Two Hartsville restaurants featured in new guide

Ruth’s Drive-In and Shug’s Smokehouse Grill and Tavern, two popular restaurants in Hartsville, have been included in Sandlapper Society’s new book about South Carolina’s favorite places to eat. “Stop Where the Parking Lot’s Full,“ a 301-page soft-cover illustrated book, includes updated restaurant reports that appeared in Sandlapper magazine from late 1989 through mid-2008. “No glove compartment should be without it,” said Aïda Rogers, the book’s editor.

“I loved the food and atmosphere at Shug’s,” Rogers recalls of her visit there several years ago. “My friend Mark Shaffer had recommended I write about it, and he described it as sort of a hideout. It was wonderful. And every small town should have a place like Ruth’s Drive-In. All-American food at such forgiving prices is a combination I’d hate to see disappear.”

Another Darlington County restaurant, Mr. B’s in Lydia, is covered as well. Skeets Barbecue in Mechanicsville, now closed, was open when the book went to press.

“Stop Where the Parking Lot’s Full” is the name of the column Rogers originated when Sandlapper magazine was revived in late 1989. She covered about 215 restaurants until 2005, when current columnist Tim Driggers took over. About 300 restaurants have been covered since the beginning, with about half still in operation today. Those still in business, 159 in all, are included in the book.

Besides lively reports about restaurants and the people who own and frequent them, “Stop Where the Parking Lot’s Full” includes photos of restaurateurs, special dishes, and area landmarks by Lexington photographer Becky Hyatt Rickenbaker, who also designed the book. It’s divided into 10 sections based on South Carolina tourism regions. Hartsville is located in Pee Dee Country.

Founded in 1968, “Sandlapper” magazine covers South Carolina’s people, places, history and culture.

“Stop Where the Parking Lot’s Full” can be ordered from Sandlapper Society, Inc. See http://www.sandlapper.org to order online, or call (800) 908-0308, Fax (803) 359-0629, email , or write the Sandlapper office at P.O. Box 1108, Lexington, SC 29071.