‘Luxurious tastes’: The Epicurean Table restaurant opens in a rural area near Columbia

Dr. Billy Clowney had his eye on the building at 9661 Horrell Hill Road in Hopkins for quite a while.

Clowney, who worked for decades as an oncologist, lives in Lower Richland and would often drive by the building in Hopkins while he was on his way to work in Sumter. The facility had different uses through the years, including time as a furniture store.

“I live on Motley Road, and I drove by this for 30 years going to Sumter,” Clowney said. “I was going back and forth to Sumter and every time I passed this hill I thought, ‘There should be a restaurant in that place.’”

Now, what once was little more than a vision or aspiration for Clowney has become a reality, as he recently opened The Epicurean Table restaurant on Horrell Hill Road, near the intersection with Garners Ferry Road. The restaurant is just west of Horrell Hill Elementary School.

It’s an establishment where Clowney, executive chef Everette Tucker and other staffers are looking to bring an elevated dining experience to rural Hopkins. The inside of the facility has been completely remodeled, with high-backed, cozy booths illuminated by chandeliers, along with an elegant bar and bold colors highlighting the tabletops and floors. A Christmas tree glowed on a stage during a recent visit by a reporter, and jazz played softly from the sound system as lunch diners filed in and out.

The menu at The Epicurean Table features diverse offerings, including shrimp & grits, rib-eye steaks, shrimp Alfredo, lamb, beef lasagna, chicken & waffles, grilled salmon, salads and much more. There are also vegetarian options, including an eggplant and lentils dish that features grilled eggplant with sauteed mushrooms on a bed of lentils, topped with a carrot ginger puree.

“Our inspiration was to bring something nice to Hopkins,” said Clowney, who is now retired from his oncology work. “There are a lot of people here in this area. Why should they have to drive all the way downtown to have a nice meal in a nice atmosphere?”

Tucker said Clowney has encouraged the kitchen staff to create a vibrant menu, one that offers lanes for culinary experimentation. He also said the restaurant strives to be a comfortable spot for local residents.

“It’s different,” Tucker said. “We don’t have TVs on the wall. You come in to eat, you come in to enjoy it with your family. ... It’s family oriented. What ‘epicurean’ means to me is consistent, luxurious tastes with wine and family and friends, communing together.”

The Epicurean Table opened about a month-and-a-half ago, and has been slowly tweaking its menu and making adjustments as it introduces itself to the community. Clowney said the response in Lower Richland has been encouraging.

“We have people come in and say they love the food, which makes me feel good,” Clowney said. “We’ve given people something very nice and very healthy. That, in itself, is the pleasure of it.”

Clowney said he hopes The Epicurean Table can serve as an inspiration that other businesses can make a go of it in Hopkins.

“This is just a start,” Clowney said. “This is a spark. ... I think people will realize they can stay here and have a good time and build and raise a community that is better than what we have.”

The Epicurean Table is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Monday.