Easily one of the best in Columbia. It’s a great place for special occasions or appetizers and drinks on a night out. In the heart of downtown and their food never disappoints. My husband is obsessed with the Flounder (which comes with bones and usually sells out). We enjoyed the fried deviled eggs and fried asparagus (new one for me). Tonight we tried the blood orange martini, blueberry mojito, and beef tips as well as the spice rubbed chicken entree. Yum!
LaSandra Teixeira
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March 15, 2024
*** 3/23/24 Returned to celebrating my dear friend's 50th birthday at Cola’s, and it was a delightful experience. The staff made the occasion extra special by acknowledging his birthday and offering warm wishes. The food was simply delicious, with the flounder being the standout dish for me – it's truly the best. We also enjoyed the shrimp Savannah, which was worth a try. Cola’s is a fantastic dinner spot with a menu that caters to any palate, offering fresh and flavorful dishes. I highly recommend it for a memorable dining experience."
** Update- Returned and Had a fantastic time at Cola's with a friend! The service was top-notch, and the food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend.
Recently had a family dinner at Cola's, and it was an outstanding experience! The food was served hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The flounder, in particular, stood out - perfectly seasoned, fried to a crisp, and simply the best. The portions were sizable, ensuring everyone left satisfied. The ambiance and dining area added to the overall enjoyment of the evening. I highly recommend Cola's for anyone seeking a delightful dining experience with fantastic food and a welcoming atmosphere.
#TeSheraEats
Leonard Burnette
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November 17, 2023
On October 19, 2023, we had the opportunity to dine at Cola's Restaurant, located at 1215 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. We had heard glowing recommendations from some friends, so we were eager to give it a try. To ensure a relaxed dining experience, we made a reservation for 5 pm, right when the restaurant opened.
As we stepped inside, we were immediately struck by the inviting atmosphere. Cola's had all the makings of a cozy spot for a delightful dinner. Being among the first patrons of the evening, we expected our dining experience to go smoothly.
Our waiter promptly took our drink orders, but there was a bit of a wait - about 15 minutes - before our drinks arrived. Another 15 minutes passed before we were presented with a basket of bread. While the time wasn't a significant issue, it set the stage for the rest of the evening.
For appetizers, we ordered the BBQ Egg Rolls and Fried Devil Eggs, along with a side salad. It took an additional 30 minutes before these arrived at our table. The BBQ Egg Rolls were a pleasant surprise, a fantastic start to our meal. However, the Fried Devil Eggs didn't fare as well; the fried breading overshadowed the taste of the eggs, and no amount of sauces, salt, or pepper could salvage them.
My wife ordered the famous fish dish, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I opted for the pork chop with mac & cheese and sweet potato. Unfortunately, my meal took a turn for the worse:
The pork chop, while visually appealing, turned out to be tough and difficult to cut, even with the provided knife.
The mac & cheese lacked flavor and didn't meet our expectations.
The sweet potato, supposed to be seasoned with cinnamon, was disappointingly plain and not sweet as described.
I have what I humorously call the "Burnette 3 Strike Rule." If one dish disappoints, I give the restaurant a chance to make amends. If two dishes fall short, I'm willing to give them another shot unless we've been waiting excessively long. However, when three dishes miss the mark, it significantly dampens my dining experience. Sadly, that was the case this time.
All I could do was watch as my wife enjoyed her meal. She had a pleasant dining experience, but I couldn't help but feel let down. Although the manager made an effort to rectify the situation, after over 2.5 hours and the "Burnette 3 Strike Rule," my appetite was gone.
Cola's Restaurant, while offering a wonderful atmosphere and a satisfying dish for my wife, appeared to lag in technological advancements that could streamline service. The back-and-forth between the waiter and the kitchen seemed to eat up a lot of time, even though we were among the first guests.
Would I recommend it? Perhaps for my wife's choice, the fish, and the lovely atmosphere. Would I return? It's unlikely.
Greg Coreschi
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May 07, 2024
Three stars overall, but a nice place, and a pleasant experience. Second time eating here. The restaurant has a nice vibe overall. Belle was our waitress, and she was superb. We had brussel sprouts and calamari for appetizer. Sprouts were very good, but I'd only order for a party of 3 or more, as you can only eat so much of it. Calamari was not noteworthy either way. I ordered braised beef for my main. Again, not especially noteworthy. Tender enough, and a large portion. Too large for me actually, and I wished it had stronger flavors. We had coffee and dessert, which was fine.
While overall it was enjoyable, and I'd happily eat there again, I can't say it felt like a meal that was worth the price we paid, especially considering other places we ate, and we did not have any alcohol.
Rodney Etheridge
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November 08, 2023
So me and 2ic decided to have a date night. It had been a while. And we decided to go somewhere and dress up. But to go somewhere that wouldn't break the bank. So I did some investigating. And landed on cola. The one thing negative and I will address that first.. is parking. The parking that is allocated for cola... is super small amd tight. But there was nearby paid parking...actually really close so it wasn't that bad. But free parking is always better. So I had made reservations.... we arrived a little early so the table wasn't ready. But the wait wasn't very long at all. I was expecting more intimate dining..but to me the tables were a bit close together. The waitress was nice. We thought she did a good job. It was her first night alone . So right out the gate they gave us bread. It was great. Nice and sift and tasty. .. so we were off to a good start. And to be honest the food didn't take a long to make it to us. I had some fried devil eggs. To die for... all the food was good. Flavourful... ans decent portions. I can say this is a great spot to go on a date or just enjoy some good food. Now it's not super expensive....but not cheap either..we had 2 appetizers and 2 meals. And tea.. amd our tab was 100. .but definitely worth a try.
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1215 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
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Easily one of the best in Columbia. It’s a great place for special occasions or appetizers and drinks on a night out. In the heart of downtown and their food never disappoints. My husband is obsessed with the Flounder (which comes with bones and usually sells out). We enjoyed the fried deviled eggs and fried asparagus (new one for me). Tonight we tried the blood orange martini, blueberry mojito, and beef tips as well as the spice rubbed chicken entree. Yum!
*** 3/23/24 Returned to celebrating my dear friend's 50th birthday at Cola’s, and it was a delightful experience. The staff made the occasion extra special by acknowledging his birthday and offering warm wishes. The food was simply delicious, with the flounder being the standout dish for me – it's truly the best. We also enjoyed the shrimp Savannah, which was worth a try. Cola’s is a fantastic dinner spot with a menu that caters to any palate, offering fresh and flavorful dishes. I highly recommend it for a memorable dining experience." ** Update- Returned and Had a fantastic time at Cola's with a friend! The service was top-notch, and the food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. Recently had a family dinner at Cola's, and it was an outstanding experience! The food was served hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The flounder, in particular, stood out - perfectly seasoned, fried to a crisp, and simply the best. The portions were sizable, ensuring everyone left satisfied. The ambiance and dining area added to the overall enjoyment of the evening. I highly recommend Cola's for anyone seeking a delightful dining experience with fantastic food and a welcoming atmosphere. #TeSheraEats
On October 19, 2023, we had the opportunity to dine at Cola's Restaurant, located at 1215 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. We had heard glowing recommendations from some friends, so we were eager to give it a try. To ensure a relaxed dining experience, we made a reservation for 5 pm, right when the restaurant opened. As we stepped inside, we were immediately struck by the inviting atmosphere. Cola's had all the makings of a cozy spot for a delightful dinner. Being among the first patrons of the evening, we expected our dining experience to go smoothly. Our waiter promptly took our drink orders, but there was a bit of a wait - about 15 minutes - before our drinks arrived. Another 15 minutes passed before we were presented with a basket of bread. While the time wasn't a significant issue, it set the stage for the rest of the evening. For appetizers, we ordered the BBQ Egg Rolls and Fried Devil Eggs, along with a side salad. It took an additional 30 minutes before these arrived at our table. The BBQ Egg Rolls were a pleasant surprise, a fantastic start to our meal. However, the Fried Devil Eggs didn't fare as well; the fried breading overshadowed the taste of the eggs, and no amount of sauces, salt, or pepper could salvage them. My wife ordered the famous fish dish, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I opted for the pork chop with mac & cheese and sweet potato. Unfortunately, my meal took a turn for the worse: The pork chop, while visually appealing, turned out to be tough and difficult to cut, even with the provided knife. The mac & cheese lacked flavor and didn't meet our expectations. The sweet potato, supposed to be seasoned with cinnamon, was disappointingly plain and not sweet as described. I have what I humorously call the "Burnette 3 Strike Rule." If one dish disappoints, I give the restaurant a chance to make amends. If two dishes fall short, I'm willing to give them another shot unless we've been waiting excessively long. However, when three dishes miss the mark, it significantly dampens my dining experience. Sadly, that was the case this time. All I could do was watch as my wife enjoyed her meal. She had a pleasant dining experience, but I couldn't help but feel let down. Although the manager made an effort to rectify the situation, after over 2.5 hours and the "Burnette 3 Strike Rule," my appetite was gone. Cola's Restaurant, while offering a wonderful atmosphere and a satisfying dish for my wife, appeared to lag in technological advancements that could streamline service. The back-and-forth between the waiter and the kitchen seemed to eat up a lot of time, even though we were among the first guests. Would I recommend it? Perhaps for my wife's choice, the fish, and the lovely atmosphere. Would I return? It's unlikely.
Three stars overall, but a nice place, and a pleasant experience. Second time eating here. The restaurant has a nice vibe overall. Belle was our waitress, and she was superb. We had brussel sprouts and calamari for appetizer. Sprouts were very good, but I'd only order for a party of 3 or more, as you can only eat so much of it. Calamari was not noteworthy either way. I ordered braised beef for my main. Again, not especially noteworthy. Tender enough, and a large portion. Too large for me actually, and I wished it had stronger flavors. We had coffee and dessert, which was fine. While overall it was enjoyable, and I'd happily eat there again, I can't say it felt like a meal that was worth the price we paid, especially considering other places we ate, and we did not have any alcohol.
So me and 2ic decided to have a date night. It had been a while. And we decided to go somewhere and dress up. But to go somewhere that wouldn't break the bank. So I did some investigating. And landed on cola. The one thing negative and I will address that first.. is parking. The parking that is allocated for cola... is super small amd tight. But there was nearby paid parking...actually really close so it wasn't that bad. But free parking is always better. So I had made reservations.... we arrived a little early so the table wasn't ready. But the wait wasn't very long at all. I was expecting more intimate dining..but to me the tables were a bit close together. The waitress was nice. We thought she did a good job. It was her first night alone . So right out the gate they gave us bread. It was great. Nice and sift and tasty. .. so we were off to a good start. And to be honest the food didn't take a long to make it to us. I had some fried devil eggs. To die for... all the food was good. Flavourful... ans decent portions. I can say this is a great spot to go on a date or just enjoy some good food. Now it's not super expensive....but not cheap either..we had 2 appetizers and 2 meals. And tea.. amd our tab was 100. .but definitely worth a try.