This was a hidden gem for sure!! It's an eclectic looking building with a random variety of items to purchase, local I would guess, which was already cool. The building is a combination of other buildings that you just want to explore, but on the inside, most are open for dining. And I would imagine in peak season, they need the space! The buffet was delicious, affordable, with beverages included in the price! Service was great, too! They make up your plate for you, fill your drinks, and even bus your table. Conveniently located right outside of Santee State Park or near the Santee National Golf Course, it's an easy trip to make no matter why you are in town!! The buffet is Southern Comfort foods at their best, BBQ, collards, fried fish, veggies, etc and it gets an additional items for dinner. Check it out if you're in the area!! read more

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We were driving south on 95 and wanted to find a place to sit down for lunch but not take too long. This place fits the bill perfectly. It is only about 2.5 miles off I-95 at the entrance to the state park. We got to the road with no problem but passed it and had to turn around. It is tucked off the side of the road. As other reviewers mentioned, it is a buffet (no other option). You are separated from the food by a plexiglass shield, and you just point to what you want. Yes, the fried chicken was fabulous, and the pulled pork was good, too. Since I hadn't ever had tomato pie, I can't compare it to others, but it was good. All home cooked food... If you are on a diet, you might want to skip it. The only sugar-free drink offering was unsweet tea as the diet pepsi was out. I opted for 1/2 sweet and 1/2 unsweet. They fill your drinks for you and check on you in the dining area. Banana pudding for dessert? Yes, please! read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - The restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Where do you eat when in Santee? Lone Star BBQ and Mercantile. This place wasn't our first choice but since it was top of the list on Yelp we decided to give it a try. Upon arriving we were a little alarmed. The outside didn't look like any restaurant we had been to before. At first glance the outside looks like a plantation and very old timey. Once inside we were settled down by the items you can buy in the merchantile. Then we made it to the line to pay for the buffet. They should be happy we paid before I saw the items offered on the buffet. I wasn't very impressed by the items available but was willing to give it a try. I mainly ate the protein options available. The fried chicken was highly spoken of in other reviews. I felt like it had a nice crunch and an ok flavor but wasn't the best chicken I've ever had like some had stated. The BBQ pork was also ok with the 2 bbq sauces they had provided. My nephew refused to eat. We shouldn't have even paid for him. This restaurant was definitely an adventure. We made a good time of it but I'm sure we will never be back. Lone Star BBQ and Mercantile 2212 Santee State Park Rd Santee, SC 29142 Saturday March 9, 2019 1pm read more

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If you're looking for great services & great hardy home-cooked meal and this is the place for you! Warm friendly people. Clean and good atmosphere. I came with my family & husband the portions are so big and filling. Come don't walk, run! read more

A HIDDEN GEM..WORTH TRAVELING TO Located only about 3 miles off rout 95 at exit 98 ; this rustic place offers a buffet style all you can eat with large portions to boot. Due to Covid (no self service) the staff behind the buffet (Plexiglass wall) will load you plate with as much of anything you want; and as many times as you go up to the buffet table. Meanwhile the waitress will bring to your table unlimited drinks which are included in the $17 price. The fried chicken is one of the best. Cory Henderson ( owner) told me they change the frying oil every night. The ribs were meaty and tasty . You might try the tomato pie..this was a first and quite tasty. All in all i could not find one item that disturbed me or tasted bad I give them 6-stars ( not 5) I will most certainly be back read more

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This has to be one of the best BBQ restaurants in the area (lowcountry). The restaurant is actually 4 older buildings joined together and decorated with antiques. The prices are very reasonable for the buffet size. The food is very good but the fried chicken and sweet potatoes were the stars. The chicken alone is worth the visit. They are very tender, literally falling off the bone, and seasoned to perfection. The sweet potatoes are in a close second tasting like a mix of pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes. I love sweet potatoes and this was a heavenly treat. They didn't get 5 stars as the rice was clumpy and the macaroni and cheese was very runny. read more

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Leave 95 going south and turn right at the road entering Santee Park. The restaurant is in a collection of buildings on your left. Parking along the side of the building or directly in front. The first building you pay $15 at the counter, all you can eat, served by several women behind a steam table, buffet style. Pulled pork, fried chicken, greens, blackeyed peas and green beans, mac and cheese, a heaping plate fer shure. Moving through to the dining rooms you will be offered your choice of beverage. Nice desserts as well. Every item is tasty and well prepared. I particularly recommend the fried chicken. If you want more just ask the ladies and they will bring it to you. A good meal and a bargain. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - Entrance to the store/buffet. - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

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I truly enjoyed this meal, and I certainly did not expect to. For one, it's like a buffet style, and I'm typically not a fan. But I will tell you, for the price and the quality and how delicious, you must make stop here, it is so adorable, and you will regret missing out on this establishment , god forbid it disappears one day. Don't forget dessert in the back room! I hope there's coconut cake bc yum! read more

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Incredible service, food, and party! My family rented this venue out for a wedding and it was SWEET. Everyone enjoyed their time and get truly cared for. Rachel, the owner, knows exactly how to throw a wedding for a good group of country folk. Thank you!!! read more

Super cute! Great country cooking and wonderful service! It's an all you can eat BBQ buffet, done café style. They have 3-5 staff members that are very attentive and ready to fix your plate to your liking. Your drink is included in the price. Staff walks around and refills your drinks. Will be back! Worth the stop. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - There's actually 4 small houses connected - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Great service and good food. Perfect for our last night of camping. Can't wait to go back next year.

It's closed. Unfortunately this restaurant burned down. It was a local gem & good for destination dining.

Delicious home cooked southern food!! We got multiple plates to try everything and also got seconds of our favorite dishes. I love how the buildings used to be old stores from back in the day and they preserved them and have some of the store merchandise on display for you to see. If you want real southern good for your soul food make sure you stop in here! read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - two plates of food - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Food was nothing to brag about. Really the only thing good here was the people!

Stopped at this spot after a recommendation from a local. Hugely disappointed. Pros: staff is VERY friendly. The decor has a cute southern charm. Cons: The fried chicken was bland and dry. You'll get better chicken at Bojangles up the road. Sweet potato casserole? More like sugar casserole. There's more sugar and butter in that dish than potato. Mac and cheese was fine but a bit greasy. The fish is flavorless. For a barbecue place we expected it to have more than just fried chicken and pulled pork. Everything else was just flavorless and subpar. Not worth your time. read more

We stopped for the night in Santee on our drive from DC to Orlando and checked this place out based on the strength of other Yelp reviews. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! The owner recommended we do the all-you-can-eat buffet - excellent advice. My favorites were: the hush puppies (crispy outsides, moist, slightly spicy insides), the shrimp and grits (never had before in my life and I am now a believer), baked beans (just the right amount of sweetness) and chicken wings. Sweet tea was also lovely. Hubby had the fried fish. He's a tough critic and said it was excellent. When we went (a Saturday night), there was live bluegrass/blues. And the ambience is really cool. Go here instead of one of the chain restaurants off the 95; you won't regret it! read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - Shrimp and grits, greens, baked beans, rice and hash, chicken wing = YUM! - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambience: 3.5 Date/Time: 8/11/2016 3:30pm This is a country buffet joint with mostly country cooking rather than BBQ. The food choices were a little limited, but the food was good. The building was an old rustic one with real wood floors (you could actually see through the floors to the ground underneath in some spots). The decor was antiques and rustic charm... rather cute. The servers aren't all that attentive, so be prepared to get your own tea or water, but they do eventually come around. It's a little bit off the path if you're on the interstate, but the food is decent if you're in the area or just too hungry to make it any further. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - There is some pulled pork on the buffet but mostly southern veggies. - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

I camp at Santee state park two or three times a year, and drive by this place, thinking maybe it was a biker joint or club house. I'd seen the BBQ sign but thought it was from a past iteration of the place. It wasn't until coming thru w Janie and as she was looking for spots to eat nearby discovered it is an all you can eat buffet only open on the weekends. So as our timing was right this time we gave it a chance on a rainy Friday night. As we enter, it's got the vibe of an old general store with tons of antique merchandise on shelves. It was announced that we'd pay $36 for the two of us then we'd ask the people behind the buffet for servings. They'd serve our plates as we'd request items on the buffet. Items include fried chicken, ribs, pulled pork, a meat hash, rice, macaroni and cheese, greens, sweet potatoes, lima beans, tomato pie, then peaches, beets, pickles, cole slaw, some kind of apple salad, and banana pudding. Food was as good as that food is... soft, creamy, pork was good, chicken was ok. So we're handed our plate of food we've requested, then thru the drink place and offered sodas, teas and water. (I got sweet tea as when you're in South Carolina you drink sweet tea!) We then moved to a table under more nostalgia stuff, ate and were well tended by the cute girl. Seconds we're back up to the buffet or Cutie brought banana pudding to Janie when she asked about it. There wasn't a crowd at all, she easily managed our asks. Anyway, left a $3.00 tip, said so long to everyone and headed out. So there it is, we can check it off the list... I have to give it 5 stars as it's cool, they are trying to maintain this place with integrity to the old fashioned way, food was good for old fashioned southern comfort food! Bring a pocketful of money, an appetite, and be patient w eco- unfriendly styrofoam cups... then, if you've caught them when they're open (1130-2000, Fri, Sat, Sun,) enjoy! read more

Great comfort food, bbq or chicken, with multiple veggies to choose from. Staff is exceptionally helpful and friendly. Highly recommend!

We traveled here from Summerville and it was worth the trip. It was a buffet style bbq joint set in an old authentic mercantile shop. The bbq was okay but the fried chicken was some of the best I've ever had. The young ladies waiting tables were attentive, friendly, and had a great sense of humor. A little out of the way but worth the trip. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - Lone star bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Great food. Friendly folks. Fair price. All you can eat authentic southern cooking. A winning combo in my book! Try the sweet mustard BBQ sauce on the hash over rice: EXCELLENT! read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Funky old school looking BBQ place. The star of the show is the fried chicken. Pulled pork is also good. Ribs were ok Good variety of sides $17 a head and worth it. read more

I wasn't expecting much when I came here. I had just driven a gajillion (real scientific measurement) miles and was itching to get off the road. The gas station jerky from the previous stop no longer held my interest. I wanted real food! I used Yelp and found this spot. It's a little drive from the main highway. There isn't a real driveway. You just drive up and park in an unpaved lot. Go with the flow of traffic though. Inside, various items are for sale. I didn't look around much. I walked through all the way towards the back where the buffet was. You can get take-away or dine-in. Pay at the register next to it. They have a nice assortment. I liked the chopped pork with the spicy sauce and tomato pie. Yes, I said tomato pie. I'd never had it before. It was pretty good! Of course there is banana pudding. Real whipped cream. Delightful! The dining room extends into the other buildings. Each building is filled with items of the past. Antiques, newspaper articles, bottles, old advertisements, war memorabilia, etc. It's neat to see! This place, you guys, has got to be the most surprising you'll ever come across! If you're in the area, stop by. read more

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Amazing food and the best hospitality!! It's like you took a step back in time to the way things should be and how people should treat one another. 100 mile BBQ no doubt. read more

This is not a barbecue joint. It does have pulled pork and ribs the Friday we went. Buffet was small but everything was great. The drinks were limited but the staff and friendliness made up for ambience. It was a good meal and my picky kids were full from the limited buffet. Make the stop, you'll be happy with the live music on weekends and food. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

Very fresh comfort food. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Don't be surprised when you want seconds on just about everything on the buffet bar. We visit Santee, SC annually for golf and always include a stop at Lone Star. read more

We've eaten here several times over the years. Food this visit was mediocre at best. Bbq pork with mustard sauce. Not our favorite taste. Suggest they visit some outstanding bbq establishments in NC to learn how to make que that has a better flavored sauce. Meat itself was dry. Fried chicken was overdone but tasty. Other than needing some salt the Mac and cheese was good. Potato salad like my mama used to make so I liked it. Maybe a few more sweet pickles would add a little more zip to the flavor. Service was fast and friendly. Good iced tea included in buffet price $11.00 for lunch. Restrooms clean. Interesting old items from the store to Enjoy. Decorated for Christmas very pretty. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - My Buffet plate - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

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This was the first bit of real BBQ I got to experience on my awesome roadtrip of the south. After driving over 800 miles in about 13ish hours I was due for a good plate. This place did not disappoint. It is unassumingly tucked on a country road in what can only be described as three joined wooden shacks. The rustic look complements the fantastic down home eats inside. It's a buffet style set up with a ton of food options. I piled my plate high with savory tomato pie, gooey mac and cheese, crispy fried chicken, melt in your mouth BBQ pork, collards and yams. I washed it all down with sweet tea and of course I had to go back for dessert; peach cobbler with blueberries in it. The staff was super friendly and the price was very reasonable. If I'm ever in the area again I will be sure to stop by! read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - The BBQ and Mercantile Shop - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

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We stumbled up Lone Star BBQ when we got stuck in more traffic then we had hoped for. We had planned on heading to Cracker Barrel but with two little boys, who had been cooped up in the car all day, an hour plus wait was not feasible. On to Yelp we went and found this gem of a place and I really think God had planned it this way. We enjoyed good ole' country cooking that was better then Cracker Barrel's and service that was top notch! My son has celiac disease and they worked with us to find fixings that he was able to eat. The servers entertained our boys talking about all the antiques the restaurant houses. My boys were in awe. Stumbling on Lone Star BBQ was the bright spot in our day and I am so thankful we stumbled upon it. I don't know if future travels will bring us through Santee but if they do, we will definitely skip Cracker Barrel for some real Southern cooking and incredible service! You must try! read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - The outside of one of the restaurant building. It's such a fun set up! - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

This place is awesome!!! We were enchanted immediately as we walked up to the door. The authentic old buildings were painstakingly restored and converted into a single facility. Inside was like stepping back in time. Artifacts from days gone by were everywhere. Each building was unique with decor to reflect its former use. Worth a visit for the experience alone. (Check out my pictures) What about the food? It did not disappoint. My husband and I are barbecue foodies. This was Carolina style, mustard based barbecue. (Not Texas style as the name implies). The hash over rice was meaty and smokey. The pork was lean and tender. The sauces were good. There was spicy, sweet, and vinegar based. None of these were all that spicy to us. The sides were very good. The slaw was fresh and not too sweet. The tomato pie was definitely worth printing the recipe on the old-fashioned fans they sell. And, the hush puppies were crispy with bits of green onion. To respond to a few of those "off" reviews, I can say that many barbecue restaurants are only open on weekends. I only review what I taste and experience. Also, I make it a point to order food that is the specialty of the restaurant. I order shrimp when I eat at a seafood restaurant. We are making a note of this place to come back on a future weekend because they host free live music regularly. It's just 1.5 hours away. Why not?! read more

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Extremely friendly operation. Very old fashioned atmosphere, great country cooking... and it's a buffet! Stopped for a quick lunch and am leaving extremely satisfied! We will be back when we find ourselves in this area. read more

Great little classic BBQ/Southern home style cooking, right down to their awesome macaroni and cheese! Enjoyed the rustic atmosphere, great food and live bluegrass entertainment on a Sunday evening:-) Conveniently located down the road from Santee State Park too! read more

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After hearing all the hype, we decided to try this Lone Star restaurant. It was me, my wife and her 88 year old mother. First of all, I don't know why it is labeled a BBQ eatery. The only items on their overpriced, $17 dollar, Sunday "BBQ" buffet were hash and pulled pork. The rest of it was just plain old common fried chicken, meat loaf, bland canned vegetables, clumpy white rice, cole slaw and a couple of others typical country buffet items. One thing that was missing from their menu were potatoes. There were ZERO potato items. No french fries, no mashed potatoes, no hash browns, no potato casserole etc. It's as if they partnered with the local grocery store deli to provide the food they served. At the very least, we could have gotten the same quality (or better) food at the Publix deli for about a third of the price. Don't waste your time and money with this one. read more

WOW!!! the best barbecue in the WORLD!! More southern food you will not find anywhere. 2 min. Off interstate 95 On santee state park IF YOU ARE TRAVELING this place is a most stop! Super easy to get you inky need to make to turns. We had a amazing time here. Good good but the ppl here much better. Southern hospitality 150% the best read more

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We came here two years ago and vowed never to come again. The outside is quaint-old but the inside was greasy. Now the inside is clean which makes the food more appetizing. Down- home Southern cooking in a buffet that they serve. BBQ was good, Mac n cheese excellent and nanner puddin great. Table service excellent and timely.. Definitely worth a second try. read more

I'm happy my second visit was just as good as the first, cause I talked this place up to my girl. Still love the hash over rice, tomato pie (I don't even like maters) and fried chicken. Everything else is delicious too but the first 3 items I listed will keep me coming back whenever I'm in the area. No frills, just good food! read more

I had heard from a friend about here and drove from Charleston on Sunday. Cost: $13 per person I will be honest, a place that has BBQ in it's name, should be willing to live up to it. It was extremely disappointing. The BBQ had NO flavor at all and it as if it had been reheated over and over since Thursday. If that was normal BBQ and others are happy with it, then folks, you need to taste good BBQ. The fried chicken was the bomb. However, I would never drive that far again. I understand most probably live close by and with no other places much to eat, I guess that's a better option. The employees are very nice. read more

My food was cooked but cold. I got pulled pork, fried chicken, Mac and cheese, and potato salad which were all super dry and lacked flavor. The hush puppies and peach cobbler were the only things liked. read more

My husband and I were on our way home from a cruise that left out of Charleston and found this gem. We were reading reviews online for other places (like Maurice's - don't. Just..Don't...) and happened upon lone star. The Mac and cheese and ribs were delectable and the ambiance was too adorable. Don't make the mistake of stopping at McDonald's or Maurice's BBQ ( for gods sake stay away from there). If you're reading this and considering it please take my word for it, you won't regret it. read more

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile - This place is adorable - Barbeque Near Me - Santee, South Carolina

We drove in from 6 hours away and rushed to get here before their closing time. Sunday was the only day of our trip that they were open. This little out of the way place is only open 3 or 4 days a week (check hours since Covid). Their Tomato Pie is the absolute best. They will serve you and you can have seconds brought to you. excellent barbecue. read more