The food was great. The service was outstanding and the ambience was terrific Definitely would recommend to all.

I was in the mood for a really good breakfast, something local, not a chain and decided to finally try Breakfast at Ruiz after seeing it on Yelp. I'll admit, I was cautiously optimistic, but wow, they completely exceeded my expectations! The restaurant itself is beautiful, slightly upscale in appearance but still has a relaxed, casual vide, which makes it perfect for a midweek brunch or late breakfast. The menu is extensive without being overwhelming, and our server was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Now the food... phenomenal. I hate that I didn't take pictures, but that's usually a sign the food is that good. I just wanted to dig in! My husband ordered the shrimp and grits with added andouille sausage, and I had the brisket omelette with a side of grits. I'm not usually an omelet person, but the idea of brisket in an omelette pulled me in, and I am so glad that I did. The flavor was amazing, and the grits were some of the best I've ever had. I typically avoid ordering grits outside my home because they're often disappointing, but these were absolutely on point. The shrimp and grits were also excellent, full of flavor and beautifully presented. The andouille sausage wasn't my personal favorite, but that's my taste preference, not a reflection of the dish itself. Portion sizes were great, pricing felt fair for the area, and overall the experience was top tier. If you're in the Columbia Northeast/Elgin area, I highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

On a beautiful Saturday morning, my husband and I decided to eat out for breakfast. We had passed this restaurant a couple of times and decided to stop in and try it. The customer service was great. The weight staff was very attentive. The menu was fantastic and included breakfast and brunch items. There's also a bar on site in case you want a mimosa or other cocktail. We enjoyed shrimp and grits and a breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns and a delicious sausage. We are certainly excited to go back to this place again. Highly recommend! read more

Breakfast at Ruiz - The bar area. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elgin, South Carolina

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The food was good even though a large group kept our Waiter busy I suggest the Summer Mimosas flight

Abby was the bomb very nice and friendly remind me of little cuz. She took care of us made sure we were all good. The food was good the turkey sausage wasn't as good as the chicken sausage but they both were good. The French toast was decent a little hard but nothing some syrup can't fix. The espresso was very good but strong but worth it. I saw a lot of people with the mimosas float it looked good maybe that's something you can try all flavors. Looked very popular. The ambiance is very nice but a little small. I get it for overhead maybe but they are very popular and good because the wait was 35-45 minutes so either try for reservations if they take them or be prepared for the wait. The waitress said Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday it can be busy and they're only open into 2:30 for breakfast or brunch it's a W for the win. read more

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When we arrived, there was a 30-minute wait, but we only waited for about 15 minutes on a Saturday. The prices are very reasonable, especially compared to New York. There's room for groups, but you might want to make a reservation if you're there on the weekend. The ambiance is a Spanish music vibe, not too loud, just right. The decor is nicely done. I really like the good food. The espresso martini was strong. The chicken and turkey sausage was delicious, and the eggs were cooked just right. Both the churro and cinnamon take-French toast were good. The cinnamon was a bit too sweet. The waitress Abby was very nice, attentive, and sweet. I definitely recommend. read more

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My first time at this location. I will say this brand is consistent. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and it was consistently great! The flavor in the cinnamon bread really pulls the sandwich together paired with perfectly cooked home fries. I also ordered the banana foster waffle as it's a fav flavor of mine. I was nervous as the menu says must be 21. I assumed the rum flavor would be overpowering. It wasn't. It was good. Very good and served hot. It did make my waffle soggy in the middle even though I ate it immediately. Service was good! Very pleasant and attentive. Restaurant is always clean and beautifully decorated. Gives an upscale vibe read more

Breakfast at Ruiz - Banana foster waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elgin, South Carolina

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Came in on a Saturday around 1145am was told there was a 70min wait, a large party was leaving and the restaurant was mostly cleared there were plenty of empty tables and they were barely filling them with names from the waiting list and as we continued to wait, basically to see what was going on they started telling people that were coming in that is was a hour wait but still we're not sitting people. This was my first and will be my last time visiting this place.. I can not understand why they were not sitting people and I saw plenty of staff walking around and the tables were already cleaned so this was very bad service read more

Breakfast at Ruiz - Front desk - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elgin, South Carolina

This has to be one of the best if not the best restaurant in Columbia. The environment is amazing, classy, relaxed, and fun. Sharisa did an outstanding job of serving. There was an issue and not only did we talk about it, she was very very professional and courteous. Hence me editing this review. Let me just say in all my visits, the entire staff has been great. The food is amazing. I have been here 5 times in three weeks. The shrimp and grits are divine, the omelets are delicious, the mimosa flights...stellar. If you want great food in a great environment with great service, this is the place to go. read more

I had my first experience at Breakfast at Ruiz was today. I was very excited to see that the stars ratings were so low. I had a warm welcome, excellent service, and my food and coffee were excellent. My food (the Bacon/Spinach Omelette) came from the kitchen hot and very attractive. All the dishes I watched coming from the kitchen were pleasing to the eye. You could hear the whispers of the customers trying to figure out what the dishes were every time food came from the kitchen. There were several people celebrating birthdays today and the staff was eager to accommodate them. They made sure my coffee cup was never empty. I received EXCELLENT service. The restaurant was busy and bussing. I looked around and at one point there wasn't an empty table, but that didn't keep them from doing a great job. I would definitely recommend Breakfast at Ruiz for a breakfast or brunch. I will be going back for SURE! read more

Breakfast at Ruiz - Bacon/Spinach Omelette with Fruit for the side. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elgin, South Carolina

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My first experience with this location was an absolute pleasure. Our food was served at great temperature. The atmosphere has a calming vibe that's very appealing. The waiter was knowledgeable and helpful with the menu choices. Definitely a great addition to the Northeast sector of town. I recommend you visit soon! read more

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Welcome, Welcome and welcome to the community! I always went to the original location so I'm excited there is one in NE Columbia. Food, drinks, service and AMBIACE was top tier!! read more

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Great breakfast at Ruiz Northeast! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, perfect for starting the day. The French toast was delicious, soft, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The mimosa flight was fantastic. The Service was friendly and attentive as well. I would have given them 5 stars but they are a little pricey, still I will be back to enjoy the lux ambiance. Definitely a great spot for breakfast! read more

I've been to Breakfast at Ruiz before, and the food is excellent, fresh, flavorful, and worth the drive. However, this visit was disappointing because the closing time was handled poorly. The space is small, and they don't take reservations, which I understand. My friend and I drove about 30 minutes to the Elgin location and arrived at 1:30 pm. The restaurant closes at 2:30 pm, yet we were told they could not seat us because they were closing in an hour. If a restaurant's posted closing time is 2:30, it's reasonable to expect that guests arriving at 1:30 can still be seated. Closing the kitchen an hour early without clearly stating that policy is frustrating, especially after a long drive. The food is truly great, but clearer communication about last seating times would make the experience much better. read more