41 Best American Restaurants in Columbia

“Update 8/2026 - I cannot post enough positive accolades about this place and it's staff. Steve, Rob, Janine and their team go above and beyond to offer a simple delicious relaxed meal in a space that can feel intimate. The goal is not necessarily to knock your socks off, but to deliver consistently delicious food and superb wine at approachable prices without pretense.

Easily one of the best dining experiences in Howard County. The food is consistently delicious and creative. The service is spot on. And the wine is amazing in both selection and food pairings. Dress up or dress down, but don't miss dining at IBWC.“

“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.“

“Thanks for making our Thanksgiving Dinner!“

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

“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.“

“Fast, Friendly and Delicious“

“Excellent Service!!…its really a little gem in Owen Brown Comunnity in Columbia…very good beers and food….highly recommend the California Wrap and Pretzel Bites…the music is mainly classic rock which I love it…the staff is very friendly and welcoming….Dave, Jane, Melissa and Patrick are really nice people…I have been visiting this place for a year by now…HIGHLY recommend for old school people like me( 50 plus)…“

“I’m not super into BBQ, but Iron Flag BBQ has changed everything for me. The brisket was tender, pulled pork was to die. The Mac and cheese surprised me the most, hands down the best Mac and cheese I’ve had! Highly recommend!“

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

“Had a great experience here! Our waiter, Destany, was amazing — super friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was taken care of throughout the meal. She was really welcoming and made the whole experience even better. The food was great, but the service definitely stood out. Would absolutely come back again!“

“The fish was amazing and the jazz room is the perfect vibe for a first date or a cocktail with best friend! Absolutely loved it“

“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 like coming here for special occasions, and I've come the last two years for my birthday meal. It's consistently high quality and very tasty... it's hard to just pick one dinner option, so I usually get a family platter and sample everything. I met with Rob, the manager, last time and he made sure my birthday meal was extra special. Really friendly crew and you can tell they enjoy seeing their customers enjoy their food.“

“I love this place. I have been going here since the early 2000s. Their mambo sauce is incredible. Its just a shame I moved 2 hours away and can no longer get the mambo sauce. I tried store bought and its crap compared to their mambo. I gotta figure out the recipie so I can make it at home and not drive 2 hours just for a mambo cheesesteak“

“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!“

“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!!“

“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“

“I’ve dined in this location many, many times, it’s one of our favorites. I’ve had many different servers. But tonight we came with a party of 8 for the first time as a big group for my daughter’s birthday & we were served by London. I could tell she was very busy but she stayed with smile and positive attitude the entire time & everything was perfect. I didn’t have a chance to tell her in person that she did fantastic so hopefully she will get to see this. I know the rest of my family has no sense of urgency when ordering food but she stayed patient & kind the entire time. Shout out to London & every other fantastic server we’ve had at this location.“

“Mariana was so good to me! I definitely would recommend this location because it’s super spacious. & you should sit in her section bc she made sure to get all my condiments/ refills upon request, was super friendly & personable! Next time I come I will definitely be requesting her again.“

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

“This review is strictly about Oktoberfest. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was nice. The staff was great. However, the music was off for the occasion. There's a DJ playing R&B and Hip Hop when it's supposed to be an Oktoberfest. I was hoping for and expecting more German themed entertainment. So that kind of killed it for me.“

“Good beer abd good food. It's similar to other pubs in the area. Their collection of beers is pretty good and there's something for everyone. The food is better than at other similar locations. Other locations give you more appetizers; here you have access to a more complete menu. The food is also fairly priced, which made it more comfortable to order multiple items along with out beer. Ordered 4 beers and 3 entrees between 2 people and paid $71 before tax and tip. You can order at the bar or at your table via a QR code, can also pay directly from your phone. Staff seemed pretty relaxed, which helped make the atmosphere overall be pretty laid back. Saw a lot of people actually enjoy conversation without being obnoxiously loud even with sports bent displayed ay the bar.

Will definitely come back.“

“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“

“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“

“Manager was great as well as the servers 🔥“

“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! ?“

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

“Best Spanish food around laurel and Columbia, so much to offer too!“

“if Mack takes care of you be grateful. He recommends excellent items. introduced me to a previously untried stout which matched perfectly with my sandwich.
Friendly and Proffesional service. I look forward to my next visit to the area.“

“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.“

“We always have the best time and experience when we come. Alfred is THE MAN! He has the most awesome personality and gives top tier service! If you come to BJ’s ask for him, you won’t be disappointed. I look forward to every time we are coming. Thank you Alfred for always being the best!“

“We enjoyed brunch today to celebrate my niece’s birthday. Katie was our server. Four adults and two children. She was friendly and efficient. Awesome food and the service was impeccable. Thanks, Katie.“

“We enjoyed a lovely evening with friends at The Turn House! The food was delicious, and Sunny, our waiter, was high energy, knowledgeable and fun.
Due to food allergies, we had lots of questions. Sunny was great about providing answers and offering suggestions for modifying menu items to keep everyone safe and feeling well cared for.“

“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 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“

“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.“

“We received exceptional service! We were greeted and seated immediately upon arrival. Our server, Will, arrived at the table to introduce himself right after we sat down.

We were surprised how quickly the appetizer came out and almost as soon as we finished eating it, our food was being served. Will made sure our drinks were full and that the food was to our liking...it was. The manager stopped by to ask about our food and experience. The service here was top-notch! The food was delicious, too.

At a time when providing great customer service doesn't seem to be a priority, Red Robin in Columbia, MD has exceeded all expectations. Keep up the great work!

Thank you for a wonderful experience!“

“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“

“Best experience ever. Definitely worth the trip“

“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.“

“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.“