Cork & Cleaver Steakhouse

I had a great experience at Cork & Cleaver. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was comfortable, and everything came out fresh and well prepared. Our waitress, Meridith, was wonderful—very friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. She really made the experience even better. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and will be coming back! 😊

Fantastic dinner! Would highly recommend and will definitely be back again! We came from Atlanta to meet my husband who’s working in the Columbia area to celebrate his birthday! Our waitress, Madison, had the perfect sense of humor and was so sweet! She had the best recommendations and was so attentive throughout our entire experience! Definitely ask for her when you come in! We got 2 of the butcher boards (surf and turf and steakhouse) for 6 people and shared it all, as it came with 4 sides. The appetizers were great, especially the pimento cheese fondue! We also shared 3 desserts (Crème brûlée, spiced pear cake, and peanut butter bar) that were all cooked to perfection and delicious!

Came in for an early dinner on a Sunday, with reservations, though we wouldn’t have needed them right at opening. Service was courteous and attentive. We first ordered cocktails, the Black Cherry Sage Session and Spiced Bourbon Bacon Old Fashioned, both were perfectly crafted. We then started with the beef carpaccio and Japanese fried chicken. The carpaccio was out of this world delicious, and the fried chicken was quite tasty. We noticed another table with bread so we got that too, and I kind of wish we hadn’t, as it was just mediocre. For dinner we had a filet with a snow crab cake and mashed potatoes, and a ribeye with brussel sprouts. Both steaks were cooked to exactly the correct temperature and seasoned appropriately. The sides were very good as well. I really enjoyed the crab cake, which I don’t normally order because I’m frequently disappointed, having grown up in Maryland. They definitely hit the mark on it though, even though it was much smaller than expected. We also ordered a bottle of the La Posta Malbec at half price and thoroughly enjoyed it. We couldn’t leave without ordering dessert so we selected the bourbon bread pudding and French 75 crème brûlée. I normally don’t like bread pudding, but this was quite enjoyable. I think they landed below the bar on the crème brûlée though, and I definitely wouldn’t order that again. All in all, it was a good meal, with good service, and a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately this restaurant is one who charges additional fees for credit card use. As far as I’m concerned, this cost is part of the establishment’s operating expenses and prices should reflect that. I will not be returning here unless this policy changes.

If I was able to rate higher than 5 stars I would! I would HIGHLY recommend Cork and Cleaver to anyone. This was our first time visiting and The food was phenomenal along with the service and atmosphere. The food was extremely fairly priced for the amount you get and the quality. All in all this place is definitely at the top of my list now. We got the prosciutto fontina as an appetizer and honestly is was to die for. I got the Hyde Sxperience as a drink and it was very flavorful. I got the lamb chop special and it was very tender and the sweet potato has bed the chops were on were amazing, it’s a shame it’s not a regular menu item. My husband got the 12oz NY strip and baby potatoes and said it was the best steak he’s had. Our server Kevan was extremely attentive and kind and helpful. We were celebrating our five year wedding anniversary and at the end of our meal they brought us over a card that was signed by the entire staff. Amazing place. Thank you for an amazing anniversary meal. We can’t wait to come back!

Went there with some friends on a Saturday night, one of my friends is gluten free and there was plenty on the menu for her to choose from. The menu has so many options it makes choosing what to get a pleasant problem to have. The staff was knowledgeable and super attentive. The layout of the restaurant is very open and even when busy it’s easy to navigate. The food was phenomenal, it was miles above the price point. Would give the place, food and staff a 8.75 out of 10. Will definitely come back.

We really enjoyed our meal at Cork and Cleaver. Meleva was our server and she was fantastic! She made sure to check on us regularly and provided good conversation and recommendations. We will definitely be back again soon! The pimento cheese appetizer is not pictured but was to die for! Pictured is the wedge salad and the 16 oz Wagyu Ribeye.

This was our first time here and we loved everything! Cheryl greeted us with the biggest smile and took the time to walk us through the menu. She even pointed out all the options I could have as a pescatarian, which I really appreciated. Ask for her! We started with the crab cakes and the pimento cheese fondue (with the bacon jam on the side) both were amazing. I ordered the lobster ravioli, and my friend had the flank steak and shrimp. Every dish was delicious and cooked perfectly. We finished with the special cheesecake, and of course the drinks were fantastic too! Overall, incredible service, great food, and such a welcoming atmosphere. We will definitely be back!

The Cork & Cleaver is an exceptional upscale steakhouse, and I truly cannot say enough good things about this place. From the moment we arrived, everything was right—parking was very easy, the restaurant was spotless, and the ambiance was absolutely magnificent. We were there to celebrate a birthday, and they did not disappoint in any way. The food was outstanding. Every flavor was thoughtful, balanced, and truly second to none. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection, and while the pricing is on the higher end, it is more than justified by the quality of the food and the overall experience. Our server was funny, incredibly knowledgeable, and added so much warmth to the evening. Beyond that, the entire staff was kind, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. You can tell this is a place where hospitality is taken seriously. As we were finishing dinner, my wife unfortunately experienced a medical emergency. In what could have been a terrifying moment, the manager, Chris, and every single staff member immediately jumped into action. Their calm, care, and compassion turned a very scary situation into one that felt supported and manageable. The level of humanity and love we were shown is something I will never forget. I will absolutely remember the incredible food—but more than that, I will always remember how we were treated. With kindness. With urgency. With heart. I highly recommend The Cork & Cleaver to everyone. This is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience, and one that sets the standard for what true hospitality looks like. Like and follow me for more reviews 🍷😃. Bringing my honest experience to you so you know exactly what to expect one stop at a time!

My wife and I went there for our 16th anniversary first time ever being there the ambience and atmosphere in the restaurant were very nice. We both ordered the fillet it came cooked perfectly. The service was excellent. The food was excellent. We would definitely come back again. I would recommend this place price wise normal steakhouse nothing too expensive nothing too cheap but the quality meat was excellent. The only thing I did not care for is I ordered a side dish of mushrooms. I didn't care for that not much flavor, but the steak itself was excellent. The dessert was very good as well.

I made reservations after a friend recommended, I'm so glad we did! This restaurant has been rebranded to the new name Cork & Cleaver, and it's amazing! This was definitely one the best meals that I have ever had in my lifetime. The team was professional, friendly, courteous and helpful. The food was EXCELLENT and seasoned well, everything tasted freshly made with love. The next day I had No stomach pain at all, which is very rare these days when I eat at a restaurant. All three steaks were absolutely amazing, every bite melted in our mouths, the different flavors hit all thru our palates. Portion size was reasonable for the price we paid. Customer service and our waitress Victoria was the best, I highly recommend her. We will definitely be returning in the near future. A big thank you to the kitchen staff your professionalism was noticed as well. This is a great addition to Lexington, SC, we now have a great steak restaurant.

The steak and wine is absolutely delicious! They have plenty to choose from and the staff is really friendly and knowledgeable about their offerings. The veggies fell short of expectations though. The asparagus was bland and overcooked.

Attended private dinner meeting by Starkey. Cork & Cleaver Steak House delivered excellent food and service. Servers were very attentive, very friendly. Will definitely return soon. 1/14/26 Great job Cheryl & Matt !! ( our servers )

The customer service was a 10/10. We made reservations and was seated upon arrival. The restaurant is beautiful. The wine glasses and bottles create a cozy environment. Plenty of seating. The restaurant is located in a plaza with decent parking. Unfortunately, the food was not the highlight. We had Japanese chicken bites as appetizer. They closely resembled chicken nuggets from a popular restaurant over spicy Mayo sauce. 5/10 The grits and catfish were bland. I added salt, pepper, and hot sauce to enjoy it. The catfish was nice in size and fresh. 6.5/10 The Brussels sprouts were delicious 10/10 The dry aged ribeye came highly recommended by the waitress but it was a huge disappointment. 5/10 I would only visit again for a nice drink.

This was my first visit to the Cork and Cleaver, with my wife taking me there to celebrate my birthday. To say that I was impressed with everything about the restaurant would be the understatement of the year! Both the service and the food was excellent! I had the 14 oz Ribeye steak with Bacon Mac and Cheese, and it was the best I've ever had of each! And their Blueberry Cheesecake is to die for! But without a doubt the best thing about the visit was our waitress, Meleva. She has a bright, sparkling, easygoing personality that is just made for the business, and she certainly excels at it! If you want an example of just how a good waitress should act and the type of service she should provide, then look no further than Meleva at the Cork and Cleaver! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! If you decide to go there, be sure to ask for Meleva so you can have the same experience as I just did!

I'd like to preface this with we went on a night there was a private event going on so things were a little busy and the staff seemed frantic. We ended up sitting at the bar to avoid a wait. The bar was super busy so we tried to be super patient & the staff were kind and appreciative. My boyfriend got an old fashion that he really enjoyed and I liked my Strawberry Bramble. I tried the Hyde Experience cocktail and didn't enjoy it. It tasted like sandy artificial blueberry. The Japanese fried chicken was easily the best thing we got. I would probably order it and a side next time. My boyfriend enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, but it wasn't anything special. We both ordered the filet and brussel sprouts. The Brussels outshined the steaks. There wasn't a lot of flavor to the steaks and they were charred (not in an enjoyable way). I think our steaks may have been an anomaly since they rushed to cook them because our ticket got lost or served to someone else. I'd probably recommend an accompaniment or sauce if you choose to get a steak. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice. It's a great date night vibe.

This was the second time my husband and I ate here. This time we were with a group of friends. The atmosphere and our waitress, sorry I do not remember her name, were awesome. The food, well, it needs improvement especially the steaks! The steak was cooked perfectly, but it had no flavor at all, no seasoning, no sauce, not even salt and pepper. Bread, why do you have to pay for bread?! That does not make any sense to me. At Upscale dining restaurants you do not pay for bread. Scallops were good, mashed potatoes were blah. I do not consider this place an upscale restaurant. While the prices reflect an upscale restaurant the flavor and value does not.

Kayla was absolutely delightful! Extremely knowledgeable about the menu and recommended fantastic options. Chef Theo prepared our steak and lamb with precision and perfect seasoning.

The food here was top tier!! As well as the service and the ambiance! Well worth the dollar!! We had the signature butchers board with the blue cheese topping on top of the ribeye, and baby when I tell you I closed my eyes and couldn't do nothing but hummmmm. Whew delicious!! We went to celebrate our 5th year wedding anniversary and they even wrote a personal card out for us! We also saw people in chill clothes at the bar having drinks maybe after work or with friends and family. Perfect anytime! Also that brownie cheesecake everything. Not pictured is our cocktails that were also amazing! I had the Hyde Experience and my wife had the blueberry old fashion. Thanks for an awesome experience to our waitress (I can't remember her name right now)

The food was excellent, we had the Crab Benedict and The Chicken and Waffles. Both were very good, Crab Cakes were delicious and the Chicken and Waffles even better. Just fyi the Hot Homey is indeed hot, you may want to go with the regular Honey.

Food is excellent and top notch. Worth every penny spent and more. The flavor and freshness is on point. Server was attentive and helpful making us feel very welcome and appreciated. The Ambiance is perfect. Very clean and chic with a touch of class. We live in Lexington and love to cook steaks at home, but this is definitely our go to for steak and casual, fine dining. Love it!!

Not really worth the price point anymore. Was very, very good for the first few months after the name change but standards don't seem to be the same anymore. A whole lot of people working with not alot of people dining in and the service was questionable and at times frustrating. Food is still fairly good just not worth it for the "experience"

My wife and I have been to this restaurant many times, and everything has always been fantastic. With this in mind, we took some friends here on New Years Eve, (they had never been here), and things just weren't the same. First, their menu has changed, so what you see online is no longer correct, they need to update it. The prices are higher (thank DJT for that), and we reserved a table for 4 in the main part of the restaurant, and they stuck us next to the door in what used to be the butcher shop. All 4 of us ordered our steaks (3 filets and 1 ribeye) medium rare, and only 2 were cooked correct. Our friends steaks were both over cooked, (yes, they could have sent them back, but they didn't really want to wait for two new steaks). My wife's and mine were perfect. Finally, all three filets had no flavor. They evidently use no spices for flavor. We were a little embarrassed, since we raved about this restaurant, and 3 out of 4 of us were disappointed. The service was great and my ribeye was also great.

How have I been in Columbia majority of my life and not know about this gem in Lexington? Beautiful restaurant with immaculate vibes!! I ordered the ribeye. It was cooked perfectly. I love a good red wine with a tobacco/leathery type of finish and she brought me exactly what I described. The service was phenomenal.

After a long day visiting potential sites with my Broker, we were in need of a quality meal. Where do I start??? As we pulled into the empty parking lot, we were a bit concerned (510pm). That quickly changed as we walked in the front door. We were immediately greeted and ask about our seating preference. After 30 seconds of being seated, our waitress, Ally approached, introduced herself and ask for drink orders. Another 60 seconds and drinks were on the table...when asked for recommendations, Ally explored our potentials and provided feedback. Fast forward...our steaks arrived within 10 minutes, cooked to perfection. I will say...considering my entire adult life...this was the best steak and mushrooms ever...a perfect med rare on the inside with a burnt end flavor in every bite. The mushrooms were out of this world, seemed to be seared as well. Ally checked in consistently, the manger stopped by to make sure everything was perfect. The entire experience was one to remember. I will def be back over the next 18 month project and may consider a 3hr drive just to experience exceptional service and food. 5 stars!! Did I mention that Ally was amazing?

We tried this for our anniversary, its location is a little strange being attached to a church & in front of apartments. It doesn't really scream fine dining from outside, however once inside it's nice. The blueberry salad was actually really good, as was the bacon mac & cheese. However the steaks themselves really weren't incredible. I've used to travel for a corporate job & have had high end steak all over the country this place is a bit high for the quality and taste of their meat. The Wagu is more of a ribeye (to be fair that was my first "American" Wagu so I was expecting the real thing) The service was okay, our waiter was brand new so we were the learning curve but he was very nice & did about as good as you could expect someone on their first day alone to do. I'd definitely suggest giving them a try, just don't go expecting the moon and stars.

We were visiting the area and overwhelmed with choices for dinner. Our 1st choice was a bust and my daughter wanted a good steak, this was the place. It blended in to the Plaza it was located in & the name can be misleading. It was not so much a smokehouse but more upscale in a casual setting. Amazing shrimp cocktail, smoked wings, steak, and ribs.

Awesome service and great food! The ambiance is amazing. A great place for celebrating an anniversary or birthday.

Food was delicious. Steak was cooked to perfection. Server Leilani was very knowledgeable of menu and suggestion's and was very tentative to us . The signed anniversary card from staff was a nice gesture also .

This food is sooooooooo damn good it makes no sense at all . I'm typing this as I'm waiting on my To go boxes because it was so well portioned and flavorful. We will be back for sure I'm just mind blown because this was on the wimp because everything else was booked and we were worried if we were going to like it and it's definitely worth the money and 20 min drive

The food was great as always! I had the stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes I wasn't fond of the sauce surrounding the potatoes but it was still great! The deviled eggs are always great! I wish I could bottle up the sauce and take it home. The ambiance was awesome for a weekday date night. The Bourbon cherry smash was sweet just like I like it! The salted caramel martini wasn't good at all. The service took a bit longer than the last time we went but overall the experience was great!

Out celebrating the wife's promotion .... Decided to try Cork and Cleaver... OTW my wife they opened in September .. I loved the lighting of the restaurant and we were greeted with a smile. The host and waitress showed their excitement about the wife's promo so that was cool. What I didn't know that it was Happy Hour .. I order 1.5 ounce Buffalo Trace over a big rock .. For my appetizer I ordered the Japanese fried chicken .. they were good esp with the sauce..not over cooked seasoned pretty good For my entree I ordered the Breasted Duck medium well with asparagusand mash potatoes with cheese ... The duck was ok would have had them cook it Well.. Duck is already a fatty bird. The extra time cooking would have been perfect. Also the duck is missing some seasoning the glaze on to The mash potatoes were amazing with the cheese and the red skin gave a pop of flavor also. Plus I added the sour cream and butter. Asparagus was cooked great and had a little snap like I would prepare it at home and the Parmesan flakes on top was a plus. Overall a great dining evening .. I would come again and try the lamb chops next time .. S/O to Ashley she was great and thanks to the staff for my wife's card celebrating her promotion

Really love their service and food! Plan to come back here sometime in the future. Recommend to eat here if you like the peace, date, etc.

From the ambiance to the cool cocktails to the amazing food, this place is one of our favorite date night places!! Keep up the great work!

The atmosphere was nice and the service was good. The food not so much. My husband had flank steak, he didn't even eat the meat. It had a strange taste. My salad was good but my steak was overcooked and had a lot of gristle. I would probably give the place another try and hope it was just an off night.

Great & accommodating service. The steaks were cooked exactly as we ordered! We would love to come back when in this area! :)

Steaks are fantastic. Service is always good could use a remodel inside but food makes up for it.

Went to Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse this afternoon with an out of town friend, and it did not disappoint. Server was knowledgeable about the menu, which was impressive considering the change happened just a few days ago! The atmosphere has been elevated to true steakhouse feel, and the steaks were grilled perfectly. I had the filet mignon, while Amanda had the ribeye and both were tasty. The add on sauces were more than worth the extra $2. Will happily return!

Service was attentive, but afraid there's not much more to support the venue as-is. The food is comparable to a chain steakhouse; the ambiance and decor a total miss. Next to no attention to nuanced of fine-dining (cheap walmart-quality wine glasses preset on table; white and red varietals all served in the same, regardless?!). Hate knocking a place if they're at least trying...but just seems every corner that could be cut has been while pushing high-end pricing.

Everything was great . Service amazing, lean restrooms, hospitable staff. I recommend them 10/10

Thank goodness our waitress Cheryl made up for the rude front manager and hostess who made us wait 30 minutes at the bar even though we had reservations. They then argued that we were supposed to be mind readers and check our phones every five minutes for a text when she was standing five feet away from us at the bar where (by the way) we told her we would happily wait because she said they were so busy our table wasn't ready. Rudeness set off the dinner wrong. Thankfully Cheryl was great and the food was good.

The food was excellent. They have a new menu that is comparable to a high end steak restaurant. Service was good too.

My dry-aged ribeye was very good and cooked just right. However, everyone else at the table had issues with their meal. One of the steaks was way over cooked and the other two way undercooked. One streak was sent back 3 times before getting it right. Just asked for it to be cooked medium and for some reason seemed very difficult to do. When we arrived it wasn't that busy yet but it still took forever to get our meal in the first place. We asked for a piece of chocolate cake which took a little over 15 minutes to arrive. Lastly asked for a box which took another 10-15 minutes. Considering the cost of the food it was definitely not worth it. No, we will not be going back. Had high hopes for this place but it fell short.

Bring a sweater it is dang cold. Drinks are overpriced and the food will come out Cold. floors are sticky and service Will ignore you. They want to be fancy, but they're nowhere near it. Overpriced for what you get

My husband and I went for dinner Friday night. The restaurant was busy because of graduation and Mother's Day, so we sat at the bar. The bar tenders were excellent. I had the wagyu burger and it was delicious. I will definitely get it again.

We went there in May, 2025 to celebrate my birthday. They gave us a quiet large table for 6 and the customer service was excellent. The salmon and rib eye steaks were delicious and cooked properly. The atmosphere was upscale and relaxed. The signed birthday card was a nice touch. We will be back again!

Whole experience was terrible- I will not go back. Seated 20 minutes after reservations, cocktails were horrible. They gave my husband tonic instead of club soda. My $22 dirty martini had way too much vermouth in it- it was sweet. Entrees finally arrived 1.5 hours after our reservation time. Service was not great either. Food was okay but doesn't make up for everything else.

In short, TERRIBLE. We went here for Father's day brunch today with a total of 6 people. We waited over an hour and 20 minutes for food. During that time the waitress visited our table maybe two times, even after our drinks became overly watered down. When she did decide to visit our table, she was beyond rude. Also, we were told they were out of home fries and bacon so two of us had to change our order. We ordered a side item which never came out and upon asking for it we were told they were out of it even after us calling prior to being there about it and being advised it was in supply. The food came out and 2 people out of the 6 ate their food. Absolutely the worst experience I have ever had in Lexington. Service and quality of food were horrendous. Bacon and pancakes - burnt and what appeared to be microwaved bacon crumbles on top of the pancakes. Shrimp cE6asar salad - slimy shrimp Chicken and waffles - not bad Brunch burger - dry and not tasty Wings - dry Kids meal - not bad Appetizer - burnt ends devil eggs - ok but not as good as when they first opened Definitely need to do better all around. Highly disappointed

Came in here with my wife for lunch and ordered the smokehouse platter and the fish tacos (recommended by the waitress). Ambiance was chill and slow, I think we were the only ones in besides another couple. Waitresses were mostly sitting around playing on their phones. Food came promptly and most of it tasted pretty good except the pulled chicken on the smokehouse platter, it tasted dry and salty. When we were asked how everything was and we told them so, waitress said "it is not for everybody". This place is not for everybody yall.

Best service I've had at a restaurant in a while. Food, drinks were great. I will 100% be back to try more menu items. Pamela is the server to ask for!

Service was amazing and so was the food! I ordered the stuffed chicken and will definitely be back again.

Steak board was amazing. Calamari and fried green tomatoes were great as well. Great bourbon selections.

We had a family dinner with 11 people attending. Service was great and the food was outstanding. Thanks to the staff at C&C for making our experience awesome.

We came in from out of town, and we wanted a steakhouse without having to drive into Columbia. This place did not disappoint. We had the steak boards and everything was superb. Well cooked, served hot, real good red wine selection as well as cocktails & sides. It was so good I forgot my very expensive sunglasses, as it was dark by the time we left. But the staff found them and held them for me for several weeks until I returned to town. Thanks C&C!!! Excellent service.

My husband and I tried it for the first time. We really enjoyed the meal and the service was great. However, when we were paying our bill we had a $2.46 service charge on our bill with explanation as to what it was for. This really spoiled a nice experience. Chris B.

Food was excellent, but they have made a few changes. If you order the steak board, you no longer get "family sized sides". For the $ you pay this should be included...or at the very least stated on the menu. Also, service mediocre at best. Waiter was friendly, but not very attentive. I will go back, but it will be a while.

This is my first time here and I will say this the best bbq I ever had. Me and my family ate most everything on the menu. Lol. The customer service was really nice and polite and have good suggestions what to eat. I will come back again.

We were traveling through with a load of BIG tires and headed back home to Georgia. We miss SC so much that i decided i needed steak and a good meal. Yelp is my go to for all things good! So I found several steakhouse options and reviews were all about the same if you consider number of reviews and overall ratings. This seemed like a place we would love, so we order a Lyft and off we went from the Loves Truck Stop. Upon arrival we could tell they were new but man were they packed out. Lucky for us we saw two closing out at the bar and it's truly our favorite way to eat a meal out. Turns out they were slammed because it was opening night to the public. Had no idea even though there were indicators like several undercover management around. Sid greeted me with a delicious Bloody Mary with a smoky salt rim. Loved the smokiness of it with the tomato base! We did have to wait to place our orders but out of respect Sid was pouring the floor drinks and half the bar area. My husband was thrilled to see the pretzel and beer cheese on the appetizers! I had the ribeye and potato and he had the BBQ Platter. We missed out on the coleslaw but he had the Beer Mac and it was good enough for leftovers. My steak was just a bit over cooked for medium but the flavor made up for it. The platter had his favorite burnt ends and pulled pork and chicken. The pork was awesome flavored! Thanks Sid! Hope the overall location doesn't hinder y'all hopping but the bartenders and staff are awesome! (Hi Olivia!!!!!)