Abuela's in Laurens is the kind of place you should stop when you are ready to break out of your…read moreusual restaurant routine.
You know the routine. Same place. Same order. Same "Well, at least I didn't have to cook" feeling.
Abuela's gives you something different, and that alone makes it worth checking out.
The food is quite tasty, and one of the best compliments I can give it is that it does not feel overly Americanized. It has flavor. It has personality. It tastes like somebody in the kitchen knows exactly what they are doing and is not interested in apologizing for seasoning. Around here, that matters. I say this with love as an Iowan, but sometimes our regional spice scale runs from "salt" all the way up to "careful now, that might have pepper in it." So when you find a place serving food with real character, you pay attention.
Prices are about average. Portion sizes are about average. But the overall experience is absolutely worth the stop, especially if you are looking for something different than your usual go-to or if you happen to be driving through Laurens wondering where to eat.
Now, let us talk about the real star of the show.
The tortillas.
Have I mentioned the tortillas?
Because I need to mention the tortillas.
These are not sad, forgettable, grocery-store tortillas that merely exist as a food delivery blanket. These are fresh, homemade tortillas. And if you have not had fresh, homemade tortillas before, you need to understand that this is not a minor detail. This is not a side note. This is not something to casually overlook while deciding what else to order.
This is the moment.
When my hand touched those tortillas, my eyes lit up. I knew immediately that my life was about to be blessed. There are times in life when you just know something good is coming. A warm homemade tortilla landing in your hand is one of those times. It is culinary foreshadowing.
Honestly, if you have never had fresh tortillas, make the trip just for that. Order the meal, enjoy the food, appreciate the restaurant, but understand that the tortillas are going to quietly walk in, steal the show, take a bow, and leave you wondering why all tortillas cannot be like this.
As the Kool-Aid Man so wisely said: Oh, yeah!
Service was also excellent. Jamie was my server, and anything I needed was quickly provided with a smile and genuine sincerity. That last part matters. Plenty of people can bring you a refill. Not everybody makes you feel like they are actually glad you are there. Jamie did, and it was appreciated.
Another nice bonus: Abuela's has two meeting rooms. That makes it a great option if you are bringing a group and do not want to play the awkward restaurant version of Tetris where everyone stands around trying to decide which tables can be pushed together without causing a structural incident. If you have a family meal, small gathering, work lunch, church group, or "we all showed up hungry and need somewhere practical" situation, they have space for that.
All in all, Abuela's is a nice little restaurant and absolutely worth heading over to try. The food is good, the service is warm, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the tortillas deserve their own fan club, commemorative plaque, and possibly a small parade.
So go. Try something different. Support a local restaurant. And when those fresh tortillas arrive, take a moment.
You are about to understand.