What’s good here: Go Columbia staffers on their favorite dishes in 2015
Trying to pick a favorite meal of the year in a Columbia area restaurant is daunting for our Go Columbia staffers, many of whom like to be among the first to try new restaurants.
Still, it was fun trying.
Our list is a bit eclectic, we admit, but we hope you have some fun with it.
In the coming year, we’re going to be asking you to share more with us about your favorite restaurants, dishes, drinks and more. Watch for that in coming editions of Go Columbia.
Here’s to good food.
Mussels at 116 State
Susan Ardis, staff writer/designer, sardis@thestate.com, @foodsusan
WHY I PICKED IT: Perfectly steamed mussels in homemade romesco sauce with garlic and white wine. Perfect for a cool evening, or anytime, really. You have to be someone extra special to share a bowl with me. Don’t forget to order extra bread for sopping up every last bit of that sauce.
COST: $13
WHERE TO GET IT: 116 State St., West Columbia. (803) 791-5663, 116state.com.
Tacos at Good Life Cafe
Erin Shaw, staff writer, eshaw@thestate.com, @GoCoErin
WHY I PICKED IT: I generally try to eat healthfully, but I draw the line at cold noodles and kale chips. Good Life Cafe on Main Street has plenty of the former, but the real winners on the vegan menu are the guacamole tacos. They come with cashew nacho cheese, cashew sour cream, salsa, lettuce and a nut “meat” made from walnuts, soy sauce and spices. It sounds weird but tastes delicious. They’re my go-to for a Meatless Monday lunch or dinner.
COST: Two, $9.95; three, $11.95
WHERE TO GET IT: 1614 Main St., Columbia. (803) 726-2310
Private Property Burger at Private Property
Janet Jones Kendall, staff writer, jjkendall@thestate.com
WHY I PICKED IT: This is far from your typical American cheeseburger. Made from a combination of ground chuck, brisket and short rib, the 6-ounce burger is rich with flavor and, honestly, needs no toppings at all. But the Po’ Man sauce that is added to the bun (along with the cheese, lettuce and tomato) complements it perfectly. And Private Property’s beautifully renovated house and courtyard provide the perfect setting in which to savor every bite.
COST: $11
WHERE TO GET IT: 220 W. Main St., Lexington. (803) 399-8085
Poutine at Goats
Jane Moon Dail, staff writer, jdail@thestate.com, @janedail
WHY I PICKED IT: Poutine at Goats is the very definition of comfort food for me. The dish starts off with a foundation of fries topped with a rich, savory gravy, chunks of duck meat and melted cheese curds. Poutine is a Canadian dish that’s sure to make a splash in the Deep South.
COST: $9
WHERE TO GET IT:Goats, 2017 Devine St. in Five Points. (803) 708-4495
Grandma Brown’s Bacon Cinnamon Roll at S.C. State Fair
Dwaun Sellers, Go Columbia coordinator/staff writer, dsellers@thestate.com, @dwaunsellers
WHY I PICKED IT: Every year the S.C. State Fair rolls into town, bringing the promise of diet-busting carni food. This year was no exception. John and Sandy Class took over Grandma Brown’s cinnamon roll business more than 15 years ago, but this was the first year they incorporated hickory-smoked bacon into the signature cinnamon roll recipe. Each bite is sweet, savory and decadently delicious. You can even buy them in bulk and freeze them for up to six months. After 40 seconds in the microwave, they’ll taste like they just came out of the oven at Grandma’s house.
COST: $6.50
WHERE TO GET IT: S.C. State Fair, 1200 Rosewood Drive. (803) 799-3387, www.scstatefair.org
Baked spaghetti at Tony’s
Dawn Kujawa, Go Columbia editor, dkujawa@thestate.com
WHY I PICKED IT: I really like the baked spaghetti lunch special at Tony’s Pizzalicious in Cayce – a great comfort dish. But the food isn’t the main reason for my pick. My husband and I love going out to lunch together. But after the Oct. 4 flood, our days were focused on work and volunteering – and that left little time for lunch. And, with no running water, there were no restaurant fountain drinks, one of my favorite indulgences. Since water came back to Cayce before downtown Columbia, our first lunch out, a week or so after the flood, was at Tony’s. The baked spaghetti and fountain Coke were especially good that day, and we left the restaurant under a blue and sunny sky. A slice of normalcy, if just for lunch.
COST: $8.99 dine in, $9.49 takeout
WHERE TO GET IT: 975 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce. (803) 794-5469; www.tonyspizzalicious.com
This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 4:10 PM.