Best Restaurants in Columbia

Columbia satisfies many a hungry stomach with plenty of authentic eats. You'll find food that's made from scratch, Old World recipes passed down through four generations, a renovated National Historic Landmark, enviable wine accolades of the highest order and of course, superior slow-cooked barbecue.

Family Recipes From Italy

Some of the greatest Italian chefs never had their own restaurants, but they fed large families with local produce from their own country kitchens for generations. Alodia's Cucina Italiana, named for the owner's great-grandmother, prepares signature dishes pulled from his family’s cookbook. After generations of fine-tuning and testing, Alodia’s is known for great service and rich and tasty dishes. Start your meal with fried mozzarella, followed by the signature baked ziti with meatballs. Alodia's is a beloved family affair that works equally well for date nights, business meetings and fun with friends.

Fresh Ingredients From Local Farms

The made-from-scratch, eclectic menu features what Darryl's is known for: Southern cuisine and wood-fired steaks and ribs. Fires flicker in the pits on the gracious patio, which is enclosed during winter with Plexiglas and heated with a state-of-the-art system—a perfect place to be like kids again, gobbling up s'mores with your buds. Inside, reserve a theme room for a get-together. Glam it up with friends in the "theater room," taking turns at the mic and sharing videos. Or eat, drink and be merry at an indoor or outdoor world-class bar with 24 crafts beers, a long list of wines and a 10-page menu tempting you to try goodies like the hickory fire-grilled Tennessee Jack Black Chicken with bourbon and roasted pecans.

Classic Southern Favorites

If you have a hankering for Southern classics like blackened shrimp and grits or cornmeal-fried catfish, look no further. Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe in iconic Five Points is just what it seems—casual, walk-in-friendly and patio-inclined. But while they do whip up time-honored Southern favorites, lunch and dinner menus are designed for sophisticated taste buds, so leave the kiddos behind.

Pork Sandwiches From the Smoker

Simplicity is the name of the game at Southern Belly BBQ. They do one thing and they do it to perfection: traditional, slow-roasted barbecue pork. This singular sensation goes into sandwiches you can customize with different house-made sauces, cheeses and toppings—yes, even mac ‘n cheese. The parking lot fills up before noon for what locals call the best barbecue in town. Enjoy the family-friendly, finger-licking eats surrounded by country and Americana kitsch and gingham checkered tablecloths. Southern Belly BBQ creates new specials daily so check them out on social media for the latest creations.

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