The Restaurant at the Willcox

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Historic Address, A Serious Table

The Restaurant at the Willcox sits within one of Aiken, South Carolina's most storied properties, at 100 Colleton Avenue. The Willcox has long been a landmark in this genteel equestrian town, and its dining room carries that legacy forward with a commitment to American cuisine that earned the restaurant a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2014 — a recognition reserved for wine lists that show real depth, thoughtful selection, and genuine compatibility with the food they accompany.

American Cuisine with a Southern Backbone

The kitchen's focus is American cooking, rooted in the traditions of the South Carolina Lowcountry and the broader American table. Lunch and dinner service give the restaurant two distinct rhythms — the ease of a midday meal in an elegant setting, and the more deliberate pleasures of an evening spent over well-chosen courses and a wine list that Wine Spectator found worthy of distinction.

Why It Belongs on Your List

Aiken is not a city that shouts. It is a place of quiet confidence, and The Restaurant at the Willcox reflects that character precisely. For visitors to the region — whether drawn by the town's famous polo grounds, its historic architecture, or simply the appeal of unhurried Southern hospitality — this dining room offers something increasingly rare: a kitchen that takes American cuisine seriously, paired with a cellar that has been recognized at a national level for its quality and range.