Sumter's Diamond in the Rough: Redbone Alley

Every time my parents, friends, or family come into town and mention food, I instantly suggest Redbone Alley. I don't know whether it's just because I like the food or because of the atmosphere, which is kind of unusual. The reasons I love to eat here are innumerable. The atmosphere is great, the waiters are friendly, the food is delicious and the prices are reasonable.

Redbone Alley is unique in several ways, though the restaurant is large and busy enough to seem like a chain, in reality it is a local business that is unique to only two locations; Sumter and Florence South Carolina. It's the little things that make a trip to Redbone Alley worth the time, every time.

First off, the restaurant is divided up into little sections. The most unique section is probably the kids' section. I think it is so neat how a restaurant like this actually provides a place for kids to be entertained during and after a meal. The ice cream truck, available for kids to go in at any time and get ice cream, is an unusual but good idea. Redbone Alley also has a bar that stays open past the restaurant's normal business hours, which provides older people a good place to go have a good, relaxing time, and a couple of drinks. Most of the normal seating in the restaurant is round, green, rod iron tables and chairs. They are arranged kind of close together, but they do have just enough room for people to pass between them. There is some greenery that runs around the whole restaurant. There are also several fake, green trees wrapped with Christmas lights all around the bottom floor. In most of the windows, there are lively looking ferns that are displayed. Also, in the windows you may spot a "dummy" looking out watching you eat. Here and there you'll even see a bench that matches the tables and chairs, or a couple of birds in a tree nesting.

The setting of Redbone Alley contributes to the pleasant atmosphere of this place. As soon as you walk in, the arrangement makes you feel like you are not even "inside" a building but just cruising down an alley. The live entertainment, which is usually a local band or artist keeps you preoccupied until your food arrives. The noise level is minimum but usually depends on the number of people present. The high ceiling inside Redone Alley also has a lot to do with keeping the noise level down. My recent visit proved to be a fairly nice experience, because the fact that Redbone Alley was so busy didn't at all contribute to a high noise level. It was rather quiet to be as packed as it was. Even the lighting of this restaurant is suitable; it is neither too bright or too dim. The atmosphere is one in which you could either dress formal or just in every day clothes - which ever way suites the occasion or makes you the most comfortable.

Although the arrangement and atmosphere of a place are fundamental to me, the most important factor of a restaurant would be the food and how much it costs. There is definitely a wide variety of choices to choose from here, at Redbone Alley with several categories to choose from. You can select from several types of salads - such as a Caesar Salad, or house; specialties - such as Baby Back BBQ Ribs or chicken planks; roadside appetizers - such as wings; aged steaks - such as filet mignon or flat iron; grits and pastas, which would include Chicken Leo and the famous Shrimp and Grits, and several different types of sandwiches - grilled shrimp BLT, hot club, or a Cajun Hardtack. Redbone also has unlimited beverages, which include soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, and water. In addition to whatever entrée ordered, you get the Redbone's wonderfully delicious bread and butter.

After the waiter brought my bill and collected the money, I had second thoughts about dessert. I asked the waiter for the dessert menu just to take a glance and see how irresistible the pictures were. After she brought a dessert menu back and I looked and thought long and hard, I decided to give the cheesecake a chance. It was incredible!! Come to find out, all of the desserts are baked locally, and daily.

Overall, I give this little gem in the south a 9 out of 10. Located just off of Broad Street in Sumter, in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center, it is just a few minutes out of the way and well worth the trip.