This is a great spot for lunch or dinner. They offer inside and outside dining. They have the BEST tater tots and burgers! Their salads are also very tasty. Their draft beers are always rotating so no matter what time of the year you'll get something different. If you have not been here you must try. read more

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We diverted here from another restaurant that was overly crowded but was nearby. I had heard good things about the UJoint but my mental impression was that it would be more "restauranty" and in fact it was more "jointy." So now I get it. This is like the local neighborhood watering hole that has little to do with the old fern bar concept and is the evolution of the local pub with better food. The menu had a wide range of choices, including vegetarian choices (even a black bean burger option). Daily specials are running for lunch. We were there for food, and at lunch, so no beer was partaken but the selection was impressive. This is an ideal good weather spot with the option to open up the garage style doors and have an awesome outdoor seating and dining area. The interior tables and booths are very limited, maybe three booths and five or six tables until you hit the bar area and there are some communal tables and barstool seating. These are long tables with lots of stools, so clearly the eating and drinking are at least at parity within the purpose for the Joint. I had the Firecracker burger, about a 1/4 lb patty, very juicy and cooked exactly as requested at medium. This burger is served with jalapenos and a jalapeno aoli sauce with lettuce and tomato on a brioche style bun. Tasted great, but the bun could not hold up to the juiciness of the burger, which usually indicates you should toast your bun to create a barrier, which they didn't do. It was not nearly as hot as advertised nor as compared to similar menu items at other local burger joints. All in all, very serviceable burger, just very messy - ask for extra napkins. I am a sucker for tater tots over fries, so that was my option. They were good, but not as good as some of the rave reviews on here. I think the difference is that while I appreciate a good crunchy tot, there also has to be a certain soft interior and a little bit of greasiness is good. Not too much greasiness, but a little touch is good. These had a great crunchy exterior, the interior not as soft as one would want and they were not at all greasy. I figure they must have been flash fried at a high temperature to get that combination of crunch, no grease and not as soft interior. I know this is nit-picking, but that is what a review is for, right? Parking is a problem, but they have addressed this on their website and with directions at the location to identify where you can park without trouble. But be careful, the side street parking carries a $500 fine. This would be an excellent place to sit and have a couple of appetizers and beers and watch the world go by on a cool spring or summer night. It captures that sentiment well. read more

Great casual atmosphere, good service, and tasty food! The outdoor seating on summer days are nice as well, especially since it's dog friendly! read more

Universal Joint - Amazing Chicken Wings! - Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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Pretty good beer selection, below-average food and grumpy service. I've had a decent meal here, it just can't seem to be replicated. some of the food is simply bad by Design. The chicken tenders are the frozen kind you might buy at a grocery store. I've had the Reuben when it was really good, but mostly it's a soupy mess. The brisket nachos can be really good, but sometimes it just feels skimpy. The wait staff is scarce and even on a quiet night like tonight, they can be hard to find. read more

Craving burgers, it's no surprise we found ourselves heading to Universal Joint. A beautiful springtime evening made the outdoor seating an obvious choice. Yes, Stone Ave can be loud at times - especially during rush hour - but the tasty food and good selection of drafts will keep your attention, as will the variety of dogs at neighboring tables with whom you can become acquainted (UJ is very dog friendly!) Tonight, my wife chose the Smokehouse Burger, with crispy bacon that adds a great flavor balance with the cheese and barbeque. I went with the Firecracker burger, which comes with jalapenos and a jalapeno aioli. Honestly, I can stand for a little more heat from my jalapenos myself. Having said that, this burger was way more palatable than a similar burger I ordered from another local establishment. If you like a touch of heat but aren't looking to call the fire department to cool down your mouth, then you should consider the Firecracker. By the way, both burgers were cooked to our specifications (well done and medium, respectively). This was our seventh or eighth visit to UJ, and they remain consistently good, and a solid choice for a burger. read more

Bartender that responds to "Griff" is a G. He participated in whole-hearted debates. Michael doesn't give honest opinions. -1 star. Shout out Griff-Griff. read more

Consistently good food, good music, could use some better draft prices outside of happy hour but what can ya do?

The prior one star review and critique was given at a time when social distancing was beginning. My husband and I eat here often and always find the wait staff willing to make changes and super friendly. Please don't judge this place by one person likely reacting to the Coronavirus and all of the new restrictions being implemented in Greenville and nationwide. It's a scary time so everyone should be kind to one another. It's takeout/curbside now! read more

Seated on the patio this evening, by a server right as we arrived with not many other customers there besides 2 other parties if 6 or so people. Sat there for 10-15 min while 3 waiters Wales in and out casually speaking with other patrons and each other while never saying a word to us. I waved in gesture to get a water or a menu or something from them with no regard. Seems they were more interested in speaking with each other than us even when the server that seated us was in the patio several times and paid us no attention. Only attention we got was when we got up to leave they noticed us and the one make waiter waved us off like we were a bother. No service at all, I'll never return here again. Thus is my 3rd and worst experience here in only 5 times as a patron. read more

Pretty good food. Pimento cheeseburger is great. Eat the tots. Yum. However, parking is a nightmare! Seriously the worst parking. That's the one thing that I absolutely hate about this place. I parked on a dark street a few blocks away. Shadows everywhere. People watched me from their house. They did not look kind. They were wearing black robes. Chanting. Whispers. Secrets. All I could see was their eyes. I hope they don't hurt me after I eat my wife's tots! Turns out the people in the black robes were part of an actual nightmare I had after trying to find parking near Universal Joint. But that's how bad the parking nightmare was. It made me have a real nightmare about the parking. Nice people though. read more

I really enjoy dining "al fresco!!" Whether inside, with all the doors and windows flung wide open, or on a terrace underneath the open sky, dining outside can be a very refreshing prospect for an afternoon of leisure activity. U-Joint caters to the outdoor dining experience very well! All the walls open up like garage doors, allowing for cool breezes and warm light to fill the entire restaurant. I consider this establishment a perfect "goto" on many a mild afternoon for a beer on the patio with my buddies. The food is well prepared, and in my mind falls categorically into a bit of a "pub" style. There is a little more forethought paid to the ingredients, elevating it from mundane to a little more interesting fare. They have a fully stocked bar and for the most part keep a decent selection of beers on tap. The price points are only slightly elevated. It's really the atmosphere which you are paying for here. Its located right up in the heart of the North Main district, which gives it a much quieter feel than the "hustle and bustle" of downtown. Its quite pleasant actually, with a relaxed neighborhood feel. It is a smaller venue so it fills up quickly during clement weather, so its best to go between the "rush" times of lunch or dinner. One huge drawback is that they don't have a ton of parking, so finding a spot can be tricky. Service has always been adequate, with no major concerns and the staff are very friendly. Definitely give this place a shot! Enjoy, Cary read more

Went here for a paid work lunch and got the chicken tenders. The food was decent. Our large party received good service. No complaints really, but it didn't wow me. I probably won't be back personally. read more

Wide selection of food for good prices. Most of the food items were delicious. However, some of our food came out cold to the point where it was not even cooked throughly. Parking is also a struggle. read more

A real disappointment for something that looks so cool in a great location. Burgers, quesadillas, and tacos were all very "A-ok" but the high prices makes me want to never return. We live close by and were hoping to make this a regular but with bad service, no parking at all, and overpriced food, I don't think it will last too long in Greenville. read more

My daughter has been here several times with friends and enjoys eating here. It was just the two of us today so we stopped by for lunch. We sat outside and I loved the atmosphere. I wished I had known you can bring your dog because mine would have loved it! We ordered the sunset dip and salsa. I enjoyed the salsa and how flavorful it was. The dip was a creamy smoked tomatillo. I thought it had a type of 'potato' taste to it. Almost more like smoked potato soup. It was ok, just not what I expected. I was really in the mood for a quesadilla...how can you go wrong with that??? I ordered the southwest chicken quesadilla and regretted that after a couple of bites. I'm not one to send my food back so I suffered through it. The chicken had to be the driest chicken I have put in my mouth in a very long time. It was like someone over-grilled chicken, chopped up the end pieces and threw them in a tortilla. I was putting sour cream, salsa and dip in it just to try to get some moisture. I suppose I just picked the wrong menu item, but seriously, how can you screw up something so simple!?!? I'm not sure I'll be going back since there are other places around I can give a first try to. read more

Please up your food quality. Either that or your kitchen staff. Your menu is great for bar food, but I can get better food at Applebee's. Cool staff, fun location, fun ambiance, GROSS FOOD. read more

I would love to be able to leave a review of how good the food is however for the second time in a row a waitress cleaned off a table for the six of us and then the host sat a party of 2 at the table. read more

The food is quite good. We had a couple of their burgers. The service on the other hand is horrible. I had to get up and get my own drinks from the bar, and had to also go grab our own silverware. I know the server saw us. After asking for our bill, our server disappeared. I finally had to go the bar and ask for it almost 20 minutes later. read more

I really do like UJ, specially for the trivia and pup friendly atmosphere, but their service needs some serious work. Once you are seated wait time is ridiculously long and you better know what you want because it takes them for ever to return. They are also chatting amongst themselves (bartenders and other servers) when clearly they have table. read more

Honestly i love the location but the parking can horrible. To me the food was greasy but you can't go wrong with the arugula salad! I love how family friendly it is tho! read more

Ate lunch there today. Was disappointed to see the waitresses were not really wearing masks. By not really I mean one had it pulled down under her nose and the other kept pulling it down completely under her chin. There is little point in wearing one if it is not being worn correctly. The food was okay, but frankly neither of us felt comfortable eating it due to the cleanliness, so we didn't. Believe it or not we are still in the middle of a pandemic and if a restaurant doesn't care enough about keeping things sanitary, then we will not care enough to spend money there. Don't even get me started on watching them "wipe down" a table barely... read more

Went for dinner on Saturday night. Service was slow, but our server was busy all night. Food was good and would eat here again. Only downside was there were 4 of us and two of use asked for ranch with our sandwiches and got charged extra for one. You would think each person could get a ranch with no extra charge. read more

Hey! What's up? UJ is kewl. They're the only place this side of town for a decent crafty drafty, burger, or saucer of milk. And now that dogs aren't allowed on the back patio, I can sprawl out in the sun and let Lori rub my belly. Food is reliable and service is good. Never have to wait for a perch. Great for people watching, or a relaxing snack after your grooming appointment at Bo Stegall The Salon. Tara runs a tight ship and keeps the party flowing. Word. And Kristin puts the 'vice' in 'service.' Only docked one star because WHY FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY RUIN IT WITH TRIVIA?!? I can hear that nonsense at any kit kat klub in town. UJ, you're better than that. Thank you I know. read more

First time visit - food is delicious, drinks refreshing and super friendly service only gripe if I may - we understand busy joints... you don't have to overly apologize for being busy, just keep drinks coming and we are all good ;) read more

Hubby is a burger fiend, so we're always looking for new burger places to try. We tried this place based on a recommendation by my brother, and we weren't disappointed. I got the Ol' 1-2. Hubby got the Firecracker. I loved mine, but loved his even more, and he was nice enough to trade with me halfway through. Best burger I've had in town, hands down. We've been back three times in the past month, brought my dad (who agreed that was the best burger he's had in a very long time), and it's now our go-to spot. Only downside: not a giant kid's selection. Our son is picky and will only eat chicken. He ordered the chicken fingers and said they were gross. I tried one, and he was right. Avoid the chicken. Burgers are definitely their forte. read more

We've always talked about coming here and trying it because it's within walking distance to our house and we were excited when we decided to go check them out. It was in the evening and all the tables outside were taken when we got there. We were quickly greeted by a nice server (I don't remember his name) who cleaned up a table outside for us. That's when things went down hill. We were met by our waitress and she had a horrible attitude that wasn't very welcoming at all and lacked attention to detail. She didn't know some answers to questions about gluten-free items on the menu and instead of saying "let me find out for you" she just said" I dont know" and left my wife to make a decision. Secondly, we asked for water for our table and had to wait about 15 minutes till she brought some to us. Lastly, we asked for a to-go box and she kept forgetting until after the third time it was finally brought and by that point it wasn't busy at all. She did ask how everything was, but it was always as she was walking by and kinda made it seem like she could care less what our answers were. I'd like to think this place is good, but after tonight it'll be hard to change my mind. Aside from being able to sit outside everything else was just "meh". I'd probably go back a second time just to see if the food/service is better but will definitely have lower expectations after tonight. Also I was hoping to get a seasonal beer, but they didn't have any it was "coming soon" with no indication of when. read more

Ok - took my wife here later on A Sat night for drinks and burger and was pleasantly surprised by the good service and delicious cheeseburger. They serve to 10:45 so this will be our new go to place as my wife gets off work kind of late. Very clean and comfortable outside seating - we sat out back and it was nice. We will be back to try more menu offerings. Good job! read more

I've been watching this place to see what it was becoming, and now that it's open, what a happy surprise. I like what they did with the space. For what could feel like a small or closed-in bar, with garage door 'walls', it is open and airy. It was very comfortable inside yesterday when the temperature was close to 90. They have a covered porch area in front (right on Stone Ave), but also one out back which faces trees and feels much cooler. Both patios are doggie friendly, so bring your best friend along! Also relaxed and kid-friendly, so bring them along, too. Full bar, several beers on tap including local beers. We didn't try the food (shareable bar foods, burgers and such) but the plates I saw were going back to the kitchen empty, which is a good sign! Currently they have awkward and insufficient parking, and the nearby streets are permit parking only, so don't get yourself towed. Hopefully they are putting more parking out back. read more

There wasn't anything that I disliked about this place. It's in a nice location that is close to Main Street downtown yet not crazy busy with the hustle and bustle. Universal is dog friendly so it was nice to see they provided water in doggie dishes around the perimeter of the outside patio. Very laid back and comfortable. Great for anyone who is just that... laid back yet the menu had offerings for all types of tastes. I got the Greek salad with grilled chicken... the pesto dressing that came with it was unlike anything I have ever taste. So flavorful and fresh. This is a great chill spot for those lazy weekends you're off and want to lounge and have great food! read more

I ordered the Steinbeck burger - pimento cheese, bacon, jalapeño, ranch. It was very tasty but could have used a few more peppers. I opted for the tater tots and they were done right: crunchy! The place itself is intimate so I'm sure it fills up quickly. There are a few tv's but I don't imagine this would be the place to watch the big game. There is seating in the bar area and a separate dining area as well. Many beers to choose from and they feature a rotating beer menu so you can't go wrong. Well, if you like beer you can't... Give this place a try! It's a nice place that would be great to be a regular. Perfect for a burger and a brew. Quiet atmosphere which is a nice break from Downtown's often annoying scene. read more

Great place friendly staff. Good beer selection with great food options. Dog friendly on porch and Sunday brunch. All come and enjoy the wonderful neighborhood spirit. read more

The management at this establishment is horrible and rude. The waitress we had was exceptional but the manager was rude and unhelpful. The manager asked us to take our child out of the high chair after he was done eating in order to give it to another customer who just arrived, adults were still eating and had to hold the baby. When asked about a missing meal the manager was dismissive, unconcerned and rolled her eyes when asked to check on it for one of the kids. To top it off, charged $5 for a tiny cup of kids oranges when a full kids meal is $6 and when questioning the cost of a tiny cup of oranges... apparently opening a cup of oranges is intense labor and that's why it's $5. We had two orders for two kids, that's $10 of oranges out of a can - nothing fresh about those $10 oranges. read more

Thought this place was great. Food was outstanding (had the brisket philly: not usually a fan of brisket but theirs is extremely good and smoked), good selection of craft beers (stone IPA is a favorite), service was very good contrary to another reviewers comment, and atmosphere is really unique. I agree there is limited parking and it was hot in the doldrums of summer, but we were prepared to walk thanks to the heads up from the other review and the fans they have are pretty effective. Both the walk and heat made the beer more enjoyable, anyway. One opportunity for improvement would be more comfortable stools, but it's a minor complaint and it is a bar, after all. Was expecting a mediocre bar and was very pleasantly surprised to get a very enjoyable meal. Recommended. read more

Honestly love UJ for the most part and they usually have amazing service, and the food is wonderful at a good price point. That's the only reason I'm giving 3 stars and not 1. However, my most recent experience rubbed me the wrong way. Normally we call in for pickup, but on Tuesday there was a special on Door Dash for pickup orders so I did that instead. Order went through as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. I will admit, I did place the order fairly close to the order cut off, 20 minutes before 10:00, but the restaurant does not close at 10:00 and I did not place a big or complicated order (couple of burgers and an appetizer). Because of this I also had a 30% cash tip ready for whoever took care of it, because late orders suck, I know. When I arrived, the employee behind the bar said they did not have any orders.. I showed the order on my phone, and they said they didn't get any orders because their tablet for Door Dash had died earlier. I understand that, but I do imagine they have a charger for this reason, and if they are accepting orders until 10:00 there should be no reason the order wasn't honored. Have it so orders cut off earlier if that's a problem. On top of that, the employee was extremely rude and not apologetic or helpful at all. I know no one wants to put in a last minute order to the kitchen, that's fine I wouldn't have asked them to do that after they explained the issue with the tablet, but they could've at least acknowledged the inconvenience and come up with something better than saying the tablet was dead. At least lie to me and say it's broken, I'd be less offended if they hadn't been in control of the problem. I know times are hard for the service industry right now, so I'll give benefit of the doubt for that. If it weren't for the employee being rude about it, or the carelessness that caused the issue, I wouldn't even be writing this review. read more

-1 because parking is, and always will be, a problem. -1 because service is mediocre at best. I don't want the water you just brought ; I want the beer I ordered 15 mins ago. Is it too much to expect it before the food comes? Apparently so. -1 because you asked me how the burger shld be cooked (medium), then brought it well done, cold, dry & flavorless. The fries were supposed to be plain, but were covered in salt & pepper. If you can't fulfill the order just don't ask in the first place. +1 because my companion really liked his burger. That makes a generous 3 stars. read more

Food was spot on. Tasted great and service was excellent! There appetizers are great and the price is actually low for the quality of the food. read more

A wonderful hidden gem in Greenville. If you've never been I recommend the egg rolls. The chutney that comes with it is amazing!

Best burgers around. This is where I take everyone from out of town. Service is good. Decent beer selection. Tots are great. Only suggestion would be to add sweet potato fries (or tots!) and let me add a fried egg to my burger. Outdoor seating is great. Parking can be troublesome - you have to go across the street or next to the bowling alley. read more

This is more of a neighborhood bar and has a lot of regulars. When I opened the door I noticed dog hair all over the entrance mat. UGH! Dogs are allowed outside only in the outside seating area. We sat inside at a table instead of the bar and the table appeared to be clean except for numerous crumbs left on the table. We had to wait to be served and I didn't see a server, so I wondered it we needed to order at the bar. Brad came in from the back patio and immediately waited on our table. I noticed he was serving the rear patio, inside, and front outside seating and he did a great job. He kept checking on us (and everyone else) to be sure everyone was okay. Kudos to Brad for the great service!!! When his shift was over he was replaced by another server (name omitted). Sorry, but I prefer not to be served food by someone with dreadlocks and a nose ring. It's a hygienic thing with me. Happy Hour is everyday and drinks are a great price! I have eaten here in the past and the food is just okay, but a little pricey. Happy hour chicken nachos are $5 which is half of the regular price, but rather dry. Parking is very limited unless you want to park across the street and cross Stone Ave. Try UJ if you haven't done so and form your own opinion. read more

Not sure why not 5 stars for UJoint - as we call it. I wonder if anybody calls it "Universal J"? No matter. The parking is a bit challenged - now apparently to occur behind the salon across the street with someone trying to charge $5 for the space behind the insurance office. Also, the service can occasionally be a tiny bit challenged when it gets busy. Those caveats out of the way, UJoint really delivers as a great local watering hole. The menu is inventive, the food is fresh and delicious and the drink options get the job done quite well. The service is usually fine, handled by a friendly young staff. I love several of the burgers - bunless of course. My favorite is the Steinbeck with bacon and excellent pimento cheese. They have you covered for sides and I LOVE their fresh, simple field green salad with a luscious, tangy lemon dressing and cheese - so good. Properly cooked crunchy/steamy tater tots are also on offer if splurging on the carbs. The other item I have to comment on is their wings. From what I remember, they have real smoked wings one day in the week. THOSE are the bomb and arguably some of the best in town. However, their regular wings are also outstanding, particularly the lemon pepper version. I think my favorite lemon pepper wings evah. It's a hip happening place with one of the nicer outdoor seating areas in town - right on the street but with a short wall and plantings that break the noise, etc up. You will often find dogs and their owners out there and makes for a pleasant place to hang. Not the biggest selection of drafts and wine in town but they keep things mixed up and always seem to make great choices for what is on offer. When the weather is nice, the big doors open up and the whole place shares the vibe. UJ is a great casual food/drink option that our family has enjoyed regularly since moving to Greenville. read more