40 Best American Restaurants in Columbia

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

“food and wine were good but the noise level in the one room where we were seated was way too loud. Particularly after one loud group joined, we could hardly hear each other talk, although we were across the room. They need to add some acoustical panels.“

“Thanks for making our Thanksgiving Dinner!“

“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.“

“This was my first time at Busboys and Poets in Columbia. What a great experience! I loved the atmosphere. And there were so many vegan options I didn't know what to order! I ended up getting the crispy cauliflower bites and the vegan "tuna" sandwich. Both were really good! I plan to go back often to try some of the vegan bowls, the pasta and the veggie burger.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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..“

“We ate outside otherwise the noise level likely would have been higher. Service was excellent throughout. I went knowing what I wanted. The vegetarian options are limited but excellent. I had the black lentil bolognese after sharing the guacamole toast (the guacamole is plentiful on top of the toast). The “indulgences” are always a perfect treat at the end, never overkill like desserts often are.“

“I had such a great experience at BJ’s thanks to Dave and Jason! From the moment I walked in, they were friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. They were knowledgeable, patient with my questions, and made everything feel easy and stress-free. You can tell they genuinely care about their customers and take pride in providing excellent service. It’s rare to come across a team that’s both professional and personable, but Dave and Jason nailed it. I’ll definitely be coming back because of the outstanding service they provided, highly recommend asking for them if you visit!“

“Originality I was ordering food for a sick friend and her kids from a place that she recommended, It was a relatively small order (1 adult, 2 kids). The price they quoted was ridiculous, so I called Arirang Hill Carry Out, and their price was great, the portions were large, and the food was ready fast.
IF I had gotten food from the original place, the order would have been a total of 10 wings, 2 fries, and rice for almost $35. At Arirang, I got MORE THA. DOUBLE the amount wings, 2 fries, and rice for UNDER $30.
The staff is very respectful.“

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

“Imo Famous Dave's has the best barbecue food! We had the All American Feast with brisket, chicken, ribs, pulled pork, and all that comes with it. Service was great (thanks Joe). Always a pleasure eating there. Sorry, forget to take pictures.“

“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“

“Fast, Friendly and Delicious“

“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.“

“I took my dad tonight for Father’s Day and it was very busy. We were told an hour and half wait so we waited. From the crew at the reservation desk to the lady who took is us to our table and Evan our waiter everything was awesome. Even with being crazy busy service was great and food was great. I highly recommended Texas Roadhouse Columbia“

“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!!“

“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!“

“A 5 star casual dining environment!

We found ourselves in the area around lunch and decided to stop in at the Reckless Shepard. I’ve heard several people refer it but hadn’t gone myself until now. For casual dining, this spot is great. Spacious and airy, it boasts several long high tops, two seater high tops for a more intimate feel, bar seating and an area for a private party.
There is a stage with ample lighting to make any night of the week; the best night. Multiple projectors spanned the room with a soft glow coming from the big distillery room. The ambience was really cool. We certainly appreciated the 90’s nostalgic playlist of music videos playing just loud enough to know your songs but continue your conversation.

We ordered a pizza, fries, wings, latkes, and a Cobb salad to go with our margarita, hazy IPA, and blue motorcycle. Everything was fresh and hot and savory. The drinks were delicious and well portioned! You scan for the menu and add your items so we only experienced the server when food was brought out but he was super nice still.
I loved the sauce on the pizza, light and tomatoey and savory as well!

The bathrooms were large and clean and the parking was ample for a Friday. We would certainly consider hosting an event or celebration here!“

“We were six “ladies of a certain age”…a little rowdy and undecided. We were having lunch. Jeff, our server, was just the right mix of courtesy, humor, patience and accuracy. The portions were larger than expected. Wonderful dining experience!“

“We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Walrus as usual. Their shucking raw bar is the best. Seafood is always fresh and delicious. Their staff are friendly, welcoming and accommodating. Aaron was no exception. We went for Chesapeake Oyster week and half price on raw bar Tuesday so we enjoyed a great meal at a fantastic price. Highly recommend, going back real soon.“

“I made a reservation for my Hubby's birthday dinner.

This establishment was easy to locate, provided free parking, very clean, and had great tv's for sports viewing.

We were seated immediately upon arrival and greeted by Adam.
Adam had a great personality larger than life!!

Great recommendations, fantastic flow of food, and perfect for our party of 13.

Collectively, we ordered the following.

Firecracker Grilled Wings - Amazing
Brewpub Pretzel - Very tender, tasty, and huge. Magnificent mustard came w pretzel.
Crab Dip - Plentiful, above average.
Frisco Chicken Sandwich - DE-licious !!
Brickoven Pies (Cheese) - A table hit!!
Bayou Burrito - A lot of flavor, great size.
Cheesesteak Eggrolls - The table couldn't get enough of this yumminess!!
Cajun Chicken & Shrimp Pasta
Louisiana Red Jambalaya - Whoa! Large portion, flavorful, and very good.
Frisco Burger - Perfecto !! Very good.
Loaded Caesar (Small) - Fresh
Skillet Cookie- So rich, shareable.
Campfire Brownie - Rich in flavor, tasty.
Grand Marnier (Shot) - ** read below **
Long Island Iced Tea - VERY smooth!

Each and everything was great, except a double shot ordered at the table. It was smaller than a single shot. We didn't want to make a scene, so we dealt w it. But never again.

Overall, it was a great visit!
I look forward to returning to catch sporting events on 1 of the many TV's as well as Happy Hour.“

“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“

“Sydney and Kendall were great. I know Kendall was first day training but he was personable amiable and professional with a great smile and upbeat personality and Sydney was also attentive and kind and we enjoyed watching them together and having them provide lovely service for our meal. It doesn't seem like Kendall needs training at all; he's obviously great with people. And Sydney was also top notch.“

“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“

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

“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 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.“

“We were in the area and found this place during breakfast hours. Visually the place is very clean and welcoming. The staff were friendly and the food was great. The pancakes were amazing! They were light, fluffy and generous in size. 3 pancakes and 2 pieces of bacon for $8.99, a steal these days. They have a few baked goods that I also grabbed (yet to try), but they looked so good. If we are in the area again, I'd love to try their lunch menu and would definitely come again.“

“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.“

“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“

“Manager was great as well as the servers 🔥“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“Best experience ever. Definitely worth the trip“