41 Best American Restaurants in Columbia

“Absolutely amazing. A true fine dining 5* experience from the service to the food. Will return again and again.“

“Ordered the army breakfast. Eggs were over done, sausage was under cooked and the entire meal was cold. Could have had a better breakfast at a homeless shelter. First and last time.“

“We had a great time. Food was amazing and plenty of Gluten Free and Vegan options for two of our party of four. There were also plenty of meat options. Service was great from the time we walked in the door until we left. The cocktails were all good as well as the desserts.“

“Thanks for making our Thanksgiving Dinner!“

“We recently celebrated my parents' 70th anniversary at Kings Contrivance Restaurant, and I can't express enough how wonderful the experience was. The entire evening was perfect, from the warm and inviting atmosphere to the impeccable service. Richard, in particular, was outstanding—he answered all of my questions and ensured that everything was just right for our family gathering. The food was outstanding—every dish was prepared with care and attention to detail, making our celebration even more special. My parents were thrilled to have the entire family together for this milestone event, and they couldn’t stop raving about how wonderful the restaurant was. If you're looking for a place to host a special occasion, I highly recommend Kings Contrivance Restaurant. It was the perfect setting for a memorable night that our family will cherish forever.“

“The first time here, I went to see this awesome band Remedy. The atmosphere was so fun. I loved that the tables were not bunched, plenty of room. I had a Southwest Salad, one of the best I ever had. ? I will go back again just for that salad. I tried the pizza ? as well, very good. Check this place out..“

“I went here with my fiancee during the weekend, and woweee. It was quite loud and lively during brunch time. The table next to us was *SO* loud. It was such a turn off because they were obviously done having food, and still spent their sweet time yelling over at each other, talking. Oh dear, it was a bit stressful during hunger pangs. I wanted to go home immediately, but that changed soon after we got our appetizer. 😅 Also, of note, several vegan items during brunch are unavailable during weekends and federal holidays. I didn't love that, considering it was my first time visiting their restaurant. So, just be cognizant of that. I really enjoyed the cauliflower bites, and my vegan "chicken" sandwich. Their home fries are marked vegan on the menu, so that was a nice surprise. With some bell peppers and a little bit of tomato sauce, it was a nice touch of zing. If I return to visit, I'll probably go during the week days. Updated from previous review on 2025-02-21“

“It’s a chill place to be at this time a day the food is great anyone and everyone come to Ale House“

“Love the atmosphere. The band was pretty good. Great food options and entertainment. Some of the menu items have nuts added which seem unnecessary. They should consider removing the nuts from the lobster dish.“

“This is our 3rd Easter dining at seasons 52 and as always the food and service were amazing. The only complaint, and not even one really, is when I make the reservation on open table I always put in for a booth. I have an elderly father with back and hip issues and the chairs are very uncomfortable for him to sit too long. However we never get seated at a booth. I made this reservation 3 months ago so a booth seating really shouldn't have been an issue. Regardless we will be back again next Easter because like I said the food is outstanding and our server was wonderful.“

“Hubby and I enjoy the salads from here. They have standard salads but you can also customize them. As well, the employees who work there are always nice and helpful.“

“Mothers Day lunch at Corner Stable in Columbia was excellent The staff and owner are always so friendly and the food was excellent. The Mother’s Day combo consisted of a 6 oz filet which was amazing, shrimp and a crab cake and it did not disappoint. we were a table of 12 and service and meal were excellent highly recommend this location. If you would like a relaxing environment with friendly people and excellent food give them a try“

“This dude been turning out banging subs, sandwiches, wings and dumplings since before I was born.
Beef bulgogi sandwiches to steak and cheese subs. Literally everything on the menu is bangin

AND DID I MENTION THEY HAVE MUMBO SAUCE“

“Fast, Friendly and Delicious“

“Smoked Salmon was delicious. We dipped the bread in the Musssels. Pork and Steak cooked perfectly.“

“The food is always awesome whether you get pork, beef, or chicken. We also love the fries and corn on the cob as well as the bread pudding! Since our home is in Tennessee, I especially like the option to put slaw on my pork sandwich. The first time I had that was at a high school football game near Memphis and I was spoiled after that.“

“Today is my son’s birthday, and he goes to BJ’s every year to celebrate. The food is great and the service is good . Every year during the holidays, their restaurant has a promotion where you get a $20 bonus card for every $100 gift card you buy—I love it!“

“Great service! Staff was a quick and efficient“

“Overall this is a good place to have Happy Hour. I am super disappointed that the charcuterie board was taken off the menu. It was the best! Bring it back please!“

“Came here to get a portal house steak. Food was delicious and our waitress Megan was an absolute delight. Their were 2 separate family sharing a birthday with their love one. I've been coming here a long time a my experience has always been great“

“Great Place to watch the ravens! . Pros: 1.Amazing food 2.Amazing drinks.. Cons: NO SERVERS, bad seating arrangements, the seating is very weird. There are not enough seats at the front. I would recommend putting another projector in on the other wall instead of having it directly on the wall, it looks tacky, and doesn't play properly and they can set up more tables over there. I had a fun time, the food took a while but i don't mind waiting when it is so good. Top quality bar food, very impressed, will be back for another game most likely, but you guys should definatly hire some servers and fix the seating and those silly projectors on the walls. This could be the best place in Columbia to watch the game.“

“Myself and my family of 13 came here for a surprise party on 2/22/25 and was pleasantly impressed. I called 2 days prior to see if they could accommodate my party at the last minute and the manager said “Yes”, without hesitation.
I had to call the day prior to change the time and the change the time without any issues.
Our waiter SYLVAN was Perfect. He knew the menu well and all of his suggestions were spot on! The manager greeted us as we were leaving and this was a nice touch to the gathering.
The food and ambiance was great. We plan to come back again. This restaurant NEVER disappoints.“

“I never believed my life will change in such a manner. I saw a review on Facebook about Mrs Craig Vanessa trading skills and before then I have never risk money doing anything online with anybody because I think I was so wise and never want to be cheated but when I contacted Mrs Craig Vanessa, she explained everything to me concerning trading and the profit I can make within a week I was convinced to give a trial and risked to invest $1,000 and I made a withdrawal profit of $9,000 within a week. I am so happy that I trusted her and she didn't fail me. You can reach her through WhatsApp with the number on her Facebook: Mrs Craig Vanessa“

“Excellent place for HH. They have Toast tab so everyone can be separate. They have long tables so a large group. They have games like cornhole and pool. The drinks are QUICK. This is the regular HH spot for my job. It’s just so easy. Also lots of parking.“

“Delicious burgers...in fact, the best burger spot in the area....avid fan of the Columbia location --been there six times the past 3 weeks... the service always prompt and friendly, especially from Raymond“

“We came in on a whim & so glad we did. We were seated immediately & greeted warmly by an amazing waitress. Food was brought out quickly & was such a good serving size. Delicious eggs Benedict & the hollindaise was amazing! My fiancé had the biscuits & gravy & was so happy with his food. Excellent portions & such a wonderful place. Can’t wait to come back again!! Highly recommend!!“

“The Nordstrom Cafe has the absolute best service! The entire staff is always friendly, accommodating and the food is always fresh & taste amazing! I can’t say enough good things about this place. Always a great experience! 5/5 stars! ?“

“great food. Quick friendly service.“

“Great place to grab lunch if you work in the area. The staff are quick with the food, and it's a much better deal than doordash or uber eats. The Meatball sub is one of my favorite dishes here. Definitely worth the walk - or drive if you are close by.“

“As always, the food was great. We enjoyed the oysters on the half shell, folllowed by my pasta & my wife's lobster roll. Unfortunately, they no longer had the soft shell crabs as advertized on the web site. I don't know how often a web site is updated. The food service was backed up, so we had to forego dessert due to the long wait.“

“Are you’re seeking to have a wonderful dining experience at Red Robin in Columbia? Of course you are! Then I highly recommend you begin your visit by asking for Angie to take care of you/your friend or family. I walked into Red Robin after the lunch rush. Angie appeared to be prepping for the next rush of customers. However, she turned away from her current task and asked me if I needed help. I had lots and lots of question, as I was preparing to have a family dinner there the next day. From the moment she welcomed me and offered to assist, she presented to me that I had 100% of her attention. She was patient, knowledgeable, professional and kind, PRECISELY demonstrating all the qualities that make for a wonderful guest experience. Angie, keep up the great work! You are very much appreciated.“

“The food was excellent. It came out in a timely manner and the waitress was very efficient.“

“Manager was great as well as the servers 🔥“

“I read some of the reviews of this restaurant prior to arriving because I was staying at the hotel. At first, I was a bit skeptical of even entertaining the idea of trying this restaurant based on what people wrote, therefore, I started researching other restaurants within close proximity. Whenever my wife and I arrived at the hotel (7 Feb 2024), it was a little bit later than anticipated, so we ended up just staying on property and eating at this restaurant - thankfully it was still open.When we walked into the restaurant, we were greeted very nicely by a couple of employees. Since it was a weekday, the restaurant wasn't busy at all so it was quiet...adding to the enjoyable/relaxing atmosphere. When we sat down and read through the drink menu, I quickly realized that I was on the East Coast because I saw one of my favorite beers on the menu...Yuengling! Being from Las Vegas, NV, we don't have that beer in the city, as odd as it may sound, considering that city has pretty much everything. So whenever I travel East, I try to find this beer whenever I can.Our server, Meaza, was phenomenal! It was refreshing to have a server who was very friendly, attentive, efficient, and amiable...because it seems rare these days to have customer service like this. Our food was amazing; it's unfortunate that other people didn't have that same experience (based on their reviews). We ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wings, Salmon Piccata, Spaghetti Frutti di Mare, Sautéed Spinach, and Steamed Broccoli. I will say that I've had slightly better Buffalo Chicken Wings, but these weren't awful either. Having experienced so many different restaurants in Las Vegas, it can be difficult at times to eat anywhere else without having a bias towards Las Vegas dining. But I can honestly say that the quality and quantity of this restaurant's entrées were remarkable.The following day, my wife and I tried the breakfast at this restaurant in hopes that the previous night's dinner wasn't a fluke. We opted for the full breakfast buffet because for one, I reserved the hotel room that comes with this buffet every morning. Also, it's more beneficial, from a price standpoint, to get the full buffet ($16.95), versus ordering off the menu. You can also order the continental buffet which costs $11.95; however, I wasn't in the mood to just get cold breakfast food. The options were spectacular...and the quality of the food was even more astonishing. We ended up eating the full buffet for the entire stay and the food options were the same for the most part - I think my favorite entrée/item on the buffet line was the Mushroom Casserole and of course the bacon. Also, of noteworthy significance, both Irene and Angela did such a prodigious job with their customer service skills to which I wish this business would publicize their incredible skills for other restaurant's employees to emulate. They were both VERY friendly, professional, attentive, and highly efficient in every way.The décor was nice but I felt that the fabric on some of the booth seating could use some deep steam cleaning...to include the carpets. Overall, my experience here was extraordinary. I can't validate others' experience, but based on ours, I highly recommend this restaurant to all visitors and locals.“

“We were here for the M3 after party on Friday night and the staff were all friendly and amazing. We had the sound rocking, the place was packed and the service was still fast. Great Venue with in minutes of Merry Weather Post Pavilion We look forward to working with you again for future events.“

“Went for breakfast before 10 am on Sat. The staff was very friendly. We were seated and served very quickly. So happy to find Gluten free pancakes & waffles. One of the few places that gave me over hard eggs when I asked for it. The waitress was very friendly & it was nice to see all the staff helping out to serve the food. Would definitely go again.“

“Someone need to give that man Thaddeus a job and pay him what he deserves as kind a respectful as that young man is it a shame to see him being mistreated and underpaid if anyone is looking for a amazing worker who is always respectful go here and find Thaddeus and offer that man a better job“

“Main event was a meeting point for my best friend and I to have some fun family time with both of our families today. We were greeted with a smile by Chris Smith at the counter who was very helpful in getting us organized with cards to play the arcade games and set up for bowling. He went above and beyond to help explain how main event worked since it was our first time there. When we got to the bowling alley, we were greeted with another smile by Day. She went above and beyond as well to take our orders and help us when our balls got stuck at the alley. The food and service was good. Thank you to Day and Chris for making our first experience wonderful. We are looking forward to coming back with our families in a couple of months.“

“We have yet to be dissatisfied by their menu and we love the atmosphere. The manager,Adeel, was genuinely kind in checking in us. He informed us that they host events so we’ll look into possibly having our ceremony here. Highly recommended“

“Best experience ever. Definitely worth the trip“