Dig into salads, smoothies, pasta bowls, and sweet treats, all of which are so good you won’t believe they’re plant based. Opened in 2018 by a Columbia local and former fitness trainer with a passion for eating the rainbow, Tasty as Fit aims to change people’s perceptions of what it really means to eat healthy.

Keep it clean without sacrificing flavor through Tasty as Fit favorites like curry chickpea salad, PB&J smoothie, spicy “tuna” carrot roll, and tasty truffles. They recently opened a second location in Greenville so you can get your fix in more than one place.

Swamp Cabbage Brewing Company prides itself on having beer that pleases the palette, no matter what your tastes may be. From white IPAs to American-style ambers and blondes, you’ll find it all on tap at Swamp Cabbage. Tour their Columbia tap room to get up close to the beer making process, then stick around for a tasting or jump straight into a pint of your favorite brew style. 

Their newly-remodeled tap room is as much of a draw as the beer. Settle in for a long conversation with old friends or stop by for a raucous game day with fellow Gamecocks.

Mouthwatering meals are always on the menu at The War Mouth, but perhaps their biggest claim to fame is their whole-hog barbecue. With decades of practice cooking barbecue and a culinary education from Le Cordon Bleu’s Western Culinary Institute, Chef Rhett Elliott dreams up dishes that are well-balanced yet dangerously delicious. 

Try the Chicken Bog with sides of Carolina gold rice, homemade onion sausage, and scallions, or keep it classic with a full rack of ribs. You can even take The War Mouth home with you, as they bottle their one-of-a-kind BBQ sauce and Pepper Mash Aioli.

Come for the small-town diner feel, stay for the unbeatable food. Serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner since 1997, Café Strudel is a Columbia mainstay. Whether you’re craving a classic omelet or southern staple like Shrimp and Grits, the eats here will not disappoint. When you walk in, take special notice of the local art displayed around the restaurant – adding to the space’s distinct charm. Let’s face it, any place known for a dish called “Hangover Hashbrowns” is a winner in our book. 

Keep it classic with Home Team BBQ, serving up some of the best Carolina bbq in Columbia. They pair classic cooking techniques with simple comfort food favorites, creating cuisine you won’t want to miss. 

Sit in the spacious bar, open air patio, or sprawling dining room and dig into salads, sandwiches, and platters made from locally-sourced ingredients. Stop by their five other locations, one of which is all the way in Aspen, Colorado, to get your Home Team fix even when you’re not in Columbia.