Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Columbia

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bistro on the Boulevard

4.8

4.8 (893)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Irmo

About the restaurant

Exciting New American Restaurant & Full Bar featuring casual neighborhood atmosphere.
FRESH FOOD PREPARED FROM SCRATCH. And nightly Chef Specials too!
Large covered patio for outdoor seating.

Various Live Entertainment on Weekends, Thursday Night Live Jazz,
Trivia Tuesdays!

Top review

Greg

Dined on Nov 11, 2024

Greeted warmly at the front and they pulled up my reservation immediately. We were seated right away and our waitress greeted us at the table. Everyone seemed to enjoy their jobs and it showed in their actions / service. The food was outstanding. Overall we had a great experience and would recommend you check it out yourself.

Discover more

Braza Do Sul Brazilian Steakhouse (formerly Rioz)

4.8

4.8 (1175)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Columbia

About the restaurant

Step into a world of culinary excellence at our amazing Brazilian Steakhouse! 🥩✨ Immerse yourself in Brazil's vibrant flavors and traditions as our skilled chefs serve up a feast for your senses.
Savor the succulent cuts of perfectly grilled meats, from tender sirloin to juicy lamb chops, brought directly to your table on skewers. Each bite is a symphony of smoky, savory goodness, expertly seasoned and cooked to perfection.
But our Brazilian steakhouse is not just about the meats—it's a celebration of flavors and textures. Indulge in a colorful array of fresh salads, exotic side dishes, and traditional Brazilian specialties like feijoada and pão de queijo.

Top review

Barry

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Thr wait staff did not seem to be very happy. I've been to other Brazilian restaurants where the wait staff was incredibly energetic which made mediocre food taste incredible.

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Columbia

4.8

4.8 (226)

$31 to $50

Asian

Columbia

About the restaurant

Welcome to MOA, downtown Columbia's exclusive destination for authentic Korean BBQ dining. Our upscale establishment prides itself on delivering an unforgettable culinary experience, where the vibrant flavors of traditional Korean cuisine meet the highest quality ingredients, including our signature dry-aged beef. Sit back and relax as our dedicated service team expertly handles the grilling for your table, ensuring every bite is perfection. Join us for a memorable dining adventure at the only Korean BBQ restaurant in downtown Columbia, where every moment is filled with warmth, flavor, and genuine hospitality.

Top review

Emilie

Dined 6 days ago

We got the tier of meat that was the least expensive for 4 people. We had plenty. and it was excellent. We discussed going in the middle tier but what we got was excellent. We also ordered edamame and calamari. We were stuffed. The sides are small but there is plenty of food because they bring so many to try. It was fun to taste all the different Korean flavors. I asked which were spicy and he told me so I avoided those. The cheesy corn was a great side as was the salad. We got the cheesecake and the pastry that had Uba (purple sweet potato) It was okay, if we had known there was a citrus option, we'd have done that. The biscotti option was sold out. It was an expensive night out but we will definitely be back for a special occasion. Great birthday for my 27 year old daughter. Service by the son of the owner and sometimes the owner himself was excellent. Definitely will be back.

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse - Columbia

4.6

4.6 (1617)

$31 to $50

Brazilian Steakhouse

Columbia

About the restaurant

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse is an unique, all you can eat “Churrascaria” featuring a full Salad Bar with over 30 items, 6 Hot Dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, chicken, pork and lamb sliced at your table by our Gauchos. Along with a full bar, we have a beautiful walk-in wine cellar with fine selection of wines from Argentina, Chile, California and our Brazilian Flavored Martini Menu. Join us for an unforgettable dining experience!

Top review

Robin

Dined 5 days ago

Fun experience with friends and the food was excellent. Service is great and choices of meats are endless. If you like meat than this is your place.

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

4.5

4.5 (2532)

$30 and under

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Columbia, SC, inside the historic 1902 Union Station, California Dreaming welcomes guests with its vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the rail tracks, stretching from the inactive platform to the main terminal. Paired with our hearty, made-from-scratch menu, it's no wonder California Dreaming has been a beloved local institution since 1984. Open for lunch and dinner daily, including online ordering with curbside pickup.

Celebrating 40 years, California Dreaming has been a valued part of the Columbia community. Union Station, its historic home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

**We provide Advance Priority Seating to reduce wait times and expedite the seating process when your entire party arrives. To ensure the best experience for all guests, we seat groups of up to 8. While larger groups are seated separately, this arrangement is flexible during quieter hours.

Top review

Landon

Dined 2 days ago

Fantastic experience! Great food, and excellent service!

Discover more

Iron Hill Brewery - Columbia, SC

4.4

4.4 (383)

$30 and under

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Welcome to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, where you'll find fine handcrafted beers, creative yet informal cuisine, and friendly, attentive service in a casual, upscale atmosphere.

Top review

DaveVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent food. Great beer! Will return.Highly recommend.

Discover more

Prohibition - Columbia

4.4

4.4 (96)

$31 to $50

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Prohibition Columbia opened in the spring of 2024 and is brought to you by the same team behind Prohibition Charleston, which opened in 2014, and Repeal 33 in historic Savannah, Georgia. While many of the food and drink items can be found at all three locations, special considerations have been made to tailor a unique experience in each city.

As part of the ever-growing Main Street District, Prohibition brings innovative cocktails, eclectic cuisine, and live music to the heart of Soda City.

Top review

Carol

Dined 3 days ago

Fabulous food and Holiday Drinks. There beautiful Holiday Theme set the mood. Outstanding atmosphere and most Important was our Gracious ,cheerful waitress she made the evening. We have Been here before and definitely be here again.

Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse

4.4

4.4 (43)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Lexington

About the restaurant

Join us at Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse, where we pride ourselves on our unique offerings and commitment to quality. Our House Dry Aged Steaks are a true labor of love--aged for 30 days in our own Dry Age cooler, hand-cut to perfection, and featuring show-stopping Tomahawks that will leave you speechless. Pair your meal with a selection of over 140 rare bottles and a curated wine list of 60 hand-selected varieties. And for seafood lovers, our menu delights with Crabcakes, Seared Ahi Tuna, and Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

Brunch on weekends features indulgent options like Eggs Benedicts and savory delights like Shrimp and Grits. Wash it down with mimosas for the perfect brunch experience!

During Happy Hour, enjoy half off our wine selection and Buffalo Trace specials. Explore our upgraded spirits collection, including the sought-after Weller collection, for a truly elevated experience.

Join us and savor the flavors that will leave you craving more!

Top review

Tracy

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent food, huge portions and the service was great!

Boku- Columbia

4.3

4.3 (267)

$30 and under

Asian

Columbia

About the restaurant

At Boku Kitchen and Saloon, you can be sure you are receiving only the highest-quality meals with the freshest ingredients possible. We pride ourselves on not serving our customer's pre-made food. We make everything from scratch, including our noodles, salads, crab rangoon, calamari, soups, cocktails, and more! All our food is made-to-order. You won’t be able to find quality like this elsewhere!

We want to make your time at our restaurant as enjoyable as possible. Therefore, at Boku Kitchen and Saloon, you can trust that we will provide you with a made-from-scratch meal paired with the best cocktails, sake, wine, and craft beer you will find in Columbia, SC.

Our team is excited to serve you, your family, and your friends' delicious meals and beverages. See you soon!

Top review

Thalyah

Dined 1 day ago

Our first time here. Grinch themed, so fun! Food and drinks were tasty!

Discover more

Explore Diners' Choice best of Columbia