Devon makes GREAT French 75's! We joined Devon at the bar and enjoyed the cocktails. He was a great bartender and it was a pleasure getting to know him. Good luck in his budding medical career at USC! read more

Great food, very good environment, and phenomenal service. My waiter Kaine did an amazing job. 10/10.

Found this place online and read that it was farm to table - it was a must try when we had a visit scheduled to Columbia, SC! Warmly greeted by two friendly hostesses and taken back for our reservation quickly on a Saturday evening. We were given a quick tour of the kitchen (through the glass where you can watch your food be prepared) and bar area before landing at our table. Server was attentive and recommended some of his personal favorites and gave a backstory of the restaurant and sourcing of proteins. One he recommended was the venison Wellington which per menu stalking I knew I must order. We also decided on the elk bolognese. We started with the duck egg deviled eggs and to add on the squash hash. Everything was superb! The eggs were excellent but will say they all started to taste the same by the end - which was truly fine bc they were delicious! The Wellington was a standout. Being a huge fan of the standard beef Wellington, this held its ground! The elk bolognese was also superb! The butternut squash and Brussel hash was INCREDIBLE - I did feel as though the Brussels weren't necessary and we only got 3 so def not needed as the hash alone was so great!! Finished with the s'mores crème brûlée and it perfectly finished the evening! Oh! The Hollow (drink) was lovely as well. Bone Marrow washed bourbon was excellent! Would absolutely recommend if ever in the area. This concept was incredible. I live and dine in Charleston and this place would do exceptionally well down there! read more

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There's plenty of seating at The Hollow, and the restaurant itself is very spacious, making it a great size for larger groups. Unfortunately, we did not enjoy the food. Overall, the dishes lacked seasoning and flavor. I ordered the roasted chicken, and the corn that accompanied it had an extremely burnt taste. When I mentioned it to our waiter, I was told that was how it was prepared, but unfortunately, it was so burnt that I couldn't enjoy it. We also tried the salmon, which had a nice crisp on the outside, but it lacked flavor as well. I understand The Hollow is known for its unique wild game offerings, but unique dishes can still be well-seasoned and flavorful. Unfortunately, nothing we tried was particularly appetizing, and based on our experience, I'm certain I would not visit again. read more

The Hollow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Went here with a group of guys, for our monthly men's night out. Waiter was awesome had a lot of suggestions which we used in our choices. Started with two orders of the alligator and an order of the duck wings. Both had amazing flavor, and the wings are listed as jerk flavor but they were not spicy at all, and yet had all of the flavors of Jamaica as I have been there. Everyone was extremely satisfied with their meal of choice, elk for the most part. I ordered the bison tomohawk........phenomenal!!! Wish it was just a little hotter when it came out but I ate the whole thing, as the flavor was above and beyond!!!! Looking to go back and try a couple other things on the menu, but wish it was more exotic. read more

The Hollow - Bison Tomohawk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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My husband and I came to The Hollow for date night, and it completely lived up to the hype. The atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in Columbia warm, cozy, and beautifully designed with a unique forest-inspired theme that makes the entire experience feel special. We had with the Wild Game Tasting Board, and the rotating selection of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments was thoughtfully curated, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Every bite offered something different. I paired it with one of their Prosecco cocktails, which was crisp, refreshing, and the perfect complement to the tasting board. The service was attentive, the ambiance was perfect for a date night, and it's easy to see why this place has become such a favorite in The Vista. If you're looking for a restaurant that's a little different from the usual steakhouse or Italian spot, The Hollow is absolutely worth visiting. We'll definitely be back to explore more of their adventurous menu. read more

The Hollow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I was not impressed, but there is a lot of potential here to be impressed. When we first arrived, the hostess immediately let us know the kitchen would be closing soon, even though there was still an open reservation after ours. That created a slightly rushed feeling right from the start of the experience. When the food arrived, it was not served hot. The fries were seasoned but came out cold, so we had to send them back. The service also felt a bit disengaged, as though the server was ready to wrap things up, even though there was still about 30 to 45 minutes before closing time. That said, once the food was remade and served hot, it was really good. My salad, however, was not the same experience, as the lettuce had brown spots throughout, which took away from the overall quality. You can tell the kitchen has potential when the food is prepared properly, but consistency is the issue. The ambience is very cool and visually appealing. It is a bit dark for my personal preference in the evening, but I can imagine it being bright and beautiful during the daytime. The cocktail I ordered was just okay and didn't really stand out. Overall, there is definitely potential here, but improvements in consistency, service attentiveness, and food quality control would really elevate the experience. read more

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I found this little gem while searching for a brunch spot on Yelp that was available on a busy game day Saturday morning. Luckily the Hollow had a ton of openings and I'm guessing because they don't open until 11 am and serve lunch on Saturdays. Hey I wasn't complaining and my daughter and I enjoyed a nice quiet lunch before the craziness of fraternity lots and Gamecock football. I ordered the beast burger which is a mixture of wild game and my daughter had the turkey sandwich. My burger was slightly undercooked but still good flavor. I also had a kiwi mojito..Yum! Great place for lunch and will be back to try dinner! Cheers. read more

get the hallow sandwich. I was there on a bingo night, it was a fun energy. Not many people strayed from the group they came with, but it was still fun. The hallow sandwich is the one with tofu and a good sauce and Texas toast. I love the texture of some spongey tofu and it was basically like the meat and the cheese of the sandwich and I recommend it as a non vegan who likes tofu a much as meat. read more

An interesting array of wild game to choose from for dinner. Also for lunch, I prefer dinner as it has more options. Nice decor and drinks read more

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Great spot with superb atmosphere ... unique menu (you have try one of the exotic game meats if you come here) and attentive service. Sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple interesting cocktails. Debated having the seared kangaroo special but had to go with their house specialty: venison Wellington. Really enjoyed it. read more

The Hollow - Dessert cocktail: Grandma's banana cream pie ... yum - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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It's not "wild game" it's farm-raised Game. There is a difference but the food is solid, the service is absolutely awful and really takes away from the experience. Chef has a long way to go but he will eventually get there. read more

The Hollow - Wild game!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The food itself tasted pretty good, but the portion size was incredibly disappointing. To make it worse my first big bite was all bread. The main entrees at lunch were just different versions of a sandwich. The service was mediocre at best. The staff looked depressing. The interior is very well designed though. read more

The Hollow - Blackened Elk Philly - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I came here twice during my tenure in Columbia, SC, once for brunch and once for dinner/happy hour. The food is reasonably priced, high quality and great service. Highly recommend the wild game tasting board as well as the breakfast tower to get you a sampling of their menu. Drinks are exceptional and I look forward to trying more on my next trip. +1 Vibe +1 Taste +1 Presentation +1 Service +1 Value read more

The Hollow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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While visiting Columbia, I had the pleasure of visiting The Hollow twice. First for brunch and later in the week for a happy hour dinner. Both experiences were exceptional and I look forward to returning the next time I visit the city. When you walk in you are instantly met with green - painted walls and plants hanging from the ceiling. The instantly sets the mood and welcomes guests in. For brunch, we ordered the Breakfast Tower for two which provided a sample of many of their brunch staples. Everything from the eggs and potatoes to the pancakes and olive oil tea cakes were divine and left me satisfied. At $38 it felt like a reasonable price for an experience that was similar to a high tea. For dinner we came during happy hour. And while we didn't realize it at the time, we came to find that both cocktails and appetizers (which includes the wild game tasting board) were half off. Had we realized this we'd likely have only ordered from there - but this gives a reason to return. The entrees and sides were well prepared and balanced gaminess of less traditional cuts of meat with bold flavors. The cocktails were similarly interesting and paired nicely with the meal. Service was great, and our waitress even remembered us on our second visit even though it had been a few days between visits. I highly recommend. read more

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I can't decided if I like this place or not... our first impression was the menu looked insanely delicious. Very extensive, unique, innovative and special for Columbia. It was seriously hard to decide. We walked in and the decor wasn't quite what we expected- it was cute but again not entirely what we thought it would be. I did like the giant tree detail. Service was good, she was helpful and took care of us well. I will say the drinks take a little while- the bar was a bit backed up but not a huge issue. When we went the apps were half off which is an amazing deal. They also didn't mention the drinks were also half off so this was a pleasant surprise. This was the most food my mom and I have ordered in a while and not had a $300 bill. Seriously great deal. My issues lie in the entrees- they came out fast which is fine no one complains about that but the dish we had been looking forward to was luke warm. My short rib was the perfect temp and tasty, but my mother's pasta on the other hand wasn't hot at all. It is also served with a giant cold ball of burrata or mozzarella which lowers the temp of the dish even more. We didn't send it back so that's on us but it was odd.... I'm giving 4 stars because of the awesome value and good service. That radiatore needs some work though!! read more

The Hollow - Complimentary greens - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Logan was phenomenal and very hospitable! We had a great experience celebrating our first house here in SC! We will definitely and come back to see Logan! read more

The Hollow - Fantastic Wild Game Tasting Board! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Visited the hollow several weeks ago and it was amazing. Pasta creamy. Tender elk steak. Melt in your mouth salmon went back tonight and it was not so good. Appetizers were ok, elk steak was so tough it couldn't be cut. Duck wings had a great flavor but were also tough. Both appeared to be over cooked read more

My friend, who is an avid hunter, told me about thos new restaurant he heard about near our job. We decided to try it for lunch since we both love wild/ exotic meats. We were seated immediately upon arrival and the waitress was very helpful amd knowledgeable about the menu. We both opted for.the beast burger with added duck egg and we were happy with outer choice. The burger was so big I almost took half of it home, but I ditched the bum and ate the rest of the meat, egg and toppings. We started the meal with tye fried alligator which came drizzled with a delicious sauce. I will definitely be back tp try more of the menu.. read more

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Greeted and sat immediately when walking in. This was a place my brother chose to celebrate his graduation! A unique experience of its own. The place is very well air conditioned, and the space is very intentional. Visiting from out of state the waitress seemed a bit shy/new but curious about Wisconsin she warmed up a little bit. It's really cool that you can see the chefs in their element behind a glass wall while you wait. The silverware, or should I say Goldwear was beautiful. I started out with the All American Spritz- it was good but nothing extraordinary. However when I tried the pistachio martini, I was in disbelief! I was skeptical to order it as I've never even heard of one before and was unsure how pistachio would translate into a martini. It was creamy and somehow savory and sweet at the same time, the alcohol taste was nonexistent. And the rim was coated in pistachio crumbs. Both the drinks presentation was beautiful. I personally ordered the bbq chicken sandwhich, with mac and cheese instead of fries for the side. The sandwich was smoky, I could not stop eating it! If anyone was wondering what so special about the mac and cheese, it's the name of the noodles. And yes, the waitress will sound it out with you lol! The Mac and cheese wasn't creamy, and I found it a bit bland unfortunately. There was no order the same in the group I came with. The truffle fries were on the thinner crispier side, neat that there were different color of potatoes used. The duck wings came out like their very own presentation. I tried the alligator bites, that were served with 2 sauces, I thought there were kind of chewy , and weird enough I guess I have a preference with how my alligator is served since having tried some at the Wisco State fair. I love that the menu feels curated, you know what you're there for and it's not overwhelming to pick from the options of something new. The bathroom was very cute too! And the bar area was lit up, a cool atmosphere. read more

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Ok so if you like rustic meets farm to table vibes this is your place to dine. They offer a rotating seasonal menu paired with fresh vegetables. Meat varieties include bison, quail, boar, and rabbit. My waitress recommended their grilled salmon entree which was served on wild rice risotto, broccoli, and herb infused butter. The dish was absolutely perfect paired with a glass of wine. This restaurant is a great addition to the area and looking forward to trying the Elk Filet. read more

The Hollow - Grilled Salmon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Interesting place specialized in wild game in town. Randomly ran into this place on our way to the canal park and had dinner during happy hour. Turned out very good value for the food we got. read more

We ABSOLUTELY LOVED our first time experience at The Hollow! The dining atmosphere was chill with a great vibe. The food was absolutely amazing...flavorful and full of depth. We ordered the Smoked Duck Wings, Seared Sea Scallops, Wild Alligator Bites, Stuffed Prawn Heads, and the Wild Game Tasting Board. We were full and left with To Go boxes. The cocktails were also delicious! Michael, our server, provided excellent customer service too. We will definitely be back! read more

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The food was okay; not bad but not great either. I ordered the Rib special and the ribs had entirely too much sauce. I don't like my ribs to be sauced to begin with, but they were over sauced in my opinion. The coleslaw lacked flavor. However, the Mac and cheese was really good. The service was good but had to wait awhile for water refills. This wouldn't deter me from coming back and I'm looking to try something new next time. 3.5 stars read more

The Hollow - Rib Special with Mac and Cheese and Coleslaw - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The Deer Wellington is out of this world good. Perfect texture and taste. Place is still decorated like you are in a hobbit house too which sets a cool vibe. Service was great. read more

The Hollow - Wellington - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

First time at The Hollow. They offer complimentary valet! Made reservations and was seated timely. The restaurant is spacious and can accommodate larger parties. Nice bar as well. We at seafood arancini 5/5 which was fried risotto balls with seafood filing, very tasty! Duck wings were good 4/5. I had the field and stream which was good, would have liked more of the topping but the elk was very flavorful and tender. The risotto was def the stand out in all we had, what ever u get make sure to try it. Def recommend! read more

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When my family in Columbia suggested a "forest to table" restaurant, I wasn't sure what to expect. But The Hollow surprised me in the best way. The concept centers on wild game. Bison, elk, boar, rabbit. These are proteins you don't see on most menus. The restaurant leans into a woodland theme with greenery hanging throughout the space. It borders on a bit much, but the open kitchen visible from the dining room grounds the whole experience and adds a nice touch of theater. The seating was comfortable and well spaced, perfect for a family dinner where you actually want to hear each other talk. Our server was outstanding, easily 5 out of 5. She knew the menu cold, offered thoughtful recommendations, and struck that ideal balance of attentive without being intrusive. She made the evening better. The drinks were mostly a win. Two cocktails were excellent, creative and well balanced. A third was over iced and fell flat. Minor miss, but worth noting. The food is where The Hollow really shines. The charcuterie board was a fantastic start, featuring a well curated spread of wild game meats, quality cheeses, fig, and mustard. The mains delivered across the board: salmon, elk, and bison all came out beautifully with great flavor and generous portions. The sides deserved their own applause, which isn't something I say often. The dessert menu was the one soft spot. Nothing grabbed our attention, so we ended up heading across the street to Kaminsky's for something sweet. For a kitchen that puts this much care into everything else, the dessert offerings felt like an afterthought. A couple of notes on the bill to be aware of: we were charged a few dollars for swapping a vegetable side. There was a 3% credit card surcharge that caught us off guard. When you're out with the family and the tab runs into the hundreds $, most folks are paying with a card. That's a fee I'd want to know about upfront. On the menu, from the server, somewhere visible before the check arrives. The bottom line: The Hollow is a creative, well executed restaurant with standout food and excellent service. If you're in Columbia, it's well worth a reservation. read more

What was supposed to be a romantic birthday dinner was very swiftly turned into a a quick "get me out of here". We had reservations for two where we noted it was for a birthday, but were very swiftly ushered to the back room where we were surrounded by two large families having dinner. The curry was lacking in seasoning, the birthday cake was sour, and the duck wings were like jerky. The waitress was as dry as the duck and lacked any enthusiasm regarding her job. We will not return and if you are thinking of coming here for a night of romance- think again. read more

Amazing service from Laragh! I had a wonderful time with my family, she was courteous, and the lamb shank was amazing. 10/10

My daughter told me about my first grandchild at this place. It is good that I also remember how good the food and service was that evening.

Had a couple hours to kill and needed lunch. Ducked into The Hallow. WOW! well decorated. Casey (or KC) met us and seated us. She also was our waiter. Delightful!!! Great cocktail menu! We ordered Peach French 75's Ordered a bunch of App's as our meals. Wonderful! Lots of unique dishes you will NOT find anywhere !! Coming back for dinner soon! read more

I loved the earthy vibes with the tree decor and river bar top. The cocktails that we had while waiting for our reserved table were also very good and unique. The bar tender was friendly and offered good recommendations. The not so good was the 20 minute wait for our reserved table and the dinner service which was subpar. The server was not friendly or helpful. We started with the duck wings and beet salad. The beet salad had no flavor and was overpriced for what it was. The beets and cheese were scant. For what it's worth, I make a beet salad at home that is better. My boyfriend got the duo ribs and I had the elk bolognese. The ribs were amazing especially the wild boar, but my food came out cold. It was much better heated up the next day. I had really high expectations based on other reviews but the food and service was really hit or miss here which is why I'm ranking this a 3. read more

Third time at the hollow! This time around I have less to write home about than usual... service was pretty slow! But enjoyed most of the food we were served. To start, we had the deviled duck eggs and neither of us were huge fans. I think we were both expecting them to toast exactly like deviled eggs lol. But the flavors were so good if they were just deviled eggs I know it would've been 10/10. Just something about that duck egg taste... for my entree I had the elk filet and it was pretty good. The risotto and roasted carrots were great. And my dad had the fried pheasant and I had a bite and it was also really good!!!! And for dessert I ordered the bananas foster cheesecake and it was pretty eh. But the key lime creme brûlée was insane. Like so delicious. I'm not the biggest fan of key lime stuff but it was incredible!! read more

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Food was not worth the money, and the service was quite bad. Our table of two had only one drink between the two of us. We sent one back because it was far too sweet. Other ordered drinks never arrived. The elk was okay -- while the trout was lacking in flavor. Our salad was very nice and light. A true highlight. We decided to skip dessert - knowing it would take forever-- or not come at all. It was a busy Saturday night, but that should not have been a surprise. And unfortunately, this was a birthday dinner. read more

The Hollow was a great experience for us! We had made a same-day reservation on a weeknight, but probably didn't need one since they weren't too busy. The interior was dimly lit and well decorated, with lots of Halloween decor for October. The staff was overall attentive and our server immediately asked how we found the place, since I think they are relatively new. The drinks menu said to ask for their mocktail menu, but it turned out they didn't actually have one. I gave the server an idea of what I wanted and the bartender ended up making two tasty drinks for me throughout the evening. My friends really enjoyed their cocktails as well, especially the glittery one that came in a coupe glass. For food, we started with the Wild Game Tasting Board, which was awesome. I don't eat pork and usually can't have any of the meats on a charcuterie board, so it was awesome being able to try everything. The lamb carpaccio was probably my favorite, but it was all delicious and unique. I also got the Deviled Duck Egg Flight, which was tasty but pretty standard. For my entree, I chose the Elk Bolognese. Highly recommend this dish! The elk went great with the cavatelli pasta, and the burrata on top was so decadent. The pasta was just a bit softer than I would've preferred, but overall this dish was awesome. It was also super filling, and I ended up taking half of it home. Overall, a great choice for a (slightly fancier) dinner! read more

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We tried the Hollow last night for a birthday dinner with a group of 8 people. We made a reservation in advance for 7:30 and we were seated right away. The restaurant itself has very dim lighting, and a nature vibe to it. Unfortunately, the service was extremely slow. I know we came in with a large group, so I understand waiting for food and drinks to come, but it just took so long to even put our food and drink orders in. I enjoyed my cocktail, but my entree wasn't great. The salmon was slightly undercooked and the risotto was pretty salty. I know they are known for wild game, but I was just a little disappointed with this. Overall, I think they just have some kinks to work out as a new restaurant, but the concept is cool. read more

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Second time going to the Hollow and what an amazing experience. Jimmy was an awesome waiter and so attentive. We were ten minutes late for our reservation but the hostess and staff were so kind and accommodating. We got two appetizers and two entrees that were delicious. The menu is so different and you can tell they really put thought into their entrees. The restaurant is decorated perfectly with moss and greenery everywhere! read more

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100/10! Between the ease of making online reservations to the service and the food, I have not had an experience like this in a long time! The vibe was earthy and classy yet cozy. You could watch the chefs in the kitchen which was neat. We ordered the deviled eggs which were unique and wonderful, we both had the elk which was to die for, cooked to perfection and even the carrots and risotto were delicious and the perfect accompaniment! Each meal was served with a tossed salad and homemade sundried tomato vinaigrette, again just perfect! The service was excellent and just loved the whole evening!! read more

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We truly enjoyed our lunch date to the hollow. The ambience of this restaurant is breathtaking. From the canopy of greenery to the lush walls and woodsy decor it's like enchanted forest meets fine dining! Parking was fairly easy at that time and we arrived right before the crowd our server also one of the managers was absolutely helpful and made our special lunch date a 10 out of 10! The salad was nice and fresh with the beautiful vinaigrette, but the star of the show was really the burger. It was filled with so much flavor and was absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back to the dinner menu! read more

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We were looking for a decent place to eat in Columbia when I came across the Hollow. I saw it had over 2000 reviews with a ranking of 4.9 stars! Really I thought! I read some of the reviews and liked what I read and looked at the menu and thought that looked good as well. We went there for my birthday, my wife and I. We were greeted with happy, welcoming faces, and good attitudes. We were seated within five minutes or so, and were waited on by Logan. My wife chose the pistachio crusted trout, and I had the seafood pasta. We also had the beet carpaccio, which neither of us have ever had before and both found it to be wonderful. We absolutely loved our meals. Definitely healthy servings, but not incredibly oversized. Taste and presentation of the food was excellent. Logan's attention to our table was spot on, checking on us often, but not being intrusive. The meal and the establishment left quite an impression on us and insured that we will definitely come back during our next visit to Columbia. read more

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