My brother always makes fun of me because he says I say EVERY burger is a great burger. But, can you blame me? As long as the meat isn’t overdone, the bun is soft and the toppings are fresh, I’m happy. At Grill Marks, you can count on just that. Having opened in September of 2012, Grill Marks paved the way for other burger establishments in the Upstate.
What sets Grill Marks apart from the rest? Their “go big or go home” menu offering gourmet, over the top burgers, enormous FreakShakes (explained in detail later), as well as all the fried accompaniments you can imagine. Start with the Three Way, which gives you the option to choose three of their fries and sides and try them all. The choice will not be easy. My starting lineup: Fried Pickles, Onion Rings, and Fried Green Tomatoes…all served with a creamy dipping sauce for your dunking pleasure.
Another delicious appetizer, if you’re not feeling the fried stuff, is The Portobello Napoleon. Layers of meaty, grilled Portobello mushrooms are topped with tomatoes, grilled onion, pesto and a copious amount of ooey-gooey Brie cheese. One little bite is packed with flavor, and did I mention all the melted Brie?
Time for the stars of the show…the burgers. The amount of care and respect that goes into making each and every one of these burgers is impressive in and of itself, regardless of the fact that they are pretty darn tasty. Their beef is a custom blend made daily and cooked to order. Those soft, grilled buns are baked daily and individually by hand. Lastly, Grill Marks strives to source the best quality toppings around. Those three components make for one impressive burger.
Essentially, any flavor of burger you’re craving, Grill Marks can make you. Want something with a sweet and spicy kick? Go for the Hawaiian Punch (my personal favorite pictured above) topped with applewood smoked bacon, pepper-jack cheese, grilled pineapple, jalapeno pesto, lettuce and tomato. If a classic burger is more you’re style then the BCB is the burger for you. Simple, clean and topped with all the burger classics…the meat speaks for itself.
The Hot Mess deserves a paragraph all its own. The most expensive, and most gigantic, burger on Grill Marks’ menu is truly a showstopper. Get this…the Hot Mess= A grilled cheese sandwich between two beef patties, grilled hot dog, chili, cheddar, Swiss, AND American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, onion straws, fried pickles, lettuce and tomato. Part of me gets full just reading that, and the other part secretly wants to eat it all. I admire anyone who could tackle this burger in one sitting.
Grill Marks’ famous milkshakes are what truly made them an institution in Greenville. Their Madagascar vanilla ice cream is house-made and “spun with love” making their shakes extra creamy and rich. Just their classic shakes are decadent enough, such as the Caramel Espresso or Banana Puddin’ shake, but when foodies get together, we search for the best of the best.
The FreakShakes are quite possibly the most outrageous (in a good way) dessert I’ve ever seen. Take the Salted Caramel & Heath Bar Crunch shake, for example. Not only do you get a huge glass full of their salted caramel milkshake, but then they take it a step further and top the shake with one of the best, gooey brownies you’ll find, a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, crunchy bits of heath bar, and caramel sauce. My advice to you: share this with a friend, or 10.
Grill Marks is truly a “treat yourself” kind of place. With a killer bar serving craft beer, scratch-made cocktails, and award winning wines, you’ve got everything you need to sit back, relax, and get your grub on. Grill Marks is located at 209 S. Main Street. They are open Monday – Thursday from 11am – 10pm, Friday & Saturday from 11am – 11pm and Sunday from 11am – 9pm.
Leave a Reply