By admin 
The Tuna swam to the top.
Big Tuna’s Kitchen & Kraft, located at 1345 Old Chapin Road in Lexington, recently was crowned the winner of The State’s 2026 Lake Murray Restaurant Poll. The unscientific poll ran on the paper’s website from May 21-27, and readers were asked to vote for their favorite restaurant on or near Lake Murray from a list of 16 places selected by The State’s staff.
Read more Who’s running in state House primaries in Richland County & what are their views?
More than 13,800 votes were cast in the poll, and in the end Big Tuna’s finished first with 52% of the votes. San Jose & Marina, located at 3340 Highway 378 in Leesville, finished second with 38% of the votes, and Irmo’s Tavern on 6 finished third with 6%.
Big Tuna’s Kitchen & Kraft has been operating at 1345 Old Chapin Road for about six years. Owner Jeff Butler, who has been in the restaurant business for more than four decades, formerly operated Baja Broiler at that same location for a number of years.
Butler said he was thrilled that Big Tuna’s fans logged so many votes in the recent restaurant poll.
“That meant a lot to me.,” Butler said. “I could have retired a while back, but I don’t because I love it. To see that (poll victory), in a people’s choice kind of thing, to me that’s awesome.”
The restaurant, which operates not far from the southern shore of Lake Murray, and has a diverse menu featuring twice-cooked Buffalo wings, pan-seared ahi tuna, ribs, Baja-style chicken, burgers, steaks, chicken tenders, tacos, burritos and much more.
When The State stopped in for a recent chat with Butler, he was grilling chicken and steak over lump charcoal on a grill in the restaurant’s kitchen. Butler noted he has long been a disciple of flame grilling over coals.
Read more ‘He’s forever 14’: Carmack-Belton’s parents denounce not-guilty verdict
“Because we cook over that fire, it just gives it a different layer of flavoring that nobody else can compete with,” Butler said with a smile.
Big Tuna’s restaurant name has a family connection for Butler. His son, William, was an athlete and a championship wrestler at River Bluff High School some years ago, and had the nickname “Tuna.” Jeff, in turn, picked up the nickname “Big Tuna.” When it came time to name the restaurant, that’s the moniker that stuck.
As another summer kicks off at Lake Murray, Jeff Butler knows that he’ll see many families, couples and regulars from around the lake coming through the restaurant’s doors, enjoying meals on the patio or grabbing a drink at the bar.
“My business is so lake-oriented in terms of the families that come in,” Butler said, noting he often sees folks in the restaurant wearing lake attire after a day spent on the water.
Big Tuna’s Kitchen & Kraft is open from 4 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed on Mondays.
Read more McLeod goes after Johnson, Webster in SC Democratic governor debate. 6 takeaways