I like to eat. Great restaurants are difficult to find. And when one finds one that is special, it’s worth going back.

About five years ago I was on my way from Florida to Tennessee. It was late and I had been driving for several hundred miles. I looked for a hotel to spend the night and found a Hampton Inn in downtown Newberry, South Carolina. One of my questions of the hotel clerk was, “Is there a good restaurant nearby.” Yes, she said. You must go to Delamaters. So I did.

Located just three doors down from the Newberry Opera House, Delamater’s is one of four structures in downtown Newberry listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally The Bank of Newberry, which was the first in South Carolina located west of Columbia.

The interior is decorated in wonderful art which does justice to the lovely city of Newberry. And, may I add, it is tasteful, quiet, and a delight just to sit and sip a glass of wine in the dining area!

The owner, Ed Satcher, very well may greet you upon entry. A southern gentleman of great charm, he will quickly point out what’s really special on the menu. From quail, to steaks, to seafood, to shrimp and grits (a southern classic), to one of my favorites, fried green tomatoes. From there it is a tough choice. But whatever you do choose, you will be delighted with the service, and with the excellent way the chef has prepared your dinner.

Delamater’s (Pronounced: Dell-uh-mah-ters) is named for the proprietor’s great uncle Ed Delamater. Delamater is French and is translated “Of the mother.” Make sure you pronounce it correctly, the “mah” is very important.

And, by the way, a visit to the Opera House is a must while there. And for gosh sakes stay at the Hampton Inn, probably the best one I have found anywhere in the USA.

And to just let you know, I have been to the restaurant at least once a year for the past five years, sometimes more than once depending upon my travels. And sitting here now, several hundred miles away, I am thinking just how wonderful it would be if this fine restaurant were near where I live.