Scoundrel

Chef Joe Cash’s highly-favored Greenville location may be called Scoundrel, but if you manage to score a reservation, you’ll be calling him sweetheart. The Greenville native opened this upscale restaurant back in 2022, and it’s been receiving fantastic reviews ever since, and even earned a nomination for Best New Restaurant by the coveted James Beard Foundation. If you’ve got a deeply refined palette for European inspired cuisine and deep French flavors, this is far and away the best restaurant in Greenville for you.

A little bit sexy, a whole lot delicious, this bespoke restaurant specializes in a retro French bistro vibe and food that feels like it's from another age of white tablecloths and tableside Beef Tartare. Service at Scoundrel is excellent, and you won't be disappointed with chef Joe Cash's continental fare. Especially noteworthy beyond the equal finesse with seafood and steak is chef Cash's attention to vegetarian fare, which he gives all of the attention and glamor he brings to his proteins.

If you’re searching for an elevated meal—perhaps inspired by European sophistication and French flavors—you’ll find it at Scoundrel. Chef Joe Cash, a Greenville native, took his experience at New York’s Per Se and Major Food Group and brought a unique, exciting concept home to South Carolina in 2022. A dinner experience at Scoundrel varies based on customer preferences, but the duck fat frites, beef tartare, and the chef’s grandmother’s cocoa powder layer cake are not to be missed.

(Video above: Morning headlines from WYFF News 4) Scoundrel, a new restaurant featuring French bistro classics, is under construction at 18 North Main Street, where the Indian restaurant used to be. It is expected to open this fall. Chef Joe Cash from New York City said he's returning to his hometown to open the new restaurant.Table 301 is also opening a new restaurant downtown.Jones Oyster Company is slated to go where Soby’s On The Side used to be off East Court Street.

The upcoming French concept from acclaimed chef Joe Cash aims to deliver “a menu of of just bangers” to downtown Greenville. Cash, a Greenville native who spent years working for some of the best restaurants in the world, recently returned to the Upstate from New York City. The chef said he aims to deliver a restaurant with a steakhouse vibe and a menu of classic French dishes with a focus on impeccable technique and presentation.

In 2024, the renowned James Beard Foundation nominated two local restaurants and one chef as semi-finalists in different award categories: O-Ku Sushi for Outstanding Restaurateur; Scoundrel for Best New Restaurant; and Tania Cienfuegos Harris of Topsoil Kitchen + Market in Travelers Rest for Outstanding Pasty Chef or Baker.

For a sophisticated dinner experience, look no further than Scoundrel. While their menu features decadent dishes, they’re incredibly accommodating to dietary restrictions. I personally recommend the Sliced Yellowfin Tuna, oysters, and the Poisson Pour Deux (with butter substituted for dairy-free options).

In the heart of downtown Greenville, Scoundrel delights diners seeking a refined experience. Expertly executed French dishes reign supreme here, with platters of fresh oysters sharing the table with delicacies like duck mousse and escargot. You might be tempted to make a meal of the hors d’oeuvres.

Get ready to be scandalized by an impertinent restaurant menu!. Scoundrel has no right to offer high-end hors d’oeuvres, entrees, and wines in the heart of downtown. Beef tartare, escargot, and oysters on the half shell are among your light-bite options.

For instance, Greenville boasts a pair of French eateries: Passerelle Bistro, which serves Gallic highlights, and Scoundrel, which was a 2024 semifinalist for best new American restaurant, according to the James Beard Foundation.

Next Best Options: Chophouse 47 (Greenville), Hall's Chophouse (Greenville), Soby's (Greenville), Coral (Greenville), Scoundrel (Greenville), The Kennedy (Spartanburg), Rick Erwin's (various locations)