The Hollow

I was just in town for a quick stay and decided to book a table at the Hollow, best decision ever! First of all if you want to try something different this is your place: they have everything from boar, duck, bison, elk and then some! Their chefs are great pairing with exceptional food and wine as well as cocktails. I had fried green tomatoes with shrimps, so delicious. Then I tried boar shank with squash purée and farro, the meat was super tender and juicy! I finished with some brownie dessert!! My daughter had the all American meat beast burger, simply wow! I absolutely recommend it! Amazing experience and atmosphere

Awesome! Food was delicious. I ordered the deep fried alligator for an appetizer and the sweet chilli sauce paired well with it. ( Our waiter was awesome but I wish she brought them out sooner when they were piping hot) . For my entree I ordered the ( Forest Greens) butternut squash salad which contained promogranate, feta cheese, toasted pecans, craisins, and a maple Dijon dressing. Yummy is all I can say to describe it. I added a piece of salmon which was cooked perfectly and a nice size. I tried to order dessert but the kitchen stated they had shut down already. Great customer service and environment.

Went to Hollow the first time and what hidden gem! We ordered the Wild Game Tasting Board, Lamb Chops, and Elk Filet. The flavors and preparation were great. The open kitchen and forest to table concept was so unique to Columbia. Definitely worth a visit we will be coming back! Pressley was our server and she was amazing. She made my birthday so special with great recommendations!

Our dining experience was great overall! Loved the setting. Michael did a great job as our waiter! The alligator bites appetizer was perfectly prepped -crunchy and tasty. Our lamb chops were tender and perfectly cooked with the haricot verts and fingerling potatoes perfectly prepared and seasoned! Our beast burgers were a little dry and a little too rare but great flavor. The tri-fries were tasty but room temperature- would have been great if they came out hot. Overall cost is a little high but it’s truly quality food, great service and cozy ambiance. We recommend y’all give it a try!

Our first visit here. If you google the best place to eat in Columbia, SC. This gem is number 1. The hostess greeted us with a tour and sat us in a comfy booth. Our server, Michael, shared some suggestions that did not disappoint. His service was top tier! All together we had fried green tomatoes (my ultimate favorite), fried alligator, stuffed mushrooms, triple truffle fries, bison ribs and a delicious poached pear dessert. It was hands down the best food and experience Columbia has to offer. Don’t wait to plan your next lunch or dinner trip. This is the place to go.

I have been here a few times, with multiple groups of people, and we have yet to leave disappointed! I absolutely CANNOT go without ordering at MINIMUM the Duck Wings & the Mushrooms.. The atmosphere is cozy yet fun, and you truly feel like you’ve entered a garden atmosphere! Their Happy Hour is truly one of the best in Columbia—HALF-OFF ALL APPETIZERS SEEMS CRIMINAL WHEN THEY ARE THIS GOOD! Our waitress, Molly, was absolutely amazing! Attentive, friendly, and anticipated our every need! As for food, the menu changes seasonally, so I was lucky enough to try my all-time favorites—the duck wings & mushrooms—while trying some new ones! The Owner made sure to come to our table and ask how everything was—which is refreshing because we saw him working his tail off all night and truly helping his workers thrive! Don’t even get me started on the cocktails 🫠 If you have not been here, you 100% need to make this your next Lunch, Happy Hour, or Dinner option!! Every menu is amazing!

We had an amazing experience dining tonight with Michael. We were given wonderful recommendations on the menu and properly taken care of. We started with the smoked old fashion which had a great table presentation. Then enjoyed the complimentary salad and fried alligator. Both were great. For dinner we had the elk steak and bison short rib. Both were phenomenal and exceeded expectations. A+ experience and looking forward to the next visit to try more of the menu.

Great food! Great service! Great atmosphere! 1st time visiting The Hollow and 100% recommend. I had the Elk steak, it was perfectly cooked to order and taste absolutely amazing. Never had elk before so I was glad I tried this restaurant 10/10 I also had the Parmesan truffle fries which were also 10/10. Nice and crispy and not overloaded with truffle oil. Visited a 2nd time and had the deviled duck egg flight. I really enjoyed 2 of the 4 10/10 for those two the other two were good but I would give them 8/10. Glad there were several flavors to try. I also had the lamb chops on my 2nd visit as well and that was fantastic 10/10

Great Elk filet and jungle feel to the place. Glad we tried this place. The house drinks were very well Done. Our server, Farah was great too!

While visiting Columbia, I had the pleasure of visiting The Hollow twice. First for brunch and later in the week for a happy hour dinner. Both experiences were exceptional and I look forward to returning the next time I visit the city. When you walk in you are instantly met with green - painted walls and plants hanging from the ceiling. The instantly sets the mood and welcomes guests in. For brunch, we ordered the Breakfast Tower for two which provided a sample of many of their brunch staples. Everything from the eggs and potatoes to the pancakes and olive oil tea cakes were divine and left me satisfied. At $38 it felt like a reasonable price for an experience that was similar to a high tea. For dinner we came during happy hour. And while we didn't realize it at the time, we came to find that both cocktails and appetizers (which includes the wild game tasting board) were half off. Had we realized this we'd likely have only ordered from there - but this gives a reason to return. The entrees and sides were well prepared and balanced gaminess of less traditional cuts of meat with bold flavors. The cocktails were similarly interesting and paired nicely with the meal. Service was great, and our waitress even remembered us on our second visit even though it had been a few days between visits. I highly recommend.

I can't decided if I like this place or not... our first impression was the menu looked insanely delicious. Very extensive, unique, innovative and special for Columbia. It was seriously hard to decide. We walked in and the decor wasn't quite what we expected- it was cute but again not entirely what we thought it would be. I did like the giant tree detail. Service was good, she was helpful and took care of us well. I will say the drinks take a little while- the bar was a bit backed up but not a huge issue. When we went the apps were half off which is an amazing deal. They also didn't mention the drinks were also half off so this was a pleasant surprise. This was the most food my mom and I have ordered in a while and not had a $300 bill. Seriously great deal. My issues lie in the entrees- they came out fast which is fine no one complains about that but the dish we had been looking forward to was luke warm. My short rib was the perfect temp and tasty, but my mother's pasta on the other hand wasn't hot at all. It is also served with a giant cold ball of burrata or mozzarella which lowers the temp of the dish even more. We didn't send it back so that's on us but it was odd.... I'm giving 4 stars because of the awesome value and good service. That radiatore needs some work though!!

The food was okay; not bad but not great either. I ordered the Rib special and the ribs had entirely too much sauce. I don't like my ribs to be sauced to begin with, but they were over sauced in my opinion. The coleslaw lacked flavor. However, the Mac and cheese was really good. The service was good but had to wait awhile for water refills. This wouldn't deter me from coming back and I'm looking to try something new next time. 3.5 stars

The Hollow downtown! Highly recommend. From the service to the food. The decorations... incredible experience. What we ordered: Wild game tasting board Duck confit crostini (perfection) Fried alligator Butternut squash salad All American Beast Burger (one of the best burgers I've ever eaten) 8oz filet with blue crab stuffed prawn (tender, juicy) and the Parmesan garlic risotto 10/10 Roasted carrots

Second time going to the Hollow and what an amazing experience. Jimmy was an awesome waiter and so attentive. We were ten minutes late for our reservation but the hostess and staff were so kind and accommodating. We got two appetizers and two entrees that were delicious. The menu is so different and you can tell they really put thought into their entrees. The restaurant is decorated perfectly with moss and greenery everywhere!

This spot has been on our list for quite a while. Finally got a date night and it did not disappoint! Right when we arrived, everyone was friendly. We had a reservation, and were seated right away. Our server was Molly - and she was wonderful. We ordered a tasting board, and the manager brought it and explained what everything was - which I appreciated! Basically everything we got was something we've never had before. I got the boar shank and oh my goodness - it was cooked perfectly and just an amazing flavor. Hubby got the duck confit and he cleaned his plate. We got the risotto, mainly to take home to our bougie four year old - but it was SO good. We are really not dessert in restaurant kind of people usually- but my husband saw a piece of cheesecake go by and decided to take a piece to go. Can't tell you how it was because he ate it before I could get a picture. This was a wonderful, unique experience. We will definitely be back. So many things on the menu I still want to try.

Third time at the hollow! This time around I have less to write home about than usual... service was pretty slow! But enjoyed most of the food we were served. To start, we had the deviled duck eggs and neither of us were huge fans. I think we were both expecting them to toast exactly like deviled eggs lol. But the flavors were so good if they were just deviled eggs I know it would've been 10/10. Just something about that duck egg taste... for my entree I had the elk filet and it was pretty good. The risotto and roasted carrots were great. And my dad had the fried pheasant and I had a bite and it was also really good!!!! And for dessert I ordered the bananas foster cheesecake and it was pretty eh. But the key lime creme brûlée was insane. Like so delicious. I'm not the biggest fan of key lime stuff but it was incredible!!

This is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Delicious food. Packed restaurant. Unique offerings. My friend loved the trout. I enjoyed the lamb chops, we both thought the butternut squash hash was great. The poached pear dessert was perfect. Our waiter Michael was efficient.

The Hollow was a great experience for us! We had made a same-day reservation on a weeknight, but probably didn't need one since they weren't too busy. The interior was dimly lit and well decorated, with lots of Halloween decor for October. The staff was overall attentive and our server immediately asked how we found the place, since I think they are relatively new. The drinks menu said to ask for their mocktail menu, but it turned out they didn't actually have one. I gave the server an idea of what I wanted and the bartender ended up making two tasty drinks for me throughout the evening. My friends really enjoyed their cocktails as well, especially the glittery one that came in a coupe glass. For food, we started with the Wild Game Tasting Board, which was awesome. I don't eat pork and usually can't have any of the meats on a charcuterie board, so it was awesome being able to try everything. The lamb carpaccio was probably my favorite, but it was all delicious and unique. I also got the Deviled Duck Egg Flight, which was tasty but pretty standard. For my entree, I chose the Elk Bolognese. Highly recommend this dish! The elk went great with the cavatelli pasta, and the burrata on top was so decadent. The pasta was just a bit softer than I would've preferred, but overall this dish was awesome. It was also super filling, and I ended up taking half of it home. Overall, a great choice for a (slightly fancier) dinner!

We tried the Hollow last night for a birthday dinner with a group of 8 people. We made a reservation in advance for 7:30 and we were seated right away. The restaurant itself has very dim lighting, and a nature vibe to it. Unfortunately, the service was extremely slow. I know we came in with a large group, so I understand waiting for food and drinks to come, but it just took so long to even put our food and drink orders in. I enjoyed my cocktail, but my entree wasn't great. The salmon was slightly undercooked and the risotto was pretty salty. I know they are known for wild game, but I was just a little disappointed with this. Overall, I think they just have some kinks to work out as a new restaurant, but the concept is cool.

100/10! Between the ease of making online reservations to the service and the food, I have not had an experience like this in a long time! The vibe was earthy and classy yet cozy. You could watch the chefs in the kitchen which was neat. We ordered the deviled eggs which were unique and wonderful, we both had the elk which was to die for, cooked to perfection and even the carrots and risotto were delicious and the perfect accompaniment! Each meal was served with a tossed salad and homemade sundried tomato vinaigrette, again just perfect! The service was excellent and just loved the whole evening!!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT! We had an amazing date night here - the food was phenomenal! We loved the open concept kitchen - how amazing to see your dish prepared with such intricacy. We have gone back a few times since. Definitely a must!!!

We truly enjoyed our lunch date to the hollow. The ambience of this restaurant is breathtaking. From the canopy of greenery to the lush walls and woodsy decor it's like enchanted forest meets fine dining! Parking was fairly easy at that time and we arrived right before the crowd our server also one of the managers was absolutely helpful and made our special lunch date a 10 out of 10! The salad was nice and fresh with the beautiful vinaigrette, but the star of the show was really the burger. It was filled with so much flavor and was absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back to the dinner menu!

Every single time we come here, we leave with full bellies and are so satisfied with all of the different food we've got to try. I recommend if you've never been, trying them out during restaurant week so you can try a bunch of different things for lower price, but either way, I would come here every day if I could. The variety of forest to table meats is great, the flavor is unreal, and the staff are super kind. Everything is cooked to perfection with such a unique mix of flavors that I really have never had before. Such good combinations and really makes this a great spot for a special occasion!

Visited The hollow for the first time and was wowed by the food. we didn't know what to expect but loved it all. I do recommend the tasting board to get a sense of so many things. Great food, staff & atmosphere. We'll be back.

The wine we ordered ruined our food. The red wine blend is highly acidic and gave everyone indigestion. I'm shocked such a low quality wine would be allowed on their wine list. I'm particularly disappointed that we all feel so bad after all that went into making this special occasion happen.

Been waiting to try this spot... so I invited my uncles to join me... The decor fits the restaurant very well lit and spacious ... I started the meal with the Deviled Duck Eggs and the Sticky Duck Wings. The wings were amazing cooked perfectly and the mixture of honey and sriracha added to the crunch of the wings I def recommend and will be getting another order. The Elk Philly was prepared nice and was fresh. The seasoning got rid of the gamey taste which was a plus ... the elk was tenwith the Philly came the tri fries that were cold .. so I asked for another order... and they were perfect .. S/O to the chef who cooked me a side of duck bacon that wasn't on the menu .... I will def be back and before I forget our waitress Skyllar... I'll be back to try the dinner menu.

Amazing food and experience at The Hollow! Mallory our server was fantastic and the food I can tell I will be thinking about until I can come back again. My husband and i celebrated our anniversary here and it was perfect! We are from out of state but came here as my husband is military and was in the area and so we came up to visit and I love exploring places I can't find anywhere else and this is one of those places. Highly recommend.

Upon arrival and being seated , we request straws for the water. 5 minutes asked another server she stated she would be right back 10 minutes later the bartender served our drinks and she provided straws......to be continued

It was.....I wasn't stunned. HOWEVER, I would definitely go again and try something different. Nothing was awful, but nothing was amazing either. The deviled eggs weren't that great and the rabbit manicotti tasted like any other time I've had the dish. The drinks and service were outstanding and the ambiance was great.

Our friends recommended the Hollow as a way to get some columbia restaurant week action. The interior of the Hollow is rather campy with lots of hanging plastic greenery, and a rather dark ambiance. But hey you are in a hollow where light is a precious commodity. We ordered some specialty drinks to start things off; befitting of the spirit of the season, we enjoyed an Ichabod Cranium ( think piña colada like) and Midnight Ride, a lovely concoction with gin, blue Curaçao, and some tiny sparkles on top. Three of us opted for the restaurant week, a three course menu with some flexibility of choices. We sampled the deep fried pumpkin ravioli and the crispy wild boar belly with cherry BBQ sauce. The ravioli and the both sounded better than they tasted. The breading reminded me of fish breading and the texture of the dough was a bit too tough. Likewise the boar belly chunks were tough and chewy; the only saving grace of this dish was the sauce. For our entrées, three of us had the elk bolognese, and i had the braised duck. The bolognese dish is a lovely dish. The chunks of meat were fork tender and the sauce tasted like it was cooked for hours. Nice depth of flavor, a real winner. Quack, Quack! I tried duck on several occasions and never came away satisfied. This dish rocked! The duck breast was very moist and melted in your mouth. The sauce--a fig balsamic reduction and beet puree-- were a nice complement to the rich meat. If you fancy duck, the Hollow prepares it to perfection. We satisfied our sweet tooth with a raspberry olive oil cake, and a brownie graveyard. All in all a good experience especially if you want to try something a bit different. The service was fine; our server was pleasant.

Great food and ambiance, but disappointing service. It took about 45 minutes for our waitress to come get our food order, then another 45 minutes for my cocktail to show up. Ordered a second one and it took another 45 minutes to show up, literally with the check as we had already finished our whole meal. No water refills. Felt like she was pretty inattentive which didn't make much sense as the restaurant was not even halfway full.

Ambience is great, wild game good is delicious. Apps are small. The Rib Duo had boar ribs that were crazy spicy hot (not listed).

While in Columbia for the day, my boyfriend and I picked this place for dinner because of how unique the concept is, which sounded fun and interesting. Great service, quality cocktails, and fantastic food. We got the tasting board, which was a perfect way to be introduced to different meats, none of which were gamey or too "out there". Main courses were well cooked, and the flavors really paired well with the dish. I never order dessert at a restaurant unless everything else has been a hit; and that didn't disappoint either. We were really impressed and this was one of the highlights of our whole trip!

This is a hidden gem in Columbia. I enjoyed a dirty martini made by Zoe who put a little love in it just for me. The kitchen was closing and out of what I originally wanted but they were able to come through with some freestyle love on sourdough toast. Zoe was very attentive the whole night. The atmosphere was great, diverse with great music at the right volume that lets you enjoy while munching and still being able to chat in between bites.

The food was great. I got the pheasant and wild mushrooms. The only complaint I have is that the portions were on the smaller side. I was traveling for work so I sat at the bar and the service was pretty good for happy hour. Prices were fair.

We went for my birthday and the food and service were wonderful. Columbia is lucky to have such a unique, excellent restaurant. The attention to detail was evident from the moment we were greeted. I loved the simple but delicious commentary salad instead of bread. We started with the seafood arancini and it was fantastic. The rib duo and elk filet and sides were delicious and just as good the next day. Highly recommended.

We did not have a great service and the food was ok. They said they didn't have mocktails but can make cocktails which had me confused. I never got a water refill the entire time. Our server didn't ask how we want our meat cooked. He cut me off as I was still trying to order. Just all in all we didn't have the best experience. We loved the concept and the set up but felt more of a nuisance for being there. It was a date night for us and we just wanted to enjoy ourself.

Tried this place from a reel off Instagram about a foodie post. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We came in and had the seared duck with sweet potato mash and green beans. Duck was cooked to perfection and the sides were amazing. My sister had a cocktail called Old Hound Dog and it was garnished with a quarter of an Uncrustable! The drink features peanut butter bourbon that's made onsite. Loved the service and atmosphere. Must try in the Columbia area.

Awesome service and great food. Yes, it is a lot of green so prepare your eyes. Really enjoyed the rib plate.

The Hollow offers a one of a kind dining experience downtown Columbia as the only (to the best of my knowledge) establishment serving game food. Step inside and you will feel as though you have walked into a mystical Forrest. From boar to quail to foraged mushroom and Carolina gold rice soup, the menu boasts of options for all. Waitstaff is well versed in the menu and can offer suggestions if you find the menu to be less than familiar. If you are not interested in trying the fare it is still worth a visit for the cocktails or spectating of the open air kitchen.

Food and drinks are delicious!! Atmosphere is amazing. We would definitely come back. The Elk is amazing along with the Kiwi drink.

We've been patiently waiting for this spot to open since first seeing the signs last fall. Unfortunately, it didn't meet the mark for us. Parking: street side Ambiance: The ambiance here is quite confusing. I really feel like they had the potential to make this a beautiful environment with the large kitchen windows, brick wall, and open space. However, the bright in your face St. Pattys green was very off putting and the greenery in the bar looked very inexpensive. On top of that, the music choice was all over the place. It felt like they took some mild inspiration from rainforest cafe yet their food appears to be more sophisticated. Service: Cheryl was our server and she was absolutely amazing! Very knowledgeable and attentive. The highlight of our visit. Drinks: We both enjoy craft cocktails and make it a point to each get different cocktails throughout our meal to try a variety. We found the cocktails here extremely unbalanced & lacking. They were either too sweet or not sweet enough. We happily pay $15-$20 a cocktail on a regular basis but not worth it here. Food: The only food item we found worth it were the duck wings. Wings had a sticky sauce that were delicious. Unfortunately, everything else missed the mark. I want to put emphasis on elk filet. The elk fillet was unevenly cooked. The top half was cooked through to well while the bottom was rare as if it was forgotten on a grill on one side for way to long. Really ruined the texture of the meal.

The place is beautiful. The service was good. Not many options on the lunch menu. Salad was good and so were the fires though not very crispy. Decent place overall.

I love this place. From the unique menu, delicious food, to the good-n-strong drinks. The duck wings are a must!!

Excellent service and simply the best steak I've had in the metro. Cool atmosphere especially near the bar. Can't wait to go back.

I truly enjoyed my experience at the Hollow. I am a vegetarian and obviously there is not a ton of food that I can eat on the menu with this place being centered around fresh game, however, I did find these mushrooms and they were absolutely delicious. Everything paired extremely well. The service was quick and friendly. The space is absolutely beautiful. Definitely picture worthy.

Based on one visit we'd give the food and menu an A (elk was perfect), and the ambience and service a B (space is a little cavernous, service was slow). Not too noisy. We'll go back.

Good food and nice staff. Ambience is top of the line. They also have valet parking and quick and efficient service

The ambiance is a killer. With name and fame as The Hollow, I would expect rustic decor with wilderness theme. But it has plastic plants, in bright green hanging everywhere. It changes your mood. The food was nothing extraordinary but the price was really high.

First, the decor was beautiful, sort of enchanting. I would love to see it at night. Our server was wonderful. Very attentive and helpful. The cocktails were delicious. The food was the star of the show. Brunch tower was amazing. Burger was one of the best I've had in Columbia. Huge and topped with a poached egg. We all want to come back and try the dinner menu.

Our server, Jimmy, was fantastic! Dinner was fantastic! The ambience needs a bit of help but the food and service certainly make up for that Well done!

Food and service is always great. Had brunch today for the first time and it was amazing, the best breakfast that I have had.

Wow. This is a great new place. Unique menu but the wine was great along with the food. The service was a bit slow for how busy they were but I would definitely come back and recommend others to come here. The plastic plants were a little tacky and would benefit to upgrade to living plants or herbs used in the kitchen.

Great food and service. Loved the duck and the boar. The cabbage steak appetizer was fun and innovative. We will definitely be back!

The restaurant itself is very pretty! The food was cooked really well. I enjoyed the Burger and my friend got the deviled egg flight and the burrata salad with elk. No notes, excellent food. Our server was super friendly and made great recommendations. Would recommend and will return!

Wonderful food and our waiter Michael was attentive and pleasant. Happy we found this place.

The service was great and food was good. We tried that appetizer that gives you the chance to sample several meats. It was very good. My husband is a true meat-eater and enjoyed his meal.