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    Madrigal

    4.6 (55 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    Recommended Reviews - Madrigal

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    I arrived at Madrigal Café at 7:50 PM and was told by a staff member that the kitchen was already closed, despite the website clearly stating the restaurant closes at 9:00 PM. There were open tables inside, so I asked for clarification, and the staff member repeated that the kitchen was closed "for today." As I stepped outside, I saw multiple guests without reservations being allowed in, which made it very clear that my party was turned away while others were still being seated. It was frustrating and felt inconsistent and unfair. To make sure I wasn't mistaken, I called the restaurant to confirm their hours. The person who answered confirmed they close at 9 PM. When I explained I was the guest who had just been turned away, the response I received over the phone was shockingly unprofessional and disrespectful. Overall, this was one of the least professional and most disappointing dining experiences I've ever encountered. I hope management seriously reviews their customer service approach, because no guest should be treated this way. Would not recommend. Following up on my review in response to your comments- Thank you for your reply, but I need to clarify several inaccuracies in your response. First, the restaurant was not fully booked when I arrived. There were multiple table open, clearly visible, and while I was walking out, I asked the guests entering whether they had reservations. This directly contradicts your statement that you were not seating walk-ins. Second, I arrived before 7:50pm. 7:50 was simply the time I checked my phone to show your staff member that your posted hours indicate a 9pm closing. Your team told me the kitchen was closed despite being well within listed hours. Third, your comment about the phone call is inaccurate. The person who answered the phone was a male staff member, not a female, and he used profanity multiple times toward me. I did not use profanity nor was I hostile. I simply stated that I felt the situation warranted a negative review based on how I was treated--something any customer has the right to do. The issue here is not about policies--it's about inconsistent communication, innaccurate information, and unprofessional conduct. My experience did not reflect the courtesy or service standards a customer should expect. Note, I never give bad reviews and this prompted me to download yelp... Final and last points.. Clarification on Arrival Time and Calls. (See picture). Calls from outside the restaurant after leaving. Time stamped. I want to correct one key point in your response. I arrived **before 7:50 PM** and waited inside for several minutes before a server came to speak with me. My phone records confirm that my first call to the restaurant was placed at 7:56 PM, *after* I had already been inside and observed other parties entering. That call was simply to ask about closing time, and it was ended abruptly by staff. The second call included profanity directed at me. I did not use any foul language; I only stated that I intended to leave a review based on the experience. You openly admitted your profanity. Additionally, there were more than two tables visible near the entrance at the time, which contradicts the claim that only reserved tables remained. My review reflects my actual experience, and I hope this clarification helps ensure accuracy in how the situation is represented.

    Wine (red)
    Warren M.

    Madrigal Cafe is a hidden Gem. I almost hate to even review it, as even more people will find it, but truly enjoyable dining experience Saturday night 2/17/24. We had reservations for four people but our two friends had a plumbing emergency and we're not able to attend our 6:45pm reservation. I called Madrigal around 1pm same day and explained the situation. They said no problem and that they would make the adjustment for us. A few minutes later I got confirmation thru Resy that the reservation was now for 2 people. So that was very nice of Madrigal, as Resy said I couldn't make any changes to the reservation, and when I made them, I was informed that it would be a $25 charge per person if they did not show up. Sounds like Resy has problems. It truly was an emergency and the other couple was looking forward to coming, so kudos to Madrigal Cafe! Parking was no problem once you actually find this hidden gem. It is right next to a VERY well lit Vape Shop on Devine Street. Dimly lit inside at night, but it is actually just right and adds to the ambiance. Once checked in by one of the wait staff, we were seated within 5 minutes. We were at a round four seat table. We had to do some musical chairs as two of those chairs right by the entrance need to be replaced. When we sat in them we sank down between the outsides board frames of the cushion. Water was already poured. Reza our waiter was very kind and helpful and knowledgeable with the extensive wine selection. My wife enjoyed the Tuscana Blend Gertrude. I had the Tucher Hellies Lager. Appetizer was the Bruschetta (see pic) and it was very good. Some of the best I have had. We were able to slit it. To me to star of the meal was the Madrigal Salad (see pic). Very fresh ingredients. Honestly the best salad I have ever eaten. I asked Chef Emma who came around after the crowd started to leave, about some of the details on the Madrigal Salad and she was pleased to explain SOME things about it, but was very proud of the dressing.....which she would not divulge anything except to say that it was "balsamic based". Trust me on this salad choice! We split the Prosciutto Arugula Pizza (see pic) also, and it was very good. The thin crust was cooked perfectly and the white sauce was the perfect amount. Fresh ingredients. We will definitely be back. Can't wait to go back with our friends that couldn't make it and turn some of our other friends onto Madrigal Cafe.

    Danielle P.

    I was excited to try this place, the food has European inspired dishes. I was tipped off about this place from a few others. Parking isn't for the faint of heart, good luck on finding a spot on the street. They are located away from the main strip, but close to USC. They have a really nice Cafe, presentation was good, There are a few tables for those who wish to dine in. Customer service was exceptional and friendly the entire time. I decided to order a brownie. The brownie was huge, chewy, and had the best taste ever. Its enough to share, so keep that in mind. Keep in mind the deserts are already prepared, the actual food is cooked upon ordering. So keep that in mind when ordering from a small cafe, so patience is your bestie. Your other option is order ahead of time if your in a hurry. I will be trying other dishes in the near future. Welcome to Columbia!

    Charcuterie board
    Mike T.

    My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful meal at this quaint little restaurant in downtown Columbia. The service was very attentive. The food was excellent. If you go please enjoy a bottle of wine. They have several to choose from and a very knowledgeable.

    Charcuterie
    Caroline M.

    Neat and intimate ambiance, very nice servers. Cheese board and bruschetta were good, but when it came to the entrees and pizza we were less than impressed. Could have been an off night, but wouldn't return back for dinner. Maybe just wine and apps.

    OMG delicious Chocolate Cake
    Michael S.

    Amazing food and great service! Definitely recommend reservations as I had to wait for about an hour to get a table as a walk in at 7 on a Friday night. Well worth the wait so happy I decided to stick with my decision to eat here. I was a tad underdressed as everyone else was wearing very nice attire so definitely dress up a bit for this occasion. Most people dining here were on dates, anniversaries or here to celebrate birthdays. I was solo on this trip as I wanted something different and didn't feel like cooking while my family was out of town for the weekend. The wine selection is very large so lots of options. I went with a glass of Pinot Noir that was very tasty and paired well with the tapenade di olive and fresh bread. For my entree I chose the Gratin de Poulet which was absolutely fantastic! It was so flavorful and hit all the textures you could imagine. For dessert I had the bourbon infused chocolate cake with ganache to put me over the edge! A wonderful meal and truly enjoyable evening!

    Pear salad daily special

    This was a great little spot! We ordered the pear salad (marinated in blue tea) which was a special and the pepperoni pizza. Both were delicious and enough for 2 to share. It was quite dark inside with an intimate feel to it. The menu prices were more affordable than we anticipated. We would definitely return. I will say It was a little tricky to find after sunset. The entrance doesn't stand out and they do not have a lighted sign..,only a decal on the window. Cars were parked in front so we only saw the sign after circling the block looking for it.

    Margherita Pizza
    Andrea N.

    My husband and I found Madrigal on social media and I'm so glad that we decided to give it a try! We made our reservation a few weeks in advance and I highly suggest doing the same if you want to visit. We were seated near the door and I did hear multiple couples turned away because they were fully booked. Parking is street parking with a small lot available nearby. The restaurant is very hidden and we likely wouldn't have noticed it if we weren't looking for it. Street parking is free after 6 on Friday and all weekend, otherwise be prepared to pay the meter with coins or by using the app. We were greeted as soon as we arrived and seated. They were quick with a wine menu and water. Our server was very knowledgeable and helpful with making recommendations. We opted for the bruschette appetizer, margherita pizza, lasagna, and salad. The bruschette appetizer was delicious and perfect for two. The tomatoes were flavorful and it wasn't heavy at all. I've had bruschetta that was covered with cheese and felt very heavy, but this was not close to that at all. The margherita pizza was thin, crispy, and wonderful. It's too much for one person and probably better to share. The lasagna was good, but not the best I've ever had. I liked the tomato sauce, but found the rest of the lasagna to be just okay. It wasn't bad at all, but didn't make it into my list of "favorite lasagnas". The salads were wonderful and dressed perfectly. Overall, we enjoyed the nice, quiet ambiance of the restaurant and thought that the food was impressive. It was reasonably priced. Our bill for the food, two alcoholic drinks, and two cups of tea was $79 plus a tip.

    Beverly C.

    We discovered this cozy place during a Yelp event. I believe it is family owned and they are so nice. We had their pizza and the almond cookies. The fungi pizza was amazing & the one with prosciutto delicious as well. These were some high quality full of flavor ingredients scrumptious pies. The almond cookies reminded me of macaroons, yes indeed. Go by and enjoy!

    Della L.

    Our visit to Madrigal Cafe was amazing! Customer service was amazing and the restaurant was very clean and welcoming. We started out with tea and coffee and the presentation of both of them was amazing does that Dibeck coffee was nice and nutty. We then had some appetizers which are absolutely delicious. We then ordered an eggplant pizza but I had to substitute mushrooms because they were out of eggplant. Overall, we truly enjoyed the ambience of this restaurant, Customer service and the food were top notch and we will definitely be back!

    A little family decor.
    Dwayne A.

    I discovered the little gem during a Yelp event. It's tucked away right off the USC campus. The parking is a little sparse, but if you go at an off time then you might get lucky like I did. The service was great and the menu is very appealing. The pizza has a nice thin and crispy crust. I wouldn't mind coming back here again.

    MJ R.

    This new place makes a great attempt at being good ..and it is. Because it's so close by location to the University of SC campus, it has the vibe of an upscale student date night hang out. The desserts steal the show here; but...the food is not bad either. The service was impeccable with the waiter being exceptionally attentive & helpful. The place does need some window coverings as the dessert fridge gets alot of afternoon and evening sun. While it's refrigerated, it's still scary from a food safety perspective. Started eith the mint water which, tasted like water. Pretty color but did not have the hint of mint I was looking for or expecting. The jalapeños & pepperoni pizza was really good. The crust is thin but they layers and moisture from the cheese helped give it a thicker feel. The Margharita pizza was on the dry side with a really, really thin crust. It's thinner than a normal Flatbread. It's a floppy crust as well so the crisp was not there. I am not a fan of oregano in pizza sauce and this tomato sauce had WAY more oregano that needed. The Ceasar salad was very good but did not have much anchovy. The tiramisu was the hit of the evening and was very good. The cappuccino was pretty good as well. I would Gove this place another try mainly because the desserts work so well. Hopefully, if they start making their own pizza dough, I could be persuaded to do dinner again at some point

    Vanilla Bourbon cheesecake

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The pesto meatballs and lasagna were wonderful!!!! I will be coming back! Definitely make reservations.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Our dinner was exceptional. Great service, ambience, and the food was outstanding. Looking forward to our next visit.

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    2 years ago

    The best restaurant in Columbia. Amazing ambiance and amazing food. Just perfect. There are no words. Trust me.

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    3 years ago

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    Thank you so much! We are glad you enjoyed our pizza

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    They have amazing pizza that taste fresh. Other food options are unique and am very impressed with my meal.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Madrigal

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    Publico

    3.9(611 reviews)
    0.9 mi
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    We went here for brunch on Sunday. It's a nice clean restaurant they also have patio seating for…read morepet friendly area. Which was nice , the food was great . The breakfast burritos were delicious, the yogurt bowl was yummy plenty of fruit. The S'mores latte was delicious. The service was good , nothing exciting. So for this part of the review everything was good. (I had ordered the tres Leche pancakes because I was intrigued. When I got the tres leche pancakes I very disappointed there was no taste of tres leche anywhere on those pancakes , all I could taste was regular plain pancakes with syrup , it does come with plantains those were pretty good . I had thought that maybe they would put some tres leche in between the pancakes themselves. But no they were very dry. And the waiter didn't even give me the bacon that came with my pancakes ,I had to ask for it and if i didn't get the bacon.I would have been charged for the bacon . Waiter needs to be more aware of what comes with the plates. Anyway don't order the tres leche pancakes you will be disappointed. No stars for this experience) Overall the restaurant was nice and the other food we got was good.

    Publico was fine, but it wasn't really my favorite Mexican experience. The chips, quesadilla,…read morefries, and tacos I got were pretty average as compared to other Mexican restaurants, and nothing about them really stood out. In addition, my waitress was nice, but I would've liked it if she was a tad more attentive. Although I didn't drink on this occasion, I've been to Publico in the past, and I will say that their margaritas are much better than comparable Mexican places. So, perhaps if you're looking for a Mexican place that has good drinks rather than great food, Publico seems like a nice option. As for the ambiance, it was a cool place. It was dimly lit, and they had TVs all over the back wall where you could watch the day's sporting events. The bar looked like it had a cool vibe as well, and they have a back patio that's perfect for outside dining. All-in-all, I'd probably go back and recommend Publico for drinks and ambiance, but would likely head elsewhere if I'm looking for great Mexican food.

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    Hampton Street Vineyard - Steak au Poivre

    Hampton Street Vineyard

    4.0(182 reviews)
    0.8 mi
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    Never disappoints - our go-to spot in downtown Columbia!…read more Christal and I have been coming to Hampton Street Vineyard for several visits now, and it truly never disappoints. Every time we walk in, we're greeted with that warm, welcoming vibe in the historic Sylvan Building - it's cozy yet elegant, perfect for a special night out or just a really great meal. The food is outstanding: seasonal, fresh ingredients shine through in every dish, and the wine list is impressive (no surprise with their Wine Spectator award). We've tried a variety of plates over our visits, and nothing has missed the mark - always flavorful, beautifully presented, and satisfying. What keeps us coming back (and recommending it nonstop) is how consistently excellent it is. We run Chestnut Cottage Inn just 4 blocks away, so we send our guests here all the time. Without fail, they come back raving about their meal and the great time they had. It's the perfect spot for visitors to Columbia - close by, reliable, and memorable. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and book a table. You won't regret it! Highly recommend for dinner or their weekend brunch.

    We went last night to celebrate a birthday and were underwhelmed. I will say it's restaurant week…read moreand they were busy, but not full . To begin I had requested a window seat @6:00 for 2 which was not available. We arrived 15 minutes early , so I would have expected to be given the choice to wait for a window table or be sat , no offer made. And speaking of tables , the chairs are super uncomfortable and you notice that as soon as you sit, hard and straight . We ordered from the special menu , but it was offerings from the regular standard menu . My husband had the flat iron steak w broccolini for extra $10.00 up charge . Steak was seasoned well but very small 6 oz portion . Broccolini was a mystery , served almost raw with charred ends. Was too tough to eat or cut with knife. I ordered the Beef short rib w Brussels sprouts and parsnips. The beef was flavorful, tasted exactly like crock pot roast . Agin , the Brussel sprouts were hard as a rock, literally! When trying to stick the fork into it , it flew off the plate ! I love al dente vegetables but last nights were extremely undercooked with NO flavor at all.Without seasonings Brussel sprouts can taste like dirt , and these did . Desert was date sticky pudding which was excellent . Summary is for $165.00 dinner we left underwhelmed , hungry and looking for the nearest Taco Bell. I would like to note our server was great .

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