Smashing Grapes - Columbia

Smashing Grapes - Columbia reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. S

   Sandy

   Washington DC1 review

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great service and delicious food. Will definitely come back.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 2 days ago

   Sandy, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We are thrilled to learn that you enjoyed the exceptional dining experience we strive for and you deserve and we are so grateful for your recommendation! Thank you, and we can't wait to serve you again very soon! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

2. N

   Nathaniel

   Baltimore1 review

   1.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Has a nice vibe and aesthetic but from the moment we sat down it was not great. The table we were sat at was extremely wobbly, to the point we couldn’t touch it without it shaking. After asking the waitress kindly if we could put something under the legs to keep it steady, she let us know she was aware of problem (and was still seating people there?) and that it was the top of the table so nothing could be done. We tried to deal with it but ultimately asked to switch to an open table near by. The hostess was helpful in getting us moved over. I ordered a French 75, as the lavender French 75 on the special cocktail list was not something I was interested in. Out comes the lavender French 75, when asking the waitress to switch it for a normal French 75 she told me “we don’t make those” huh? All you have to do is not put the lavender in the specialty cocktail! After finally switching it out for a glass of wine, our food arrives and it is yet again not what I had ordered. Lobster pasta came out instead of short rib pasta. The only defense the waitress had was that she rang it in correctly and it must be the kitchens fault. I get it mistakes happen, but three strikes and this place is out. Will not be returning. Too expensive to have such a unpleasant experience with little to no apologies.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 2 days ago

   Nathaniel, thank you for your review-we are so sorry to hear about this negative dining experience with us, for which we can offer no excuse, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to let us know and to share your feedback so we can work hard to improve and ensure this doesn't happen again. If you would kindly email us at columbia@smashinggrapes.c0m with a copy of your review, date dined & location, we will work hard to remedy this and prove we can do better. With Gratitude & Apologies, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

3. S

   Steven VIP

   Baltimore2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   There is great potential in smashing grapes. The issue is they are not focused on the customer experience. They are so concerned about saving a buck that they are compromising their potential. 1. For earlier reservations (around 5 pm) they put everyone in the same section with tables far too close together. The noise is excessive when there are plenty of empty tables to spread folks out. This was likely done to make it easier for the limited number of wait staff to be able to make the rounds without having to move across the restaurant. This approach saves money and makes things more efficient but hinders the customer experience. 2. The dining experience starts with the wait staff stating “this is a wine restaurant” and there is a great selection of wines however, the wines by the glasses and even the flights offered are designed with the bottom line and not customer experience in mind. For a wine bar the selection of wine by the glass is embarrassing. Good wine restaurants are a celebration of wine. There isn’t a single half bottle option which you would find at any decent wine-centric establishment or at the very least, a larger selection of wines by the glass. 3. For all of the talk of Somms on the menu and website, the staff was very limited on their wine knowledge. Overall, this is an establishment trying to figure out what it wants to be. This is a hard time for restaurants but the short sighted approach smashing grapes is taking will only ensure its ultimate demise.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 2 days ago

   Steven, thank you for your review-we are disappointed to learn that you did not enjoy your experience dining with us and we appreciate your feedback which we will use to address our team and work hard to improve. If you would kindly email us at columbia@smashinggrapes.c0m with a copy of your review, date dined & location, we will work hard to remedy this and prove we can do better. With Gratitude & Apologies, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC1 review

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Loved the avocado toast! The ambience was serene and thoughtfully designed.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 5 days ago

   Your 5-star feedback is wonderful! We're thrilled you experienced the exceptional dining we work hard to create for valued guests like you. We look forward to serving you again very soon! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

5. M

   Michele

   Baltimore2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   When we arrived the server seemed to be very attentive. 2 guests were sharing a bottle of wine and other 2 guests ordered a glass of wine. The bottle came out quickly. We had to ask for the other wine about 10 minutes later. When the Prosecco showed up it was completely flat and was returned. Another one did come out that was bubbly. After the food was brought to us the server stopped by to check if it was ok but after that we had to get her attention to get more water and the check. The food was very good.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 5 days ago

   Michele, thank you for your review-while we are pleased to learn you enjoyed your meal, we are sorry that the service was not as excellent as it should have been. Thank you for taking the time to let us know so we can address our team and improve, and we hope to have the chance to serve you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

6. M

   Michelle

   Washington DC18 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 21, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Just as good as first time! Great and friendly service
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 7 days ago

   Michelle, thank you so much for the 5 stars! We're so glad you loved your second experience dining with us as much as the first and we truly appreciate your recommendation! Thank you, and we hope you'll dine with us again in the near future! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

7. A

   Albert

   Baltimore1 review

   1.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Horrible service. Everything took forever. We had to request they take out order after waiting 20 min! Horrible. Soup was cold. The only thing quick was when they brought the check.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on April 21, 2025

   Albert, thank you for your review-we are so sorry to hear about this negative service experience dining with us, for which we can offer no excuse, and we appreciate you letting us know so we can address our team and improve. If you would kindly email us at columbia@smashinggrapes.c0m with a copy of your review, date dined & location, we will work hard to remedy this and prove we can do better. With Gratitude & Apologies, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

8. P

   Peter

   Washington DC3 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We decided to order the special 3 course Easter Dinner on 20 April 2025. The Sausage and Kale Soup was mainly a tasty broth with a few pieces of kale and sausage. My husband ordered the Shrimp Scampi: there were five large tasty shrimp; however, the seasoning of the pasta was bland. I ordered the Tuscan Lamb Shank accompanied with grilled Brussels sprouts, potatoes, and pearl onions. The lamb was perfectly roasted, very tender, and delicious. I brought about a third of this dish home to enjoy later. Both of us chose the warm blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream; the combination was very good. In summary, when we return, we will not order the Sausage and Kale Soup and Shrimp Scampi.
   

   • 
   • 
   • 

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 6 days ago

   Peter, thank you so much for your excellent review! We are so pleased to learn that you mostly enjoyed your Easter dinner with us, and we appreciate your feedback regarding two dishes so we can work hard to improve. Thank you, and we hope to have the chance to serve you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

9. B

   Belicia VIP

   Washington DC2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a fabulous weekend at Smashing Grapes! My husband and I came for date night on Friday and had an excellent waiter- Matthew. The food was fantastic, both the lamb chops and the lamb shank were top tier! Matthew's service was impeccable. He convinced us to try them for brunch on Sunday for Easter, and they did not disappoint. I'm not a food pic person, but when I tell you the waffle mix smell lingered in the air as folks passed our table and the steak and eggs didn't need any sauce! All four courses were prepared to perfection and our waitress Courtney brought her A-game as well attending to all of our specific needs. Hats off to both chefs and to the managers who impressed us with all the help they were giving to folks today! We will be back!
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on April 21, 2025

   Belicia, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We are delighted to hear that your experience dining with us was top-notch from a delicious meal to outstanding service, and we are so grateful for your recommendation! Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our table again very soon! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

   Is this helpful?

10. D

    Deborah VIP

    Salt Lake City14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    My husband and I thought it would be fun to take our adult granddaughter to smashing grapes for dinner while she was in town for the weekend. It was a good choice, the ambience and service were very good and the noise level allowed us to chat easily. We enjoyed the wine and the food very much, except for my granddaughter‘s entrée, which was the steak frites.  My husband, and I also sampled it and agreed that it was extremely chewy and not very flavorful or juicy. At $32, I t’s one of the less expensive entrées, and I suspect my granddaughter ordered it because she was being sensitive to price for our sakes. My husband had a lobster bisque and Branzini , I had a beef carpaccio and lamb chops, and my granddaughter also had the Caesar salad. All of those were excellent and beautifully presented. We were overcharged for a bottle of wine, which we only ordered because the bottle price was so reasonable compared to the per glass price. Our waitress was very apologetic and quickly corrected it so it was no problem, but we don’t always study the bill carefully and easily could have missed the error. All in all I t was a good experience and we’ll go back.
    

    Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on April 20, 2025

    Deborah, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We are delighted to hear that your experience dining with us was top-notch and we appreciate you sharing your feedback so we can continue to improve. Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our table again very soon! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
    

    Is this helpful?