2014 Fall-Holiday Discover Columbia | Page 8

s 5 20s PLACES EVERYONE SHOULD EAT 5 sdowntown & the vista s the Hilton Columbia Center. 803-212-6666. From the 8 oz. petite filet to the 40 oz. porterhouse for two, this is the place for steak. Served sizzling. Signature sides include pecan-crusted sweet potato casserole and creamed spinach in a New Orleans style cream sauce. 5 5 CHRIS 924-A Senate St. in RUTH’S 5 TAP ROOM AND GRILL LIBERTY 828 Gervais Street. 803-461-4677. Popular and busy for good reason. 72 beers on tap including their own microbrews. Known for comfort foods like meatloaf and honey bourbon chicken. Also serves grilled juicy burgers, steaks, seafood. Sunday brunch menu served 10am - 2pm. 5 OYSTER BAR 936 Gervais Street. PEARLZ 803-661-7741. Specialty: House oysters and specialty varietal oysters; fresh fish changes daily. Shrimp and grits is fab-so is Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4PM-7PM. Fun, bustling, yummy. 5 RAT BREWERY 1231 Shop Rd. RIVER 803-724-5712. The one place everyone should drink! Food trucks on site. 5 JILLIAN’S 800 Gervais Street. 803-779-7789. Try the 6 oz. Apple Whiskey Glazed Salmon: grilled and served on a cedar plank with apple whiskey glaze on top, apple compote, mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables & mushrooms. Try with Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, spiced with orange peel & coriander. Huge TV’s for sports viewings, live music and billiards. 5 807 Gervais Street. 803-931-0700. A favorite SAKITUMI spot for the young and hip. Offers fusion-style menu of fresh sushi, grill and tapas faves like beer-battered Drunken Shrimp in Captain Morgan spiced curry sauce and Saki Salmon. Classic, specialty sushi rolls or platters with fresh salmon, yellowtail and Sakitumi’s #1 tuna are fantastic. 5 HUNTER-GATHERER BREWERY & ALE HOUSE 900 Main Street. 803-748-0540. Fresh handcrafted beer brewed in-house, unfiltered. Faves: Wheat or ESB with any chalkboard special, like Prince Edward Island Mussels, in Pale Ale with chorizo sausage, celery-garlic butter with garlic crostini, or the The HG Angus Burger with choice of 6 cheeses. 5TRONCO VILLA 1213 Blanding Street. 803-256-7677. Famous for their homemade, hand-rolled pizza. Signatures are: Villa Tronco, tender chicken sauteed in sherry wine and cream sauce with mushrooms, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes, and the Eggplant Parmigiana with tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheese over linguine. Fall favorite: Carmella’s Pumpkin Cheesecake. 5 TABLE THE OAK 1221 Main Street. 803-563-5066. Modern American cuisine. The crowd favorite: Deep-Fried Lobster with lemon beurre blanc. A whole lobster...fried. Also, Steak & Frites: Angus hanger steak with truffle frites. Finisher: Smore’s-milk chocolate pudding, graham cracker cream, honey marshmallow, cocoa nib tuile. Across from State House.