Locally Owned and Family-Oriented
Running a restaurant requires determination, motivation, and a passion for the work. The Babcocks have proven they have what it takes.
Andrew and Kim Babcock are a husband-and-wife team who are co-owners of the restaurant Higher Ground Char House. Andrew, an army veteran, found the restaurant business a dream come true. He started out as a general manager of the restaurant before co-owning it. Kim left a job in dermatology when they decided to jump in with both feet to run Higher Ground Char House.
Andrew explained how restaurant management led to ownership. Once he completed his military service, he wasn’t sure what to do next but quickly found a home in the hospitality industry. After working in the restaurant business for 27 years, he set a goal to own his own restaurant. When the former owner decided to retire, he welcomed the opportunity for ownership.
April 1, 2026 will mark the one-year anniversary of Kim and Andrew owning the restaurant that opened in 2016 under previous ownership. They kept the original name when they took over.
The family-oriented restaurant offers dine-in service, carry-out options, a small bar, and outside patio seating. They recently started catering and offering party platters. The outside area is popular, especially when the weather is accommodating. There’s a putting green, cornhole, giant tic tac toe, a slide, and climbing area. “Our outside area is very busy in the spring and fall,” Andrew said. Kim mentioned that dogs are allowed in the outside area.
There is live music on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. which is held outside weather-permitting and inside at other times. “All local artists, a lot of covers,” Kim said. “Rooted in this community, we are proud to serve a community we’ve called home for years.”
She’s actually a local herself, having grown up in the Lexington, SC area. A lot of regular customers come in and ask for her.
Aside from the inviting atmosphere, the menu is extensive. Top menu items include:
- Death by Bacon – tons of smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, bacon aioli, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
- Chicken Tenders – hand-breaded, marinated tenderloins served with fries, garnished with slaw, served with homemade Craft Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce.
- Smothered Charburger Steak – 10oz Black Angus Ground Chuck topped with provolone cheese, grilled peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
- Mi Amigo Salad – you pick a burger, chicken, or steak. Fresh pico, black beans, Jack and cheddar cheese, grilled peppers, onions, sour cream, creamy avocado Mexi-ranch. Served in a fresh tortilla bowl.
- Ranch or Buffalo Chicken Flip – grilled or fried chicken tenderloin, drizzled with buffalo and/or craft ranch sauce, four cheeses, artisan lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Now, they can add award-winning to their list of accolades as they recently won “Best Burger” in the 2026 Best of Irmo-Chapin Life Magazine contest.
What sets their restaurant apart? Kim shared, “Food scratch-driven dishes, elevation of comfort food, bold familiar flavors, and a test kitchen – a unique way for our staff to be creative and ‘wow’ our guests. Test Kitchen is a weekly entree/app/salad that is staff-created. We name the dish based on who came up with the idea, so they get credit when posting on social media.” Find Higher Ground Char House on Facebook and Instagram.
Want to go? The restaurant is located at 211 Chapin Road in Chapin. Hours are Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., and Sundays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.