Located in the Five Points district, Saluda’s Capital City Grill is a second floor restaurant worth the climb. With a narrow dining room and a separate back room for large parties, Saluda’s is full of Southern charm. Exposed black ventilation pipes on the ceiling give things a trendy look but eggshell walls, white tablecloths, and an antique bar from the early nineteen hundreds lend a genteel elegance to the décor. Magnolia flower paintings on the walls remind you of the state in which you’re dining, not to mention the soft lilt in the voices of the staff. The long balcony with the lazily revolving overhead fans looks inviting for spring brunches. One glance at the button down shirts and pressed dresses on the clientele shows this is a popular place for some of Columbia’s most discriminating diners. Of course, the menu is the reason with dishes like Lobster benedict, sweet Vidalia chicken, artichoke and goat cheese fondue, crab cakes, and salmon bagels. My coffee cup was kept full as I enjoyed the fire roasted jumbo shrimp and creamy grits I had ordered. There was just the right amount of spice in my meal, just a burst of heat. I couldn’t help but think of all the people I have ever met from the North who say grits have no flavor. They have obviously never eaten at Saluda’s.
Note: Save yourself a wait and make reservations. Learn more about Saluda’s at their website.