#Voices: Columbia’s most nostalgic restaurants 🍴
We’re still reeling from last year’s closing of Five Points favorite El Burrito, but we always enjoy a trip down restaurant memory lane. Columbia’s restaurant scene has been growing by leaps and bounds, and we love it. (We’ll be there when the doors open on Bull Street, Bone-In Barbeque!) But let’s take a moment to remember a few of the good ones.
Jesudi’s Pizza | 4405 Fort Jackson Blvd.
Raise your hand if you ever had a fifth-grade birthday party here. It looked like a cave, inside and out. Fun fact: It was named for Jennifer, Suzanne and their mother Dianne, who you know as the owner of DiPrato’s.
Jesudi’s Pizza | Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
AJ’s | 2864 Devine St.
AJ’s was a fancy lunch place. One time, two ladies crashed through the wall into the kitchen after what was surely a two-chardonnay lunch.
Julie’s Place | 5900 Garners Ferry Rd.
One of the original fern bars, Julie’s had an excellent French dip sandwich.
Applegate’s Landing | 2600 Decker Blvd.
Did you ever get to sit at the cool round table in the tower? I did! The salad bar was in a Ford Model A and there was a working water wheel.
Applegate’s Landing | Photo courtesy of Richland Library Digital Collections
The Bounty | Sumter Hwy.
A poor man’s Disney World, this seafood restaurant looked like a huge boat, and kids got to take actual boat rides on the pond.
The Bounty | Photo courtesy of You may be from Columbia, SC if you remember when...
Le Petit Chateau | 4423 Devine St.
Columbia’s French restaurant was fancy, like the place your parents went on their anniversary. I went on a date there once, but I was too young to drink French wine, so I probably didn’t get the full experience.
Hannah Jane’s | 2020 Devine St.
Mention Hannah Jane’s to any regular and you’ll get a rundown of the fantastic menu, including their famed “breads and spreads.”
Monterrey Jack’s | 733 Santee Ave.
An upscale bistro and a rowdy Mexican restaurant and bar shared a kitchen. Somehow, it was magic.
The Mandarin | Beltline Blvd.
Did I imagine this one? Can’t find any references online to the Chinese buffet my grandparents loved, but I swear it was real, and it was delicious.
Basil Pot | 928 Main St.
This vegetarian place was farm-to-table when farm-to-table wasn’t cool. Even avowed carnivores came from miles (or blocks) around to enjoy their delicious and healthy food.
Elite Epicurean | 1736 Main St.
This place was so elite, I never got to eat there, and I’m sad because people flipping loved it. Looks like we can still make some of their recipes at home.
Photo courtesy of You may be from Columbia, SC if you remember when...
The Parthenon | 734 Harden St.
My former roommate once got food poisoning here, but I didn’t, and their fried eggplant and black olive pizza was my jam. I’m not sure I believe her anyway, and she survived.
A few other places we miss: Hooligan’s (deli in Trenholm Plaza, soon to be BLD diner), The Peddler (steakhouse on Devine), The Grazin’ Monkey (now Il Giorgione), Swensen’s (now Hunter Gatherer), The Loft, Bones, Wit’s End (ooh, drama) … we could go on, but we’ll let you reply (or leave comments on Facebook or Instagram) and let us know what we missed.
Many thanks to Columbia Closings, a great place to research your favorites from days gone by.
–Anne Wolfe Postic, a freelance writer and recipe developer in Columbia. She cooks her feelings and makes everyone eat them.
This is a contributor-submitted Voices piece. Want to join the conversation? We invite you to write for us. Here’s how.
Here’s what you said:
“Thank you! The first track on cracked rearview [a.k.a. the Hootie and the Blowfish album] is called Hannah Jane and I never knew why! Just assumed it was some girl.” –Andrew
“Birds on a Wire is my most missed Columbia restaurant. The chicken, the chicken and pepper pasta, the hoppin’ johns, the cheesecakes...I could go on...the ginger dressing...the pork over crawfish grits. All good in my book!” –Anna
“On your list of restaurants missed in Columbia. How about the Capital Restaurant, on Main street (Brennan Building I believe), a favorite of legislators, students late at night, and the working man and woman.” –Brad
“We still miss Dianne’s on Devine even though Di Prato’s Delicatessen is a nice brunch spot.” –Aaron
“Hannah Jane’s was great. And I miss Harper’s chicken von yogi sandwich.” –Beth
“Applegate’s Landing was one of my faves. The Snow Bear (Grand Marnier and Ice Cream) was the best ever! I also miss Swain’s Seafood on Knox Abbott Drive! Best seafood buffet ever.” – Memory
“This was an Italian restaurant with a mountain lion inside as decor. I always thought the place looked like an habitat at the zoo. I don’t remember how the food tasted because I was so young, but it was always cool to go.” –MKat
“What was the German restaurant on St. Andrews? I don’t think it was Hofbrauhaus, but I could be mistaken. I think it burned down? ...Answered my own question: Golden Crown! That was such a fun place, at least for high school-aged me. :)” –AJW
“The Hungry Fisherman (Cayce) and The Shrimper (Two Notch Rd).” –Sherri
“We went to Appletgates Landing all the time. When I was three, they let me sit in the car.” –Elizabeth
“I miss The Meritage so much. Tapas done beautifully.” –Leslie
“The Parthenon was great! Also miss Adrianna’s in Five Points.” – Chandler
“El menchacas.” –Kacey
