Few restaurants around the state serve the freshness of a farmers market that is only steps away. However Julia Belle's Restaurant in Florence is located inside the property of the Pee Dee State Farmers Market, a 45,000-square-foot drive through shed that's open to the public six days a week. The freshest fruit and veggies around are an earmark of this farmers market restaurant in South Carolina but there is much more to love about this down-home eatery.

The big red barn that Julia Belle's occupies is open, welcoming, and most of all, it adds to the charm of dining on food right from the farm — and AT a farmers market.

Enjoy heaping portions of comfort food we've come to love in The South. Julia Belle's signature shrimp and grits comes two ways...

You can get it with sauteed shrimp or, if you prefer, they'll even put fried shrimp on top of their creamy grits, with sausage and cheese!

Just pop up to the window to order your food. A full menu hangs above the window and it doesn't matter what you order — it's all good if Julia Belle's makes it.

The eatery features blue plate specials with a meat and two sides. The tender, fried pork chops are a must-try. Pork tenderloin, done right, is hard to come by in South Carolina. Load up the plate with some ooey, gooey mac and cheese that pairs perfectly with anything. You can also order the Mayberry Pork Chop sandwich and get it on one of the home-baked rolls.

In addition to the daily specials (see here for a full list), Julia Belles features hand-patted burgers served on homemade rolls, chicken and waffles, a quarter-pound hot dog, a BLT that includes fried green tomatoes, and more.

Order at the window and then pop outside to play a little corn hole on Julia Belle's lawn while you wait and before settling into a cozy table back inside to devour your farmers market meal.

Oh, and DO save room for dessert. You can probably buy pies galore at the farmers market, but just put that pie in the car and have one of the delcious desserts at Julia Belle's instead!

What a lovely day trip: the Pee Dee Farmers Market and a visit to the farmers market restaurant - Julia Belle's!

Julia Belle's is open six days a week. The hours are Monday - Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday/Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It's closed on Sunday. See this link on their official website for more information, and follow their Facebook page for the latest blue plate specials!

Address: 2513 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC, 29501

Learn more about the goodness found within the Pee Dee Farmers Market from this previous article!