I had high hopes for this restaurant, but everything was just average. The ambiance was nice, but nothing stood out. The food was okay—not bad, but not memorable either. Service was fine, but lacked warmth or enthusiasm. It’s not a bad spot, but it didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Peggy Crane
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May 10, 2025
It was a nice lunch for our large group. We had a big round table that could hold 8-10. The menu was pretty big, but we all ended up having different renditions of 3 dishes (shrimp and grits/crab cake/pasta) The service was a little slow especially since the restaurant wasn’t full. The drinks were good and the food was served in generous portions.
William Grant
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May 17, 2025
Had a reservation for 5:30. Seated outside very quickly. It’s 6:59 and the main course has not arrived. Waitress keeps saying it’s on its way. Asked to speak to the manager. Joann came to apologize at 7:03. She was very pleasant. The show at the colonial life arena starts at 8:00. I hope the food is fantastic. Waitress Lauren was apologetic. I ordered a Cobb Salad with medium grilled salmon. The salad came with all the ingredients already mixed up and the salmon was dry! I asked for unsweetened iced tea. When I got a refill Lauren forgot I was having unsweetened tea and poured sweetened tea into my glass. It took forever to get my check. I will never go back.
J.B. Lorenty
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April 02, 2025
After hearing so much about Blue Marlin, we were excited to finally give it a try. We arrived around 8 p.m. on a Tuesday, and the place was nearly full—always a good sign.
Unfortunately, the enthusiasm dipped a bit after that. We started with the calamari appetizer. While the sauce was flavorful, the calamari itself was overly crispy with very little actual meat. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially with other more promising options on the menu.
For our main course, two people in our group ordered salads—the wedge and the Caesar. Both were just okay—nothing special, not terrible, but not memorable either.
I had the pan-seared scallops, substituting the sweet mash for regular mashed potatoes. This dish was the highlight of the night. The scallops were fresh, cooked perfectly, and complemented by a light, well-balanced sauce. The Brussels sprouts, though slightly overcooked, still had a nice flavor. I’d highly recommend this entrée.
For dessert, one of us tried the key lime pie and was very disappointed. It was served at room temperature, and the flavor seemed off—possibly a bad batch or something that had been sitting out too long. Definitely a hard pass on that one.
Overall, this was an average experience. I might return if I’m craving seafood, but with several better dining options in town, I’d probably explore those first before coming back to Blue Marlin.
Gerard Scheffler
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May 10, 2025
Visited Blue Marlin in Columbia for a late drink and some appetizers—nothing heavy, just wanted to check the place out. We requested an outdoor table, and with a graduation event going on in the city, it took about 10–15 minutes to get seated. While we waited, I grabbed a local IPA at the bar. It was a busy Friday night, and the atmosphere was lively both inside and out.
We ordered a couple of appetizers. I always try the Fried Calamari wherever I go, and Blue Marlin's “Pecan Dusted Calamari” was a pleasant surprise—crispy with a unique crunch. We also had the Ahi Tuna starter, which was absolutely delicious, and a fresh salad to go with it.
Overall, a great experience. We’ll definitely be back to try more. Highly recommended!
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1200 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
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I had high hopes for this restaurant, but everything was just average. The ambiance was nice, but nothing stood out. The food was okay—not bad, but not memorable either. Service was fine, but lacked warmth or enthusiasm. It’s not a bad spot, but it didn’t quite live up to expectations.
It was a nice lunch for our large group. We had a big round table that could hold 8-10. The menu was pretty big, but we all ended up having different renditions of 3 dishes (shrimp and grits/crab cake/pasta) The service was a little slow especially since the restaurant wasn’t full. The drinks were good and the food was served in generous portions.
Had a reservation for 5:30. Seated outside very quickly. It’s 6:59 and the main course has not arrived. Waitress keeps saying it’s on its way. Asked to speak to the manager. Joann came to apologize at 7:03. She was very pleasant. The show at the colonial life arena starts at 8:00. I hope the food is fantastic. Waitress Lauren was apologetic. I ordered a Cobb Salad with medium grilled salmon. The salad came with all the ingredients already mixed up and the salmon was dry! I asked for unsweetened iced tea. When I got a refill Lauren forgot I was having unsweetened tea and poured sweetened tea into my glass. It took forever to get my check. I will never go back.
After hearing so much about Blue Marlin, we were excited to finally give it a try. We arrived around 8 p.m. on a Tuesday, and the place was nearly full—always a good sign. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm dipped a bit after that. We started with the calamari appetizer. While the sauce was flavorful, the calamari itself was overly crispy with very little actual meat. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially with other more promising options on the menu. For our main course, two people in our group ordered salads—the wedge and the Caesar. Both were just okay—nothing special, not terrible, but not memorable either. I had the pan-seared scallops, substituting the sweet mash for regular mashed potatoes. This dish was the highlight of the night. The scallops were fresh, cooked perfectly, and complemented by a light, well-balanced sauce. The Brussels sprouts, though slightly overcooked, still had a nice flavor. I’d highly recommend this entrée. For dessert, one of us tried the key lime pie and was very disappointed. It was served at room temperature, and the flavor seemed off—possibly a bad batch or something that had been sitting out too long. Definitely a hard pass on that one. Overall, this was an average experience. I might return if I’m craving seafood, but with several better dining options in town, I’d probably explore those first before coming back to Blue Marlin.
Visited Blue Marlin in Columbia for a late drink and some appetizers—nothing heavy, just wanted to check the place out. We requested an outdoor table, and with a graduation event going on in the city, it took about 10–15 minutes to get seated. While we waited, I grabbed a local IPA at the bar. It was a busy Friday night, and the atmosphere was lively both inside and out. We ordered a couple of appetizers. I always try the Fried Calamari wherever I go, and Blue Marlin's “Pecan Dusted Calamari” was a pleasant surprise—crispy with a unique crunch. We also had the Ahi Tuna starter, which was absolutely delicious, and a fresh salad to go with it. Overall, a great experience. We’ll definitely be back to try more. Highly recommended!