Restaurant Roundup: Lexington bakery’s new lunch + Columbia BBQ event is moving
Welcome to the Restaurant Roundup, an occasional series where we take a look at news bits and items of interest in the food and restaurant scene in Columbia and across the Midlands. This week’s entry includes the launch of a new lunch menu at a local bakery, the introduction of a new beer at a Columbia-based brewery, and a new location for a regional barbecue event.
O’Hara’s Bakery Cafe, located at 121 E. Main St. in Lexington, launched its new lunch on Monday. The restaurant, which also offers breakfast, brunch, pastries and more, is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. The lunch side of the menu is available 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The lunch offerings at O’Hara’s Bakery Cafe include a pimento cheese BLT, a chicken salad croissant, a host of build-your-own sandwich options and more. It also includes a wrap called The Big G. That’s a grilled flour tortilla wrap stuffed with roasted turkey, fresh spinach, Swiss cheese, house-made tomato and bacon jam, and cranberry aioli.
Salads and soups also are part of the relaunched lunch offerings at O’Hara’s Bakery.
“We just want you to experience the goodness of these sandwiches,” the bakery said in a Tuesday Facebook post about the new lunch offerings. “Bread, spreads, pimento cheese and salad dressings are all housemade!”
BBQ Showdown moves to a new location in Columbia
A Midlands regional barbecue event has changed locations for its next go-round.
The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board announced Wednesday that the Southeastern BBQ Showdown will return to Columbia April 24-25, 2026. The event will be held at Gamecock Park, across Bluff Road from Williams-Brice Stadium. The first Southeastern BBQ Showdown, in summer 2024, was held at Segra Park at the BullStreet District.
“The Southeastern BBQ Showdown is more than just a food sport competition — it’s a celebration of Southern culture, flavor, and hospitality,” Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board president and CEO Miriam Atria said in a statement. “We’re proud to bring this world-class event back to Columbia and showcase all that our region has to offer. From the energy of Gamecock Park to the incredible pitmasters and entertainment, this event will once again put South Carolina on the national stage.”
Organizers said in a release that the barbecue event “will feature top-tier teams battling it out for major titles, prizes, and bragging rights.” There will also be a vendor expo, live music and barbecue sampling throughout the two-day event. Tickets are set to go on sale this fall.
Columbia’s Peak Drift Brewing launches a new beer
There’s a new beverage in the lineup for Columbia’s Peak Drift Brewing Company.
Peak Drift recently introduced Yacht Rock White Ale. The company describes it in a release as “a white ale that boasts a light body and cloudy white appearance, in the tradition of Belgian Witbier, with notes of coriander and orange peel and hopped with hand-selected Mandarina Bavaria.”
Yacht Rock White Ale will be available year-round. Peak Drift Brewing will host an official launch party for Yacht Rock at the at The Grill at the Clemson Marina from 2 to 6 p.m. April 26. There will be live music, giveaways and more.
“We saw a gap in the market for a craft white ale that delivers the flavor characteristics people love,” Chris Lutkowski, director of sales and chain accounts at Peak Drift parent company Craft Brew Inc., said in a release. “So, we set out to create the perfect balance — crisp, easy-drinking, and infused with notes of orange and coriander. Naming it ‘Yacht Rock’ felt like a natural fit because it’s inspired by the smooth, feel-good energy of the music genre.”
This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
