Food was great we had great service from all the staff. Drinks were on point I have nothing negative to say about this spot

Went here during restaurant week. The place looks like a nice seafood restaurant, with somewhat dim lighting. The service was very average. The seafood seemed fresh but it was extremely bland in my opinion. I think there are much better seafood restaurants in Columbia. I was overall disappointed. read more

We just had a delicious lunch at the Blue Marlin. Crab cakes with rice and collard greens, salmon with collards and grits, plus key lime pie. The food was outstanding and the service impeccable. I would definitely go again if we visit Columbia in the future. read more

The three stars are for the service, the ambiance and, the bread. If the food would have been delicious, they would have earned 4 or 5. I had the "award winning" shrimp and grits, I've had much better. It was ok and that's all, just ok. With that said, the place was packed and we were still promptly seated and our waiter was courteous. I've been wanting to check out this place for awhile now. I had high expectations and unfortunately I was disappointed. read more

Blue Marlin - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food: This restaurant has a great food and it is always fresh! Cheesecake was wonderful! We had to reorder coffee since it came out cold. Service: They have excellent service and very attentive. Ambiance: Beautiful surroundings and ambiance. It is in the Vista so area is nice! Reservation: We had a Sunday reservation. We were seated when arrived. read more

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Excellent shrimp and grits, the she-crab was excellent with great prices. Also love the ambiance, being tourists I looked quite out of place but service was good. read more

Blue Marlin - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Worst prime rib steak ever. They only have two steaks on the menu. The other is filet . It was awful. Very thin steak. It did have a slight red center which I love. But this steak was the cheapest choice. Super tough. I couldn't even eat it. Two bites and I was done. Thank goodness I added a side of fried oysters which were amazing. The She Crab Soup was extremely thick. California Dreaming Restaurant has just the right consistency of She Crab Soup. Basically this is a High Priced establishment offering cheap food with high prices. Only offer Cole slaw or French fries with meals. Otherwise you pay separately for salads ect. Trying to be a want to be Halls Chop House. Things are changing for you. Different clientele that love to do one dollar tips or none. We didn't blame our food on the waitress as it wasn't her fault. She got a good tip. read more

Sat at the bar for my first time dining and the place was packed. Bartenders were very nice and good service. Ordered the salmon blackened w scallop n shrimp on top and it was delicious. The sauce was pretty rich so for a healthier option may ask for it on side next time. Can't wait to go back and try other items of this menu! read more

Blue Marlin - Salmon Pontchartrain - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Decided to try this place for lunch , it's located in the old train station. The placed was packed inside and few patrons outside at the tables . There was a wait to get a table but the bar area had spots. We grabbed two seats at the bar , and the bar keeper was great . We received menus and water immediately. The menu has a little bit of everything on it . The barbecued salmon salad ; barbecued salmon on a bed of mixed greens ,tortilla strips, and vine ripe tomatoes tossed in a cilantro lime vinaigrette and drizzled with barbecue sauce was ordered. The dressing and barbecue sauce on the side . The other meal was fried large gulf shrimp; lightly breaded in their special firecracker seasoning, served with french fries and tortilla slaw. We did not wait long and our meals arrived. The restaurant remained packed and the bar filled up . The salmon was cooked perfectly; moist and great flavor. The lettuces were crisp , didn't find any bad pieces in it . The tortilla strips added a nice crunch to the salad. The tomato was good, difficult to get perfect tomatoes in December. The dressing left a lot to be desired. It was very oily , faint lime flavor , not worth putting on the salad. The barbecue sauce was on the sweet side, tasted like a KC Masterpiece brand- it was fine no complaints. The shrimp had a nice light breading, fried perfectly and the pleasant taste, not really spicy at all. The fries were perfectly fried - and seasoned well. The slaw was a vinegar base, and tasty. It was a great place for lunch. read more

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I am being generous when I give this seafood restaurant three stars. When we came in they were packed, but the hostess was very kind and sat us right in. Our server was very friendly and attentive also. The food came out really fast. I ordered the seafood platter and I was not happy. Starting with the sides, the fries were cold and the coleslaw was lackluster. The ingredients were good but the execution was not all there. The breading on the shrimp and the fish was coming off and it was the only thing providing flavor to both. Every time you dipped the shrimp on the cocktail sauce the breading stayed on the sauce container...the same with the fish. The crab cake was flavorless and the meat was not lumpy, unfortunately. Other than the service, everything else was no good. The ambiance is good and the place is clean. read more

Blue Marlin - Seafood Platter - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We were excited to try this after all the reviews. In general it didnt disappoint but could have been better. We didnt have reservations so maybe that was our fault. But we were seated promptly on the bar side at a booth. We were greeted promptly by the bartender who gave us menus and asked for our drink order. But we had just sat down so we hadn't had time to even consider. We asked for a minute and he politely obliged. He returned with bread and asked if we were ready to order. We ordered drinks ks and place an order for the Pecan encrusted calamari to start. He said great and I'll take your entree orders now too and I'll space it out. It just felt rushed when we hoped to just relax. To his credit he did a fine job at spacing it out and it was all good. The calamari was delicious. Perfectly prepared and tender. Very flavorful with a little heat. I would order this everytime. We ordered the crabcake entree and the shrimp and grits entree. The shrimp and grits were wonderful. The crabcakes were prepared well with tons of crab. Very tasty. The only issue with our food was the crabcake entree. Everything was barely warm. It's as if it had been prepared and sat while the other was cooked. It was disappointing to have such good food be served barely warm. However, with it all said. We would love to try again and I suggest you do as well. read more

Blue Marlin - Crabcakes - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Secured a reservation for a business dinner. Highly recommend booking a few days in advance as this place does fill up. The inside is cozy, the service was great, and the food all around was tasty. Lots of seafood options and at a decent price point. We ordered a few appetizers, the calamari was recommended and wouldn't have ordered otherwise but it was delicious. The salad portions are large so just ordered the ahi tuna appetizer for my main, it was totally fine, not the best I've head but worth it to order especially if wanting to avoid fried seafood. The bread was warm and so delicious too. All around great staple. Not overly fancy, but a solid place to get a good meal and service. read more

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We decided on doing a Romantic Lunch instead of a Valentine Dinner, and everything was just as good as the dinner times! Food was Hot, Fresh and Delicious! Our waitress was attentive to our needs. The atmosphere was surprisingly pleasant during the Lunch Hour! I had the Crab Cakes as an Appetizer with Firecracker Flounder as my meal. My wife had Fried Green Tomatoes as an Appetizer and Shrimp & Grits as her meal.. EXCELLENT JOB BLUE MARLIN read more

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Hands down the best seafood place in the Vista and it's not close. Fried, steamed or grilled, if it's seafood you won't be disappointed at Blue Marlin. The ambiance is wonderful with low, soft lights, hard woods and an ample bar. They stock a couple of my favorite champagnes which all go great with fish. Professional and knowledgeable wait staff. This is one of my favorite places for date night with my partner. read more

Crab cakes were good a little small for the price...green beans could have been cooked a little longer! read more

Blue Marlin - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia. The food and the service is very good. We like to sit outside when the weather permits since the inside tends to get a little loud at times. read more

Friend from out of town were excited to try this Columbia classic. Well the service was great ! Our waiter James was outstanding . The salmon ponchartrain (spelling ?) was overcooked and my friend's scallops very undercooked . Vegs nbd kind of bland . The ambiance was great but the food not so much. Disappointing. read more

A real disappointment as compared to the last time I was here a few years ago. This was always a regular stop for me when I was in town. hopefully tonight was just a bad experience. The crab cakes were basically mush, hard to discern any lump crab in them. and as you can see from the photo, they are burnt. The string beans were hard and lukewarm. The rice also tasted burnt. so nothing seems like it was really cooked by a chef that knew what they were doing. not a great experience. read more

Every time I come to Blue Marlin, I know I'm going to get 5 star service and food. They're known for shrimp and grits, but I love their salmon dishes. However, PLEASE TRY THEIR SHRIMP AND GRITS!!! Also, you'll get ultimates free bread and collard greens (which is our state vegetable). read more

Blue Marlin - Grilled Teriyaki Salmon (without the teriyaki) - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Great service, great drinks and overall great food! We got sat right by the kitchen so it was kinda noisy which is the only part I didn't really enjoy but other than had a great experience! I got the ribeye which was cooked perfectly, green beans were yummy but mashed potatoes were a little bland. My husband ordered their scallop pasta and it came out WONDERFUL! Our favorite! And then to end the night we had their crème brûlée cheesecake that was to die for! All in all great place, wish they had a little more variety for food but loved it! read more

Blue Marlin - Scallop pasta - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Tl;dr: A solid meal in downtown Columbia but nothing extraordinary. We were staying at a lake house nearby and were looking for just one nice meal to enjoy on the town! We found Blue Marlin and it was packed! Thank goodness they took reservations. The complimentary sides are a nice touch - not just bread but collard greens! I'm not a huge fan of collards but I don't mind free! I ordered a Caesar salad and the scallops appetizer as my entree. I needed greens, stat, even if it was in the form of cheese and dressing with a little bit of greens... and I can never turn down scallops. The Caesar salad was, well, a Caesar salad. Solid. The scallop dish was colorful and the scallops were fresh and cooked well. Overall, I was happy with the meal and while it was a little pricier for what I felt that we got, the food was solid. read more

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Without a doubt the most overrated restaurant in Columbia. Yes, the inside decor and ambiance are outstanding, but the food is below average and has been for years! Thanks to a gift card, recently went back to the well and got the Firecracker Flounder, Shrimp and Grits, and Vista Chicken. Unsurprisingly, all were decidedly a 4/10 in terms of flavor and presentation. There are WAY better restaurants in Columbia. I felt so bad for the gift card giver! read more

Southern low country heaven! Started with some of the best fried green tomatoes. Not fussy or covered with loads of sauce to hide the flavor of the tomatoes. Done perfectly, a lovely surprise. I'm always looking for them when we travel down south. My Shrimp and Grits was outstanding! The creamiest grits with sauce fresh shrimp, I'm still thinking about it two weeks later. Unlike most restaurants, they offered a petite version, which was perfect! Wish other places would do this too. Hubby had the salmon with shrimp and scallops and loved his too. The vibe is old school, darker, with heavy furnishings, but that can be fun. Lots of people dining, large groups all the way down to 2 tops, like us. My pineapple non-alcoholic bev was quite delicious as well, I even ordered two! Dessert was to die for. Key lime pie and chocolate cake. The service was spot on, very attentive, knowledgeable and friendly staff. I wish we didn't live so far away, I'd love to go back again like tonight! read more

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Im very big on customer service and good food and I must say this restaurant crossed every T and dot every I!! The service was amazing and the food was so good omg this is my new spot!! Everyone was working as a team & I just loved it!!! read more

Blue Marlin - Mahi Orleans melted in my mouth so flavorful and cooked just right!! - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This is a hard review to write because I'm so incredibly disappointed.... We come to Columbia from Texas every 3 months for one full week, without fail our first stop is always the Blue Marlin and usually hit it again within the week. I crave their greens so we go often. This trip was such a bad experience it will be our very last. Every time we come we order: 3 appetizers, the wedge salad, a bowl of gumbo and 2 kids meals(the chicken strips and the fried shrimp), plus drinkssssss! This is beyond enough food for any two people to consume but we do it because we always like to get a little bit of everything. Now mind you this has been at least our 20th visit and we've never strayed from our order, this time we were told we could NOT order the kids meals until we provided them with a child who is 12 and under. He said there is a "button" that pops up when entering the order and he couldn't push it because he didn't see any children. Like what!?! Furthermore, there is no sign, no policy change notice, nothing. In this day and age what if I identified as a 12 year old? TF lol So instead of profiting $75 over and over they've lost a regular customer and earned a bad review. On a side note I'd love to hear why this is a rule in general anyway... the portion sizes in America are vile and do nothing but contribute to the obesity epidemic we're constantly dealing with. I don't want to be and feel gross eating an entire plate of shrimp & fries (I don't do leftovers) and frankly the 3 other appetizers plus kids meals are fatass level on their own. So why not allow it? We could've ordered one shrimp platter and split it for like $30 but our decision to leave was rooted in principle only. Just ridiculous to lose a regular this way. read more

Came by last night with some friends, all order different dishes all of them very plain, cocktail drinks was good. My dish the flounder and crab cake and shrimp ( made me throw up by time I got home). The wait staff were super friendly and nice and shame the food didn't match. Will not be back, was a first and last visit read more

In town for work and of course hit up Yelp for some help. Wanted to hit something local with a good vibe. Blue Marlin definitely met the mark. I started with the "She Crab Soup".... absolutely delicious. The bit of sherry on top really put it over the edge. The main course was a bit disappointing especially considering the price. I got the "Mahi Orleans". As you can see in the picture it looked like a mess and was rather ordinary as it has a cafeteria style presentation. The green beans and mashed potatoes needed both salt and pepper... not much flavor. The Mahi was pretty tasty, but was a bit overcooked. I would try this spot again but would not order that dish. read more

Blue Marlin - Mahi Orleans - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food = 5 Length of time with no communication =3 On a work trip to SC we kept hearing about this spot. It was the food highlight of the trip. I went with the Salmon Pontchartrain. Fresh Salmon fillet with blackened shrimp and scallops, finished with a mornay sauce and served with grits cakes and cold green beans. Salmon cooked perfectly. The grit cakes were the star of the show!! Except for dessert... the Crème Brûlée Cheesecake was phenomenal. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area just be ready for a bit of a wait. read more

Revisited the Blue Marlin several times this summer. Masks & reservations are strongly recommended. Blue Marlin is the best restaurant in Columbia, SC if you are looking for fresh (not frozen) seafood and Lowcountry fare such as perfectly seasoned collard greens, shrimp & grits, as well as shrimp creole. The Parmesan Encrusted Grouper, Fried Gulf Shrimp, and Firecracker Flounder are consistently delicious. Comfort food at its best. Blue Marlin is ideal for large groups (plenty of outdoor seating on the front veranda as well as a private room for private functions) or celebrations. Staff is patient and service is excellent. read more

Blue Marlin - Firecracker Flounder with seasoned collards & Fried Gulf Shrimp with fresh tortilla slaw. - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Went there one time, not so recommended. The waiting time for the food is long, the food itself is mediocre. She Crab Soup is good, but a very small portion don't worth the price. Had a fish entree I forgot the name, the fish was blend and non special. And overprice. By the way the waiter was annoying, he keep step in my conversation. read more

Excellent food and amazing service, especially if you're fortunate enough to have Haley C as your server!

We have been eating at the Blue Marlin for many years but last nights dinner was the last. The service was decent and ambience was missing The meal was terrible- who wants a pile of tasteless potatoes on their plate? My seafood was also in the tasteless category and the vegetables were soggy. If I have to praise anything it would be cole slaw because it had a tiny bit of flavor. Most disappointing but happily we have other Columbia eateries we love,. read more

We came here impromptu before heading to Trader Joe's. There was parking available at a garage. We were seated quickly. Service was pretty great overall-attentive and refilled waters. I ordered the low country shrimp creole which was filling! I loved the addition of the bacon that added different texture and a bit of saltiness. It is tomatoey, but not super chunky. read more

Blue Marlin - Low Country Shrimp Creole - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Delicious food and a great atmosphere!! Great seafood!! Personable waiters!! We'll definitely be back!!! read more

Last Friday I made reservations for 12. Service was impeccable. Food was outstanding across the board. It was a great way to start our weekend and it was punctuated with the huge upset of the Gamecocks over Tennessee. Carrie was one of our servers. Our other server was awesome as well. They made everyone feel welcome. We had two giant Booths back to back. Definitely recommend Blue Marlin!!! read more

Fantastic seafood for lunch a couple of days ago. First, the Southern Sampler or Taste of the South (maybe the name) is a great appetizer that they will prepare for just asking as it is not on the menu. Homemade Pimento Cheese (Southern Caviar) and pita chips, fire cracker shrimp with hot red peppers on top, crab cake with toppings and fried green tomatoes. Man, that is so good for sharing! The calamari appetizer is excellent also and we all love their award winning shrimp and grits which was the finale. Our waitress was excellent and looked after us constantly. We will be back!!! Don't forget to ask for the gratis collards as these are the best around! read more

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Blue Marlin- Columbia, SC- 5 Stars Continuing my sojourn up the Eastern Seaboard I hit the streets of Columbia, SC in search of my evening repast. Glancing at my random name generator, I programmed my GPS to the Blue Marlin and commenced a rather delightful cruise in historic downtown Columbia. The Blue Marlin is located in a historic building downtown (well, truth be told, aren't they all?). From the real wood accouterments to the baroque throwback lighting, this place was truly epic cool. After being shown a table and handed a menu, I was introduced to our Server for the evening, an outstanding and very energetic young Terran by the name of Colby. Colby was exceedingly polite, professional and knowledgeable on the menu--just what a top-notch server is supposed to be. I asked Colby for a Seaboard Manhattan cocktail to precede the meal and for the meal a Caesar Salad along with one Oyster & Shrimp Skillet Bienville. Glancing about as I waited for the return of Colby, I was again taken in by the beauty, charm and calming mood exuding from the interior of this historic building. Colby soon returned with my cocktail and before too long, was seen approaching laden with steaming culinary treats from the kitchen. The cocktail was energetic and superbly mixed by a master of their craft that ended with delightful cherry notes. The Caesar Salad was the real deal as it was made to order with all fresh ingredients. The dressing was outstanding and landed perfectly on the palate. Truth be told, this has to be in the top five Caesar Salads I have ever had. The Oyster & Shrimp Skillet Bienville, sadly, as last in my taste rotation, now had what seemed an almost insurmountable hill to climb in order to just hang with the cocktail and salad that have so far graced my gullet. Well, loyal reader, I am here to assure you it not only didn't fall short of the bar set, it raised it just a bit. The Bienville sauce was made to perfection with just the right amount of kick to compliment the tasso ham cream sauce perfectly. The Oysters and Shrimp were tender, succulent, and cooked to perfection while the Adluh stone-ground grits added delightful taste and a texture to the whole shebang. This is another award-winning Big Boy 5-Star restaurant that you won't want to miss. The Big Boy Says, "when in Columbia and hankering for some amazing Carolina low country flavors with a sometimes Cajun kick and gourmet twist, you can't go wrong with the Blue Marlin." #bigboydiningout #bigboy read more

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The food as always was pretty good. I had the seafood gumbo and the blackened salmon Charleston. They were very tasty and pleasing to the palette. My server, Crystal was knowledgeable, attentive and very professional! The ambiance and atmosphere was buzzing with lunchtime excitement and enthusiasm! This is one of my favorite spots in Columbia. I felt like I was dining in Charleston.! read more

Blue Marlin - Seafood gumbo - Seafood Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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My husband and I both agree, this restaurant had the best scallops we've ever eaten in our lives! They have numerous gluten-free options. (Look for the red stars on the menu.) My husband said the bread was terrific, which they brought at the beginning. And he had the Salmon Ponchartrain with grits. He said his was fabulous too. Ask for Olivia... Fabulous server. Everyone here, though, is friendly and puts customer service first. Jeff is one of the managers, who makes sure of that. This place is well worth the wait. We got here at 7 PM without a reservation, and had a table by 7:30 PM on a Monday night. And we found the history of the building to be very interesting. Out front you can read all about the history on a display. Put this on your 'must visit' list! read more

Weekday lunch at 1230 seated promptly probably due to vacation week. Pleasant staff. Parmasan crusted trout was hot. Good. A bit crusty on edges but good. Parm has a different taste? And not my favorite. Beans were hot. Charleston salmon on grits was ok but Collards were the best. They didn't chop all the stalks in with the collards like most do. Yea. read more