Eating Out in Columbia, SC: Top 10 Restaurants & Local Eats

An iconic gem of the local food scene, serving excellent seafood and steak specialties, Cola’s is a trendy dining destination for local and visiting foodies alike. The restaurant is set in a renovated 1930s RC Cola bottling plant, where brick walls, wooden tables and textile chairs create an upscale ambiance. The elegant interior merges with the massive building from a time gone by, evoking a fusion of comfort and style. While the name, unsurprisingly, refers to the original function of the building, the menu lacks no creativity by featuring a revitalised American kitchen, filled with such specialties as the Cola platters and other dishes of the house. Special attention is dedicated to the ingredients that come from local famers. A chic 40-feet-long bar serves guests who opt for a more chilled presence, enjoying one of the many signature cocktails, or a pick from the excellent wine list.

No true American city is complete without a landmark BBQ spot. Little Pigs Barbecue takes on this role in Columbia, voted as the best barbecue hut, both by official ratings and by local praise. Opened in 1962 as part of the Little Pigs of America franchise (which went bankrupt), this little barbecue place survived and changed hands in 1978. This got things back on track, leading to an eatery that is a real local experience, where taste and flavour are unbeatable. Little Pigs Barbecue’s reputation is faultless. They serve a vast variety of barbecue, ribs, brisket, pork chops, chicken wings, and many more home-cooked dishes, with fresh vegetables as a side dish.

Being one of the first restaurants in the notable Congaree Vista area, Motor Supply Company Bistro has stood firmly as an essential element of Columbia’s culinary scene since 1989. Located in a refurbished engine supply building from the 1800s, the atmosphere is laid-back with a chic rustic design. With daily changing, attentively crafted, handwritten menus, the venue never lacks creative surprises, whether the occasion is a relaxed brunch, lively lunch, or exclusive dinner. An award-winning venue with eclectic dishes featuring fusion specialties of American, French, Italian and Asian cuisines, dishes are prepared with the latest techniques. The primary cooking concept follows a farm-to-table model, making every dish organic and fresh.

Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Café is nestled in Five Points, a historic area filled with local bars and galleries, and a popular destination for the students of the nearby University of South Carolina. The place was founded in the 1980s as a sandwich and cookie shop, and turned into a Southern culinary gem in 1995. Labelled as one of the most innovative restaurants in South Carolina, Mr. Friendly’s is a gourmet place, where classical dishes receive an innovative twist, and turn into something memorable. Ricky Mollohan, the owner and chef, is always around, guaranteeing impeccable service and quality. The menu features ocean-fresh fish and seafood specialties, and creative meat plates, served in a laid-back milieu within the art-decorated brick walls.

Over the last two decades, Saluda’s has become the backbone of Columbia’s culinary scene, serving as a flawless venue for exclusive fine dining. The restaurant is set in the gorgeously renovated Veterans of Foreign Wars Officers’ Club, with the most charming tables situated on the balcony. If places fill up outdoors, the elegant, crystal glass-decorated white-linen tables ensure a more-than-ideal indoor setting for this upscale dining experience. The kitchen, led by Chef Blake Fairies, follows Saluda’s unique cooking philosophy of fusing local ingredients with exotic international ones, creating fresh, innovative tastes. Guests can enjoy Southern traditions showcased in authentic French and Italian dishes. The chef’s signature dishes, being the dry-aged rib eye stake, and the seared shrimp and scallops, elevate Saluda’s to one of the premier venues of the area.

A kitchen that changes with the seasons, Solstice Kitchen & Wine Bar is a unique venue featuring New American, or rather New Southern, tastes. The place has a modern interior that is chic enough to uplift any dining but simple enough to keep it friendly and warm. With extensive lunch and dinner specials, along with the seasonally changing menus, Solstice offers a rich selection of creative dishes such as rib eye, pork spring rolls, salmon, and veggie options, pleasantly accompanied by the restaurant’s wine selection and crafted cocktails. If going with children or dogs, look for the special events such as ‘Patio Dining with Dogs’ or ‘Babysitter’s Night’, when parents can enjoy a romantic dinner while their children are taken care of right nearby.