The Red and Black

Are there NO places in Columbia that are not bars? Are there no good "family" restaurants, no places that aren't loaded with people who are bent on being drunk before they leave the building? I know that Athens now is composed of one bar after the other and the problem with alcohol, particularly underage drinking, is rampant, but is that the case in every city where there is a university? I'll bet the Columbia, South Carolina, Chamber of Commerce would take issue with your choices of "the" places to go, places that you shouldn't miss. Sounds to me that if you're driving back to Athens you might want to miss ALL of them. I've BEEN to the stadium in Columbia and have seen the state troopers "hiding" in the median just waiting . . .Just sayin...

The Village Idiot is a solid bar, but overrun with Gamecock fans.

Easy there Coastal. No one said you HAD to order a beer. It's Saturday, not Sunday after all.

Ah...this article was indeed written by a South Carolina college student.

It is true, 5 Points is a great place to go bar hopping. But ask Blake Mitchell, Stephen Garcia, and other Gamecock players...trouble lurks here. If you're looking for a quality bar experience, try Liberty Tap Room (in Columbia's Vista). It has an assortment of beers on tap, and also offers up some great food. The Vista is also where the Flying Saucer is.

Secondly, you aren't going to be going to the Carolina Ale House. It is about a 15 minute drive down the interstate, and unless your hotel is in that area of town, you won't find yourself anywhere near it.

If you're hell-bent on going to 5 Points, I'll give it to Tyler: definitely check out the Village Idiot (they have great pizza -- try the one with the white sauce) and Delaney's (they are already counting down to St. Patty's Day 2009).

CoastalDawg...looking for some family-friendly eats? Try Harper's or Yesterday's both in 5Points. If you're heading to the Vista (which is on Gervais Street -- one of the city's main drags), try Carolina Wings. You'll also find a Mellow Mushroom there as well.

My advice to make your weekend in Columbia great? Keep your head down when in 5 Points, the cops are out. Instead, head to the Vista...it's a little older crowd, but more mellow, and less trouble.

Go Dawgs!!!

I agree with Another SC Insider. There are a lot of things to do that this article fails to mention.

I lived in Columbia for 5 years and it's a great place.

If you have kids be sure to hit the zoo.

Also, if you're up by Rosewood Drive, try Rockaway for the best burgers in town (if you can find it) and Pizza Man.

Birds on a Wire on Devine...good food.

Lots of nice shops on Devine Street as well.

You can always hit Jillian's in the Vista for overpriced food, watered down drinks, and crowded space.

Hit Nonah's in the Vista for coffee and desert after a night out. Good food too. It's a classier place, so refrain from going if you are in a fraternity. You idiots don't know how to act on Gameday.

Stay away from 5 pts. If not, try Jungle Jims...one of those bars that just been around forever for no good reason. And it's a fav of USC athletes if you are the type of person that would like to harass them after we slap them around like the SEC step-children they are!

Coastal Dawg...suck it!

those are the crappiest bars in columbia ever. if you want a fun time go to locals of five points or next door to luckies. I would dare to say that Columbia is a better (and cheaper) drinking town than Athens.

coastal - what are you doing reading a college newspaper to find a family restaurant in columbia?

good call on the article. wish i'd had something like this when i went to tuscaloosa last fall.