25+ new restaurants that opened around Columbia and Lexington in 2019
From burgers to crabs, barbecue to pizza and coffee to beer, the Midlands welcomed dozens of new eating and drinking joints in 2019.
We won’t try capture every new restaurant here for fear of missing someone delicious. But here’s a review of some of the tastiest new additions to our communities this past year so you can start making dinner plans for the new one.
RF’s Corner Grill: Opened in January. Owner Arif Rizvi, also the owner of Bubba’s Biscuits, got everyone’s attention with the 40-foot bar and duck fat fries at his new Lexington eatery. 712 W. Main St., Lexington
Stoner’s Pizza Joint: Opened in January. This pizza chain became the go-to pie place in the Main Street District after Persona Pizza closed in 2018. 1216 Washington St., Columbia
Home Team BBQ: Opened in May. This restaurant, which has roots in Charleston, was one of the most highly anticipated business openings of the year and quickly became a centerpiece in Five Points when it filled in the former Harper’s restaurant. 700 Harden St., Columbia
Piecewise coffee: Opened in May. This hangout spot in Cayce serves locally brewed Loveland Coffee and locally baked smallSUGAR sweets. 2001 State St., Cayce
Blum coffee shop: Opened in June. Owner Fran Miller boasts Blum’s homemade botanical syrups and concoctions such as a coffee soda at this hip cafe in the Devine Street district. 2824 Devine St., Columbia
Noma Bistro by Al-Amir: Opened in June. After closing his Al-Amir restaurant in the 1700 block of Main Street this spring, owner Mohammaed Saadedden moved a few blocks north into the growing North Main or “NOMA” area, bordered by the Cottontown, Elmwood Park and Earlewood neighborhoods, where he’s serving heaping portions of Mediterranean staples such as tabouli and Damascus hummus. 2431 Main St., Columbia
Black Rooster: Opened in August. Local celebrity chef and restaurateur Kristian Niemi opened his “Frenchish” restaurant in the fast-growing river district of West Columbia in the newly built Brookland apartment development. Besides dishes such as filet mignon au poivre and dijon pork schnitzel, you’ll also be treated to river and skyline views from the rooftop dining area. 201 Meeting St., West Columbia
Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea: Opened in August. A University of South Carolina graduate, Greg Dodd, opened this cafe near his alma mater on the ground level of a new student apartment tower downtown. 1002 Park St., Columbia
Bubba’s Biscuit: Opened in October. The owner of RF’s Corner Grill in Lexington also is serving up massive — like, massive — biscuit sandwiches filled with everything from pork chops and apples to shrimp and grits. Good lawd! 612 Whaley St., Columbia and 115 W. Main St., Lexington
BurgerIM: Opened in October. The Israel-based gourmet burger chain opened its first South Carolina restaurant in northeast Columbia. It’s known for its 3-ounce burgers in a variety of patty options, including beef, lamb, salmon, turkey, chicken and falafel. 1033 Roberts Branch Parkway, Columbia
Scott Benny’s International and American Cuisine: Opened in October. Scott Whipper fulfilled a dream of his late father’s when he grew his hot dog cart business into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar restaurant where he serves everything from hot dogs to pad thai to oxtails. 420 McNulty St., Blythewood
Hazelwood Brewing: Opened in November. Located in the former boiler room of the old mill on Lexington’s Main Street, Hazelwood’s pouring beers brewed from hops grown on owner Matt Rodgers’ own farm. It doesn’t get more local than that. 711 E. Main St., Lexington
Il Focolare Pizzeria: Opened in November. Acclaimed chef Sarah Simmons, who opened smallSUGAR bake shop and the cafe at the downtown Richland Library in 2018, has started a funky new pizza venture in Cottontown. 2150 Sumter St., Columbia
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: Opened in December. The first business to open in the new Cardinal Crossing development in Forest Acres, Bad Daddy’s specializes in build-your-own burgers and salads.
Market on Main: Opened in December. This unique food market-restaurant-bar combo joined the ever-growing energy of Main Street. Market on Main opened in the former Zoe’s Kitchen location near the corner of Main and Lady streets and has plans to open an outdoor seating and events area with a self-serve beer wall. 1320 Main St., Columbia
A quartet of Mexican restaurants: Try the bean dip at Brothers & Beer II (1270 Bower Parkway), have a beer served in a coconut at Cocos & Beer (4405 Fort Jackson Blvd.), or visit one of the two new locations of El Jimador (715 Fashion Drive and 514 Knox Abbott Drive).
The year of the crab: We count no fewer than six (SIX!) crab-focused restaurants that opened in the Columbia area this year: Fiery Crab Juicy Seafood (200 Graces Way), The Juicy Crab (1304 Bower Parkway), The Krab Hut (280 Harbison Blvd.), Submarine Crab (2300 Decker Blvd.), Wild Crab Seafood (275 Park Terrace Drive) and Yummi Crab (150 Forum Drive). And the Seafood Connection, which opened in August at 1072 Lake Murray Blvd., also heavily features crab on the menu.
This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
