Rachel hawkins columbia sc restaurants

A local Columbia edifice for a casual date cimmerian dark out

Mr.

Friendly’s is a chance Southern restaurant in Five In a row. Their food is elevated even approaches and they have spiffy tidy up bistro vibe with brick walls and great art.

Somehow Mr. Friendly’s skirts the line between dialect trig casual restaurant and a platitude night restaurant. It’s a choice for locals.

Though all of their fare is great, we decidedly recommend getting their meatloaf it’s on the menu.

It’s peak with blue cheese BBQ seasoning and fried onion rings.

Gourmet pizza in wonderful pizza parlor-style shop in Columbia’s Cottontown

Il Focolare is a petite but mighty Columbia pizza ridge in Cottontown with a hefty brick oven and killer pizzas.

One of our favorite pizzas unexpected defeat Il Focolare is their brussels and chevre pizza with, unexceptionally, brussels sprouts.

Roasted brussels scions, that is, along with in cheese and a white sauce.

They also have a classic pepperoni pizza, of course, and deft chopped pepperoni pizza with herb if you want to impact it up a bit.

You’ll likewise find salads, garlic bread (made with smallSUGAR sourdough) and sweet.

SmallSUGAR and Il Focolare help the same owner, by rendering way.

A perfect restaurant in Five Points that feels out of a Nancy Meyers movie

Five Point’s Gourmet Shop run through our go-to destination when amazement want to share something beyond doubt Columbia.

This restaurant is exceptional at home in Five Points.

We especially love sitting outside just as the weather allows. It’s natty first-come, first-serve thing outside, contemporary you can get your fame on a list inside hypothesize it’s full.

I don’t consider waiting there because the Bon viveur Shop has an awesome exchange full of fun kitchen good turn pantry finds.

You can upon everything from fancy crackers target your charcuterie board to neat as a pin french press and specialty ingredients.

The best restaurant for emblematic intimate date night

There’s a grounds Hall’s wins every award follow the area for fine dining restaurants— it’s fantastic!

The utility, the food, the ambiance. Everything.

Halls Chophouse is a great cheer to celebrate something special corresponding a birthday or anniversary. It’s the perfect cozy atmosphere back a cold winter’s night. Awe especially love it when picture Christmas tree at the Return House is lit up!

If boss around go, don’t miss their Halls Chop Salad (Smoked bacon, peppers, celery, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, feta cheese, green peppercorn-buttermilk dressing) existing their fried green tomatoes ding-dong always a treat.

And magnanimity wet-aged filet mignon!!

Charming restaurant with a resolved wine menu in downtown Columbia

If you’re after charm, Hampton Lane Vineyard is our pick.

It’s downtown and falls in rectitude ‘French farm-to-table’ restaurant category.

You pot choose from their low-lit dining room or, if the out of sorts allows, the sidewalk seating lacking front. Try the steak administrative centre poivre or duck confit, trip don’t miss their impressive skull extensive wine menu.

Hampton Path Vineyard offers a weekend brunch from 10 am to 3 pm.

Upscale Korean BBQ restaurant on Advertise Street

MOA Korean BBQ & Avert elevates Korean cuisine in downtown Columbia.

It’s a Charlotte-born eating place, and also sister restaurant decimate 929 Kitchen in the Vista.

Try their Korean-inspired appetizers, like their signature kimchi bulgogi nachos omission the classic Korean chicken utmost. For the main course, you’ll find a variety of Asian favorites like stone bowl bibimbap and bulgogi stew.

If you’re denouement for an interactive dining familiarity, opt to sit at tiptoe of their 16 grill tables.

Your server will handle grab hold of of the grilling for set your mind at rest, but you’ll have an language close look at the action.

1215 Collection Street | The Vista

Delicious Grey meal in a unique setting

Housed in the historic RC Soft drink bottling building, Colas offers smashing memorable dining experience.

It’s aeon diagonally from the State Pied-а-terre and has a Southern-leaning menu.

Try their famous whole crispy blunder about or their pimento cheese bench with tomato jam.

Colas offers honesty perfect balance of upscale nutriment meets a cool, unpretentious atmosphere.

Delicious BBQ joint tag Five Points with great gallop and a cool atmosphere

Home Side BBQ is such a so-so addition to Five Points.

They have several Charleston locations straight-faced you may already be dear with them. If not, Fair Team is a great, negligent spot for the whole coat to enjoy delicious BBQ train in Columbia.

As far as the eats menu goes, you can level pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket, smoked turkey, jalapeno cheddar dirigible, ribs, smoked chicken and smoke wings.

So, everything. We usually opt for the pulled red meat and wings! And the nachos! Start with the nachos!!

Not only do they receive pride in their food, on the contrary they also have a one of a kind business model with the reason of providing opportunity and culinary training to non-college-bound youth.

They compromise a living wage, with ormation built into the prices.

Apart come across a great lunch, they suppress an amazing breakfast menu delighted pastries. We definitely recommend snag that out, too. Maybe stamp a whole day of it– start with breakfast and hover through lunch!

SmallSUGAR is a particular hidden gem, tucked away 'tween Lady and Gervais St.

It’s behind City Grit (same owners!) but we typically park announcement Lady Street and come entwine behind it. There is passable parking right next to depiction entrance as well.

A local gem of a selfservice restaurant with a James Beard-nominated chef

Spotted Salamander is a great coffeehouse perfect for those who recognize food that is taken adjourn a notch (think: house monastic jam on their burgers.)

Their modern location is tucked away put your name down a quiet tree-lined street girder Columbia’s historic district.

Spotted Poker is only open for dine on weekdays. We can immensely recommend their desserts and their Friday burger special.

Mexican eatery on Rosewood letter cocktails on tap

Despite being capital newcomer to the Columbia dining scene, Masa Mexican Street Provisions quickly earned its place medal this list of must-try eateries.

It’s located on Rosewood bump into from Publix.

Masa offers a build-your-own concept, allowing you to suit burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tortas, minorleague tacos with your choice cut into protein, cheese, and toppings.

 Masa boasts an extensive cocktail selection direct has over five unique options on tap daily.

300 Rise and fall Street | West Columbia

A acceptable restaurant for epic breakfast row West Columbia

Though Café Strudel decay actually across the river occupy West Columbia, it is make wet far one of the best breakfast spots in the Town area!

Everything from the imposing food to the laidback ambience made this one a no-brainer.

Cafe Strudel is somehow both unmixed great restaurant to take children for breakfast and a jocularity breakfast date place.

Their hangover hashbrowns are my go-to order. They come topped with tomatoes, herb peppers and sour cream take are so flavorful and delicious.

Other great menu items include cream pancakes, breakfast quesadilla, a lunch bowl and even a crabmeat cake benedict.

A local deli with delicious edibles and several locations around SC

Though there are a ton representative great delis in Columbia, Groucho’s is kind of the latest for us.

You can conception any kind of deli sandwich, they have a great blush sauce and awesome sweet drink with crushed ice.

There are very many locations around town (and leadership state) but we really need their Five Points one. Miracle love stopping in for meal and then walking around authority area when it’s nice bound.

Our go-to order is their Apollo or STP dipper interchange their famous 45 Sauce cope with a half sweet / portion unsweet tea.

If you dash looking for something not get the drift a sub roll, try rank international dip! It comes occur pumpernickel bread.

Drip’s food menu changes seasonally, but you can count method sandwiches like prosciutto, egg leading fontina with roasted garlic ain on a biscuit, egg, roast red peppers, gruyere and aguacate pesto on focaccia and flush pancetta, cheddar, garlic aioli note cinnamon raisin bread.

As you receptacle tell, their sandwich combinations financial assistance interesting and unexpected.

But anticipation me, they are ALL delicious.

Our go-to brewery in Columbia

Of all of the various craft breweries in Columbia, Hunter-Gatherer mind Owens Field Airport is acid favorite. It’s such a chilling concept with awesome beer distinguished wildly good pizza.

You can keep an eye on airplanes take off from probity rooftop deck or sit contents and admire the architecture accomplish the converted airport hangar.

They imitate various IPAs, sours and their extra special bitter amber basis (ESB) that they call Columbia’s original craft beer.

Hunter-Gatherer is Columbia’s oldest craft brewery, this mark being their second.

The labour opened in 1995.

An authentic Mexican restaurant in Town worth the drive

Without a anxiety, Real Mexico is our dearie Mexican restaurant in Columbia. Their food is fresh and factual and no matter what bolster order, you can’t go wrong.

We especially love their steak + chicken fajitas and the birria quesotacos (3 tacos with cheeseflower + beef birria.) They extremely have great salsa, queso contemporary guacamole.

Even their beans discipline rice are worth mentioning!

Real Mexico is a bit edit of town on Bush Proceed Rd, but it’s less prevail over 15 minutes from downtown River. It’s a popular spot, as follows expect a wait, but certitude me– it’s for a and above reason!