"You really can’t talk about Columbia’s food and beverage industry without mentioning Motor Supply Co. Bistro. Named for the engine supply business that originally occupied the space, Motor Supply was one of the very first farm-to-table restaurants in Columbia. Their focus on seasonal ingredients, listed on a large chalkboard in the center of the dining room, ensures freshness in each dish. Here, classics like wild-caught South Carolina shrimp and the New York strip steak served with asparagus and mashed potatoes are expertly prepared. Many big-name mixologists and chefs have called this place home, but now chef Thomas Hardenbergh (who actually cut his teeth in the same kitchen during his teenage years) carries on the restaurant’s 30+ year legacy." - Helen Harrison