Diners' Choice: Romantic restaurants in Columbia

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the most romantic in Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Mill Pond Steakhouse

4.9

4.9 (1744)

$31 to $50

Steak

Rembert

About the restaurant

Window seating is first come, first serve depending on how early you make your reservation. Parties larger than 5 are unable to be seated next to the window. We do our best to accommodate all requests but aren't always able to seat everyone that requests a window seat by the window.

Mill Pond Steakhouse is the only up-scaled steakhouse in the midlands. We have a well developed staff that is committed to your dining needs. It starts from the time you pick up the phone to make a reservation to when you are welcomed at the front door and lasts forever. When you arrive to the Mill Pond Steakhouse in Boykin, SC you take a step back in time. Mill Pond Steakhouse offers rustic elegance with southern hospitality and a one of a kind dining experience.

Parties of 6 or more are required to call the restaurant at 803-425-8825 and ask to speak to management.

If you can't make your reservation on time, please call to let us know or else your table may be given to someone else. Thank you!

Top review

Mary

Dined 6 days ago

Great food and service! Love this place. Highly recommend

Saluda's

4.8

4.8 (4161)

$30 and under

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Five Points, just steps from the University of South Carolina’s campus and less than a mile from the state capitol building, Saluda’s has been impressing Columbia residents and visitors since it opened to much fanfare in 1996. Saluda's has created an exciting menu intermingling classically prepared dishes with cutting edge techniques and ingredients. Saluda's menu is built around mixing locally grown seasonal products with luxurious ingredients from around the world. Saluda's features Southern cuisine with French and Italian influences to create a menu both familiar and new. Our professional and courteous staff serves all of our guests with true Southern hospitality.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined 3 days ago

A wonderful evening with family. Excellent dinner. We really enjoyed!

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MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Columbia

4.8

4.8 (275)

$31 to $50

Asian

Columbia

About the restaurant

Welcome to MOA, downtown Columbia's exclusive destination for authentic Korean BBQ dining. Our upscale establishment prides itself on delivering an unforgettable culinary experience, where the vibrant flavors of traditional Korean cuisine meet the highest quality ingredients, including our signature dry-aged beef. Sit back and relax as our dedicated service team expertly handles the grilling for your table, ensuring every bite is perfection. Join us for a memorable dining adventure at the only Korean BBQ restaurant in downtown Columbia, where every moment is filled with warmth, flavor, and genuine hospitality.

Top review

Raymond

Dined 3 days ago

Food choices were great. Portions were large (beware). Menu can be intimidating but the server was most helpful.

Chayz Lounge

4.8

4.8 (44)

$31 to $50

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Chayz Lounge is more than a venue — it’s a boutique destination where smooth jazz meets culinary artistry, and every moment feels like a special occasion.

Nestled in the heart of West Columbia’s River District, we offer a curated escape that blends signature small plates, fine wines, and handcrafted cocktails in a warm, intimate, upscale setting.

Each experience is intentionally designed, from wine tastings and the Chef’s Dinner Series to Vino & Vinyl nights and Sunday Jazz Brunch, offering something far beyond entertainment: atmosphere, enrichment, and unforgettable moments.

Like the iconic spaces once curated by tastemaker B. Smith, Chayz Lounge is where culture, class, and intention converge. It’s a space for discerning guests, devoted music lovers, and those drawn to the finer things—and the elegant setting to savor them.

Whether you're savoring Signature Tasting menu, enjoying wine and vinyl, or taking in a live performance, Chayz Lounge invites you to indulge in the moment.

Top review

CynthiaVIP

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Everything about this experience was lovely. Our waitress, Shay, was superb! My husband told me to make another reservation next month for monthly brunch date.

The Melting Pot - Columbia SC

4.7

4.7 (1252)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Columbia

About the restaurant

Experience a new way to dine when you make The Melting Pot in Columbia your next dinner destination. From the first bite of our delicious artisan cheeses, to the last bite of our decadent chocolate fondues, you will know you have made the right decision! Whether you want to have the full four-course adventure or you are in the mood for perfectly crafted cocktails and cheese fondue, you can find what you crave on our tables. Our friendly staff specializes in creating your perfect night out. Come join us today at The Melting Pot.

Top review

AlexisVIP

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

The food is always amazing, but this location is set apart from other melting pots by the service. Any tiny questions or concerns were addressed and remedied promptly and with a smile. Everyone was so nice and friendly. I would swing by anytime I’m in town.

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Popular dish

Pure Chocolate Fondue

A photo of Lavender & Blueberry White Chocolate Fondue of a restaurant

Popular dish

Yin & Yang Chocolate Fondue

Kao Thai Cuisine

4.6

4.6 (451)

$31 to $50

Thai

Columbia

About the restaurant

Our menu offers modern Thai eats that are commonly found on the streets of Bangkok as well as a mix of creative pan-Asian and Asian-American fusion dishes that are fresh and exciting. With a rotating menu of specials, we hope to continuously bring new flavors and dishes to the Main Street District!

Top review

Elena

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Thai Kao is a gem. We love coming here. The food is lovely, the wait staff is attentive and the place have a just the right ambiance for us.

Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (180)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Lexington

About the restaurant

Join us at Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse, where we pride ourselves on our unique offerings and commitment to quality. Our House Dry Aged Steaks are a true labor of love--aged for 30 days in our own Dry Age cooler, hand-cut to perfection, and featuring show-stopping Tomahawks that will leave you speechless. Pair your meal with a selection of over 140 rare bottles and a curated wine list of 60 hand-selected varieties. And for seafood lovers, our menu delights with Crabcakes, Seared Ahi Tuna, and Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

Brunch on weekends features indulgent options like Eggs Benedicts and savory delights like Shrimp and Grits. Wash it down with mimosas for the perfect brunch experience!

During Happy Hour, enjoy half off our wine selection and Buffalo Trace specials. Explore our upgraded spirits collection, including the sought-after Weller collection, for a truly elevated experience.

Join us and savor the flavors that will leave you craving more!

Top review

Robert

Dined 5 days ago

One of the best places to get a great steak. Also the Japanese chicken appetizers are best!

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Columbia

4.4

4.4 (2914)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Columbia

About the restaurant

Ruth's Chris Steak House serves the finest aged, corn-fed USDA Prime beef. Broiled in a trademark 1,800° oven & served on a plate heated to 500 degrees, your steak is presented sizzling hot at your table.
Additionally, the menu includes select fresh seafood & other meat entrees, including seasonal specialties like foie gras, buffalo strip & scallops. A variety of fresh-cooked vegetables, including seven kinds of potatoes, salads, homemade desserts & an extensive selection of over 100 domestic & imported wines complete your dining experience.
Ruth's Chris never fails to please!

Top review

Terrie

Dined 4 days ago

The food and service was exceptional. Looking forward to going back. Our waiter did an excellent job waiting on us

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Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse - Columbia

4.3

4.3 (1651)

$31 to $50

Brazilian Steakhouse

Columbia

About the restaurant

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse is an unique, all you can eat “Churrascaria” featuring a full Salad Bar with over 30 items, 6 Hot Dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, chicken, pork and lamb sliced at your table by our Gauchos. Along with a full bar, we have a beautiful walk-in wine cellar with fine selection of wines from Argentina, Chile, California and our Brazilian Flavored Martini Menu. Join us for an unforgettable dining experience!

Top review

Kathy

Dined 6 days ago

What can I say, a lesser price would be better. My only complaint

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

4.3

4.3 (2736)

$30 and under

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Columbia, SC, inside the historic 1902 Union Station, California Dreaming welcomes guests with its vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the rail tracks, stretching from the inactive platform to the main terminal. Paired with our hearty, made-from-scratch menu, it's no wonder California Dreaming has been a beloved local institution since 1984. Open for lunch and dinner daily, including online ordering with curbside pickup.

Celebrating 40 years, California Dreaming has been a valued part of the Columbia community. Union Station, its historic home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

**We provide Advance Priority Seating to reduce wait times and expedite the seating process when your entire party arrives. To ensure the best experience for all guests, we seat groups of up to 8. While larger groups are seated separately, this arrangement is flexible during quieter hours.

Top review

Shiree

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

The food was delicious, service was top-notch, and I enjoyed the charming atmosphere. I appreciate my amazing waitress. Definitely a must-visit for great food in my book!

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Popular dish

California Dreaming

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