You have to check out The Coffee Pot in Columbia, IL!…read more From amazing coffee drinks to overnight oats, this is a one stop shop to treat yourself. The service is the friendliest in town, and they're all just such nice humans. Highly recommend the Sunset Lotus, or really any of the lotus drinks. You can even ask the barista for recommendations as they've never steered me wrong. It's very cute on the inside, and worth snapping a pict for Instagram. It's a walk in and walk out place, so it's a great place to grab a drink and check out the other small businesses along Main Street.

It's going to be a good morning if I am able to make a stop at The Coffee Pot. I don't make it too…read moreoften, but I have been a customer since before they opened the Columbia storefront and haven't had anything yet that I didn't enjoy. The themed seasonal offerings are fun to try. Today I enjoyed the "Old News Latte" - espresso with brown sugar, toasted marshmallow syrup, oat milk. There are also some quick grab-and-go food items that go well with the coffee menu for breakfast. I'd like to try to visit later in the day for some of the other items on the food menu. No seating inside, but happy morning vibes. Such a cute space, with plenty of green and a tropical fish tank to take in while you wait to place your order- though the line moves quickly. They have some fun merch (think JavaSoks and stickers). Service is fast and friendly, and the ladies working always seem to be having a good time. This morning, they were in coordinating Halloween costumes. The Coffee Pot is a great addition to Columbia. :)

Meeting friends here for brunch was a pleasant experience. The menu is varied enough to offer both…read morebreakfast and lunch options, with plenty of choices and nothing imaginative. The prices are very reasonable. When we asked about specialty coffee drinks, our server showed us an electronic tablet-- we had to pass it around to read our options. They were all very sweet concoctions named for desserts, and the ones my companions chose were indeed so pumped with syrup and flavors and sprinkles that the taste of coffee was nowhere to be found. Our food was just fine. The waffle was sweet and fluffy. The Berry Salad was exactly as described: iceberg, lettuce, berries, pecans. The berries were fresh; the chicken was heavily seasoned (mostly salty and saturated) and the poppyseed dressing was very sweet. The quiche had plenty of spinach in it but was rather rubbery (I know quiche can be tricky-- it has a really long cooking time so it can't be made to order, and rewarming does it no favors) and the potato soup was okay. Both the salad and the quiche/soup combo had a croissant on the side; they seemed similar to the ones purchased by the dozen at Costco. Mine seemed dry on the outside with a faint moldy taste in the bottom. The patio was very pleasant, and inside looked cozy. The staff did a great job of making everyone feel welcome and keeping our glasses refilled and such. There's a big parking lot adjacent, though many of the spots say they're reserved for a different business. I saw that high chairs are available. Gendered restrooms are inside. The place accepts cash and credit cards.

We had high hopes for Cafe on the Abbey, but our visit was not a pleasant one. Based on other…read morereviews it may be an anomaly? So perhaps we'll visit again, however, if there weren't so many positive reviews we would never go back. Our coffee flight was probably the worst we've ever had. They were supposed to be iced but came out lukewarm and burnt tasting. We couldn't taste a difference in any of the flavors-likely because it was so burnt tasting that's all we could taste. Neither of us liked our food. My husband's pancakes were dry and he said they tasted like they had been microwaved. My healthy bowl tasted like mostly old/not fresh ingredients. The Brussel sprouts were supposed to be shaved, but were instead halved and appeared/tasted like they were from the prior day. The Parmesan cheese was also prepackaged and not freshly grated, and for the price we paid ($50+) we didn't expect to be served food low-quality food. The only picture I took was of our coffee. Our server did the bare minimum. They weren't rude, but also weren't friendly. We ran out of Cholula sauce and she grabbed one from another table with people sitting there. Overall a very poor experience. Based completely on this one experience we would never return.

We love Marie's! The owner is often there scooping ice cream behind the counter, and he always has…read morea smile to share. Great selection of Cedar Crest ice creams. My favorites are Mackinac Island Fudge and Cookie Monster! The business owner is active in helping out in the community and even allowed my Girl Scouts a little tour and complementary ice cream a couple of years ago. We try to support this local business whenever we can. The wooden games (tic-tac-toe, Connect Four) on the tables in the seating area are a nice touch and make the atmosphere inviting and family-friendly. It helps to walk to and from the shop on a nice day as a reward for the kids. :)

Many treat offerings in this strip mall ice cream shop. Nice choices of ice cream flavors. Polite…read moreservice. Space large enough to eat inside but outside tables as well. Ordered a double in a cup. Surprised by what was scooped up as a double... rather small for the price. We were a large group and all was handled well.

Ashley was an absolutely rockstar! I called her panicked after I needed a cake fixed and she made…read moreit look better than before! Stayed after hours for me to drop off and had it done super early the next morning. Not only that, the gentleman behind the counter was incredibly kind and super friendly. I will definitely be returning for all custom cake needs!

I ordered a cake from Ashley for my grandfathers 95th birthday. She did a beautiful job on the cake…read moredesign and the almond cake with raspberry filling was delicious. I highly recommend this bakery! Support small business!!!!

The food is fresh. The place is cold and they are very helpful and they always have some new stuff…read morecoming in and they have some different food too.

The food and service were too notch. This place happened to show up on my FB feed and the menu…read morelooked like something the kids would love and it didn't disappoint! Everything came out very fresh, the batter is nice and crispy, the staff were very attentive and they regularly came out to wipe down tables (something I hardly see anymore in this type of establishment) would definitely return!

Graphite was a wonderful surprise and a standout dining experience in Columbia. I love that the…read morerestaurant's name is a nod to the building's history as a former schoolhouse, which now beautifully houses both the Principal Hotel and Graphite. Both feel like elevated, unexpected gems in a small town. I ordered the fried chicken dinner with the half chicken portion, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was juicy and flavorful with perfectly crispy, crunchy skin. The service was excellent, and our waitstaff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout the evening. The restaurant itself was clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. The restrooms were also spotless and well maintained. It is clear that a lot of care goes into every aspect of the guest experience. My only minor criticism is the size of the drink glasses. Once ice is added, there is not much room left for the actual beverage. My parents found themselves needing refills more frequently than they typically would at other restaurants. It was not a major issue, but slightly larger glasses might make things more convenient for both guests and staff. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back. Graphite is a true hidden gem that offers great food, excellent service, and a unique atmosphere.

Had another great meal here but the is time it was lunch. I opted for the salmon Sammie- a wise…read morechoice I must say! It was yummy with the aioli on a brioche bun. The salmon was again cooked to perfection. Evidently the Reuben sandwich is delicious too. They serve a side with the sandwiches. I got fruit; a good sized serving of fresh fruit. Chips are also house made if you prefer those. Our service was great. It is such a cute place- this time I sat on the bar side vs restaurant side.

If you haven't tried this establishment you need give it a try. The selection is fantastic and the…read morechoices are top notch. Something for everyone, my family came in to visit and we loaded up on a couple dozen of assorted treats and was very pleased with how good everything tasted.

The donuts are delicious made fresh every day. I especially like the custard and cheese filled.read more

McArthur's Bakery has now become an online bakery. You place your order online, pick-up your cake…read moreor have it delivered to you. The Lemay Ferry location is closed for foot traffic and you can no longer come inside to pick up a sweet treat. Luckily the cake I wanted was one of the hundreds of cakes offered. You can no longer order a custom cake. Ordering online was simple. I was able to get my questions answered via email. The cake pick-up process was not a problem. My cake was beautiful and delicious. Yellow cake with strawberry filing and lots of buttercream icing! The price was very reasonable.

IF they reopen again, I'd be shocked. They butchered this place into the ground. Screwed up two…read morebirthday cakes within a month. Specifically asked them to write on the cake and both times they didn't. The second time I went in for a cake, doors were locked and the cake was in a display case right inside the front door with construction going on all around it, so you couldn't even get into the shop itself. Not entirely sure how that's sanitary but ok. I see why your doors are shut permanently. Way to ruin an STL institution