Really disappointed in my choice at Cola's. I was assured the tuna was sashimi grade and would have no sinew. The tuna was uncutable*! The waiter removed my plate and went to have the chef prepare another piece of tuna for me. The manager came by and apologized. By the time the manager brought out the second piece of tuna my dining companion had completed her meal. The manager said he wanted to wait while I cut into the tuna to make sure it was okay. Well, this piece had even more sinew! The manager offered to bring something else but I decided against that option. I gave Cola's two stars due to the waiter's and manager's attentiveness to the problem. I will return and try something different. * a new word that I particularly like. read more

Cola's restaurants is a place where culinary arts comes and conquers, where money is always well spent, and where nights out become lasting memories. The staff front of house is always polite, friendly, and interested in your needs! And the back of house are some of the most gifted chefs, grill guys, and even fry boys in the city of Columbia! If I could give this cola's restaurant more stars and more Prays I would! I will continue recommend cola's as the best eats Columbia has to offer! "Bop it boy's" it's been a honor! read more

I could write poetry about their orange marmalade duck it was so delicious. Waitress was wonderful, beautiful ambiance, and great appetizers :) they also make a hell of an old fashioned read more

Probably my favorite restaurant we visited in Columbia, if not our entire trip to SC. We were told Cola's is a 'swanky establishment' and it seemed that way. The decor was a bit Restoration Hardware meets Industrial. A nice place for date night. The food was memorable, to say the least. I liked every bit of it. The oysters Rockefeller were super Parmesan cheesy and cooked to perfection. For a salad we tried the pear which the Anjou's were cooked perfectly. I would love to learn the recipe of the dressing on the salad. The flounder was probably about the best I have had. Skin and all. They scored the skin, flash fried, and topped it with an asian-inspired sweet and spicy sauce. Truly perfection. If you're not a fish fan, that would be one to try. Extremely fresh and fantastic flavors. The drinks were incredibly weak and expensive. I don't mind a pricey drink, but it needs to have fresh juices (which they did), and actual alcohol in it. The 'martini' I ordered seemingly only had the blood orange juice. I asked the waiter and he happily charged me $6.50 for an additional shot when asked if they could remake it. This is probably the sole reason I docked a star. Just a bit distasteful when I'm spending over $150 for two people to dine. read more

This is the kind of place you take someone so they will be impressed with your thoughtfulness and you will be you please you went the "extra distance." The atmosphere is serene and very tastefully adorned. The ambiance is upbeat yet tranquil. The portions are generous and the array of cuisine assortments could cause Confucius to pause before ordering. If you are a "picky eater" do not hesitate to let the waitress or waiter know as the chef will exceed your expectation every time. Enjoy your time as it will pass by quickly but it will serve as a "benchmark" for all others to aspire! A votre sante'! read more

Excellent as always and our food was perfect. Staff was excellent. Only thing is is that they need is a expresso machine for the dessert time lol read more

Great food - as always. Disappointing service from our nameless, bearded, bespeckled server. One example, thirty minutes for dessert to arrive after ordering (with melted ice cream) just shouldn't happen and a kind manager shouldn't need to bring extra. read more

My girlfriend and I came here for a anniversary dinner and it was very good. The atmosphere is awesome and the room is very spacious. The staff was extremely friendly and it was very clean as well. We had some great food and had a great time. When i am in town again we will come back read more

Wow. My husband found this place because he was looking for somewhere special to take me for my birthday. I travel for work now and have to work on my actual birthday so he followed me to Columbia to take me here tonight.The food was so incredibly good. I had a cocktail before the meal that was wonderful. My husband had the chicken, I had the tilapia. The food was so good the serving size was such that I have good to take to work tomorrow for lunch. I saved room for dessert. You need to save room. The creme brulee was perfection. My husband got the almond basket which I took a bite of. That is what I will get the next time and there will be a next time. Not sure but I think you have to make reservations. We did. I have to comment on our waitress. Her name was Shannon and she made the meal even better with her attention to detail. read more

I liked the service and Filet Mignon was bomb. First time in SC and I would recommend this place 100%. In a college area so be careful!

I live in the Vista and walk past Cola's just about every day of my life and always think, "I should try this." WELL. I did, and it was lovely! I went with a friend on a Saturday night. We were seated immediately, and our server greeted us quickly. There were waters already on the table (which honestly made me a bit uncomfortable), and when we asked for fresh waters, we were met with what felt like a bit of condescension. Other than that, the courses passed seamlessly, from one delicious fix to the next. I had the Fried green tomato and sweet bacon BLT salad, and it was everything I hoped for and then some-- without a doubt, best salad I've had in a restaurant to date. My friend had the chicken parm plate and loved it. It's so massive and could definitely be two meals if one had the forethought and restraint to package half to-go. I don't have much else to say except that the environment was comfortable and clean, the food was delicious and the price was not bad! Definitely a Columbia go-to. read more

See all

One of the best meals we've had since moving to Augusta, it just required driving to Columbia and it was well worth it. The pimento cheese is an absolute must. And bring from South Georgia, the sweet potato and greens taste just like home. read more

Cola's - Pimento cheese board - SO. GOOD. - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

See all

My wife and I stopped here on our way down to the beach. Nice atmosphere with a wide array of options on the menu. Very good bloody Mary. They had some unique seafood options with different sauces and cooking methods which did not disappoint. We enjoyed our dinner very much. read more

Heard great things. We were there soon after they opened the door at 5:35pm and asked for a table for three. There wasn't a person in the entire place. They said their first available was 9:00pm. I think they take reservations and have "no shows". Should be more willing to give live paying customers opportunity. read more

Dined at Cola's last night for Valentines Day. Once again, we made our reservations through the Open Table app so we were instantly seated when we arrived to the hostess stand. I am a huge fan of Cola's, but last night was one of my least favorite meals. We ordered the pork spring rolls and the Caesar salad with extra anchovies. Both were tasty, but I prefer the shrimp dumplings over the spring rolls. I ordered my typical dirty martini with extra blue cheese stuffed olives, however, it seemed as though the cocktail was already missing about a 1/4 of the drink. In their defense, $6-$8 for a cocktail is a helluva good price! My BF ordered the pork chop which is pretty massive and has both greens and mac & cheese that accompanied the dish. I wasn't a fan of my entree, which was one of the specials for the night. The Louisiana black drum was a little tough and seemed to be over cooked. I was surprised considering that Cola's typically prepares their fish dishes to perfection. Nonetheless, still an overall 4 star experience. read more

See all

The food was awesome and the service was excellent. Our server was especially attentive. She noticed that we were wearing mostly black and immediately offered to change out our white napkins for black ones. We were celebrating birthdays and the night was memorable for all. I don't live in SC, but I would definitely come back is I had the chance. read more

Big disappointment. Noisy, rushed, seemed like fast food. Not at all the vibe I was expecting. Definitely not worth the prices.

I am writing this as I am at the restaurant finishing my last course. The food here was wonderful, the filet mignon was cooked to perfection and collard greens were like I remember from home (Alabama). Siera was my waitress and did a terrific job (great smile and conversation). Good luck Siera in your chosen field of study. read more

Columbia has one of the best restaurants in any city in the US. They have managed to make comfort food sophisticated and they serve it up in a unique space with a cool vibe by friendly, professional people. Just excellent. read more

My second trip to Columbia and my second trip to Cola's! This place does not disappoint. Ambiance: Swanky after-work drink spot and great for date night! I ate my dinner at the beautiful, huge bar and received exceptional service. Food: Pulled pork egg rolls are a must! Delicious dipping sauce and slaw compliment the egg rolls! I ordered the special - basil crusted flounder with orzo and vegetables. The flounder was a little dry but the dish overall was tasty. Along with 2 glasses of Pinot Grigio! read more

Great meal! Huge portions. Got the fried pork chop in granny Smith gravy with collards. Great service. Memorable meal with good friends

Restaurant was packed so my wife and I sar at a high top table in the bar area. Service was good and so was the food. My only complaint is the Seared Scallops were $15 for three. They were very good but definitely not worth it. The shrimp and grits was delicious also. read more

Cola's - Seared scallops and Polenta for $15. Good but not worth it. - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

See all

I had the braised short rib. It wasn't as tender as is could/should have been. It has mms great flavor. The grits were stone ground in texture and went well with the meal. read more

Even though they don't have a kids menu they were very accommodating. They made my son some angel hair noodles and my daughter opted for the burger which was amazing. They specialize in fish but I got the braised beef, and it was outstanding. The carrots were sweet and delicious, the grits were creamy and rich and the beef fell apart, no knife required. They take reservations, which we did not have but from my observations I would highly recommend. We got a table as they opened at 5:30 and were treated very well. The atmosphere is unique with all the old masonry and factory odds and ends that were appropriately left behind from the buildings days of being a cola factory. We will definitely be back here the next time in Columbia read more

Cola's is a curious place... someone is finally doing something about the old John Paul's Armadillo Oil building and has sunk a lot of money into it. I am glad for this; the space is large and needed to be reoccupied. Sadly, the ownership forgot to spend money where it really counts: On the food. I'll keep it fairly short - I would be quite surprised if Colas lasted a year. The food isn't "bad", but when judged against food at the same price point, it can't stand up to restaurants like Motor Supply (which is just across the street) or Saluda's a few miles away. Paying $23 for around 6 ounces of cedar-plank't salmon that is overplanked (is that a word? It should be) and potatoes strikes me as rather silly. The lobster mac & cheese was overly salty and runny and boring; the blackberry crisp shake sounded good on paper but was slightly sour and thin, think the consistency of a lassi. Sigh. One bright spot: The pork shank was large and tender and was quite tasty, but for the price, it had better be. I say 'was', because it seems to have disappeared from the current menu, alas. The atmosphere is dim and cold, full of hard surfaces, and therefore somewhat loud - generally uninviting. The service was mediocre, neither awful nor particularly attentive. Again, that's fine for 5 Guys, but when paying a (steep) price premium, I look for better. The beer list is short, boring, and overpriced: $6.50 for a Bell's Oberon, which is a $9.99 six-pack. One yawns while wondering why. Oh, and the cocktails? Skip 'em, unless you go in for cheap flavored vodka mixed with (other thing). At $10 a pop, get the aforementioned Bell's 6 pack in your system beforehand, or save your money for a nearby bar with real cocktail service, you'll thank yourself. Overall: Colas is Not Terrible, but also Not Exactly Good. With restaurants nearby that offer better food and drinks and service for at or below the price, why choose Colas? I still haven't been able to figure the answer to this question, and when I do, I'll probably revise my review. read more

Beautiful building and decor but the food was overpriced and just average. The fries were the best and who wants to spend $25 for fries. So don't come here for a memorable meal. Boring food for the price. Our party was 10 people and they absolutely would not seat us with 9 people there. A single mom was running late and we had to stand at the bar for 20' till she got there. Not a good way to start our meal. Our waiter was good but overwhelmed and very slow until some other tables left then we got good service. So very disappointed in the food but the decor saved it a star. read more

We were in town with friends for the football game and came here based on a recommendation. The food was FANTASTIC. We tried items such as the oysters Rockefeller, chopped salad, beet salad & roasted Brussels sprouts to start. Everything was delicious. I had the chicken parm & it was the best I've ever had. The sweet marinara sauce was the perfect complement to the dish. I passed on the linguine & good thing I did, the portions are huge & the chicken was too good to fill up on the pasta. One friend had the filet, well done, and said while it was cooked perfectly, it was still juicy. Another friend, who had over 30 years in the hospitality business, has the fried pork chop & also said it's the best he's had!! The dessert of the brownie with coffee ice cream was delicious as well. The decor and interior make for a beautiful restaurant, and the staff couldn't have been more friendly & attentive. Given the pandemic and issues with staffing, there was plenty of help there and they all were happily going about their duties. We will be back for sure! Thank you! read more

Went to Cola's on 1/3 and was really impressed. I'd hesitated going for some time due to the prices and some other reviews, but we decided to try it. The atmosphere is very nice and the service was great. Our whole experience was good, from making the reservation to the final meal. There were four of us and we ordered the Grilled swordfish wiith andouille grits, two small Maine lobster tails with risotto cake, trout, and scallops. Everyone was satisfied with their entrees. I'd ordered the Grilled swordfish with grits. I'm not a huge fan of grits unless they have andouille or tasso with them...these said andouille. So I asked for some tasso cream gravy and the waitress suggested I get it on the side so it didn't interfere with the dish the way they prepped it. She was totally right. When it was served it had the andouille and a nice sauce around the plate. I immediately knew I didn't neet the tasso cream gravy. It seems like everyone else was dunking their meals into the tasso cream gravy (scallops, bread,) and really enjoying it. Next time we said we'd try the shrimp and grits with the tasso cream gravy! Can't wait to go back and try it. The only thing that was below average was the Lobster tails. I guess we're used to Lobster with drawn butter. These were served without any butter and my wife said they were too dry....should've asked for something on the side I guess. They also were very small, but I guess this should be expected for 2 Lobster tails for $30. Wine selection was good, water was constantly refilled, waitress was knowledgeable and at one point the manager came by our table and asked if everything was okay. She said she had heard a comment or something that made her think we were dissatisfied with our meal. Not sure where she got that from but we were more than satisfied with everything. But it's good to see that the management at least acknowledges concerns at tables. One of us ordered the cinnamon bread pudding for dessert. I'm a big bread pudding fan but wasn't that impressed with this one. Our neighbors did like it and had half of it boxed up to take home. Highly recommend Cola's and am looking forward to going back soon. It won't be every other week due to the prices, but we have put it on our list of one of our favorites in Columbia. read more

Colas has been open for almost 1 month. I've been anxious to try it but it has been packed on the weekends. That tells you something. It is a Tuesday night and it's pouring down rain with lightning and hail; a great night to try Colas. We were right. Try it during the week. We tried the Applewood Smoked Bacon wrapped Polenta. Delicious starter. We ordered the Crabcakes with Corn Salsa - 2 cakes with lots of crabmeat. It came with French Fries maybe you could swap out for a different side. We tried the Lamb Burger it was really delicious with a great combination of seasonings. Lastly, we ordered the Tilapia which was very good but you will want to order a side. We finished dinner with the Coconut Layer Cake - wow! Just try it. Love the decor. But the acoustics are loud. This is a great addition to Columbia, the menu isn't like anything else here. read more

I would have rated this place a 5 star because everything was phenomenal, except what I got. I got the rubbed chicken and it was good except there was way too much spice, I had to rub most of it off. My sister and my boyfriends' meals were delicious. My boyfriend got the shrimp penne and my sister got the sea food platter. They both loved theirs! Bread was given out before the meal which you don't really find at many places in columbia. The Mac and cheese I got with my meal was excellent though. I highly recommend this place, but I would recommend not getting the rubbed chicken here. Other than that the food here is excellent! read more

First time at this place it met my expectations and more. The ambience and decor were exceptional. I had the grilled swordfish w/andouille sausage, Bacon and corn on grits. My dining partner had the parmesan crusted chicken breast w/pasta. The service was cordial and very professional. read more

See all

A foodie's delight with great ambiance. Went for the first time with new coworkers last night. We were seated in a rear private room where there was less chatter. I thoroughly enjoyed the fine selection on the menu. I ordered a special, Seared Sesame Tuna, with Bok Choy and Wasabi. Goody Goodness! Our appetizer (I think it was a pimento cheese and some sort of tomato jam board) was fantastic. Also shared a cheesecake dessert that was scrumptious. I would love to go back and try the cocktails. read more

Cola's - Seared Sesame Tuna, Bok Choy, Rice and Wasabi - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Great service, nice decor, and overall well done cuisine. Had the Scallops with Polenta and French onion soup for appetizer and Halibut and Crab Cakes for entrees. All were perfectly seasoned, had great sides, and delicious. I would like more Craft beer on tap added to the selection but was happy with the Sam Smith import option for bottled beer. While the venue is pricey for being in SC, as a NJ/NY'er it was pretty close to NYC pricing. The quality of the restaurant makes it well worth it. read more

Whole Crispy Flounder, Lobster Mac and Cheese, Good Wine List, and Great Service! Met a client here for dinner and though I read many mixed reviews I was surprised and impressed. We met at the bar where the bartender was attentive and professional. Next was our meal. Nice booth, though a table would have been better with again, great service. The Whole Crispy Flounder was a suggestion of one of my clients. Gave it a shot and was glad I did! Now this would not be listed as a Healthy Cooked Fish by no means, but darn it was great! Finish one whole side and boom! Turn it over and eat again! Would I return? Yes! read more

Okay, so I LOVE Southern food and I've tried various dishes in different places and I've got to say, this place has the richest shrimp n' grits ever! The dish is packed with flavor and has some crunchy onions on top to play with the texture. I also got some baked oysters, they were good, but not as good as the shrimp n' grits. Apparently this place was a bottling plant back in the day, and there's a cool mural on one of the brick walls outside - check it out. There's plenty of free parking too! read more

See all

Cola's was a great choice, lots of history at this place! Large servings of food, I loved the old feel and the brick walls. Had to try the orange soda in a bottle.The food atmosphere was the best ever, great ambiance. Presentation of the food was Excellent. A host of items on the menu, offering something for the whole family. The shop is both clean and tidy, having plenty seating. The hostess/ waitress was attentive at all times. Staff members there greeted us in/ out when we left. The food was more than filling, loved all the dishes thus far. I know I'll certainly be returning soon and would recommend this facility. My husband and I loved this place!!! read more

I am from the New York area and am accustomed to fine dining My schedule in Columbia doesn't allow me to eat at good restaurants often Last Saturday night I went to Cola needed to get away from the fast food habit This restaurant was excellent and was as good as anything from the New York area I was pleasantly surprised. Decor was nice and private Sat a alone in a private quite area Ordered the Cola salad with chick peas and vegetables Fresh and tasty Then the short ribs with grits and a side order of grilled asparagus. Finished off with ice cream in a walnut crusted pastry holder superb!! The waitress was a delight and super professional Excellent restaurant will certainly return read more

This was the first time to this restaurant and I will be back. The atmosphere is upscale. Nice booths and tables with a nice looking bar. My friend's shrimp and grits were quite good. I order a few appetizers for dinner and was very pleased with them. A small beef that I had was with the martinis we ordered. The drink filled up half the martini glass. So it of course looks and is half empty. Either fill the glass and charge me for the additional vodka or get a smaller glass. I asked the server why they did that and she really didn't have a good explanation. Go figure. The staff was very attentive. Noted that it was our first time there and came over to welcome us to their establishment. Very impressive. read more

Love this place that would be a top restaurant anywhere in the world and yet it's in a southern town known more for its college football team than its fine dining. The menu is varied, vast and creative. The food is fresh, well prepared, and tasty. The service is friendly, helpful and unobtrusive. The bartenders, creative, friendly and experts. Our group of four had Seared Tuna, Incredible, Crispy flounder, Swordfish and Beef. Great ingredients, cooked to perfection. The Pork Belly of the day was superb..Crispy and yet not overcooked. The Mac and cheese was a winner too. read more

Kind of a dark lit restaurant, but very cute decor an setting. The service is very friendly and the food is delicious! They can accommodate larger parties which is really nice, but you can also come for a date or work a smaller group as well. They have wonderful cocktails as well! read more

Cola's - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina