Now that we are in our eighth year of marriage, we are running out of new spots to try for major holidays. There is a good bit of turnover in the #yeahTHATgreeenville restaurant scene so there are always new places to try but not places on the anniversary/birthday/Valentine’s Day level.

In 2022, Valentine’s Day was on a Monday which is not ideal with the number of places that are closed on the aforementioned day. Chris called a few spots we wanted to try (think Coral) but they confirmed they weren’t making exceptions even for Valentine’s. One would think they wouldn’t want to miss out on the extra revenue but apparently, that issue was not a major concern.

I heard about The Lazy Goat from the head of a culinary program in Greenville whose recommendations I trust. (Let’s be real. You can’t trust everybody’s recommendations.) I’ve always liked their outside terrace seating view but we’d never eaten there until this outing. 

The Lazy Goat is a Mediterranean-themed restaurant in Greenville’s West End that offers a menu featuring global influences from Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Africa and the Middle East.

The culinary team is known for a “made from scratch” approach to cooking. Our menu was created to accommodate a variety of diner preferences with meat and cheese plates, small plates to “graze and nibble,” and main dishes.

The epitome of social dining—dining that is designed around taking your time and sharing great food and stories—The Lazy Goat was designed with a relaxed atmosphere in mind. Guests can enjoy house made drinks in the dining room overlooking the Reedy River, at the bar or on the patio. A private dining room is also available for parties as large as 115 people.

With an open kitchen, cozy platform bars, late night service and communal tables, The Lazy Goat invites guests to slow down, treat their taste buds, and take the time to truly enjoy the food, company and conversation.

From The Lazy Goat website

The Setting 

I liked the aesthetic in the main dining room. The worn French farmhouse tables pair well with the modern vibe. The wall of windows gives diners a great view of the Reedy River. It’s a people watcher’s dream. The unique rope/glass globe lighting was giving Gwyneth Paltrowesque, A + D Magazine vibes. The ceiling was painted a bright robin’s egg blue which photographed well. 

The Main Event 

We opted for the Truffle Pommes Frites (French fries cooked in white truffle oil and topped with shaved grana padano) for our appetizer. I’m always partial to good fries. These were great. They were slim cut, nongreasy and covered in delicate cheese curls. We downed the entire bowl. I should have saved more room for my entree but the fries were addictive. 

Chris went with the Salmon even though he’s usually a steak and potatoes guy. (He’s an Indiana farm boy at heart.) The plating was beautiful. The portion size was smaller than he liked but the dish was excellently cooked. 

I went with the Grilled Angus Beef Culotte (a.k.a. strips of steak) with Haricots Verts (a.k.a. green beans) and Creamed Potatoes. I chose wisely. Once again, the presentation was IG worthy and the taste was even better. The mashed potatoes could have used a little more butter but the overall flavor was good. I would definitely order this dish again. 

YTC Takeaway 

Several other couples were clearly celebrating Valentine’s Day as well. The Lazy Goat is a top-tier spot. I’d like to go back and dine al fresco in the summer. The portion sizes aren’t huge but the food is good and the service is unobtrusive (which is how I prefer it). 10/10 would recommend. They even gave us complimentary macarons.