Midlands chef gets semifinalist nod from James Beard Awards for second-straight year
A Midlands restaurateur known for slinging Texas-style barbecue in an old treehouse cafe in West Columbia has been named a semifinalist by one of the country’s most prominent food awards.
It’s the second year in a row Robbie Robinson, pitmaster of City Limits Barbeque, has been in the running for a James Beard Award in the Best Chef: Southeast category. If Robinson wins, his eatery would join the only other Columbia-area restaurant to win a James Beard award after Lula Drake Wine Parlour won the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program honor last summer.
“Simply receiving attention from the James Beard Foundation speaks volumes about the level of culinary talent located in our region,” Bill Ellen, the CEO and President of Experience Columbia, said in a press release.
Robinson opened his barbecue joint, where he serves Texas-style brisket, pulled pork and an array of feel-good sides on weekends only, at 1119 Methodist Park Road in 2023 after spending more than seven years operating out of a food truck.
He’s since gained national recognition, both from prominent awards like the James Beards and from major media outlets like The New York Times and Texas Monthly magazine. In late September, City Limits was named one of the top 50 restaurants of the year by The New York Times.
The James Beard Foundation awards recognize culinary talent and excellence from across the country and are considered to be one of the most prestigious honors a restaurant or bar can receive. Columbia had largely been ignored by the awards, which were established in 1990, until two years ago when the foundation named three semi-finalists from the state’s capital – Jessica Shillato of Spotted Salamander, the culinary team behind City Grit Hospitality group, and Lula Drake.
Last year, Tim Gardner, the head sommelier and owner of Lula Drake, and his staff, brought home the city’s first honor during a June ceremony in Chicago. Robinson was nominated in the Best Chef: Southeast category last year. Chefs Tyrone and Kitwanda “Kiki” Cyrus, owners of Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, were also named semifinalists last year.
If Robinson moves on to the nominee round, which will be announced April 2, he will compete against four other chefs from across the Southeast for the coveted award set to be announced June 16.
“I bought a tuxedo last year,” Robinson said, when asked if he hoped to attend this year’s ceremony. “The tuxedo and the shoes and the shirt, that’s in the closet ready to go. The accountant in me would really like to get a little bit more utilization out of that acquisition.”
Two other South Carolina restaurants, both in Charleston, were named semifinalists in this year’s awards – Chubby Fish, in the Outstanding Restaurant category, and Graft Wine Shop, in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
