Columbia SC Restaurant Reviews

Pho Viet - Vietnamese Restaurant
6/30/09
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com
With this crazy summer weather, all I wanted was a lite fresh lunch. I had driven past Pho Viet (2300 Decker Blvd) numerous times and thought that I'd give it a whirl. Unfamiliar with the place, I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in - a clean festive atmosphere with a tiki hut motif and bright colors instantly grabbed me. After studying the menu, I decided to go with the Go Gai - a beautiful shredded salad of fresh crisp veggies topped with shredded chicken and crushed peanuts. Drenched in a lite sweet dressing. Absolutely perfect for a hot summer day! I couldn't have been more pleased with Pho Viet - the atmosphere, friendly staff, awesome services and outstanding food. Wonderful! Visit Pho Viet for additional information and to have a peek at their menu.

Alodia’s
4/14/09
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com
I’d heard good things about Alodia’s. My dentist and his wife go there a lot. I asked Dr. Harrington’s wife, Susan, what they liked so much about it and she told me the food was on par with the best Italian food around and the owner was so nice and personable… he comes around to the table throughout the meal, checking in on his diners and she said that he makes you feel like you’re family. We decided to try it tonight, celebrating a successful day at each of our jobs. My new publication, Best New Homes, was finally getting off the ground, and George’s ViaSpace stock had doubled in value today. So we wanted something different and good to mark the occasion. I remembered Alodia’s, which is conveniently located in the Publix shopping center on Highway 6 in Irmo. If you’re coming from Harbison, take Lake Murray Boulevard to Irmo Drive (next to Wendy’s) and turn right. The shopping center is on your right, just before you get to Highway 6. Look for the Publix sign.

Adam Huneau, owner and chef, has done a good job creating a relaxing atmosphere in this independent and authentic Italian bistro. A nice bar is up front - the sign said they have happy hour from 4-7 but we were a little late for that. We were seated at a white cloth draped table, with an oil candle aflame, lighting dimmed and Norah Jones softly crooning in the background. We started out with Calamari Fritti and a couple beers. Delicious lightly fried tender circles of calamari, served with banana pepper rings for a spicy and different twist on this Mediterranean dish. Served with a good solid pasta sauce - I knew we were off to a good start.

I ordered Mushroom Crespelles, something I’d never heard of, with a side salad and George got Veal Marsala, one of his favorites. My salad came with a light balsamic vinaigrette - very fresh and we were served thin slices of homemade bread with an herb butter spread. Tasty and not too heavy to spoil our appetites for the entrees. Adam himself brought our dinners to us. The Mushroom Crespelles were fantastic - light crepes with a sour cream mushroom sauce. The sauce was chock full of sliced mushrooms which Adam explained had been soaked whole in white wine, then sliced and added to the sauce. If you like mushrooms, this is the dish for you. The crepes were light and stuffed with chicken breast. Really, really good. George’s Veal Marsala was delicious. Tender, cut-with-your-fork veal, topped with a sweet marsala wine sauce, also served with mushrooms. George had selected Potato Au Gratin for his side dish, and the presentation of this crusty potato masterpiece was impressive. I shared in this and I would go back to Alodia's just to eat the Potato Au Gratin.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t fit any dessert in. Next time I think we’ll skip the appetizer so we can have some room left for dessert. Adam came around to our table before we left, checking on our satisfaction. How nice is that? This restaurant is definitely on my go-back list. Visit Alodia's for more information and to check out their other signature items.

WG's Chicken Wings
3/13/09
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com
Once in a while you find a restaurant that just makes you happy. It's simple, it's clean, it has great food, it isn't expensive, you get good service and you look forward to going back again. That's WG's. It's off St Andrews Road in the shopping center with Fred's where the old TJMaxx used to be, behind the Waffle House near I-26. It's been there 20 years and Tiffany, the owner, told me once that it's the original wings restaurant in Columbia. And it's still going strong. We went there tonight. Busy, but we could still get a booth. It's a seat yourself kind of place. Their wings are out-of-sight. They have 15 different sauces and if you order at least 20 (what my husband and I get and split) they let you choose two flavors. Tonight we had medium (yes, we're wimps) and teriyaki. Medium is still hot, if you ask me. But two big baskets of plump wings arrived along with a generous serving of fresh celery and blue cheese, and a big basket of Raw Fries which you can order Floppy, Lite, Regular or Crispy. We like 'em crispy and we splash the malt vinegar on generously. They have cheap beer. A small pitcher is $4. Go to WG's once, and you'll go back again. Visit WG's for more information.

California Chicken Grill
3/12/09
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com
To me, there's no better way to prepare meat than putting it out on a sizzling charcoal grill, letting the edges and tips get singed and burnt, and allowing the meat to absorb the smoke and fire... the flavor knocks me out. But I hardly ever get that incredible taste experience unless I grill it in my own backyard. But on Monday, I had the pleasure of trying a little place in the Vista outside downtown Columbia called California Chicken Grill. I don't know why they call it "California" but it will knock your socks off. They serve grilled chicken and lots of it. Salads, sandwiches, plates... and it is super. I had a fresh salad with lots of grilled chicken on top. It was really the best chicken salad ever. I noticed a sign saying that they deliver. I would love to have them show up after a hard day at the office, with my backyard picnic already prepared! It's on Gervais Street if you go, and the parking lot is around back. Visit California Chicken Grill for more information.

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
9/27/08
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com
We were craving Mexican food and I had planned on making tacos at home (a far cry from good Mexican cuisine!) We were out running errands in the Harbison area and as it got later and later, I was on the brink of one of those "we better eat soon or you'll have a cranky hungry whiner/accuser/pain-in-the-tush woman seated beside you in this car" moods of which, after 35 years of mostly wedded bliss, my husband has developed a keen perception of the early signs. (Grunts, sighs and under-the-breath comments) "Why don't we eat at Monterrey?" he asked. "Oh, honey, what a great idea!" I gushed.

So off we were to the best South of the Border eats in Harbison. Monterrey is the quintessential Mexican restaurant. It is located off Columbiana Drive in the area across from the mall, behind a bank. Chips, chips, chips... bring me chips and salsa... I am starving! A basket of piping hot crispy corn chips is placed on the table with a delicious mild hot salsa, just chunky enough and just spicy enough. Beer, beer, bring us a pitcher. Okay... there you go. Now we are in business. Now I can relax and look over the menu and happily munch on the chips. If you are really hungry, go to a Mexican restaurant. Where else do they place something so satisfying in front of you upon your arrival? It's like the Mexican restaurant folks get why you are there... "you are hungry, no?" Darn tootin, amigo, so let's get eatin'. Gracias.

Monterrey offers the traditional fare but also some interesting-sounding creative choices as well. I would like to try some of their seafood dishes sometime. But instead I went for the chicken fajitas and George ordered carnitas (as in "carnivorous")... big chunks of roasted pork served with tortillas, refried beans, rice, guacamole and pico de gallo. The fajitas were wonderful... they give you so much meat along with sauteed peppers and onions, and very fresh and red tomatoes, lettuce and guacomole for toppings. George loved the carnitas and amazingly ate every bite. It is all so good and homemade. And the waitstaff is really great. Our waiter kept checking on us and making sure we were happy. Thanks, Cris, you have a fantastic establishment. Visit Monterrey Mexican Restaurant for more information.

Bonefish Grill
8/3/08
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com

Bonefish Grill: Second Chance Pays Off BIG! I am a big fan of Carraba's and Outback. When the company that owns those brands decided to go into the seafood business, I was excited. I tried Bonefish Grill for the first time a couple years ago in Knoxville, Tennessee and much to my surprise, I was disappointed. But I did remember that they had outstanding calamari. So we decided to give them another chance (hey, plenty of people have graciously given me another chance throughout my years on the planet) and we went to the Bonefish Grill on Bower Parkway in Harbison.

We were seated in the bar area in a booth, and I always like sitting in the bar. Most restaurants serve dinner in the bar anymore, and it just seems more laid back to me if you eat where the drinkers are having a good time. The bar area has a few LCD screens with sports programs running. Right off, we went for calamari and beers. Quickly, the calamari arrived and once again, it is AWESOME! It is flash fried with a spicy coating and it is incredibly tender. Dipping sauces included a spicy marinara and a Thai sweet hot sauce. We gobbled it all down.

Next up, I was served a beautiful house salad with citrus vinaigrette... fresh and wonderful. Hubby had a caesar's salad which he enjoyed.

Now to the core of the meal... the entrees. I absolutely love rainbow trout and order it any place we go that serves it. The Snake River Rainbow Trout at Bonefish Grill was excellent. Fire grilled, a nice size filet, and served with a tasty lemon butter sauce. You get your choice of several sauces for this dish. I ordered the steamed vegetable medley on the side and it was fresh and delicious. George had the Halibut special on the early bird menu, and he gave me several bites. (I keep reminding him that I will be writing a review and it is very important that he shares all his food with me) It was light and delicate and also fire grilled and wonderful, served over a mound of potatoes au gratin.

If you are looking for excellent seafood in Columbia, I suggest Bonefish Grill. In addition to the location in Harbison, there is one of Forest Drive in Forest Acres. Visit Bonefish Grill for a full menu.

Village Bistro
7/25/08
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com

Village Bistro: Casual Gourmet. We found ourselves at the Village at Sandhill on the evening of Friday, July 25th and decided it was time to find a place for dinner. I had had lunch at the Village Bistro a few months ago and liked it. My husband doesn't like to get adventurous when he gets hungry... he wants to know what he's going to eat will be good. I reassured him.

The restaurant was busy but we got seated immediately. There had been a Friday night outdoor concert at the Village at Sandhill, and the concert goers were arriving after the show. The bar was near our table and it looked like many people there knew one another and were having a good time. The Village Bistro has a sophistication to its decor... modern, not fussy. It's casual dress, and I like that.

We started with brewskies (they serve draft Blue Moon with a slice of orange) and calamari served with a wonderful apricot sauce. The calamari was done perfectly. I ordered a dinner salad with the house dressing, a citrus vinaigrette. Small but very fresh and good. My entree was Grouper Bistro, a delicate piece panfried and served atop wonderful sweet potatoes with asparagus. Super-good. The grouper had a bit of apricot sauce drizzled on it. My mate had the Crown Roast Pork Chop, a double chop with a light herb breading, also served over tasty sweet potato dish with asparagus. I tried a couple bites and it was unbelievably good.

Maria, the proprietor, stopped by and we gushed our compliments about the food. She told us the Pork Chop was her favorite too. She suggested we try a piece of Chocolate Raspberry Torte, made inhouse by her chef, and we agreed to split a piece. OMG! Five layers of rich fudgey cake, separated with creamy chocolate frosting and raspberry jam and enveloped with the best dark chocolate. Save room for dessert at Village Bistro... it's the best part! Visit Village Bistro for a full menu!

Hennessy’s
7/16/08
by: Kathy Gardener
kathy@gardenerguides.com

I like Hennessy’s. I like a place with table cloths, cloth napkins standing in stemmed glassware, nice lighting, and lunches for $5.95, $6.95… complete lunches with salads, veggies, nice accompaniments. That’s what you get at Hennessy’s. I went there this Wednesday for their special – pan fried flounder. I started with a pleasing little side salad topped with Hennessy’s famous Mays salad dressing. Yum. A perfectly sautéed flounder filet rested atop a mound of rice, and was drizzled with a marmalade sauce. I hadn’t expected the sauce but was quite happy to have a bit of sweetness with this delicious fish. Some nice crunchy pea pods sat beside it. I really had a nice time all by myself and was glad I had been downtown at lunchtime. My only suggestion is that they provide tea drinkers with larger glasses – I must have run my server ragged asking for refills! Visit Hennessy's for a full menu!

Salty Nut Cafe
6/3/08
by: Jennifer Newlands

The Salty Nut Café boasts that they have the biggest deck and the saltiest nuts in five points. While I am not sure if they have the biggest deck or the saltiest nuts, I know that it is the best deck to sit on while eating salty nuts! What could be better then a lazy Saturday afternoon of sitting outside in the warm sunshine and getting a sun tan all while drinking and eating. Just a word of warning...if you sit on the deck, beware of the pigeons! It isn’t illegal to throw peanuts at them, but it does stink when they retaliate by pooping on your table.

Salty Nut isn’t the fanciest bar in town, so if martinis, manhattans or anything that can’t be served in a plastic cup is your thing I suggest you head someplace else. But if a pitcher of any alcoholic substance floats your boat, then try the Long Island Ice Tea Pitcher. You certainly won’t get drunk, but they sure are tasty.

Salty Nut is also good for cheap beer and yummy bar food. The Salty Nut Club is always high on my list of munchies. The honey ham, smoked turkey, and crisp bacon form the perfect mouth watering treat, along with crisp fries, and a cold pickle...what could be better? The portion sizes are a little small, but when everything comes in a fashionable plastic basket that reminds you of a tacky beachside restaurant, what can you expect? The Macho Nachos are good to split between you and a buddy but don’t share with too many people, contrary to their name it’s not the biggest platter of nachos I’ve ever seen. Their chicken fingers are nothing special but they hit the spot after a long night of bar hopping. All the food is fresh and hot, the drinks are cold and the waitresses are friendly.

All in all, the Salty Nut should appeal to anyone who doesn’t mind plastic forks and peanut shells on the floor. So, next time you are in the mood to feel like a college kid again, with no money in your pockets and no fancy clothes to speak of, come on down to the Salty Nut Café. Visit Salty Nut Cafe for a full menu!

Liberty Tap Room
4/25/08
by: Jennifer Newlands

If the sun is shining and the air is warm, head on down to Liberty Tap Room in the Vista. If there’s an empty table on the outdoor patio, grab it fast, because they go really quick!

Liberty is not just another place to get something to eat. It is the place to relax and enjoy the beautiful South Carolina weather while sipping on an ice cold adult beverage. Oh yeah, the food isn’t bad either. If you happen to be a beer drinker, Liberty has an extensive beer selection featuring seasonal as well as local selections. For those not into beer, have no fear…the drink menu and bartenders are top shelf! I suggest the red pear martini, but then again I suggest anything with vodka.

The drinks aren’t the only good thing at Liberty considering that the kitchen is pretty decent as well. If you are in the mood for something light to go with the warm weather, try a salad or a sandwich. The Liberty Club is always a good choice and it puts an end to that age old stupid question of “which came first…the chicken or the egg” by putting a fried egg on top of grilled chicken. Well, maybe it doesn’t answer the question but it tastes really good! The bacon, sun-dried tomato dressing and great bread only add to the deliciousness of this sandwich. If you prefer beef to chicken, try the Freedom burger. No matter which sandwich or burger you try, spend an extra dollar and order Tommy fries on the side. These roasted potato wedges with melted cheese, crisp bacon and ranch dressing are worth every penny. The chicken nachos are a great way to start your meal as long as you like to share. The heaping plate comes piled high with enough nacho chips and chicken to feed an army (or well, at least two or three soldiers).

I haven’t had a bad thing at Liberty Tap Room yet. I must, however, give you fair warning that if you want a table, or to at least be able to see the bar, I suggest you go early. On Friday and Saturday nights, the crowds pour in and the place really fills up. Visit Liberty Tap Room for a full menu!