Photo by Mark Mclane
bestofthe
midlands
Garibaldi
2013 Greene St.
Columbia
803-771-8888
Motor Supply Co.
920 Gervais St.
Columbia
803-256-6687
motorsupplycobistro.com
spotlighton
Mr. Friendly’s
riley’s
whitbybull
L
2001 Greene St. #A
Columbia
803-254-7828
mrfriendlys.com
Riley’s Whitby Bull
orraine and Will Riley are a
vorites. The house soup is always “Whim
happy accident for Aiken. Afof Will” and is always delicious. Breakter a visit to the city in 1994,
fast, served only on Sunday mornings is
they decided to settle in the
equally entertaining to your palate and
town and opened their restauyour eyes. The “Irish Pub Breakfast,” is
rant in 2000. An old rambling
a hearty serving of Sliced Black Angus
Second Empire Style house is now the
beef, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese
home for them (upstairs) and home for
and Port wine sauce served open faced
incredible food and ambience downstairs.
on French loaf with roasted potatoes.
Both graduates of the CIA (Culinary
This dish was born after a catering event
Institute of America) in Hyde Park, the
where not as much beef was called
Rileys have a passion for a cooking and
for as they ordered, so Will invented
reading. The reading passion led them to
this terrific breakfast concoction. The
the name “Whitby Bull” from a Martha
Ginger Apple Compote Pancakes are
Grimes mystery novel
aptly described as
where an English
“redolent with autumn
lighthouse is charac“An old rambling Second spices” and Will’s Eggs
terized “as loud as the
Benedict have been
Empire Style house is
Whitby Bull” because
declared “the best ever”
now the home for them
of the noise. Lorraine
by several well-traveled
(upstairs) and home
loved the sound of it
customers. The “Wild
and Riley’s Whitby
Irish Soda Bread” is so
for incredible food and
Bull was born.
popular that it is also a
ambience downstairs.”
Dinner, served
“to go” item, as is the
from Wednesday
lemon chess pie, turtle
through Saturday, is as interesting as one
pie and various cheesecakes.
might expect from this eclectic couple.
The Rileys believe, to paraphrase
Along with excellent seafood and beef,
Shakespeare, “the food’s the thing,” but
some unusual dishes reside on the
they serve not only food but fun, so be
menu: the “Minnesota” Elk Steak with
prepared to eat well and be entertained
Mushroom Brandy Sauce and Louisiana
for free!
Shrimp and Rice are two customer fa-
801 East Pine Log Rd.
Aiken
803-641-6227
rileyswhitbybull.com
Villa Tronco
1213 Blanding St.
Columbia
803-256-7677
villatronco.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 SOUTHCAROLINA MAGAZINE
61