Foodie Post #5: Garden Bistro (SC)

Have you ever had one of those weeks in which your To Do list was manageable, you only had a few important things on the calendar, and overall you looking forward to a nice, quiet "catch up" week... only to find yourself turning your To Do list into a nightmare of chicken scratch, realizing you had more to do than you thought, and generally coming to the end of the week and wondering what the McDoo-Doo happened? Ah, YUP. That was this past week. Needless to say I'm a little behind in posting, but I've got a great line up coming your way and a new blog addy, thanks to THE coolest man in my life, John, who bought the domain name so I can ride to blogging glory. Yee-haw!

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It's no surprise yours truly and fellow B@T readers are pretty serious about their food. Reminding myself of this very important fact, it dawned on me recently that it has been WAY too long since doing a foodie review of favorite places for good eats. More importantly, I haven't taken the time to showcase any dining establishments here in the Capital City, a locale that's frequently discredited for having any "good places to eat"-- I beg to differ. Having spent four years here in undergrad and venturing back some time later, now as a disgruntled Masters student (grad school makes you CRANKY, y'all), I still find refuge and comfort in many restaurants and eateries throughout my beloved "Cola." Quick, too, to remind me of this point is fellow blogger and long-time gal pal, Sarah, who shares an equal appreciation for a well-deserved lunch date (and with as much as we both work, every date is just that).

SO, to kick off what I hope to be the first of many foodie reviews to come, Sarah suggested we start off at one of Columbia's best kept secret: Garden Bistro. I certainly didn't need to be asked twice. Sarah and I have frequented it more than we like to admit (but I can show you my "Garden Club Card" if you want an idea... I'll have a free sandwich before I know it!); seriously, they talk to Sarah like she's single-handedly keeping them in business. And I have to say we would've never discovered it if it weren't for our other super pal, Tracy, another lunch date aficionado who now lives in NC and is sorely missed from our mid-day face-stuffings. Likewise, where I worked as a grad assistant this past year constantly used GB for their catering, and we always had a pleasant and easy experience doing business with them.

Garden Bistro hosts traditional sandwiches, wraps, and salads, but there's always an unexpected twist or addition that gives it incredible mouth-watering appeal. Not to mention, their ingredients are super fresh and flavorful - I'm aways full and happy at the end of the meal, but never feel like I need to crawl under my desk to nap off the bloat. The menu is diverse but not overwhelming, but it still doesn't help that all the selections look so stinkin' good. Surprisingly, it's one of the few places I often venture out of my usual forces of habit and often try the daily specials; it's great in that they're always UH-mazing, and then I don't feel bad for cheating on my "regular favorite" (the Athena Wrap, OHMYGOODNESS) because I know it'll be a while before it rolls around again. That particular day they had a wrap stuffed with thinly-sliced oven-roasted turkey, maple-cured bacon, provolone, tomato, lettuce, and a tangy mustard sauce. It was served warm and SO delicious.

Let me also take a minute here to SWOON over how phenomenal their potato salad is. YES, I'm aware that it's proooobably not the healthiest thing on the menu, but I can't help myself. Judge all you want.

Sarah's a pretty big fan of their chicken salad sandwich; it's not the heavy Southern mayo-laden version you'd find most places. Tangy but a little sweet (I'm a big fan of the golden raisins), it's also just a darned pretty sandwich... any dish that plays to more than just a sense of taste is always a WIN.

And just as their potato salad is pretty magical, the pasta salad is no less a contender. Perfect in its simplicity and sprinkled with just enough spices, it's a slice of carb-heaven without the guilt. Well, too much anyways...

So how does one find this secret Garden Bistro? It literally is hidden and a hole-in-the-wall; the address says Gervais, but you're better off entering off Park Street. The larger entrance is behind Columbia's Art Bar, and they have free parking for GB guests (just don't take a super long lunch, because the tow-men are like vultures).

Don't let the sketch-ball entryway fool ya'. Once you get inside, the walls are covered in garden and nature inspired murals and the natural light pours in from the little windows around the back entrance. It's also nice that it IS so "exclusive" in that it's never freakishly busy and it's a very relaxed atmosphere -- even when they closed at 2pm and Sarah and I are still gabbing on incessantly, they graciously let us hang out to wrap up our conversations (and luckily Sarah and I exercised good judgement and wrapped up quickly, deciding not to push our luck).

Overall, I'm obsessed with this place and it's embarrassing how I crave it again days after going. Who knows what they're lacing their selections with to get you instantly addicted, but I. don't. care. It's also reasonably priced, especially considering their ingredients are healthy and fresh. Nothing ever tastes processed or like it had been sitting out. Sarah and I are definitely fans and will certainly be there again soon. Care to join?

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** Please note all foodie posts are done at the whims of the author; i.e., I write and select my reviews at my own leisure with no compensation of any kind. I like sharing my favorite spots and hope you'll support our local businesses!