Undercover Diner Visits Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails

A first visit to one of Rock Hill's most unique dining destinations delivered flavorful food and a memorable evening amid the excitement of prom season.

Sometimes a restaurant visit is as much about the atmosphere as it is the food.

Before dinner even arrived, Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails offered something many restaurants cannot: a front-row seat to one of Rock Hill's most ambitious redevelopment projects.

Located within University Center at Knowledge Park, the restaurant occupies space in the historic Lowenstein Building, one of the last remaining structures from the former Rock Hill Printing & Finishing Company, known locally as "The Bleachery." Once a major textile manufacturing operation, the 23-acre site has been transformed into a mixed-use development valued at more than $200 million.

Today, University Center encompasses more than 1.3 million square feet of office, retail, restaurant, hospitality, residential, educational and entertainment space connecting Winthrop University with Old Town Rock Hill. The development includes the 170,000-square-foot Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, the Cambria Hotel, student housing, Class A office space, and a growing collection of restaurants and retail establishments.

Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails is located within the renovated Lowenstein and 1939 Building, where exposed industrial architecture serves as a reminder of the property's manufacturing roots. The district buzzes with activity from sports tournaments, conferences, business meetings, university events and visitors exploring downtown Rock Hill.

On the Saturday evening of our visit, however, the biggest event wasn't taking place on a basketball court or in a meeting room.

It was prom night.

Busy may actually be an understatement.

Although we had reservations, we quickly discovered our visit coincided with local high school prom season. The restaurant was packed with young couples dressed to the nines. The girls made frequent trips to the ladies' room for touch-ups and photos while the boys seemed content to stay put. Watching the excitement unfold added a fun and unexpected dimension to the evening.

Despite the crowd, we were seated promptly and accommodated with a booth. Service was friendly and efficient, though our waitress was clearly managing a large number of tables filled with promgoers. She took our order quickly, and our meals arrived surprisingly fast considering how busy the restaurant was. While drink refills never materialized and there wasn't much opportunity for conversation, she appeared to be doing her best under demanding circumstances.

For my entrée, I ordered the Salt & Pepper Fried Flounder served with grits. It was the standout of the evening. The flounder was crispy, flavorful and cooked just right, while the creamy grits provided a perfect Southern complement. It's a dish I would gladly order again.

Lisa chose the Classic BLT featuring applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, Duke's mayonnaise and Texas toast, accompanied by French fries. The sandwich delivered exactly what a BLT should—simple ingredients prepared well and full of flavor. The fries rounded out the meal nicely.

To accompany dinner, Lisa enjoyed the Jalapeño Paloma, a handcrafted cocktail made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, jalapeño syrup, fresh grapefruit, fresh lime and Jarritos grapefruit soda. The combination offered a refreshing blend of citrus with just enough heat to make things interesting.

Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails made a strong first impression. The food was good, the setting was unique, and the energy created by a restaurant full of prom-goers made for an entertaining evening.

We'll be back.

Undercover Diner Rating: Worth the Visit

What We Ordered

• Salt & Pepper Fried Flounder with grits
• Classic BLT with French fries
• Jalapeño Paloma cocktail

The Takeaway

Good food, a distinctive setting and an unexpected front-row seat to prom night excitement combined to make for an enjoyable first visit to Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails.