Love this restaurant. Best dinning in Aiken. Great service. Grate craft cocktails and excellent food. I love going here even if it's just for a few cocktails and lunch there is always good. read more

To start, best Sangrias I've ever had, crusty bread, perfect Caesar salad. Then wonderful Seafood Risotto - imaginative, fresh ingredients, couldn't have been better! Desserts to die for, attentive, friendly service (Leah) - altogether super experience. I wish I lived in Aiken so I could come more often read more

Dinner was fantastic. Great food. Fantastic service, both from the bartender, kristi, and the rest of the support staff. The scallop appetizer is the best scallop dish I have ever eaten. Ever. Fabulous evening. Will definitely come back. read more

Lunch today at Malia's was simply wonderful. Nice atmosphere, pleasant and attentive staff, delicious food. The interior is reminiscent of a long shoe box that has somehow been transformed into a quiet, unpretentious, yet very appealing dining room. Greeted, seated and served by a very professional staff. They know the program, understand the menu and make you feel welcomed as if you were the only guests in the restaurant. Plenty of options on a single-paged menu that changes regularly. We tried an interesting take on shrimp and grits that employed fresh sweet corn, squash and zucchini; a sparklingly sweet Vidalia, tomato and Brie pie; and tender tenderloin Souvlaki with tzatziki sauce and a Greek feta salad. It was all delicious but I'd be at 5 stars if the Greek salad was more like I remember from the northeast - a simple romaine / iceberg blend, more feta, oregano and lemon. The portions were enormous and the prices were incredibly reasonable. The beer was cold and the glasses were colder. We peeked at an incredibly appealing desert menu but there was no room. I can't wait to go back! We really enjoyed Malia's. read more

Came here for lunch today on my last day in Aiken. Their hours are a bit odd, and nobody answered the phone the first 3 times we called to check if they were open, but we finally got through and were told they were serving until 2:15. We actually arrived at about 2:15 on the dot but were graciously welcomed and promptly seated. What is it about the restaurant hours here in Aiken? It seems like people are open for lunch 3 random days during the week and then dinner on 3 different nights. Anyway, we decided to start with the crab bisque and chilled peach soup-- both fantastic and rather generous portions. The bisque was nearly a chowder with big chunks of crab, onion, and potato, with a nice hint of Pernod shining through. Flavor was absolutely fantastic and spot-on. The peach soup was a puree of local peaches, pineapple, orange, white wine, yogurt, and a touch of cinnamon & nutmeg. Super refreshing on a hot, muggy afternoon. For main courses, Siri had the smoked turkey sandwich with cheddar, red onion, and peach chutney on an oatmeal-wheat roll, and I had the organic bison burger on ciabatta with creamy blue cheese, local tomatoes and leaf lettuce. The turkey was delicious, very moist, and the chutney was a great compliment. My burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was ridiculously juicy. The blue cheese was subtle, creamy and not overpowering as I thought it might be. The burger was accompanied by fresh- literally still hot from the fryer- Yukon Gold potato chips. We didn't look at a dessert menu but I'm sure their desserts are great as well. Everything was just about perfect here. Highly recommended! When you think of how a sandwich at Subway or Quizno's can be like $7 or $8, why on earth wouldn't you go support a local restaurant charging $9.50 for something of this caliber? Each sandwich came with choice of soup, salad, or chips. Decor was very warm, and there was even a spacious patio out back with a nice little fountain. Strong bottled beer selection and decent, though small, wine list. No liquor license. A big thumbs up to the people at Malia's. I will definitely be doing dinner here when I'm back in Aiken next month. read more

Malia's - New American Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

We have been here before and this is the last time. Why on earth they think a lump of hamburger on a 7 grain bun is a hamburger is beyond me. Hamburgers should be a patty not a lump. Our waitress was terrible had to ask for everything, food was S L O W coming out the place was hot I think I am still trying to digest this lump this morning. $12.00 for a lump of meat on a bun with "homemade" potatoe chips is way too much especially since there was no taste to the meat dry with a drop of tomatoe chutney Really we will not be going back way to much money for what you get. read more

First time there for dinner after several people said how great it was, big disappointment. Soup and salad were very good but bland. Drinks lacked....alcohol??? No chance of getting a DUI coming home from here so I guess that might be a plus but if you are charging $10-$11 per drink they should had a little kick to them. Couldn't taste any. Main course filet mignon was a good cut of meat but the wine reduction tasted too tomatoe-y. The mashed potatoes tasted bland and I think they may have been instant. Ambiance was very nice if you weren't at the table we were at. My view was the hallway to the bathroom, kitchen entrance and servers' station, pretty bad for someone who had reservations. Server seemed inexperienced and nervous. Didn't check back to see how our meal was until he was ready to give us the check. Informed him that the meal was just "ok" and he said he would say something to the chef but we never heard back. All and all I was expecting for a home run but this was a strike and a miss. read more

I must start out with saying that my husband and I did not plan on eating here. We were walking by and happened to see it and we are so glad we did. The food was Amazing and our waiter was beyond Awesome. I hate that I do not remember his name but I hope you get him if you get to visit here (I will update the review if I go back and get it). The atmosphere was very warm and cozy and everything the waiter recommended was delicious. I had the pork and my husband had some type of pork or chicken with prosciutto (he wishes there was a little more of that yummy stuff on the dish) and cheese. We will definitely make this a spot that we revisit when in the area. read more

This would be the our family's favorite restaurant in Aiken. Their menu does change daily, but always offers great food. They have incredible desserts as well. I like the ambiance, and it would be a great place to take a special date. It is a fairly small space so I would advise making reservations. The dress shop portion of the place has closed so the entire space in again devoted to the restaurant. read more

This has to be the best place in Aiken. Everything was perfect and we were a very large group. See you in two years!

Amazing food! We had the Brie with apples and scallop appetizers, followed by corn chowder and our entree (which was the fish special) was to die for!!! Great service as well and don't forget to leave room for desert :) read more

Some of the best clam chowder I have had. I had a business lunch here and the enviroment was perfect to have a good conversation.

This used to be one of my favorite places. It is unfortunate but I must say the last two times I have gone (each time we were a table of 6) we had a young waitress with sort of blonde-darker blonde hair that was so rude, so unprofessional when she came to our table she started to pick up some people's lunch plates while others were still eating. I asked her if she would wait until everyone was done to clear the plates. She took a nasty tone with me slammed one of the plates back down on the table and said that management tells them to begin clearing a table. I doubt that. To make things worse she is obviously friends with the young hostess and they both stood by the bar looking at our table with attitude. The manager, a manager, someone needs to have a staff meeting and explain to the wait staff that we are the customer and we come to Malias for an upscale lunch or dinner and expect good service. service. Lately I have not gotten it here. read more

Scallop app was really good. I wasn't a huge fan of the hazelnut romensco, but in general i don't love hazelnuts. Sauteed spinach accompaniment and scallops were cooked perfectly. The wine suggestion was great from the waitress. The pate was good, not great. overall i really enjoyed my evening here, service was spot on, food was really good. Also had a decent cocktail list but i did not try any on this trip read more

Absolutely love Malia's. The atmosphere is fabulous, the waitstaff was super friendly and attentive. They have a varied menu and the dishes were prepared to perfection. The portions sizes were just right. Leave room for dessert. read more

This place has exceptional attention to detail. The cocktails are prepared with an obsessive detail oriented approach. The raw oysters were high quality and the lamb chops were prepared with classically trined expertise. This place is exceptional irrespective of location but somehow it is in Aiken, SC? read more

Tried Malia's for the first time after hearing about it for years. My wife and I went for lunch; I had the bison burger and she ate the steak salad. The food was good though a but high for lunch in my opinion. However, we did not have good service at all. It felt as though we were an inconvenience to our waitress. read more

Have eaten here a few times. I like the ambiance but it stops there. It's ok to have pricey food but it should be superb and it just isn't. Waitstaff is fair. I will try again there is always a chance of a change in menu. read more

3 starving adults Many many thanks to Chef Michael and to our Andrew our waiter for giving us the very best service & food! We have never been disappointed with anything at Malias & tonight it was even better! Fresh oysters!! We slurped them down with a smile on our face Linguine Con Pollo Pork Scaloppine Fresh Fish of the Day Corvina 3 choices you will not be disappointed with! Fabulous ! House salad with all and oh so fresh mixed greens with light vinaigrette. Fresh out of the oven bread when empty they refill happily . Dessert what can I say. Everything except ice cream made in house and it shows and tastes better than sex! The red and white wine kept everyone happy and we welcomed classic vodka martini's as well ! Thank you Chef Michael & Andrew!! We will see you next month read more

Stopped in here on a road trip and was pleasantly surprised by the charming downtown area and this restaurant. We ate a grilled chicken salad with pecans and peaches and a summer vegetable risotto and liked both, though the salad was more flavorful. Service was excellent and the restaurant is very classy. Lots of older folks in here on a Saturday afternoon. I would highly recommend it for both casual and fine dining. read more

Its been a while (about 2 yrs) but we had lunch and the food was super fairly priced ($8.50 for a burger and salad). And the food tasted incredible. Very unique, not JUST a burger. And if you can get past the pretention, its lovely. But...the waitress was so weird! (and im weird, so i can tell lol). She was middle aged, and awkwardly calm. When she first meandered to our table she stood there for a minute, then said "so do yall want a drink?" (The rest of the meal was full of awkward moments like this, luckily we found the humor and just laughed, but had the food taken too long or not been as yummy this couldve quickly turned into an awful afternoon meal) read more

Staff was very attentive and the chef personally came to our table to discuss options when he found out about a food allergy that I have. I highly recommend this place and will be going back the next time I am in the area. read more

Culinary staple in downtown Aiken, and for good reason. The addition in 2015(?) of a liquor bar has upped their game considerably. Creative and responsibly sourced kitchen offerings. Epic desserts. Can be loud in the dining area during peak hours. If that's a problem, ask for a "niche" table or sit outside by the fountain. Don't let the maî·tre d'hô·tel's attitude deter you. read more

First I have to get my one gripe out of the way. The have oysters, but don't offer crackers or any sort of vessel for them. This may sound like a pedestrian complaint but let's be honest, some of the best restaurants in the world always have crackers with their oysters, so I don't think it's that bad of a request. Other than that, I have always really enjoyed my food at this place. The waiters have always been very nice and helpful. Once my boyfriend and I went there and he wasn't overly impressed (that's when I found out the oyster downfall) but I have always been very happy with my experiences here. read more

5-stars no doubt. The cold peach soup was the BOMB! Our family was very impressed and pleased with the service (our server was Sydney) and the FOOD was EXCELLENT. The SaleebScore was FOOD: 10/10; Service: 10/10 and Value 9:10. We paid far more on this trip for food for much less quality and service. This was voted by the family as an A++. And this was just the LUNCH Menu. Atmosphere is upscale and quieter than average. read more

Malia's is a gem in the heart of downtown Aiken, and the food and events are always top notch. Matt, the bartender/mixologist, makes some of the best cocktails I've ever had. Their hours are a little annoying, and I've found that they'll often close early without any notice which is inconvenient. But overall, this is a great place for fresh, gourmet cuisine and worth a visit! read more

Best restaurant in Aiken!!! Fresh, delicious, local and organic whenever possible. My favorite restaurant consistently! Been going for 30+ years. read more

Bar none, the best restaurant in Aiken. Every time we eat here we are impressed with the quality of the locally sourced dishes. If you are in town for a visit, you must eat here! read more

Five stars until our last visit on 5/3 for lunch. Been coming to Malia's since we began building our house in 2014 at Woodside. Never had a server other than David. First disappointment was asking for David and being told he was no longer there. Second disappointment was ordering a hamburger with bacon and cheese only to have it arrive without the bacon. When the hostess Dawn asked why I had not told our server, I told Dawn that our server totally ignored us from the time she put our food on the table until she brought us the check, other than having to flag her for a second glass of wine. I might add that with my burger I ordered the black bean soup. It was luke warm on the top and hot in the middle which meant that it had sat in the kitchen for a while before our server picked it up. We shall return because the usually great food outweighs the poor service. read more

Very good chowder and steak salad. Owner came over and was very nice. She has helped with dog rescue which is horrible around here.

While food was really good..ambience was a bit dated. Website and yelp made it look cooler then it was. My server was super sweet and no issue with my custom order. Would go again. read more

Malia's is quite simply the best restaurant in Aiken. The food is ALWAYS fresh, interesting, and tasty. The menu changes daily although some items are usually available. I even order dessert because it's too good to miss. Happy to frequent this local gem. read more

Went for dinner and enjoyed everything immensely. Great service, appetizers, mains, and dessert. Awesome mixed drinks too! We will be back. read more

My wife loves this place for lunch. I do too. It started as 4 tables in the back of a dress shop about 12 years ago. They expanded. The dresses are gone but the style remains. Menu changes but there is always something for everyone. Slow pace. Relax. Enjoy. Reasonable lunch prices. Friendly staff except sometimes the greeter gets flustered when they are busy. Beware that their 2:00 closing on saturday is pretty firm. Get there by 1:30. She gets chicken and I get the burger. Take your time. Turn off your phone. Gaze into the eyes of the one you love and have a nice lunch date. read more

Everything we had was fantastic. Lobster, shrimp, pork, all delicious!!! The service was great and the wine selection was small but varied. The space seemed small from the outside, but once we got In and got seated we realized how big it was. We had a table of 10 and they were extremely accommodating with separating checks and getting us all at a great table. read more

The food is absolutely the BEST! Everything was delicious. Some of the best I have ever had....Ever! The atmosphere and the staff make dining here a memorable evening. You will not be disappointed. I can't wait to go back. Daphne read more

Fantastic meal! I had minted pea soup, chicken linguini and the raspberry pie. Chef came out and sat down with us for a minute. Place felt great, service was excellent and the meal was superb! read more

I have Never, ever had a bad meal at Malia's. If you are looking for a sure-fire place to have lunch or dinner, you will not be disappointed. Quality, flavor and ingredients are top shelf. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Aiken on the 'main drag' makes it easy to find. Everyone who has lived in Aiken and enjoys good food knows about Malias. You won't be disappointed. read more

Five stars for the food put out by their excellent chefs. Be sure to review your check carefully, however.

I have been eating at Malia's for 11 years. I have never had a bad experience, the food is always perfect. The menu changes from time to time. Not a place for children, which makes it a good place to go for a quiet night out. I would definitely recommend to anyone passing through or visiting Aiken. Going for dinner get the fillet, well worth every penny. If you're going for lunch the pork scallopini is very good, when it's on the menu.Save room for dessert if you can. read more