This place is incredible. I always leave the choice of wine and food to what they recommend. The progression of how they pair wine and progress it with the food is very skillful. Everything is done well...the rather small menu is thoughtful and interesting. Certainly the best of what Columbia has to offer. Cacio e Pepe with ham and chanterelles is absolutely unmatched. read more

From top to bottom, beginning to end, A to Z, etc, etc, we've never had a bad experience at Lula Drake. The cocktails and wines are constantly updating and always exciting. The food is delicious - from the pasta special Wednesdays to burger night Thursdays - you can never go wrong. Pro tip: add the iberico. The staff is all amazing, and quickly has come to have the feel of our very own Cheers in downtown Columbia. Cameron never fails us, and I only wish they were open Sundays and Mondays, too. read more

If you like wine then LD is your place. You don't have to be a connoisseur to enjoy the libations or atmosphere. The staff is awesome. Accessible location on Main St. Ample bar seating with tables in the back. My bartender Jessica was extremely knowledgeable, making the evening more fun. I had a flight of Cabernet followed by a deeper pour of the one I liked the most. I also had the Biscoff Cookie Butter Crepe which was amazing. They have a food menu and cheese boards but that will have to wait. read more

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One of the nicer restaurants in Columbia but I have to say that the layout was just poorly set. I had to squeeze my way into the bar as the bar seats were all crammed together. The food and drinks were excellent (though I would only come here for a light meal) and the bartender was very knowledgeable. Though, I honestly didn't get a very interactive experience as my attempts to further interact with the bartender didn't result in anything. I typically enjoy wine bars for these interactions so it was quite disappointing to not get that here. read more

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I recently moved to Columbia from a small island near Charleston where we had a wonderful wine bar with sommeliers and good vibes, I was excited to see what Columbia offers. The decor was nice, stylish, and comfortable. The place was very busy on a Friday. I sat at the bar and ordered a red blend that was great. I don't hear much about the wine at all. I wasn't really greeted when I sat down or asked if it was my first visit to learn more about the bar and the story behind the concept. I noticed other got and intro to the menu info groups or couples. He recovered some of the convo at the end once I started asking questions. I ordered the Pepe pasta and a glass of red. Great food and fine, only thing missing for me was the better service. Not bad service, but not the best. Will I be back. Maybe, but only with a group. I really love bars with friendly engaging service. read more

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Every once in a while you get lucky. Little did we know Lula Drake was a Michlin mentioned restaurant...in 2024. Not sure WHY they are not still listed. Our waiter CAMERON knew his job was to GUIDE customers on their culinary journey...with spot on advice, provided with the same conviction as a Baptist preacher converting souls...we had a delicious and memorable journey indeed. read more

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Lula Drake is just amazing. Such a cool European atmosphere, the bartenders and chefs are superb and very hospitable, and my word...the food is amazing. Incredible pasta dishes, phenomenal sherry shrimp, and it's the only place where I can sincerely say the charcuterie is worth it with such a unique spread. Do not go to Halls. Go to Lula Drake. read more

Love this little spot! Always good wine recommendations and good food! I like that they rotate their menu as well but keep some of the favorites on there. Service is great - they're always friendly! read more

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Easily one of the best meals I've had in Columbia! We visited Lula Drake Wine Parlour on a Friday night, and there was a 30 minute wait to be seated as a party of 5. When we returned after grabbing a drink next door, we were seated at a comfortable booth table. The ambiance was classy and romantic, with dim lighting and exposed brick walls. Our server Erinlee was friendly and knowledgeable, and gave us helpful recommendations. For wine, I ordered a glass of the Avalanche Mondeuse, which was fantastic! It was lighter than the reds I normally drink, but I still loved everything about it. For food, my friend and I shared the Cacio e Pepe and Lula's Lieutenant. I have high standards when it comes to Italian food, but this Cacio e Pepe rocked my world! The ricotta gnudi pillows were incredibly soft and the fresh cracked pepper stood out perfectly in the creamy sauce. Do not skip this dish! The Lula's Lieutenant was also very good - juicy well-cooked chicken, flavorful spices. We shared the Cookie Butter Crepe for dessert, which was delicious and decadent. Overall, Lula Drake was top notch - perfect for a date night or dinner with friends! read more

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It's no wonder that the Lula Drake was named the friendliest place in South Carolina by Southern Living Magazine last year. Throw on their other accolades like a James Beard award last year and you certainly have a recipe for success. Thank God, I was with a table of people that love to share with one another so that we could order practically one of everything. The wine and cocktails were obviously exceptional, but the stars of the show for me was the Korean fried chicken 'KFC' and the Cacio E Pepe. The chicken was incredibly crunchy on the outside while also so juicy on the inside with a sticky sauce that was packed with flavor and wasn't overly spicy. However, their take on a traditional, humble pasta dish was over the top. The gnocchi like pillows were decadent and melted in your mouth. What I loved most was that since they are in a subtle sauce with fresh cracked pepper it allows them to be the star of the dish without being overpowered by a bold sauce. The ambience of the restaurant was elevated without being pretentious and while it was a fairly tight space, the staff was very accommodating, and our server was phenomenal. There are a number of great spots for a cocktail or dessert on this stretch in Columbia, so come hungry. read more

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Burgundy burger is tonight ! If you don't know figure it out and get down to Lula Drake on Thursday night off menu item with fingerling potatoes. read more

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Wonderful bartender on Thursday burger night. Great variety of wines food was amazing! We had a great girls night out. read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Amazing Charcuterie board! - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Everything about this place deserves the highest award it has received. From the service, to the wine selection of its immense capacity, to the food choices that pair with the wine, this place is worth every penny. The atmosphere is welcoming, soft and warm as you enter in. It's a small space that boasts a large attitude of the highest standard of service and selection. I got the Syrah by glass, which is my favorite. I also chose to get the cheese board, which adds to the meal and wine selection, divining great hand selected and house made items on the board. Perfect for a date night. Will always recommend this place to anyone! read more

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Five stars for a Columbia restaurant. Haven't found a restaurant that beats it around here. Excellent, intimate environment. Dark and feels expensive, like a luxurious hole-in-the-wall. The service was impeccable! Very friendly, personal, and knew the menu well. The food was great with respect to other restaurants. Not mindblowing but definitely toward the top of Columbia restaurants! Great selection of drinks, wines, etc. again the waitress was especially knowledgeable and you could rely on her for picking something for your taste. read more

Lula Drake was one of our first stops in Columbia. We were all flying in on different flights at different times but I thought this would be a great jumping off spot for us to tuck away and relax in. We were in town to celebrate and who doesn't start that with a little vino and cheese? Not me! It turned out to be a very nice choice. The wine menu is fun and we all ordered a different red (a Pinot, Chianti, Sangiovese and a blend). We shared the cheese plate (my fav on the cheese plate was a cheese I'd spotted over lunch at the Gourmet Shop, so I knew exactly where to go back and purchase this from - The Huntsman) and the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). Both were great choices, obviously pairing wine with cheese is always a WIN but I must say the KFC really stood out! I've been doing a lot of cooking from this new Korean Cookbook I have and let me tell you, as awesome as the recipes are I have not created Korean Fried Chicken yet and can bet there's no way it's coming out like Lula Drake's if I do. This is a must order menu item order in my opinion. They mentioned a pasta dish being a go to, but in all honesty a pasta dish is going to very rarely if ever impress me as we make some pretty elaborate, mind blowing pasta dishes at home. We didn't order heavy pours (3oz option) and only went one round since we had a dinner rezzie to get to. Our experience was quite delightful and I'd highly recommend Lula Drake. Service was excellent. For a Tuesday at 5p for around 90minutes, the place really filled in and had a great energy to it. read more

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enjoyed some wine and Iberco outside. Service was prompt - our server was knowledgeable about wines, and kindly brought samples for my indecisive mind to mull over. The menu is aesthetically-pleasing; the descriptions are written with wit & super niche descriptions that just works. Walked inside to check it out, and will definitely be coming back to sit at the bar. It's beautifully decorated and feels cozy, warm, and intimate read more

Such an oasis in a sea of mediocre! Lovely bar design, friendly and knowledgeable staff, amazing selections (Etna rose?!?)

One thing I love more than good food, is a really good story to pair with the food. That's what you get when you visit Lula Drake's website. I'm in awe of Lula Drake, the vibe of the Parlour, the service, and the incredible mouth watering selection of wine and food! There isn't just one thing I'd recommend, it's several items! I told my server I was looking for a smoky/leathery wine and she delivered just that! I love the dim lighting, which makes it perfect for a date night. I love it here! read more

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Of course I came back here, when my friends asked where to eat. The service here is impeccable. The food here is unforgettable and the ambiance is just perfect for a classy evening. This time, I had a shrimp dish and although it was very good, I envied my friend who got the Cacio e Pepe because so love it so much! My other friend thoroughly enjoyed her pasta dish that was on special, as well. Our cheese and meat board was divine and gobbled up within minutes. Every single item was tasty and complimented so many other items on the board. The feta cheese was divine. read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - The BEST Cacio e Pepe you can find anywhere in SC. - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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****Update to Previous Post**** After speak to Tim the owner, we were invited back and had dinner and wine last night. It was an incredible and magical experience. The staff treated us incredibly well and the wine and food blew our minds. The staff could not have been nicer and we will definitely come back!!! Thank you to Tim and the staff of Lula Drake! You truly made up for our previous experience tenfold!! Thanks Ray ******* After previously going to Lula Drake and met the incredibly friendly owner, it pains me to write this review. I spoke with the front of the house and they mentioned even though they don't take reservations, just swing by and let them know as well as happy to help celebrate my wife's birthday. It was an incredibly nice gesture. Upon coming in and being provided a wait time, I mentioned no problem and we came back in the designated wait. The front house (not the individual I spoke to, mentioned the person was not there and the table was not ready) Was not a problem as we enjoyed some wine at the bar and was served by a very knowledgeable bartender. We were then told the table was ready and then found out it was not. A few minutes later the table was ready and we were told to bring our water glasses and wine glasses to our table. (A little strange, but ok) We were sat next to the the kitchen and bathroom and waited for 30 minutes... not one person came over to greet us. We felt very disrespected as we were dressed appropriately and this was to celebrate my wife's birthday. We ended up having to walk out and the front end stated to us thanks for coming out as we walked out the front door! I hate to leave a bad review after meeting such a wonderful owner but I do not see us ever coming back again. read more

Sat at the bar and had the sherry shrimp which was outstanding and the cheese board. Cameron was the bartender and he recommended both the food and wine we had. Great service and food, would definitely go back! read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Normally we would never have any issues with Lula Drake. People here normally are very friendly and accommodating. Tonight, however, was very different. The bartender totally ruined our evening. He was rude, aggressive, and obnoxious. It was totally uncalled for and everyone was just having a nice time before he started acting that way. We bought drinks for another couple that was sitting there and he didn't even want to oblige doing that. He even said "you can't do that". Definitely a very different experience than we have been accustomed to here. read more

A friend and I were in Columbia for USC's Homecoming. We had some time before our first party and decided to have some drinks. Thanks to Yelp we found this hidden jewel! Upon entering I felt instantly transported to a different place and time. The subtle lighting cast a perfect glow throughout this quaint establishment. We were promptly greeted and advise to select our seat. Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable. Their wine list is extensive. They even offer a wine I can no longer find of Charlotte. We quickly ordered a bottle along with two desserts! We shared the Cookie Butter Crepe and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Both were delicious and perfect compliments to our wine! While we only had desserts, they also offer food! We will definitely return to try some and enjoy another bottle of wine! read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This place was amazing! It is small and has a classy hole in the wall feel. The service was super friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and cocktails/wines. The food however was the best part!!! The cacio e pepe was so dreamy. It literally felt like eating clouds. They use a ricotta gnocchi and make their ricotta in house so it's super smooth and creamy. It was so good we ended up getting a second order of it. The Korean fried chicken is also incredible and is comparable to the Korean fried chicken I've had at several Korean restaurants. This restaurant has a small menu and definitely feels like they do every dish extremely well. Will definitely be coming back. This place is by far the best place I've been to in Columbia. read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Korean fried chicken - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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So disappointed in our first experience at Lula Drake. Giving them 3 stars because it was about as average as it gets. The best part of the evening was the hostess' greeting. She was pleasant and accommodating, and had a welcoming smile. Unfortunately, our server lacked any personality and offered nothing other than the delivery of our orders. The wine was good, however the food was not only overpriced but just bad. We ordered the cheese board with meats, and were completely underwhelmed. Next, we ordered the Lamb Bites and the Korean Fried Chicken. The lamb was bland and lacking flavor, and the chicken was so dry and chewy, we wondered if it was left over from the night before. At that point, we chose to end the evening and settle our bill rather than suffer through any more disappointing choices. We love wine (we were married in Napa and we go back every couple of years) so we had high hopes for this place. We can do better at home. read more

So good!!! Probably the best cacio e pepe I've ever had. I definitely will be back and the service was incredible.

The staff was very friendly from the moment we walked up to the door. They were knowledgeable and had wonderful recommendations. It is an intimate space with soft lighting. Perfect for small groups or dates. I got a Gin Wheel cocktail that was light and refreshing. We started with a Blue Cheese board and had their special pasta of the night. It is not an exaggeration to say this was the best pasta I have ever had. If I could give this restaurant more than 5 stars, I would. read more

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We had the shrimp, lamb bites, and cacio e pepe. Every dish and drink was delicious. The restaurant interior is gorgeous read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Ambience - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Only went out nice but can't wait to go back again. I'm not much of a wine drinker but tried one of their mixed drinks and was extremely surprised on how much I enjoyed it. Delicious small plates and the ambiance makes this place a spot to check out. read more

Perfect in every way. Service, wonderful. Food excellent. Wine offerings best in town.

If you're an eclectic person, this is your vibe. The finger food portions were good but not enough for a full stomach. Great wine choices and knowledgeable staff. read more

Incredible service with incredible food! The ambiance was perfect for a date night. We will definitely be back.

Absolutely fantastic. From the service to the food to the craft cocktails. This is the best restaurant that I have been to in Columbia. Order the Korean fried chicken and caci o Pepe. We have come back and it has been just as good. read more

My friend and I went here as we wanted to drink wine and have a girl's night out. The indoor decor/lighting was very nice as it has speak easy vibes. The ambiance was very relaxing and I highly recommend it if you're looking for an intimate environment. They had quite the wine selection and our waitress was very helpful when we were looking for a specific taste. 10/10 would recommend this place! Korean fried chicken and gnocchi was delicious! read more

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We loved this place - its friendly, down to earth vibe with cozy seating was perfect to unwind at the end of a busy day. Service was terrific. Delicious wine and food! read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Delicious wine and sparkling rose - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Such a lovely space and a wonderful spot to relax when you have spent a long day shopping on main. We were just tuckered out and slid into this quiet and comfortable space after such a day. The big leather couch and all the chairs were just so inviting. Our sommelier, Hannah, was just lovely. She knew everything about everything on the menu and how to combine things and the history of the building. Just a pleasure to work with her and she really knew her stuff as well. This is a historic space but after all the renovations it merges the beauty of Great Gatsby with some of the more refined lines of modern elegance and convenience. Marble tables, comfortable chairs, an overstuffed couch, and a beautiful bar are notable decor pieces at this establishment. During our stay, the owner stopped by to make sure we were well taken care of. I ordered a sour beer and it was delicious. My friend had a unique wine that was exquisite. Please note that there is nothing, "Standard" here. Everything is a little eclectic and a little expensive for what the select offers. I would highly dissuade anyone who was looking for a bud light from stopping into this location. We were lucky enough to get a tour upstairs of the "Pastor's Study", rentable space for groups of up to 100. It would be prefer for a bridal shower or family reunion gathering. Big clear windows overlooking Main Street plus a historical vibe in the space really make it stand out when looking at event venues. Our trip was wonderful and comfortable. Our patrons took great care of us and it was a great experience. If you are looking for a lovely spot, look no further than Lula Drake. read more

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I visited Lula Drake on a food tour of Columbia and was pleasantly surprised to find this place! They had yet to open but they treated the tour members very well. We learned about the history of Lula Drake and the building which was super interesting. I really enjoyed the wine we tasted! We were served appetizers of cucumber and goat cheese and a bruschetta with jam. Both were tasty but I didn't feel they matched the wine very well. The bar had a great atmosphere and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable! The location is great and I would definitely visit again! read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Favorite spot in downtown columbia. perfect girls night spot to get a nice glass of wine and charcuterie board. love the vibe and service!

Wonderful venue in downtown for first Thursday on Main. Absolutely the best service I have ever encountered. The wine was delicious. My husband and sister thoroughly enjoyed their burger special and the fries were exceptional. Unfortunately I ordered the salad which was disappointing. Just expected the salad to be better. If you go skip the salad. Everything else is phenomenal. read more

So happy this place is open ! I have been wanting to come here since last year! Unfortunately COVID had other plans for this great place. My husband and I went during their soft opening and we will be back time and time again. They had a Cuban dish that I can't recall the name but it was absolutely delicious. The story of the lounge gives it great history and the staff and owner were delightful to speak with. See you again soon ! read more

Lula Drake Wine Parlour - Amazing food ! - Wine Bars Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina