Looking for the best dives in Columbia SC

I am in search of the best of the best in Columbia! I am interested in small, family run restaurants that are serving really good, interesting food (doesn't have to be only american - I am willing to try other things!). I am NOT interested in chains or restaurants that have more than one location. I want fresh, made from scratch food in a fun, interesting atmosphere. 

Does Columbia have any restaurants like this??? 
Thanks!

Suz, we actually have a few local chains.  I would start with Rush's Hamburgers--probably eight locations around the city and remarkably good at consistent quality among them.   The burgers are better than the chicken, and the milkshakes are the best in town. 

People would probably also mention Lizard's Thicket, a meat-and-three chain that has about the same number of locations.  I do not love the Liz, but I eat there about once a month, usually for breakfast.  You might want to try them for breakfast (the flounder and grits is a great place to start).

Zesto's in Triangle City--there are other locations but that's the one you want to hit.  Fried chicken like none other in town, great burgers, wonderful ice cream treats--try a nut-rolled dipped cone.  Run by the same family for all its years I believe.

My personal favorite (and where I had lunch today), Taqueria Jalisco on St. Andrews Road (Shops at Ashland Park).  The best Mexican in a town with a lot of Mexican restaurants.  If you can't go there, Taqueria Mi Pueblito on US 1 in Lexington.  Particularly good with seafood dishes, both of them.

Not a dive but you should try dinner at Hunter Gatherer on College St, and especially if you love microbrews.  They may have the best high-end burger in town, and they do nice things with shrimp too.

Cafe Strudel on Meeting St. is a great place for salads, sandwiches, and especially desserts.  Live music in the evenings on the weekends.

For barbecue, I would either suggest Shealy's (reviewed on this site) out of town in Batesburg-Leesville or if you can't make it out there, Hudson's Smokehouse in Lexington is an acceptable substitute.  Hudson's is an unusual barbecue place in that they're open on Sundays and they have a bar.

I really enjoyed Lizard's Thicket, Rush's and Zesto's.
 
I just learned recently that the family of my doctor's roommate at South Carolina owns the Lizard's Thicket restaurants.

The Williams?  I have to say, they have worked their asses off for where they are today.  I'd even wholeheartedly recommend them if more of their veggies were fresh.

A wing basket from Zesto's:



Cheeseburger at Rush's:



Hudson's pork sandwich with fries and baked beans:



My lunch today, a Burrito Jalisco with chicken and their excellent guac:



I'm gonna throw in another.   Old San Juan on Two Notch Rd serves Puerto Rican food; this is their chicken fricassee:



And if you get out to Lexington, don't miss stopping by the Farmers' Shed.  This is their excellent pimiento cheese and a juicy 'mater:

Nancypalooza


The Williams?  I have to say, they have worked their asses off for where they are today.  I'd even wholeheartedly recommend them if more of their veggies were fresh.

I don't think he ever mentioned the name.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - but I am actually looking for places that are NOT CHAINS. I want to experience the mom-n-pop restaurants with exceptional food. What do you suggest for those? 

Thanks!

Then really you're going to miss the best places in Columbia.  Taqueria Jalisco and Old San Juan would qualify as mom-and-pop.  And Shealy's definitely.  Also the Farmers' Shed has recently started serving lunch during the week but I haven't been there for it.  The Rush's/Zesto's/LT folks have been doing what they do for a long long time, thus the additional locations.  But they are local and unique to Columbia.  Lizard's Thicket tried expanding to the Upstate but I think most of those locations are no more.