The city of Columbia has spoken and so shall the awards be bestowed! During an enthusiastic online voting process, Columbians cast their votes and doubled any previous year’s ballot counts, with zealous battles over addictive restaurants, delicious foods, show-stopping entertainment and much more.
Many of the Best of Columbia winners have achieved award-winning status year after year. These winners have a special Hall of Fame logo included in their advertisements in this section that help them toot their horns about being the best. Winners who have won five or more years are inducted into the Hall of Fame and are eligible to distinguish their business with a gold logo.
Each year, the editorial department selects several winners to highlight in a zany photo spread. Special thanks this year goes out to Stanley Steemer, Jeffers McGill and Century Glass for allowing us to take some editorial liberty and celebrate with a little fun. It’s creative attitudes like these that help these winners reach the top.
Nobody says it better than the people of this great town, so explore the city with newfound adventure. This is your city, your magazine, and these are your choices for the Best of Columbia. See who won in this year’s categories and celebrate these wonderful businesses that make Columbia a wonderful place to live!
FOOD
Best Appetizer
Bonefish Grill
Best Bakery
Tiffany’s Bakery and Eatery
Best Barbecue
Hudson’s Smokehouse
Best Biscuit
Bojangles’
Best Boiled Peanuts
Cromer’s
Best Chicken Salad
The Gourmet Shop
Best Cookie
Blue Flour
Best Dessert
Nonnah’s
Best Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme
Best French Fries
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Best Fried Chicken
Zesto
Best Frozen Yogurt
Yumilicious
Best Grits
Mr. Friendly’s
Best Hamburger
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Best Ice Cream
Marble Slab Creamery
Best Iced Tea
Bojangles’
Best Milkshake
Rush’s
Best Pizza
Mellow Mushroom
Best Ribs
Hudson’s Smokehouse
Best Sandwich
Groucho’s Deli
Best Steak
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
by Jeff Amberg
Scott Cooper, management team member at Stanley Steemer, gets lost in award-winning daydreams as he gives owner Suzanne Pucci’s hair the best vacuuming Stanley Steemer has to offer!
RESTAURANTS
Best Restaurant in Columbia
Mr. Friendly’s
Best Restaurant in Irmo
Alodia’s Cucina Italiana
Best Restaurant in Lexington
Travinia Italian Kitchen
Best Restaurant in Northeast
Solstice Kitchen
Best Restaurant in West Columbia/Cayce
Terra
Best Chinese Restaurant
Miyo’s
Best Greek Restaurant
Zorba’s
Best Italian Restaurant
Villa Tronco
Best Japanese Restaurant
Inakaya
Best Mexican Restaurant
Eric’s San Jose
Best Thai Restaurant
Mai Thai Cuisine
Best Business Lunch
Motor Supply Company Bistro
Best Coffee House
Starbucks
Best Bang for the Buck
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Best Family Restaurant
Lizard’s Thicket
Best Fast Food Restaurant
Chick-fil-A
Best Fine Dining Restaurant
Garibaldi Café
Best Healthy Restaurant
Zoës Kitchen
Best New Restaurant
Café Caturra
Best Outdoor Dining
Café Caturra
Best Romantic Dinner
Al’s Upstairs
Best Seafood Restaurant
Blue Marlin
Best Sunday Brunch
DiPrato’s
Best Sushi Restaurant
Inakaya
Best Wait Staff
Mr. Friendly’s
Best Wine Menu
Gervais & Vine
By Jeff Amberg
Brothers Mark and John McGill of Jeffers McGill try to push their youngest brother, David, into a refrigerator to keep their award for Best Appliance Store all to themselves!
RETAIL
Best Antique Store
Worth Repeating
Best Appliance Store
Jeffers McGill
Best Art Store
City Art
Best Athletic Wear Store
Todd & Moore
Best Bicycle Specialty Store
Outspokin’
Best Bridal Wear Store
Jo-Lin’s
Best Children’s Clothing Store
Bumble Boutique
Best Children’s Shoe Store
Tootsies
Best Consignment Shop (clothing)
Revente
Best Consignment Shop (furniture)
Consignment 1st
Best Fashion Accessories Store
Just the Thing
Best Flooring/Floor Covering Store
Redd Flooring and Design Center
Best Florist
Rosewood Florist
Best Frame Shop
HoFP Gallery
Best Gamecock Store
Jewelry Warehouse
Best Gardening Store
Woodley’s Garden Center
Best Gift Store
Gibson’s on Devine
Best Glass Store
Century Glass
Best Home Furnishing Store
Strobler Home Furnishings
Best Hunting/Fishing Supply Store
Barron’s Outfitters
Best Jewelry Store
Sylvan & Dubose
Best Kitchen Store
Mary & Martha’s
Best Lighting Store
The Lite House
Best Mattress Store
Best Mattress
Best Men’s Clothing Store
Brittons
Best Men’s Formal Wear Store
Granger Owings
Best Men’s Shoe Store
Granger Owings
Best Office Furnishings Store
McWaters
Best Office Supply Store
Staples
Best Outdoor Store
The Backpacker
Best Pet Boutique
Pupcakes Pet Boutique
Best Pet Supply Store
PetSmart
Best Running Specialty Store
Strictly Running & Walking
Best Shopping Venue
Village at Sandhill
Best Sporting Goods Store
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Best Supermarket
Publix
Best Toy Store
BeBeep, a toy shop
Best Vision Wear Store
Sansbury Eye Center
Best Wallpaper/Wall Covering Store
Wallpaper Additions
Best Wine Shop
Total Wine & More
Best Women’s Clothing Store
Round Robin
Best Women’s Evening Wear Store
Coplon’s
Best Women’s Shoe Store
Kicks
HOME
Best Apartment Complex
42 Magnolia
Best Assisted Living Facility
Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
Best Condominiums
Adesso
Best Home Builder
The Mungo Companies
Best Home Remodeler
Remodeling Services Unlimited
Best New Home Community
Saluda River Club
Best Retirement Community
Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
RECREATION
Best Boat Dealer
Mid-Carolina Marine
Best Exercise Facility
Gold’s Gym
Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday
Monkey Joe’s
SERVICE
Best Auto Repair
Andrews Auto Service
Best Bridal Photographer
Neva Loftis
Best Car Dealer
Jim Hudson
Best Car Rental Agency
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Best Carpet Cleaner
Stanley Steemer
Best Caterer
Southern Way
Best Chimney Sweep
Top Hat Sweepers
Best Facial
Urban Nirvana
Best Dry Cleaner
Tripp’s Fine Cleaners
Best Event Planner
Cricket Newman
Best Fence Company
Brabham Fence
Best Furniture Refinisher
Colonial Woodwork
Best Hair Salon
Shear Xpectations
Best Hardscape Company
Hay Hill Services
Best Heating/Air Service
2nd Wind Heating & Air Conditioning
Best Insurance Agency
State Farm
Best Insurance Agent
Brad Everhart
Best Interior Designer (commercial)
Katherine J. Anderson
Design/Interiors
Best Interior Designer (residential)
Evon Kirkland Interiors
Best Landscaping
Company
Hay Hill Services
Best Lodging
Hilton
Best Massage
Urban Nirvana
Best Modeling Agency
Millie Lewis of Columbia
Best Moving Company
Two Men & A Truck
Best Nail Salon
Soak Nail Spa
Best Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
Best Pest Control Service
Home Pest Control
Best Pet Boarding
Wescott Acres Luxury Pet Resort
Best Pet Grooming
Groomingdales
Best Plumbing Company
Superior Plumbing & Gas
Best Real Estate Agent
Jill Moylan
Best Real Estate Agency (commercial)
Grubb & Ellis|Wilson Kibler
Best Real Estate Agency (residential)
Home Advantage Realty
Best Staffing Agency
Roper Staffing
Best Swimming Pool Company
Jack Oliver’s Pool, Spa & Patio
Best Travel Agency
Forest Lake Travel
Best Wedding Venue
701 Whaley
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT
Best Art Gallery
Columbia Museum of Art
Best Live Theatre
Trustus
Best Museum
South Carolina State Museum
Best Radio Station
89.7 WMHK
Best Radio Personality
Jonathon Rush
Best TV Station
WIS-TV
Best TV News Anchor
Dawndy Plank
Best TV Sportscaster
Rick Henry
Best TV Weatherperson
Ben Tanner
