Yall. When I tell…read moreyou this is hands down THE BEST fried chicken I've had in probably 7-8 years? I'm from South Mississippi and KNOW me some fried chicken, frfr. This place had me hootin and hollerin this afternoon. The workers made me feel right at home like it was meant to be. I don't know anyone here in Columbia and am just getting to know the area and got recommended. We have a place in my hometown called Hartz Chicken and this rivals it (never thought I'd say it). The entire vibe was giving blue collar worker, families, hard working professionals, my white tail, and all in between. If you haven't gone in here, you're wrong for that. I WILL be back, trust and believe that. Thank you to everyone at Bernie's for being so kind to me and welcoming me not only to South Carolina but to this gem of an eatery.

I'm not sure what sparked the craving, but as I passed through Columbia at lunchtime, fried chicken…read moresuddenly seemed like the only answer. I asked Yelp for the highest‑rated spot and ended up here. The place was bustling, with most of the parking lot full, yet the ordering process moved quickly. By the time I returned from the restroom, my number was already being called. I had ordered a three‑piece meal with double cole slaw in place of fries and a sweet tea. Settling in at a table, I dug in. The cole slaw leaned too far on the sweet side for my taste, though the texture was crisp and fresh. I skipped the dinner roll and the tea, focusing instead on the chicken. It was thoroughly cooked, meaty, and satisfying. Not especially spicy or bold in flavor, but solidly good. This isn't a fancy establishment. The tables and floor may not be spotless, but the food delivers. Best fried chicken I've ever had? No. Still, it was very good, and worth the stop. [Review 1573 of 2025 - 1374 in South Carolina - 25123 overall]

My first impression as I arrived was how good the chicken smelled as I got out of my car..There was…read moreadequate parking but it could get crowded on the weekend As I went up to the counter I was met by a friendly hostess named Maddie and Nida. They were very helpful and upbeat. While waiting for the chicken I noticed the colorful murals on the wall and it gave the place a nice vibe There were table and chairs inside and outside too. Our order was ready promptly and looked delicious. I had the number 4, which was a chicken slider and my side was crispy fries. They offered 5 heat levels, I had the number 2. They have the reaper which you have to sign a waiver. Let me just say the chicken slider and fries were delicious. Daves uses high quality chicken and you can tell by the taste. I will definitely return.

For lunch, my husband and I decided to grab something quick while we were out shopping over the…read moreweekend. We went to Dave's Hot Chicken. This place has me excited when it comes to the "Dave's Not Chicken" menu. I ordered Cauli Dave's #3, which is 1 Cauli Tender & 1 Cauli Slider W/ Fries. This is so delicious! Everything has that perfect crispy and a taste that melts in your mouth. The sauce and honey make it just that much better. An amazing combination. My husband ordered the Saucy Bites W/Fries. He stated the meal was crispy and fulfilling. We also ordered the Small Cauliflower Top Loaded Fries. This was another hit for me! It comes with a cheese sauce, pickles and kale slaw topped with cauli bites and a drizzle of Dave's sauce. It tastes so good! If you have never eaten here or tried the cauli menu, please try it. I highly recommend it. As always great service and clean restaurant.

Ashlee such a great server. Lyanna was such a sweetheart. Lily was very articulate and…read moreheartwarming. Great service overall. Would definitely comeback.

We visited for the first time and had Essence as our hostess for the meal. She was a delight and SO…read moreon top of everything, and her personality was the cherry on top of our visit. The food is 10/10, and the atmosphere is amazing- everyone is so friendly and welcoming. We definitely will return!

Bartender John makes the absolute best cocktails, great personality and easy to talk to. Torron is…read moretop-notch as a server. Whatever they recommend, go with it. The food was great. Highly recommend.

Came for an early lunch and the food, service and ambiance are unmatchable!!! I don't eat beef, so…read moreasked for the burger to be replaced with chicken on the mushroom swiss burger and the kitchen was more than amenable. The fries are delicious, do not pass them up. They're like little bursts of flavor and clearly not pre-frozen. I can't say enough about my experience. Now, when attending events at Colonial Life, I know where to go to pre-game!

The Cocky Rooster serves delicious chicken sandwiches, wings, sliders, and tenders. There is a wide…read morevariety of sauces and rubs. Enjoy the generous portions, reasonable prices, and great overall atmosphere!

Saw this place on a Tik tok and I love wings so why not. Upon entering the place it was not busy at…read moreall, in fact I was the only person and a couple of to go orders. I was greeted but you order off a kiosk. It took me a few minutes to order as it was my first time but the kiosk is easy to navigate. The vibe there is also great. I was vibing to the music while waiting and then again while eating. Ok on to the food, the wings are a good size but I could have used more heat in the hot wings. The sweet and spicy wings were ok. Would probably pass on that next time. Fries were crispy but nothing special. The price point was a little high I think for the area but the food is good.

This place did not disappoint. My first time there won't be my last. The food was just as good as…read morethe astomphere. The staff was on point, they cooked, clean, they communicate. As crowded as it was, my food came out hot and fresh. I was greeted with a smile and left with more smiles. Traveling from east to west was worth the drive. I don't know how long they've been in business, but I hope they continue to serve up the goodest for years to come. So far, they have my vote.

Only took me 42 years but my son and I finally had Zesto's for dinner. OMG what an experience…read more Chaotic when you order food but the staff has this down to a art when it comes to customer service. When we got our food I did not expect such large portions of food. The chicken is so good and delicious. I honestly don't have an excuse as to why Im a SC native and never been to Zesto's...please visit when you can. Enjoy!

Solid wings. We went to Peebles before a concert to chill, grab a buzz, and try the wings. And…read morewe're so glad we did. Yes, Peebles is loud, has a lot of attitude, and is designed to watch all the games at once. If you're looking to hang and catch up with an old friend, head somewhere else. If you're looking to grab a cold one and some solid wings, Peebles is the spot. Menus are digital, but you still have to order through a server. Our main feedback is to (if we still have to order through a server) design a traditional one page menu, scan the .pdf, then have customers scan the barcode to view the .pdf on their phone. The digital menu (as is) is confusing and too big to use (top) browsing tabs.

We stopped into pebbles sports pub for a quick drink during family weekend. Great location and…read moresetup for a sports dive bar. The place wasn't busy during our stop but I'm sure during the games they are packed. The owners i think are Buffalo Bills fans which I won't hold against them. We ordered vodka on the rocks with a splash of juice and the bartender served it in tiny kid like glasses. It was funny. Overall I'd come back here to play some pool, watch a game and enjoy the people.

This is my FAVORITE restaurant in all of Columbia, SC. I always receive spectacular service and…read moredelicious food here. If you haven't tried Mr. Friendly's, you are indeed missing out. P.S. When you come, get the fried chicken with tasso gravy, mashed potatoes and collard greens. You will NOT regret it.

Peanut Butter Fudge Pie (5/5): The best part of the meal. The crumbly crust was delicious and the…read morepie itself tasted like a Reese's cup. Buttermilk Fried Chicken (4/5): Decent fried chicken. I didn't expect it to be a boneless breast. Dark meat would've given it more flavor. The potatoes were flavorful and creamy. The collard greens were too acidic for me. Cornmeal Fried N.C. Catfish (3/5): The catfish wasn't anything special but the grits were very good. Lots of flavor and good texture. The collard greens were too acidic for me. Fried Adluh Yellow Grit Cakes (3/5): Would've been a lot better if it was fried more and had a crispier exterior. The herb goat cheese was good, but there was a little too much of it. Loved the roasted garlic (great for spreading on the complimentary bread!) Buttermilk Fried Shrimp (2/5): Only came with 4 shrimp. The shrimp itself wasn't very meaty and it also wasn't fried long enough. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this)