Monday Meatloaf, Half-Price Bottles, No Complaints
Five Points · Columbia · New Southern / Southern-inspired American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mr. Friendly's New Southern Café’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Three hundred-plus selections at a neighborhood Southern café on Greene Street is not what you expect, and that's a good thing. The list signals someone here actually cares — this isn't a laminated afterthought wedged between the sweet tea and the dessert menu. The bistro warmth carries over to the wine program: approachable, unpretentious, and sized for a restaurant twice as formal.
The list leans domestic and California-heavy, which makes sense given the clientele and the cuisine — nobody's ordering a Grüner Veltliner with shrimp and grits in Five Points on a Tuesday. Frank Family is the headline act, and while that's a safe, crowd-pleasing choice, a 300-bottle list built around recognizable New World names gives guests enough to explore without feeling lost. The gaps are real — don't come hunting for Burgundy or anything from the Southern Hemisphere with serious pedigree — but what's here is well-matched to the food. It's a list that wins on volume and accessibility, not depth or adventure.
Lunch glass pours running $5–$9 are genuinely fair for Columbia, and that pricing alone earns goodwill. The exact by-the-glass roster isn't fully spelled out publicly, but the mimosa and bellini program suggests the daytime pour list skews approachable and crowd-friendly. We'd love to see a more curated glass rotation — right now it reads more like a bar menu than a wine program — but the price point makes it easy to experiment.
Half-Price Wine by the Bottle (Monday) — Varies
Monday night is the move. Half-price bottles with the famous meatloaf is a legitimately great deal — come early, grab a reservation, and let the bottle price do the heavy lifting on what's already a fair-markup list.
Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay
Most people reach for the cheapest Chardonnay on a Southern café list and never look up. Frank Family is a step above that — richer and more structured than the typical house pour — and at Mr. Friendly's pricing it doesn't feel like a splurge. Worth the upgrade.
Classic Mimosa
A mimosa is a mimosa. You're paying cocktail markup on sparkling wine and OJ when there are actual bottles on this list begging for attention. If you're in the mood for bubbles, ask what's behind them and order that instead.
Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay + Pecan-Crusted Fish Special
A California Chardonnay with enough body to stand up to the richness of a pecan crust, but not so oaky it bulldozes the fish. The fruit and the nuttiness play off each other in a way that feels intentional even if it isn't.
Monday — Half-price wines by the bottle every Monday night, paired with their famous meatloaf special. Early reservation promotions occasionally include half-off bottle deals as well.
The Bottom Line
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.
· Columbia · New American / Southern
Terra keeps it simple with an all-by-the-glass format, fair pricing, and a few genuinely interesting picks tucked inside a short list. It won't satisfy anyone looking for a deep cellar dive, but it absolutely does the job for a New American dinner in Columbia.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Columbia · Wine Bar
Vino Sabor is betting that Downtown Columbia is ready for a real wine bar, not just wine at a bar — and based on the vibe, they might be right. We'd go back with a curiosity about Italian wine and an open mind; just don't come expecting a deep cellar or a Burgundy nerd behind the counter.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbia · Spanish-inspired / tapas
This is a wine list built for people who aren't really thinking about wine, and honestly that might be the point. If you're serious about drinking well with your tapas, order a cocktail and revisit the wine program if they ever add a Txakoli or a Garnacha.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Forest Acres · Columbia · Contemporary American Bistro with Southern Influences
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irmo / Northwest Columbia · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandhill · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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