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Sep 1, 2016

The restaurants around Columbia offer a variety of dining options to satisfy any craving. If you’re in the mood for a good meal, make sure you check out these top restaurants.

1. Solstice Kitchen

With its cozy atmosphere, stylish decor, and sophisticated menu, Solstice Kitchen is the restaurant you go to when you want to impress. The seasonal menu offers soups, starters, and entrées. The wine list is extensive and includes white, pink, red, and sparkling selections. You can’t go wrong with the goat cheese and bacon-tomato confit and pan-seared scallops. You can make reservations for Solstice Kitchen using OpenTable.com.

2. Motor Supply Company Bistro

Motor Supply Company Bistro was one of the first restaurants to open up in the revitalized Congaree Vista. After nearly 30 years of business, the restaurant has perfected the casual upscale meal. The menu changes daily for lunch and dinner, but you’ll usually find house-brined pork chops or an excellent grilled steak. While the restaurant is known for its unique mix of Asian, Italian, American, and French cuisine, the cocktails also receive a lot of buzz. The bacon-infused vodka and gin and green tomato tonic were both featured in national magazines. If you’re interested in stopping by for lunch or dinner, you can make reservations on the restaurant’s website.

3. Café Strudel

If you’re in the mood for some breakfast favorites, stop by Café Strudel. The cinnamon pancakes, omelet, and breakfast burrito will all give you the fuel you need to get your day going. If you partied a little too hard the night before, the hangover hashbrowns will cure what ails you. The lunch menu includes classics like wraps and sandwiches, and the dinner menu has burgers, beef, and chicken. You can call ahead to be placed on a wait list, but this doesn’t guarantee you a seat when you arrive.

4. Southern Belly BBQ

The smoked, slow-roasted barbecue at Southern Belly BBQ is consistently voted among the best in Columbia. You can choose a traditional barbecue sandwich, or try something unique like the wookie, which comes with double meat, double bacon, three cheeses, grilled onions, and a center slice of bread. No matter which sandwich you decide on, you can pick from one of the seven handmade sauces to make it complete. If you can’t decide, get the sauce sampler and try them all.

5. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

You’ll never look at bar fare the same way again after a trip to Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. With soft pretzels, goat cheese salad, shepherd’s pie, bratwurst, and more on the menu, the European influence is easy to see. The portions are also more than generous, so you’ll never leave hungry. However, what really stands out at this gastropub is the beer menu. The taproom offers more than 200 imported and domestic craft beers for you to try.

From barbecue to fine dining, these top restaurants offer some of the best meals in Columbia. The next time you’re out and looking for a good meal, be sure you stop by one and find your new favorite dish.