Where to Eat and Drink in the Midlands | Listen

A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen

Columbia

Self-taught chef Folami Geter grew up in Columbia as a vegetarian and transitioned to being vegan as a young adult. She founded A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen in 2014 to provide “100-percent plant-based comfort food,” in her own words—which she provides entirely via contactless carry-out. Her meat-and-three menu comes with no meat, of course, but includes delicious takes on barbecued “spare ribs,” “drumsticks,” “beef” and broccoli, kung pao “chicken,” and more. apeaceofsoul.com

Ratio

Elgin

At Ratio, you’ll find dishes like a ceviche trio, peach salad, pollo a la brasa made with Peruvian grilled chicken, seared scallops, and pork spareribs—a nod to the South. Chef-owner Javier Uriarte carved out a space for his first restaurant in Northeast Columbia—amid the global pandemic—and the result is a dining experience that represents who he is and where he’s from. The menu veers away from traditional Southern food and big plates and instead focuses on bold flavors in smaller doses. ratiorestaurant.com

Smoked

Columbia

With a menu that blends raw and cooked seafood and meats with in-house smoking techniques, Smoked is truly a food lover’s one-stop restaurant. Oysters on the half shell? Check. Steak flight served on a 450-degree lava rock? Check. Would you prefer the smoked shrimp cocktail or the smoked lamb ribs? Have both. There’s also a recently opened speakeasy on the premises, The Burnline, which you can request access to from 4 p.m. to close. smokedsc.com

Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails

Rock Hill

At this warehouse-style sports bar, you can get familiar grill house favorites all gussied up with Southern flair. Go daring with rabbit ragu, cozy with the picnic chicken platter, or Creole with the blackened chicken linguini. Can’t decide? Get the three-course menu from chef Drew Carter with an optional wine pairing. oldtownrockhill.com

Spotted Salamander

Columbia

Jessica Shillato’s creative Southern comfort food restaurant recently made waves for a 2023 James Beard nomination, but the 2019 South Carolina Chef Ambassador has been turning out solid, high-quality dishes since her restaurant opened in 2014. The menu is rich with salads and sandwiches, from the Spotted Salad with pulled sweet tea vodka barbecue chicken to the classic banh mi, plus specials from the rotating daily deviled egg to burger Fridays and fried chicken Tuesdays. spottedsalamandercatering.com

Roy’s Grille

Irmo

It’s easy to see why chef Chris Williams was named a South Carolina Chef Ambassador in 2022 with his menu of state classics, from pulled pork barbecue to the Carolina bacon patty melt to his bacon jalapeño pimento cheeseburger—but don’t miss his award-winning sandwich, the Carolina Korean cheesesteak, which starts out with ribeye steak marinated like Korean beef bulgogi and ends up in true Palmetto State fashion with fried onion straws, pimento cheese, and spicy mayonnaise. roysgrillesc.com

Terra

Columbia

This neighborhood bistro from chef Mike Davis is known for its fancier dishes, like the Lamb Mac with smoked lamb shoulder, poblanos, macaroni, and two cheeses, as well as their fresh local seafood game and close relationship with local farms—18 are listed as suppliers on their website. Those in the know make a point not to miss the pimento cheeseburger pizza among their wood-oven pizzas. terrasc.com

Motor Supply Company Bistro

Columbia

This fine-dining mainstay is known for its ever-rotating menu crafted from locally sourced ingredients and one of the most acclaimed cocktail programs in the city. They’ve been doing farm-to-table and farm-to-glass stylings since before it was trendy, with lunch and dinner dishes like the artisan cheese and pickle plate and a menu that changes daily with dishes like a bone-in pork chop with baby turnips, andouille, and charred cabbage; and wild-caught South Carolina shrimp with grits, corned beef, and roasted piquillo peppers. motorsupplycobistro.com

Coa Agaveria y Cocina

Columbia

Start out at this upscale Mexican joint with one of the 20-plus craft cocktails or a selection from the high-end tequila and mezcal offerings. Then, order the lump crab empanadas and, if you like spice, the piña-habanero ceviche. But save room for entrées: With everything from carne brava with nopales (skirt steak with cactus) to carne asada with bone marrow to pulpo asado—octopus, guajillo chile, yuca, and peanut salsa—on the menu, you may have to order more than one. coaagaveria.com

The War Mouth

Columbia

Get back to your homegrown roots at The War Mouth, where the menu consists of Southern staples like chicken bog and fried catfish. Grab a side of smashed and fried Yukon Gold potatoes with pimento cheese and wash it all down with one of their specialty cocktails—we recommend the Spicy Grandpa with Makers, grapefruit, and habanero shrub. thewarmouth.com

Bourbon

Columbia

Columbia’s Main Street District is home to some of the city’s top eateries, like Cajun-Creole restaurant Bourbon. At one of restaurateur and chef Kristian Niemi’s oldest Columbia restaurants, head chef Josh Wilson pairs snacks, sandwiches, and entrees like jambalaya, a gumbo bowl, and Louisiana popcorn rice with a wide selection of whiskeys. bourboncolumbia.com

Black Rooster

Columbia

Black Rooster recently transitioned its menu from “Frenchish” to “decidedly Italian”—all while keeping the West Columbia restaurant’s casual, welcoming style (and their ever-popular “Royale with Cheese” burger). There are dishes like strawberry caprese and miso scallop piccata, a cocktail menu to match, and sports bar-style dining on the rooftop. blackroostersc.com

Kounter

Rock Hill

Named in honor of a 1961 sit-in on the same site by the Friendship 9, nine Black students from Friendship Junior College, Kounter honors a legacy of “no room for racism” while serving one of the most creative menus in this part of the state. There are international influences on the menu evident in the baked feta, Deep South bao tacos with boozy barbecue pulled pork and pimento cheese, and lobster gnocchi. And don’t miss out on brunch. kounterdining.com

The Pump House

Rock Hill

If you’re looking for well-executed Southern comfort food in a family-friendly atmosphere, complete with a waterside view of the Catawba River, you’ve come to the right place. The hand-cut fried okra and buttermilk pie are perfect bookends to one of their mouthwatering main dishes: Try the bone-in pork chop with sweet potato mash and bourbon apple glaze, the North Carolina mountain trout stuffed with crab cake and Carolina slaw, or the sweet tea fried chicken sandwich—or go for broke and order all three. rockhillpumphouse.com

The Improper Pig

Fort Mill

Born from a desire to bring together the flavors and traditions of barbecue from around the world, The Improper Pig has a menu full of smoked meats served in creative ways and accompanied by hearty sides—but their lighter options are equally delicious: ahi tuna salad, a Southern salmon BLT with pimento cheese, and the No Pig Sandwich, a marinated portobello piled with smoked tomato and other veggies, plus goat cheese and pesto. theimproperpigfm.com

Malia’s

Aiken

For more than 35 years, chef Malia Koelker has owned and operated this outstanding restaurant, now in partnership with her stepson, chef Matthew Shackleton. You can’t go wrong with the roasted Maine salmon filet with artichoke citronette or the Seafood Salvatore with linguine and bacon, but don’t miss out on the crispy duck or the braised short rib—and we highly recommend going with the wine pairings listed on the menu. maliasrestaurant.com

Riserva 1895

Ridge Spring

Housed on Magnolia Shadows Equestrian Resort, Riserva 1895 is a pinnacle experience whether you are staying on the property or not. The menu is simple, with about three offerings in each of the antipasti, primi, and secondi sections changing weekly, plus dessert, and the ethic is Italian slow food, sourced locally, in a rustic European setting. Splurge on the wine tasting, which can be held outdoors, weather permitting. riserva1895.com

Private Property

Lexington

Executive chef Trip Chalk draws on his mother’s Latin and New Orleans roots to inspire the Cajun menu here, which starts off with dishes like blackened alligator and Swamp Tacos, pauses decadently over four different types of burgers (get the Big Easy with Havarti cheese), and settles in with a section dedicated to cast-iron blackening and an entrée list that pairs various types of bayou crustaceans with either pasta, grits, or rice—and sauce. privatepropertysc.com

The Dragon Room

Columbia

New to The Vista, The Dragon Room seeks to fill an izakaya gap in Columbia’s dining scene, with banchan, steam buns, yakitori, noodles, and other delights from executive chef Alex Strickland. The latest in Kristian Niemi’s restaurant portfolio also boasts a stellar bar program from David Adedokun, with combos like the Moondragon, made with baiju, soursop liqueur, St. Germaine, coconut water, lemon, and cucumber/grapefruit ice. thedragonroomsc.com

Hampton Street Vineyard

Columbia

You’ll want to visit this established, French farm-to-table restaurant multiple times to try their many menus for lunch, dinner, and brunch—but you can get the crawfish deviled eggs at any time of day, or pick from Parisian gnocchi, a Lyonnaise salad, or a Vineyard burger. Don’t forget about l’apero, the French happy hour, with shareable plates including a croquette du jour and $8 wine and cocktail specials. hamptonstreetvineyard.com

Lula Drake Wine Parlour

Columbia

The 2024 James Beard winner for Outstanding Wine Program, Lula Drake focuses on exceptional and exclusive global wines from proprietor and head sommelier Tim Gardner, but their kitchen program from chef Rachael Harrison should not be overlooked, especially the cacio e pepe, served in the form of heavenly pillows of creamy goodness. luladrake.com

The Gourmet Shop

Columbia

Half gourmet market and wine shop, half upscale café, The Gourmet Shop is a Five Points anchor. The fresh and playful menu flits from prosciutto and melon to a brie and bacon croissant to the famous chicken salad; you can also do the One, One, & One and choose any three salads, spreads, or sides. Go Saturday afternoon for their $1 wine tastings. thegourmetshop.net

City Limits Barbeque

Columbia

Robbie Robinson’s combination of Texas and South Carolina barbecue favorites has won him James Beard Award finalist status for Outstanding Chef. There’s no menu; on Saturdays you have to show up to see what’s still available among a range of brisket, beef ribs, sausages, pulled pork, pork ribs, and Lexington Hash, plus scratch-made sides. Sundays are for brisket chili and slaw dogs, Frito pie, and stuffed potatoes. citylimitsq.com

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