We had dinner reservations via Rest last night at Cola's. We were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant had a nice ambiance with plenty of seating. We were taken to a room that was suitable for a private party. For appetizers we ordered the sweet and crispy brussels sprouts and the shrimp and risotto cake. Both were really good. For our entrees we got the Salmon Berry Salad and Braised Beef. I enjoyed my Braised Beef. It was super tender and the sauce was phenomenal. I subbed mashed potatoes instead of the grits that came with it and the carrots were sweet, tender and delicious. I def recommend getting an extra side of mashed potatoes and the sauce togo if you don't finish your meal. read more

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Cola's had the makings of a great dining experience from a cool atmosphere to a great location in downtown Columbia, nearby parking, and a refuge from the rainy weather. We had reservations and were seated promptly in a comfortable booth near the front windows, where I thoroughly enjoyed watching the rain fall while we settled in for dinner. Our server, Alexis B., was as sweet as could be. Friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the evening, she did everything she could to make our experience enjoyable. Unfortunately, things went downhill when one of my dining companions disclosed an onion allergy. To be clear, the issue wasn't Alexis - it was the response from management. What should have been a straightforward conversation turned into a surprisingly frustrating ordeal involving both a manager and assistant manager, neither of whom handled the situation particularly well. We ordered a roasted beet salad for the table, drinks including a club soda and Cola's 76, and my friends planned to split the hamburger. When the burger arrived, it consisted of a bun and a beef patty. That's it. No toppings. Nothing. When we asked what happened, we were told it was due to concerns about cross contamination. Now, I fully appreciate restaurants taking food allergies seriously. In fact, I encourage it. But there was a complete lack of communication, flexibility, or customer service surrounding the situation. When additional toppings and accompaniments were eventually brought out separately, there was no explanation, apology, or acknowledgment of the confusion. The entire interaction left a really, really bad taste in our mouths. As for my own meal, things were much better. I enjoyed a strawberry mojito, a half-dozen oysters Rockefeller, and the gnocchi caprese. The gnocchi was quite unique and something I don't often see on menus. The food itself was enjoyable. So, in the end, this review comes down to the service experience. Alexis was wonderful. The atmosphere was inviting. The food ranged from good to very good. But the way management handled a simple allergy accommodation turned what could have been a four- or five-star experience into a frustrating one. Sweet server. Cozy atmosphere. Sour management. Kind of like an onion, I guess! read more

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Love this place! From the cool sign out front to the amazing interior and the exceptional food. I enjoy everything this place has to offer. Everyone in our group raved about their food. I highly recommend starting with the pimento cheese board and the Brussels sprouts. Word of caution on the Whole Crispy Flounder- they can vary drastically in size. Two of us in our group ordered this entry and they were very different in size. One looked plump and full of meat and the other looked emaciated. When I brought it up to the manager he told me that's how they come. Having a menu item at Market Price being a roll of the dice is unacceptable to me. They did end up making it right by bringing another one that looked like the other person in my group which I appreciated. Not sure why they made me feel like I was in the wrong. This experience won't detract me from coming back and everything else about the service was acceptable for a busy Saturday night. read more

Cola's - Great spot in downtown Columbia - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The braised beef was perfect. 10/10 perfect. It was extremely tender and I surprisingly didn't experience palette fatigue. The Strawberry Mojito was great too. Not dangerous great but it hits. I just added a picture of the bread because I liked the presentation. The bread itself was a little under done so it wasn't really breaking as well. Service was good and the restaurant itself is a vibe. Would take a group or SO here for sure. read more

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My wife's daughter took us here for my wife's birthday. The restaurant appears to be inside an old warehouse. The service was very good. The bread rolls fill you up before the main course, be careful not to eat too much. The servings were large and plentiful. What was thought to be mashed potatoes, was actually a grits dish. I'm not a grits person, mashed potato would have been a better option. read more

We had a really good experience here even with our reservations time and mix up. They were super nice and accommodating for my family and I. I love the nicer restaurant atmosphere but casual vibes. The waiter was busy but he went over the menu with us, giving great recommendations for food and drinks. We needed up with the Tequila Old Fashioned and Strawberry Mojito..... second round was the Vanilla Bean Tequila and Blueberry Mojito. We enjoyed the Tequila Old Fashioned and the Blueberry Mojito the most! The bread and oil was delicious! I got so full and ended up eating appetizers only. Order the brussel sprouts! Soooo good. I also tried the spicy rubbed chicken with greens and mac and cheese. A solid meal with good flavors. Enjoyed the experience and looking forward to returning ! read more

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I'm always skeptical about finding a steak as good as the one my husband cooks at home for me while on the road. Let me just say...the cook was perfect and the flavor was amazing. They also offer a wonderful wine and cocktail variety. Also, weekly specials for those wanting to taste the Chef's well sourced creations. The waiting staff are attentive and friendly which is always a plus when dining out of town. This was actually my second time dining and consistently good. read more

Cola's - Bread with olive oil, cracked pepper, and fresh Parmesan. - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Cheap martinis. Homestyle Southern cooking. Mac and cheese was sharp and creamy. One of the best I've ever eaten . Our reservation was 8pm on a Saturday night and at 9:45 we were given last call for bar drinks. That poor business practice wouldn't fly in NYC. Check was around $750 and you get chased out. read more

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I've been coming to cola's for over 20 years. Used to be called garibaldi's and was down in the five points area. They closed that location and moved to this one which was a great choice as this building has more character. I was not able to get the whole fried flounder I normally get which was disappointing. If you come here it's well worth getting. We ordered calamari, chicken Milanese and filet. To finish was the yummy berry basket. read more

One of the better Vista restaurants. A little higher end but a really coo vibe. This is the place we go to when we are trying to treat our daughter to a nice meal. lol. read more

My friend and I stopped by on a weekday to have dinner. Our server, Miles, was so amazing and provided fantastic options for dinner. We were blown away by the flavors and the beef was perfectly cooked! So tasty! The desserts were TO DIE FOR! I'm not a big fan of super sweet dessert. This was perfectly flavored and not too sweet! I can't wait to return! The restaurant is super nice! read more

We visited Colas for the very first time. We shared the Shrimp Savannah and Braised Beef. Both dishes were exceptional. The Braised Beef was perfect, rich and tender! The grits were delicious and a true Southern Cuisine experience. We'd definitely come back again. read more

Not sure how I've never been here... it was amazing!!! Still drooling over the oysters Rockefeller and Brie and raspberry fondue. The hosting, server and manager was amazing! Will be back Video on @lexgeteating on TikTok and instagram :) read more

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Okay. Here's an update. I they looked at my review and changed the seasoning on the Flounder. The seasoning is perfect now. I love this place and I can't get enough of it. If you love fish like I do you will not be disappointed!!! Thank you so much for listening Cola. I will continue to support this establishment. read more

Cola's - Flounder in Apricot sauce. - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

one of my favorite restaurants in columbia, the food and service is always extremely good, without breaking the bank. And the restaurant itself is beautiful! read more

Came to Cola's a few days after Mother's Day to celebrate. We had reservations right at open, so there was no wait, but by about 6:30 the dining room started to fill out. Our family loved the decor, and the fact our table was right next to the massive open window, but if that's not your thing, they also have tables that would be a little more secluded. Our server was a very nice young man who made sure our waters stayed full and checked on us the perfect amount of times. 10/10 service. The food was exceptional (although they were out of lobster for the week probably due to Mom's Day) and the portions were so big almost all of us were full and able to get another meal out of the leftovers. The pork chops and chicken parmigiana were amazing. Whoever makes the desserts: WOW. the Almond Waffle Cone Ice Cream thing was insanely good, and the other options sounded equally amazing. Definitely a great date night spot as well and although it is a bit on the pricier side, for the amount of food, quality of service, and location/ambiance it is definitely worth the price. read more

The roasted chicken and collard greens was wonderful! Always great service and experience.

So.... Matthew and Rachel provided the best service and the chef was outstanding two nights in a row. They would have received a 5 star if I was able to be seated at a table. Basically, I was told we are "completely booked until 7" well..... I'm staring at empty tables read more

Cola's - Crispy Flounder with Peach Chutney - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Cola's is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The service is always great and the food is always top tier. For appetizers we enjoyed the delicious Brussels sprouts. Entrees: pork chops with collards and macaroni Chicken parmigiana Portions sizes are enough to feed 2 people. Our drinks, French 75, were made to perfection. I love the dining area and ambiance. Perfect for date night, birthday dinner or solo treat. read more

Cola's - Chicken Parmigiana Fried Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I came here for a group dinner and we were seated in the back room. Their events menu is quite creative and I got to try a few things that were new to me. Appetizers included sesame-crusted asparagus with a sweet/soy dipping sauce. There were bacon and cheese muffins (grits? potatoes?). There was also a jumbo shrimp cocktail. Next, the 1st course (seated appetizer) menu had many choices from chopped salad, poached pear salad, a shrimp/grits specialty, and pork eggrolls. I had the poached pear salad. It was delicious. There were many choices for the dinner menu. I was torn between the salmon and lobster tail tempura. I selected the lobster because it seemed to be the most unique item on the menu. It came with rice and veggies. I ate it all! The sauce was a bit spicy, but I got past it because there was also a sweetness to it. Dessert offered a chocolate mousse cake, creme brulee, and almond basket with ice cream. The creme brule was the largest option and very delicious. I would've liked it to have set a bit more (firmer/thicker), but it was still a rich custard. Our server was working so hard. She was extremely friendly and personable. read more

Food is great, the experience is great also provided you don't park in the parking lot next to it!!! A couple of extra minutes over your paid for time will cost you north of $100.00 read more

Food was cooked to perfection! Ambience was great! The service was on point. Will definitely return.

This one is on my hit list!!! The appetizers and entrees were excellent, and the staff, from the hostesses to the bartender, provided attentive service. The relaxed ambiance contributed to a highly enjoyable evening. i will definitely be going back... read more

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Great atmosphere and service was impeccable however the food was just "okay". Nothing stood out to any of us that we couldn't make ourselves at home. I did enjoy their drink menu and I plan on visiting again to try other things on the menu especially the burger. read more

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This was our second visit. I withheld a review until gave them a second chance. The food is okay. I ordered oysters rockafeller which were served with a large amount of Parmesan cheese that tasted like it was out of a bag, not fresh. The bear salad comes with goat cheese and spiced nuts. There were no nuts or goat cheese on it. After sending it back, it came out with still only a minute trace of goat cheese and some spiced nuts. The bartender poured my bottled beer into a glass creating a tall head of froth. I opted to put it myself after that. I was able to pour it with no head. However I had to ask my server 3 times before I received another. The atmosphere is nice. We were there celebrating a birthday. It's great for that. But, overall, I feel the quality of ingredients is low while the prices are high. There aren't many choices around Columbia, so seeing this place elevate their ingredients and service would be great for the city. read more

My husband and I were not a fan of the fried deviled eggs. He had the steak which he liked and said melted in his mouth. I had the pan seared fish with Brie risotto which was pretty good. They give you bread which is the best sour dough flavor with a truffle oil. We didn't have a reservation so we set in the bar area at a high top table which was cool. The server was awesome and pretty attentive. I would give it 5 stars but something was off. I would definitely try it again. read more

The service was impeccable, she really knew the menu, took care of us. Food was good, Brussels sprouts appetizer was great. Chicken parm was good, peach chutney salmon was good. I really enjoyed the Hendrick's Cucumber martini and the dessert, ice cream in almond basket is always good! read more

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Had dinner there tonight was bad $11.00 glass house wine per 2 oz pour French Onion soup was huge size but tasteless!! oysters rockafellow was ok but cold Whole fried flounder was not crispy rather limp and greasy This was worst dinner ever at colas we won't be back! read more

The food is always top notch!!! I got the brick chicken (pictured) and it was fantastic!!! Also the brussels sprouts were some of the best ones I've ever had! read more

Cola's - Roasted Brick Chicken - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Really enjoyed this place First start off with the staff. Very friendly and hospitable. Bar was serving food but I waited for a high top and glad I did, bartender was great while waiting and when seating Lexi my server was awesome So friendly! Started of with the southern fried deviled eggs, they were ok something different but didn't blow me away. Had the spiced rub chicken with collard greens and Mac and cheese. Awesome. Great comfort food and cooked perfectly read more

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Sorry I don't have any pictures, I was too busy gobbling up their food and drink. The husband and I walked there from our hotel, and it is a very cozy and welcoming environment. Although they had table tops available we chose to sit at the bar. We arrived right at 7:00 PM which is our typical time for a dirty martini. Our bar server, asked which vodka, and then "blue cheese stuffed olive?...two? Perfect!! Just like we make it at home. We ordered the crispy sesame asparagus and the sweet and spicy brussels sprouts. It all came out pretty quickly and was delicious. We felt we had room for a little more so we ordered the poached pear arugula salad to split between us. They brought it evenly split on two plates. Really tasty. We are only in Columbia for two nights, but we decided we enjoyed Cola's so much that we would come back again tonight - when we are hungrier and enjoy a couple of their tasty looking entrees. I promise to take pictures and post again. We gave Cola's an A+* rating. read more

Our food was ok. I had the glazed salmon & that was amazing however the side of sautéed potatoes were extremely oily. My husband steak was not cooked as ordered, so it was sent back. They did fix the issue & brought out Mac n cheese which was also really oily. The drinks are nice & strong. The best thing out this visit was our waiter Pete. He was amazing & made our first experience at Cola's memorable. He's such a nice humble kind young man. read more

Cola's - Crispy Calamari Crispy Calamari Fried deviled eggs Shrimp Savannah - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Went out for a date night and this place definitely fits the bill. Food was reasonably priced, but a little more upscale. We had the fried deviled eggs (good, but probably wouldn't order again) and the bbq pork egg rolls (so delicious, def getting that again) for an appetizer, enjoyed a chopped salad (the dressing was so flavorful) and then chicken Milanese and shrimp and grits. They were delicious as well. Chicken was lightly fried but so juicy, and the shrimp and grits had a very rich, complex flavor. Our waitress, Michelle, was fantastic. It was busy but she kept checking in with us and we never felt ignored. She paced the food so it didn't all come out at the same time. Would definitely recommend this restaurant and will definitely go again. read more

Cola's - Chicken Milanese - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I was very pleased with my meal at this location. I would highly recommend others going and enjoy enjoying the wonderful food. My waitress was very polite and very knowledgeable about the products on the menu. She was able to recommend a meal for me and I truly enjoyed it. read more

Overall it was good food. The pork chops aren't seasoned but the greens taste great. Service was good as well and we enjoyed the ambiance. read more

Cola's - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Here's the deal: Cola is a upscale casual restaurant. They have tables & booths which provide a great atmosphere for couple and/or larger groups. The bar area has full service area as well !! The food was very good ! The calamari was very good ! The hummus platter very good! We also ordered dozen oysters which were delicious!! ( couldn't get picture). Main course(s). Bbq salmon was delicious!! The bbq was a surprising twist of flavor that I will try to replicate on my own! The seafood risotto delicious!! The braised beef was rich. flavorful & tender!! The mahi-mahi was a bit bland. Overall dinners were very good and the service was very friendly and helpful!! I'd definitely come back and enjoy Coke again !! read more

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Cola's: A place I've been meaning to go to for years. It's just, I spend so much time in either Savannah, Greenville, or Charleston that I normally do "fine dining" in those cities. Living in Columbia the last 7 years, I only eat out in Cola once or twice a year. I just consistently in other places so I normally just make food while I'm in my city. So with that said, Cola's was a a very good restaurant, but I wouldn't go as far as great. Pros: - The brick aesthetic. Yeah, I'm one of those millennials who's a sucker for older brick buildings being restaurants. - Menu prices. Everything (mostly) is under 30 dollars (even in the inflation age). That's impressive for a nicer restaurant. - PORTIONS. Every time I do "fine dining" I'm always afraid I'm not going to get enough to eat. Cola's I left absolutely stuffed and happy. My chicken parm had two chicken breasts, pasta, vegetables, and four pieces of garlic bread. Ahhhhh. - Servers. They're on it here. Some of the best I've had. - That free bread. Boy, that free bread was bangin'. I've ate in Boston in the Italian District multiple times and Cola's would win in a bread competition. - Flavors. Excellent flavors and everything was delicious. Cons: - I had chicken parm and I'm a chicken parm snob with a seven year recipe. I want CRISPY chicken parm and not SOGGY chicken parm. Almost every restaurant (excluding some) give you soggy chicken parm. Cola's chicken parm was delicious, but it was soggy. - I found the pasta sauce a tad sweet for my liking. Same with the marinade with the chicken parm. Delicious at first, but after 20-30 bites the sweetness gets to you. - My wife pointed this out and it's probably why I give it a 4 and not a 5. Our food was lukewarm. By the time I got to the pasta it was cold. - Broccoli/Zucchini with pasta is weird when we're talking chicken parm. Red Sauce and Broccoli don't go together. Just leave those out or give it on the side. We started with Shrimp Savannah which was delicious. $14 dollar appetizers can't be beat and this is no exception. Very flavorful and the shrimp are fresh. My wife had the cornmeal encrusted trout with bacon-potato hash. She said the flavors were there, but with it being lukewarm it kinda threw it off. The star of the show though was the chicken parm. The portion is massive. I'm talking two whole chicken breasts and pasta. I was absolutely stuffed with my last few bites. Again, I'm a chicken parm snob and I wouldn't put this in my top 3 or even top 5, but I'd put it in my top ten. The chicken was melt in your mouth and had an excellent flavor; I just look for contrasts of crispy/soggy with my chicken Parmesan. It can't be too one dimensional like that. Again, I'm a chicken parm snob, so I'm being over critical and your average person will love it. So would I go back? Heck yeah. Would I get the chicken parm again? Probably honestly. It's not exactly my "style" or "preference" of chicken parm, but it's still delicious. I mean...I booked a trip last summer to Boston to literally just eat chicken parm...so that kinda ruined most chicken parms for me. It was still delicious though and sometimes eating something different is what food is about sometimes. For getting a bottle of wine, an appetizer, and two entrees the bill was right at $100. I'll call that a home run for my wallet. read more

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COLAs is a beautifully restored RC Cola bottling plant--makes sense now right? Fine dining bar and restaurant near the South Carolina Capital. Relaxing atmosphere is nice area. We sat in bar area at a table top and enjoyed a couple cocktails. Service was friendly and very efficient. Started with the Pimento Cheese Board, which comes with Pickled Vegetables and Tomato Jam, which we thoroughly enjoyed. I also tried the Crispy Sesame Asparagus with Ginger Dipping Sauce. I felt the breading was a bit too much but certainly a creative offering. Enjoyed our time at COLA's and would certainly look for an opportunity to stop by again. read more

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Y'ALL!! This place was SO delicious. We got the fried deviled eggs as an appetizer. I had honey chipotle salmon with sweet potato grits and asparagus. Hubs got a burger that had candied bacon, house made bread and butter pickles, fried green tomato, and pimento cheese, on a Hawaiian bun. read more

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The food is amazing!! So delicious!! Love the Crispy Flounder. My favorite! Great service and ambience.