Seven of our lunch group went here today. It was about 11:20 or so and they took our orders individually and were very quick about it. We were fortunate to get two tables together in the hallway. I can see where it can get crowded over lunch time as the line continually was growing with people getting their food and taking a seat in the hallway. They have quite a few of tables with four chairs/table. Most of us ordered the Italian Subs with chips or potato salad as a side. Service was great. Speed was fantastic. I think all seven of us had our food brought out to us within about 7 minutes or so. Several of us thought that the Subs weren't heated as much as they could be. One complaint was that his pickle was limp. The top of the bun was warm but the cheese and meats on the inside were not warm at all (or the bottom of the bun). The potato salad was very good. They have soft drinks via the machine with ice and also Tea. The ingredients were fresh and everything good. I think seating could be a problem on some days and we wished the sandwiches were toasted more than what they were. On a scale of 10 we would rate it as a 7.3 on the ROMEO scale...Yelp scale we'll give it a 4.0 read more

Swanson's Deli - Italian Sub and Potato Salad - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Sandwiches are big and the staff is super friendly. They toast their hoagies so nicely so they're pillowy soft. They def don't skimp on the sandwich contents either. read more

Swanson's Deli - Turkey melt and potato salad - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Delicious!! Well packed and very fresh! My husband loved everything!! Get some for yourself!

The daily special Reuben was off the chain, excellent portion, short wait, friendly staff, and overall good food. Great price for the middle of downtown. You kinda have to look for it cause it's off the beaten path, but it's worth the look. Great atmosphere at the venue, it's almost like dining in Europe. read more

Swanson's Deli - My lunch minus half a sandwich - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Swanson's Deli is a little sandwich shop tucked away inside an arcade-style mall. I stopped by and got the Italian sub with a side of potato salad. The potato salad is hands down the best I've had at a sandwich shop. The sub was fresh and flavorful too. They do close early, so I was lucky to catch them while they were open. The staff are incredibly kind and welcoming, and there's plenty of seating if you want to dine in. read more

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Super friendly staff and delicious food. They also have plenty of seating inside as well as outside in the mall area. A great choice for people staying at the Marriott, or anyone in the area. read more

Swanson's Deli - Roast beef sandwich. Could use a bit more spices but still delicious! - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Delicious! We are in Columbia for a conference, and just happened to walk into this renovated building with a bunch of little stores. The deli is near the back. The employees were super nice, and gave great recommendations. They have a daily special as well. I got the turkey pesto sandwich, and he recommended adding balsamic vinaigrette. I'm glad he did! It was delicious! It was grilled like a panini, but the lettuce was still crisp! Not sure how they did that but it was very good! I also got a side of pasta salad and the cheese and noodles also had good flavor. If I lived closer I would come more often! If you are in the area it is worth the stop! read more

Swanson's Deli - Menu - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

A very good lunch spot! The sandwiches are very good, the service is fast and friendly, and the location is right! For some reason there aren't a lot of decent reasonably priced places for lunch on Main St. One spot that is, however, is Swanson's. I previously ate here before Covid but I hadn't been there in a long time so I decided to try it again. Not disappointed! Great flavor, fresh ingredients and substantive enough that you won't be hungry in two hours. It has a nice atmosphere and several tables at which you can dine, but many choose to sit in the arcade. The Italian sandwich is much better than it's competitor a few doors down. Cheaper too! You can order online but I decided last minute to eat there and despite the line, I had my food within five minutes of my arrival. Great spot! read more

I highly recommend this spot. The food is great and the service better! Easy downtown spot to pick up or eat in the historic arcade mall. Run don't walk! read more

I'm conflicted because the taste of the food is delicious! The service was delightful but when eating my sandwich once arriving at home I almost choked on a toothpick that was in my lettuce, I had taken the one out that holds the sandwich together, but there was one inside the sandwich it was only one bite in so.... The blue cheese that they make is AMAZING! just disappointed biting into that.... read more

Swanson's Deli - red= top of the toothpick the tip of the toothpick that I biy is sticking out as well. green one= toothpick used to hold sandwich together - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This was recommended to us by some kind folks over at Mast General and was just a short walk away. I'm glad we explored and ended up there. The gentleman at the counter was friendly and knowledgeable and made ordering easy. His recommendations were spot on. We dined in the middle of the arcade area which is a great spot for people watching. Check it out and grab a sandwich. read more

Hidden gem of a place downtown Columbia. Sandwiches are very good and the service matches!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND Great sandwiches. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Dairy free options. No complaints. read more

First time eating at Swanson's and it was great. The deli sandwich was good. I had the Gamecock, which was stacked with meat and served warm. My wife had the special, roast beef with banana peppers. The potato salad was good. So was the cucumber and tomato salad. The service was friendly and fast. We really liked being in the Arcade Mall. I liked that we were hanging out and eating in the mall. However... Can not wait to come back when Swanson's moves into the units. read more

Swanson's Deli - The Gamecock!! - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Upon entering restaurant, there is high expectation set that I do not believe is met by the taste of the food. The food is by no means bad, just average. The consistent item in menu listings reveal a particular type of meat that can be interpreedt as a specialty jtem. That combined with impeccable service,and a well organized cleaned and designed dining area, I expected a unique or artisanal like flavor to the deli's offerings. Howeve, I percieved an average tasting sandwich and was disappointed. I also may have my expectations set too high, to an unreasonable extent. Regardless of how underwhelmed I felt, I would recommend this restaurant for its food, phenomenal service, interesting atmosphere and effective design read more

I like subs and I like delis, but I LOVE Swanson's! It always smell so good. The bread is fresh. And the meat is tasty. The Italian is my favorite but all of thier subs are great! You can eat inside the store or in the mall. This is a great place for lunch! read more

Swanson's Deli - Italien - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

These guys rock! Quality sandwiches, for a great price. Employees were super kind and welcoming. Also really cool spot. Tons of people around and a fun atmosphere. Will be definitely going back! read more

Swanson's is so good and it's consistent. It's great every time. The tuna melt is amazing, the turkey pesto is amazing, the soups are amazing (and homemade). The portions are generous and reasonably priced. To top it off, the people that work there are so friendly and personable. Seriously, you'd think you made a new friend at lunch. If you are downtown and want to grab a fantastic deli sandwich, skip the chain deli restaurant and make your way 1/2 block down into the arcade mall, you will be glad you did. read more

Had the chicken chilli with ham and cheese sammich. Chilly was nice and flavorful. The sandwich was buttery and crispy nice and flat like I like it. read more

Swanson's Deli - Ham n' cheese sammich with chicken chilli - Delis Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Though Columbia's restaurant​ scene has come a long way, it's​​ downtown lunch game has always been strong. Having said that, it is hard to stand out from the pack, especially on Main street. Swanson's was delicious. I'm pro anything that gets people into​ the old arcade. My wife had pimento cheese​ and ham grilled. It was good. I love the southern staple, but the fact that it is mixed with mayo grilling it can get messy, but tasty​. I had the special that day which was a chicken salad sandwich of some kind. I remember liking it, but not super memorable. I work out of the Captial Building a good bit, so I will be back. read more

Came in for a quick lunch with family and I got the chicken salad sandwich with chips. It was great! Loads of chicken made it one of the best chicken salad sandwiches I have ever had! I can highly recommend it! Not sure honestly about the other sandwiches, while they looked great I can not see myself really trying anything else! read more

Business lunch in an arcade mall...hmmmm but it was amazing. Sit inside if possible, they're renovating the mall and the smells of renovation was thick. I ordered the French dip and delicious!! Can't wait to go back. read more

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I had lunch here today for the first time I had the tuna salad and was very impressed. Everything is homemade including a very good balsamic vinerette dressing. Sort of a hole in the wall but very friendly nice tables and comfortable chairs. read more

Best Deli in Columbia hands down. My personal favorite is the gamecock. Definitely try it out if you're on main st.

Great place when you are looking for fresh, affordable deli fare for lunch. Relaxed friendly atmosphere. Never disappointing. Recommend everything I have had: Italian sandwich, French Dip sandwich, Chicken Salad sandwich, Roast Beef sandwich. When the weather cools down the chicken bog is something to look for. read more

The Washington panini is mouth-watering and an excellent way to have a good lunch on a budget. The roast beef is fresh and the entire mall smells like the deli at lunch time. Get here early, because the tables inside and outside fill up fast. read more

I highly recommend this deli. The foods delicious, quick, and well priced. Everyone is very friendly, they are always checking on you to see if you need anything. I always get the Bob's special and I highly recommend it. It's a little hard to find, It's in the shopping center right beside Pita Pit. read more

This deli is great. The sandwich I ordered was huge and the cost was extremely reasonable. The guys at the deli are very nice and friendly. This place is a definite treat. read more

I enjoyed my lunch at Swanson's deli. The menu has a lot of choices and there are also daily specials. The food is fresh and served up fast. Portions are commensurate with the prices charged. This establishment is very clean and popular with business professionals. It is also nice to see welcomed activity in the Arcade Mall. A hidden Columbia Jewel! read more

Love the Chicken Salad and Turkey melts but really everything is great! I go for lunch all the time!!

The guys are great here.. SUPER NICE AND FRIENDLY. This place was very busy when I visited for lunch. There is plenty of seating out in the hallway and in the deli. I will return here soon. Best customer service I have experienced in a long time. read more

Great food and service! Definitely the place to be for Columbia's Bankers, Businessmen, and Attorneys to get an affordable home made sandwich. BTW, their dressings are home made, and the veggies are crisp and fresh! If they had a Pastrami on Rye I would have given them five stars. read more

Their ham and cheese makes me feel like I am home. Their chicken salad is heaven, and everything is good. Plus it's in the arcade, so sit and soak in the old charm. It's a perfect midday refuge from the bustle of the offices downtown. They are so friendly and helpful. Try the Bob's special! read more

This place is a little gem! If you are downtown and looking for a quick but delicious deli lunch, this is the place to go. I had the chicken salad club and it was delicious. Went there with several friends and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. Fortunately we arrived before the lunch rush. While we were eating, a line formed for people waiting to get in. Would be good for grab and go fare as well. read more

This great place to have lunch is in the Arcade Mall on Main Street. All of their sandwiches and salads are great. The guys provide excellent service and all of the sandwiches are prepared to order. Great place tucked away from the bustle of Main Street! read more

The cashier was definitely friendly and nice. We did come at the wrong time it was lunch time and the place was super busy. The food was alright. read more

We ducked in this afternoon for lunch. Hidden in the arcade,I have walked by for years without even knowing that this place existed. What a find! Ample fresh food, FANTASTIC, friendly service. Had the special: corned beef on pressed rye with mustard, and cucumber tomato salad. Everything was on point, and they bussed our table. Give Swanson's a try. You won't regret it! read more

The Italian salad is great! I can't get past it to order anything else, but the staff is always friendly, the service is quick, and the sweet tea is on point. read more

Great place to eat for lunch and they are ALWAYS very friendly and fast! The TBR and Italian sub are my favorites!

If you live, work, or visit in downtown Columbia, and haven't been to Swansons, you're missing out. The sandwiches are fantastic, the atmosphere laid back, and the staff a great bunch of fellas. I'm in here at least once a week, and now that they're open for breakfast, likely more than that. So, do yourself a favor and patronize these guys next time your looking for a quick bite to eat. You'll be glad you did. read more