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The Salty Nut Cafe

3.3 (89 reviews)
InexpensiveAmerican, Burgers, Bars
Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

The Salty Nut Cafe Photos

Business Info

THE SALTY NUT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Divey
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - The Salty Nut Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Derek N.

I absolutely love Salty Nut! It's one of my favorite bars in Columbia, and to be honest, one of my favorite bars that I've ever been to. Even though you only get a view of the parking lot, it kind of feels like you're at the beach when you go there. In addition, their food is pretty good relative to the divey feel of the bar, and I'm a huge fan of their French fries, which are some of the best I've ever had. They have a great selection of beers on draft, to include the most popular local craft beers, a nice selection of IPAs, and the traditional big-name beers. One of my favorite things about Salty Nut is how they have an indoor and outdoor bar, both of which are excellent. I also love the staff members at Salty Nut, and I've never once had a bad experience with them. I won't name names, but they have one particular bartender who is, in my opinion, one of the best bartenders I've ever met. All-in-all, I absolutely love Salty Nut, would recommend it to anybody, and unless something drastic occurs, will continue to come here for years to come!

Entry
Courtney K.

Very college, chill vibes Don't go here if you need a lot to have a good time. Wrap around porch/ patio was fun. Staff was not the most helpful. High Noon Pineapple is available, others had a pitcher of beer and a Crown and Coke. Fireball was cold-ish

Jami B.

We came here on the recommendation from our hotel (cutest hotel ever, Graduate by Hilton) for a quick bite to eat after arriving in town. Thailer was our friendly server and she helped answer our questions as we decided what to order. She also brought us peanuts in the shell to enjoy at the table. There were plenty of TVs playing Monday night football games, and a bunch of happy customers enjoying cold beer and food from the grill. I don't think you could go wrong in here for a casual neighborhood joint - nothing fancy, just a fun watering hole. We each ordered a different type of burger and a different type of side, and everything was good, but the sweet potato fries definitely stood out. They had a crispy outside and hot and tender inside with a light coating of sugar, but they were not too sweet just interesting and sooo good!! Easy parking and friendly service - I loved the Pernicious hazy IPA on draft that the bartender let me sample before ordering, too!

Jade W.

I've only been during lunch. My friend loves the low-key, what you see is what you get atmosphere that Salty provides. I like the hand-cut fries. It's really a 5 Points bar and food spot. Nothing more, nothing less. They provide peanuts to snack on. The bar is located in the back. There's a patio for outdoor seating. Customer service is good. I've never had an issue.  The chicken philly is good. It's a decent size, and it's served on a hoagie roll with chopped chicken, cheese, onions, and peppers. They also have some type of chipotle mayo sauce they put on the philly. Again, I'm a big fan of hand-cut fries, so I can appreciate when they are served. My only gripe is that they don't give you enough fries. Otherwise, most of the time, they are great. Cooked well and fresh.  The drinks are made well. I've ordered basic drinks--nothing fancy--and they are good. If you want a low-key lunch experience, this is the spot.

Salty Nut Cafe
Evan G.

The Salty Nut Cafe on Greene Street in Columbia is a great place to go for delicious food and drinks in a cool and relaxed atmosphere. The staff here is very friendly and accommodating and makes sure that you have everything that you need. I have had a positive experience every time I have been here.

bouncer being great

Fin at the Salty Nut was a great bouncer. He checked my second form and did an amazing job. Not only do he do a great job, but he looked so hot doing it. Would come back just to see fin

Chili Cheesy tots

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1 month ago

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3 months ago

College hangout. Salads are good. Wraps are my kid's favorite. Chicken Philly is good. The buckets of beer were a hit with the college kids.

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8 months ago

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3 years ago

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8 months ago

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3 months ago

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8 months ago

College bar with food is the best description. Very casual, laid back friendly service. If you want cheap food and some drinks it's great.

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10 months ago

Best vibes and bar food you can get in Columbia. Chicken bites and tenders, mini corn dogs, and cheeseburger wrap are my favorites.

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Very okay with respect to food and drinks. I went on a weeknight so predictably slow. Server seemed to not really give an f, but oh well.

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6 years ago

This bar has such great vibes. Our server Rachel and the bartender Avery were so efficient and nice. Burger was awesome too.

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3 years ago

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

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15 years ago

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9 years ago

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12 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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9 years ago

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4 years ago

I'm giving it zero stars because they discontinued the veggie burger and now my friend and I can't come to our favorite place anymore

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Mark served us well, definitely the saltiest nuts in all of columbia

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7 years ago

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13 years ago

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9 years ago

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19 years ago

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Backstreets Grill - Sauteed Mussels

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4.4(389 reviews)
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This was my first time trying out this restaurant. I had always heard they had great food, so of…read morecourse, I had to try it for myself. My husband decided we should test it out today, so we ended up grabbing the food as we had a couple plans for today. My husband ordered the Reuben Sandwich. It came with Truffle Parmesan Fries. He stated the taste was very flavorful, the meat was tender, and he fell in love with the truffle fries. They didn't stand a chance! Now here comes the funny part:) I told him I wanted the Black Bean Burger without the lettuce and tomato, but instead he ordered me just the patty with cheese and mayo with no buns! Instead of him asking the correct way, he asked for it as just the patty only, haha I was too tickled to be mad. Even though he missed it, it was so good! That was the best black bean patty I had in a long time. It was well-prepared and delicious. Yes, I also have the Truffle Parmesan Fries and they tasted amazing. Hot, seasoned to perfection and irresistible! Once I saw the salmon, I had to try it. Omg, that salmon was prepared perfectly, juicy and mouth-watering. The food was on point I must say. Hubby stated customer service was amazing as well. The restaurant was well lit, had a great atmosphere and overall a great spot to dine with your friends. We will definitely be heading back soon to dine in and try more food:)

Solid four. Service was a bit slow at the start, but improved. Food was all good, but not something…read moreI'd crave. We did sit outside on a very hot day, so to be fair, that may have detracted from the experience. We will give this one another try though. Big menu and a lot of choices so we'll come again and sit inside next time!

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Backstreets Grill - Outdoor Bar

Outdoor Bar

Backstreets Grill
Backstreets Grill

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Goat's

4.5(205 reviews)
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Always great service, fantastic atmosphere and quality, food and beverage at a reasonable price!read more

Goat's was a really cool restaurant, and was a great change of pace compared to the other…read moreestablishments in the area. When I walked in, I was amazed at what I saw inside, as it definitely was not what I was expecting (and I mean that in a good way!). I loved how dimly lit it was inside, which was complemented by miniature lights that were strung from the ceiling. Speaking of the aforementioned change of pace, I also appreciated how there were no TVs inside, which created an intimate atmosphere that focused more on conversing with your friends than watching whatever may have been on TV. Finally, as someone who always pays attention to a restaurant's artwork... I absolutely LOVED the artwork that was on display at Goat's. They had so many cool pieces of eclectic artwork, that you could almost consider it as much a small art museum as a restaurant. My favorite art piece is kind of hard to describe, but I guess you could say that it was of a God-like man in a suit controlling somebody who was playing golf. (I know, it's hard to describe, but like I said, it's eclectic.) My one (1) downside to Goat's, and the only thing keeping it from a five-star review, is that the bartender and servers were all pretty rude and arrogant. This is speculation, but maybe Goat's is one of those places that considers itself a "regulars" bar, and isn't very nice to people who aren't regular customers, but the three (3) employees I interacted with weren't all that inviting. All in all, Goat's was a great experience, and if it were an option, I'd probably give it something like 4.5 or 4.8 stars if I could. If the servers were a little less full of themselves, or maybe just in a better mood, I'd consider it a five-star experience. Nevertheless, Goat's was a great experience, I'll definitely be back, and I'd recommend that anybody stop in if they're looking for a unique experience in Five Points!

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Goat's
Goat's - Mussels and frites, PEI mussels, Greek farro salad

Mussels and frites, PEI mussels, Greek farro salad

Goat's - $25 wine bottle fridays

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$25 wine bottle fridays

Sully's Steamers - Inside decor

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4.5(50 reviews)
0.9 mi•Shandon

This is another place I've been eyeing for awhile and I got the perfect opportunity the other day…read morewith a girlfriend when we were looking for lunch places. The establishment is is spacious and they have tables both inside and outside and are decked out in USC pride. I can totally see this being a college hangout spot. The menu is never ending and it's soooo hard picking which bagel sandwich sounds best because soooo many sounded good. And then after you pick your sandwich you have to pick your bagel! Do yourself a favor and look at the menu before coming in so you already know exactly what you'll try. Since I came with a friend we decided to to try two different bagels and the staff here were nice enough to cut them both in half to make it easier for us to share. The bagels were messy but you could tell they were freshly made and so good! We ended up sharing the ridgeland and neighborino. I loved them both but I want to say I loved the neighborino a smidge more. While living here this will definitely become a regular spot and prices here were more than fair for the portions and freshness.

I love Sully's Steamers and have been going since they opened the first one in Greenville. I wish…read morethey would just open one in Charleston already. Whenever I'm traveling locally I check to see if there is one in my path. We were on our way to Columbia for a trip to the planetarium so we stopped on the way up for Lunch at Sully's. When I first discovered them, they had a sandwich on the menu called The Heater, the last place I went to was familiar with it, but this location was not. That didn't mean they weren't willing to make it for me though. I don't know if I ordered it exactly right, but the woman taking my order and I walked our way through it... the sandwich was delicious either way. This time I also got to try The Griswold (Turkey, bacon, provolone, pepper jack, lettuce, bbq & parm-peppercorn) and it might be a new favorite. This location is bigger than others I've been to. They had a bunch of tables inside and a large communal area outside with turf and a bunch of seating. Someone was even having a birthday party out there. Now I want to have a Sully's Steamers bday party too!

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Sully's Steamers - The Nacho Maximus

The Nacho Maximus

Sully's Steamers - Outside signage

Outside signage

Sully's Steamers - The nacho maximus chip combo

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The nacho maximus chip combo

Market On Main - M.O.M Burger

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3.8(306 reviews)
0.9 mi•Downtown
•$$

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Market On Main - Market on Main Street

Market on Main Street

Market On Main - Mushroom & Zucchini Special

Mushroom & Zucchini Special

Market On Main - Mojito Mocktail

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Mojito Mocktail

Midwood Smokehouse - Cross Hill - Pollo texano! Honey chipotle tossed smoked fried chicken on angry pickles, apple jalapeño slaw and a brioche bun.

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4.3(1k reviews)
2.5 mi
•$$

The food here was amazing. Ate their two days in a row because the food was amazing. And the…read moreservice was amazing also

Midwood Smokehouse... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!…read more Imagine me singing like the Campbell's commercial because BABYYYYY! I am absolutely appalled and ashamed that we visited Columbia back in September and somehow missed this goodness! All I wanted was a simple sandwich after leaving Family Day on base... Opened Yelp, and BOOM! Midwood Smokehouse appeared. Six minutes away? Oh, AND it's in a shopping center with Whole Foods? Say less! The original plan was takeout. But here comes my mother-in-love... "Lady T, you want to sit down and have a cocktail?" Well, don't mind if I do! I'm still mentally somewhere along the Mediterranean coast, enjoying my Aperol spritz era, but this time I settled for a gin and tonic... And let me tell you about our bartender! The moment he set that glass down, I could smell the gin! Now, I know how that sounds, but listen... I'm in my white liquor season, and he understood the assignment! Perfectly made! Enough to give me a little buzz before my Whole Foods adventure. Nothing over the top... just enough to remind me that he was NOT playing! But let's talk about the establishment itself. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was evident. The young man at the entrance politely directed us toward the back to place our takeout order. The gentleman who assisted us was equally pleasant, mannerable, and professional... he was also our bartender. During our conversation, he shared that he's a youth pastor, which genuinely warmed our hearts. Many prayers and blessings to him as he continues his pastoral journey. Something else stood out... THE REGULARS! We noticed customers coming in who were clearly familiar faces to the staff... And honestly, we've observed that at several establishments during this Columbia visit. There's something special about a place where the staff knows its customers. That speaks volumes! Now... THE FOOD! Because BABYYYYY! We returned to the hotel with our order, and let me tell you... THE BAKED BEANS!!! Listen, I LOVE a good baked bean, and these right here?! FREAKING PHENOMENAL! Somebody needs to explain why I was sitting in my hotel room contemplating ordering another serving! CLOCK IT! The burnt ends? GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Juicy, tender, beautifully seasoned, with just the right amount of crisp! Not burnt to the point where you're tasting charcoal, but that perfectly executed exterior that complements the tenderness inside. Somebody on the grill and/or the kitchen KNOWS what they're doing! The mac and cheese? Okay, now... It was good, but it wasn't taking home the trophy. I'm personally not a fan of shell pasta for mac and cheese, and I would've loved a little more cheese and creaminess to give it that rich finish. It held its own, though! We're giving it an honorable mention. It didn't miss... it just didn't win the award and that's ok... this little league where everyone gets a ... The hush puppies? Delicious! Listen... I probably need to leave bread alone, but clearly that wasn't happening today! Absolutely delicious as well! Overall, Midwood Smokehouse deserves a ROUND OF APPLAUSE! TENS ACROSS THE BOARD for the overall experience! From the hospitality and atmosphere... to the bartender's cocktail craftsmanship and the phenomenal BBQ, this was such an unexpected treat... And the fact that I haven't even told my husband I'm considering another baked bean order... well, that's between me, Yelp, and the Lord!

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Midwood Smokehouse - Cross Hill - Pimento Cheese Fries with Brisket

Pimento Cheese Fries with Brisket

Midwood Smokehouse - Cross Hill - Booth's seating and tables

Booth's seating and tables

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The Salty Nut Cafe - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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