A new barbecue restaurant is opening on the shores of Lake Murray. Here’s where
There’s new smoke on the water at Lake Murray.
Driftwood Smokehouse, a new restaurant for barbecue and more, was set to open its doors at 4 p.m. on March 18 at 101 Sandalwood Road in Leesville. That’s on the western side of Lake Murray, in the building that formerly was home to restaurants including The Cove and Buck’s Pizza.
The new barbecue eatery is an effort from brothers Paul and Cody Bessinger, who are members of the family behind the Maurice’s Piggie Park chain in the Midlands. But those who visit Driftwood Smokehouse will find a different experience than the one at Maurice’s.
Driftwood Smokehouse is a full-service restaurant with a waitstaff and a full bar. It features an elegant dining room with windows looking out to big water views on Lake Murray. The restaurant’s initial opening menu features some expected favorites, such as smoked pulled pork and barbecue sandwiches. But it also includes tacos, salads, baby back ribs, smoked ribeyes and more.
“This is something we’ve always thought about doing,” Paul Bessinger, 46, told The State. “It’s kind of a different twist on the normal barbecue restaurant. Something outside of the box.”
The idea of having an elevated barbecue restaurant right alongside the lake intrigued the brothers.
“It was just something that the lake’s never had,” Cody Bessinger, 35, said. “Obviously, we’ve been in barbecue a long time, and we knew we could put something out here that was steady and good.”
When Driftwood recently announced its opening on Facebook, the post drew a huge reaction, with more than 350 likes, more than 100 comments and nearly 120 shares. Paul Bessinger said a quiet soft opening last weekend drew a bigger response than was expected.
He noted the area around Lake Murray continues to grow, and he thinks there is a demand for new restaurants.
“There is tons of growth out here,” Paul Bessinger said. “Look at Lexington, there is so much building and people are moving out further. ... The people are here, and all the locals have expressed their input, that they were looking for something sit-down, full-service out here.”
Aside from the main Driftwood Smokehouse restaurant, the brothers also have the Outpost at Driftwood Smokehouse, which is the patio bar right next door, which formerly was home to a bar called the Thirsty Gator. The Outpost has covered outdoor seating and its own food menu, and will often host live music on the weekends.
For its opening week, Driftwood Smokehouse will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The brothers said the hours will likely expand in coming weeks.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 1:52 PM.
