For Starters...Columbia

John and I originally had plans to stay at the Red Roof Inn West, which is off St. Andrew Blvd. After waiting around 30 minutes for someone to check us in and a group of teen gangsta wannabees barging in the lobby, we decided that we were not staying in the place. We have never had a problem with Red Roof before, but this was our first problem with the chain. So we got back into our car and called the Marriott and we were on our way.

The hotel is conveniently located downtown. This is the perfect place for business, pleasure, or groups. You’re only steps away from the Columbia Museum of Art and only minutes from the State Capital Building. The hotel is warm and inviting and with such a convenient location how can you go wrong.

Amenities:
Hair dryer
Iron and ironing board
Coffee maker and fridge (stocked with water for a fee)
A heavenly amenities basket

A divine bedding set up
High speed internet

Hotel amenities:

Outdoor pool and deck
Gift shop
Fitness center
Spacious and incredibly beautiful atrium
3 on site restaurants and Starbucks coffee bar
Over 27,000 square of meeting space perfect for conferences, business, reunions, weddings, proms, or what ever your meeting needs are. In fact while we were here there were several events going on including a prom dinner, wedding rehearsal, class reunion, and a family reunion.
Ice and vending machines.

Our room was just wonderful and the bed alone was worth the price. The bed is soft, comfortable, and so inviting. We had a spacious king size bed with a fluffy duvet and plenty of heavenly pillows. We had a large picture window with decent views of the city. There was lots of information on things to do in the city. There was plenty of space and plenty of work space (sadly we forgot our laptop this time out). We had HBO to watch movies.

Each floor is exquisitely decorated with ornate furnishings. The atrium is just spectacular and make a point to wonder through the tree and plant bedecked floor. The staff was efficient and friendly and check in and out was a breeze. Our breakfast at the Center City Grille was oh so yummy and filling. The location is wonderful. You’re a hop, skip, and a jump from the Columbia Art Museum and within 5 minutes you can walk to the State Capital Building as well Gervais St., which is the entertainment area filled with clubs and restaurants. You also have easy access to the highway. It is also close to USC Columbia.

Parking: There is a paid parking deck for customers as well as valet parking. There are several parking lots in the area. There is parking on the streets but they do have parking meters. Sunday is your only free day.

I absolutely loved this place but there are a few things that need some improving. The worst is the bathroom is small. I mean really small. You really need the DO NOT DISTURB sign for the bathroom or else you knees face bruising if your on the potttie and someone walks in on you. The location is great unless you get the late night munchies. John and I got hungry about 1 am and there was nothing open around us and we didn’t feel like getting in the car and trying to find a Waffle House and while we found an ice machine we never did find a vending machine. The guest shop needs to be open more. It is well stocked and we stopped by before breakfast so I could get some band aids for my blisters. When we checked out I wanted to go back and get a few things including some of there delightful lotion and it was closed.

The downtown Marriott is the perfect place when you’re looking for a stay in Columbia. With a great location and a great looking hotel you can go wrong with this location.

For more information go to www.marriott.com.

Since John and I were starving when we woke up, we decided to have breakfast at one of the hotels restaurants.

We made our way down to the Center City Grille. We are quickly shown to our seats in their spacious and wonderful atrium. We check out the breakfast menu but when our waitress comes over she tells us their breakfast buffet is our best bet. We go with her suggestion and she tells us plates are on the bar and she will bring our coffee, tea, and orange juice. And when we get back, sure enough our drinks are ready.

The buffet is typical southern breakfast fare. Options include eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, sausage gravy, grits, oatmeal, biscuits, toast, muffins, pastries, and cereal. They also have an omelet and waffle bar with a chef ready to make breakfast your way.

On my first trip up I go for scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, and toast. The eggs are nice and fluffy, the bacon crisp, and the potatoes seasoned and wonderful. Next I go simple…sausage biscuits. A true southern favorite. Then a bowl of cereal. My last trip up is to the waffle bar where the chef is cooking for a crowd now lined up for omelets or waffles. I was getting full but the chef suggest at least two waffles. I am thinking two HUGE waffles but it was actually just two quarters of a waffle. These Belgium waffles are terrific and filling and I end up very stuffed. John tries the eggs, sausage, grits, a cheese and ham omelet, cereal, and loves my waffles so he gets two of his own.

Our waitress takes great care of us and when we go up for our refills we always come back to a clean table. Our beverages stay refilled and we were very grateful for her suggestion for the buffet.

The buffet doesn’t keep large amount of their items ensuring your food is fresh. You can order Starbucks coffee or if you like your Joe like John, just black, just get their coffee with free refills and save yourself several bucks. The food and service was excellent and the surroundings are incredible. It is a great way to start the day. The restaurant does also serve lunch and dinner.

John and I originally had plans for another dining establishment, but when we departed the ghost tour it was raining and I had huge blisters on my feet from my flip flops. So we decided to just go to the first open restaurant we hit. And sadly this was it.

We walked in and sat down at our table and within a few minutes our unnamed waitress came over for our drink order and to give us menus. We ordered tea and was told that they didn’t have tea. Ok so we ordered soda and gave the menu the look-over. The offerings here include Greek food, burgers, sandwiches, and other normal bar fare. Appetizers include such items as the stand by wings, nachos, onion rings, salsa and chips, and so forth.

John and I started off the meal with salsa and chips. I ordered a burger and Greek salad and John has a grilled cheese and fries. It took forever to get our salsa and chips out to us. I don’t know why as I am sure they opened a jar of Pace salsa and dumped it and a bowl. The cost of this appetizer? $3.25 and I can get a jar of Pace for under $2! Our dinner didn’t far much better. When my burger came out it was just a bun and meat. I had to ask for condiments and toppings and the waitress acted like I was the first person on the planet to order such. The salad was great though. John grilled cheese came out cold. I think they grilled it and then waited for my burger to cook. And we waited 20 minutes on our meal. I don’t know if they have dessert or not as our waitress never returned and we got tired of waiting to find out.

Our waitress never came back to check on us and we both ran out of drinks and thankfully I still had some left from our tour so we were able to finish our meal without choking. The place is more of a bar atmosphere that a restaurant and I am assuming people who come to eat are an anomaly. The place was packed with 20 somethings ordering drinks and smoking. Oh yes, there isn’t a non smoking section. John went to the bar to get a check and to pay our bill and that took 20 minutes.

The establishment is located on Gervasi Street near the State Capitol Building. Old buildings along this street are being renovated and turned into restaurants, bar, and shops turning it into a major entertainment area for the downtown area. The inside of the building has plenty of rich woods and a bar as well as several areas for chatting and watch one of several TVs within the building.

The food wasn’t that good and the service was even worse. With so many other places in the area, including the Mellow Mushroom across the street with outstanding food, I would skip this and visit one of the many other options. Unless of course you like over priced dry food and bad service, then this is the place for you. You can go to www.visitontheriver.com for other dining options in the area.

When John and I arrived at the hotel we were supposed to stay at, there was no one to check us in. So we decided to grab a bite to eat. We took off down St. Andrews Street in search of food. We passed by plenty of chains and strip malls. After we asset our options, we decided to pull into the strip mall where we had seen Sandy’s hotdogs. My parents go to the military base near Columbia all the time and have raved about Sandy’s hotdogs. So we decided to give them a try.

The décor of the place is a throw back to the old fashioned ice cream shops. The place is painted pepto pink and at the ice cream bar there is stripped wall paper. The ice cream parlor is set up separately and is set up to look like an old timey soda shop your grandparents may have enjoyed.

The menu here isn’t vast and as expected by the name, hot dogs are on the menu. Except that you only have two choices of hotdogs; regular or chili dogs. I was expecting a variety, but I guess most people like plain or chili dogs..so why muck up the menu? Also on the menu are sandwiches and burgers (also regular or chili). Sandwiches include BBQ pork, pimento cheese, chicken salad, and deli specialties such as Ruben and ham and Swiss on rye. Now they don’t have French fries so you have to enjoy your dogs with chips, slaw, or potato salad. They also have chicken gumbo soup or chili.

Just make sure you save room for their ice cream. In addition to ice cream scoops (in a cone or cup) you can also enjoy milkshakes or sundaes, John and I decide to go for a scoop each (but it is cheaper to order a double than two singles). Now to decide out of the about 2 dozen taste tempting flavors they have. Maybe blueberry cheesecake? Perhaps cotton candy. Ohhh Macaw Island Fudge sounds divine. Or what about cookies and cream, hum? In the end we go with pecan caramel for John and raspberry chocolate truffle for me.

This is a cash only business. This particular location doesn’t have rest rooms.

The food is good and filling and the ice cream is pure heaven on a spoon. And since it is easy on your wallet, you end up with more vacation $$$ to blow!

After walking around all day at the zoo, John and I were famished. You would think a large road with businesses, hotels and a zoo would have a few restaurants, but not so in this case. So we went down a few exits and spotted an exit with lots of dining choices. We had plenty of choices but went with the Copper River since we try to seek out something other than the chains.

We are quickly seated and within just a minute Gary comes to take our drink order. We order our teas and pursue the menu. You can start your meal with such appetizers as wings, nachos, chili cheese fries, and several soups. The menu consists of items such as salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, ribs, chicken, pasta, and seafood. There is a huge pizza oven for the stone fired pizzas. John and I both go with the 11 ounce sirloin, medium well, the loaded mashed potato, and the house salad.

Within minutes Gary returns with our salads. We both have the robust vinaigrette dressing and our salads come with sinfully warm honey butter croissant. Yumo! We have time to savor our delish salads before our main meal comes out. Our steaks are …um perfecto…and are tender and juicy. Perfection on a plate.

They do have a tempting dessert menu. It includes NY Cheesecake, White chocolate banana pudding, Cinnamon apple crumble cobbler, and Moosetracks brownie sundae. While all sounded to die for, we were just too stuffed to even think about it.

They do have a child’s menu and a full wine menu. The restaurant makes plenty of use of warm, rich woods, and dark colors. Lighting is proved by some unusual fish that line the booths. Visitors can see the massive brick pizza oven and there is plenty of outdoor seating. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner. The establishment is in the Columbia Place Shopping Center and they have 5 other locations in SC.

Website: www.cooperrivergrill.com

The food and service were well above par and much needed after an exhausting day. So if you’re in Columbia or any of the other 5 locations do yourself a favor and check out the Copper River Grill.