We humans tend to have our favorites — those places, people, and even things that we return to over and over. They feel safe and comfortable, but do we always want to be creatures of habit? Each year Columbia Metropolitan conducts an activity that is just plain fun while informative, giving us the opportunity to both celebrate our favorites as well as explore and experience those of others.
CMM asks readers to vote on the best of just about everything in Columbia. Categories include food, retail, home, recreation, service, and media and entertainment. Each year our 100,000+ readers eagerly respond. To these readers, we owe a debt of gratitude for making this exercise possible. Use these suggestions to branch out once in a while to try new places to eat, new hairdressers — okay, maybe not that one — check out a yoga class and other new things that are other people’s favorites.
When the votes come in, the fun begins at the CMM office. These results are painstakingly compiled by magazine staff to determine the annual Columbia Metropolitan Magazine Best of Columbia winners. Are you just starting out and considering buying your first home, or are you on the other end of the age spectrum considering a retirement community? Check out our winners. You can find out the best companies to build or remodel your home and landscape your yard, and you will see where to shop locally for home furnishings while also finding decorators who are local favorites.
Columbia has so many wonderful local restaurants and entertainment venues all over the city and surrounding areas. Find out what’s hot in your neighborhood or visit another area of the city. Enjoy seeing how those businesses you love stand up to the competition, while you take a look at others’ favorites that you might just want to try. You will see many of the same winners year after year, some for more than 25 years, while also discovering newcomers that excel.
The folks at the James Beard Awards knew what they were doing in choosing two finalists from Columbia. We know as well, so enjoy reading our Best of Columbia and judge for yourself!
FOOD
Best Appetizer
W: Hendrix Restaurant
RU: The War Mouth
Best Barbecue
W: Little Pigs Barbecue
RU: Home Team BBQ
Best Chicken Salad
W: Kudzu Bakery & Market
RU: The Gourmet Shop
Best French Fries
W: Market on Main
RU: Zesto of West Columbia
Best Hamburger
W: Pawleys Front Porch
RU: Zesto of West Columbia
Best Fried Chicken
W: Zesto of West Columbia
RU: Rush’s
Best Hot Dog
W: Rush’s
RU: Crave Artisan Market
Best Sandwich
W: Groucho’s Deli
RU: Crave Artisan Market
Best Pizza
W: Za’s Brick Oven Pizza
RU: Il Giorgione Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Best Ribs
W: Little Pigs Barbecue
RU: Home Team BBQ
Best Shrimp and Grits
W: Blue Marlin
RU: Southern Way
Best Steak
W: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
RU: Halls Chophouse
Best Biscuits
W: The Flying Biscuit
RU: Kudzu Bakery & Market
Best Iced Tea
W: Groucho’s Deli
RU: Chick-fil-A
Best Wings
W: D’s Wings
RU: Publick House
Best Bakery
W: Tiffany’s Sweets, Eats, & Meeting Place
RU: Kudzu Bakery & Market
Best Cookies
W: Crumbl Cookies
RU: Kudzu Bakery & Market
Best Cupcake
W: Nothing Bundt Cakes
RU: Ally & Elloise
Best Dessert
W: Kaminsky’s
RU: Tiffany’s Sweets, Eats, & Meeting Place
Best Milkshake
W: Zesto of West Columbia
RU: Rush’s
Best Health Food Store
W: Earth Fare
RU: Tasty as Fit
Best Supermarket
W: Publix
RU: Lowes Foods
RESTAURANTS
Best Restaurant in Columbia
W: Mr. Friendly’s
RU: Motor Supply Co. Bistro
Best Restaurant in Irmo
W: Liberty on the Lake
RU: Bistro on the Boulevard
Best Restaurant in Lexington
W: Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
RU: Private Property
Best Restaurant in Northeast Columbia
W: Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
RU: Julia’s German Stammtisch
Best Restaurant in Forest Acres
W: Tombo Grille
RU: Tazza Kitchen
Best Restaurant in West Columbia/Cayce
W: Terra
RU: Black Rooster
Best New Restaurant
W: The Flying Biscuit
RU: Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi
Best Happy Hour
W: Tombo Grille
RU: Publico
Best Bartender
W: Jake Cooper/Smoked
RU: Spencer Shealy/Tombo Grille
Best Brewery
W: Steel Hands
RU: Bierkeller Brewing Company
Best Wine List
W: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
RU: Hampton Street Vineyard
Best Coffee House
W: Knowledge Perk
RU: Azalea Coffee Bar
Best Bang for Your Buck
W: Boca Grande Burritos
RU: Eggs Up Grill
Best Business Lunch
W: Halls Chophouse
RU: Mr. Friendly’s
Best Family Restaurant
W: The Original House of Pancakes
RU: Groucho’s Deli
Best Romantic Dinner
W: Di Vino Rosso
RU: Saluda’s Restaurant
Best Fine Dining
W: Motor Supply Co. Bistro
RU: Terra
Best Outdoor Dining
W: Market on Main
RU: Il Giorgione Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Best Breakfast
W: Café Strudel
RU: The Original House of Pancakes
Best Sunday Brunch
W: The Woody on Main
RU: DiPrato’s Delicatessen
Best Seafood
W: Blue Marlin
RU: Smoked
Best Healthy Restaurant
W: Crave Artisan Market
RU: Good Life Café
Best Food Truck
W: Pawleys Mobile Eats
RU: Café Strudel
Best Wait Staff
W: Mr. Friendly’s
RU: Motor Supply Co. Bistro
Best Atmosphere
W: Lula Drake Wine Parlour
RU: Saluda’s Restaurant
Best Wine Shop
W: Green’s Beverages
RU: Morganelli’s Party Store
Best Fast Food Restaurant
W: Chick-fil-A
RU: Zesto of West Columbia
Best Asian
W: Miyo’s
RU: Takosushi
Best Italian
W: Il Giorgione Pizzeria & Wine Bar
RU: Villa Tronco
Best Mexican
W: Cantina 76
RU: Boca Grande Burritos
Best Thai
W: Basil Thai Cuisine
RU: Kao Thai
RETAIL
Best Women’s Clothing
W: Coplon’s
RU: Monkee’s of Columbia
Best Women’s Business Wear
W: Granger Owings
RU: Just the Thing
Best Women’s Evening Wear
W: Coplon’s
RU: Revente
Best Women’s Shoes
W: Scout & Molly’s
RU: Good for the Sole Shoes
Best Men’s Clothing
W: Granger Owings
RU: Craig Reagin Clothiers
Best Men’s Formal Wear
W: Brittons of Columbia
RU: BP Skinner Clothiers
Best Men’s Shoes
W: Granger Owings
RU: Brittons of Columbia
Best Children’s Clothing
W: Duck Duck Goose
RU: Southern Children
Best Children’s Shoes
W: Tootsies Children’s Shoes
RU: Marigold Modern Kids
Best Wedding Dress Boutique
W: Elizabeth Cole Bridal
RU: New York Bride & Groom
Best Bridal Wear
W: Bella Bridesmaids
RU: New York Bride & Groom
Best Resort Wear
W: Pink Sorbet
RU: Tulip
Best Bridal Registry
W: non(e)such
RU: Cottage & Vine
Best Women’s Clothing Designer
W: 831 MINHLE
RU: LaRoque
Best Weekend Wear
W: Mainstream Boutique
RU: Monkee’s of Columbia
Best Jewelry Store
W: Sylvan’s
RU: Carolina Fine Jewelry
Best Accessories
W: Westmore Land of Gifts and Apparel
RU: Blush Boutique & Home
Best Gift Store
W: Cottage & Vine
RU: Kudzu Bakery & Market
Best Stationery
W: Cottage & Vine
RU: Martha Morris
Best Vision Wear
W: Columbia Eye
RU: Vision Therapy Institute
Best Sunglasses
W: Folline Vision Centers
RU: Vision Therapy Institute
Best Clothing Consignment Store
W: Revente
RU: Roundabouts Consignments
Best Book Store
W: All Good Books
RU: Barnes & Noble
Best Toy Store
W: Be Beep
RU: Learning Express Toys of Lexington
Best Antique Store
W: McIntosh Cottage Antiques
RU: Meeting Street Interiors
Best Frame Shop
W: The Frame Shop
RU: Havens Framemakers & Gallery
Best Local Art
W: City Art
RU: OTM Gallery
Best Local Art Supply Store
W: City Art
RU: Michael’s
Best Local Pet Supply Store
W: Mill Creek Pet Food Center
RU: Lazy Creek Pet Food Center
Best Hunting/Fishing Store
W: Barron’s Outfitters
RU: Palmetto State Armory
Best Outdoor Store
W: Half-Moon Outfitters
RU: REI
Best Running Specialty Store
W: Fleet Feet
RU: Strictly Running
Best Bicycle Specialty Store
W: Outspokin’ Bicycles
RU: Cycle Center
Best Mattress Store
W: Michaelis Mattress
RU: Best Mattress
Best Shopping Venue
W: Devine Street
RU: Five Points
HOME
Best Residential Community
W: Mungo/Ascot
RU: Mungo/Concord Park
Best Apartment Complex
W: Devine District
RU: CanalSide Lofts
Best Retirement Community
W: Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
RU: Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
Best Assisted Living
W: Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
RU: The Harmony Collection at Columbia
Best Independent Living
W: Inspire at Sandhill
RU: Merrill Gardens at Columbia
Best Memory Care
W: Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
RU: Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
Best Skilled Care
W: LMC Carroll Campbell Place
RU: Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina
Best Home Builder
W: Mungo Homes
RU: Great Southern Homes
Best Home Remodeler
W: Palmetto Construction & Renovation
RU: Elliott Builders
Best General Contractor
W: Cohn Construction Services
RU: Paradime Construction
Best Commercial Builder
W: Hood Construction
RU: Cohn Construction Services
Best Commercial Architect
W: Garvin Design Group
RU: Quackenbush Architects
Best Disaster Restoration Company
W: Pulliam Restoration
RU: Palmetto Commercial Services
Best Home Furnishings
W: Strobler Home Furnishings
RU: Meeting Street Interiors
Best Outdoor Furniture Store
W: Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium
RU: Tropic Aire Patio Gallery
Best Furniture Consignment Store
W: Attic Fanatic
RU: The Warehouse
Best Custom Furniture
W: Ethan Allen
RU: The Houston House
Best Furniture Refinisher
W: Alan Kinder Custom Woodwork
RU: The Lacquered Leopard
Best Glass Store
W: Ace Glass
RU: Sheppard’s Glass
Best Flooring
W: Carpet One Floor & Home
RU: AAAA Flooring
Best Roofing Company
W: The Red Shirt Guys Roofing
RU: Burgin Roofing Services
Best Wallpaper/Wall Covering Store
W: Wallpaper Additions
RU: Coggins Wallcoverings
Best Home Specialty Store
W: Southeastern Salvage Home
Emporium
RU: Southern Custom Doors
Best Appliance Store
W: Jeffers McGill Appliance and
Furniture
RU: S&G Builder Appliances
Best Tile Store
W: Palmetto Tile Distributors
RU: Garden State Tile
Best Kitchen Specialty Store
W: Gateway Supply
RU: Capital Kitchen & Bath
Best Bathroom Specialty Store
W: Capital Kitchen & Bath
RU: The Nest
Best Lighting Store
W: The Nest
FU: The Lite House
Best Gardening Store
W: Gardener’s Outpost
RU: B.B. Barns
Best Fence Company
W: Brabham Fence
RU: Ryan Brewer Fence
Best Swimming Pool Company
W: Hay Hill Services
RU: Jack Oliver’s Pool, Spa and Patio
RECREATION
Best Farmers Market
W: Soda City
RU: SC State Farmers Market
Best Yoga
W: Palmetto Yoga and Wellness Oasis
RU: barre3
Best Group Fitness
W: Basecamp Fitness
RU: PureBarre
Best Personal Training
W: EQ Fitness and Physical Therapy
RU: Jamie Scott Fitness
Best Fitness Studio
W: Jamie Scott Fitness
RU: barre3
Best Wine and Paint Studio
W: Mad Platter
RU: The Art Bar
Best Hotel
W: Hotel Trundle
RU: Hilton Columbia
SERVICE
Best Facial
W: POUT Cosmetics & Skin Studio
RU: Eva Skin Care
Best Massage
W: Urban Nirvana Salon & Day Spa
RU: OCCO Luxury Spa
Best Nail Salon
W: Soak Day Spa
RU: Eva Skin Care
Best Hair Salon
W: process.
RU: Salon 561
Best Medical Spa
W: Sculpted by WH Aesthetics
RU: About You Aesthetics
Best Spa
W: Urban Nirvana Salon & Day Spa
RU: OCCO Luxury Spa
Best Counselor
W: Jill Smith
RU: Jane Hemphill
Best Hospice
W: Agape Care Group
RU: Heart of Hospice
Best Chiropractor
W: Chiropractic Wellness Center/Shelly Jones
RU: Bigbie Chiropractic
Best Florist
W: Blossom Shop
RU: Fern Studio
Best Caterer
W: Southern Way Catering
RU: Loosh Culinaire Fine Catering
Best Event Planner
W: Jessica Rourke Wedding Planning + Styling
RU: By Invitation Only/Melanie Murphy
Best Wedding Planner
W: By Invitation Only/Melanie Murphy
RU: Meagan Warren Weddings
Best Event Venue
W: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
RU: Millstone at Adams Pond
Best Wedding Venue
W: Central Energy
RU: 701 Whaley
Best Conference Venue
W: Central Energy
RU: Camp Cole
Best Event Lighting
W: Ambient Media
RU: Illuminations
Best Audio/Visual Company
W: Sound & Images
RU: Access Multimedia
Best Pet Boarding
W: Dog Daze
RU: Camp Bow Wow
Best Pet Grooming
W: Carolina Paws Grooming Salon
RU: Mill Creek Grooming
Best Vet Clinic
W: Four Paws Animal Clinic
RU: Shandon-Wood Animal Clinic
Best Veterinarian
W: Neil Atkinson
RU: Tracy Wales + Nori Warren
Best Animal Emergency Center
W: CVETS
RU: SC Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care
Best Pet Specialty Clinic
W: CVETS
RU: Capital Animal Hospital
Best Animal Surgery Center
W: Capital Animal Hospital
RU: SC Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care
Best Dry Cleaner
W: Tripp’s Fine Cleaners
RU: Lexington Dry Cleaning
Commercial Cleaning Service
W: Defender Services Inc.
RU: Palmetto Commercial Services
Best Exterior Cleaning Service
W: Trey Mathias
RU: Crystal Clear Solutions
Best Carpet Cleaner
W: Stanley Steemer
RU: The Cavalry Home Services
Best Chimney Sweep
W: Top Hat Sweepers
RU: Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep
Best Heating/Air Service
W: Cool Care Heating & Air
RU: Krantz Kooling & Heating
Best Pest Control
W: Modern Exterminating
RU: Terminix
Best Mosquito Company
W: Mosquito Joe
RU: Modern Exterminating
Best Hardscape Company
W: Hay Hill Services
RU: Paradime/Earthworks
Best Landscaping Company
W: Hay Hill Services
RU: Blue Moon Landscaping
Best Lawn Maintenance Company
W: Blue Moon Landscaping
RU: Hay Hill Services
Best Tree Service
W: Sox & Freeman Tree Expert Company
RU: Michael Wayne’s Landscaping & Tree Service
Best Plumbing Company
W: Superior Plumbing & Gas
RU: Cool Care Heating & Air
Best Outdoor Lighting
W: Lightscapes of Columbia
RU: Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
Best Commercial Interior Designer
W: The Houston House
RU: Christy Davis Interiors
Best Residential Interior Designer
W: Linda Burnside / LGB Interiors
RU: Meredith Hart / House of Birdie Interiors
Best Interior Design Showroom
W: Verve Interiors
RU: Strobler Home Furnishings
Best Moving Company
W: Two Men and a Truck
RU: Soda City Movers
Best Car Dealership
W: Jim Hudson Automotive
RU: Dick Dyer
Best Pre-Owned Car Dealership
W: Jim Hudson Automotive
RU: Dick Dyer
Best Auto Repair Company
W: Midas Columbia
RU: Old School Automotive & Tires
Best Tire Store
W: Old School Automotive & Tires
RU: Midas Columbia
Best Car Wash
W: Hurricane Express Wash
RU: Big Dan’s Car Wash
Best Boat Dealer
W: Mid-Carolina Marine
RU: Marine 360
Best Insurance Agent
W: Gus Brabham / Brabham Griffin Insurance
RU: Larry Lucas / State Farm
Best Insurance Agency
W: Lourie Life & Health
RU: Brabham Griffin Insurance
Best Mortgage Bank
W: AllSouth Federal Credit Union
RU: Guild Mortgage
Best Commercial Real Estate Broker
W: John Metts / Wilson Kibler
RU: Ben Kelly / NAI Columbia
Best Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Firm
W: Trinity Partners
RU: NAI Columbia
Best Real Estate Developer
W: Cason Development Group
RU: The Beach Company
Best Residential Real Estate Agent
W: Jill Moylan / Home Advantage
RU: Anna Paige DuRant / Coldwell Banker
Best Residential Real Estate Agency
W: Home Advantage Realty
RU: The ART of Real Estate
Best Staffing Agency
W: Roper Staffing
RU: Recruiting Solutions
Best Travel Agency
W: Forest Lake Travel
RU: AAA Travel
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Art Gallery
W: Columbia Museum of Art
RU: OTM Gallery
Best Art Studio
W: OTM Gallery
RU: Stormwater Studios
Best Museum
W: South Carolina State Museum
RU: SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum
Best Entertainment Venue
W: Koger Center for the Arts
RU: The Nickelodeon
Best Dance School
W: Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet
RU: Columbia Conservatory of Dance
Best Dance Company
W: South Carolina Ballet
RU: Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet
Best Performing Arts Company
W: Columbia Classical Ballet
RU: South Carolina Ballet
Best Live Theatre
W: Town Theatre
RU: Township Auditorium
Best Radio Station
W: WCOS 97.5
RU: The Big Redd Radio Show
Best Radio Personality
W: Jonathon Rush / The Morning Rush
RU: Kelly Nash / WCOS Morning Show
Best TV Station
W: WIS / NBC
RU: WLTX / CBS
Best TV News Anchor
W: Darci Strickland
RU: Judi Gatson
Best TV Sportscaster
W: Mike Gillespie
RU: Rick Henry
Best TV Weatherperson
W: Von Gaskin
RU: John Farley