I’ve never been a morning person. I’ve always thought anything before noon should be illegal. Just let me sleep in, wake up sans the alarm clock, and everything will be alright. But the one thing I would get up early for is a great breakfast. Even better – brunch.
And that’s when I visited Columbia, South Carolina.
The capital city of the Palmetto State is a surprising foodie destination. Homegrown chefs are marinating meats, bringing ingredients straight from the farms, and whipping up wonderful delicacies. And when it comes to brunch – that special combination of pancakes, eggs, and burgers on the same menu – Columbia does it better than most destinations.
Keep reading to find out where you should get brunch in Columbia – and read about my favorite brunch spot in the city.
Map of Best Brunches in Columbia
How to use this map: Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the star beside the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.
No. 1
Café Strudel
“Everyone loves the Hangover Hashbrowns,” the waitress instantly explained. She didn’t need a moment to think about what to suggest I have for brunch at Café Strudel. Hangover Hashbrowns it was, then.
Trip and Marila Turbyfill opened the restaurant in 1997, just a few doors down from their current location. It was a tiny restaurant, but the food was fantastic, and they quickly gained a following. In 2000, they moved into a former bank building and quadrupled their seating capacity. In 2012, they purchased and renovated a 1920s commercial building on State Street, adding even more seating for the popular restaurant.
Their brunch menu leans more toward the breakfast end of the spectrum. The Breakfast Bowl, Sunrise Burrito, and Crab Cake Benedict are some of the popular items on the menu. The Hangover Hashbrowns – crispy hash smothered in sharp cheddar, onions, banana peppers, tomato, and sour cream – was named a favorite dish of the year by Southern Living.
Info: 300 State St, West Columbia, SC | 803-794-4663 | http://cafestrudel.com
No. 2
Boku Kitchen and Saloon
Boku Kitchen and Saloon is one of the latest restaurants to open in Columbia’s Vista district – the downtown area surrounding Gervais Street near the Statehouse. The restaurant brings Pan-Asian-style food to the city with fresh ingredients and just about everything made in-house.
Their Dim Sum Brunch Menu – served on Saturdays and Sundays only – features wontons, egg rolls, spring rolls, and dumplings cooked fresh every day. And the brunch menu includes cocktails like the 64-ounce Boku Bloody Mary – it’s practically a meal on its own, and you might need to bring a friend.
916 Gervais St, Columbia, SC | 803-708-8857 | www.bokukitchenandsaloon.com
No. 3
Motor Supply Company Bistro
Dining at the Motor Supply Company Bistro is like going on a blind date. Featuring farm-fresh ingredients and seasonal meals, the menus change daily – you never really know what you might find when you arrive.
Owner Eddie Wales and Executive Chef Wesley Fulmer like running a restaurant devoted to local ingredients and creating a special “farm-to-fork” experience. Each day farmers in the region supply the restaurant with the freshest ingredients of the season, and the chef goes to work creating the menu. The bacon-infused Bloody Mary is one frequently available staple for the brunch menu.
920 Gervais St, Columbia, SC | 803-256-6668 | www.motorsupplycobistro.com
No. 4
The Grand on Main
In the 1900s, The Grand was a Vaudeville House & Theatre. Today, it’s a casual upscale restaurant with a boutique bowling alley and secret cocktail lounge. And on Saturdays and Sundays, they’re open for brunch.
After browsing for local arts and crafts at the Soda City Market, brunch at The Grand on Main would only be fitting. It’s a unique opportunity in Columbia to enjoy chicken and waffles, chicken and cheddar herb biscuits smothered in country gravy, and a mimosa flight while flinging heavy balls down a bowling lane.
1621 Main St, Columbia, SC | 803-766-6015 | www.thegrandonmain.com
No. 5
Publico
Founded by Robert McCarthy and Michael Duganier, Publico brings Latin-American food to the capital city – and a savory brunch every Sunday. The restaurant is located at Segra Park, the home of the Columbia Fireflies, in the Five Points area of the city. The brightly lit restaurant is an invigorating place to start the weekend with a late-morning meal.
Order the Breakfast Burger with an over-easy egg on top, Steak and Egg Tacos, or their Calentado – brown rice, black beans, house salsa, and spicy Mexican chorizo topped with a sunny side up egg and served with corn tostadas. Finish the meal with one of their signature Brunch Libations.
2180 Boyce St STE A, Columbia, SC | 803-726-6652 | www.publicobullstreet.com
Did you know? The Five Points has been one of the hottest growing areas of Columbia since Segra Park opened in 2016. There are still many plans for the district, but you can now shop at one of the state’s only REI locations.
No. 6
The Gourmet Shop
Opened in 1979, The Gourmet Shop is one of the only places in Columbia where you can enjoy brunch seven days per week. It’s also the only shop in the city where you’ll find imported wines, cheese, cookware, and cigars under one roof.
The brunch menu is small, but every item entices the tastebuds. Order scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese on a buttery croissant, a delicious panini sandwich with eggs, parrano cheese, and roasted red peppers, and the Belgian waffle with mixed berries and homemade syrup. Afterward – when you realize you need to walk off that amazing brunch – explore the various shops in the Five Points neighborhood.
724 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC | 803-799-9370 | www.thegourmetshop.net
No. 7
DiPrato’s
DiPrato’s is just a bit off the beaten path in a quiet neighborhood at the edge of the University of South Carolina’s campus. Opened in 2004, the family-friendly restaurant specializes in homemade pimento cheese, savory bread, and delicious sandwiches.
Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday, and their menu offers some of the greatest selections in the city. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes are only the start – you can also choose an omelet, specialty sandwich, or one of the chef’s favorites like Huevos Rancheros – two black bean cakes topped with poached eggs and salsa verde served with chorizo sausage and cheese quesadilla.
342 Pickens St, Columbia, SC | 803-779-9060 | www.dipratos.com
National Park Week 2024
Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.
No. 8
The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli
If you’ve been to The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli once, you’ll always go back. And if you’ve never been, it will be the best foodie experience of the year. Owners Jody and Richard Kreush, a rare mother-and-son team, opened the restaurant on Devine Street in 2016 to serve New York-style deli sandwiches.
But what they’re most famously known for are the giant specialty cinnamon rolls. Each the size of a large adult’s hand, the freshly baked cinnamon rolls topped with apples or graham cracker crumbles or strawberry cheesecake is a mouthwatering start to any day of the week. But don’t worry – you can still order breakfast sandwiches, NYC pushcart dogs, and specialty sandwiches.
2617 Devine St, Columbia, SC | 803-465-5494 | www.thecinnamonrolldeli.com
No. 9
Za’s on Devine
In 2015, four college buddies bought a sixteen-year-old restaurant, renovated the interior into a chic rustic casual atmosphere, and revamped the menu to feature Italian-inspired dishes. The result was a restaurant featuring brick oven pizzas, wood-fired wings, meatball sliders, and giant plates of pasta.
But on Saturdays and Sundays, it’s all about the brunch menu. The Biscuit and Gravy Benedict features homemade basil parmesan biscuits, poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce topped with Italian gravy, and a brick oven-baked Breakfast Pizza topped with homemade spinach and artichoke dip quiche, Canadian bacon, diced tomatoes, even more, bacon, and smothered with five cheeses.
2930 Devine St, Columbia, SC | 803-771-1733 | www.zasbrickovenpizza.com
No. 10
Tazza Kitchen
Not quite a local eatery, Tazza Kitchen was founded in Richmond, Virginia, and has since spread to the Raleigh area of North Carolina and Trenholm Plaza in Columbia. The small restaurant chain features wood-fired cooking and uses local ingredients as much as possible. The Columbia location features a bright and airy restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking the Publix shopping center.
On Saturdays and Sundays, all attention turns to their brunch menu. You’ll find breakfast bowls, sandwiches, and brick oven pizzas on the menu. But the highlights are the Brunch Plates like Crab Cake Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, and their fresh-baked Brioche French Toast smothered in cashew praline butter, blueberry vincotto sauce, basil, cashews, whipped mascarpone.
4840 Forest Dr #20, Columbia, SC | 803-782-2076 | http://tazzakitchen.com/locations/trenholmplaza
2 Responses
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that The Gourmet Shop serves brunch seven days a week!
Thanks for letting me know! I updated the article.