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Mr Friendly's New Southern Cafe
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for Mr Friendly's New Southern Cafe
Review Highlights
"Great cocktails and extensive wine list too."
(in 5 reviews)
"Do not miss the fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese..."
(in 5 reviews)
"Pretty much every dish had grits in it."
(in 6 reviews)
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Curt K.
Columbia, SC
11/4/2011
I love this place. Rick always has something new on the menu and I have never, ever been disappointed with anything I've been served.
If you want really good, gormet food without having to dress up, this is the place to go. They always have some sort of wine special and I'm never disappointed with that selection either.
I love the dining rooms and bar. The walls contain local art from very talented artists.
Finally, the staff is what seals the deal. Everyone is attentive, efficient and they know the food and wine. Combine that with how friendly they are and you can understand how they live up to their name.
OH! And if you've never tried their burgers or meatloaf, you're missing out.Listed in: Dinner Places in Columbia
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Review from Wayne R.
Decatur, GA
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I eat here on most trips to Columbia and always have good meals and drinks. Reliable and distinctive.
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Review from Jonathan Z.
Columbia, SC
11/19/2011
We didn't expect a whole lot and were very pleasantly surprised by this place located in 5 Points. It features very decent new Southern food using a lot of locally sourced ingredients. The fried green tomato and bacon pimento cheese stack sounded great on the menu but I was disappointed as it was just kind of a mushy mess. The CIty Roots salad was very good as was the Roasted Beet salad. For the main, I had a good meatloaf special with a blue cheese BBQ sauce and mashed potatoes. It really was like a meatloaf steak and was so big I couldn't finish it but the flavor was excellent. My wife had a swordfish special that was tasty as well. The apple spring rolls are a nice sweet finish with some vanilla ice cream. Valet parking, a decent wine list, very friendly staff, and good food overall at a reasonable price. What more do you want?
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Review from Laurel B.
Columbia, SC
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the best places in Columbi!. By far the best lunch around and they've got one of the 2 best steaks in town (the other is Terra's steak frites). Service is knowledgeable, friendly, and makes you feel very comfortable. Never had a bad meal here and I've had most of the menu, but usually order whatever amazing specials they come up with. Great cocktails and extensive wine list too. In my top 5!
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Review from Annie R.
Columbia, SC
7/13/2011
Mr. Friendly's is my favorite place to eat in Columbia. The food is wonderful. It's traditional southern with a nice twist. The prices are good for the quality of food. The service is wonderful, quick, and always attentive. I've had to wait a little while before (even on a tuesday night) because they don't take reservations but the bartender was quick and helpful, making the wait much easier. There's always a good number of people in there and occaisionally gets loud. But the wait and the noise doesn't deter from the wonderful atmosphere and the fantastic food.
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Review from Lana C.
Lutz, FL
9/7/2010
The menu is so inventive and the food was delicious!
Do not miss the fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese appetizer. YUM!
Also, if the red, white, & blue cheesecake is being served, you will not be disappointed! -
Review from lindsey r.
Austin, TX
5/15/2008
You can't go wrong with a place called Mr. Friendly's. And I didn't. The place is warm and bustling, and parking is a bit of a bitch. The restaurant is split into two sections, plus outside seating. At the time, the walls were full of oil paintings of pedigreed pooches, and I enjoyed making eye contact with a plaintive pug while I sipped my Cab Sauv.
I got the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, and they had a delicious surprise sandwiched between the slices: pimento cheese! A southern girl's bread and butter.
Pretty much every dish had grits in it. This is what I expected going to Mr. Friendly's in South Carolina. I would have been pissed if there wasn't grits in my ice cream.
I got some kind of "Grit Bowl of the Day" which, as you would expect, changes daily. Mine had chicken, duck, peppers, mushrooms, mishmash, and other stuff. It was good. Didn't blow my mind, but good. The duck was a little chewy.
The wine list is extensive, maybe a bit pricey. I'm not really a fan of high-priced Southern food, but this place seemed genuine. In all honesty, I prefer a greasy spoon with seasoned waitresses and hairspray in my food. God bless, y'all! -
Review from S. L.
Washington, DC
7/13/2010
A surprisingly really solid find in Columbia, SC.
Local tomato salad and peach/mustard glazed salmon were solid choices. Nothing to fantasize about, but quite good nonetheless. The grits alone are worth another trip to the restaurant. The killer? The absolutely divine, phenomenal chocolate/toffee/caramel/pecan ridiculousness of a dessert... essentially a toffee pecan candy bar on top of a delicious but not too sweet chocolate cake/torte. Simply amazing. -
Review from Jina R.
Pacifica, CA
1/22/2010
This place was alright. I went here with my friends during Restaurant Week, so it was pretty busy. I made reservations and when we got there, they were only able to seat half our party when there was another table completely open right next to it. Instead, they sat another party at that table and the rest of us had to wait an extra 20 min, while my friends had already ordered. Then they tried to set up a table on the complete opposite side of the restaurant when they had other open tables near our other friends. I had to request for them to seat us next to our friends...who does that?
Anyways, on the food... I ordered calamari for an appetizer and it tasted like regular calamari... nothing special. My friend ordered fried green tomatoes and the stuffing they put in between the tomatoes overpowered the tomatoes. She still enjoyed them. My other friend ordered some lobster corndog thing and it was okay, but they only give you two tiny pieces... so not worth it. For my entree, I ordered the meatloaf and that was pretty good. I'd get it again. I don't know how the other entrees tasted. Last, but not least, my friend got the moonpie dessert. Wasn't close to the normal moonpie and he barely took a bite.
Service... The service was excellent... that's after we got seated. The server was prompt, courteous, and friendly. Couldn't have asked for better.
Overall... I don't think it was worth it. Nothing excited me too much about the place or the food.
Note: The restaurant is behind some hotel or something...forgot the name, but it was across the street from a bar. My friends and I had a little trouble finding it when using the GPS. -
Review from Kyle K.
11/2/2009
Went here on a Thursday night and gotta say I really liked the place. Solid service and food. The fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese were basic but pretty tasty. The black bean soup was good, but really more like chili. Unlike any black bean soup I've ever seen??? The lady had salmon, which was quite tasty with a mango sauce/ topping deal, grits, and veggies. I had blackened grouper with a crawdad cream sauce, collard greens and you guessed it-grits. The fish wasn't as spicy as other blackened items I've had elsewhere but it was good nonetheless.
Keep in mind they do not take reservations-we waited about 10 minutes on a Thursday at about 8:30. I suspect it could be much longer on the weekend. -
Review from Becky S.
Kansas City, MO
5/19/2009
Great little restaurant. They have a small patio if you like to eat outside. Wonderful, creative menu with daily specials. My friend and I both had fish and they were cooked perfectly. Another friend ordered the ribeye with tomatillo mole'. He loved it!!
they also had a wonderful wine selection! Parking is limited but they offer a complimentary valet. -
Review from Gerry O.
Miami, FL
11/23/2010 2 Check-ins Here
A hidden gem. Incredibly friendly staff, relaxed unpretentious atmosphere, varied menu, and fantastic food. DON'T miss this place.
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Review from Randall D.
Columbia, SC
3/14/2011
This has been my go-to restaurant in Columbia's Five Points area for well over a decade. Excellent specials, very good everyday menu, great service and unfailing consistency. I live in the neighborhood, and have eaten more meals at Mr. Friendly's than any other establishment in Columbia. You won't find a place with better service or more consistently good food at fair prices. Casual and unpretentious. Arrive early -- no reservations accepted, and if you get there at 7 PM, you'll spend awhile waiting at the bar for a table.
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Review from Lindsey B.
Lexington, SC
1/16/2011
Old standby and favorite, good food, innovative, probably you won't be disappointed dining here. A bit close fit on the tables, though, and atmosphere is minimal, just barely enough for the pricing.
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Review from Jeffery H.
Knoxville, TN
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Grits were nothing special... Fried Green Tomatoes were good but doable anywhere... Pimento Cheese was very well done. Overall, I will stay on the interstate next time.
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Review from Mike M.
Greensboro, NC
7/19/2010
My first day in Columbia on business, and got the chance to go here for lunch today. Due to my constant travel and eating out, eating salads at lunch has become an unfortunate regularity. Fortunately, this was not a mundane salad shack for hapless iceberg connoisseurs. I had the bronzed tilapia spinach salad which was great. The tilapia was great, with blue cheese and peaches on the salad. Also had the balsamic peach dressing which is what I'll be coming back for. Great quick, healthy and tasty lunch. Service was also great, definitely be back to check out some more options.
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Review from B B.
Fayetteville, NC
1/1/2010
DELICIOUS... just right size for lunch restaurant with a few tables/ booths/outdoor seating with your friends, or hanging out for beers in teh evening. Decent bar offerings and specials available. We made a special stop for lunch as we were in town for the zoo and were treated to some delicious meals and great service. Shrimp & grits were well done and the kids sandwiches were perfect. It won't jump out at you from the road, so be careful with the GPS or stop and ask someone for directions if you can't find it.
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Review from Don F.
10/4/2008
First meal while visiting Columbia. I ordered Cat fish, curly frys, coleslaw. The wife had Tilipia fish with sweet corn relish. GREAT meal! I tried the sweet tea, very good. We had room to split a dessert. Chocolate cake with Amaretto moose, strawberries & whip cream. Wow. The wait staff was really nice.
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Review from Tonya P.
Charlotte, NC
9/1/2009 5 photos
Mr. Friendly's is that restaurant that is good for a mixed group, it's not fancy, but good wine list and creative food for those who want it and basic menu items for those who don't. I have eaten there a couple of times, my first visit, I remember specifically my server being really pleasant and really good gazpacho. I have been a couple of times since then and it never lets me down. It is in the Five Points area, it is nice to walk around, shop or sip cocktails!!!
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Review from D C.
Lexington, SC
3/24/2011
Eaten here several times. One of most favorite restaurants in Columbia. The service is awesome and the food is amazing. It's a little costly, but it's perfect for a special occasion. I wouldn't come here with a big group (over 4) because it really is a small place. Totally worth checking out... again, and again, and again. I just love this place.
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Review from Jen G.
Washington, DC
7/18/2008
Mr. Friendly's is awesome. The menu offers Southern Food in a creative way. They use Adluh Mill grits, which are local, and the best in the South. They have an incredible wine list and dining there with friends - for lunch OR dinner - is always enjoyable. I lived in Columbia for 10 years and this was one of my staple favorites. Their shrimp and grits is not to be missed!
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Review from Nicholas K.
Columbia, SC
4/14/2009
Yeah, like seriously people, the best restaurant in Columbia. With the Wolverine movie set to come out soon I think it's appropriate to say "'Nuff said."
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Review from Amy C.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2010
Incredible food. Incredible service. A little pricey but you get your money's worth!
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Review from B B.
Washington, DC
1/22/2010
Quite good. Service was excellent, especially considering our large group. A notch below Motor Supply.
