From start to finish, Javier and his team delivered an unforgettable experience. The ambiance was perfect, it immediately made us feel like we were in a special place. The service was top notch--attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. And then the food....phenomenal! Each dish was crafted with care and bursting with flavor! This local gem is definitely worth seeking out! If you haven't been yet, do yourself a favor and pay them a visit--you won't regret it! read more

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I've been wanting to try Ratio for about 2.5 years, and it did not disappoint! It was worth every single penny. Almost forgot to take pictures because the food was that good! The menu is a delicious mix of Peruvian-inspired tapas, and everything I tried was packed with flavor. Some standout dishes from my visit: Scallops Sudado - So fresh and flavorful G & Tea - A perfectly balanced mocktail Tempura Squash - Light, crispy, and delicious. One of my FAVs. A must for every visit Flourless Chocolate Cake - Rich and decadent Arroz Con Mariscos - A seafood lover's dream Tacos de Pollo - Tender and well-seasoned Lomo Saltado - Classic and cooked perfectly Pan Roasted Cauliflower - A surprising favorite On my second visit, I tried even more: Special Item Oysters - Not my favorite, but fresh Pork Spare Ribs - Great flavor Ceviche Trio - So good, highly recommend Overall, the food, atmosphere, and service were all fantastic. If you're a fan of Peruvian flavors and tapas-style dining, this spot is a must-visit! Check out the menu: https://www.ratiorestaurant.com/food-menu read more

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This is my favorite spot in NE Columbia. The food is amazing and atmosphere especially if you are a solo diner is welcoming. Make sure you sign up for their special events. read more

Ratio - Their trademark Empanadas! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

They were full, so we sat at the bar, Nathan was fantastic, looked after us, mixed great cocktails and was excellent company. Coming from Camden it's hard to justify driving past here to go to Columbia to eat, I think this place is better. Every dish we tried was amazing. read more

Ratio is frequently acclaimed as the best kept culinary secret in Columbia. Located off the grid in Elgin, Ratio offers Spanish styled Tapas and craft cocktails. Initiate dining environment with attentive friendly staff. Menu prices are a bit high for the portion sizes. I also was not overly impressed with the food offerings although it was likely a matter of taste as those dining with me could not stop raving about the place. read more

First time visiting and it will not be the last. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious. My only regret is not trying more. Excellent pisco sour (I asked for a traditional one, as the one advertised has chicha morada). Speaking of chicha morada, the sorbet is perfect. Loved the caramelized pineapple they added. These dishes are bursting with flavor. I enjoyed the ahi and red onions added to the raw oysters. Recommend serving with lemon slices. Perfect for a night out, fancier on the inside but outside seating is more of a relaxed atmosphere. A couple fire places too, so it will be nice in the winter. Great and attentive service. read more

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There's a reason why my husband and I keep coming back to this restaurant. Food and service are beyond exceptional. We love everything. Grant is by far the best of the best of bartenders and makes you feel right at home. Definitely my favorite spot to have dinner and I can never ever get enough of their tempura squash!! read more

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The ambience is modern. Framed rugs adorn the walls. There is a wooden tree at the door which is tastefully decorated with lights. Soft music plays in background at just the right level, so that conversations are audible. We started with Tempura Squash and Brussel Leaves. Both are light, crispy and, best of all, gluten-free. Both are flash fried. Dinner included Chaufa de Pollo and Arroz con Mariscos. The Arroz con Mariscos, which contains shrimp, fish, mussels, jasmine rice, peppers and peas, was a delight. The Chaufa de Pollo contains jasmine rice, onion, pepper, egg and scallion. Perfect with lime drizzled on top. Desert included Crema Catalan which is flan(caramelized on top) complemented with fresh sliced apple and sea salt carmel. The Chicha Morada Sorbet, which is a sorbet made from purple corn, comes topped with carmalized pineapple and mint. Both are delicious!!!! In conclusion, servings are true serving sizes and the prices are appropriate for the quality of food and service(definitely less than they would be in a major city). After having appetizers, the main course and desert, we were satisfied, but not stuffed. A welcome change of flavors. read more

Ratio - Arroz con mariscos - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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First visit to Ratio, and it's one of the best restaurants in Columbia for novel food, cocktails and a cool modern vibe. Way off the beaten path in a strip mall, the interior decor wisks you away to a trendy city atmosphere - without the crowds, price or pretension. The wine and cocktail program is on point - innovative, top shelf ingredients served properly in classy glassware. We tried a bourbon drink served over a sphere ice cube and a scotch drink in an oversized champagne glass. Both had interesting mixers and made for the perfect elegant start to the meal. My wife added a nice glass of red wine later in the meal and found it complemented the food excellently. Speaking of food, we grazed our way through a culinary tour of Latin American flavors, from touches of chimmichuri to a citrus ginger ahi tuna ceviche. The tapas included Brussels leaves, squash tempura, a beef dish, empanadas, fried rice and sweet potatoes. The empanadas and sweet potatoes were the agreed favorites, with my wife choosing the fried rice and me the tuna ceviche as next favorites. One note - many dishes seemed to have cilantro included or as a garnish. If you don't like that, be sure to remind the server to note on each order. Speaking of service, Christie was our lead server and delightful in explaining and making recommendations. Team service was attentive and prompt. We ended the meal with French press coffee and a shared Tres Leches cake. That was the one course where I felt the portion was a bit small for the price and experience ... not that we needed much to end the meal, and admittedly we shared not realizing it was closer to the size of a small brownie than a piece of cake. All in all, highly recommend as an upscale out of the ordinary dining experience for Columbia. Next time we may try the flight of pisco! read more

It's taken me so long to write this because I low key wanted to keep this place a secret. But just can't do it anymore. Ratio has been one of the best dining experiences I've experienced around Columbia since I've been here. I've gotten to attend two of their pre fix menu dining events (Australian Wine & Tequila) as well as their à la carte menu. Time and time again I'm surprised by the the food and the cocktails created by one of the best bartenders/mixologists in a Columbia (Grant). Owner and head chef Javier continues to test the limits of traditional Peruvian cuisine, and I can say he's doing a phenomenal job. I cannot recommend this place enough, and most definitely check out their dining experiences, you won't be disappointed. read more

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My friend and I waited quite a while to receive empanadas with a dry crust and flavorless meat. I feel that the rush of the grand opening played a part in the wait time and quality of food. Although I was not particularly excited about the food the greats were great! Next time I would probably try some of the other dishes. All in all I feel like this is a great place to grab drinks if you are on this side of town. They have a great ambiance inside and a beautiful patio area. read more

Ratio - Empanadas and Brussel Leaves - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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This place is a big surprise to us. We didn't expect such a gem several miles outside Columbia. Parking is available within the complex. Outdoor and indoor sitting available. We made reservation and if cancelled within 5 hours, you will be charged $15 per person cancellation fee. No kids menu so we brought out 5 year old already fed. A unique offering by this restaurant is a rotating cocktail flight. They also have a pisco flight. They are about 2 oz each. This is a tapas place. To be honest, for a tapas, serving were actually decent. My husband wanted to order everything as everything looks good. The tempura squash was a good start. Really crispy and tasty. Our favorite was the Chaufa de carne and the seared corvina. The tacos de pollo was also good (on the spicy side but we love spicy!). The Pollo a la brasa was very flavorful. My husband finds it a bit too much but the salad that comes with it complements it. The spareribs was also good. Very tender and tastes just right. For the afterthoughts, we got the crema catalan and you're indah club (espresso martini). A good end to a tasty meal. We are coming back if we're there to get elevated Peruvian tapas again! read more

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Delicious! Lots of unique flavor. We had 6 tapas for 2 adults: all were very good and we would order again. 1. Chaufa de carne (really really good!!) 2. Tacos de pollo (3 small tortillas around 3" per piece- good flavor - really spicy) 3. Tempura squash - similar in texture to fried yuca - battered perfectly with a hint of quality salt (if manager reads this-- it would go great with a flavorful sauce or Peruvian dip, just a suggestion). There were approximately 10-12 slices. 4. Pork spare ribs - very good - "wing" sized for comparison. The honey marinade is perfect. You get 3 pieces. 5. Pear salad - basic salad of lettuce, soaked pears, onion, sprinkle of blue cheese. 6. Mussels Tres Leches is a must order. So so good and authentic. Our only disappointments were the tiny mocktail - that came in a half-sized old-fashion cup and the tiny chocolate "cake"-- it was 3 bites of mousse with a spoonful of whipped cream. Tasty but ridiculously small. Both of these sizes should be much more reasonably adjusted, especially for the price. read more

Ratio - Flourless chocolate "cake" - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The service is amazing. Food is delicious and great drinks. I highly recommend! There is a nice outdoor space as well.

RATIO is one of the top fine dining establishments in the Columbia, SC area. The menu features fresh, locally sourced ingredients and authentic Peruvian flavors. The crafted cocktails are especially noteworthy. Everything that we sampled was divine--from the chicken soft tacos and the grilled steak to the homemade crème brûlée and seasonal sorbets. The service is absolutely impeccable --and the owner is a class act. Wish I could give Ratio 100 stars! read more

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I'm hesitant in the rating. I think I might try Ratio again. I was unaware a reservation was required or needed. I was returning from a three hour drive and asked a friend to meet me there. She informed me of the reservation and we could only be seated around 8:50pm. It was 6:30pm. She was told we could sit at the bar. We aren't the bar type but still willing to try. We agreed to give it a try. When I arrived, she said no, we shouldn't go in. She felt the host staff was "looking down" on her. I don't question people feeling of discomfort. We thought "Veranda" was another restaurant but it was the same. We eventually left. Maybe next time. Definitely will make a reservation next time, if there's a next time. read more

As someone who's had the pleasure of eating tapas in Spain and also enjoying Peruvian Cuisine in Lima, Peru I have to say it was quite the experience with an attentive staff. The empanadas are spot on to the ones I had in Ayacucho. The atmosphere was nice and it wasn't too loud nor too dark. I hope to Enjoy this delicious food again in the next few months I'm in South Carolina. read more

Ratio - a man sitting in a chair with a vase of flowers - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The food and the service was fantastic here. They had live jazz playing on the patio and it made the ambiance that much better. I highly recommend this place! read more

Ratio - Beef Tartar & Tacos - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Visited last night, and it was amazing! It was a chilly night, and we chose to sit outside on the patio by the fireplace and under a heat lamp. We had the whole the patio to ourselves, and the ambience is really on par with any place downtown without the hassle of traffic and finding parking. The privacy was very welcomed too. We were seated quickly and served promptly. Dishes came out back to back to back. The tempo of dinner was great. We ordered the pisco flight, fried won tons, brussel leaves, tempura squash, pork spare ribs, ceviche, anticucho, alfajores, purple corn sherbet. My favorites were definitely the tempura squash (crunchy and well-seasoned), ceviche (fresh flavor profile), and anticucho (meat!). Favorite dessert was the alfajores, because it felt familiar and reminded me of childhood. The only flaw was that a part of my pork rib was dry, but other than that, I have no complaints. I'm just sad they're only open for half the week for dinner service. We were in and out in under an hour, and this restaurant is really a hidden gem. Can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu items! read more

I cannot recommend enough! Ordered almost the whole menu! We will definitely return as it is 3 minutes from our house! read more

Ratio - Tapas! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Great special occasion place. Perfect for getting to know each other ... Food is great, farm to table tapas. Love their special cocktails. read more

I went to the Pisco dinner on 3/22. We paid $70 (not including tip) for 5 Pisco cocktails and 5 courses. Most everything was great. The braised lamb left a lot to be desired though...the lentils were undercooked and the lamb flavor was totally lost. My friends and I swore it was pot roast...and dry, at that. It was the "main" dish and was just not executed as well as the others. The coconut gelato and seared tuna were unfreakingbeliveably amazing. I immediately wanted an entire tuna steak done like the one we were served! I hate olives, but the green olive tapenade was perfect with the tuna and the other flavors involved. Hands down my favorite dish of the evening. The vibe of the restaurant was nice and calm and tasteful. Everyone in the building was super kind and helpful through the evening. Besides the lamb dish being a let down, the only other thing that was kind of a bummer was the size of everything. Obviously, it's tapas, these are not large plates. But damn, everything we had could have been eaten in one large (admittedly totally not graceful) bite. The cocktails were awesome...but I feel like we got 2.5oz give or take of each except the final cocktail which was a normal sized drink. I'll definitely go back to Ratio, no doubt, but I don't think I would do another one of their dinner features. For a night that ended up costing $100 total, I didn't feel like I got a $100 experience. Had the portions been even 50% bigger, or the cocktails been full drinks, I would have felt like I got my money's worth. I understand both of those requests is a tall order, but, I stand by it. 4.5 stars out of 5, but can't give half stars here. read more

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Small dishes that pack a punch of flavor especially the steak tartare my favorite dish last night. Try them for yourself ! read more

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Priced high for tapas, food could have been better but wasn't horrible. Decent food, waitress was a little more pushy than she should have been on recommendations.. Mixed drinks should have come out faster, however they were good once they finally arrived on what looked like a relatively slow night. Seas peruano, o seas tapas. Pero mejor elegir el uno o el otro que meter en la mitad a las blando. Tapas no es típico suramericano, y si viviste por allá lo sabrías. En serio que habría preferido peruano en ves de tapas, pero ya paso el momento.. quizá les daré una oportunidad más y desde allí pailas.. read more

Fantastic food and such a revelation in Pontiac. I just got back from 2 weeks in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City and the tacos were as good as I had there. T we started with the ceviche , also perfect. Deserts were also delicious. 5 stars read more

I've been to many Peruvian restaurants in different countries and this is by far one of my favorite, this place is a hidden gem. From the service to the food, the atmosphere the music everything was amazing 10/10 read more

Ratio - Crema Catalan - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Quality-Yes, Quantity-No. If you want some excellent cuisine from our South American neighbors, I highly encourage you to try Ratio. The Lomo Saltana was the bomb and the purple tacos just melted in my mouth. Scallops were off the chain and there were so many other things I wanted to try. I will probably be back soon to sample some more of their exotic but tasty fare. Great wait staff and customer focused. Wish the portions were a bit bigger. read more

Ratio - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Nick's service was incredible - was knowledgeable about the drinks and dishes. Food was delicious - our favorites were the Mahi dish, watermelon salad, pork belly, and the peaches and cream dessert. Will be back again soon! read more

Very much enjoyed ratio. The waitress was awesome, and knew everything about the menu. Food was delicious and the cocktails on point. High recommend this little gem in Columbia read more

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The food and service is always great. Love the restaurant. Really like the outside seating. I have been several times and it is always good. Looking forward to going again soon! read more

Ratio offers an intimate ambiance with contemporary music in the background. Our favorite dishes were the tamal de pollo, tacos de pollo, and the chaufa de pancita (pork belly). We were a bit disappointed with the ceviche (yellow fin tuna) as it was unlike traditional Peruvian ceviche but we really enjoyed the tomato based one that came with nice flavor and even a nice kick. The drinks were solid and the service was as well. Tapas are small plates meant for sharing, but this place borders on too small of portion sizes given the price points of the dishes, many of which leave you wanting more. We were disappointed to find that they only sell empanadas once a week and that these are not a regular offering. Definitely recommend (maybe even require) a reservation. read more

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If you live in the Elgin area consider yourself lucky that you can easily stop in here any time. Absolutely delicious. We drove from downtown Columbia -- totally worth it. And worth every penny. Every dish was unique and delicious. Some of the best -- maybe *the* best -- flavors in Columbia. Service was really great, too. We'll be back... read more

Used to be a top notch restaurant in NE Columbia but menu has become stale, rarely changing since this opened. Vegetarian options are consistently limited as well. Quantity of entrees has decreased in last year as well. Hope chef changes things up abs diversifies menu . read more

They serve the best food in Town! Excellent food quality and staff! I absolutely recommend this place!

Excellent food. Excellent service. One of the better restaurants I have been to in a while!! Great wine list also.

You can't lose with this restaurant. Interesting small plates full of flavor! All dishes are fresh and prepared to order. Your server will be friendly, prompt and well versed on the changing menu. Chef Javier is at the top of his game and this restaurant is proof. You can choose to sit inside or out on the patio. Beautifully appointed facility with excellent bar drinks and specialty cocktails...not to mention a wide variety of wines. Surely a winner! read more

Made reservations for 4 through Resy for Friday night. Immediately seated, waitress promptly took our drinks...3 wines and one tea. First time here for us. We decided to each order two tapas. Everything on the menu is tapas sized and prices range generally from $9-$18. Paella was $18. We ordered two Chaufas and two taco tapas, and one each of the seared scallops, tempura squash, grilled chicken, and empanada. The Chaufa de Carne was very good. Almost like a fried rice with very tender beef and a nice flavor. Everyone liked it. The tacos were very small corn tacos with pork, radish slice, cilantro and other stuff. Also very good. The scallop tapas had two scallops on it, with each scallop on top of a bed of roasted peas, a roasted puree of radish/parsnips and other stuff....they were very good but I don't know if it was worth $14. I took only one bite of the grilled chicken...just as a taste of the chicken. I didn't taste the aioli or other items on the plate, so I can't say how good the whole tapas was. The chicken was fine...just grilled chicken since I didn't have the aioli to dip it in or anything. Emanadas were very good and the dipping sauce had a real nice bite to it. The tempura squash was amazing. Almost like eating a potato chip. Nicely breaded tempura and light...and crisp Nice selection of wines that I'd never seen, but they also have your standard Chardonnay's, etc from the bar. Nice place. Atmosphere is nice, a bit "cold", but it's always been that way throughout the many different restaurants that have been in this place. Waitress was very good, described everything to a tee, and prompt. We'll go back. Everything we tried was good. Prices are on the high side. Our half of the bill was $100. read more

I don't care for Ratio, the portions are small, the taste is not what it should be for how much the bill is. I go only if friends are meeting there, but just on my own it's just not special enough. read more

I wanted to LOVE this restaurant just because I know Chef Javier Uriarte is fairly well known. I wish this place was located in downtown Columbia. Having traveled extensively in Spain, I get the whole Tapas scene but I have to admit...these dishes were expensive for the size. The restaurant just did not exude the spirit of tapas...the "cheap, fun, happy hour, tide you over 'til the next bar stop" type feeling. What can I say?...first...I don't think that Chef Javier was there on the night we were there because the kitchen is visible and I kept a close eye out to see who was cooking. This may be why I was slightly disappointed in the food. I had the chicken epanadas which, while flavorful, were slightly doughy and I was given about 1 teaspoon of the sauce which was not enough for 3 empanadas. The Bee Tartar was dry and really needed a raw egg rather than the cured egg yolk. The grilled bread that came with the Tartare was flavorful and grilled perfectly. Tempura squash with sea salt was great but a really,really small portion for $6. The Ceviche that evening was fresh Tuna and it was probably the best dish of the night. The marinade was slightly mustard tasting but was balanced with a lot of lime juice. I had high hopes for the Pork Spare ribs but again...very little flavor. Also the ends of the ribs were over done, crusty and dry while the middle of the rib was more flavorful...but the sauce was slightly sweet but it seemed like the ribs were just salted and peppered...there was.no other flavor. The most disappointing was the Seared Scallops...or shall I say....seared scallop. Seriously...it was one large scallop...cut into 3 pieces (like a piece sign), seared...and served with Butterbean, a few.cherry tomatoes and a few olives. $14 for 1 single scallop is a bit much. The desserts were good but small. The flour less chocolate cake was on point and made with quality chocolate and the whipped cream had very little sugar...which was great because mixed with the cake..it works. The Dulce de Leche, or Alfajores, were good. The cookie portion is dry and it could have used more of a fruit interior rather than the caramel like cream that is the interior. I would try this place again if I knew the Chef was there and hope for a better experience and while I would go there again with a group or for an event...I don't think I would drive 16 miles just to go here again. Lastly...better music is needed for the patio area. The spirit of tapas...is missing. read more

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This is definitely a hidden gem! Chef Javier is amazing. He comes out to speak to you as well! It is a tapas restaurant so there are smaller portions but everything was amazing. You must try the pork ribs! They are cooked to perfection. I had 2 servings of them and was tempted to get a third. For drinks, try the simple lady. I also had the tomato salad and the ceviche. I will definitely be back! read more

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