Mr Friendly's New Southern Cafe: Authentic Southern Cuisine in Columbia, SC

First time here and the food was amazing. Highly recommend the pecan crab crusted trout and the white chocolate blueberry cobbler cheesecake. We will definitely be back.

Awesome southern-style food in an excellent atmosphere. The service is impeccable, always. The food is not of the cheapest kind but the quality of the cooking makes it well worth it. Reservations highly advised because it can be quite busy. Recommended!

The staff was very nice and friendly. Definitely felt welcomed. I tried the chocolate cherry old fashioned and thought it was quite tasty. I tried the meatloaf entre and it was very delicious. Very flavorful after every bite. They have an outside patio. Plenty of room. I would come again.

We had a great experience at Mr. Friendly’s! The food was delicious, and the service was outstanding. They were able to accommodate our party of 8 with less than two hours’ notice, which we really appreciated. The staff was friendly and made sure everyone in our group was well taken care of. We also loved that they were willing to adjust the dishes to meet allergen preferences. Our family enjoyed themselves, and we will definitely be returning!

This had been our favorite special occasion restaurant for twenty years. Tonight's experience was less enjoyable. Still a beautiful place but parking stinks and the waiting area is non-existent. We were seated in the bar area which was crammed alongside loud drinkers. Service was decent but not to its prior standard. Prices are up and too high. App Special spinach-ham dip- Spectacular, just needed an extra couple toasts. Shrimp and Grits- Creole sauce weak, grits thin and underseasoned. Shrimp were plentiful and very good Trout- Good and large size but one ingredient was bitter, greens average. Sweet Tea- Just average, used to be great.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1. Outstanding Lunch Experience: Mr. Friendly’s continues to impress with its welcoming Southern charm and exceptional flavors. 2. Delicious Salad Choice: My “Almost Fall” salad with chicken was fresh, colorful, and perfectly balanced — light but satisfying, with great seasonal touches. 3. Spectacular Entrée: My wife’s trout was beautifully cooked and paired wonderfully with the Creole slaw and ABC grits — a true Southern standout. 4. Warm, Attentive Service: The staff was friendly and efficient, making the meal relaxed and enjoyable from start to finish. 5. Highly Recommended: Whether for a casual lunch or a special meal, Mr. Friendly’s remains one of the best dining spots around. We’ll definitely be back!

Finally got around to trying Mr. Friendly’s. Our party of two had a 6:30 PM reservation on a Saturday night. We were a few minutes early and our table wasn’t quite ready, so we went to the bar. I ordered a Mr. Friendly’s 75, which is their version of a French 75. It was quite good. My friend got the Watermelon-Basil “Mojito”, which was very refreshing. We barely got our drinks before our table was ready, so we had to close out at the bar before heading to our table. Sam greeted us right away and gave us plenty of time to look over the specials and menu. We ordered the skillet baked Country Ham Spinach Dip and fried Adluh Yellow Grit Cakes for appetizers. The spinach dip was quite good, but the bread was not toasted, as indicated on the menu. It looked to be a sliced store-bought baguette, very plain and not appealing to the eye. The grit cakes were OK, and not something I would order again. For our entrées, we ordered the Cornmeal Fried NC Catfish and the Char-Grilled CAB Ribeye. The catfish was delicious, along with the collard greens, tartar sauce, and grits that came with it. Again, the ribeye was OK, but if I order a steak in a restaurant, I expect it to be better than what I could make at home. There was nothing special about it. I normally order my steak medium rare, but because I was sharing with my table mate, I went with medium, which was exactly how it was cooked. The blue cheese stuffed peach was less than good. Great idea, in concept, but the blue cheese was way overpowering. The mashed potatoes were delicious, as were the seasonal vegetables. We finished with two desserts, the Peanut Butter Fudge Pie, and the Crème Brûlée Cheesecake. The pie was absolutely delicious, but I think the crème brûlée cheesecake missed the mark. Just not a lot of flavor. Sam was a wonderful waiter and was attentive when he needed to be, but not intrusive otherwise. I had high expectations for Mr. Friendly’s, and they came in a little below the bar. I would be willing to try it again. The atmosphere was nice. I enjoyed the interior artwork, and it was quiet enough that you could hold a conversation without shouting. There was ample parking in the lot right outside.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast, perfectly cooked and seasoned with tasty mashed taters and Tasso ham gravy. White Chocolate-Blueberry Cheesecake , very tasty but small portions. The portions on both the meal and cheesecake could be a little more to accommodate the high price. The greens were pretty decent as well. Don’t forget to try the ginger beer/soda