner here. We sat on the patio outside which was perfect for the afternoon. It's located in a really cool old building on the river and is a great setting to relax while the sun sets. The food was fantastic and our server Jessica was one of the best and most professional I've seen. She knew everything about the menu and never pulled out a pen even though our order was a bit convoluted. Another nice thing is that after your meal you can walk along the river and into Fall's park which has a big natural waterfall in it.
(4)
Amy F.
Yummy! My sensational dining partner and I have only been to Larkin's a handful of times (turns out my sensational dining partner doesn't have a steady income so Larkin's price point is generally just out of reach for us), but we talk about it for weeks after we eat here so it's like we've been millions of times. First: the oysters. I know I talk a lot about oysters, but theirs are truly some of the best oysters I've had. One of the waiters once explained to me why their oysters were the best ever, but I was too busy eyegasming to care what he was saying. Please, do yourself a favor and order the bone-in ribeye. Then call me if you finish it in one sitting. I'd like to shake your hand.
(5)
Tom L.
The tableside Caesar salad preparation is alone worth the visit, but Larkin's delivered on every other level. Our service was first-rate, perfectly walking the line between friendly and professionally not-too. It's a steak house, but our seafood dishes were very nice (in fact, the only thing that keeps me from five stars is some of the seafood saucing was a little heavy--let the fish be the fish!), and the wine list was well chosen. Merryvale chardonnay by the glass is a treat. The atmosphere in the main room is clubby, not stuffy, as some have suggested. Next business trip in, I'll be back.
(4)
Nicole P.
For the fact that they donate so much to locally Charities all year round... they have such a beautiful location in Greenville! I highly recommend to valet there then have a bit of food and wine before heading over to the Peace Center... then you can go back after and discuss the show you just saw... If you get a bottle of wine they will hold it for you to finish when you get back... Service is wonderful, the place is well run... Exceptional aged steak. yum... so good. The Shrimp and Grits are amazing// great salads. Also maybe one of the nicer spots for lunch... So good... .n
(4)
L. H.
What hospitality is all about! Larkins on the River went above and beyond to accommodate. Several in our group arrived very late, yet the manager and our server were completely unfazed. We were never made to feel rushed and enjoyed one of the best meals ever. The oysters tasted fresh and delicious and the filet au poivre was outstanding. We won't forget the gracious attitude of the staff and will continue to recommend Larkins on the River to friends and family.
(5)
Mim V.
Elegance, sumptuous meal and precise service prevailed during our visit. Although steak is the speciality, the fish dishes excelled as well. Each dish served in a formal yet pleasant manner. The Caesar salad for two made folks happy, as did the other salads. The trio dessert was photo worthy. It was perfect for four people and almost too pretty to eat, but we did and enjoyed every bite! They price all dishes reasonably, which added to our lovely experience.
(5)
Ananth S.
My favorite spot in Gvegas. Everything from the steak to seafood to the sides are top notch here. The appetizers are so good we usually end up chilling at the bar and sharing a bunch of those rather than ordering entrees - our favorites include the scallops, oysters rockefeller, quesadillas, and crab cakes. Awesome mac n cheese too so get that as a side if you're a fan. Great spot to eat/drink before or after a show at the Peace Center. The pavilion on the river is perfect for events like weddings. Great wine selection and signature house cocktails. The bartenders concoct some very tasty libations while providing impeccable service. Big ups to Tone, the master mixologist that put Greenville on the mixology map, and Whit.....my favoritest bartenders! Swing by next time you're downtown, you'll be hizhappy you did fo sho!
(5)
Shane M.
Attended a wedding reception at Larkin's. Everything was great.
(4)
Chris H.
I had the bone-in ribeye steak which was cook to my order. The mushroom side complimented this dinner very well. My wife had the shrimp and grits with broccolini. It was very well prepared also. Great service from Jason provided us a very good supper. Thumbs up and thanks!
(5)
Cheryl H.
We love Larkin's! We took my Mum there for lunch and the only downside is the number of stairs we have to go up and down from Main Street to get there, but the food is worth it. My husband had the filet with just asparagus. He passed on mashed potatoes because he wanted truffle fries with his lunch, but my Mum loved the mashed potatoes last time we ate here so she was a bit disappointed she didn't get his. The steak was perfectly cooked and so tender he could cut it with his fork. The tiny asparagus were delicious and also fork tender. Mummy and I each had the steak salad which consisted of baby greens, red onion, candied pecans,tomato, and a generous serving of sliced, chilled filet. We ate every crumb! Then our server showed us the dessert menu...OH MY! We decided to try the chocolate volcano cake, the peach cheesecake, and the creme brulee. That's right, we wanted plenty of dessert! The chocolate volcano cake was served with their vanilla ice-cream and Mummy didn't leave a lick. I'd willingly trade lunch for a week for Larkin's creme brulee and it continues to be divine, some of the best we've ever had, and the peach cheesecake was absolutely amazing. We like to sit on the patio overlooking the river so we can people watch while lingering over a consistently excellent meal. Service continues to be spot-on. We highly recommend Larkin's on the River!
(5)
Tully B.
We had a rehearsal dinner at Larkins. The staff did a great job and really paid attention to all details. The food was fantastic and created a wonderful environment. I would highly recommend.
(4)
MTraveler H.
We have eaten at Larkins several times and always bring our visitors here when they are in town. The table side made Caesar salad is not only entertaining, but delicious. You can never go wrong with ordering anything off of the menu, the food is fresh and melt in your mouth good! If the weather is right, I would highly recommend sitting out on the back patio which overlooks the Reedy River and all that is going on in the park. The ambiance can be very romantic if it's just you and your significant other, however it can also be a great place for dinner with a group. Two thumbs up to Larkins!
(5)
Aaron C.
Great Food! I first tasted their food at Fall For Greenville and then had to make reservations to eat there. The food was delicious. Great for a date night with the wife.
(5)
Ross E.
I love Larkin's, their food is phenomenal, period.
(5)
David E.
Excellent for a business lunch or dinner downtown.
(4)
Gene R.
Great food, great service, nice ambiance. River is not viewable at this time due to construction.
(4)
Sheridan P.
great experience from the beginning. it was raining heavily, and the valet motioned for me to stay in my car. said that he didn't want me to get wet while getting my own umbrella from the backseat. he held the umbrella over me all the way up the walkway :) food was great. the amuse bouche that came out first was great--used daikon sprouts, which people never use around here. had a grilled lobster as an appetizer: it was a bit dry, but the freshly fried potato sticks that accompanied were fantastic! i chose the chilean sea bass as the main course--it was awesome, awesome, awesome. thick, tender and so flavorful. service was knowledgeable and friendly, but slow with cocktails--mine arrived sweating. eventually ended up timing my drink orders, and everything was fine.
We celebrated our anniversary at Larkins. The perfect place for something special. The service was top notch, and the meals were perfect. Caution: if you order the bone in rib eye, don't eat for four days prior. It is enormous, but is possibly one of the best steaks this red meat eater has ever had...John
(4)
Ed M.
Wow - talk about full service! I had been here many times before, always for lunch, but today was special. I had driven more than half-way from Atlanta and realized I forgot my wallet - cash, credit cards - everything. I got my wife to text me pictures of a credit card, then I called Larkin's. Kristina understood my plight and was more than willing to take the card info in advance, so I emailed her the pictures and she took care of everything. No awkward pause with "T-Rex" arms to get my prospect to pay, and no need to call attention to my gaffe. Thanks Kristina! And, the food was great - as always!
(5)
Charleen J.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO MY ORGINAL POST~~~~ I am going to start off by saying that we chose to dine here on June 21st Fathers Day. We ordered skillet cakes. Our waiter was wonderful, but he had some help in bringing our order over. The young man who brought the food over set the BLAZING HOT skillet pan down right in front of our 2 year old daughter, and first thing she does is grab the handle. She had the look of horror on her face. Our waiter did what he could....was apologetic and brought her over a bag of ice for her hand. I wrote an email to the restaurant the next day offering the suggestion that their waiters receive extra training when it comes to hot plates and children dining at their restaurant......It took them awhile to respond to my initial email, but when they did, they told me that they have now added a child key which tells the kitchen to remove the hot skillets from the order when they have a child diner. I am very happy to hear that they have made this change! Thank you Larkin's for making your restaurant more child friendly!
(4)
Heather K.
The table side Caesar is fun (and yummy). The bacon wrapped scallops were delicious. Great service - wonderful steak. Overall great restaurant. The strawberry Melt-Tini was not a hit for us but the presentation and idea were cute.
(4)
Furman L.
My wife and I enjoyed our Valentine's dinner at Larkins. The location is a little tricky to find, but they have valet parking (directions are on their website). Our table was waiting for us when we arrived - no waiting! -1 star: Food for the Price The food was just ok. When you order a steak, they literally bring you a tiny steak on a plate. No sides, no condiments, just a plain steak. Presentation was seriously lacking. For a $40 steak in this city, you expect a little more "wow" factor. Additionally, my wife just did not like the steak. Her favorite thing the whole night was the bread. The server recommended their "famous" she-crab soup. It was okay, but we were constantly pulling pieces of shell out of our mouth. Would not get that ever again. -1 star: Service for the Price Our server was very friendly, but was clearly overworked. He had way too many tables and competing priorities. For the wife and I to have a $130 dinner, service should be top notch with a low server to table ratio. Overall, I would recommend Larkins if you are seeing a show at The Peace Center. The valet parking alone makes this a no-brainer. The Peace Center is literally adjacent to the restaurant, so things are really easy. Otherwise, I would visit another restaurant in the area for a better meal at a lower cost.
(3)
Eileen W.
Food was great last time I was here ...unfortunately info is wrong in yelp. They are not open til midnight and close at 10pm!!!
(5)
Melanie M.
This place is great! perfect position along the river with a beautiful patio view. aye here for an anniversary dinner and was met with fast service, wonderful ambiance and incredible food! ordered the bacon wrapped scallops to start and the lamb chops with the Gouda mashed potatoes as an entree. perfection! if you want to see pictures of this place along with other restaurants follow @best_eats_ on Instagram!
(5)
Kellie K.
The fella and I dined with another couple, and we were all blown away. From the olive oil and balsamic vinegar with bread to the tenderloin bites with chipotle aoili to the organic pork tenderloin, my mouth was doing a happy dance! Our waiter was so personable and knowledgeable while still being fun, and the atmosphere was fancy without being stuffy. Three of us had on jeans, and one of us had on shorts, and we felt just as comfortable sitting with the fancy people on their way to the theater. We sat inside, but the patio that faced the river looked pretty awesome, too. Highly recommend!
My fiancee and I visited Larkin's on Friday (the 13th) of Valentine's Day weekend. It was busy and their was also a show going on at the nearby Peace Center yet we were greeted and seated promptly on the covered & heated patio. Our server was Ed who by the way has a terrific table-side manner about him. He was extremely patient with out, never seemingly to rush us (or turn us) although it was an extremely busy night. We chose they table-side Caesar, Ed's presentation was impeccable. For entree's, I had the 28 oz bone in ribeye "steak Oscar" style and my fiancee chose the surf n' turf (lobster tail & torpedo tenderloin). Everything was excellent. We decided not to have dessert because we were stuffed (generous portions). Next time, I would like to try the She Crab soup and Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon. Will definitely request Ed again.
Great food and atmosphere! Our server brought our food to the table with a hair band around her wrist with hair hanging off it, as a female I know how handy it is to wear it that way but it was very unappetizing to see hair hanging off her wrist as she moved plates around and cleared out table etc. Will def be back again!
(4)
Andrea B.
The food was pretty good and the service was awesome. Our waiter was really great! We started with the scallops which were very good. We then had a goat cheese salad and bowl of she crab soup. The salad was amazing!!! The she crab had a good flavor but was not warm. Then we both had steaks and shared the sprouts and gouda mashed potatoes. The steaks were cooked perfect. For the price I was expecting a better one but was still good. The sides were very good as well. All in all it was a nice place but would try others before heading back.
(4)
Mary P.
Very disappointing. Steak (7 ounce filet mignon), although cooked perfectly to order (medium rare), was cold. Not lukewarm, but cold. I am not one to send food back, so I ate it anyways and cut my losses (of $30 for this filet). Also ordered the caesar salad prepared tableside (based on other good reviews) and was not impressed. Huge portions, but huge portions of something that did not taste good, almost bitter. Asparagus was okay, but the hollandaise sauce was clumpy and bland. Bread was nothing to write home about either. One of the worst reviews I have had to write, but I do not think it was an off night for them. I am not picky and always look for the good in everything. The place lacked the sense of pride I assumed it had in delivery of exceptional steaks and food. I had read other bad reviews, but still chose to dine here, so my own fault, but diners beware. I was just glad I was not entertaining clients. But still a bummer, as it was New Year's Eve. They did not seem overly crowded or understaffed, so I am not sure what the problem is. Wine list was good. Service was excellent. Chose to sit on the patio for a view of the river, but really couldn't see the river at night from there, so inside might have been a better choice for overall atmosphere. Although we did not discuss it until the next day, my companion did not like their smoked salmon or the caesar salad either, but both of us were too polite to even mention it at dinner. Reluctant to give such a bad review, but perhaps it can save another diner from an overpriced and underwhelming meal. And maybe the restaurant will take notice so they can make improvements where necessary. But this is one restaurant I don't think I would give another try, as almost every aspect of the food was bad. Cool location and great service, but as for good food, this one gets a D minus. At this price point, you have to at a minimum be at least as good as a chain steak restaurant, and you were by far, not.
(2)
Jan B.
I've been all over the world. Always have breakfast at some place that is supposed to be good and more times than not they are just average. NOT TODAY! The brunch at Larkin's was the best I've ever had. My two guests were equally if not more impressed. I had an omelette prepared at the proverbial omelette station. This chef went way beyond the normal skimpy little omelette. It was packed with cheese and bacon. My girlfriends pancake was even more impressive. (See the Photos). Her daughter had the chicken and waffles. The chicken was enormous. This was not a normal brunch. This was a FEAST! And, we sat outside under a canopy and had a beautiful view of the river. I'm in Love with Greenville and Larkin's. I almost forgot: the service was outstanding! Very unusual for Brunch
Nice outdoor seating next to the river with beautiful white lighting on the ceiling planks. Relaxing music and the sound of the waterfall. She crab soup good but didn't compare to Charleston. Salmon was a large portion.
(3)
Kelly P.
Absolutely phenomenal food! We came here the other night with a large group, and sat out on their beautiful, enclosed patio. I had heard from some locals that Larkin's is THE place to eat, and I would like nothing more than to add to their praise: Appetizers for the table included: oysters, crab cakes, ahi tuna, truffle parmesan fries, calamari steak, quesadillas, and applewood bacon wrapped scallops, all of which were perfectly prepared, and I would highly recommend any of the above with enthusiasm! For dessert, I had the crème brulee, which was amazing! And, then there's dinner. I asked one of our two wonderful waiters for his favorite, and wow, he knocked it out of the park! Unfortunately, when the plate was put in front of me, the rest of the world disappeared into the background, so, I don't remember what cut of meat he told me it was. :( But, it was a bleu cheese encrusted rare steak on the bone that nearly melted in my mouth and made me incapable of other thoughts. It was served over mashed potatoes with a side of their unbelievable brussels sprouts. Just . . . wow. I don't know if I can ever eat elsewhere again. My taste buds are unwilling to settle for the ordinary.
(5)
Michael D.
This is place to go and get a steak. Go for the bone in ribeye. It is why people pay the big bucks to go and dine in this establishment. The sides are ok, the wine list is massive, but it is the steak that takes it here. It has a very stripped down menu for chicken and seafood.
(4)
Rich M.
More later, but this is the place to eat in Greenville if you want to spend the money.
(5)
Adam B.
Went to dinner at Larkin's tonight with my girlfriend and parents. It was amazing! I had the best New York Strip of my life. My girlfriend thought the filet was one of the best she had ever had, and the pork chops and salmon were also very good! The crab soup was a soup version of crap dip that so good! The classic martini was delicious and the cosmo was good as well. Best steakhouse in Greenville by far.
(5)
Teresa L.
This is a beautiful restaurant to have a dinner in. It is right on the river and if you can eat on their enclosed patio you will have a lovely view as night falls. The view improves once a perfectly made dry gin martini is on the table in front of you. Let me go on a bit about salad. Years and years ago I ate dinner at a friend's Italian restaurant in Tucson. One of their specialties was a made-at-your table Caesar salad. It was, hands down, the best salad I have ever eaten and I have spent all the years since looking for a salad that good. Larkin's Caesar salad is not that salad but it comes pretty damn close. If you come here and don't order it, you are a dumb head. :) Larkin's has a wide selection of steaks, for which I gather they are locally famous. Other than some salads and side dishes there is nothing on the menu for a true vegetarian. There are a few seafood dishes for those of us who stray off the path now and then. I had the seared tuna dinner and I can't complain. The fish was fresh, it was a good-sized piece, and it was seared rare just as I asked. The staff were friendly and reasonably attentive and the atmosphere in the outside seating area was pleasant. It's a bit pricey for all the time but would be a nice place for a special occasion. Get the salad.
(4)
Priya M.
If half stars were allowed I would give this place a 3.5, but a 4 on service and a beautiful atmosphere. My husband and I actually visited this establishment based on Yelp reviews as we were visiting the city of Greenville. We sat in the patio and it was simply gorgeous, especially with the lights and view. We began with a jumbo lump crab cake which was amazing! It was not overloaded with sauce and perfect for two. We both got the aged filet which came with two sides and dessert. Now, my husband and I are particular about our steaks and know that we are not too fond of aged steaks but unlike Capital Grille, Larkin's stated their filet was only aged in seasoning for approximately 4 weeks or so. This didn't sound too bad for us so we thought we would try it! I ordered their house salad and my husband ordered the She crab soup which was quite tasty. Our entrees came and our sides were fine, nothing stood out, but we realized once we tasted our steaks that no matter what, aged steaks are not for us. We absolutely love our filets as they cook them in Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster in Orlando, the filets melt in your mouth and have no taste of the grill. We prefer our filets to not have a charred taste/look. The dessert, which I sadly do not have a picture of because we took it home, was quite delicious the next day. It was a chocolate cake with a cream filling layer. So overall, I think the establishment had good service, but I do think the prices are a bit steep for the food being overrated.
(3)
AJ S.
Wow. I've just had the worst dinner I've ever had at a fancy restaurant. It was my 67th birthday at Larkins, which has beautiful outdoor dining on the river and where we had eaten well once before. I even wrote a favorable review before. I went with my wife, my son and his wife and our granddaughter. First, the good parts. The manager apologized to us for our problems and comped the entire dinner: for five people, 4 drinks, 5 salads and 5 main courses. That's never happened to me before. She seemed to realize that something was wrong at the restaurant, but she didn't explain to us what it was. An apology and just "we will will take care of the bill for you." Now for the dinner itself. First it took a long time to get drinks. Our granddaughter asked for a couple of olives not dunked in our martinis. These came only when we asked a second time. We ordered oysters for us and soup for her. These came reasonably quickly and were fine. Everyone also ordered appetizers. These appeared only after 80 minutes when I went and complained to the manager. One salad, a lettuce wedge, was quite good. Mine, tomatoes with burata cheese was inedible. I had asked if the heirloom tomatoes are really good tomatoes, even though it was still spring. The waiter said yes. Well, they were overripe and tasteless, close to spoiled. Another salad ordered also was without flavor. Used and finished plates stayed on the table until we flagged the waiter to take them away. After the salads, dinner came out promptly. A steak was served on a bare plate. I will post a picture if I can--it will show a steak, lonely and alone, on a bare white dinner plate. I know that side dishes were extra but give me a break! We did order spinach, which came on a separate plate, but for $35 or $40, couldn't you put a piece of parsley with the steak? (This from a restaurant that charges $41.50 for a NY strip and an additional $4.50 if you want it "au poivre" or with mushrooms--the ribeye is more). Two people ordered fish, one Chilean sea bass and one halbut. The halibut was cooked to total dryness. The sea bass was completely without flavor. Another dinner, I forget which, was lackluster. The steak ordered and the rack of lamb were both very good. One appetizer never showed up. Also, as a side dish I ordered the truffle fries. They came after the main course when I told the waiter they were missing. I had made a point, apologetically, of ordering ketchup with the fries. That of course did not come until I asked for it. The fries were good and we ate them all. We did not stay for dessert. Miraculously, the manager comped the entire dinner. The whole thing was free. It wasn't worth it.
(1)
Lillian C.
Took my bf here for his birthday and I have to say, we were really disappointed (at least I was...I think he was trying really hard to spare my feelings, bless his heart). First of all, and maybe we are alone in this regard, after circling around 2-3 times we still couldn't figure out how to drive to the front of the restaurant to valet park (our GPS kept telling us to go down this lane that was barricaded off), so we ended up parking on the bridge and walking down the steps to the restaurant. Not a big deal. Yelp lists the attire as being "dressy" but this is definitely an overstatement. As I scanned the restaurant upon entering, I saw people dressed in sweaters, polos, and blouses, I looked down at my black lace dress and heels and immediately felt out of place and spent the entirety of the meal feeling self-conscious about my choice in apparel. Luckily I had a cardigan which helped me blend in more. Again, not anyone's fault, and not a big deal. I agree completely with Jonathan Y. about the ambiance. It tries but is lacking, bordering on that expensive chain restaurant feel. We were seated at a booth, but rather than being an intimate, cozy experience, it was anything but. The way it was set up, we were sitting next to each other, facing the entire dining area, and really had to crane our necks to have conversation. The food was a major letdown. The crab soup, which this restaurant is known for, was hearty and tasty. But then it just all went downhill from there. I had the filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. The filet mignon was overly salty and tough, the mashed potatoes were extremely dry, insipid, and salty, and the asparagus was unacceptable. Never did I think it possible to mess up asparagus, but yet they did. I was served four asparagus spears, of which only one was fresh, while the remainder were old-- olive-brown in color, wrinkly, and bendy. Gross. I politely FYI'ed the waitress, not expecting her to do anything about it, and was pleasantly surprised when she came out with a dish of fresh asparagus 5 minutes later. However, my big question is: why couldn't they have just brought me fresh asparagus to begin with?? My bf had the bone-in ribeye which he said was 'fine.' As it was his birthday, they served us a dessert on the house. We chose the chocolate torte, which was very decadent. It actually tasted like we were eating a ginormous chocolate truffle, and we could only eat about 2/3 of it. The creme brulee was a nice refreshing juxtaposition, perfectly caramelized on the outside and creamy smooth on the inside. The service was attentive but not intrusive. Our waitress was wonderful, but even she could not make up for the subpar, overpriced food. I hate to give bad reviews, and judging from all the 5 star reviews here, maybe I came on an off day, but I will not be returning.
(2)
Josh N.
We went for our anniversary dinner... The staff was great over the phone.. The valet parking was nice. We were promised a anniversary gift!! Never saw it. The waiter acted like he didn't wanna be there.. He let it show in work.. The food was ok nothing to brag about. Definitely not worth the price..
(2)
Pam M.
I so wanted to give them 5 stars and, if based on food alone, I would. We drove 1.5 hours one way last night to celebrate a friends bday at Larkin's. We chose the place based on Yelp reviews, despite the bad service warnings in some. We selected all of the favorite dishes among our party of four. Everything was perfectly amazing. Except....the service. They were not that busy and, from what I could tell, our server had just our table of four and the table next to us w 8-10 ppl. As the evening progressed it became more and more evident that this girl was in way over her head and could not keep up. Table next to us had the same experience. Too bad really, because when we spend that kind of $$ on a meal, the service had better be on par. If in Greenville again, we will find another restaurant before considering a return to Larkin's. Sorry guys...I just tell it the way it is.
(3)
Constantine H.
Pretty good spot in downtown Greenville. Food was good but the service was lacking. May or may not return on a future visit to SC.
(3)
Alex L.
Went here for easter brunch. Only reservation we could get was for 2pm. We were sat right away and had to wait for a lengthy period of time before we were greeted and offered water. There were many servers and managers in a nearby service area too busy doing other things to be bothered to greet patrons paying $32 each for brunch. When the waiter finally came he told us the buffet was inside and to help ourselves. He did stay on top of removing plates and refilling drinks. Food was excellent, but service could be improved.
(3)
Amber K.
We had dinner here for my mothers birthday in December. We were sat outside in a covered area that also had outdoor heaters. (Ours was out) so besides being cold the entire meal, we had a terrible waiter that did not have time for us. When you go to a restaurant where you will be spending several hundred dollars on a meal for 3, you expect good service. The food was mediocre. I was not impressed.
(3)
Leslie H.
Amazing meal and service. Had shrimp cocktail and a glass of wine at the bar while waiting for the rest of our party. We were seated on time and food was amazing. All 5 members of our party had the filet, and none of us were disappointed. Thank you to Andrew, Christina, and Bob for the impeccable services and making sure all of our needs were met.
(5)
Russ K.
Unfortunately fairly average. They first placed us at a round table for six but we only had three people and it faced the wine bottles. We asked to move and were accommodated by the hostess. I order the filet mignon which was cooked correctly but served luke warm. I ordered a peppercorn sauce with the steak and it came on the steak and covered not only the steak but the whole plate. It would have been significantly better if served on the side and I was allowed to put in on the steak. Otherwise it would have been helpful if the waiter would have mentioned that they planned to drown the steak in the sauce. The asparagus was likewise served luke warm. The two other complaints were with the alcohol service. My wife order a half bottle of white wine. The bottle was opened and left on the table next to her glass. I realize it is only a half bottle but it would have been great if it would have been kept chilled. The waiter unsolicited brought another drink for my daughter. Although it was taken off the check she was not asked if she wanted another drink nor did she order one. This was not our first time at the restaurant and other times were better. Next time we are in town we will try one of the other steak restaurants.
She crab soup was great! Service excellent. The rest of the meal was good but not memorable.
(4)
John C.
Had dinner there on 6/15/14, and was VERY disappointed. From the beginning, the waitress seemed to be overwhelmed - very nice lady, but she just couldn't seem to keep up. After very slow service with very little attention from the wait staff, our meals came out extremely cold. We were heading to a concert so could not let them prepare new meals, so they just heated them up. The food was then warm and dry... I don't think we will return
(1)
Duane D.
We were in town to pick up a BMW at the nearby Performance Center. We decided to have a nice dinner and see downtown. I picked Larkins based on the Yelp reviews. It was quite nice, with a very upscale menu and food. The steak was very good, and I liked the potato au gratin. A word of warning--this place is not easy to find by car. It is lower than "street level" and my GPS was very confused. I had to call the restaurant and get better directions once I was in the area. Once you find it, there is easy and free valet parking. When you finish dinner, take the time to leave you car parked and walk the river just a bit. The Falls Parks is a short walk away, and there are a lot of bars/shops/restaurants in the immediate area.
The She-crab soup, fresh Caesar salad made at you table, and a filet so tender you could cut it with a fork! This place always delivers!
(5)
Kitty K.
Overpriced all around. My salmon was over cooked. The she crab soup was way too creamy. My boyfriend and I both got acid reflux from the heaviness of the food.
(2)
Brian B.
I have not eaten in the restaurant proper, but I checked out the tent at Fall for Greenville and I had some of the most expensive, worst food I had eaten all day. My experience may not have been common, but if you want gritty mashed potatoes and tough meat, then you can eat it in a very romantic location right on the river, here at Larkin's.
(1)
Waël C.
My favorite steakhouse in Greenville!
(5)
Faye F.
Larkins was spectacular. The location is superb, right on the water. I was expecting a traditional steak menu but was pleasantly surprised with the variety of dishes. My husband had a wonderful steak and i had a lobster dish that was amazing. They are gluten friendly and the service was great....very pleasant, and attentive.
(5)
Mr. P.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary on 8/23/14. I called a week in advance to make reservations. I also worked it out with the hostess, so that there would be a half dozen roses at our table. We were seated at our outdoor table, but there were no flowers. They forgot to order the roses, even though I gave them my CC info. We had reservations for 7pm, but we sat there for 30 minutes before anyone waited on us. Even though Larkins bombed big time twice, the manager made up for it. He comped us 50% and our food was perfect. My wife and I had a great dinner, at a very affordable price. We will be back again since we were well taken care of.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Randy J.
Ok, maybe I just don't have an expensive taste but for the price and the food I have had far better. Was here for a company dinner and we had a private room upstairs. The serves were very attentive and great. The food however just left me saying "Thats it?" I had the bacon wrapped chicken and tasted pretty dry. I added a baked potato which is very hard to screw up. All in all, it's a nice place and right on the water. I just have to believe there are better places in Greenville for the price. I myself wouldn't go back because I couldn't see me spending that much for a meal. I am sure for others who enjoy fine dinning would rate this better just not my thing.
(2)Vim I.
Recently, I attended a wedding reception at Larkin's and the venue was just spectacular. The exposed brick and open layout made it cozy and inviting. And the views of the river are unbeatable. The foods was delicious, and the staff was friendly and prompt.
(5)Cary A.
I have to say that Larkins never fails to deliver consistently... I can trust them to have exemplary service and food, every time. The menu could move a little more often to keep it interesting and new for me, but their staple dishes are extremely delicious. Make sure to get the table side Cesar salad and definitely try the She-Crab soup, one of the best in town. I always get a rib-eye which seems to be consistently trimmed with a good balance of marble to meat, and they keep the fat cap to about 1/4 inch for the most part . I suggest the mid 130s for temperature as the steak will cook up if you have a large table... I like my rib-eyes a little more done than most cuts I eat simply because of the high fat content that needs to render to really sweat out the meats flavor. As with most rib-eyes, a little dab of Bearnaise, Bordelaise, warm Chevre or even browned butter can take this item to unexpected levels of sensory bliss. Don't be scared to try one them with your steak. No regrets!
(5)Larry H.
Great food! Good selection of beef items. Great views of the fountains and the sunset.
(4)Yefri N.
Looking for a nice fancy environment with a really friendly staff? Then this is your place. I have to say this is the best restaurant I have ever been too.
(5)Kern T.
This is a very solid restaurant where the standard of food and service is always going to be high but it's not going to knock off your sox. I have awarded 4-stars.... just and 3-stars would not be fair. Starters were fried green tomatoes with crab cakes and scallops wrapped in bacon. The mains were Chilean sea bass and pecan crusted sword fish. The food was good but not superb and the portions were large. My advice would be to improve the quality and cut the size of the portions by a third but then this may not suit the clientele. Good, high-end eatery but it could do better.
(4)Anthony G.
What a great meal. Quality food, excellent presentation great ambience. Steak is amazing. Filet is like butter, usually do med rare but rare was great here. Pricey but worth it. Along a river obviously but in a very great part of Greenville. Beautiful surroundings.
(4)Brett H.
This is hands down one of the best places in Greenville to eat. The atmosphere, food and services is above all. My wife and I always have dinner here when in town for a weekend getaway. I have misplaced the name of our server, but he was originally from Columbia and he by far made the meal, that and the steaks are out of this world. Thanks to our amazing waiter and the amazing cooks and everyone else that gives so much to make your dinning experience the best. We will be back soon!
(5)Brent G.
Great steaks. Try the bone in anything! Great wines, classic atmosphere, great town. I hope to be a regular!
(5)Phil Y.
Filet mignon for lunch was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented but under seasoned and surprisingly bland.
(3)Melissa R.
My now-fiancee and I went here for our engagement dinner after getting engaged on the track at the BMW Performance Center. I made reservations on Open Table, and I mentioned it was our engagement dinner. The staff made us a congratulations card. I thought that was such a nice touch. We asked to sit outside - the reservation was at 7:30, so we got to watch the sunset and then enjoy the lighting and fans on the outdoor terrace. I am a sucker for outdoor overhead lighting. It made it a bit more romantic. Our meal started with the steak and goat cheese quesadilla - YUM! We both ordered steaks for dinner. We cannot eat pork, and I was slightly disappointed that the chicken I wanted was apparently pre-cooked with the bacon around it, so I could not actually get it without bacon (they offered to just peel the bacon off, but that's not in keeping with my beliefs). Even though I found this to be slightly negative, I also thought it was especially nice of them to offer full disclosure - I know many restaurants that would've said, "sure, it's fine," and then just peeled the bacon off and served it to me without telling me that. So, I was really happy that the waitress was honest. PS the steaks were cooked to the absolute perfect temperature that we asked for and were delicious. One thing that was a bit funny, but in a cute way, is they made a very elaborate congratulations dessert plate (I added a photo), but they spelled congratulations wrong (with a "d"). Hehe. Nonetheless, we did not mind, and the design below the congrats was amazing - it looked like this cool fire design. It actually reminded me of my dad, who is a terrible speller, and that warmed my heart. I must say, I would dress 'smart' or 'business casual', but I really wouldn't dress over-the-top fancy for this restaurant. I mention this because of the attire listed on Yelp as 'Dressy'. I think maybe dressy means different things to different people - dressy where we are from, North Jersey, means you basically won't be admitted to the restaurant if a man is not in a sport coat and tie, and a woman is not in similarly appropriate skirt/dress/pants suit. It's not uptight like that at all, and I think that's in keeping with the whole feel of Greenville. I think it's easily the fanciest restaurant in Greenville, but if you're from the North, don't overdress (but don't underdress either!). I would say even polos/khakis would fly for men. After our nice dinner, we walked into the park and listened to the waterfall for awhile. It was very beautiful.
(4)Kevin B.
Best steak I've had period hands down in Greenville since I moved here a year ago. Will definitely be returning worth every penny.
(5)Emily E.
Came here for restaurant week and tried the delicious she crab soup. I ordered the flat iron steak as medium and it came out extremely rare, which was my only complaint for the evening. Ambiance and service were good.
(3)Peter S.
Went there before a concert. Thought 2 hours would have been sufficient time for apps, dinner and dessert but were rushed to get to concert on time. Had an assortment of apps and overall they were good. The bacon wrapped scallop and crab cakes were super. The sea bass bites seemed over cooked especially the smaller pieces. My bone in fillet was very tender but lacked seasoning.One individual had the special NY strip special and she said it was very good. Truffle oil fries were great.
(3)DaveD W.
A business associate and I selected Larkins for dinner because of the 4.5 rating {recommended reviews}.. the highest in Greenville. Seated promptly. A well established and popular venue, almost full dining room at 8 pm on a Wednesday. Fairly standard premium liquors at the bar and the table set ups were white linen and above average china, glassware and utensils. Service was efficient, our server was well informed but the amuse bouche followed the first course. unusual.. and now the food... First courses; "Jumbo lump crab cake" and "Truffled parmesan fries". Both were OK, nothing special; not any "jumbo lumps" to be found in a rather small crab cake and the salty parmesan and more sea salt overwhelmed the massive portion of truffle oiled fries. Salad; "House salad" of "mixed green" topped with seasonal veg and pecans. Mine was topped with nothing, on a warm plate and room temp greens. I'd asked for a "small" salad and got a mountain of warm mixed greens. About 1/2 of this went back. By now the room was finishing meals and they weren't busy. Couldn't a handful of greens on a smaller chilled plate be possible, at such a highly rated restaurant? Mains; "Veal Osso Bucco" ,rich red wine sauce and "creamy risotto". The braised veal was very well cooked and of good quality.. The creamy risotto had been prepared long before we ordered and was dry, overcooked. The sauce {red wind reduction} was so salty it almost went back, but by then we just wanted to be finished. The meat courses were ruined by careless preparation of the sauce and very, very tired rice. Wine list: a good and varied selection. Whites are kept chilled BUT the reds are in a giant wall display at the merci of ambient temp from floor to 20 foot ceiling almost. Our excellent Shiraz had to go into an ice bucket to get it to the proper temp. This is a close call but must be mentioned; I asked the bartender if she could put our bar tab on the table bill. No problem. Upon sitting down 2 more drinks appeared. Maybe she misunderstood me.. No problem. We drank them. At dessert decision time I chatted with our server about their cheesecake; creamy or baked, house made, etc. etc.. We both were quite clear NO dessert, just the bill. She proudly arrived with cheesecake !!! Another mistake ?? it appears to be highly unlikely. The manager of course removed the charges and apologized For the money there are far better choices in Greenville.
(2)Heath W.
Southern excellent cuisine and top shelf shrimp and grits. Wonderful location right on the Reedy River, outdoor patio has heaters and is very comfortable in the cold weather days. Staff are very professional, embody the essence of southern charm and hospitality and are very attentive to needs of the patrons. Extensive wine list, creative cocktails, crab dip appetizer is to die for, and highly recommend Shrimp and Grits for your meal.
(5)brice b.
They need to up their game if they want to compete in Greenville's rising restaurant scene. The setting is great but the food is just OK it is not great. Sad!!!
(3)Jennifer S.
Truly a great place in downtown Greenville! I consider myself a foodie and have eaten at many fine establishments across the US and this was definitely a good find. The atmosphere is rustic and comfortable...apparently, the building is an old mill. I love the exposed brick work and open ceilings. Our server was efficient, friendly and helpful...especially for a large group of 10 people. The food was incredible. We started with appetizer plates of beef bites, bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp cocktail - all were delicious! The house salad with creamy dressing was quite tasty too. I stole a bite of the she crab soup from my coworker and was very impressed - just like in Charleston, or even better. My entree was creative and flavorful...sauteed lobster with veggies topped with a citrus beurre blanc sauce and orange/grapefruit pieces on top. The desserts didn't disappoint either...we shared the creme brulee, volcano cake, turtle cheesecake and the amazing bourbon bread pudding - yummy! All in all, this place was incredible and comes highly recommended.
(5)Andrew D.
Went there about a week ago and love it. The drinks are tasty and strong, but the real strength are the steaks and location! Nothing better than walking over the bridge of the waterfall and walking right into Larkin's. There was a band playing in the amphitheater and the place was packed. While the steaks are pricey, you are getting great service and a great meal. My favorite dish wasn't my steak, it was the Shrimp and Grits! These aren't your regular Shrimp and Grits, these are on steroids filled with cheese, peppers, large prawns and just an amazing flavor. I honestly would go back just for the Shrimp and Grits, it was that good. Service was great and about what you expect from a chophouse. Would definitely recommend, but seriously order the SHRIMP AND GRITS! Yum.
(4)Maureen H.
Lovely venue on the river and we had great food there. We were there for a wedding reception. The staff was very attentive and thoughtful. Can't think of better when I've had better service. Our reception was buffet but very good. The view onto the river was great and we heard good things about their regular menus.
(4)Robin W.
My husband and I recently enjoyed dinner at larkins on a weeknight. We had reservations and were seated immediately. This was not our first time eating here. The atmosphere is classic, warm, with a nice rustic charm. The dining room is small, so it is quieter than most, which I appreciate. There are many awesome dining options in greenville, and larkins certainly belongs in that group, but the consistent quality of the food, the excellent service, and the intimate setting sets it apart from some of the more trendy options downtown.
(4)Clay H.
We went here for brunch one Sunday morning. I had the Cajun Eggs Benedict, it was top shelf. I also had one of the best Bloody Marys in my life, though to be fair, I don't drink those often. To sum it all up, this is a top scale restaurant with top scale food.
(5)Kathleen A.
My husband and I went for Sunday brunch. I had the Low Country Eggs Benedict and my husband had the All American Breakfast. Not cheap but one of the best restaurants in Greenville! Also the best Bloody Mary I have ever had!
(5)David R.
As much as I wanted to give Larkin's on the River "5" stars I could not. Maybe because of my previous experiences here the standard has been set high (this is the only reason it did not get "3" stars). Of all the restaurants I could bring friends to for their first experience of downtown Greenville cuisine I selected Larkin's. I love this restaurant to share with others... But on this occasion it was an exception. First the things I loved about our visit: 1. The chef shared one of his unique creations and it was delicious. It was a small puff pastry with an amazing filling that tantalized your taste buds. 2. The special appetizer platter of assorted fried fish was absolutely amazing and created and cooked to perfection. Now for my concerns: 1. The she crab soup is always amazing and the taste as always was present. But whoever shelled the crab forgot to get rid of the shells... not a couple of pieces but a good two teaspoons worth out of my bowl (after a while I just was having fun figuring out which I had more of soup or shell lol). 2. All but one of us had wine and when we all had the same wine I figured he would naturally switch to a bottle and when he asked if we wanted another round he still charged by the glass (much more expensive). This might have been his inexperience (I would like to think so). 3. I got the bone in filet and normally it is amazing. Whoever butchered the fillet must have been practicing (first time, first one). Because of that it was cut so that it was several different thicknesses and therefore impossible to cook properly. Also it was a mess and the taste was not up to its normal standards. 4. One of the other members of our party had the bleu cheese encrusted fillet and it was well executed but the presentation was a plate with the steak and that was it... again unusual. 5. Last but not least my favorite dessert in the world is "Crème Brûlée" and I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert (if only in my own mind & stomach) The taste was awesome but the water had gotten in to the ramekin from the Bain Marie (hot water bath that insulates the delicate custard from the direct heat). So it was soupy... good tasting but not what you should expect. There will definitely be a next time but it was a bad night and kind of disappointing when bringing out of town company. And like I said knowing what "Normal" is at Larkin's :)
(4)Liz H.
Fantastic service. Very elegant atmosphere. Very friendly and accommodating to those who are wheat and gluten intolerant. Everything we ordered was simply delicious. Of course it is a pricier place, so save it for a special occasion. Unless you're rich :-) then you can go on Tuesday.
(4)Ronnie P.
Can't eat dairy and the menu has items to fill this need that are out if this world. U
(4)Steve H.
Had a fanatic dinner experience. I ate with 3 of my colleagues. All of us enjoyed the meal. Only 1 complaint (minor) about the tuna app being over cooked. I had the green tomato and crab app. My mouth is watering as I think about it while writing this review. For my main I had the 14 ounce fillet. Absolutely perfectly cooked as I ordered. Right up there with some of the best steaks I've had. The price is up there but not crazy. For four of us we each had an app a main and several cocktails and the bill was $300. A great value. I would eat here again.
(4)Heather K.
I'm extremely disappointed to post a 2 for Larkin's. I've dined there 4 times now and feel I have earned the right to post this. I continued to go there for a couple reasons, mostly because we go to a lot of Peace Center shows and it's super close and everyone wants to try it. But have decided my last time was THE last time. I had heard such amazing reviews of the place that when my birthday rolled around I got some of my closest friends to join me, and some very stingy with the cash flow so I was really hoping it was going to live up to the hype. Here is my list of visits in order and why I will not be returning. I honestly think most of the hype is created by insider's or those who have never traveled much outside of Greenville or at least recently. 1. My birthday - Since I cajoled my friends to part with a good chunk of their money to come here I ordered a bunch of appetizers to get us all started. Along with Mojito's to start. The Mojito's were fine, nothing significant about them. The appetizer's were also good but I can't even remember what we had, which is a bad sign because I remember what I eat at the places I love and recommend even years later. When we ordered dinner I wasn't as hungry as I thought since I had so much appetizer. So my husband and I split a Filet and Lobster tail entree. We were charged a hefty price for sharing. Now the menu says $5 but in this case it was much more but can't recall the amount. I find that incredible to charge to split an entree because it's on 2 plates instead of one but whatever. Most entress are ala carte so you get this huge salad or side dishes but not everyone wants the same sides so it can get costly and then you're left with a bunch of side dish left overs. Everything was prepared fine although the service this night was good but slow. The lobster on the other hand was small for 6 oz and a Fillet and Lobster tail I can't recall is definitely not worthy of the $60.00 entree. This visit was good enough to warrant a return visit hoping for a little better. 2. Peace Center show - this night everything was pretty good. We all had the 3 course meal and I had the Filet. It was quite good and those came with sides which complimented the meal well. I was sure this had changed my tune about Larkin's. 3. Went again before another Peace Center show. The service was really good. The Osso Bucco was horrible!! I'm a huge connoisseur of this dish and usually judge a place by how it is. The meat was bland and somewhat dry, the risotto tasted like plain, way overcooked white rice that was served in a timabli shape. Risotto should be creamy and should probably never stand up on it's own. The sauce was very lacking and no gremolata (traditional garnish) was served with it. I was incredibly disappointed. I wasn't going to say anything and just suck it up but the waitress overheard me talking and the manager came over to try and make things right. Which I do greatly appreciate, he even took it off of the bill without mentioning that during his apology. This is normally my 3 strikes and out time. I was not impressed with much here especially for the crazy high prices. I don't mind paying a lot for great food at all so this was disheartening. I think the prices are a bit out of line for the quality and size of what you get including drinks. 4. Another Peace Center show another disappointing meal at Larkin's. Sigh! I did not choose to eat here, we rotate who picks for a girls night, so I was stuck. I ended up running way late so I ordered light so I could catch up to the group and stay on time. My first obstacle was the waiter, this I had not expected here. I had read on the menu online (trying to be ready to order before I got there) that if you have reservations in advance for the Peace Center show that night that each person gets a complimentary glass of champagne. When I arrived and asked the server if this was true he looked like a deer in head lights and had no clue. Obviously something he was not trained on nor do they provide without being asked about. When he did agree that was true he only brought me a glass and never asked anyone else at the table if they wanted one. Which irritated the rest of the ladies and they did end up having to ask and much later than sooner got. it So I only ordered Oysters on the half shell, in season. The oysters were puny, tasted like the refrigerator they came out of and were slightly dried out as if they had been shucked earlier.. as in the day before. The crackers were a pile of Saltines, not in wrappers and tasted stale as if sitting on the shelf for ages before getting to me. Nothing great to say about the lame cocktail sauce it came with either. Overall I think most of what you pay for there is the location and frankly I don't see how the onus to pay rent should be on the guest when they don't even do a good enough job to fool you into believing it was worth every penny!
(2)Jan D.
We had a very difficult experience here a couple of weeks ago. We were in the area for a couple of nights, and my husband made a lunch reservation that morning for 1:45p to help us celebrate an occasion. We had some difficulty with finding the restaurant, as it is tucked off the street behind other buildings, and then we couldn't find parking. Being handicapped, it was also difficult to walk the area of small hills and stairs, but I was finally able to do it. We went into an entrance of Larkin's that led us into a function area but we couldn't figure out the direction of the main entrance. Since I was having difficulty walking, I called the restaurant and asked how to easily access the restaurant area. The woman who answered told me how to get to the front door but then promptly added, "We're closed". I couldn't believe it, and thought she was joking, as my husband had just made the reservation 2-3 hours earlier and there was no mention that the reservation he made was being taken just 15 min ahead of closing time. When we appeared at the front door a minute or two later, they refused to seat us and said "no one would have taken a reservation at 1:45p - we never do that!". Well, someone did, and I was very upset to be accused of lying. I also recounted what my husband had told me.......that whoever did take the reservation said she was going to "seat us in my favorite booth, and although there isn't a direct view of the river because of an old building in front of the river, I think you'll like it". The woman acting as maitre d' handled the situation poorly, as she kept saying "no one would have done that"......well, they did, and we left hungry and angry. She could have graciously recommended another place, and even called ahead to let them know we were coming, and given us directions - as we were strangers to the area, but she did none of that and we felt very mistreated. To not honor a reservation or to not offer sustenance to potential customers is poor business practice, but to embarrass and humiliate those potential customers while other customers are sitting nearby enjoying their lunch is really unforgivable. We will probably never return to Greenville again, but if we do, we would never go to Larkin's..... and we suggest that you don't either.
(1)Katie H.
We wanted to go to a nice restaurant for our anniversary in December 2012, and Larkin's on the River provided a great romantic environment. Our booth was cozy and intimate even though the restaurant was pretty busy. The dress was a little more casual than I expected, but it wasn't a big deal. Our server Michael was one of the best I've ever had--attentive, thorough, and not intrusive. He recommended the Table-side Caesar salad which was a delightful surprise. I wish more restaurants made their Caesar salads this way, which as Michael explained, was the way Caesar salads were originally served. You have to try it! For an appetizer, we ordered the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail which had 5 big pieces of shrimp. I enjoyed the Pan-seared Ahi Tuna but the edamame side didn't have much flavor. My husband enjoyed the Smoked Salmon. I had to try the cheddar mashed potatoes and they were heavenly. For dessert, the chocolate Volcano cake was rich and tasty and ice cream was delicious. The valet parking was a plus and visiting the Web site before hand gave us a better idea of how to access that. I was also impressed afterward when I forgot my scarf there and the restaurant called to let me know.
(4)Eve K.
Gluten free foodie's paradise! Lovely brunch on the patio. 4.7 stars Atmosphere: 4.5, Service: 4, Food: 4.7 Cost to worth it rating: 4 (~12 for brunch items) Eve award: best upscale gluten free dining Highlights: - Gluten free friendly: fantastic options without compromising taste. That is so very hard to find. Not just boring salads or dry bread options. - French toast: bread was moist and with a spongey texture almost like a firmer version of a pancake. Was stuffed with raspberries so almost like a jam sandwich. Almond custard drizzle added another layer of deliciousness. So happy with this dish that tastes fantastic and is tummy friendly. Love that it comes with fresh fruit as well. - She-crab soup: wow was this just packed full of crab meat. Very impressive. Good amount of creaminess but not overdone. - Atmosphere: outside patio was delightful on a nice Sunday afternoon - Tableside Bloody Marys: I'm not a Bloody Mary fan, but loved watching the fully stocked cart come up with vodka and fixing options. Fully customized and made to order! - Housemade potato chips: came with the hub's sandwich and super crispy lay's can't eat just one addicting Lowlights: - River view: name of the place is Larkins on the River and it is, however the way the patio is oriented the view is more of buildings, as the river is on the side. If I lived here I'd be s regular for sure. Next time I'm in town I'll be back--maybe to try a steak dinner in addition to brunch.
(5)Jonathan Y.
Larkin's is this old school, Savannah-with-a-Southern-Accent, White-Gentleman's-Suit kinda place. At least to this Californian boy. It borders a river and has a beautiful view, especially sitting outside on the patio with a loved one or two or five. It's ALMOST romantic enough, with an ALMOST old-fashioned gentile attraction. I can't quite pinpoint it but I feel like the ambiance isn't quite there. It fizzles on that line between must see/must eat and dare I say it, expensive chain restaurant. Everything feels a bit manufactured from the lighting to the setting. Larkin's doesn't have that identity quite right. However, and this is a big however... ...the food is incredible. Pricey, but INCREDDIBLE. With two D's. I ordered the 3 course option, mainly because I wanted to try different things and the steak (it's a steakhouse) are all huge cuts. For appetizer I chose the she-crab soup that, on the menu, was followed with at least 3 exclamation marks. I'm a sucker for marketing like that. And boy was that marketing right. This is a soup that will change your life. The best soup I have ever had, it tastes like what you, in the bottom of your gluttonous heart always wished clam/crab/seafood chowder would taste like but never knew it. It really is that good. With the fresh basket of bread say hello to Carb and Cream because you can't run away from true love. The filet mignon was beautiful as well, perfectly tender just shy of medium rare with a ramekin of sherry mushrooms that were almost smoky, and mashed sweet potato that very comfortably embraces sweetness instead of trying for a garlicky touch. Leave that to the steak and mushrooms. By the time I got to the decadent, thick, chocolate tart I was beyond done but I kept stuffing myself. I don't know who the chef is here but I would probably kill you for that soup recipe. ;)
(5)Mark C.
Let me preface this review by saying that I dislike eating dinner at a group function with 20+ people if you really want to enjoy your food. There is just no way for you to mass produce 20 steaks that all come out at exactly the same time and have people all be satisfied. Especially when the person next to me orders his steak medium well (read: shoe leather). Larkin's on the River is consistently voted as one of the best steakhouses in South Carolina. In my opinion, this should be revoked based on the steak I had. When a person asks for his steak rare, give it to him rare. If it is too rare, he will send it back. My steak was definitely past medium, but as mentioned above... I am sure they did the best they can due to the circumstances. The overall taste of the meat was fine, but would be only an average score in Texas. I actually have tasted better at Cheddar's a mass produced steak place across the country. Ambience: Not so much for me. I was slightly disappointed that they stuck our group in an upstairs abandoned warehouse while we were paying good dollars for dinner, yet people in smaller parties had all of the great views of the river and a nice outdoor setting. I was also deeply saddened by having metal conference room chairs at such a "fine dining" establishment. If you are going to charge what they charged for dinner, please include good seating. Dessert: Luckily for Larkin's they finished the meal with an excellent cheesecake. It had a little spice to it, which made it the highlight of the meal. I really would have liked to have this after a great steak, however it did bring my overall perception of the restaurant up a notch.
(3)Tim G.
This review is actually from July 2011 when my wife and I stopped by for lunch during a day walking around Greenville. I wanted to go back and post a review of this restaurant after giving a very bad review of their Larkin's by the Lake flagship restaurant in Lake Lure. If I didn't know it, I wouldn't have believed they were owned by the same group. Lakrin's on the River is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at ... bar none. From the moment we walked in the door we were treated like visiting royalty. The location is beautiful, just off of the river in downtown Greenville and mere blocks from the River Park and the Peace Center. I joked with the waiter and said I just wanted something "ordinary" and ordered a Ruben sandwich. My wife ordered fish. The food was presented like a work of art ... even my "ordinary" sandwich ... and tasted even better than it looked. I love Ruben's, but I've been spoiled for life! Nothing can live up to this delight. When I told the waiter how good our meal was, he grinned and said "Chef aims to please!" I said to tell him he succeeded beyond his wldest dreams. I can safely say this is the first time I have ever sent compliments to the chef for a sandwich! Even though it is about a 1.5 hour drive from my house, I will gladly go back to this rstaurant at a moments notice.
(5)Amanda V. Stepp-Marcum S.
Truly a special place! Do not miss out on this one! Perfection and well worth the money and service is fabulous!!
(5)Tia M.
We loved the brunch and the Bloody Mary cart is a must. Great service.
(5)Darrel M.
As a business traveler who frequently eats in good restuarants this one is simply an amazing place to eat if you are in Greenville. Service - The server was very friendly, helpful, and offered a lot of suggestions from the menu for our group of 12. The server was very accomodating with everyone's special requests throughout our meal. Food: Melt in your mouth amazing with incredible taste. I started with the homemade potato chips followed by the spinach salad then had the 28 ounce bone in ribeye with blue cheese. Everything was prepared as ordered and every bite of my meal has amazing flavors. Dessert - Apple tart with homemade icecream was simply amazing. I also tried the creme brulee which was also fantastic. I would rate this as one of the top 10 overall dining experiences I have had in my past 20 years of business travel. This is a place that is worth the 2 hour drive from Atlanta to have dinner at.
(5)Kimberly W.
Delicious. Visiting from Southern California and spent a lovely day at Falls Park on the Reedy. We were hungry and looking for a local restaurant just before 5:00. They were able to get us a table just as they opened for dinner. We had the tablseside ceasar salad, my husband and kids all had filet mignon and I had the salmon. Everything was wonderful.
(5)Edward F.
Went to Larkin's this past Saturday with my girlfriend before prom. The staff was unbelievable, everything was catered to our needs. First thing our waitress did was ask what time we needed to leave by so she could give us a great experience with making us late. I had their amazing she-crab soup followed by the filet mignon and topped off by the creme brûlée. My date had the goat cheese tempura, which she loved. For her desert she had the chocolate tarte. Being a teenager my biggest pet peeve is going out to eat at a nice restraunt and being talked down to, if that's one of your pet peeves as well, this is definitely the location for you! My only tip is to maybe find your own parking space before they open at 5 so you can go and lounge around the beautiful falls park nearby!
(5)Dave M.
Hands down one of the best restaurants in Greenville. Excellent steaks and even offer a reasonable 3 course dinner for such a fancy place. Great service too.
(5)Alan A.
Awesome New Year's Eve Dinner with my wife. Service was top notch and the food was wonderful. We had the calamari (which was out of this world), Caesar Salad ( made tableside), Chilian Sea Bass (me - very good), Filet Mignon (wife - melt in your mouth). A great experience we will not soon forget and we will be back on future trips to Greenville.
(5)Allison F.
Beautiful patio situated along the serene waters of the Reedy River and a prime spot for a 'free' concert during the summer (Larkin's is right next to the amphitheater by the river). The food here is usually pretty good, but on a recent visit I ordered the Kobe beef burger and promptly sent it back because it was bone dry and charred on the outside. We did have a nice experience with the Mother's Day buffet. Mom was totally impressed, I think more with the setting than the food itself. I highly recommend the sorbet trio for dessert.
(3)Jessica H.
To start things off my friend and I noticed this gem tucked behind and underneath the bridge. Coming down the stairs was a bit of a hike and put me off, but that was the worst part of the experience. We decided to sit outside. While we were enjoying the scenery outside a personable server named Stephen greeted us pleasantly and went over their daily specials. Being a sommelier he also suggested the Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. We took him up on his wine suggestion, and it was truly perfect with the humid Carolina weather. Due to his success we asked him to order for us. He happily agreed, asking if there were any allergies, requests, and how we cared for our steaks. He almost immediately brought back bread and a shrimp cocktail. A wonderful caprese style tomato mozzerella salad for the two of us to share followed, the summer tomatoes being perfectly ripe. Before our mystery entrees arrived we had asked to move inside due to an insect problem (gnats on the grass, the cleanliness of the restaurant is NOT in question). I wish we came in to begin with! An impressive wine rack graced the room, the booth we were sat in was intimate as well. Classical music softly played, and the restaurant was hardly crowded with everyone sitting outside. The entrees consisted of a goat cheese and chipotle chicken quesadilla and their certified angus brand filet, a perfect medium rare with a veal demiglace. Stephen informed us their menu quesadilla was generally prepared with steak, but he modified it to give us variety in protein. He even split a glass of a Chianti for us just to pair with the filet. The manager checked on us almost immediately after we got our food, but before we knew it we were finished and the last two in the restaurant! The food, wine, and service was immaculate. Being a California native I am extremely jealous of my friend Taylor, as she's already had the chance to return. PROS: Amazing atmosphere, wonderful wine, fantastic food, gluten free options, and stellar server named Stephen. One of the best lunch experiences ever! CONS: Pricey (but worth it!), long walk to get to the restaurant from the street, insects when dining outside.
(5)Nikki P.
Larkin's has some of the best food in Greenville. The steaks are phenomenal and the wine selection is great as well. The ambience in the afternoon is perfect for a business lunch, and dinner is a great setting for a romantic date. The outdoor seating is my favorite when the weather is nice. There is a great view of the river. Also, if you are a chocolate fan, please do yourself a favor and order their lava cake. It is really the best I have ever had!
(5)Robert P.
Loved it. GF menu as well! Loved the French Onion soup, wedge, filet & wine!
(5)Deena S.
The 12-oz special did not seem to be of the best quality, nor was it well seasoned. I ordered it medium rare and it came perfectly purple all the way through plus the fried green tomato side was cold. The extra charge for the tiny serving of the cole slaw side was almost insulting. My husband did enjoy his filet, however. Service was good, the noise level was moderate-high and I think we expected much more from a steakhouse that is supposed to be rated one of the tops in the nation.
(3)Cheryl R.
The cheese grits with lobster sauce was so good that I wouldn't even share a bite. My favorite thing that I've eaten in Greenville yet.
(5)C B.
Despite the positive reviews, I have to go with only 4 stars. Three of us had dinner. Ambiance is great -- an old warehouse, brick walls, lovely. Service very nice. Food is what makes it a 4 instead of 5 stars. The Warm Shrimp & Crab Dip was excellent. The Caesar salad fixed at the table was so-so as far as I was concerned, lettuce was not cold or crisp enough; but, my husband thought it was good -- however, it was big enough to qualify as an entree! Our friend had the she crab soup and felt it was too rich. Husband had the country chicken as his entree and said it was "fine." I had the filet mignon and it was wonderful -- as good as it gets. The Chilean Sea Bass & Shrimp Sofrito was "ok" according to our friend. The wine list is good. The desserts looked very good, but we were too full to taste them. I'd go back, but have to say I was a little disappointed.
(4)Ruta f.
Just had lunch there.... beautiful setting outside. But ordered the peppered salmon, it was kinda bland and lukewarm. We waited for at least 30 minutes for our food, The bloody mary had an old stick of celery in it. The carrots on the plate were old, they were actually dried out. I called the manager over and he apologized, and took the "bloody mary" off the bill, but charged me instead for an orange juice...jeez.
(1)Dirk W.
We took some clients here last week while traveling to Greenville on business. Two words "Bread Pudding". Simply the best I've had anywhere. Our waiter also recommended a great bottle of wine. NxNW Cabernet Sauvignon from Oregon. Excellent.
(4)SJ G.
The sea bass on a bed of spinach was smothered in a bland oily sauce that made me nauseated. The Tuna was good but was served with edamame and quinoa. These are cheap bland foods, but they are trendy foods. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(1)M B.
Wonderful meal from the sharing Caesar salad for two, the delicious entrees to the delicious desserts! The elegance and attentive staff add to the lovely evening, may be the best in Greenville!! The view, service and food equal a lovely evening and terrific place e for a special occasion or just for a grand meal overlooking the water.
(5)Kel T.
We enjoyed our Valentine's Day dinner as our first visit to Larkin's. The beef tenderloin was very tender and juicy, and my husband's salmon was perfectly cooked. The mushroom mashed potatoes were especially good as the plump mushrooms had been marinated and were oh, so tasty. My only complaint was the pre-made lukewarm romaine salad that was soggy from sitting in the tomato vinagrette for too long. The bourbon bread pudding for dessert was crumbly but still delicious (but deserved a larger scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it!) Overall, a very nice evening. Wonderful atmosphere, friendly service, and a beautiful rose handed to all ladies at the end of the meal was a nice touch!
(4)Rob H.
Excellent Food and Wine. The waiter and sommelier were very attentive. I would definitely go back.
(5)Josh S.
There's a reason this place is considered one of the finest in Greenville, even the state. The staff knows the menu and the drink list. This restaurant is set in a turn of the century building, but you wouldn't know it. It is furnished with modern decor appealing to the eye. This place get's coined as a steak house, but let me tell you - I've had some of the finest seafood here - specifically the SEA BASS. You afraid to order the sea bass because you're hungry and don't think it will be enough? WRONG! This is the largest, flakiest, best fucking piece of sea bass I've ever had. This filet of bass is served atop a bed of spinach and covered in a bacony cream sauce. Start your night with a perfect dirty martini, of course they have bleu cheese stuffed olives - I wouldn't give it 5 stars otherwise. Get a great glass of wine from their extensive list to enjoy while you dine. Finish with the best damn hot chocolate you've had outside of Switzerland. Yup, that's right folks - go ahead and go here on your next trip to Greenville. I assume if you live here, you've obviously been.
(5)Richard G.
The ambiance is warm and friendly, great service, food is deliciious. I was surprised the menu had so many choices, and not just a steak house. I would take any of my clients there to dine.
(5)Scott M.
Excellent meal while visiting on business. Excellent location on river. Close to Courtyard and Westin. Solo on trip so ate at the bar. She crab soup was tasty but a little too thick. Sea Bass on spinach was excellent. Spinach is the bed and comes fresh but softens as the fish and sauce integrate down. Apple tart with homemade cinnamon ice cream for dessert. Yummy, but best to share. Friendly patrons. Friendly service. Reasonably priced. Would absolutely eat here again.
(5)Chris S.
Great food, wine, staff, one of our favorites.
(5)Blake D.
Great scenery, but kinda pricey for the serving sizes.
(3)Bridger N.
Was in Greenville on vacation and had an early dinner here. We sat on the patio outside which was perfect for the afternoon. It's located in a really cool old building on the river and is a great setting to relax while the sun sets. The food was fantastic and our server Jessica was one of the best and most professional I've seen. She knew everything about the menu and never pulled out a pen even though our order was a bit convoluted. Another nice thing is that after your meal you can walk along the river and into Fall's park which has a big natural waterfall in it.
(4)Amy F.
Yummy! My sensational dining partner and I have only been to Larkin's a handful of times (turns out my sensational dining partner doesn't have a steady income so Larkin's price point is generally just out of reach for us), but we talk about it for weeks after we eat here so it's like we've been millions of times. First: the oysters. I know I talk a lot about oysters, but theirs are truly some of the best oysters I've had. One of the waiters once explained to me why their oysters were the best ever, but I was too busy eyegasming to care what he was saying. Please, do yourself a favor and order the bone-in ribeye. Then call me if you finish it in one sitting. I'd like to shake your hand.
(5)Tom L.
The tableside Caesar salad preparation is alone worth the visit, but Larkin's delivered on every other level. Our service was first-rate, perfectly walking the line between friendly and professionally not-too. It's a steak house, but our seafood dishes were very nice (in fact, the only thing that keeps me from five stars is some of the seafood saucing was a little heavy--let the fish be the fish!), and the wine list was well chosen. Merryvale chardonnay by the glass is a treat. The atmosphere in the main room is clubby, not stuffy, as some have suggested. Next business trip in, I'll be back.
(4)Nicole P.
For the fact that they donate so much to locally Charities all year round... they have such a beautiful location in Greenville! I highly recommend to valet there then have a bit of food and wine before heading over to the Peace Center... then you can go back after and discuss the show you just saw... If you get a bottle of wine they will hold it for you to finish when you get back... Service is wonderful, the place is well run... Exceptional aged steak. yum... so good. The Shrimp and Grits are amazing// great salads. Also maybe one of the nicer spots for lunch... So good... .n
(4)L. H.
What hospitality is all about! Larkins on the River went above and beyond to accommodate. Several in our group arrived very late, yet the manager and our server were completely unfazed. We were never made to feel rushed and enjoyed one of the best meals ever. The oysters tasted fresh and delicious and the filet au poivre was outstanding. We won't forget the gracious attitude of the staff and will continue to recommend Larkins on the River to friends and family.
(5)Mim V.
Elegance, sumptuous meal and precise service prevailed during our visit. Although steak is the speciality, the fish dishes excelled as well. Each dish served in a formal yet pleasant manner. The Caesar salad for two made folks happy, as did the other salads. The trio dessert was photo worthy. It was perfect for four people and almost too pretty to eat, but we did and enjoyed every bite! They price all dishes reasonably, which added to our lovely experience.
(5)Ananth S.
My favorite spot in Gvegas. Everything from the steak to seafood to the sides are top notch here. The appetizers are so good we usually end up chilling at the bar and sharing a bunch of those rather than ordering entrees - our favorites include the scallops, oysters rockefeller, quesadillas, and crab cakes. Awesome mac n cheese too so get that as a side if you're a fan. Great spot to eat/drink before or after a show at the Peace Center. The pavilion on the river is perfect for events like weddings. Great wine selection and signature house cocktails. The bartenders concoct some very tasty libations while providing impeccable service. Big ups to Tone, the master mixologist that put Greenville on the mixology map, and Whit.....my favoritest bartenders! Swing by next time you're downtown, you'll be hizhappy you did fo sho!
(5)Shane M.
Attended a wedding reception at Larkin's. Everything was great.
(4)Chris H.
I had the bone-in ribeye steak which was cook to my order. The mushroom side complimented this dinner very well. My wife had the shrimp and grits with broccolini. It was very well prepared also. Great service from Jason provided us a very good supper. Thumbs up and thanks!
(5)Cheryl H.
We love Larkin's! We took my Mum there for lunch and the only downside is the number of stairs we have to go up and down from Main Street to get there, but the food is worth it. My husband had the filet with just asparagus. He passed on mashed potatoes because he wanted truffle fries with his lunch, but my Mum loved the mashed potatoes last time we ate here so she was a bit disappointed she didn't get his. The steak was perfectly cooked and so tender he could cut it with his fork. The tiny asparagus were delicious and also fork tender. Mummy and I each had the steak salad which consisted of baby greens, red onion, candied pecans,tomato, and a generous serving of sliced, chilled filet. We ate every crumb! Then our server showed us the dessert menu...OH MY! We decided to try the chocolate volcano cake, the peach cheesecake, and the creme brulee. That's right, we wanted plenty of dessert! The chocolate volcano cake was served with their vanilla ice-cream and Mummy didn't leave a lick. I'd willingly trade lunch for a week for Larkin's creme brulee and it continues to be divine, some of the best we've ever had, and the peach cheesecake was absolutely amazing. We like to sit on the patio overlooking the river so we can people watch while lingering over a consistently excellent meal. Service continues to be spot-on. We highly recommend Larkin's on the River!
(5)Tully B.
We had a rehearsal dinner at Larkins. The staff did a great job and really paid attention to all details. The food was fantastic and created a wonderful environment. I would highly recommend.
(4)MTraveler H.
We have eaten at Larkins several times and always bring our visitors here when they are in town. The table side made Caesar salad is not only entertaining, but delicious. You can never go wrong with ordering anything off of the menu, the food is fresh and melt in your mouth good! If the weather is right, I would highly recommend sitting out on the back patio which overlooks the Reedy River and all that is going on in the park. The ambiance can be very romantic if it's just you and your significant other, however it can also be a great place for dinner with a group. Two thumbs up to Larkins!
(5)Aaron C.
Great Food! I first tasted their food at Fall For Greenville and then had to make reservations to eat there. The food was delicious. Great for a date night with the wife.
(5)Ross E.
I love Larkin's, their food is phenomenal, period.
(5)David E.
Excellent for a business lunch or dinner downtown.
(4)Gene R.
Great food, great service, nice ambiance. River is not viewable at this time due to construction.
(4)Sheridan P.
great experience from the beginning. it was raining heavily, and the valet motioned for me to stay in my car. said that he didn't want me to get wet while getting my own umbrella from the backseat. he held the umbrella over me all the way up the walkway :) food was great. the amuse bouche that came out first was great--used daikon sprouts, which people never use around here. had a grilled lobster as an appetizer: it was a bit dry, but the freshly fried potato sticks that accompanied were fantastic! i chose the chilean sea bass as the main course--it was awesome, awesome, awesome. thick, tender and so flavorful. service was knowledgeable and friendly, but slow with cocktails--mine arrived sweating. eventually ended up timing my drink orders, and everything was fine.
(5)Laura P.
My husband and I had dinner last Friday night here. Our reservation was for 6:30 but we called to let them know we would be about 15 minutes late (traffic in Atlanta!) and they were very gracious about it. Hubby dropped off while he found a place to park ($10), then realized there was valet parking available. There were several diners in the restaurant but it was not full. Loved the decor, ambiance and seats. First up was a shrimp with cocktail sauce, compliments of the chef, and bread with butter. I had a salad (the creamy vinaigrette dressing was wonderful) and the shrimp and grits which were great. Hubby had the 3-course meal with a steak which could not have been any more tender or better cooked--perfect, with a great sear.He also had a salad with the vinaigrette. We shared his creme brûlée for dessert (perfect also) and I had enjoyed some excellent coffee (loved the mug and saucer). Ed, our server, was perfect. We asked where the nearby bridge was, and he even took us outside to point out the way to get there. Would definitely recommend it for a fine meal.
(5)John P.
We celebrated our anniversary at Larkins. The perfect place for something special. The service was top notch, and the meals were perfect. Caution: if you order the bone in rib eye, don't eat for four days prior. It is enormous, but is possibly one of the best steaks this red meat eater has ever had...John
(4)Ed M.
Wow - talk about full service! I had been here many times before, always for lunch, but today was special. I had driven more than half-way from Atlanta and realized I forgot my wallet - cash, credit cards - everything. I got my wife to text me pictures of a credit card, then I called Larkin's. Kristina understood my plight and was more than willing to take the card info in advance, so I emailed her the pictures and she took care of everything. No awkward pause with "T-Rex" arms to get my prospect to pay, and no need to call attention to my gaffe. Thanks Kristina! And, the food was great - as always!
(5)Charleen J.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO MY ORGINAL POST~~~~ I am going to start off by saying that we chose to dine here on June 21st Fathers Day. We ordered skillet cakes. Our waiter was wonderful, but he had some help in bringing our order over. The young man who brought the food over set the BLAZING HOT skillet pan down right in front of our 2 year old daughter, and first thing she does is grab the handle. She had the look of horror on her face. Our waiter did what he could....was apologetic and brought her over a bag of ice for her hand. I wrote an email to the restaurant the next day offering the suggestion that their waiters receive extra training when it comes to hot plates and children dining at their restaurant......It took them awhile to respond to my initial email, but when they did, they told me that they have now added a child key which tells the kitchen to remove the hot skillets from the order when they have a child diner. I am very happy to hear that they have made this change! Thank you Larkin's for making your restaurant more child friendly!
(4)Heather K.
The table side Caesar is fun (and yummy). The bacon wrapped scallops were delicious. Great service - wonderful steak. Overall great restaurant. The strawberry Melt-Tini was not a hit for us but the presentation and idea were cute.
(4)Furman L.
My wife and I enjoyed our Valentine's dinner at Larkins. The location is a little tricky to find, but they have valet parking (directions are on their website). Our table was waiting for us when we arrived - no waiting! -1 star: Food for the Price The food was just ok. When you order a steak, they literally bring you a tiny steak on a plate. No sides, no condiments, just a plain steak. Presentation was seriously lacking. For a $40 steak in this city, you expect a little more "wow" factor. Additionally, my wife just did not like the steak. Her favorite thing the whole night was the bread. The server recommended their "famous" she-crab soup. It was okay, but we were constantly pulling pieces of shell out of our mouth. Would not get that ever again. -1 star: Service for the Price Our server was very friendly, but was clearly overworked. He had way too many tables and competing priorities. For the wife and I to have a $130 dinner, service should be top notch with a low server to table ratio. Overall, I would recommend Larkins if you are seeing a show at The Peace Center. The valet parking alone makes this a no-brainer. The Peace Center is literally adjacent to the restaurant, so things are really easy. Otherwise, I would visit another restaurant in the area for a better meal at a lower cost.
(3)Eileen W.
Food was great last time I was here ...unfortunately info is wrong in yelp. They are not open til midnight and close at 10pm!!!
(5)Melanie M.
This place is great! perfect position along the river with a beautiful patio view. aye here for an anniversary dinner and was met with fast service, wonderful ambiance and incredible food! ordered the bacon wrapped scallops to start and the lamb chops with the Gouda mashed potatoes as an entree. perfection! if you want to see pictures of this place along with other restaurants follow @best_eats_ on Instagram!
(5)Kellie K.
The fella and I dined with another couple, and we were all blown away. From the olive oil and balsamic vinegar with bread to the tenderloin bites with chipotle aoili to the organic pork tenderloin, my mouth was doing a happy dance! Our waiter was so personable and knowledgeable while still being fun, and the atmosphere was fancy without being stuffy. Three of us had on jeans, and one of us had on shorts, and we felt just as comfortable sitting with the fancy people on their way to the theater. We sat inside, but the patio that faced the river looked pretty awesome, too. Highly recommend!
(5)Susannah BayLey N.
So good! I love the crème brûlée and the bread that comes with the meal is delicious!
(5)John R.
My fiancee and I visited Larkin's on Friday (the 13th) of Valentine's Day weekend. It was busy and their was also a show going on at the nearby Peace Center yet we were greeted and seated promptly on the covered & heated patio. Our server was Ed who by the way has a terrific table-side manner about him. He was extremely patient with out, never seemingly to rush us (or turn us) although it was an extremely busy night. We chose they table-side Caesar, Ed's presentation was impeccable. For entree's, I had the 28 oz bone in ribeye "steak Oscar" style and my fiancee chose the surf n' turf (lobster tail & torpedo tenderloin). Everything was excellent. We decided not to have dessert because we were stuffed (generous portions). Next time, I would like to try the She Crab soup and Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon. Will definitely request Ed again.
(5)Michael H.
We thought really good service might not exist in this southern town until we met our waitress Hannah, who was terrific throughout our entire meal. She made the night for us -- along with the mostly very good food. The jumbo shrimp cocktail was a little disappointing because the jumbo shrimp were more medium to large shrimp served with saltine crackers, although the shrimp were fresh and tasty. The Caesar salad made table-side had some unusual touches including a raw egg and Parmesan cheese being mixed in with the dressing to thicken it into almost a paste. The romaine was fresh. It wasn't the greatest Caesar ever, but we did enjoy it. We each had a 7 ounce tenderloin steak done medium rare that was fabulous. The truffled Parmesan french fries were perfect. Hannah brought us a dessert of creme brûlée that we loved. The restaurant has an extensive wine list that has won multiple Wine Spectator awards. We ordered a Craig family 2012 Cabernet that was delicious. This was hands down the best restaurant we found in Greenville on our three-day stay.
(5)Marie J.
Great food and atmosphere! Our server brought our food to the table with a hair band around her wrist with hair hanging off it, as a female I know how handy it is to wear it that way but it was very unappetizing to see hair hanging off her wrist as she moved plates around and cleared out table etc. Will def be back again!
(4)Andrea B.
The food was pretty good and the service was awesome. Our waiter was really great! We started with the scallops which were very good. We then had a goat cheese salad and bowl of she crab soup. The salad was amazing!!! The she crab had a good flavor but was not warm. Then we both had steaks and shared the sprouts and gouda mashed potatoes. The steaks were cooked perfect. For the price I was expecting a better one but was still good. The sides were very good as well. All in all it was a nice place but would try others before heading back.
(4)Mary P.
Very disappointing. Steak (7 ounce filet mignon), although cooked perfectly to order (medium rare), was cold. Not lukewarm, but cold. I am not one to send food back, so I ate it anyways and cut my losses (of $30 for this filet). Also ordered the caesar salad prepared tableside (based on other good reviews) and was not impressed. Huge portions, but huge portions of something that did not taste good, almost bitter. Asparagus was okay, but the hollandaise sauce was clumpy and bland. Bread was nothing to write home about either. One of the worst reviews I have had to write, but I do not think it was an off night for them. I am not picky and always look for the good in everything. The place lacked the sense of pride I assumed it had in delivery of exceptional steaks and food. I had read other bad reviews, but still chose to dine here, so my own fault, but diners beware. I was just glad I was not entertaining clients. But still a bummer, as it was New Year's Eve. They did not seem overly crowded or understaffed, so I am not sure what the problem is. Wine list was good. Service was excellent. Chose to sit on the patio for a view of the river, but really couldn't see the river at night from there, so inside might have been a better choice for overall atmosphere. Although we did not discuss it until the next day, my companion did not like their smoked salmon or the caesar salad either, but both of us were too polite to even mention it at dinner. Reluctant to give such a bad review, but perhaps it can save another diner from an overpriced and underwhelming meal. And maybe the restaurant will take notice so they can make improvements where necessary. But this is one restaurant I don't think I would give another try, as almost every aspect of the food was bad. Cool location and great service, but as for good food, this one gets a D minus. At this price point, you have to at a minimum be at least as good as a chain steak restaurant, and you were by far, not.
(2)Jan B.
I've been all over the world. Always have breakfast at some place that is supposed to be good and more times than not they are just average. NOT TODAY! The brunch at Larkin's was the best I've ever had. My two guests were equally if not more impressed. I had an omelette prepared at the proverbial omelette station. This chef went way beyond the normal skimpy little omelette. It was packed with cheese and bacon. My girlfriends pancake was even more impressive. (See the Photos). Her daughter had the chicken and waffles. The chicken was enormous. This was not a normal brunch. This was a FEAST! And, we sat outside under a canopy and had a beautiful view of the river. I'm in Love with Greenville and Larkin's. I almost forgot: the service was outstanding! Very unusual for Brunch
(5)Janine T.
I came to Larkins for a very special romantic birthday dinner. The food did not disappoint!! Everything was delicious!! We had the table side Caesar salad- so worth it!! I had the Larkins Lobster for my entree - the lobster was cooked perfectly! Plus the take it out of the shell- no mess! The pasta they put it over was a bit over cooked but over all the food was wonderful! My fiancé had the she crab soup - (it was out of this world), and the filet for dinner- perfectly cooked. Like I said the food was great- the service however was terrible!! Being from NJ/ NYC area, I expected a lot better service from such a nice restaurant. Our waitress forgot about us twice! Our food took a really long time to come out and she didn't even remember to bring out my fiancés soup. Once we reminded her she then had to delay our entrees which were finally served to us cold. Larkins, maybe this was just an off night... But service is a huge part of the dining experience- I hope it will be better next time.
(3)Christine V.
Nice outdoor seating next to the river with beautiful white lighting on the ceiling planks. Relaxing music and the sound of the waterfall. She crab soup good but didn't compare to Charleston. Salmon was a large portion.
(3)Kelly P.
Absolutely phenomenal food! We came here the other night with a large group, and sat out on their beautiful, enclosed patio. I had heard from some locals that Larkin's is THE place to eat, and I would like nothing more than to add to their praise: Appetizers for the table included: oysters, crab cakes, ahi tuna, truffle parmesan fries, calamari steak, quesadillas, and applewood bacon wrapped scallops, all of which were perfectly prepared, and I would highly recommend any of the above with enthusiasm! For dessert, I had the crème brulee, which was amazing! And, then there's dinner. I asked one of our two wonderful waiters for his favorite, and wow, he knocked it out of the park! Unfortunately, when the plate was put in front of me, the rest of the world disappeared into the background, so, I don't remember what cut of meat he told me it was. :( But, it was a bleu cheese encrusted rare steak on the bone that nearly melted in my mouth and made me incapable of other thoughts. It was served over mashed potatoes with a side of their unbelievable brussels sprouts. Just . . . wow. I don't know if I can ever eat elsewhere again. My taste buds are unwilling to settle for the ordinary.
(5)Michael D.
This is place to go and get a steak. Go for the bone in ribeye. It is why people pay the big bucks to go and dine in this establishment. The sides are ok, the wine list is massive, but it is the steak that takes it here. It has a very stripped down menu for chicken and seafood.
(4)Rich M.
More later, but this is the place to eat in Greenville if you want to spend the money.
(5)Adam B.
Went to dinner at Larkin's tonight with my girlfriend and parents. It was amazing! I had the best New York Strip of my life. My girlfriend thought the filet was one of the best she had ever had, and the pork chops and salmon were also very good! The crab soup was a soup version of crap dip that so good! The classic martini was delicious and the cosmo was good as well. Best steakhouse in Greenville by far.
(5)Teresa L.
This is a beautiful restaurant to have a dinner in. It is right on the river and if you can eat on their enclosed patio you will have a lovely view as night falls. The view improves once a perfectly made dry gin martini is on the table in front of you. Let me go on a bit about salad. Years and years ago I ate dinner at a friend's Italian restaurant in Tucson. One of their specialties was a made-at-your table Caesar salad. It was, hands down, the best salad I have ever eaten and I have spent all the years since looking for a salad that good. Larkin's Caesar salad is not that salad but it comes pretty damn close. If you come here and don't order it, you are a dumb head. :) Larkin's has a wide selection of steaks, for which I gather they are locally famous. Other than some salads and side dishes there is nothing on the menu for a true vegetarian. There are a few seafood dishes for those of us who stray off the path now and then. I had the seared tuna dinner and I can't complain. The fish was fresh, it was a good-sized piece, and it was seared rare just as I asked. The staff were friendly and reasonably attentive and the atmosphere in the outside seating area was pleasant. It's a bit pricey for all the time but would be a nice place for a special occasion. Get the salad.
(4)Priya M.
If half stars were allowed I would give this place a 3.5, but a 4 on service and a beautiful atmosphere. My husband and I actually visited this establishment based on Yelp reviews as we were visiting the city of Greenville. We sat in the patio and it was simply gorgeous, especially with the lights and view. We began with a jumbo lump crab cake which was amazing! It was not overloaded with sauce and perfect for two. We both got the aged filet which came with two sides and dessert. Now, my husband and I are particular about our steaks and know that we are not too fond of aged steaks but unlike Capital Grille, Larkin's stated their filet was only aged in seasoning for approximately 4 weeks or so. This didn't sound too bad for us so we thought we would try it! I ordered their house salad and my husband ordered the She crab soup which was quite tasty. Our entrees came and our sides were fine, nothing stood out, but we realized once we tasted our steaks that no matter what, aged steaks are not for us. We absolutely love our filets as they cook them in Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster in Orlando, the filets melt in your mouth and have no taste of the grill. We prefer our filets to not have a charred taste/look. The dessert, which I sadly do not have a picture of because we took it home, was quite delicious the next day. It was a chocolate cake with a cream filling layer. So overall, I think the establishment had good service, but I do think the prices are a bit steep for the food being overrated.
(3)AJ S.
Wow. I've just had the worst dinner I've ever had at a fancy restaurant. It was my 67th birthday at Larkins, which has beautiful outdoor dining on the river and where we had eaten well once before. I even wrote a favorable review before. I went with my wife, my son and his wife and our granddaughter. First, the good parts. The manager apologized to us for our problems and comped the entire dinner: for five people, 4 drinks, 5 salads and 5 main courses. That's never happened to me before. She seemed to realize that something was wrong at the restaurant, but she didn't explain to us what it was. An apology and just "we will will take care of the bill for you." Now for the dinner itself. First it took a long time to get drinks. Our granddaughter asked for a couple of olives not dunked in our martinis. These came only when we asked a second time. We ordered oysters for us and soup for her. These came reasonably quickly and were fine. Everyone also ordered appetizers. These appeared only after 80 minutes when I went and complained to the manager. One salad, a lettuce wedge, was quite good. Mine, tomatoes with burata cheese was inedible. I had asked if the heirloom tomatoes are really good tomatoes, even though it was still spring. The waiter said yes. Well, they were overripe and tasteless, close to spoiled. Another salad ordered also was without flavor. Used and finished plates stayed on the table until we flagged the waiter to take them away. After the salads, dinner came out promptly. A steak was served on a bare plate. I will post a picture if I can--it will show a steak, lonely and alone, on a bare white dinner plate. I know that side dishes were extra but give me a break! We did order spinach, which came on a separate plate, but for $35 or $40, couldn't you put a piece of parsley with the steak? (This from a restaurant that charges $41.50 for a NY strip and an additional $4.50 if you want it "au poivre" or with mushrooms--the ribeye is more). Two people ordered fish, one Chilean sea bass and one halbut. The halibut was cooked to total dryness. The sea bass was completely without flavor. Another dinner, I forget which, was lackluster. The steak ordered and the rack of lamb were both very good. One appetizer never showed up. Also, as a side dish I ordered the truffle fries. They came after the main course when I told the waiter they were missing. I had made a point, apologetically, of ordering ketchup with the fries. That of course did not come until I asked for it. The fries were good and we ate them all. We did not stay for dessert. Miraculously, the manager comped the entire dinner. The whole thing was free. It wasn't worth it.
(1)Lillian C.
Took my bf here for his birthday and I have to say, we were really disappointed (at least I was...I think he was trying really hard to spare my feelings, bless his heart). First of all, and maybe we are alone in this regard, after circling around 2-3 times we still couldn't figure out how to drive to the front of the restaurant to valet park (our GPS kept telling us to go down this lane that was barricaded off), so we ended up parking on the bridge and walking down the steps to the restaurant. Not a big deal. Yelp lists the attire as being "dressy" but this is definitely an overstatement. As I scanned the restaurant upon entering, I saw people dressed in sweaters, polos, and blouses, I looked down at my black lace dress and heels and immediately felt out of place and spent the entirety of the meal feeling self-conscious about my choice in apparel. Luckily I had a cardigan which helped me blend in more. Again, not anyone's fault, and not a big deal. I agree completely with Jonathan Y. about the ambiance. It tries but is lacking, bordering on that expensive chain restaurant feel. We were seated at a booth, but rather than being an intimate, cozy experience, it was anything but. The way it was set up, we were sitting next to each other, facing the entire dining area, and really had to crane our necks to have conversation. The food was a major letdown. The crab soup, which this restaurant is known for, was hearty and tasty. But then it just all went downhill from there. I had the filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. The filet mignon was overly salty and tough, the mashed potatoes were extremely dry, insipid, and salty, and the asparagus was unacceptable. Never did I think it possible to mess up asparagus, but yet they did. I was served four asparagus spears, of which only one was fresh, while the remainder were old-- olive-brown in color, wrinkly, and bendy. Gross. I politely FYI'ed the waitress, not expecting her to do anything about it, and was pleasantly surprised when she came out with a dish of fresh asparagus 5 minutes later. However, my big question is: why couldn't they have just brought me fresh asparagus to begin with?? My bf had the bone-in ribeye which he said was 'fine.' As it was his birthday, they served us a dessert on the house. We chose the chocolate torte, which was very decadent. It actually tasted like we were eating a ginormous chocolate truffle, and we could only eat about 2/3 of it. The creme brulee was a nice refreshing juxtaposition, perfectly caramelized on the outside and creamy smooth on the inside. The service was attentive but not intrusive. Our waitress was wonderful, but even she could not make up for the subpar, overpriced food. I hate to give bad reviews, and judging from all the 5 star reviews here, maybe I came on an off day, but I will not be returning.
(2)Josh N.
We went for our anniversary dinner... The staff was great over the phone.. The valet parking was nice. We were promised a anniversary gift!! Never saw it. The waiter acted like he didn't wanna be there.. He let it show in work.. The food was ok nothing to brag about. Definitely not worth the price..
(2)Pam M.
I so wanted to give them 5 stars and, if based on food alone, I would. We drove 1.5 hours one way last night to celebrate a friends bday at Larkin's. We chose the place based on Yelp reviews, despite the bad service warnings in some. We selected all of the favorite dishes among our party of four. Everything was perfectly amazing. Except....the service. They were not that busy and, from what I could tell, our server had just our table of four and the table next to us w 8-10 ppl. As the evening progressed it became more and more evident that this girl was in way over her head and could not keep up. Table next to us had the same experience. Too bad really, because when we spend that kind of $$ on a meal, the service had better be on par. If in Greenville again, we will find another restaurant before considering a return to Larkin's. Sorry guys...I just tell it the way it is.
(3)Constantine H.
Pretty good spot in downtown Greenville. Food was good but the service was lacking. May or may not return on a future visit to SC.
(3)Alex L.
Went here for easter brunch. Only reservation we could get was for 2pm. We were sat right away and had to wait for a lengthy period of time before we were greeted and offered water. There were many servers and managers in a nearby service area too busy doing other things to be bothered to greet patrons paying $32 each for brunch. When the waiter finally came he told us the buffet was inside and to help ourselves. He did stay on top of removing plates and refilling drinks. Food was excellent, but service could be improved.
(3)Amber K.
We had dinner here for my mothers birthday in December. We were sat outside in a covered area that also had outdoor heaters. (Ours was out) so besides being cold the entire meal, we had a terrible waiter that did not have time for us. When you go to a restaurant where you will be spending several hundred dollars on a meal for 3, you expect good service. The food was mediocre. I was not impressed.
(3)Leslie H.
Amazing meal and service. Had shrimp cocktail and a glass of wine at the bar while waiting for the rest of our party. We were seated on time and food was amazing. All 5 members of our party had the filet, and none of us were disappointed. Thank you to Andrew, Christina, and Bob for the impeccable services and making sure all of our needs were met.
(5)Russ K.
Unfortunately fairly average. They first placed us at a round table for six but we only had three people and it faced the wine bottles. We asked to move and were accommodated by the hostess. I order the filet mignon which was cooked correctly but served luke warm. I ordered a peppercorn sauce with the steak and it came on the steak and covered not only the steak but the whole plate. It would have been significantly better if served on the side and I was allowed to put in on the steak. Otherwise it would have been helpful if the waiter would have mentioned that they planned to drown the steak in the sauce. The asparagus was likewise served luke warm. The two other complaints were with the alcohol service. My wife order a half bottle of white wine. The bottle was opened and left on the table next to her glass. I realize it is only a half bottle but it would have been great if it would have been kept chilled. The waiter unsolicited brought another drink for my daughter. Although it was taken off the check she was not asked if she wanted another drink nor did she order one. This was not our first time at the restaurant and other times were better. Next time we are in town we will try one of the other steak restaurants.
(2)Mark M.
Great steak. I love downtown Greenville.
(4)Penny N.
Service was nice. And the food was very good even though I wasn't a fan of the salad. The entrée and desert was tasty.
(4)Christy D.
She crab soup was great! Service excellent. The rest of the meal was good but not memorable.
(4)John C.
Had dinner there on 6/15/14, and was VERY disappointed. From the beginning, the waitress seemed to be overwhelmed - very nice lady, but she just couldn't seem to keep up. After very slow service with very little attention from the wait staff, our meals came out extremely cold. We were heading to a concert so could not let them prepare new meals, so they just heated them up. The food was then warm and dry... I don't think we will return
(1)Duane D.
We were in town to pick up a BMW at the nearby Performance Center. We decided to have a nice dinner and see downtown. I picked Larkins based on the Yelp reviews. It was quite nice, with a very upscale menu and food. The steak was very good, and I liked the potato au gratin. A word of warning--this place is not easy to find by car. It is lower than "street level" and my GPS was very confused. I had to call the restaurant and get better directions once I was in the area. Once you find it, there is easy and free valet parking. When you finish dinner, take the time to leave you car parked and walk the river just a bit. The Falls Parks is a short walk away, and there are a lot of bars/shops/restaurants in the immediate area.
(4)Brandon B.
Slowly trying to make my way to all of the many restaurants Greenville has to offer, my fiancée and I finally found justification to head to Larkin's for a special date. If you're interested in ambiance, Larkin's has got plenty. It's in a premiere location in Greenville, right in the heart of downtown along the river. The dining area is elegant and the dark woods of the walls and ceilings give a very warm atmosphere that I enjoyed. Service, from the valet to the servers, was excellent. Unfortunately, I cannot speak so highly of the food. I ordered the simple Larkin's Surf and Turf, a 6oz lobster tail and 6oz filet mignon. I am by no stretch of the imagination a "foodie" or a person who is particular about food at all; but I do know good from marginal from bad food. The food was not bad, but it was not amazing either. The lobster was dry and almost rubbery, and the medium fillet was lacking in taste. These dishes would have been surprisingly good at an inexpensive chain restaurant, but for $100+ worth of food between us (she had the filet as well, and was similarly unimpressed) in an upscale restaurant, the food was surprisingly lackluster in execution. We shared a chocolate torte for dessert, and it was also just marginal. Asking co-workers about my experience, it seems to be a fairly common opinion that Larkin's is generally overpriced, and great food can be found elsewhere. That said, lunch may be a different story. And the wine selection was huge, for those aficionados out there. If you'd like to pay for the atmosphere, Larkin's was certainly a lovely experience. However, for those looking for amazing items coming out of the kitchen to go with that atmosphere, for the money you may want to look elsewhere.
(3)John H.
The She-crab soup, fresh Caesar salad made at you table, and a filet so tender you could cut it with a fork! This place always delivers!
(5)Kitty K.
Overpriced all around. My salmon was over cooked. The she crab soup was way too creamy. My boyfriend and I both got acid reflux from the heaviness of the food.
(2)Brian B.
I have not eaten in the restaurant proper, but I checked out the tent at Fall for Greenville and I had some of the most expensive, worst food I had eaten all day. My experience may not have been common, but if you want gritty mashed potatoes and tough meat, then you can eat it in a very romantic location right on the river, here at Larkin's.
(1)Waël C.
My favorite steakhouse in Greenville!
(5)Faye F.
Larkins was spectacular. The location is superb, right on the water. I was expecting a traditional steak menu but was pleasantly surprised with the variety of dishes. My husband had a wonderful steak and i had a lobster dish that was amazing. They are gluten friendly and the service was great....very pleasant, and attentive.
(5)Mr. P.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary on 8/23/14. I called a week in advance to make reservations. I also worked it out with the hostess, so that there would be a half dozen roses at our table. We were seated at our outdoor table, but there were no flowers. They forgot to order the roses, even though I gave them my CC info. We had reservations for 7pm, but we sat there for 30 minutes before anyone waited on us. Even though Larkins bombed big time twice, the manager made up for it. He comped us 50% and our food was perfect. My wife and I had a great dinner, at a very affordable price. We will be back again since we were well taken care of.
(4)