If you’ve driven through Manning, South Carolina lately, you might have noticed a spot simply called The Grill. It's tucked away in a town better known for its bass fishing and the "Striped Bass Festival" than for social media firestorms. But honestly, if you search for "the grill manning sc" today, you aren't just finding a menu. You're finding a digital battlefield.
It’s weird. Most small-town diners live and die by the local word of mouth. For Christopher Phillip Wallman Jr., the owner of The Grill, word of mouth went global in the worst way possible.
The Incident That Wouldn't Stay Buried
Basically, everything changed because of some fried pork chops. It sounds trivial, but the fallout was anything but. A video began circulating—and has resurfaced multiple times, including as recently as late 2025 and early 2026—showing a confrontation between Wallman and a couple dining at the restaurant.
The couple, which included a disabled veteran, reportedly sent their pork chops back because they were fried too hard. Standard restaurant stuff, right? Not this time. Instead of a quiet fix, the situation escalated into a public call-out. Wallman was filmed telling the entire dining room that the couple was trying to get $137 worth of food for free. He eventually told them to "walk out of that door and don't ever come back."
The internet, as it tends to do, didn't take that lightly. Yelp actually had to monitor the page because of "media reports," and the restaurant’s rating took a massive hit. Wallman eventually posted an apology on Facebook, claiming the video didn't show the whole story and that he reacted poorly. He insisted it wasn't about race or creed, but the damage to the brand was already deep.
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What’s Actually on the Menu at The Grill?
If you can move past the drama, the food at The Grill in Manning SC is a bit of a mix. It’s a seafood and American-style joint that took over the space where Mill Street Grill used to be. You'll find a lot of Southern staples here.
The setup is a bit of a throwback. They do a seafood buffet that’s pretty popular with the local crowd on specific days. You’re looking at fried chicken, a salad bar that most people say is actually well-kept, and various hot dishes. It’s comfort food, plain and simple.
- The Seafood Buffet: This is the big draw. Think fried shrimp, fish, and the usual sides.
- The Salad Bar: Surprisingly, this gets a lot of praise for being fresh, which isn't always a guarantee in small-town buffets.
- Standard Fare: Burgers, hearty salads, and those infamous pork chops.
The vibe inside is casual. It’s the kind of place where you see groups of friends meeting after church or workers grabbing a quick lunch. The decor is clean, and the staff is generally described as friendly, though that’s been heavily disputed in recent online reviews following the viral video.
The "Manning Dining" Context
Manning is a tough place to run a restaurant because the competition for "Southern soul food" is actually pretty fierce. You have legendary spots like McCabe’s Bar-B-Que just down the road, which people will literally drive 100 miles for. When you’re competing with pit-cooked wood-smoked BBQ and whole-hog traditions, your service has to be as good as your grease.
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The Grill is located at 201 S Mill St. They’re open most days from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, though they stretch it to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday is a short window, usually 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for the lunch crowd.
The Reality of Eating There in 2026
Is it worth the stop? Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a tourist passing through on I-95, you might find the atmosphere a bit tense if you've read the news. But for many locals, it’s just another spot to grab a meal.
The prices have been a point of contention. Some folks find $140 for a meal for two (as mentioned in the viral dispute) a bit steep for a grill in Manning. You can certainly eat cheaper at a lot of other places in town. But seafood buffets are never "cheap," so keep that in mind if you're planning a visit.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Visit
If you decide to check out the grill manning sc for yourself, here is how to navigate the experience without the drama:
- Check the Buffet Schedule: Call ahead to see if the seafood buffet is running. It’s not an everyday thing, and that’s usually what people are there for.
- Verify the Bill: Given the history of disputes, it's always smart to double-check your ticket before paying.
- Explore the Alternatives: If you find the vibe isn't for you, Manning has incredible options like Porter Jacks Grill for a more "sit-down" experience or Ward’s Bar-B-Que for a quick take-out fix.
- Communicate Early: If your food isn't right, speak up immediately and politely. Most issues in small restaurants can be solved with a quick word to the server before things get heated.
Ultimately, The Grill is a restaurant in transition. It’s trying to move past a very public PR nightmare while maintaining its status as a local gathering spot. Whether it succeeds in the long run depends on if the kitchen can stay as hot as the headlines.