Columbia

Tombo Grille isn't going to win any points for boldness, but it delivers exactly what Forest Acres wants: familiar wines, fair-enough execution, and a menu worth eating. Send a friend here for a reliable dinner out — just temper expectations if they're hoping to discover something new.

Travinia is a reliable neighborhood wine bar that gets the basics right — solid selection, good by-the-glass volume, food-friendly pours — without ever swinging for the fences. Send your friends here for a comfortable bottle with dinner, not for a wine discovery experience.

Travinia Sandhill is a reliable wine bar in a market that doesn't have many — not adventurous, not cheap, but consistent enough that you won't regret the reservation. Just steer clear of the obvious traps and you'll have a decent night.

The Bluefish plays it safe and the pricing reflects more confidence than the list deserves, but the core selection is competent enough for a solid seafood dinner with the right pour. Stick to the whites, ask about the Albariño, and don't let anyone talk you into a $78 Cakebread.

Inakaya Watanabe is clearly a solid neighborhood sushi spot, and the food likely earns its loyal following — but the wine program is an afterthought that nobody has revisited in years. Come for the fish, order sake if they have it, and treat the wine list as a last resort.

M Vista's wine list is functional, fairly priced, and completely unambitious — which honestly fits the room. Send a friend here for sushi and a casual bottle of J Lohr; don't send them here expecting a wine experience.

Za's on Devine isn't a wine destination — it's a neighborhood pizza joint that happens to have one of the best weekly wine deals in Columbia. Show up on a Wednesday, order a glass of whatever you like, and stop overthinking it.

Il Giorgione is doing something genuinely uncommon in Columbia — a focused, Italy-only wine list at a neighborhood pizza place with fair pricing and actual regional ambition. If you live nearby, this is your wine bar; if you don't, it's worth the drive.

Come to Cantina 76 for the margaritas, the tacos, and the vibe — and on a Wednesday, grab a $5 glass of wine just because you can. But if wine is the point of your evening, this is not your stop.

Bourbon is a legitimately fun place to eat and drink in Columbia — just drink the bourbon. The wine list exists, it's fairly priced, and it won't embarrass you, but it's clearly not where this restaurant's energy goes.

Saluda's is doing what a lot of upscale Southern restaurants do: a reliable, familiar list that keeps the room happy without taking any real swings. We'd send a friend here for wine if the alternative is skipping dinner — just steer them toward the Catena or the Burgundy and away from the Moët.

Ruth's Chris Columbia does exactly what a national steakhouse chain wine program is supposed to do: it's dependable, legible, and unadventurous enough to never offend a client dinner. If you're here for the steak experience, the wine will serve you fine — just don't expect to discover anything, and watch those markups.

Halls Chophouse Columbia is a reliable, capable steakhouse wine list — sommelier on staff, proper storage, solid range, and a by-the-glass program with real options. The markups on the hit-parade bottles are steep enough to sting, but pick smart and you'll drink well. Send your friends here for the steak; just steer them away from the Caymus.

Blue Marlin is a solid, unpretentious wine list for a solid, unpretentious Southern seafood dinner — you won't be wowed, but you won't be ripped off either. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to stick to the Riesling.

Mr. Friendly's punches well above its weight for a neighborhood Southern café — 300 bottles, fair prices, and a half-price Monday that should be on your calendar. It's not a destination wine list, but it's one of the better reasons to skip the cocktail and order a bottle.

Goat's is punching well above its gastropub weight with a small, intentional list built around producers who actually matter. If you're in Five Points and care about where your wine comes from, this is the right call.

Gervais & Vine is punching above its weight class for a tapas spot in a mid-size Southern city — the by-the-glass program is genuinely thoughtful, the pricing is fair, and that Vin Santo alone earns it a second visit. Send your wine-curious friends here; just steer them away from the Moscato.

Smoked is a reliable enough wine stop if you're here for the food first and the glass is an afterthought — but the markups are steep and the list plays it too safe to earn much excitement. Order the rosé, enjoy the oysters, and don't stress the bottle selection.

Lula Drake is doing something genuinely rare for Columbia — a thoughtful, Old World-anchored wine program with real depth, rotating selections, and staff who can actually talk about what's in the glass. The markups run steep across the board, which keeps it from being perfect, but if you want to drink interestingly in South Carolina, this is the room.

Hampton Street Vineyard is the rare fine dining wine program in a mid-sized Southern city that's actually doing the work — deep list, fair pricing, staff that knows what they're talking about. If you care about wine and you're anywhere near Columbia, this is a mandatory stop.

Halls Chophouse is doing exactly what a great steakhouse wine program should do — curated California heavyweights, a knowledgeable sommelier, and enough glass pours to keep everyone at the table happy. Just know you're paying steakhouse prices, and order accordingly.

Di Vino Rosso is doing something genuinely ambitious for Columbia — a deep, Italy-and-California list in a historic building with food worthy of the bottles on that list. Send your friends here, point them toward the Barolo, and tell them to skip the Caymus.