Smashing Grapes Columbia

Unironically one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. Didn’t even plan on going to this place but ended up here after an overwhelming day. First off, staff is wonderful. The hostess, I think her name was Kesh or Cash or something around that sound, was one of the nicest people ever and sat us right away. Then our waiter, who might’ve been named Cassius or something like that, was so funny and attentive to our party of five. The food was also great. We all got different dishes and appetizers but I got the mussels, short rib sandwich, and chocolate mousse. It was great and all of my friends liked the food as well. Highlights were the fries and the mousse. Also the restaurant is very well decorated. I would describe it as elevated atmosphere but not to any extreme level. Would be cute for a date night or special occasion. 10/10 will be going back.

This place was an excellent find on google. The atmosphere (live music - mellow jazz like) The esthetics were feel good and inviting. The food and happy hour was great and most important the selection of red wine was great (I enjoyed the red flight) and the bar tender/waiter Dimitri was outstanding 🤗 very accommodating, knowledgeable and great customer service!!! I’ll def be back 😊

My coworkers and I tried this place and the food was good. Out service was good as well. One friend was so excited when he saw they had lamb shank available. It wasn’t the reason he came but he sure did get a big bang from his meal. My steak was good but not nearly as manly as the shank. We all need some shank.

We had dinner here to celebrate our engagement, and we’re so glad we chose this restaurant. We ordered the crab & artichoke dip, short rib pappardelle, and veal marsala, along with Smashing Strawberries and Manhattan cocktails. Everything was splendid, especially the short rib pappardelle. Our server was wonderful and made our experience so pleasant. He even surprised us with complimentary champagne, which we’ve decided to use for our wedding too!

Smashing Grapes in Columbia offers an upscale dining experience that impresses from the moment you walk in. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, creating a warm, sophisticated atmosphere that’s perfect for both intimate dinners and special gatherings. I visited on a Saturday evening for a private dinner party and was seated promptly with our reservation. The staff was courteous and professional, making sure our group felt welcomed and taken care of. One of the highlights of the evening was the live music—it added a great touch to the already vibrant ambience without overwhelming the dining experience. The food was undoubtedly on the pricier side, but the quality and presentation made it well worth it. Our party shared a variety of entrées, including the House Charcuterie Board, Lemon Herb Chicken, Braised Short Rib, and Shrimp Scampi Pasta. Each dish was flavorful, well-balanced, and beautifully plated. The Short Rib was especially tender and rich, while the charcuterie offered a perfect start to the meal with a thoughtfully curated selection of meats and cheeses. Overall, Smashing Grapes delivers on both style and substance. If you’re looking for a place that pairs elegant surroundings with delicious food and live music, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Fantastic restaurant! Visited for a work meeting last week on a Tuesday night & was impressed with the service, food & ambiance. We sat in the private room with glass walls. Our servers were attentive & friendly. Food was delicious & average priced for the Columbia area. We had crab dip, lobster bisque, sea scallops & lots of other things on the menu. Will definitely return!

Had a great Father’s Day experience at Smashing Grapes in Columbia. We were warmly welcomed by Simon super pleasant and set a great tone for the visit. Our waitress, Suriah, was lovely attentive and kind throughout the meal. My Old Fashioned was top tier (it’s my favorite, so I’ve got high standards lol!). I had the short rib brunch and also tried the avo toast, which was really good. The potatoes were a bit dry, but the excellent service and beautiful atmosphere made up for it. Definitely recommend if you’re in the Columbia area. Bonus: it’s kid-friendly too.

Phenomenal lunch with my cousin at Smashing Grapes today. The grilled shrimp tacos were delicious, served with crispy, hot fries. My cousin’s salad was fresh with perfectly grilled chicken. Although the food was outstanding, the real star of our experience was Salem, our server. After being on the staff a short three weeks, her knowledge of the menu was incredible, complete with recommendations of her favorites from each category. Her level of service, attention to detail and overall warmth and kindness made for a truly exceptional afternoon. Thank you, Salem! In addition, other staff members stopped by our table to be sure we were pleased with our meals. The atmosphere is beautiful and I look forward to my next visit!

Courtney, our server, was great! Attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend.

Food was good, drinks were great, service was even better! My friend and I went during restaurant week after wanting to try out the restaurant for a while, and I can say it was a good introduction. Courtney gave us a thorough rundown of the menu, and her suggestions were spot on. When I was unsatisfied with an item she was more than accommodating and did not make me feel like a burden at all. This restaurant is perfect for a date night, and maybe even a night cap due to their full size bar. Thank you for your hospitality, Courtney! I will surely be back for vine time, and many more of Smashing Grapes' offerings.

If you want an elevated dining experience with reasonable prices, look no further than smashing grapes! To start, I opted to get their mango mocktail. I love anything with ginger beer in it, and this mocktail was no different. For my entree, I ordered the smokehouse omelette. It includes bacon, beef short rib, and mushrooms. It came with home fries that were well seasoned and fluffy on the inside. I was intrigued by their dessert menu and ended up trying their house made donuts. They're donut bites covered in sugar, served with a cream sauce and dark chocolate sauce. The dark chocolate sauce was on the bitter side, so I stuck with the cream sauce. Overall, the dining experience was seamless and the staff is incredibly friendly. I will definitely return!

Brianna! To the front, please. She was an amazing waitress. I've been here a few times, but this time was different. It was wholesome. I came one friend who had been here before, and a new comer. Brianna made our lunch so goooood. She is a sweetheart and she made us laugh the entire time; all while maintaining a professional demeanor with curtesy. She smiled with every treatment - checking in on us; making sure that we were satisfied with our service; and we certainly were because of HER. Kindness and building rapport even for a moment makes a difference in the experience of customer service. Example of her rapport... I requested for alternate utensils, and she came out with it and a baby seasoning spoon - all just to make us laugh. I loved that. Lol. Anyway - more like Brianna goes a long way, and she is going places with her kindness. Ask for Brianna and your brunch, lunch and/or dinner will be delightful!

The restaurant was sooo beautiful. Service by Tina (manger) was amazing from start to finish. She was soooo sweet, so kind and made sure that everything was handled with care. She truly is the face of this restaurant! She alone is a great reason to come. It's definitely refreshing!!! Man the food is absolutely made to perfect!!! Just woooww! Must try!!

Still one of my favorite places in the Merriweather District! The customer service is always great despite how busy they are. Mel and the other bartenders/servers are amazing. Always attentive and engaging. I enjoy the live music on Friday and Saturday evenings! The late night Vine Time (aka Happy Hour) is awesome. Hope that sticks around! The food is really good! Thank you!

Classy, elegant, and gourmet.... Smashing Grapes would be right at home if it was located at a vineyard. What a wonderful experience Smashing Grapes did a phenomenal job of building their team. Literally everyone was attentive and willing to come to your table despite being the primary server. Used dishes did not linger around on the table, new silverware and napkins brought, bottled water was poured for you, the list goes on. The server provided great recommendations for food which were tried. I really wished I recorded the presentation of the shrimp and lobster bisque. I'll leave you with this it was very unique and set the stage for the dishes to come. The layer flavor profile hit its mark. The seafood was cooked to perfection and a decent portion for the dish. I do suspect they stopped the cooking process by icing the seafood and brought back up to temp with the rich and creamy bisque soup. The Salmon Imperial was the chef special served with gold fingerling potato's and broccolini. I'm happy I got the opportunity to try a limited item, I do hope it can make the menu full time adding more to the already impressive seafood depth. The salmon was flaky with a crispy bottom, not overcooked, and juicy packed with mouthwatering flavor. The stuff crab meat was a perfect compliment to the salmon without overpowering the salmon. The new menu item beef tip pasta also came at a high recommendation and was also rather good. Unfortunately the sausage took main stage with this dish. The beef tip did not maintain its seasoning well and would benefit from more salting. No worries when you get the perfect bite of all the components of the dish it is well balanced. Lastly, the dessert selection was the chocolate mousse. I was actually interested in the blueberry cobbler but was truthfully informed it was closer the bread pudding than cobbler. I'm happy I heard the one of the managers (Demetrius I believe) suggests going for chocolate cake with baileys drizzle. To be honest I didn't hear him say the cake but I also wanted the mousse either way. Just know it still worked and see the video for reference. Smashing Grapes is more focused on its wine selection and pairing. This was not the desired experience for this visit but from the flight option I know wine lovers will appreciate what they have to offer. I'm very impressed with this experience and so happy I decided to dine in. Overall 4.9 out of 5 Smashing Grapes is part of the Titan Hospitality Group has an assortment of high quality restaurants. To date I've eaten at three of them. One carry out and the other dine in. Please see the respective reviews.

Elegant, the decor is classy and stunning! On a beautiful fall Sunday, we arrived in time for the brunch menu. I chose French toast that didn't need any syrup and the strawberry mocktail. The food was delicious! Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable. My husband also enjoyed the avocado toast that I brought home.

My husband, parents, kids, and I came here for my birthday dinner. I'm SO glad we did. From the moment we walked into the door, to the time we were walking out with our to-go bags, everything was great! Our server, Cassius was so sweet and so awesome. I had the Lavender French 75 for my cocktail. It was delicious and well made. For my entree (which is sadly no longer on the menu ), I had the penne pasta with vodka sauce and lump crab meat. It was MOUTHWATERING! The addition of the sweet corn was perfect. I enjoyed it so much that I went back two days later to get it again. I hope they bring it back! I will be returning no question.

Wanted to share my most recent experience at smashing grapes! As always hands down great service and a big shoutout to our waitress Alexis! She was so attentive and provided some great suggestions for our table since I also came here tonight with two friends who had never been! The food was also excellent! We got the apple and go w/ prosciutto... EXCELLENT! We also opted for the zucchini fritters. I personally didn't care too much for it. They came in ball shape so the inside was a bit mushy for me. The Chesapeake pizza was excellent as always with large pieces of shrimp and crab! I highly recommend the octopus as well! It was well cooked and tender!!

I've been here three times and two out of the three, I've had excellent customer service. Great location with the surrounding options, a truly beautifully decorated interior with plentiful seating. Loved the wine selections! However, food is just okay. I believe this is a great place to have a wine experience, but I would choose another location for food.

A fine dining experience that is missing some of their marks. Smashing Grapes is one of two fine dining restaurants located in the Merryweather area. True to their name, they boast a robust selection of wines as well as other drinks and an impressive cocktail variety. Their menu sports typical American cuisine: steaks, seafood, pizza, and pasta dishes. The food I had was delicious. The Mediterranean Salad was fresh with plenty of topped meats and a light dressing. The Charred Octopus appetizer was bouncy and flavorful, though I think the pieces were too large, requiring me to cut through the chewy meats before I could comfortably put it into my mouth. The Veal Marsala had excellent handmade pasta noodles, but the meat itself was surprisingly tough for veal. I also tried the Avocado Chicken Tagliatelle, which was my favorite bite of the night, with a creamy avocado dressing on top of their fresh pasta and covered in juicy grilled chicken. Each dish had a wine recommendation which went excellent with the meal. The biggest drawback of Smashing Grapes is the service. First, making a reservation with a human being is impossible. You either have to deal with their online 3rd party app or call their phone number and speak to an AI. I tried moving my reservation to a later time, but found it impossible using both options. Despite being fully booked, their were numerous empty unused tables during peak hours on a Saturday, and even then, service was slow as our server had to bounce from table to table non-stop. We weren't given bread like some of the other tables around us, and the server admitted to forgetting. Our food also took too long to get to us, which might explain why the veal was so tough, because it had been sitting in a warming light for too long. And when we were finally ready for the check, it took our server almost 20 minutes to deliver it to us. Smashing Grapes might be in trouble if it cannot find more staff. Until they do, it's not worth spending premium money on a subpar dining experience.

I loved the first time I went there with a regular menu. The second time I went there though I had visited their website and called to make a reservation on Mother's Day. When we got there they only had a 3 course tasting menu $55 dollars per person and the options weren't even good or worth that price. The regular menu was not available. Wine was not included with the price. The website did not say anything about this being the only option for Mother's Day. Also when I spoke with people on the phone no one had mentioned it and someone even called to confirm the reservation a couple of days before and they didn't mention it. It was Mother's Day dinner and impossible to get in anywhere else around the area at the time. I was very disappointed. The soup was fine, the salad was lame, the shrimp scampi was good but not worth the price, and both desserts (red velvet smith island cake and a blueberry crumble) were pretty dry. They were out of the wine my sister in law wanted.

Perfectly fine, if a little expensive for the product. I tried the short rib parpanalle - which was tasty, if a bit rich. I had a glass of red from Oregon, and a salad as well. Nothing remarkable. Two people, $150 or so. Service was attentive.

What a fabulous restaurant! My friends and I did not have a reservation. We were warmly greeted by Casseus, who also was our server. The restaurant itself is stunning. It is very upscale and modern. Casseus took the time to go over the menu with us. He was very knowledgeable about the various wines, the best dishes, and what items would pair well together. We were left waiting for nothing. Everything came out in a reasonable amount of time. The food was freshly prepared from scratch. The drinks were amazing. We ordered a lot of food because it was so hard to decide what to get. Everything sounded amazing. Smashing Grapes is my new favorite restaurant. I can't recommend this restaurant enough!

summary: very good food and lovely ambiance, with a few hiccups along the way. Made a trip for a Mother's Day meal and was a bit bamboozled because we hadn't gotten the memo that they were only offering a special 3-course menu for the day at $55/pp. It was a surprise because we thought the regular menu would be available, but the food did end up being good (albeit, I would say on the pricier end given the portion sizes). The service was friendly and much like the name alludes, they do have a large selection of wine options. The venue is beautiful/romantic. I'd be open to coming back, but probably on a regular day because it does seem like the type of place to get pricey real fast otherwise.

I love this place. It's such a classy and fun place to get drinks and dinner. When we went for dinner we sat at the bar and there was live music there. My friend and I really enjoyed our time here. We ate good food and had yummy drinks while listening to good music. Another time I came here for a quick drink at the bar before our dinner across the street. The service is great and the ambiance is lively and bustling. I love this place!

On a Wednesday evening, we were peckish and didn't want to have to wait for a table, so we found ourselves at Smashing Grapes. When we arrived, there was one person at the bar, and 1 or 2 tables in the dining area. We opted for sitting at the bar, since the dining area host/server was a little frazzled. The conversation and banter was a lot of fun. Since the restaurant was a little slow, the bartenders and servers were able to do some prepwork for the weekend; my friend and I were able to witness the magic behind the scenes while we drank and munched on our goodies. -The oysters were fresh, but whoever shucked them left a bit of broken shells. -The mussels were amazingly delicious. The sauce was zesty and garlicky; perfect for dipping bread. -Buffalo Cauliflower - do not sleep on this one. The batter on the cauliflower was vey crispy and not too greasy. The buffalo sauce and blue cheese are on the side, so you don't have to be overwhelmed with both flavors and can dip on your own accord. -Berry Cobbler: i enjoyed it. my partner did not. -Cocktails: if you're sitting at the bar, make sure to ask for recommendations because we were not disappointed. Interior was great. Well lit, tables were spaced out. All the surfaces were clean. The design was well balanced between having a chill vibe and wanting a sophisticated look. Restaurant is nestled in the Merriweather district. Parking is a tiny walk away, but can be annoying when there is an event happening and parking is scarce.

I went to the Smashing Grapes location in Annapolis and enjoyed it, but it didn't last long. I was happy to see another location in Columbia. Just as I expected the decor and ambience was lovely. I don't know who designs the restaurants in this group but they always do a great job. I had the lobster bisque and braised short ribs with onions, zucchini, carrots, and a parsnip purée. The lobster bisque was just OK. It wasn't as rich and creamy as others I've had in the past and it needed a little more flavor. The short rib was delicious. It was fork tender with just the right amount of gravy and it practically melts in your mouth. I enjoyed the vegetables too. They weren't just afterthoughts on the plate, but they were properly prepared and seasoned, and they complemented the short rib really well. My only complaint was, I wish there was more meat on the plate. Tonight's occasion was a birthday dinner, not mine but someone else's, and the staff was so helpful and accommodating. I was able to secretly give my waiter a candle for the dessert and was able to give them my card before the guest of honor arrived so that I was able to pay for the meal without any complications. I believe we tried the dessert special that night, which was a sweet potato poundcake or something like that. They should make that a regular item on the menu. It was that good but I'm biased because I love sweet potatoes.

Had a wonderful late lunch here between the Christmas and New Year holidays. Our server was attentive and made great suggestions along the way. I had the peach ice tea, garlic edamame and the cilantro shrimp sandwich. All very delicious. My guy opted for the ahi tuna and the house burger topped with an egg and accompanied by broccolini and loved all of it. The decor is modern and posh. There are glass enclosed private dining rooms and a spacious bar area too. We'll definitely be returning.

At a place named for crushed fruit, one might expect intensity of flavor, a liquid joy born of patience and ripening. Instead, the evening at this Columbia dining room felt stretched and slack, as if time itself had been left unattended. Nearly forty-five minutes elapsed between the reservation and seating, a void filled not with anticipation but with the dull ache of waiting. The table, unready, mirrored the inattentive rhythm of service: water glasses neglected, no return of staff to ask if thirst or appetite still gnawed. When at last the plates arrived, they carried little consolation. A lamb shank lay under sauce but yielded no resonance beyond heaviness, its roasted companions crisp but unremarkable. The pasta, dotted with sausage and vegetables, promised color but delivered pallor--flavors blurred, gestures without conviction. It was food one might describe as edible yet joyless, sustenance stripped of song. The tragedy here was not catastrophe but mediocrity, a night in which nothing bloomed and nothing broke, only the long plateau of unmet expectations.

Overall really good. This is a farm to table restaurant or scratch kitchen which basically means they make everything on the menu and for the most part you can tell in the quality of the food. I got the lemonade($4) and I thought it was a good price for the taste and portion. I'd definitely recommend it and get it again. I kept thinking about it throughout dinner. We got the white pizza really good no complaints about that, I liked that the crust was pillowy and not to dry. I got the Avcado Pasta which was terrible and flavorless, and maybe that was my fault for being too ambitious but I didn't like it and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are absolutely in love with Avocado. Luckily I was able to send it back and get the braised short rib pasta. That on the other hand is amazing one of the best short rib pasta's I've ever had and I've already recommended it to others. The carrots in the dish don't taste good though. It doesn't taste like it was even cooked together, just an odd flavor. The fries aren't anything to write home about not crispy, I wouldn't recommend. The service was great the staff were friendly and accommodating. The inside of the restaurant is very cute definitely one of the best I've been to in Colombia. Next time I go to Smashing Grapes I am definitely interested in trying some handhelds.

Visited Columbia location first time for Sunday brunch with my girlfriends. Had visited now closed Gambrills location before. This location is so much better from the ambiance to the service and food. Andrew gave the best service, honest opinions of the dishes and cocktails and kept us laughing all the while. I had the seafood omelet and the hibiscus & strawberry cocktail. Omelet was delicious with unexpected lobster included! Cocktail was refreshing too. We shared the French toast. It was so good I didn't really need to put syrup on it. Would def return again for brunch. Will also stop by for dinner too!

Visited here for a private work dinner. I decided to get the lavender French 75 to start. We tried various pizzas (Cuban, spicy Italian, Mediterranean). All the pizzas were to die for. We also got to try the Caesar salad which was delicious (it could have used some more dressing). The presentation of the Caesar salad was beautiful! I still dream about that delicious lavender French 75. Best French 75 I've ever had! For entrees, I got the avocado chicken tagliatelle. It's topped with pistachios, bell peppers and a delicious avocado based sauce. The pasta was good. I would have preferred a bit more spice. But overall, tasty! I would definitely return again. The atmosphere of this restaurant is very nice and aesthetically pleasing. The service was great! Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and friendly. Parking spaces are readily available. Overall, i would definitely return again!

Food: I really enjoyed the lemongrass chicken with the jus. Everything on that plate was cooked with the same attention as the chicken. The potatoes were seasoned just right, with a crispy skin and a fluffy interior. The green beans were bright green and delicious, especially with the grilled lemon squeezed on top. Finally, the star of the dish, the chicken and jus, was juicy and flavorful. It transformed every time I dipped it into the lemongrass jus. If you're a pasta lover, I recommend this place for an elevated dining experience, as they make the pasta fresh every day. I enjoyed my main course, but the appetizers were a bit too cold for my taste, even though they were tasty. I would not recommend dessert; the blueberry tart and doughnut holes did not live up to the hype. Service: Our server, Pablo did an excellent job. Friendly, funny, knew what we needed before we could ask. Ask to sit in his section. Ambiance: If you are dining for dinner, I recommend leaving the casual attire at home and dressing up a bit. The design is beautiful everywhere you go, including the restroom.

I've been to smashing grapes three times now, once when they opened and twice in the past week, and EVERY TIME I have a FABULOUS TIME. Located at the center of Merriweather District, smashing grapes offer a wide variety of wines from different regions for a very reasonable price. The ambiance is SO NICE. The place is great for special occasions, as well as casual, as long as you're not in beachwear / sweats. I've tried a lot of their appetizers and pizza, and everything on their menu is great. Some are better than others, but nothing on the menu that doesn't taste good. Slightly pricy, but doesn't disappoint -- for me, I'd rather pay the price and eat good food. What makes Smashing Grapes truly stand out is their service. We are always greeted with a warm, welcoming smile. Super attentive servers who give you the space you need, but there when you need them. They always let me try their wines before I commit to one (but remember to be reasonable). For one of my recent trips, our server Alexis made an early celebration of mother's day extra special (mom visiting from out of town). For the second trip, I went with my husband and a 15 month old, and every single worker there was SO SO nice to my kid / fam.. one of them even made a small pillow out of napkins, attached it to our table with tapes so that our LO wouldn't bang her head on the table and get hurt. SO IMPRESSED at how much they actually care about making sure their customers have the best time. The food, the ambiance, the wine are all great.. but it's the human touch that makes Smashing Grapes extra special. Management must have a good culture and community established here, and I support it. Thank you for a great time, always. We will be visiting Smashing Grapes even more often!!

It looks like a gorgeous carbon copy of the surrounding restaurants (Blackwall Barn across the street in particular, which appears to be owned by the same group). Unfortunately, the effort put into appearances just does not translate to the food and service. We had to ask multiple times for the same thing. But food and drinks took exceptionally long- 30-ish minutes. Drinks seemed to be an even longer wait time. They were relatively empty and had an abundance of wait staff. That said, everyone was still very pleasant and nice, the wait times were just very long. The stuffed peppers were wonderful, whipped goat cheese with sweet & spicy peppers. The lobster bisque and lobster ravioli were creamy and delicious. The penne crab vodka had a good kick to it but was incredibly dry. It just needs some sauce to be good. The Caesar salad was unfortunately wedges- nothing to it. The blueberry cobbler was VERY dry, overdone maybe. We left it. The cheesecake brûlée was a little dense and flavorless but the sour cherries underneath it were a perfect pairing. I appreciate the friendliness, but incredibly high prices for small portions, long wait times during non-busy hours, and a mixed bag for tastiness means we sadly won't be returning. I love the Smashing Grapes in Annapolis and raved about it, but unfortunately this is just not the same.

Our first visit with friends was a mixed bag. Walking in, the layout says "fine dining" and is spacious except for those waiting to be seated. We had a reservation and were early but waited nearly 30 minutes for our table. At that point, what's the use of a rez? Morgan was a pleasant, professional and helpful server. However, she either had too many tables or there were too few servers as she was at our table only a few times and refilled our water once. One of the managers was very helpful in answering our friends' questions about wine and serving water and a wine flight. But the fact a manager was on the floor eluded to a staffing issue on a busy Saturday night. We didn't order appetizers and were looking forward to our meals. We witnessed those meals brought from the kitchen on a large tray and placed on a stand outside the kitchen for several minutes. For the meals, I tried the Chesapeake pizza, my wife the Margarita pizza, and our friends had the Short Rib Pappardeele and Ribeye. All of these dishes were delish and exceeded expectations except for the Ribeye. It was supposed to be medium rare and was barely medium. The dish was sent back and its replacement was excellent. While Morgan was helpful in taking the dish back and checking back on us, typically this is an opportunity for a manager to check on the table and possibly offer some sort of discount. We saw no one else. The final straw was when we indicated to Morgan we were tight on time, she was quick to bring our check and a couple of boxes for leftovers but after an uncomfortable amount of time passing, another staff member volunteered to run our card. While the meals were excellent and there are many more on the menu to enjoy, I'm not sure we'd return anytime soon entirely based on the dining experience.

Man, I wanted to give this place more than 2 stars. But I can't and here's why. We had a reservation at 6:15, we were there right on time. We got checked in and were told it would be just a few minutes while they got our table ready. Almost 25 minutes later, they took us to a table that had been sitting empty with a couple other empty tables nearby. Explain that one. When our server (Morgan) arrived, she did mention that she had seen us waiting and appreciated our patience. OK, we can let that go. She went to get us some water and some info about a wine flight. Then we didn't see her for a long time. One of the managers finally came over with the water and as she was also familiar with the wine list, gave us more info about the wine flight. She was very nice and took her time explaining things to us. We ordered the flight and sat back to wait. It arrived shortly thereafter and was excellent. Our server came back with bread and oil (very good) and took our order. We ordered the Margherita pizza, a Chesapeake pizza, the short rib pappardelle and the ribeye. Here's where the second problem came in. We saw our food being carried around the dinning room as the kitchen runner was trying to figure out where it went. Then he put the tray on a tray stand and slid it around the room and then left it next to the kitchen door for several minutes while he tried to figure out where we were. Several people came and went through the door in the mean time and then he finally recovered the tray and brought us our meals. So that happened. Kinda not cool. The food. The Chesapeake pizza was delicious. The Margherita pizza was a Margherita pizza - nothing special. The short rib pappardelle was divine! The $46 ribeye was overcooked and dry - we had to send it back. So THAT happened. The new steak came out as the rest of us were finishing our meals and no apology of any kind was offered by anyone except a token "I'm sorry" when it was taken away. When the new one was brought out it was properly cooked and tasty. Here's the rub. The food was good (some excellent, some just good). The service was the problem. The server, the manager and the staff in general were polite and friendly, we just never saw them. Our drinks were refilled once the entire time we were there. When we told our server that we were pressed for time and needed to go, she brought the check right away, but then never came back. A busboy ended up running the card for us. Smashing Grapes - you need to get your staff in order. Your food is good, but the experience was significantly lacking. You can do better.

Branzino was Spectacular.... Ambience Amazing ... Service Impeccable! Our server/bartender Sam was so knowledgeable... can't say enough about Smashing Grapes

First time coming here with my lady and it was nice. Zack was an awesome waiter and he went over the wine flights and talked about the menu and the special which I ended up getting. Food was all delicious and we were even able to check our umbrellas due to the rain we had come inside from. Definitely will dine here again

It's great that great restaurants are coming to Columbia area! We definitely needed a place with good ambiance and food. I didn't think this place would be packed and did not make a reservation so we had to sit at the bar area. Ok. The ambiance is fabulous. It gives you that NYC feeling. Servers were friendly but they didn't check on our table as frequently as they should. Our water was pretty empty for extended period of time. I am sure it's a new place and they need time to get used to it. We got some oysters (they were ok), Lobster ravioli was delicious, beef tartar was good too. They have this wine set where you can try three types of wine and I think that's a good way to try few different kind but the selection is limited. I will definitely go back again!

8.12.24 What a pleasant and exciting surprise upon entering the establishment. Chris Bassett, husband of Candice, a former cast member from Real Housewives of Potomac was standing by the bar. He is the general manager there. I was so starstruck. He was very sweet and let me take a photo with him. Now onto the dining experience. Our server was Allyson. I really loved her energy and outgoingness. It happened to be restaurant week so they were offering a 3-course dinner which I had to take advantage of so I ordered the House Salad, Penne and Crab Pasta, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Hubby ordered the Steak Frites and a Heineken. Allyson started by asking if we wanted bread and oil. Of course we said yes. It was delish. I loved all three courses of my dinner, but of the three, the cake was the showstopper. Simply perfection! I loved the pasta just wish there was more of it. Aside from Allyson, Chris stopped by during our dinner to check on us. Later another gentleman did rounds at each table to check on everyone. Impeccable and friendly service all around. Highly recommend!! Do

Cassius was INCREDIBLE. He was attentive kind and was very informative about the menu. He was a delight to be around and he made the best menu recommendations. If you come here you MUST get the cheesecake brûlée

Appears to be a fine dining establishment but the service would say otherwise. Arrived for dinner at 7:50. Was seated immediately. The hostess was friendly greeting us with a smile. That's where it ended. My party we seated for 20 minutes and never had a waiter come to the table and say anything. No bread no water and no drink order taken. After 25 minutes of being ignored I decided to leave. It wasn't even crowded inside. Only a few other people were there so I don't understand the poor service. I would understand if it was very busy but they had no excuse. That turned me off. I was very disappointed because I wanted to try some of the drinks I saw online. Inside of the restaurant was beautiful and appealing. They definitely need to improve their customer service. Looking at the menu they are on the expensive side so they need to do better.

Came here on a Thursday night for dinner. We had a reservation as other reviews have stated it is necessary to be seated quickly. The restaurant was pretty empty. Our server was ok, she forgot one of our appetizers but quickly added it and it came before our main entrees. Service here is terribly slow both drinks and food. We started with the seared tuna and crab dip. The seared tuna was horrendous, it almost tasted as though it was from a can, I don't recommend it. The crab and artichoke dip had some strange spice added to it, possibly cayenne, that made it hardly edible. This is MD, make your crab dip the proper way with Old Bay please. I chose the short rib entree and my companion chose the crab Alfredo special. The short rib tastes like the pot roast I make, tender but nothing special and the parsnip puree tasted off. My companion stated his crab Alfredo was just okay. We also ordered dessert. The blueberry cobbler was not a cobbler, it was chunks of bread and some sort of cookie mixed in with some very sweet blueberries and topped with a small dollop of ice cream. The cheesecake Brulee with tart cherries was pretty good but I feel more cherries would have made it better, it's a huge piece of cheesecake. I did enjoy the very sweet Ranch Water drink. They do not have fountain sodas but they do have canned options, their tap water tasted terrible. Service was ok and our table was bussed quickly with polite staff. It is aesthetically pleasing but I think that's where the charm ends. I would not come here again as there are better options in the area. A lot of new restaurants have popped up in Columbia with the surge in population, I find this restaurant to be on par with those, over priced and underwhelming.

I planned a friend's birthday dinner at Smashing Grapes this past weekend. The process was easy and Allison was invaluable and attentive during planning. Alexis, our server, was awesome. She offered details about dishes and wines when necessary and was attentive to our party of 12. I want to give the staff a HUGE shout-out for making us feel welcome during our time. The private room was a great option and we could even play the football game on our TV in the room. Smashing Grapes is elevated casual, yet classy. As for the food, everything is made from scratch, so that's a huge plus. I do feel that the dishes lacked a bit of seasoning to make them stand out. My carrots had no flavor and my branzino was a bit dry. The Heirloom Tomato Salad disappointed me a bit. It wasn't anything special. This is not to say the food was bad, because it wasn't. It just was nothing to write home about.

Me and my wife came here for the first time. 10/10 experience! Mererid was a great server! She checked on us every often. The food portion size was just enough. The best cheesecake I ever had. Definitely coming back!

My wife and I had a very pleasant dinner. The restaurant was very clean with unobtrusive background music. We were greeted by staff who were upbeat and welcoming. For the meal we had a Caesar salad (very crisp) and a Margarita pizza (nice, thin crust) with a glass of Northern California pinot noir. Our server, Ginger, was prompt and attentive. For dessert we had their chocolate cake (very decadent and delicious) with a decaf coffee (hot and fresh).

My friend and I went for a late supper after the jazz fest. We were immediately told to go find a bar seat but the bar was full. It was 10:25 PM. SHE THEN TOLD US THE KITCHEN would close by 11:00 pm. There was a 20 minute wait for the dining room. It didn't make sense to wait because the kitchen would be closed by the time we sat. My questions are why turn people away when the restaurant was open for business until 1:00 AM? This is not a good business practice. Never turn a customer away. We went to another restaurant tat was closing at 11:00 pm. They gladly took our business. This same thing happened last year but the only difference they didn't turn us away. This is unacceptable,

The hostess sat us down pretty quickly. We sat at our table for 20 minutes. No one came up to our table. Another couple came in after us and were seated right next to our table. And a server showed up and greeted them right away. We decided to leave because at that point we've already waited a total of 30 minutes. It was a weekday and it was pretty empty inside the restaurant so they weren't that busy. It just seems pretty ridiculous to wait over 30 minutes to be greeted by a server.

Smashing grapes was wonderful. The bartender Jill was excellent as was the food and beverages. Try her Hot Toddy & I highly recommend the Ahi Tuna. It was warm and cozy indoors and decorated nicely for the holiday season. Everything Jill recommended was excellent!

This was my first visit to this location and the service, and the food was amazing. Our server Michael was so welcoming and made great suggestions which we went with. The Short Rib Hash was well seasoned and juicy, and the Seafood omelette did not sham on the lobster and crab at all... big meaty chunks galore! Everything was absolutely delicious. I cannot wait to try the rest of the menu the next time I'm in that neck of the woods.

I finally got a chance to try Smashing Grapes. I actually stopped in twice to be able to try a variety of items before writing my review. Overall the experience was what I would have expected for a new restaurant. Spotless, well kept, service on point. Felt like the staff just got out of training, as they were all very scripted. Nothing wrong with that! On my first visit we sat outside. I believe our server's name was Lance. He was so delightful. My second visit I sat at the bar with Jenn. She too was delightful. As for the food, I'll go into a bit more detail on this one since I think it's important to provide all the details for a new restaurant... Avocado Tagliatelle- was really excited about this dish based on all the ingredients, especially the avocado cream sauce. Overall the dish was good. The sauce was creamy as I expected, the goat cheese and jalapeños gave it a good kick, and the pistachios were a fun addition. I also liked the portion size as it wasn't a huge plate of pasta. The only downside for me was I would have liked a bit more goat cheese, a tad bit more salt, and the blackened chicken was a bit overcooked. Lemon & Thyme Potatoes- these came on the side of the short rib sandwich. I wasn't a fan. They were just potatoes with lemon and thyme. Nothing special. Usually I can't stop eating potatoes/fries. These I tried one and was extremely underwhelmed. They needed to be cooked a bit longer and tossed in maybe some olive oil. Not sure what would fix those. Wouldn't order again as a side. Shrimp Skewers- these are on the HH menu for $12. You get 6 shrimp served on mini skewers with bell peppers served over a bed greens. I was very happy with this dish and would definitely order again. The shrimp were well seasoned and had a light sauce that paired well with the peppers and greens. It's a perfect small bite. Caprese Bowl- another HH option. $8. Overall I enjoyed this dish, but the presentation and the way it's composed was a bit off for me. They layer cucumbers topped with mozzarella and balsamic glaze on top of the diced tomatoes. I had to separate the cucumbers and mozzarella from the tomatoes so that I could get a bite of all the ingredients. I think this dish would be better served on a plate to allow you to get bites of everything. My other issue was that there wasn't any basil in the dish. Feel like that's a typical ingredient in Caprese. Margherita Pizza- I asked for the pizza to be well done, since I like a crispier crust on my pizza. It came out and it was crispy on the edges but soggy in the middle. My bartender quickly saw that I wasn't satisfied and sent it right back. The second version that came out was perfect!! I really enjoyed the pizza. I will say...it's not your traditional Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella and full leaves of basil. This was more of a cheese pizza with shredded basil and tomatoes. Like I said, still yummy. Now on to the wine... Tons of great options from around the world. I indulged in a few glasses of the HH Chardonnay from Sicily. Absolutely delicious. Great quality wine for $5 (6 oz glass). Overall a win for me! Dimitri was a gem and made sure my experience was delightful. I'm excited to have this beautiful establishment within walking distance!

Went for Brunch I was really drawn to the outside. I love the huge grape colored wine cellar door. When I got inside, it is so chic and really festive. I love the fig trees and the dark wood decor. It definitely feels like a wine cellar vibes. The waiter was great, love the touch of their purple hair! They were very attentive, accommodating and knowledgeable. The food came really quickly- it was hard to make a decision, everything looked good. The burgers were made very well and delicious. The mimosas were great. I'm so glad that we ended up coming here. I would definitely return. And they gave us a nice holiday freebie for after the new year so I'll definitely be back!

Amazing service. Chelsea was great! We sat at the bar. She was very friendly and informative. Highly recommended!

Came here with some family to enjoy a special event. It's getting a low score for me due to the service. One member in our party has an allergy to apple. We ordered a white pizza which didn't have apple listed, but instead got a completely different pizza with apple in it. We did not notice as it was under the other ingredients until someone took a bite. Our waitress did her due diligence and made sure to ask and write it down when taking our order, so I don't believe it was her, but somewhere the communication between the rest of the staff was lacking. Luckily it ended up fine, but it could have been dangerous under other circumstances. I will say the manager did take off the pizza and was very apologetic and was otherwise great. The restaurant itself is beautiful and is an amazing area. The food we did have was really good and delicious. The staff otherwise was very attentive and friendly. They are the reasons I'm giving it 2 stars. It really is a shame too because without that mishap it would have been an easy 5 stars in my book.

Very poor experience. We came here with a group of 4 on Friday night. Restaurant is not taking reservations until July but it was easy enough to walk in and get a table. This is another of the Titan Hospitality Group restaurants in the area, the other being Blackwall Barn and Lodge. I'll start with the very few positives. The staff was nice and the ambiance/decor was well done. They had live jazz music playing which was a nice touch. They had a notice at every table asking patrons to be patient with the new staff at this location, as the restaurant has only been open for ~2 weeks at this point. Definitely fair, and we went into this experience with this in mind. My friend ordered the Sommelier's Wine Flight, which advertises itself on the menu as "let our sommelier hand-pick three wines based on your palate". They just gave him three wines with zero explanation about them and when he asked if a sommelier would eventually come around, the waitstaff appeared confused. False-advertising. The food: I would give this less than one star if possible. We ordered oysters which were clearly not shucked correctly. They were littered with shell fragments. The crab penne vodka had absolutely zero salt and just looked like somebody dumped a small amount of crab meat on some penne pasta. My prime rib papperadelle barely had any meat in it. The noodles were frayed at the ends, implying that it had been sitting around somewhere for a bit before making it to us. Tasted beyond bland. My wife ordered the lobster linguini and actually had it sent back because the sauce was basically water and there was no salt or flavor. While sending it back, the senior waiter actually said "oh that's strange, that's actually my favorite dish!", which is a very weird response because it felt like he was giving some pushback on it. My wife eventually had it exchanged for the Chilean Sea Bass, which had been the only satisfactory dish served up to that point. We know that this location is new and we were understanding with the slow service, forgetting drinks, etc. This is the only point that prevents me from making it a one star review. The food was terrible and we will not be returning.

Smashing Grapes in Columbia, Maryland was quite the afternoon treat. The Grand Opening happens today, May 28th. You still have time to visit and catch their live band for the celebration tonight! I stopped in for my first Smashing Grapes experiences during a late lunch. I had no expectations but my vision was completely exceeded. Every staff person was friendly and even a few corporate reps stopped by my seat to ask about my experience. From the hostess, bartenders, sommelier and wait staff...absolutely everyone was ultra sweet. Make sure to say hello to Melanie! The attentiveness and suggestions were unmatched. The sommelier suggestions and selections for my wine flight were spot on pairings. I already have a list of foods and wines I need to try on my next visit. I ordered the lobster bisque and short rib pappardelle. The bisque was decadent and lobster was chunky. Don't leave without trying it. The short rib pappardelle was juicy and filling. Eventually I also was coerced into taking home some homemade donuts...for my co-workers, of course. Have you visited this area in Columbia,MD yet? #smashinggrapes #smashinggrapeswinebar #smashinggrapescolumbia #grandopening #titangroup #blackwallbarn #blackwallbarnandlodge #merriweather #meeriweatherpostpavilion #columbiamall #columbiamallmd #mdwinebars #dmvwinescene #winebar #datenight #wineflights #patioseating #scratchkitchen #eventspacemd #wineevent #livemusic #connoisseurschoice #winelist #yelpelite #go2girl #sommsandsocialites