Friday, January 27, 2012

FAQ: What to do, where to eat in Columbia

Where is a Good Place to Eat in Columbia?

A typical college town, Columbia has no shortage of places to eat. I've tried to provide a list of those places that are unique to Columbia. I've also marked (**) those places that I recommend for the ultimate Tiger-town experience.

I have purposely left out the dozens of franchise restaurants and fast-food places, as well as the places I've never been to because they cost more than I want to spend on a plate of food.

If you want a more complete list of places to eat, check out the VisitColumbiaMo.com Restaurant Guide

If you want a more entertaining list of places to eat and drink, check out the RockMNation Guide to Columbia


On Campus/Downtown

Stadium Grill
$
A couple of dozen of different kinds of burgers. Very close to the stadiums/arenas
1219 Fellows Place
(573)777-9294

Bambino's Italian Cafe
$$
Good pasta, plus music on some evenings
Bambinos has MOVED to 929 E. Broadway (corner of 10th and Broadway).
(573)443-4473

Booche's
$
Booches is a Columbia tradition going back to the early 20th century; basically a pool hall, but they serve the best cheeseburgers anywhere (listed among the best burgers in America by USA Today). After your lunch, explore the rest of what 9th Street has to offer, including three bookstores, two Mizzou clothing & accessories shops, a baseball card shop, Lakota Coffee, and more.
110 S. 9th

Boone Tavern
$$$
Where the movers and shakers meet to eat and eat to meet
811 E. Walnut

Harpo's
$$
Columbia's most well-known sports bar
29 S. 10th

Broadway Diner
$
Not on Broadway anymore, but still close. An old fashioned greasy spoon -- stop by for "breakfast" any time and order "The Stretch"
22 S. 4th
573-875-1173

Shakespeare's Pizza
$$
If you visit no other Columbia eatery when in town, visit Shakespeare's for their famous pizza pie.
225 S. 9th
Also now at Shakespeare's West, 3304 Broadway Business Park Court

Pasta Factory
$$$
Another great local pasta place.  It has moved from its downtown location to 3103 W. Broadway, near the Wal-mart and HyVee in west CoMo
573-449-3948

The Heidelberg
$$
A popular gathering place for MU students and alumni since the early 60's. The 'Berg burned down in August of 2003, but it has been rebuilt and remodeled and is back in business.
410 S. 9th St.
(573)449-6927

Flat Branch Pub & Brewery
$$
Local micro-brewery and pub
115 S. 5th St.
499-0400

Addison's
$$$
Upscale "urban Americana" restaurant.
709 Cherry St.
256-1995

CC's City Broiler
$$$
Reportedly the best steak in town. i wouldn't know, since it's out of my price range.
131 S. 10th St.
875-2282

Ernie's Steak House
$
Long-standing downtown eatery; many locals stop here for breakfast
1005 Walnut St.
874-7804

Lakota Coffee House
$
Great local coffee house with a wide ranging selection
24 S. 9th St.
874-2852

Bangkok Gardens
$$
Thai food, unique restaurant
811 Cherry St (recently moved to this location)
874-3284


Columbia Mall area

G&D Pizza & Steak House
$$
One of several Greek steak & pizza places in Columbia. Best waitresses in Columbia.
Crossroads West Shopping Center
Broadway & Stadium Blvd.


Southern Columbia

Chris McD's
$$$
American cuisine with French and Asian influences
1400 Forum Blvd (Forum Shopping Center)
446-6237

Murry's
$$$
Jazz nightclub
3107 Green Meadows Way
573-442-4969

Sophia's
$$$
Fine Southern European cuisine
3915 S. Providence
874-8009

D. Rowe's
$$
Restaurant and bar owned and operated by a former MU football player. Best waffle fries in town. and I hear they have a great Reuben sandwich as well.
1005 Club Village
Near Forum & Nifong, behind Walgreen's

Cooper's Landing
$$
WAY south of Simmons Field, down on the Missouri River, but worth the trip. check out the website for all the details.
11505 S. Easley River Rd.
657-2544


Rocheport(approx. 10 miles west of Columbia)

Les Bourgeois Vineyard & Bistro
$$$
Bluff-top dining
Rocheport, MO
573-698-2300

More ideas for eating and meeting:

The Skinny on CoMo's Barbecue
Great article on the many great BBQ places in Columbia
Vox Magazine, 10/2/2008

Tailgate food

Friday and Saturday games often draw tailgaters to the parking lots around Simmons Field.

Hoss' Market
1010A Club Village Drive
(Corner of Nifong and Forum Blvd. - west of Walgreen's)
573-815-9711
Hoss's has become the place to go for gourmet carry-out and tail-gate food.

Entertainment
Some downtown venues unique to Columbia

The Blue Note
The best place to find good music.
17 N. 9th St.
874-1944

MoJo's
Another great music venue - blues, jazz, rock, etc.
1013 Park Avenue
875-0588

Rag-Tag Cinemacafe
Order a beer and watch the best of independent film-making and the occasional big hit that the major theaters haven't discovered yet.

Working it off

After you've enjoyed the great dining in Columbia, head down to the MKT Trail and run off those extra pounds.


What's going on?

To find out what bands are in town, and what special events may be taking place, check out VOX
Weekly entertainment magazine of the Columbia Missourian

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