Columbia, S.Carolina

We're going to be in Columbia for a week, looking for some local run places to eat while we're there. Nothing fancy and mostly lunch time.

Thanks,
J Palm

quote:

Originally posted by jpalm

We're going to be in Columbia for a week, looking for some local run places to eat while we're there. Nothing fancy and mostly lunch time.

Thanks,
J Palm

Here are a couple of threads on Columbia. One of my favorite stops was Lizard's Thicket.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14694&SearchTerms=lizard's+thicket

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5236&SearchTerms=lizard's+thicket

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by jpalm

We're going to be in Columbia for a week, looking for some local run places to eat while we're there. Nothing fancy and mostly lunch time.

Thanks,
J Palm

Here are a couple of threads on Columbia. One of my favorite stops was Lizard's Thicket.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14694&SearchTerms=lizard's+thicket

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5236&SearchTerms=lizard's+thicket

I've got to concurr with Mr Hoffman, although it's been years since I've been there.

THanks for the links Mike, I tried to do a search but nothing came up for me.

Jim Palm

quote:

Originally posted by Sokol

Lizard's Thicket is a local chain. http://www.lizardsthicket.com/

Right. And I have been in two of them and think the food is terrific. At least it was when i was there in September of 2006.

Michael and Tenntrekker, I guess I don't have to separate you two...because admin already did! Jpalm asked a simple question about one of my favorite eating destinations, so let's help him, shall we? Nancypalooza, chime in anytime...

In order of personal preference for lunch, nothing fancy:
1. Pimento-cheese chili dogs and milkshakes at Sandy's, 825 Main St. by USC (though there are a few locations around town)
2. Cheeseburgers, fries, and chocolate shakes at Rush's (many locations around town, too)
3. Mustard-based BBQ and fixins at Hudson's, 739 Knox Abbot Dr. in Cayce (maybe closer to you than the store in Lexington)
4. Pimento cheeseburgers at[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Insider/Logbook/Details.aspx?RefID=5369&RestExpID=3457']Rockaway's[/url], 2719 Rosewood Dr.

You're a lucky man, sir, and I wish I could join you! Happy eating in Cola! Chris

Rush's was good, too. But I don't understand the reference to separating people.

For a real BBQ adventure, try Big T's BBQ. I ate there 2 years ago and it was tremendous. Yes it is in a tired old stip mall and yes it has no charm. Just great food. Located at Garners Ferry Road, Columbia S.C. (803) 776-7132. Real close to thruway.

quote:

Originally posted by euclid

For a real BBQ adventure, try Big T's BBQ. I ate there 2 years ago and it was tremendous. Yes it is in a tired old stip mall and yes it has no charm. Just great food. Located at Garners Ferry Road, Columbia S.C. (803) 776-7132. Real close to thruway.

I saw that place, as I was staying in a hotel on Garners Ferry Road, but I never got a chance to try it.

One of the dishes was called hash. It was incredibly smooth in texture and the taste was, well, unique but wonderful. After finishing my meal, I went back to the counter and inquired as to just what was in the hash. After many smirks, the gal responded lips and jowels. Whether true or not, this was a truely a Roadfood find. I would order it again in a heart beat!

Hash is wonderful but as we say down here, you gotta know who's making it. It's what they do with leftover pieces.

I concur with ayersian above, except I would put Rockaway's above Sandy's. And if you feel adventurous, seek out Edna's #1 on River Dr. for dogs.

Lizard's Thicket, or the Liz, is fine, but it's really not wonderful. It's very predictable and it's great for when you really don't want to cook and don't want fast food. Their breakfast is better than most, so if I was going to hit it, hit it in the morning. Try the flounder and grits--yum.

I'm just going to have to do a restaurant review on Taqueria Jalisco, because I eat there at least once a week and I talk folks' ear off about it in a most obnoxious way. It's on St. Andrews Road near I-26 in the Shops at Ashland Park, and it's really fabulous. Guacamole you will fight over. Wonderful sopa de pollo. There is nothing bad on that menu.

I happen to be very fond of my local Taste of China Hut on Main St. downtown (corner of Main and Confederate). The family who operates it is Thai so there are some Thai dishes on the menu as well, but you really can't beat the szechuan pork, the beef and broccoli or the wings-and-rice special (ask for the veggie fried rice--loaded with vegetables and really not greasy). It's totally weaned me off the high-end chinese places in town, the Miyo's/M Cafe locations, at a fraction of the price.

Also downtown, the Hunter-Gatherer (S. Main and College behind the State House) is known for their microbrews but their food is excellent. Also I've had a couple of good meals at the Congaree Grill on Harden St. but I know they were fixin' to change chefs and I haven't been back.

Check out the Zesto's location in Triangle City in West Columbia (504 12th St.)--the best one, hands down. Just did a renovation of the dining room. The fried chicken I want the ayersians to try the next time they're in town, the burgers are outstanding, the cole slaw is my personal standard for how cole slaw should taste, and the milkshakes and ice cream dishes are delightful. They have recently added baklava shakes and sundaes. Yeah, I said it! Baklava.

Also in West Columbia, Cafe Strudel on State St. is wonderful; Kyle's Special sandwich is my favorite(turkey, grilled onions and provolone with cream cheese and sprouts on a bagel). They also make the best cinnamon roll known to man.

If you're in town a while, drive out to Batesburg-Leesville to go to Shealy's Barbecue; they are closed Wednesdays and Sundays, like good Christians should be. :) Don't miss the green beans, they are full of crack.

edited to add: I'm really wracking my brain now. The Immaculate Consumption, a block down from Hunter-Gatherer. Killer sandwiches and cookies, lunch only. When you go to Rush's, ask for a chocolate-strawberry shake (both flavors at once)--to die for. If you're doing Rush's and Zesto's both, get the chicken at Zesto's and the burger at Rush's. Those two places also have the best tea. This is a bad pizza town, but I'd send you to the Village Idiot in Five Points before anyplace else.

Nancy, your reply above is just an example of why Amy & I are co-presidents of your fan club.

Jpalm, you couldn't've asked a more knowledgeable Columbia resident than Nancypalooza! I have friends who've lived in Columbia almost their entire lives that have never heard of some of these places...what a sad existence! Chris

Awww, you guys are too nice. We really do want you to come through for Zesto's chicken the next time you're in this neck of the woods.

I just came back to add Sakura's--this is the place I was talking about in another forum where somebody was describing a lunch special at a Japanese joint in DC--teriyaki chicken, ginger-dressed salad and hosumaki/California rolls for $12. Same thing here, except it's $6.95. I love Sakura's, but be prepared to smell like the place (teriyaki grill) for the rest of the day. My boss guesses it when I walk in the door.

It's been a few years but I ate at PIGGIE PARK on Devine Street and it was DEVINE!

We'll be going through about lunchtime this Friday, are any of these places close to I-26? I'm especially curious about Rush.

Charlie

Let's see, there's a Rush's on Harbison Blvd, off I-26 at the Columbiana Center exit. There's also one on hwy 378, which is Sunset Blvd near Lexington Medical Center. Wait, Rush's has a website: http://www.rushs.net/ complete with crazy ad music!

Nancy, it's a shame that we are only going to be here a week since you gave us a months worth of places to go. Tomorrow is Rush's, Thursday is Zesto's, Friday is Taqueria Jalisco, and Saturday may be a day of digestion.
We would like to thank everybody for their responses and hopefully we'll be back next year, there is a lot to see and do here in Columbia.

Jim n Cathy Palm

I think those are great picks--have a wonderful time!

quote:

Originally posted by Nancypalooza
Also downtown, the Hunter-Gatherer (S. Main and College behind the State House) is known for their microbrews but their food is excellent.

Nancy,
When you venture there next, have a brew for me, wouldja? That's one of my favorite brewpubs anywhere, and I've only managed to go there once, several years ago (they hadn't long been open). To call the place "eclectic" is to understate, and I fell in love with it.
Remember that Batesburg/Leesville also has Jackie Hite's Bar-B-Q over on Railroad Avenue, and someone tells me that Big Momma's Diner on U. S. 1 on the west side of town (toward Monetta) is quite a trip.
There are at least two, maybe three, good Mexican places in B/L, but I haven't been able to venture out to try them.
Then there's The Big Mo, the Monetta Drive-In Theatre... but THAT'S a whole 'nother story.
Thanks for your excellent suggestions.
Sometimes A Whet Gamily, But Never Too Cockily, Ort. Carlton in All-Too-Bulldawgian (arf arf) Athens, Georgia.
P. S. I do NOT bleed red & black unless some strange disease is dissolving my bone marrow (or somethin')... no matter HOW much Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout I might drink! (Tee hee.)

Down-home and Southern:

Lizard's - Tuesdays they serve chicken livers. Yum! Country-fried steak with collards and mac & cheese anytime. Good fried chicken. I like the Elmwood location best. Breakfast lunch or dinner.

Nathan's on the corner of Hampton and Green is a fine meat-and-three that most folks miss. Try their stuffed potato. Breakfast or lunch.

No-Name Deli on Elmwood. No other place like it. Don't go if you're claustrophobic! Lunch only.

Any Zesto's for broasted chicken. Lunch or dinner.

If you're adventurous stop by Edna's #1 on River Drive. Chili dogs to die for. Burgers and shakes are fine too. Do NOT get the fried chicken; it's sweet for some crazy reason. Take out or eat at the rickety picnic tables in the parking lot. Been in business since the '50s. Lunch or dinner.

BBQ: Hudson's on Hyw. 378 is very good. Off Alpine Road is Little Pigs - very good smoked pork on an extensive buffet. Lunch or dinner - prob'ly closed Mon. Tues. Sun.

Hope you enjoy our big little city!

Oh yeah - Hunter Gatherer is fabulous. Aim for Thursday night - Live jazz to go with your ESB. ( B E E R ) Food is fine. Everything from duck to bleu cheese burgers or pizza. Very good service. An absolute favorite of mine.

Ort. I actually worked for Swensen's when they were the tenant of the Hunter-Gatherer's building. I don't know if you can tell from the architecture but it was built as a bank branch; the upper floor was the old branch managers' lair. The Hunter-Gatherer has turned it into something unique and lovely.

There are a confluence of great non-San Jose, non-Monterey Mexican joints in Lexington County, specifically, because that's where our huge influx of Latino immigrants has gone. You know a great Mexican joint in Lexington county if you go there on Sunday afternoon and you're the only pendejo gringo in the place, or one of few. There's also a place behind Rush's in Lexington proper called Taqueria Mi Pueblito that's pretty good--lots of seafood dishes, and that's Julie's favorite carnitas joint.

huntryce I keep passing Nathans and going 'heeey'--maybe I'm not as well dined here as Chris thinks I am. :) Have you been to that meat-and-three place, I'm forgetting the name, out by the stadium? I keep hearing good things about that place.

Nancypalooza, Wow! I had always wondered what HG's original use was. Thanks for the lesson. Remember when it was Wendy Ethel's back in the '80s?

By all means check out Nathan's. I'm thinking they don't accept cards - cash or check only. That building used to be a drug store - note the tilework in the entranceway.

Hmm. Out by the stadium... There's Bernies, but that's mostly chicken. Do you mean Doc's BBQ? Across from the Highway Patrol station? I have been once and it was pretty good... BIG buffet but not really meat and three. Definitely worth a try. (The BBQ is actually smoked, I'm told. Not like Palmetto Pig in town.)

In such situations jpalm I would go through http://www.boorah.com/restaurants/ for review guide and to search for restaurants.

Thanks to everybody for the suggestions, we had a great burger and shake at Rush's, a couple of chili cheese dogs at Sandy's and the best chicken we've every eaten at Zesto's. We had a great time in your city and hopefully we'll be able to get back here next year for another week, we leave for the Ashville area tomorrow.

Quick travel note if anybody is interested in Military Museums check out the The South Carolina Military Museum out at the National Guard base near the stadium on Hwy 48. One of the best that we've been to.

http://www.scguard.com/museum/index.html

Jim Palm

I came here to paste this: http://www.thestate.com/thebuzz/story/945379.html  For anyone in the area and so inclined the annual Greek Festival is one of the few food festivals in this area that is totally worth checking out.

But I have two additions: the Hunter-Gatherer just started serving lunch.  (whoo-eee!)  And did anybody watching CBS News this week catch that they did a Joe Wilson followup story from a location of Lizard's Thicket?

I'd have enjoyed seeing anything shot at a Lizard's Thicket. I love those places -- more than likely because of the name alone.

LIZARDS HAS GREAT BREAKFAST, MAURICES BBQ FOR GREAT BEEF SANDWICHES WITH YELLOW SWEET BBQ SAUCE, DONT KNOW ANY DINNER PLACES THATS GRANDMAS JOB