A family-owned business opened its second from-scratch biscuit restaurant location in Mauldin in the former Luna Rosa spot.
Maverick Biscuit offers a new take on biscuits, with South American and southern influences in addition to Italian qualities, and most of the ingredients they use are locally sourced — this is the restaurant’s second location, with the other one in Taylors that has been there since 2001.
In January, Luna Rosa Gelato Café — the former tenants, also a family-owned business, of 306 N. Main St. in Mauldin — had permanently closed its two locations on Main Street in downtown Greenville and in Mauldin after 15 years of business. Maverick officially opened in the location on March 28.
“It is very sad when a business closes its doors, especially family-owned, because you know a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into that business,” said Maverick Biscuit partner Sergio Briceño.
At Maverick Biscuit, it intends to treat everyone who walks through the door as family. After all, two out of the three partners are Belizean brothers Sergio and Rico Briceño — who have been in business together for 30 years and came to Greenville in the 1990s.
“Without passion, we aren’t able to create the dishes we do,” said Sergio Briceño, who said his brother is really the brains behind Maverick’s concept and menu.
“Top Gun” fans, don’t let the name fool you, Sergio Briceño joked. In similarity, though, the name came from being a place that doesn’t follow the rules, with its biscuits coloring outside the lines of your traditional biscuits, he said.
“The biscuits are amazing,” said Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt. “Our city is growing, and the magic word here in Mauldin is family. We applaud you (Maverick Biscuit) for choosing the city of Mauldin and welcome you and wish you the best success. You had me at don’t follow rules.”
The Briceño brothers, along with third partner Charles Sutter, are big on creating a positive and family-oriented culture — one that aligns with the Mauldin mayor’s values.
“Our team members don’t work for us; they work with us. We all work together,” said Sergio Briceño.
Maverick is offering a 10% discount to military members and first responders in addition to being dog lovers — so if you have a dog, bring them, said Rico Briceño, as they are offering dog treats, more specifically, free bacon. They also are heavily involved in community fundraising, said Sutter.
“We have gotten a lot of positive feedback, especially being family-owned, not a chain,” said Sergio Briceño.
The trio of restaurateurs, who also run Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar on Pelham Road in Greenville, is opening two other restaurants, an Irish pub and third Maverick Biscuit location in June, side-by-side in downtown Woodruff, while being open to exploring other potential locations in the Upstate that aren’t saturated with other breakfast restaurants such as Easley and Simpsonville.