Both higher-end and casual options depending on what you want. Small space so there may be a wait…read moretime, but we got lucky on a raining evening. The food was excellent. There are small bites to choose from as soon as you are seated which are easy to fill up on. We then ordered stuffed mussels - which were could-have-just-ordered-this-all-night delicious. Then I ordered the Cavatelli al Modo Mio, which was a perfectly al dente pasta and chopped squash cooked with sage and brown butter. Save room for dessert! We ordered the Dark Chocolate Budino which we would get again! So good. The wine selection is modeled after Venetian wine bars - the staff is friendly and very knowledgeable to help with recommendations to pair with your meal. We were excited about the Negroni selection and cocktails but need to explore the wine menu more next time.

This place is a true hole in the wall. The vibes are homey and they have outdoor seating that has a…read morelittle bit of a private feel to it. Our server was so nice and incredible. And the food. So amazing. I'm very particular about when I get pasta bc often times it is overpriced for what it is, which this place is still expensive, but their pasta is so so good!!! Can't recommend enough.

Lula Drake is just amazing. Such a cool European atmosphere, the bartenders and chefs are superb…read moreand very hospitable, and my word...the food is amazing. Incredible pasta dishes, phenomenal sherry shrimp, and it's the only place where I can sincerely say the charcuterie is worth it with such a unique spread. Do not go to Halls. Go to Lula Drake.

One of the nicer restaurants in Columbia but I have to say that the layout was just poorly set. I…read morehad to squeeze my way into the bar as the bar seats were all crammed together. The food and drinks were excellent (though I would only come here for a light meal) and the bartender was very knowledgeable. Though, I honestly didn't get a very interactive experience as my attempts to further interact with the bartender didn't result in anything. I typically enjoy wine bars for these interactions so it was quite disappointing to not get that here.

We went here for brunch on Sunday. It's a nice clean restaurant they also have patio seating for…read morepet friendly area. Which was nice , the food was great . The breakfast burritos were delicious, the yogurt bowl was yummy plenty of fruit. The S'mores latte was delicious. The service was good , nothing exciting. So for this part of the review everything was good. (I had ordered the tres Leche pancakes because I was intrigued. When I got the tres leche pancakes I very disappointed there was no taste of tres leche anywhere on those pancakes , all I could taste was regular plain pancakes with syrup , it does come with plantains those were pretty good . I had thought that maybe they would put some tres leche in between the pancakes themselves. But no they were very dry. And the waiter didn't even give me the bacon that came with my pancakes ,I had to ask for it and if i didn't get the bacon.I would have been charged for the bacon . Waiter needs to be more aware of what comes with the plates. Anyway don't order the tres leche pancakes you will be disappointed. No stars for this experience) Overall the restaurant was nice and the other food we got was good.

Publico was fine, but it wasn't really my favorite Mexican experience. The chips, quesadilla,…read morefries, and tacos I got were pretty average as compared to other Mexican restaurants, and nothing about them really stood out. In addition, my waitress was nice, but I would've liked it if she was a tad more attentive. Although I didn't drink on this occasion, I've been to Publico in the past, and I will say that their margaritas are much better than comparable Mexican places. So, perhaps if you're looking for a Mexican place that has good drinks rather than great food, Publico seems like a nice option. As for the ambiance, it was a cool place. It was dimly lit, and they had TVs all over the back wall where you could watch the day's sporting events. The bar looked like it had a cool vibe as well, and they have a back patio that's perfect for outside dining. All-in-all, I'd probably go back and recommend Publico for drinks and ambiance, but would likely head elsewhere if I'm looking for great Mexican food.

Never disappoints - our go-to spot in downtown Columbia!…read more Christal and I have been coming to Hampton Street Vineyard for several visits now, and it truly never disappoints. Every time we walk in, we're greeted with that warm, welcoming vibe in the historic Sylvan Building - it's cozy yet elegant, perfect for a special night out or just a really great meal. The food is outstanding: seasonal, fresh ingredients shine through in every dish, and the wine list is impressive (no surprise with their Wine Spectator award). We've tried a variety of plates over our visits, and nothing has missed the mark - always flavorful, beautifully presented, and satisfying. What keeps us coming back (and recommending it nonstop) is how consistently excellent it is. We run Chestnut Cottage Inn just 4 blocks away, so we send our guests here all the time. Without fail, they come back raving about their meal and the great time they had. It's the perfect spot for visitors to Columbia - close by, reliable, and memorable. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and book a table. You won't regret it! Highly recommend for dinner or their weekend brunch.

What a lovely experience we had as we enjoyed dinner here. Customer service from the time we…read morearrived was impeccable. The graham mallard cocktail was excellent. It was balanced, and the ingredients came together so nicely. It was really smooth. The second cocktail we tried was a spin on a negroni; however, instead of gin, it was cognac. This cocktail was pretty good, but if you do not like campari you will not like this cocktail. Bread is available upon request, and on our evening it was a sourdough served. It was pretty good. The crawfish deviled eggs were definitely distinctive. The creole mustard is very forward; with that note in mind, it was savory and tasty. For our second course, my husband had the braised short rib, and he said it was delicious and tender. He also complimented the brussels sprouts. I enjoyed the steak frites. The new york strip was a thick cut and so tender. It was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. That literally was the most flavorful steak I've had out in some time. The broccolini rested on the flavors of the steak and was delicious. The truffle fries were like a thick-cut wedge fries with the perfect crisp. Those fries were amazing as well. We tried the orzo macaroni and cheese. The orzo put a different spin on the macaroni and cheese dish, but it was cheesy and pretty good. The experience was so amazing here and truly made our night out a worthwhile evening. The ambiance was very pleasant and mild. The menu is rotating, and reservations can be made on their website.

Beautiful way to start a long weekend on the patio at Gervais & Vine. This month's special wine…read moreflight is from Argyle in Oregon - a delight. The wine menu for the flight is actually embedded with flower seeds! Also enjoyed hot goat cheese dip, fingerling potatoes, Spanish meatballs and scallops. Everything was fresh and tasty. Sitting on the patio is a unique experience. We encountered a slight tilt, many overly load mufflers and some delightfully well behaved French poodles. Service was kind and attentive. Already looking forward to our next visit.

I was only in town for one night so I was torn on where to go to dinner. I looked through Yelp and…read morereservation sites to see what was available and then honed in on what might be a wow dinner. I had a few options, but ultimately landed on Gervais and Vine and made a reservation. On the recommendation of our server, we started with a bottle of In Sheep's Clothing and got to ordering. I had already scoured the menu before coming in so I was pretty sure I knew what I wanted. I love that it's smaller portions so you can order different dishes and try a bunch all at once. We started with the baked brie which I think had an apricot spread plus some fruit and bread. Then we did the petit filet mignon, pork with gorgonzola cream sauce, spicy shrimp gambas, and the seared jumbo scallops. This may sound like too much for two people and you would be right but it was so delicious. I highly recommend everything we had. If I had to choose some standouts, the shrimp were phenomenal and I'm still thinking about them. The biggest surprise was the pork. It was a good size portion in comparison and the cream sauce was so good. Honestly, if you followed this order to a T or any variation of it, you can't go wrong. We weren't rushed in any way so in lieu of dessert we took our time finishing that bottle of wine. While there were some other menu items that jumped out at me, I would absolutely come back and order the exact same thing again. This was one of my favorite meals this year.

The best Italian restaurant in Columbia by far. We moved to Columbia a few years ago and have tried…read moreevery good Italian restaurant in town, but this has definitely been the best. I'll Giorgione is a very comfortable and not stuffy restaurant. Whether dining inside or out on the patio, we have always enjoyed dinner here. The hardest decision of each meal is typically whether to go with our usual choices or the amazing specials they offer. Highly recommend!

I really wanted to like this place. The food was delicious and the dessert was also pretty good…read more Their service is where they lose their stars for me. I felt like I was being served by high schoolers. I felt like I was forgotten for most of my experience. Though I would like to add that the restaurant is very beautiful (especially their outside seating).

AMAZING!!! We have lived in Columbia for a few years so I can't believe we had not heard of City…read moreGrit until recently, but we will make up for lost time. Our first experience was outstanding and we will return...OFTEN! For starters, our server was a professional. She is working on her 3rd level certification as a sommelier so it was truly a pleasure talking wine and food with her. Her recommendations were spot on all night long. Next, the menu is the most creative in Columbia. This restaurant is more Charleston-like or big city like with its menu options. Our biggest challenge of the night was deciding what to order. My wife ordered the Gnudi with brisket and is still talking about it. I rolled the dice and decided to try the squid ink pasta with lobster as a test, and I can honestly say they got an A++. I've eaten squid ink pasta in some of the best restaurants in New York, Boston and other major cities, and this was the BEST I have ever eaten. I almost didn't write this review because I selfishly don't want to have to fight for a reservation when this place gets busier, but I DO want it to flourish. Columbia needs more restaurants like City Grit. My only suggestion for them is to offer Valet parking because I had to park so far away that I was sweating by the time I walked all the way back to the restaurant after dropping off my wife.Otherwise, this is a fantastic dinner experience!!!

Great location I wish I'd have found sooner…read more Came here for Valentine's Day dinner. Love the ambiance. Hunter greeted us at the door and was cool and very funny. The wait staff was aces. The food was excellent. I had The brusselsprouts / beets appetizer which was very good choice. I had the pork chop which was cooked perfectly and they even accommodated my request for a side of braised cabbage which was also very good. I didn't have dessert. Yes I'd come back!

Delicious food, eclectic upscale decor really made this place stand out. Elijah, our server was…read morejust the right amount of attentive amd knowledgeable.

Food was average but pricey, we got a flatbread and salad. Service was great, menu seemed limited.read more