Sweatman's Barbecue, Holly Hill, SC

Sweatman’s Barbecue
Located between Holly Hill and Eutawville on Hwy 453
Hours: Open Friday and Saturday 11:30AM – 9PM

Barbecue buffet and take-out
The buffet includes rice, hash, 2 variations of their pulled pork, cole slaw, and bread.
Their take-out section offers more of a variety.

Everything about Sweatman’s is old-timey. Driving to Sweatman's from Charleston feels like you're going back in time. Arriving at Sweatman's only reinforces that feeling. It’s situated in an old farmhouse in the side of the highway. They cook whole hogs over wood fires in a cookhouse behind the restaurant. And they give you a funny look if you ask if they take credit cards. But they will kindly give you directions to the bank with an ATM in Eutawville. Don't try calling for directions, either because.... well, you guessed it: There's no phone.

The dining rooms are decorated with old family pictures, newspaper clippings, and essays on good barbecue. My favorite was a picture of their barbecue patriarchs holding a little pig. Linoleum floors are scattered throughout, but it doesn’t really matter because the pork is just that good.

The All you can eat buffet runs just under $8 per person. Sweat tea is an extra 75 cents.

Sweatman’s works very hard at doing one thing very well—they’ve perfected their pulled pork. It’s probably the best pulled pork I’ve ever had. However, don’t plan on eating many veggies at Sweatman’s because they’re just not there. Cole slaw is your closest alternative.

The hash and rice are outstanding as the hash is just warm enough, and the rice is perfectly cooked--never dry, but not too wet either.

The buffet offers two choices of pork. The first is the dry white portions of the pig, and the second is pre-sauced brazed outer portions. I liked the smokier, wetter, and darker meat best. They have two kinds of mustard sauce available to sprinkle onto the dry pork, but you shouldn’t need to add any sauce at all to the darker stuff.

A friendly waitress puts out pitchers of sweet tea and busses tables. The sweet tea is marginally sweet with a kick of lemon.

Things I loved

• The pork was fantastic.
• I liked the old farmhouse.

What I didn’t like

• I’d like to see something green added to the buffet.
  
• Sweatman’s doesn’t take credit cards. I’ll admit, I was pretty annoyed by this one. Next time I go, I’m determined to pay with all coins.
• Don’t bother bringing a checkbook, either.

Directions to Sweatman’s from Charelston, SC

• Take I-26 North to Exit 177 (Harleyville/Holly Hill) 40something miles
  
• Turn right onto SC Hwy 453, Go 2 miles
• Turn left on Old State Road (310/176) in Holly Hill, Go .2 miles
• Turn right onto Hwy 453 (Eutaw Rd.) Go 3.7 miles
• Sweatman’s is on your right
• The total trip is about 53 miles.

What other people have to say about Sweatman's:
We8there.com
Pork and Whiskey
Chowhound