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Wholly Smokin’ Downtown
Southern BBQ Experience in Florence, SC
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Wholly Smokin’ Downtown, founded by the late Bill Travis in 2012, has grown from a passionate hobby into a bustling full-service restaurant and bar situated in the revitalized downtown Florence.
Bill’s journey began in 2009 with a personal smoker, where he delighted friends and family with his BBQ creations at tailgates, baseball games, and cookouts. His love for smoking meat led him to BBQ competitions, earning accolades and a growing local demand.
This encouraged him to sell BBQ and ribs from the back of Travis Jewelers, his family’s jewelry store.
The first Wholly Smokin’ storefront opened in 2012 on Celebration Boulevard, near his wife Jackie’s custom cake business, Let Them Eat Cake! In late 2014, the restaurant relocated to its current prime location at 150 S. Dargan Street, becoming a central fixture in downtown Florence.
A Deep Dive into Wholly Smokin’ Downtown’s Menu
Wholly Smokin’ Downtown offers a rich and varied menu that highlights the best of Southern BBQ and traditional cuisine. Their offerings cater to a wide range of tastes, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Starters
Kick off your meal with one of Wholly Smokin’s mouth-watering starters. The Fried Green Tomatoes are a Southern classic, perfectly crispy and served with a signature remoulade sauce. For a shareable option, the Pulled Pork Nachospile high with tortilla chips, pulled pork, cheese, jalapeños, and BBQ sauce. Another favorite is the Smoked Wings, available in flavors like buffalo, BBQ, and lemon pepper, offering a deliciously smoky kick.
Salads
For a lighter option, try one of their fresh salads. The Smoked Chicken Caesar Salad combines fresh romaine lettuce, smoked chicken, croutons, and Caesar dressing for a satisfying meal. The House Salad is a mix of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and cheese, with the option to add smoked meats for an extra protein boost.
BBQ Plates
The heart of Wholly Smokin’s menu is their BBQ plates, showcasing their award-winning meats. The Pulled Pork Platefeatures tender, juicy pulled pork served with two sides and cornbread. The Brisket Plate offers slow-smoked beef brisket, while the Rib Plate brings St. Louis-style ribs, both accompanied by your choice of sides and cornbread.
Sandwiches
Their sandwiches are perfect for a hearty, handheld meal. The Wholly Smokin’ Burger is a juicy delight topped with cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and their signature BBQ sauce. The Pulled Pork Sandwich and Brisket Sandwich are both served on a bun with sides of coleslaw and pickles, ensuring a flavorful bite in every mouthful.
Entrees
Beyond BBQ, Wholly Smokin’ offers a range of Southern entrees. The Shrimp and Grits serve up Southern-style shrimp over creamy grits. For a classic BBQ option, the Smoked Chicken offers a half chicken smoked to perfection, served with sides and cornbread.
Sides
No Southern meal is complete without the perfect sides. Wholly Smokin’ offers Mac and Cheese that’s creamy, cheesy, and baked to golden perfection. Their Collard Greens are slow-cooked with a smoky flavor, and the Baked Beans are rich and flavorful, featuring chunks of meat. The Coleslaw is fresh and crunchy, providing a perfect balance to the rich BBQ dishes.
Brunch Specials
On weekends, Wholly Smokin’ transforms into the go-to brunch spot in Florence. Their Chicken and Waffles combine crispy fried chicken with a fluffy waffle and syrup. The Brisket Benedict features poached eggs and sliced brisket on an English muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce. For a sweet start, try their fluffy Pancakes, available with toppings like blueberries or chocolate chips.
Desserts
End your meal on a sweet note with one of their delightful desserts. Banana Pudding is creamy and delicious, topped with whipped cream and wafers. The Pecan Pie is a Southern classic, rich and sweet, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
Beverages
Pair your meal with a refreshing drink. Wholly Smokin’ offers Sweet Tea, a staple in Southern dining, and Lemonade, fresh and tangy. For those looking to enjoy a more spirited beverage, they also provide a selection of Craft Beers and Cocktails, featuring locally brewed options and specialty drinks.
Wholly Smokin’ Downtown’s menu is a testament to their commitment to quality and variety, ensuring every guest leaves satisfied. Whether you’re in the mood for traditional BBQ, a hearty sandwich, or a delightful brunch, Wholly Smokin’ has something to tantalize your taste buds.
(Of course, South Carolina’s barbecue scene is packed with legendary joints and hidden gems. See more BBQ restaurants in SC to discover where to go next in the state or find other great BBQ joints around Florence.)
Part of the Community
Wholly Smokin’ actively participates in popular local events such as Florence After Five, the Pecan Festival, Lucky Shamrock, and Cinco de Mayo. They also support numerous community fundraisers like Taste of the Symphony, Bone-Fit, and the Food and Wine Festival, showcasing their commitment to the broader Florence community.
Following Bill’s passing in 2017, his legacy lives on through his family. Jackie Travis, now the owner, along with their children Sarah and Andrew, continues to honor Bill’s renowned recipes and dedication to quality. The team at Wholly Smokin’ remains passionate about providing excellent service, ensuring that the restaurant feels like home for their patrons.
What Folks Are Saying
Google Review
Among the many Google Reviews, Local Guide William C Albert found what he was looking for:
What a great find! Was looking for a great BBQ place on this trip and we found it.
Yes, the deviled eggs listed on quite a few reviews are absolutely fantastic, great flavors come together. The brisket was one of the best I have had, great flavor, tender and just plain delicious. The burnt ends were meaty but not really burnt.
The collard greens were tasty and got turned up a notch when our fantastic server suggested and offered pepper sauce. Worth the short detour we took off the highway. Town also was fun to explore.
Yelp Review
Over on Yelp, Casey P
Had dinner there last night. My wife and I shared the trio platter of brisket, pulled pork and burnt ends. Brisket was cut a little thick, but tasted good. Pulled pork and burnt ends were outstanding.
The fries and Mac and cheese were very good. They had two kinds of sauce. One was mustard and vinegar. Not to my taste, but good. The other was a ketchup base, but we loved it. We would definitely go back again.
Menu for Wholly Smokin’ Downtown
Note: Menu prices and options are subject to change over time. Contact the restaurant for the most up-to-date information.
Location, Hours, Contact Info, and More
Map
Directions
Contact Wholly Smokin’ Downtown
150 South Dargan Street
Florence, SC 29506
Florence, SC 29506
Hours of Operation
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | |
| Friday | |
| Saturday | |
| Sunday |
Review Sites
Features
Cards and Cash, Heavy Tomato Sauce, Mustard Sauce