This was a new location for me, but I decided to try it because the food looked delicious and everyone was raving about the fluffy cheese. And I swear to God, I'm part mouse so of course I had to get the fluffy cheese, but it comes with a spicy honey normally and I'm not very much into sweets so I asked them if I could have some of the pepper do peppers instead and they graciously swapped out those two ingredients and those pepper juices are amazing with this cheese or just fill that bad boy up and pop it in absolutely delicious. The bread is fluffy. The top is crusty. It's really good bread and I normally don't eat bread at restaurants because too many carbs but it's nice. Then I ordered the malfadine shrimp pasta as my entrée and oh my gosh! These noodles are an interesting shape there wide a little bit wider than fettuccine, but their edges are a little bit curled. It's hard to explain but they hold onto the sauce wonderfully but they are long noodles so and they were the perfect al dente texture so it's really hard not to just slurp and and get sauce everywhere on yourself and whoever you're sitting with so be careful about that I mean, I suppose you could try to cut the noodles up in a little very tiny pieces but where's the fun in that man just go in for it and gently chew and slurp those noodles ok? The sauce is amazing. It's light it's packed a full of flavor. The shrimp are beautifully cooked beautifully tender. This is a dish. I'm gonna be dreaming about it. I will definitely put it on my. I gotta have it at least once a month rotation I also tried two of their beers and for nine dollars. It's a good sized serving. I wanna say it's at least 20 ounces which isn't bad for a craft beer? I think both of these beers were from Charleston so yay local breweries anyway this is a beautiful location right on Senate Street across from tin roof and Ruth Chris steakhouse apparently this building used to be an old fire department and there's lots of beautiful comfortable seating outside which is where I'm sitting right now and you really need to come try this place it's lovely. Oh, and my server was really nice and attentive as well. I just can't remember her name at the moment sorry. read more

Ladder 13 - Fluffy cheese (with papperdews instead of the spicy honey it usually comes with) - Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Had to come back a second time because the vibes are immaculate. Started with the onion dip which was great! Will say more on the lighter side. For entree split the beef kofta and it was DELICIOUS!!! A smaller dish but packed with flavor. Perfectly balanced and well suited for a night out with drinks. Have been here twice and have had the best experience both times. Highly recommend. read more

Ladder 13 - Beef Kofta - Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Very cool vibe - beautifully designed atmosphere. There was a newer employee at the host stand, which is a little awkwardly placed in the far corner if entering from the hotel lobby. Fluffy cheese appetizer was spectacular. Field pea hummus just OK. Fly with me cocktail great: tart martini style refresher. You're my best friend a well balanced cocktail. Paint It Black was a disappointment - very sweet with overbearing walnut tones for me .,. Maybe OK as a dessert cocktail. Maybe. Cauliflower pasta dish a little bland and salty for me. Lamb shoulder very very tasty. Tables a bit small for the tapas style delivery, which was quick and attentive. Overall, a great addition to the Columbia dining scene ... just a few rough edges to smooth out. read more

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Ladder 13 is located inside the Latern Hotel on Senate Street. The entrance is confusing if they have the garage door opening but it's in the right hand corner facing the building. We had a reservation for 7 pm and we were greeted by someone who was absolutely not capable of handing feon of the house hostess duties. There were tables available but they would not seat us because they had one table for three and the people were not finished yet. Meanwhile there was an available table for 4 staring us in the face. They asked us to sit in the lobby of the hotel...with a bunch of other people waiting for tables and we didn't get seated until almost 7:30 pm. I felt like that Seinfeld episode where he says: ."you can take the reservation, you just can't keep the reservation". Our server was great but the food was just mediocre. We started with the Wood Roasted Onion dip which was OK. It did not have a real onion taste but went well with the chips. Our other appetizer, the Fluffy Cheese, was whipped feta i think or ricotta drizzled with honey ( their menu doesn't tell you which cheese it is...go figure). The cheese was really good..creamy and flavorful and I would definitely order this again. It was served with "foccacia" bread that is tasty and you really get the rosemary flavor but it's not true foccicia..its more like a soft brioche. We had the shrimp and the chicken as main horses which come with ....wait for this...nothing! They are simply grilled skewers of a few shrimp and chunks of chicken. These were good but I could make this at home. We split a salad that was quite tasty. The pasta was overdone and starchy...and lacked any creativity. The drinks were good but $14 for a small glass of what is an $15 a bottle from a wine shop Rosé is out of touch. Sadly, out experience from start to finish was a big disappointment. When you arrive 10 minutes early for a reservation and you get seated 40 minutes later when clearly tables are avaialble is gross mismanagement. I doubt I would return unless it was for a special event and that was the location. Its fairly new and maybe se kinks still need to be worked out but the confusion with seating? Coupled with the disappointing food...we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

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Awesome Food, Excellent Atmosphere & Friendly Servers located in an old Fire Department that became a Fantastic Hotel

Cute place! The food was delightfully, we got the fluffy cheese as our appetizer and it was our favorite part of the whole meal. I got the orecchiette with the beef shank ragu. 10/10. My partner got the lumache verde, which was also delicious. Service was a little slow towards the end, but overall a great experience. We will be back to try the cocktails! read more

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Just finished our Sunday brunch. Everything from the location, the meals, to every employee we've come in contact with has been magnificent. My wife had a Bloody Mary and had a spicy tequila cocktail that were both very tasty. Both of our brunch entrees had us craving for more. The entire staff including were wonderful. Shout out to our fine waitress Dominique, she was great! read more

What started as an innocent evening had all the makings of a great dining experience. We ordered a few appetizers to share, including the fluffy cheese, it they arrived looking delicious. At that point, it felt like we might have found one of Columbia's best restaurants. Then things unraveled. My cocktail took more than 20 minutes to arrive, and we'd finished every appetizer before anyone even came back to take our entrée order. When we finally tracked down our server, she was wonderful--friendly, knowledgeable, and full of recommendations. One of those recommendations was the lamb shoulder. Unfortunately, it was essentially a plain lamb kebab with very little to elevate it. It didn't feel like a true entrée, and while it was cooked properly, it was surprisingly underseasoned. Thankfully, there was enough yogurt sauce on the plate to cover every bite. As we waited, my friends and I amused ourselves by watching the organized chaos of the packed dining room(20 tables), imagining we were experiencing the kind of bustling energy you'd expect from a trendy New York restaurant. Sadly, the food that followed didn't live up to the atmosphere. The pizza will be left out of this argument as a New Yorker who has frequently enjoyed pizza in Columbia SC. To order more than we asked initially was an absolute choir and don't question if they have an affogato - no shot they'll do anything to comfort you. If you're looking to pay premium prices for food that reminds you of Chuck E. Cheese, this might be the place for you. read more

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This is such a great new addition to Columbia. We ate here last week, and the food was so good. I had the fluffy cheese which is delicious. I also got the chicken which was also delicious. Inside is very cool. They've done a great job remodeling the place. The bar stays open longer than the restaurant. Great Drinks! I highly recommend, and we will be back! read more

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As a Columbia native, I have fond memories of visiting this location on a school field trip when it was a fire station. Seeing its transformation into this incredible space has been nothing short of amazing! The blend of original charm from the firehouse and the thoughtful renovations create a welcoming atmosphere with plenty of room indoors and outdoors. Although I didn't dine during this visit, the menu looks very promising, and I'm excited to return and indulge in the culinary offerings. During my visit, I was fortunate to receive a tour, which highlighted how much of the firehouse's historic character has been preserved. I enjoyed a quietly wonderful lager while chatting with the friendly staff and a few patrons. The beer was exceptional--fantastic flavor! This spot has all the makings of a local gem, and I'm looking forward to many more visits in the future. read more

What a great addition to Columbia! Unlike anything else we currently have. Great atmosphere as well. Food was exceptional - wish I had more room so I could have tried everything on the menu! We will definitely be returning! Great service. read more

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This is easily the best reservation you can make in Columbia. The Italian-Contemporary food is delicious. For Appetizer's I got the Vodka Arancini, crunchy with perfect texture infused with delicious Vodka Sauce. I also got the Fluffy Cheese Bread, the focaccia was amazing and the honey within the cheese was unique. For entree, I got the Orecchiette with Beef Shank. It was soooo good. I cannot wait to go back, the inside is modern and the outside patio has a relaxing feel to it. One of the best dinners I've had in awhile, highly recommend if you like Italian food. Not too pricey as well. read more

Over priced for what you get. The pizza is gas station quality which is about the same as dominos.

This newly opened restaurant has a lot going for it - excellent wine list, great cocktails (try the kokomo), & crispy arancini. Our server was a delight - slightly overwhelmed with too many tables - which resulted in used plates and glasses on our small table. A buser would be a helpful addition to the staff. We ordered the soppressata pizza which had both a pleasantly airy & chewy crust. To note: the vodka sauce includes the addition of red bell pepper, instead of red pepper flakes, & adds another dynamic to the vodka sauce - reminiscent of a vodka sauce mixed with a romesco sauce. A side of red pepper flakes & cheese would elevate the experience. All in all, we chose this restaurant for its ties to Top Chef and think it is a good addition to the Columbia dining scene. read more

Great food and a fun spot. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I'm glad this place has opened in Columbia. read more

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We were not sure what to expect, but our evening was exceptional. Our server Jordan was knowledgeable about the menu and her suggestions were perfect with what we ordered to drink. The chef put the pork belly in such a delicate way with greens and green apple it didn't feel dense at all. The drinks, service, and food are all on point. This is a place everyone in Columbia will know soon. read more