Holy salt! I mean, I love salt with a passion, but my braised ribs had so much salt on them that I had to eat a piece of bread with them just to balance it. I also would have liked to see some sort of vegetable (green) on my plate. The flourless chocolate cake was incredible, very good flavor. Service was good. read more

The food was delectable. We like the fact that everything was made to order and mashed potatoes were especially delicious! The wait time was very low and service was great. Would highly recommend, we are likely to come back! read more

Been here multiple times and let's just say third time was not the charm. Everything has always been subpar or below but this time was the final straw. Service was not only slow but rude as well. Gave us our bread after our meals, (we were the only table in the restaurant) we also ordered the flat bread thinking how could you mess up a flatbread and it came out as burnt pita bread with hummus. If your going to serve pita and hummus then call it that. Checks and meals all came out 10-15 minutes apart and we were checked on maybe once. Wouldn't go back and wouldn't waste your time trying such a subpar place, looks like it would be good but it's a front. Don't go if you want to enjoy your birthday read more

Absolute gem of a restaurant. Extremely accommodating with reservations. Food was nothing short of amazing, and excellent wait staff. One of my favorite places in Columbia. read more

Sycamore is nestled on a quaint corner in downtown Como. The restaurant decor consists of local art for sale and lots of wood. There were 3 other tables with customers when we arrived around 11:45. We had a party of 5 and they put us in the back, which was kind of odd considering there was plenty of room up front. We started with the Parmesan Fries and a Hummus Plate. The Parmesan fries were piping hot and super yummy. The Hummus was, well, Hummus. I chose the Cuban Sandwich for my entree. The sandwich was a good sandwich, but the bread was so crispy it was actually very hard to eat or enjoy. My fellow diners all got salads, and there wasn't much chatter about them either. I'll definitely give Sycamore another go and update my review after my next visit. read more

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Been here twice in the last month. Love the service and the food! The miso butter is wonderful. Can't wait to go back!

Service was great at this classy joint, might've been a little expensive but very tasty. However one of my little lady friends got a little sick from too much wine consumed. Still would highly recommend for anyone. Bring the Kids! read more

Nice and casual but mature. A great place to go with family and friends. The staff were awesome! The menu was small, and every dish was high quality. read more

Took the family for lunch today. Parking was difficult. After being seated we were ignored while our children were hungry and upset. We were actually getting up to leave after more than five minutes in the ignore zone. Then our baby ate off the table instead of a plate. And our toddler took his shoes off for a few minutes. Apparently, these were huge personal affronts to the owner, Mike Odette, who proceeded to stare us down in an obvious & uncomfortable way. Hint taken, Mike. Next time we'll put them under general anesthesia. Or maybe we just won't be back,with or without children. The food wasn't as good as it used to be anyway. read more

I had the Vegetarian "Crab" Cake and butternut squash soup. Both were pretty good and I appreciated these couple vegetarian options. There was a fatty creamy sauce with the crab cakes that I wish had been left off completely. Otherwise ok. read more

Absolutely my favorite Columbia restaurant! Food is always fresh, with novel selections. Salads differ from week to week. Sitting by the streetside windows provides interesting people-watching. read more

I took my boyfriend here for our 2-year anniversary since we had always wanted to try Sycamore. We made a reservation (call their number) just in case. I arrived about 30 minutes early and the host already had our table set up. Since it was a late Monday night dinner, he was also our waiter. He provided top-notch excellent service while catering to all of our questions. My boyfriend chose the prime rib and I had the pork chop. Each dish was perfect and cooked to the desired temperature. They have a lot of options for wine and beer. I recommend it. read more

What an excellent find this restaurant was. The service was outstanding the food was delicious and the atmosphere was incredibly comfortable. I am sometimes apprehensive when I read extremely positive yelp reviews but for some reason I decided to go to Sycamore based on what was said about it and everything that was said was absolutely true. Without a doubt I will be back the next time I'm in that area. read more

Such a mice place to eat, if I could afford it, I'd go here daily/weekly. It's a delicious dating place and a relaxing place for the family and friends. The quality of the food is truly tops and they always use fresh ingredients. I would give 5 but I haven't been here enough to know, if I could afford it I'd know; but this is a special occasion sort of place for those on a tighter budget. read more

My wife and I LOVED the Cioppino. Best ever. Service was impeccable and friendly. We will visit again.

Sanford made Liam's graduation date complete by going above and beyond for our family. Amazing food and unforgettable experience!

I eat at Sycamore perhaps once a year. I always enjoy the food, but as I'm leaving I also always say to myself, "That was good but not worth what they charged." I was by myself, ate at the bar. I had the roasted beet salad, the short ribs, chocolate cake, 2 glasses of brown ale, decaf coffee. The tab? $54 and change. Not even close to worth that. The short rib dish is some pot roast and mashed potatoes, for one person maybe $5 of food; more to the point it is very plainly presented, nothing special at all. If I hadn't had the salad, nothing green at all. So, that's it, I'm done with Sycamore. I eat out a lot, like 4 times a week minimum. There is better food at much better prices in Columbia. read more

Worst service I've ever had at a restaurant. (Well, maybe second worst after Harpo's) Husband and I made reservations for my birthday. He also called a day earlier or afternoon of to confirm our reservation, and the person on the phone sounded annoyed and immediately said they had us down, without at least sounding like he was checking. When we arrived, we were seated in the most remote table, alone on a mezzanine right by the kitchen. I guess that's supposed to be trendy?? Remote tables like that are the most likely to be completely forgotten about/ignored by the wait staff, which we were. Our server at least comped the drinks we'd already ordered. waited probably an hour for overpriced, mediocre food. Don't waste your time, the hype isn't worth it. read more

Somewhat pricey, but very delicious. The short ribs keep me coming back. I did not love the patchwork pork sandwich - very chewy. Would be open to trying more of their menu items. read more

Th pordwich that I had was too salty I told them I could not eat it because I have hypertension re-ordered scallops they refused to remove the sandwich from my bill I felt that was very unfair and would not go back to that restaurant again read more

Okay, this one needs to be clarified: Food, atmosphere, overall feel: 5 stars Service: 1 star. Honestly, the only gripe I have about our experience was our server so I think other people should try it but our server was terrible. He brought the wrong wine for me and when my boyfriend tried to question it, he got really defensive and wouldn't look into it at all. We didn't see that much of him, which given his behavior was okay with us, but when you're paying $25 a meal, I would expect the service to be top-notch. The food was great and the atmosphere was nice. I love that they use locally grown food. If you're looking for an upscale meal, this is the place to go. Just keep your fingers crossed that your waiter isn't the one we had. read more

We have enjoyed 2 lovely special-occasion dinners with our favorite college student. Each item was wonderful, and service was delightful. We will be back the next time we're in town! read more

Mike Odette is an amazing man. I had the pleasure of spending a good amount of time photographing him and his family while I was in school at Mizzou a few years back. We had dinner at Sycamore several times and every time we did, it was the best we ever ate in Columbia, MO. He has a true passion, loves good beer, and is just a really good guy. All of that shows through his menu and his food. read more

Visited on our way through town and based on reviews decided to dine here. Service was fair. Food was very average and in my opinion over priced. It lacked depth of flavor and consistency. For example, we ordered several items off the menu, including the Parmesan fries which had no seasoning and the mussels that were bland. The restaurant was dusty and we had several fruit flies flying around us during the entire evening. Considering all of the above a 2/5 is very fair and they need to make some serious changes. read more

Was super excited to try this place but ended up being a little disappointed. The bartender wasn't very friendly and wasn't super helpful with recommendations. I ordered the chicken sandwich. It was ok, but I would give it another shot and try something else. read more

This place has the best kept secret in town: happy hour every day of the week with half priced appetizers. And two appetizers, for me, makes a meal. In the bigger picture, this place has a great tradition of looking at quality rather than quantity. So the menu is not so big, but it changes with the season and what they do, they do well. The prices are not cheap, but I like to think of it as you are buying more than just the food, you are buying the relationships that the restaurant has to the local food producers, and you're investing in an establishment that has roots in the community and they care about more than just the bottom line, as much as a restaurant can. I highly recommend the pork belly sliders. Enough said. read more

If you don't know, Sycamore is where you take people you actually like. If your companions are just OK and you could care less how they perceive you, Columbia and your tastes, skimp and go somewhere else. Sycamore is refreshingly low-key with a high level professionalism and excellent dining experience. The most conscientious waitstaff in town. It's white tablecloth dining without the obnoxious pretensions sometimes present in other restaurants. I think so well of this place I assume harsh criticism has ulterior motives. But complainers have to eat too I guess. read more

I went back to Sycamore and I had a completely different experience. I was seated at the front of the restaurant, had great service, and outstanding food. Every restaurant has their bad days, I get that. I'm glad I went back and got to see the other side of this restaurant. I will definitely come back. read more

I went because a chef friend wanted to go and I owed her a meal. Have to say I was generally let down. In particular I didn't care for the way the trout bellies or collards were cooked. Service was good, if a bit forced, at times. Probably will not return. read more

Visited Sycamore quite a few times for special occasions and the quality of food never disappoints. The price is on the higher end but the food is really worth it. The three-course menus are a recommend. Happy hour is pretty great too. read more

This place has a reputation for being the best in Columbia. Understandably so! The only time I feel disappointment at Sycamore's is when I look at what others ordered and realize I want that, too!!! The soup, salad, bread, wine, beer, entrées are all delish! The atmosphere is amazing. If you want to impress a date, take her HERE! read more

Traveled to Columbia, MO on a photo assignment. I definitely had some preconceived ideas about many things concering Missouri (not much of a Tiger fan, frankly) including what my dining choices might present. But I kept searching the Yelp files to find that type of place that I'm always looking for...the one where I leave with a smile on my face after having had an excellent dinging experience...or even better, one where I learned something new. Sycamore's decor is very warm, but not overstuffed with "cute" items or decor. Besides the great service, excellent seared scallops with perfect mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach, they had a respectable wine list. My dinner companion, a work associate, also really enjoyed the trout. But one item on the list caught my eye on the wine list and I had to try it...a Missouri wine, Norton (varietal), Les Bourgeois Vineyard, Rocheport, MO. The dry claret was delightful with enough just enough fruitiness and rich bouquet. I knew nothing of Missouri's rich wine heritage that was almost wiped by the misguided Prohibition of the early 20th century. (www.missouriwinecountry.com). But the waitress filled me in with just enough accurate history and intrigue...just enough that I decided to go to the vineyard the following day...yep, three bottles made it safely to Texas. Sycamore ought to consider carrying more of Les Bourgeois wines...vidal blanc late-harvest wine is excellent also. If you live in Columbia and haven't tried this gem of restaurant you're missing out. And if you are traveling though...don't miss your chance. read more

I came here for a business dinner. I had the filet which was underwhelming. The filet itself was very salty and was served on top of my (bland) whipped potatoes. Here is where things get weird for me...I'm one of those crazy people who hates when my food touches so I was really bummed to have my filet on top of my potatoes although I do get the aesthetic of the plate when it's arranged that way. However, the steak juices ran into my potatoes and made a gross, watery mess. I think I ate maybe 1/4 of my meal and then just drank wine which was delightful. Service was also delightful. Ambiance is great. Food was just a miss for me. read more

Sycamore is one of Columbia's nicer restaurants, you can tell by the decor, what the servers wear, the lighting, the food, and the prices. Sycamore's food is good, but probably not worth the price. They do have a good beer selection, though. And the service is typically very good. read more

Snooty staff, very disrespectful on both occasions I went in there for more than drinks. My friend enjoyed the pork belly sliders she got as an appetizer, but my truffle fries were nothing special. The atmosphere is nice, and the wait staff appear professional and clean. But beyond that, ill take my business somewhere it's appreciated after my experiences. read more

Definitely a nice restaurant with some solid dishes. But for what it does and how much it costs - I think there's room for improvement. Sycamore deserves praise for using local produce, but they have a fair bit of seafood on their menu. I love seafood, but let's get one thing straight -- this is not localvore heaven. Missouri may have been oceanfront property thousands of years ago, but it sure isn't now. I also wondered about the lack of vegetarian dishes. There were no vegetarian entrees the night we came and my friend was left to pick and choose among the appetizers. He settled on a salad and gnocchi, which was fortunately quite tasty, not congealed or clumpy. My entree was the salmon with roasted diced sweet potatoes and braised greens. The sweet potatoes made a nice substantial counterpart to the salmon, which was covered in a delicious pecan sauce. But the greens were just too salty. I couldn't even tell what kind of greens they were - they just became a dark, salty mush. Finally, I sampled another friend's scallops with lo mein noodles. The scallops were pleasant and smooth, but ultimately the dish was too bland. read more

I think a lot of people agree with me that this is the best restaurant in Columbia. Their menu is always subtly changing but I've always been able to get the Smoked Salmon Salad or the Fried Oyster Sandwich. It is a bit pricey for dinner in CoMo, but at least make it in for lunch. read more

I officially have a new favorite restaurant in Columbia. After walking by Sycamore many times, my beer obsessed boyfriend and I were finally lured in by the September 14 O'Fallon Brewery beer dinner (5 beers, 4 courses) and holy shit...I'm so glad we went for it! The meal consisted of a gradual progression of beers corresponding with each course. My fave pairing was the O'Fallon Smoked Porter with a smoked trout salad consisting of pickled onion, arugula and a ricotta filled rye cannoli (smokey little piece of heaven). The pairing with dessert was also impressive -- O'Fallon "Alright Already" Amber with a rich caramel cheesecake with "tatin" apples. The hoppiness of the beer cut through the richness beautifully. For anyone that appreciates seasonal cooking with local ingredients and great brews, I highly recommend Sycamore. read more

Went for dinner on a busy Saturday evening. The experience started out fine; we had a reservation and were seated immediately. I ordered the blue cheese salad, the kabobs, and gnocchi. My dad ordered the hanger steak. My food was great, however my dad's steak was very, very chewy. He asked for the fillet instead, which came out much rarer than specified. His side items were delicious though. Overall, the waiter was very pleasant and attentive, although gave a little misdirection saying the hanger steak was a tender cut while being cooked medium. The manager came by at the end of the meal and seemed to have little concern for our experience after explaining the issues with the meats. He was also a bit belittling after learning that we didn't know hanger steak was chewy. He offered no apology or to remedy the situation. We aren't the type to send food back or speak with the manager, nor were we rude to the manager. Won't go back after that. read more

We drove from St Louis to Columbia last night to take our daughter out to dinner. Since this had such great reviews, we reserved a table. Prices were high, which we would not have minded if we had gotten meals that met our expectations. Two of the three meals were cool when brought to the table and one (a tenderloin ordered medium, and specified as pink, not red) came raw. Both were sent back, one to cook further and one to please reheat. The third meal ( which was okay, nothing great -- the salmon) was consumed before their meals were ever brought out. We had been there an hour and a half by then and we left disappointed. Fortunately we found a great place for ice cream in the area and had dessert for dinner. We did enjoy their wine selection and they made a good Manhattan -- so I would go back for drinks, just not dinner. read more