north2south's Profile
Recommendations for Columbia, SC?
You've gotten some good recommendations, here. One tip: a bunch of the food trucks (including the Bone-In Artisan BBQ truck) will be convening for a "food truck food court" at the Adluh Flour Mill downtown this Friday for lunch.
Bone-In Artisan BBQ Truck, Columbia, SC
OK, so I can't stop posting about this guy, apparently. He is breaking into the vegetarian demographic. No, I'm not talking about his salads, which are really very good. I just got word over FB that today he is debuting a new sandwich: Fried Green Tomatoes on Scallion Waffles with Baby Romaine and a Chipotle-Honey-Lemon Aioli. Yes.
I love that he doesn't assume that vegetarian = not hungry.
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
I walked by Hunter Gatherer today. One of their lunch specials was a beef and pork burger topped with ESB cheese and duck confit! (Pork by Caw Caw Creek, of course.)
I am sad to report that I failed in my Chowhoundly duties and was unable to try it out. I hope to have it another day.
Bone-In Artisan BBQ Truck, Columbia, SC
The Bone-In Truck has an ongoing Saturday brunch date with Baan Sawan restaurant on Devine Street, near Five Points. You can get food from the truck, and exotic cocktails from the bar inside the restaurant. This is where proprietor Scott Hall has been rolling out some of his more creative offerings, including sriracha-bbq-pork-stuffed French toast with a light honey glaze, and a BLT featuring fried and confited pork belly and fried green tomatoes, with a basil-lemon aioli. Both were excellent (though I'd recommend sharing the latter with a friend, as it was a lot to eat).
P.S. You may be interested to learn that the Cooking Channel's "Eat Street" show will be shooting an episode at the truck on next Saturday, July 16th. If you want to eat good BBQ and be on TV, you know where to be.
Pizza, Columbia, SC
I had the opportunity to retry Antonina's recently and I am sad to report that quality appears to be slipping. I also tried the new "Margherita" pie at Dano's. I think Dano's is okay generally for NY-style pizza but this pie is an abomination. With the old Kroger's shopping center being revitalized and expanded as a home for the coming Whole Foods, I have my fingers crossed that a good new pizza place will find a spot there, too.
Come on restaurant folks, it is not that hard. Here is a tip: once the dough is made and the ingredients laid out, it shouldn't take more than 6 minutes to assemble and cook a pizza. If you are cooking it for more than 5 minutes, you are, to borrow a chowhoundism, "doing it all wrong."
Lucca Restaurants
I will be in Lucca for a few days and I'm looking for restaurant recommendations. Browsing the boards, I see Bucca di San Antonio and Trattoria da Leo recommended. Anything else? Lunch, dinner, dessert recommendations are all welcome. Thanks.
Mojito's - Columbia, SC
Agreed, SweetPea. I have been there a few times for lunch and the sandwiches are very good. I thought the sides could be larger, though. The owner is very nice and apparently makes the desserts herself.
Bone-In Artisan BBQ Truck, Columbia, SC
I neglected to mention the excellent cilantro-lime cole slaw, delicious and purple.
By the way, in an encouraging sign, I noticed at the All Local Farmer's Market this weekend that Sea Eagle was selling meals, too. Not out of a truck, but a trailer I think (I only got a quick glimpse at it). Shrimp and Grits looked good. Anyone try it? I wonder if they are thinking of rolling out a truck.
Bone-In Artisan BBQ Truck, Columbia, SC
In recent years, the most significant culinary development in the Columbia area, in my opinion, was the emergence of Heather's Artisan Bakery. With the appearance of this baker, Columbians could suddenly buy freshly made, high quality bread. Before, there was no one in the area providing this service. Heather brought good bread to those who craved it and at the same time educated a number of people about what good bread could be, thus raising the culinary standards of the community.
We now have the emergence of a similar culinary force that may be even more significant. This is the Bone-In Artisan BBQ Truck. I have dined at the truck a number of times and I am here to tell you that on multiple fronts this truck represents another opportunity to raise culinary standards in Columbia.
Folks, we are beyond the petty regionalisms of vinegar vs. mustard vs. tomato. When there is hoisin-hickory brisket on homemade foccacia on the menu, we know this is no longer your grandfather's barbecue. And thank goodness for that. Slow-cooked and smoky meats deserve more attention and more creativity, and this truck delivers the goods.
So the first front is BBQ itself. Scott Hall, the proprietor of the truck, is challenging traditional conceptions of barbecue, incorporating innovation, fusion, and plain old good taste to render some delicious creations.
The second front is about food trucks. The city of Columbia hasn't been all that friendly to food trucks, which is a shame. In other large cities the trucks add to the healthy culinary diversity of the community. This fancy food truck will pave the way for more, I believe (and hope), and that will be good for all of us. The Bone-In truck also gets us over the old-style thinking about food trucks as boring luncheonettes on wheels. There is nothing boring about the occasionally changing menu on the Bone-In truck.
The third is about food more generally. While others at fancier Columbia restaurants have introduced their clientele to more contemporary cooking, at lower price points things remain stupidly boring. (Nothing about Groucho's, except your memories as a teen there, is any good, people, and you can't eat memories.) Here we have a food truck bringing carefully prepared and interesting food to the masses. It is a couple of bucks more than your standard deli sandwich, that is true, but it is so worth it.
Apart from the brisket sandwich, mentioned above, I've had: the pork bbq sandwich, made with a kind of vinegar (and Hall is now making his own vinegars) and served on the homemade foccacia (of which I was quite skeptical, but it works really well); the "ripper," which is a deep fried, smoky and delicious hotdog, topped with brisket chili and pimento cheese; his freshly made potato chips, still warm and seasoned with salt and dill; "burnt-end baked beans," which are beans baked with the crispy bits of the pork bbq and brisket; and the goat cheese, rosemary, and roasted-garlic pound cake (yes, pound cake) topped with bacon jam made from local Caw Caw Creek bacon. I hear that he has served souffles made from grits and Caw Caw Creek chorizo, as well as a cornbread-topped lobster pot pie. And flavored lemonades. I've had blackberry lemonade and the spicy giner-cayenne lemonade. Delicious, and all out of a truck.
You can find out where the truck will be by following it on twitter or facebook. This is certainly a venture worth supporting.
Graeter's Ice Cream now available at Kroger stores in Raleigh
I tried a few of their flavors recently. They are okay, but not great, especially considering the price (more expensive than Ben and Jerry's, Haagen Daaz). In fact, I actively disliked the chocolate chips (in flavors like toffee chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip). They are made of pretty poor tasting chocolate. It is nice that they are soft--that is an interesting touch--but I wish they tasted good.
DeLucca's Italian Grill and Pizzeria - Columbia, SC
I tried the pizza. It was okay. I think I'll stick with the sandwiches.
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
At long last I made it to the Backyard Cafe for lunch. It is a charming, clean, and well-kept little restaurant with very friendly service. It is a bit far away. Too bad they don't have a branch in Five Points. I ordered the Backyard Burger. To order it medium rare (as I did), I had to sign a form saying I would not hold them responsible for any ills that befell me as a result of my failure to order an overcooked burger. Really. (Fortunately, you only have to sign this form once, and you are good to go on all subsequent visits.)
The burger was delicious! Thank you, UrDaddy, for the recommendation. The full meaty and really juicy flavorfulness of a Murray's burger, if not better, but with quality toppings: real cheddar, both grilled and raw onions, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, a little mayo. It was so juicy that to put ketchup on it would have been a gross abuse. Fries are good but not great. Homemade ice cream is a rarity in the Columbia area, so it was a treat to try some. I liked the banana pudding ice cream and thought the coconut creme ice cream was very good. I look forward to trying their sweet potato crunch ice cream on a subsequent visit.
So where does this leave things? I think Backyard Cafe beats Murray's and poses a strong challenge to my current burger favorite, C'n'B. The place is definitely worth the drive from downtown.
The Basil Pot in Columbia S.C.
I don't know this restaurant at all, but you might be able to find the former owner's information by checking who was on the business license with the city, and then ask him or her.
Local recommendations-Columbia SC
Haven't been -- I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!
Local recommendations-Columbia SC
Here are some recommendations:
Terra: the "quack madame" (duck confit & quail egg open sandwich), or the mac n' cheese with bbq lamb -- both are appetizers there.
Cock n' Bull: the Bull Burger (or at Brunch, "L'Especiale Burger"). Best in town.
Gervais & Vine: scallops w/ three sauces; marinated manchego.
Little Pigs: great bbq buffet.
Sun Ming: crispy salty shell-on shrimp (yes you eat the shell); eggplant w/ pork and garlic sauce.
Hunter-Gatherer: everything but the salads and pizzas are really good here, especially given the price. Great beer, of course, and fun atmosphere.
Heather's Artisan Bakery: the ciabatta is the best. Many other loaves are good, too.
DiPrato's: homemade fried pita chips with pimento cheese.
Gourmet Shop: very rich chicken salad. Get it on a croissant with bacon if you want to overdo it.
Tea: under new ownership (already), but the "House Adventurer" banh mi is just as good as when the place opened.
Antonina's Ristorante: only the pizza. Best NY-style in the area.
Touch of India: dosas, which you can't get anywhere else in the area.
Drake's Duck Inn: fried chicken sandwich - not fantastic or even interesting, but a good representation of this southern sandwich, and it is ridiculously cheap.
All-Local Farmer's Market: (Saturday mornings only) breakfast there is nice, but make sure you get a chocolate pecan pie from the girl who sells the pies. Really very good.
I'm sure there is more but that is all for now off the top of my head.
Lunch near Reed College
Any recommendations for a good lunch spot near Reed College? Any kind of food, so long as it is good or interesting. Thanks.
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
Welcome to Columbia and thanks for sharing that website -- it looks like a useful resource. Of the places mentioned on that cheeseburger crawl post, I've only been to Rush's and Rockaway. The former is just "eh," -- slightly better than your standard fast food burger but not as good as a place like Five Guys. The latter had a great reputation but I was disappointed. I'd like to try the Mousetrap Restaurant (despite its name) and Edna's.
Murrays of cayce or pawleys front porch
If it is not too late, Pickles, and if it is lunch you'll be here for, and if you are still in the mood for a burger, I'd now suggest Cock n' Bull. See this thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/705459?tag=main_body;topic-705459
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
Folks, I believe we may have a winner for best burger in Columbia. Not all of the votes are in, and not all of the burgers have been sampled*, but it is going to be hard to beat Cock n' Bull. They serve a generously sized burger, meaty and juicy, topped with melted cheese, greens, bacon, chopped red onions, a slice of tomato, and some mustard, cooked to order. Delicious.
The restaurant recently re-opened at its new location at the corner of S.Edisto and Rosewood. They may just be open for lunch at this point. They are still doing some work on it, it isn't much to look at, I had to send back my first burger for being overcooked, and it doesn't look like they have the full bar up and running yet. But the main event is the menu: high quality versions of pub fare, with nods to those who don't eat at pubs. They have a few vegetarian items that look good, for example, and a shrimp burger I will try out next time, along with wings, cheesesteaks, po'boys, salads, grits, and other goodies.
In my judgment I think CnB's burger is better than both Murray's and Pawley's. And while the folks at CnB don't go in for exotic toppings like Pawley's, they certainly outdo the mediocre banality of what Murray's puts on their burgers. That was some very good bacon on my CnB burger, thank you very much, and some very green greens. It was great.
Unfortunately I can't comment on the fries. There are a variety of available sides there, and I opted for the bowl of cheesy, creamy, delicious grits.
You can see why I won't be needing dinner.
*I am especially interested in an up-to-date report on Hunter Gatherer's burger offering, and I have to check out UrDaddy's other recommendations.
Murrays of cayce or pawleys front porch
I think the crucial phrase here is "burger itself." If by "burger itself" UrDaddy means just the meat, then I can agree with him. The meat tastes somewhat better and somewhat juicier at Murray's than at Pawley's. But there is more to the burger than just the meat, and if you look beyond the meat, Pawley's is very interesting (unusual, hi-quality ingredients) and Murray's is rather mundane. So I guess it does indeed depend on what you like.
That said, while both Murray's and Pawley's are good, I don't see Columbia as much of a burger town, so it strikes me as strange to aim for a burger in Columbia. Perhaps a better choice would be some place like Hunter Gatherer, which usually does have a pretty good burger on the menu, brews its own beers on site, and has a great atmosphere. Or Mr. Friendly's, which, despite the cheesy name, serves a slightly fancier version of some Southern staples, along with sandwiches and great big salads. They have a couple of burgers on the menu, too, but I have never tried them.
New restaurant "Tea" in West Columbia, SC
Tried it this past week. I had the spring rolls and the "house adventurer" bahn mi. The spring rolls were the fresh kind, not the fried kind. They were average representatives of the kind -- good, but nothing special. I loved the bahn mi. They have a variety of options available, including shrimp, tofu, vegetarian, etc., but I had the classic one, with grilled pork, head cheese, pate, chili pepper, cilantro, and sweet pickled vegetables, on a good sized, hearty roll. I highly recommend it. One warning, though: they are slow (or at least they were the day I was there), so don't go if you are in a rush. Tip: they can make any of their dozens of real brewed tea into an ice tea for you.
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
So I finally made it into Davis', the restaurant that took over the space from the old Cock n' Bull (on Rosewood), and tried their burger, which they call the "Stuffed Chuckwagon." It is so called because the cheese is on the inside of the burger. I don't think putting the cheese on the inside does much for the burger, frankly. It is not bad, but it doesn't add anything. Overall, the burger was pretty good. It was cooked as I asked--medium rare--and topped with bacon, greens, fried onions, and tomato. It was juicy. The flavor of the burger was good but could be meatier tasting, and it was a bit overwhelmed by the char on the bun. I appreciate that they buttered and grilled the bun, but they overdid something, making its flavor too assertive. Overall, I'd say this burger is worth trying, but needs some refinements. It comes with pretty good homemade fries, and they have a good selection of beers on tap.
The only place I could find the menu online is at Facebook, here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=261319&id=111275192230873
By the way, there is a rumor going around that Cock n' Bull is finally open in its new location (about 1/2 a mile down the road from its old one). True?
Any Mexican Pastry stores in Columbia, Sc
There is a Mexican bakery next to Taqueria Jasmine in the Wentworth Printing shopping center at Rt.1 and 12th Street in West Columbia. I don't know whether they sell tres leches cakes, but perhaps you can special order one. Can't remember the name of the place. Sorry.
Columbia, SC
I have to disagree with MajorC. While Motor Supply is hardly my favorite place in town, for lunch it is quite good and really a deal, considering the care and ingredients that go into their meals (not to mention the prime real estate). While I've had some "eh" experiences at dinner, my lunches there have been great.
Their lunch menu changes daily but with some regular items rotating in. If the timing is right, try their meatball sub, which is probably the third best meatball sub I've had at a restaurant (the best was hand made by Roberto Donna when he started a "to go" casual lunch grill in the back room of Galileo in DC; another great one is from Carmine's in Williamsburg, VA). Service has been fine for me at Motor Supply. As for being out of a few items, that is really annoying, but I suppose it is a risk one takes when dining at a restaurant that serves food made from fresh ingredients and cannot pull everything out of the deep freezer.
As for sniffing corks, well, there's really no excuse for that.
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
I had lunch at Murray's today. The appearance of this unassuming restaurant, located in a strip mall anchored by a Bi-Lo, says "mediocre." Once you enter the restaurant, it takes your eyes a while to adjust to the darkness. As they do, you might see a sign letting you know that the restaurant regularly holds concealed weapon permit classes -- just in case the food and ambience aren't enough to draw you in.
How about the food? I was tempted by the fried chicken special, which is offered five days a week -- so while it may not be special, at least it must be popular. But I couldn't deviate from the plan to try their burger, as it was so enthusiastically suggested by UrDaddy.
And? The burger is good folks. Very good. First, they cook it right: I asked for medium rare, and it came out medium rare. Second, it is generously sized. Third, it is juicy with a good meaty flavor.
Like UrDaddy, I found the burger somewhat underseasoned. I also thought the toppings could be improved. For example, the cheeseburger comes with what looks like an unwrapped kraft single of American cheese on it. Apart from pimento cheese (which I did not try), there are no other cheese options. The french fries are factory-freezer fries: boring!
Does Murray's make a better burger than Pawley's? I'll have to go back to Pawley's to check. What Pawley's has going for it, though, in addition to having good burgers, is quite a bit of interesting, high-quality toppings. Plus, their fries are great.
All told, I was very glad to make my way to Murray's and I see myself returning. Kudos to UrDaddy for the recommendation. Discovering this out-of-the way, nondescript, restaurant is truly living up to the Chowhound ideal.
Best Burger, Columbia SC, 2010 and beyond
Thanks for these recommendations! I look forward to checking them out.
DeLucca's Italian Grill and Pizzeria - Columbia, SC
Anyone been to this restaurant lately? It's on Sunset, in the same strip as Mai Thai. I got a pair of great sandwiches from there a few years ago and promptly forgot all about the place. I think it is time for another visit, and I'm keen to try out their pizza.
Kid-friendly, but GOOD in Ashville
I heartily agree with the Early Girl Eatery endorsement for breakfast or lunch. Great food and definitely kid-friendly.
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Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801
