This South Carolina Sub Counter Locals Keep In Their Weekly Routine

Groucho’s Deli in Columbia’s Five Points has been part of the neighborhood for generations, a place that feels unchanged even as the streets around it shift. Students crowd the counter between classes, office workers slip in during lunch, and longtime locals return out of habit as much as hunger.

The booths are bright red, the fountain drinks come over heaps of crushed ice, and the dipping sauces have built their own devoted following. The menu stays focused on sandwiches that people know by heart, served quickly and without fuss.

Every visit carries a familiar rhythm, the line, the tray, the first bite that connects past and present in the same unshakable way.

611 Harden Street Five Points Sign

The first thing that grabs you is the sign itself, perched on Harden Street in Five Points. It’s not flashy, but it’s unmistakable, a marker that has become part of Columbia’s rhythm.

Cars angle into the lot, students and office workers stepping out, already knowing what they’ll order before they reach the counter.

I liked how ordinary it looked from the outside. Walking under that sign, you realize it’s not about appearances, it’s about the consistency inside.

STP Dipper Sandwich

The sandwich most people mention first is the STP Dipper. Turkey, roast beef, and bacon bits stack into a hot sub that feels indulgent without tipping over into excess.

A toasted bun holds it all together, cheese melted through the layers, with dipping sauce on the side. It’s the kind of messy that works.

Tip: don’t rush it. I found myself slowing down halfway through, savoring the balance of salty, smoky, and cheesy in every bite.

Apollo Dipper Sandwich

The Apollo is quieter than the STP, but no less loved. Hot ham and turkey tuck under Swiss cheese, melted until it clings to the bread.

The sub has been on the menu for decades, and it shows in how smoothly it comes together; no experiments, just a recipe perfected over years.

I liked the Apollo’s restraint. Sitting with it at a red booth, I felt like I’d found the kind of sandwich that rewards loyalty, simple but deeply satisfying.

Formula 45 Sauce Cups

The sauce comes in small plastic cups, unassuming until you taste it. Formula 45 is tangy, a little sweet, and thick enough to cling to bread.

Every tray seems to include at least one cup, though most regulars ask for extras. It’s the detail that turns a good sub into something memorable.

I liked how central it felt. Halfway through my first sandwich, I realized the sauce wasn’t a sidekick, it was the reason people keep coming back.

Potato Salad And Coleslaw Recipes

The menu sides stick to classics, and the potato salad and coleslaw have earned their own following. The potato salad carries a mustard note, while the slaw stays crisp with a vinegar bite.

These aren’t just fillers, they’re recipes that have clearly been tested and trusted over decades. They balance the heaviness of the hot sandwiches.

Tip: pair coleslaw with the Apollo. I tried that once, and the freshness cut perfectly through the salty ham and melted cheese.

Counter Order And Quick Pickup

There’s no table service here. You step to the counter, place your order, and within minutes your number is called. The pace is brisk but never unfriendly.

Subs come wrapped or basketed, ready to eat right away or packed up for takeout. The flow is constant, even during peak hours.

I liked watching how smooth the system ran. Even when the line stretched long, food seemed to move like clockwork, each sandwich hitting the counter at just the right moment.

Red Booths And Framed Founder Photos

The dining room has a lived-in warmth. Red booths line the walls, soft from years of use, while framed photos of the founders add a personal touch above them.

Together, these details make the space feel more like a neighborhood hangout than a chain restaurant. You sense the history in every corner.

I liked sitting under those portraits. Eating a hot sub while looking up at the faces that started it all felt like sharing a meal with the past.

Fountain Drinks Over Crushed Ice

Crushed ice fills the cup first, rattling loudly before the fountain drink streams in. It’s a small touch, but one that sets the experience apart from fast-food chains.

Each sip is colder, more refreshing, and somehow more satisfying against the heat of a toasted sub. The texture of the ice matters here.

Let the soda sit a minute before your first sip. I found the mix settled perfectly, making the drink just as memorable as the sandwich beside it.

Takeout Boxes Ready At The Register

Near the end of the counter, stacks of takeout boxes wait for quick packing. Orders slide into them neatly, sauces tucked inside without a mess.

The setup makes takeout easy, grab your food, a couple of napkins, and head back out into Five Points with no delays.

I liked the efficiency. Picking up my order felt effortless, and even when the crowd pressed in behind me, the staff managed the flow with practiced ease.

Neighborhood Crowd At Lunch Rush

By midday, the counter transforms into a hive of energy. Students, office workers, and longtime locals weave through the line, each one confident about their order.

The chatter is constant, punctuated by the sound of trays hitting counters and sauce cups sliding across. It feels like the whole block gathers here.

I liked being part of that rhythm. Eating my sandwich while the room buzzed around me made the experience feel less like lunch and more like joining a tradition.

Franchised Spinoffs But This Is The Original

The shop has sprouted franchised versions elsewhere, but Harden Street is where it started. The difference is immediate, here, the air hums with decades of routine.

Framed photos, seasoned griddles, and staff who know the recipes by heart tie this location to its roots. There’s a weight to that kind of continuity.

Don’t skip this one for convenience. Visiting the original felt essential, like tasting the sub in the exact place it was meant to be served.

Simple Menu Built On “Dipper Style” Subs

The menu doesn’t try to overwhelm. Nearly every sandwich follows the same pattern: hot fillings, toasted bread, and a cup of sauce for dipping.

This tight focus keeps things sharp. Instead of experimenting endlessly, the shop has perfected a handful of subs that keep people coming back.

I liked the clarity. Reading that short list, I felt relief instead of indecision, knowing whatever I chose, it had been refined and trusted for decades.