50 Best American Restaurants in Columbia

“We went for lunch and were lucky to get the last table outside. The atmosphere was great. Even though it was very busy, the service was excellent and Anne Marie was outstanding. We had the chicken ranch wrap and sweet potato fries, both were delicious with generous portions and a fair price. Refills came quickly without having to ask. We will definitely be back.“

“Brussel sprouts, salmon, brisket halibut you name it and everything was delicious always!! Highly recommend!!“

“I wanted to rave about the manager, Eddie, and chef, Jonathan. On Friday, I inquired about accommodating my stringent dietary restrictions, and they proactively exceeded expectations. My requirements included the exclusive use of pure olive oil in the preparation of my meal. Initially, I expressed concern that my options might be limited to broccoli and a simple salad. Manager Eddie assured me that this was unacceptable and suggested I contact the chef the following day to discuss my needs. Following this conversation, Chef Jonathan promptly developed a suitable solution. I ordered the brick chicken, prepared using only olive oil, rosemary, and thyme—a dish perfectly aligned with my dietary limitations. The meal was exquisite, and I thoroughly enjoyed dining with my friends. accommodate my very strict food intolerances, and they went out of their way to do just that. I needed my dishes to be cooked in pure olive oil, amongst other things. At first, I told Eddie it looked like I could only have broccoli and a salad with minimal toppings. He said, "You can't come here and just eat salad and broccoli." He then said to call the next day, and he would get the chef on the phone to discuss my food concerns. I called the next day, and Jonathan quickly had an idea. I ordered the brick chicken, which only had olive oil, rosemary, and thyme. Exactly what I was able to eat. It was delicious, and I was so thrilled to eat out with my friends. I so appreciate both of them going out of their way for me.“

“This is one of my favorite spots in Columbia! They have an amazing rooftop with great energy. You can get food up there too although the menu is slightly limited and more geared towards small plates-- which makes sense for a rooftop anyway! In the main dining area service is excellent. I could eat the mushroom toast every day- it's that good! As a wine professional I appreciate their thoughtful selections, there's something for everyone. Much love!“

“The food, service, and atmosphere was off the chain!!! Great place to eat and hangout!!!“

“We are from out of town visiting and wanted to try something new. We had a child with celiac so that can be difficult. This place had amazing servers and amazing food!! Def recommend for food and atmosphere!!“

“Great food and great service. We had the fish and cheeseburger and both was excellent. oh ya my husband also had the lemon cake and it was delicious. We are from Oklahoma on our way too Myrtle beach and will have to stop on our way home.“

“My bartender Felisatie greeted me with a smile and told my what the beer special of today was. She took my drink/food order in a timely fashion and made sure that my food order was complete before she enter it in the cash register...Hey pleasant personality is extremely rare nowadays.“

“I eat their weekly. Grew up eating Lizards Thicket. Started out at the one that used to be by the airport. I’ve eaten at all of them. They are all good. Love the breakfast. Love the specials. Love the staff. Would recommend anybody that has had a bad Experience. Don’t let that one time experience stop you from enjoying a lot more of good experiences there. Highly recommend them.!!!!👍“

“We absolutely love the food and wonderful drinks here! The staff is amazing thank you Goats! We always have the best time here!“

“just had meatball and provolone hot sandwich... fantastic“

“Celebrated my 61st birthday there.We had an awesome time ‼️“

“great food,cold beer ,friendly staff and well maintained atmosphere 👌“

“give me wrong the drink twice just had a bad waiter“

“I eat their weekly. Grew up eating Lizards Thicket. Started out at the one that used to be by the airport. I’ve eaten at all of them. They are all good. Love the breakfast. Love the specials. Love the staff. Would recommend anybody that has had a bad Experience. Don’t let that one time experience stop you from enjoying a lot more of good experiences there. Highly recommend them.!!!!👍“

“The BEST filet I’ve ever had! We continue to dine at Saluda’s and we’re always extremely happy with our meals. Delicious!!“

“good service, good food, clean, and friendly

Parking: it's busy restaurant, so therefore the parking lot can be full at times

Wheelchair accessibility: easy wheel chair accessible with they had the button to open the door for you“

“First time here! I will be back and I mean very soon. The food I had was absolutely delish. My plus one enjoyed their food equally. I had the Asian honey lime ribs and I can’t stop thinking about them. I also had the street corn for a side and I’ve never tasted something so good.“

“My friend came into town and I was on my way taking her back to the airport. We needed a quick place to grab a bite because her flight was delayed. I decided to get the burger. Wow! Totally amazing. At this location their burgers are fresh, never frozen! You can definitely tell the difference. I'm not a big fan of Applebee's I won't lie. But that burger deserves ALL five stars!!!!!“

“The bartender Alley is the best! I’ve had great service from lots of people here including Cat, Amanda, Maddie W, Maddie A. Erica, Raylee, and Fallon are also awesome!“

“The food and service is really good! Never been disappointed. Always delicious.“

“I'm there for the burgers all day every day I love them burgers“

“Saw them this morning. The food is good and reminds me of home. will be having again for sure.“

“Hands down this place is AMAZING!!!! We got the Zesto Burger and fries, chicken tenders and onion rings. First, that burger 🤌🏼 The onion rings were a perfect mix of onion and batter. Second, the tenders… I would eat them all the time!!!!! I feel sorry for the place across the street, that also serves chicken (no match, EVER). I hope others enjoy this meal as much as we did!“

“Mac’s Cash Grocery is a true hidden gem! A classic greasy spoon with that old-school charm and even better prices. The food is always fresh and flavorful, and the burgers? Hands down some of the best I’ve ever had — juicy, cooked just right, and full of flavor. You don’t find many spots like this anymore. Friendly service, no frills, just good food done right. If you’re looking for a throwback spot with great eats that won’t break the bank, Mac’s is it!“

“Alex, was absolutely wonderful!! Great customer service!“

“We had an awesome experience at Prohibition! Jalen was our server and truly went above and beyond—super friendly and attentive, made us feel right at home.

The drinks and food were both outstanding. My wife is picky about spicy margaritas (most places get it wrong), but their Margarita Picante is now her gold standard. Highly recommend it. Also, do yourself a favor and try the Brussel Sprouts—they’re the perfect size to share around the table and everyone will love them.

Honestly, I don’t get why this place isn’t rated a solid 4.7 or higher. Maybe some people value quantity over quality, but if you care about great food, excellent service, and real value, this spot deserves more credit.

Bonus: there’s a stage for live performances, which is a cool touch. No band playing during our visit, but it’s still a fun atmosphere. Will definitely be back!“

“My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful evening at Chayz Lounge this past Saturday, during the Intimate Evening of Dinner & Jazz with Play That Band. The atmosphere was elegant and the service was exceptional. Our tickets included dinner with the show. My wife had the Signature Lump crab cakes, which were amazing! The crab cakes came on a spring mix salad with julienne carrots. They were well portioned and full of fresh crab meat. My wife loved them.

I had the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, which were also delicious. To put it simply, they were like having three crab cakes on top of mushroom caps with herbs and butter. This dish was simple but incredibly well executed.

Hospitality was exceptional, from the initial greeting, through service, and upon leaving after the show was complete. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking to have a good time with live music and small bite delicious food.“

“I eat their weekly. Grew up eating Lizards Thicket. Started out at the one that used to be by the airport. I’ve eaten at all of them. They are all good. Love the breakfast. Love the specials. Love the staff. Would recommend anybody that has had a bad Experience. Don’t let that one time experience stop you from enjoying a lot more of good experiences there. Highly recommend them.!!!!👍“

“MY NEW FAVORITE PLACE! The food was incredible and the atmosphere perfect! I didn't get our server's name (curly hair on top) but he was fantastic, very attentive!“

“We had a reservation, but arrived an hour early. That wasn't an issue for the staff, we were seated promptly. Our Waiter, Liam was courteous and professional. Everything was great, the only one downside was our entrees were served just after we received our salad, so the timing was a bit off, but not huge. Liam apologized for that, so its all good. Overall, great experience and we will be returning!“

“Very good food and service!“

“Professional environment Fast and polite bartenders Good food Good music A+ 💯“

“Best American Deli in the city Hands down. I don't care what the other reviews say about decker or garnersferry. This is the BEST one, Food is always hot, fresh even portion sizes are on point! They dont skimp, you'll definitely get what you pay for here. Thanks guys!“

“So we usually go here for lunch, but today we had dinner (good decision!). Venny was the best server!! Now the pow pow shrimp was a salty, and the fried Brussel sprouts almost chocked me lol, but Venny got it fixed right away. The ribs, steak, and broccoli was great! We will be back for dinner“

“Amazing People & Services. Had A Blast.“

“I’ve been coming to Rush’s for years every time I come into the Columbia area. The food is so good! The burger is always amazing. The milkshake is a nice dessert. But those fries. They are delicious! I normally use ketchup as a habit with most fries I eat. These are the only fries that I feel the ketchup is not needed. To me, that is the sign of a good fry! Keep it up. If I could get a Rush’s in the upstate, I’d be even happier!“

“I eat their weekly. Grew up eating Lizards Thicket. Started out at the one that used to be by the airport. I’ve eaten at all of them. They are all good. Love the breakfast. Love the specials. Love the staff. Would recommend anybody that has had a bad Experience. Don’t let that one time experience stop you from enjoying a lot more of good experiences there. Highly recommend them.!!!!👍“

“Cannot say enough about this home away from home restaurant. The servers are the friendliest! They take their time with each patron, but are observent and quick with refills.
Meatloaf on Wed. Great!
Liver and onions on Thurs. Great!!
My favorite location is Florence, but i just moved to Columbia.“

“The Mother's Day Buffet at the Doubletree is terrific. This was our 2nd year in a row and we weren't disappointed. They provide such a wide variety of food choices and everything is cooked to perfection. The staff is so friendly and professional, and the decor even includes an ice sculpture with a gorgeous flower arrangement. It is really a full dining experience and the desserts are not to be missed, we will return again.“

“One of our favorite date night splurge spots. We enjoy their cocktail selection and delicious entree items that change with the seasons. Located in a historic building that's listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this is the place to go to treat yourself to something new and delicious.“

“I've dealt with Mission BBQ in Columbia a few times now. Every time they exceed my expectations. Deseray and Cayce both gave exceptional service and the food was amazing. Highly recommend for a quick bite to eat or to cater a work event!“

“A variety of choices at every meal. Pleasant cooks, staff and kitchen/dining room manager. Willing to meet special dietary needs. Catering and bag lunch options for other facility venues on campus. Fresh, well stocked Salad bars and fresh sandwich topping/condiment bar. Creative entree offerings such as Gyros, Croissant French Toast, Breakfast Pizza. Great fresh inventory. Side private dining/presentation rooms. As CIU opened its doors to our leadership conference the Cafeteria Service laid out a spread with a smile.

Wheelchair accessibility: Modern college campus cafeteria with amenities and wide open dining facilities. Willing staff and accommodating tables for those using wheelchairs“

“Overall very good. Croissants are a must, really delightful. The crab soup was also excellent. Everyone enjoyed themselves and the server did an excellent job. Restaurants in old railroad station and such are frequently a disappointment. This one was not. Very high noise level.“

“Chef Tom catered a Christmas dinner for our boat club this past weekend. A lot of great menu choices. I went with the bourbon marinated steak tips, twice baked potatoes & the grilled veggies. Many compliments on the potatoes, the tenderness of the meat & the taste & display of the vegetables. Drop off went smoothly. Jen was very helpful in setting up the dishes & answering all my questions. Would highly recommend!!“

“We visited Crackerbarrel on Bush River Road yesterday in the evening. It was a great experience and we were very happy and pleased with the service there. Curtis was our server and he was exceptional.“

“Friendly service, tried the honey lemon pepper wings and they were delicious, and tasty drinks.“

“I stayed here for our alcohol and tobacco conference My room was great- very cleans and pretty . I had a Keurig, microwave mini fridge - plus shower stuff. The staff was unbelievably friendly and helpful. The food at the restaurant was very good. I just wished they served lunch and had a bigger menu. It was fun hanging out at the bar with my colleagues I would definitely come back again. They made everyone feel so welcome.“

“Hunter did an excellent job as our server. He was also bar tending. Hunter was efficient , personable and had a sense of humor! Black and Blue burger was excellent. Cooked as requested. Only disappointment was that there was no outdoor dining available.“

“This is a student run restaurant at the University of South Carolina that is a class to teach them about restaurant operations. The food and service were excellent. They only accept credit cards (no cash) and tipping is not allowed. You get a full luncheon including salad and dessert with table service for about $15. One of Columbia’s hidden gems!“