Travel Suggestions

But I would heartily recommend Farmboys BBQ in Chapin if you have enough time to make the pilgrimage. Even if you can’t make it there, you should at least try the mustard BBQ at one of the places closer to the WB.

Hope you have a great time at the game.

Try the mustard based just so you’ll know what it’s like, but get some ketchup based if you want good barbeque.

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/246-southern-sauce-sources/

Here’s what you need to know:

My personal favorite is Hudson’s Smokehouse. There’s one location in Lexington and one at Harbison, both about 20 – 30 minutes from downtown Columbia. They have mustard, vinegar, and tomato based sauces with excellent sides that include sweet potato fries, hash, and the like. My favorite is the tomato-based (which is rumored to have Cheer-wine in it).

Palmetto Pig is decent. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet for, I believe, $8.50. They only offer mustard based BBQ sauce. Personally I think their pulled prok is a little dry, but their hush puppies are absoultely great. They also have pretty good fried chicken.

About a mile from the stadium is Doc’s BBQ, a fairly new player on the Columbia BBQ scene. It also has a buffet, and, aside from a lack of hush puppies, I’d say it’s better than Palmetto Pig. However, their hash is hamburger based – which kind of turns my stomach.

Groucho’s Deli – Long-time favorite spot for a good deli sandwhich.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from any place called Maurice’s, unless you want to step into a characature of the Old South.

If you’re looking for nicer fare/ atmosphere I’d reccomend these establishments:

California Dreaming – resides in Columbia’s old train station and has the added advantage of being right next to Green’s Liquor Wearhouse.

Blue Marlin – Great all around white table cloth fare.

Mr. Friendly’s – Best shrimp and grits in Columbia (another South Carolina tradition)

Let me know if there’s any kind of specific food you’d like to try that I missed.

As another member of AR Rebel’s traveling party, I’d like to thank you all for the feedback. We here in the mid-south are constantly bombarded with Memphis BBQ (which is great), but my taste buds could use a little change. the day after the game we are heading for the AF base in Goldsboro, NC so any suggestions of “must eat at favorites” in that general direction are more than welcome. Nothing like good football, cold beer, new and tasty food and good people and from what I hear SC has all of that to offer.

Is there anywhere that does a mean breakfast with a BBQ flare?

And you’ll have a nice trinity of eating and drinking.

Also be sure to check Yelp in case you’re looking for something different but awesome (i.e. Blue Cactus) http://www.yelp.com/find?location=Columbia,+SC

and how you liked it.