50 Best American Restaurants in Columbia

“Wow delish ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐... Boom boom Shrimp FANTASTIC!! ..I had the smoked salmon pasta.. HOMEMADE pasta?? WOW amazing! Had espresso martini 💋 and something similar to a chocolate martini.. AMAZING! What a great option for Friday night happy hour!“

“Great food at a great price. I’ve been eating at Murry’s since 1985 & never had a bad meal!“

“Great Breakfast, nice menu. I love old fashioned dinners. Staff was personable and efficient💯🤠🧐🙂“

“My employer held our staff party here. The food on the buffet was very good. The room was spacious and comfortable. The wait staff was pleasant and quick to fill our drink orders.
Great place for a party!

We've had dinner here several times and it's always a good experience.“

“A more delicious version of freddy’s.“

“Great food that doesn’t take too long and a nice neighborhood bar and pub atmosphere.“

“Why did you guys switch to coke products? Very disappointed.“

“Greatest burgers on Earth.“

“Came here on a whim as a stop between KC and St. Louis. It was a good bit off the highway, but I'm glad we stopped in. The service was good and the food was delicious. I got the Country Fried Chicken and my wife got the Philly. Both were very good, especially the fries.“

“Great service and atmosphere.“

“This place is a hidden gem!! Best steak we’ve had in a while! The service was great too! Steak and shrimp is phenomenal“

“We have visited this restaurant several times as I have two grandchildren at MIZZOU. We have always been more than pleased with the food and the service. I also, want to thank the kind manager, who took the time to track me down and let me know they had found a watch that I lost while visiting the restaurant. This was above and beyond. I highly recommend this establishment.“

“They have mocktails! Showed up for lunch and sat at the bar. The bar tender was super sweet and attentive even though it was busy. The salmon wrap I got was too delicious to get pictures of. We got a pic of the blackberry mojito mocktail my friend ordered though. It was great!“

“👏We had a family dinner for 12 last night and had a great time / meal. I spoke with the Manager a day in advance to forewarn her of our large group. Last evening it was a big hit - Hostess GRACE and Server WHITNEY both were perfect - friendly, professional, and handled our group with skill. Thank you!!“

“We went to The Heidelberg for their advertised "Happy Hour." We ordered the HH Long Island Tea, which is featured prominently on their menu. A couple of minutes later, the server comes back and ask us "now what did you want??" iced tea ? what was it?? I said Long Island Tea, and he's still looking at me with this puzzled look and tells me "I don't drink?" I could go on but you got the point. Then, I inquire about .. again on the menu!! the buy one appetizer get one free HH special.and he said any appetizers qualify.. instead we got two sets of appetizers ..that's right. FOUR appetizers came out. instead of the two I ordered.. and he looked at me and said.. "you said two" .. you can't make this stuff up .. The entire visit from the moment we walked in the door was a complete train wreck.. Please train your servers better so they know what's on your menu .. Why advertise stuff if the server has no idea what it is???“

“Brunch is better here. The cocktails are on point. But the food is something that can't be passed on. From an out of towner that almost gave up because of limited parking, this a place that every town and city needs. Columbia has something special here.“

“This has become our go-to when we don't want to cook or eat fast food. Great selection of food - steak, chicken, soup, pasta, seafood, comfort food, healthy choices...
Not so much that it's hard to choose but the choices are all delicious.“

“Came here after a training conference we were holding in Columbia. We called ahead and spoke to Jason about bringing a group of 20+ group of people. We had no issues with getting this scheduled. Jason accommodated our requests no problems. We were in the back patio, which had sand volleyball and cornhole for those in our group to use, the food was good, as was the service given our size. We had a great time. Thank you! Jasmin (Burns Recovered).“

“Thanks so much for the very much needed girls evening out! Good food great service and amazing atmosphere!“

“The staff was very friendly, great atmosphere and the food was on point. The staff was very attentive but not too attentive“

“Great cheeseburger and fries!“

“My wife and I had a late lunch there today and Riley who was taking care of the bar, also took care of our table. We had not eaten there since they moved to the new location. We started with the Calamari and we had just a few minutes to chat after we finished and our meals were brough to us. My wife had the Ravioli Aragosta and I had the spicy Chicken and Sausage. The meals looked great and tasted even better. The fresh bread that was brought to the table was perfect! Riley took care of all of our needs, and we never felt rushed. I definitely recommend this place and hope to return soon.“

“We stopped for breakfast after visiting the farmers market at Glenn’s. The interior was very classy and casual and the menu was fantastic. They served a great crab cake hollandaise with very attentive and friendly service“

“Had brunch with my son today and I typically don’t write reviews. However, my experience was fantastic. The server we had was sweet and efficient. The restaurant was clean and welcoming. I loved the decor it was very modern mixed with rustic elements. The food was so good and I could feel the difference in my body afterward.. not the crappy fast food feeling but energizing! The server I had was named Alyse and I want to give her a shoutout for an all-round amazing job! She was very sweet to my son and was attentive to our needs! Love this location and will come back!!“

“Very good atmosphere and nice staff for an afternoon drink/late lunch.“

“Always a very enjoyable time the staff is all very sweet and nice!!!“

“This unassuming shop off of broadway is home to the best sandwiches in Columbia. Coming from New York I have craved a fresh deli style sandwich shop, something that Jersey Mike's can closely mimic, but other alternatives struggle to match. The bread is perfect, the meats taste delicious, and the toppings are not soggy. If you want a similar dining experience, you will have to go to upscale restaurants that charge an arm and a leg, but offer off-putting service. The ambiance is what you might expect of a small bar inside of an antiquated theater. This is truly a "must visit" if you're a local or passing through!“

“Flat Branch Pub & Brewing in Columbia is a must-visit whether you're a local or just passing through town. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between laid-back pub and lively gathering place, making it a great spot for lunch, dinner, or drinks with friends.
The food is consistently excellent, with generous portions and a menu that offers something for everyone. Their handcrafted beers are a standout, with a variety of styles brewed on-site and served fresh. The staff is friendly, attentive, and helps create a welcoming experience from the moment you walk in.
Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, Flat Branch is a great place to enjoy good food, quality beer, and a fun atmosphere. It's easy to see why it has remained a local favorite for so many years. Highly recommended“

“Their shrimp and lobster is soo good. The cheddar biscuits are delicious 😋“

“Stayed with family for November and December 2022 in Columbia Missouri . Had never been to a First Watch restaurant . This breakfast and lunch restaurant became my new favorite restaurant. Everything I have ordered has been amazing from French toast ,waffles, omelettes , tacos ,sandwiches and salads . Very healthy and fresh food . Would eat at First Watch three times a week during my two month stay in Columbia Missouri. Always asked to seated in Melany's section . But all the wait staff was great !!! Took my 9 year old grandson for breakfast and he rated the restaurant a 10 . He had a waffle and sausage links and hot chocolate. I had the Italian sausage omelette with roasted potatoes. Food is always amazing . Great place to go by yourself with a friend or family . Highly recommended this place .“

“Delicious food, sourced locally from Mid-Missouri farmers. Yummy beer. Exceptional service. They make me feel special when I know that I'm not...and I like that! It's my #1!“

“Our server was named ty.she was absolutely fantastic.we will be back.awesome food too.“

“It took a minute to seat us, all Was forgiven by our awesome waitress. She was attentive and patient. She not only brought us to go boxes but to go cups for our guacamole, etc.“

“Was there 03/09/22 For Breakfast, Staff very friendly, attentive to customers, service was fast, food was great. What more can you ask for? the waitress we had, should be an INSTRUCTOR on how to be one! She was awesome.“

“the service has always been excellent and friendly! we love the layout/atmosphere. as for food, drink, and dessert - hey! it's excellent, too! if you haven't been, by all means you should go!“

“Lees Chicken in Columbia is my favorite chicken spot. It’s always been fresh, hot and delicious and the staff is so friendly.“

“Not a great beer selection, but decent IPA at a low price. The place was really busy on a Saturday night, with lots of college kids watching the game on big screens. They have drinks promotions every day, and free WiFi. Comfortable outside and inside seating areas and friendly staff.“

“FAST and delicious. Staff was welcoming and so friendly!! I’d put this place up there with some of the best tacos in Como. Good variety!!“

“Took grandson to dinner . Order at the register & they bring it to the table .We had a wahlbuger, fries, panko fish sandwich , tiny onion rings and milk shakes .They were out of sweet potato tater tots !Food was very good. Fish was a big chunk . Hard to eat as a sandwich . Hear they have a great breakfast , too.“

“Very friendly and community oriented!“

“As usual, it was great! Our favorite place in town to eat breakfast. Went at 11am on a Saturday (before a Mizzou game at noon) and it was perfect timing.

My sisters were visiting and love breakfast. Both of them got the Supreme Pileups - said the amount of food was just right, prices were good and it was delicious. I got the sausage & cheese omelet, hubby got the #2 breakfast (eggs, hash browns) - cooked just right.

Becky was a friendly and attentive server, enjoyed her too.

Next time my sisters come visit, this is where they wanna eat!“

“My absolute favorite place to go. The managers and staff are so pleasant. Everything is priced great and the atmosphere is my favorite part. Shelby Truitt, one of the bottle girls, saw me slip (due to clumsiness) and checked on me multiple times. I love this place and everything it stands for!“

“Great experience ask for Spencer he gives great service and is super nice can definitely tell he does a lot for the restaurant. He was serving, helping people at the counter, seating tables, and still gave great service considering he was busy.“

“Derric was an absolutely AMAZING waiter. He was attentive and even when he made honest and simple mistakes such as not being able to hear a few things over the Valentine's Day chatter, he was very kind about it. His energy was AMAZING and the perfect thing for our day as it was our friend groups outing to just have fun and have some comfort food since we all grew up with IHOP trips with either family or friends.“

“This was the cleanest Steak n Shake I have ever been in. Our waitress was very attentive. Our group kept adding food after the bill came and she was understanding and polite. I had a bacon cheeseburger. I really like that their patties are wider than the bun. All of our food was brought out timely.“

“Noah that’s a lie. It would be believable if it wasn’t for the fact that you touched on every area that would make someone leave. Should have stuck with facts. No black music? Mabe they just don’t like rap? Is it racist to not like rap? Do you like country? Do you know any country? If you had a club would there be country music avalible everyday? Prolly not. All good tho. Did you go in the back and confront the manager? Prolly not. Good luck in life son…you need it.“

“This was one of the best experiences I’ve had since moving out here. The ribs were pretty bare- I mentioned it to the waitress and she had the manager come right over. The manager was extremely polite and apologized several times. She then brought me ribs-decent ones- to take back home with me since we were getting ready to leave along with a giftcard for next time. I really appreciated the gesture. The kindness and compassion they had for uswas phenomenal. We will be coming back to this restaurant in the future. (Even though we don’t eat out much) if I could give a thousand stars for the service we received I would!“

“The wings are some of the best in CoMo!“

“I went for prime rib but ended up only being able to get ribeye steak. The onion petals were awesome. The bread is very tasty. I ordered a medium rare ribeye and it came out medium well. Kind of chew that way. But it was still good. I ordered a side salad with ranch. Salad was very good. I had a water with a slice of lemon. All in all it was great just wish they had prime rib.“