California Dreaming in Columbia

They have the most amazing potato soup ever. My husband had the fried fish sandwich and he loved it. Sorry no pictures we were to busy enjoying lol. They have a great environment along with the friendliest staff.

This place was a pleasant surprise. In all my years of visiting Columbia I have never seen or heard of it and my last visit I went twice it was so nice the first time! The title says it all those croissants were ADDICTIVE! Every item we ordered was amazing, even the salads! The service was just as exceptional which helped make the experience that much greater. This is definitely my go to spot should I ever visit again.

We love coming to California Dreaming. We had reservations so we didnt wait long at all. Our server was very nice and had great recommendations. But getting our food took almost an hour. We came in at 6pm and it wasnt very busy. The wife got a house salad and that came and we figured our food would come out soon after her salad. We waited and waited. Hell the wife finished her salad and we waited. Finally the food came out. One plate at a time. Food was fantastic. I had the san fran shrimp which was basically shrimp scampi. Which was very good, wife had ribeye and I snuck a bite and I thought it was one of the top 5 steaks I have ever tasted.Like I said. Food was awesome. Just took an hour to come out and we were getting a little hangry. The croissants were outstanding. Love coming here. Of course will be back. May have just been an off night. Love the food and the atmosphere.

The ambiance was nice a cozy. The service and wait staff were great. The fried crab claws were tasty maybe a little salter than Id like but were tasty none the less. The honey croissants are delicious those are a must have for me whenever I order anything from the menu. This place is in a very large group friendly. Id suggest it for families and other meet ups. Their prices are very reasonable and thats a plus for individuals on a budget but want to dine in a upscale environment. The idea of using an old train station to create this beautiful historical eatery was a great idea. Love the location.

For years, Ive always said I wanted to stop and eat at California Dreaming when passing by the Greenville, SC location off of I-85 while traveling. I learned there was Columbia, SC location, so my Bookclub planned a drive down to Columbia from Charlotte on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and let me tell you...it certainly did not disappoint. The service was good and the food was AWESOME!

I havent been to this location in about 4 years. I went this past weekend. I was not impressed. I ordered wings and a salad.the waiter brought out wings and fries. She then stated her mistake it took about 10 min to bring the salad then she forgot the dressing after i asked twice for ranch. The portion size of the food was not appealing. The food was lukewarm. This was not a good expierence. Especially for the price.

Wonderful meal, awesome server, and this historical place are tops!

Really yummy seafood nachos,blackened chicken pasta and cheese cake delicious. The ambiance was so beautiful as well and waiters super kind will be back ❤️

My first time visiting this chain of restaurants, and it was a wonderful first impression.I appreciate the Manger seating us so quickly on a Friday lunch rush. Being in the building alone was an experience. Many historical details to appreciate especially if you’re into Architecture.The food and service was exquisite. Also the price point is very reasonable given the ambiance of this restaurant.I totally recommend visiting this location if you haven’t visited a California Dreaming Restaurant.

Food is very good. The service was good. Places very busy. First time there I have the steak and shrimp with a baked potato. I thought it was a nice atmosphere there The salad had too much dressing on it . I didnt think they had a lot to choose from on the menu but what I did get was good.

I loved this place. The food was great. Dined with my mom, great place for food with anyone. There was a mouth wash dispenser in the rest room, I thought that was clever of them. This place is a must visit if in Columbia, SC.

This place was packed to capacity. People were coming in and people were coming out. They stay busy but you are seated very quickly. The atmosphere here is very relaxing, welcoming and casual. I had the She Crab soup which was hot and delicious. The house salad is so good and it has other ingredients in it compared to other house salads which makes it taste much better. The croissants are buttery and practically a staple here. No matter what you choose for an entree you will not be disappointed. The food is very good here.

I forgot to get pictures but the restaurant is in what appeared to be in the old Union Station in Columbia. Pretty nice atmosphere. Lights dimmed in the evening which I like. Being a fan of more ornate/older architect/design, it made it a nicer experience. I had the ribeye and garlic mashed potatoes. Both were very good. But lets talk about the honey glazed croissants. These come with your meal but they are SO good, they are even on the menu as an appetizer (5 in the order). Let me tell you, I am a big fan of garlic bread or garlic bread with cheese but these delicious little darlings surpass any bread Ive had. They were so light and sweet but not to the point they felt like dessert. We had to get an order of them to take home to have with our leftovers. We only had leftovers because even the salad was great (Caesarand I was too full to finish the meal. Service was outstanding as well. I was only visiting the area but if I lived around those parts I would definitely visit them again.

Went on a Monday for dinner and was busy but they sat me right away. Very cool place with the train station look. My server was very nice and very attentive. Had the house salad with their homemade honey mustard dressing. It was very good and packed. Yes, the croissant in the pic also has the dressing and was delicious. Had the Baby back ribs with fries. They were very good and the extra sauce (on the sideis sweet yet has a subtle kick. Was too full for desert.

Its a nice restaurant, converted from an old historic train station preserving some of the old millwork and stuff from 1902. So pretty nice place to visit.The service is great and staff very friendly. I loved their She Crab soup, however the fried shrimps were too salty hence 4 stars.All in all its a great place to visit, would definitely recommend it.

If there were 6 stars Id give it that too! Wonderful evening and dining experience! Couldnt have been better! The food was everything it promised to be in the menu. Our server was prompt, clean, neat, friendly but also professional. The cocktails are worth investigating. I tried a white Sangria and it was very good. Later I tried something I had never heard of, maybe a Carolina Breeze? It had a sprig of rosemary in it. I think maybe also elder flower..It was lovely! Reserve a table here, you wont be sorry!

This is a neat place to eat as it is a old train station and the interior features of the restaurant are pretty awesome. The food today was good not knock it out of the park awesome but good enough we would return. Service toward the end of our meal got a little slow as they got busy but still a good experience.

This was my first time visiting this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The honey butter croissants were so delicious we had to get an additional order to go. My brothers wife had the pork chops and I was truly shocked how thick they were. I had the creamy shrimp and mushroom pasta and it was incredible. I also had the she crab soup as an appetizer and it was also delicious. My family and I will definitely be back whenever we are in the city of Columbia.

We took my daddy there for Fathers Day and as this was our first time eating there, I can truly say it was a great experience. The food was fresh, hot, and delicious. Although there was an issue with my steak, they promptly cooked me another and all was forgiven. The croissants are to die for and even the house salad is tasty.There are not enough words to say about our server, Justin. It was crowded and very busy yesterday but he made our table of 7 feel like we were the only ones there because we certainly required a lot of his time.The delicious food and fantastic service mean that we will definitely be returning. Hopefully soon.

We ate here as a last minute decision. The start of the visit wasnt great due to the girl at the hostess stand being rude but the server was so awesome that Im not going to let that cloud my review. The food was good. We ordered appetizers of oysters and croissants. Both were great. I had the salmon and it was also great. We had a party of 8 and everyones food was good.

Food was a little off tasting as well as beverages due to Broad River having an algae problem. Waitress was A1, food was a good sized portion and had flavor. It was a joy to finally get some seasoned food after being in Colorado for 10 years. I would recommend it to others. Wouldve been a 5 but my sweet tea had an after taste. Keep up the good work and make them treat that Broad River problem

My husband and I came here for the first time because many people have told us how good the food and atmosphere is. We were very disappointed. Our server was rude and not accommodating. Starting off with our drinks. I asked for a strawberry martini which most places will make if they have a full bar, which they do. She immediately said we don’t have those, and wouldn’t even ask the bartender if they could make one. We placed our appetizer order as soon as we placed our drinks and surrounding tables who were sat and ordered after us received their appetizers and were finished before ours came out. You can tell our server forgot about us because when she did finally make a round (which she had disappeared for a good amount of timeshe made eye contact with us and rushed to the kitchen and returned with our appetizers. We got the peel and eat shrimp which was extremely hard to peel and over cooked. When I received my side salad I was disappointed to not know my dressing would already be tossed in the salad and not on the side so my salad had way to much dressing on it, it was not edible. Our entrees came out which luckily were pretty good which is why we are giving a 3 star. We will not return and will not be recommending to friends and family.

Been one of my favorites since my U. of S.C. days. I went a few weeks ago while I was in town and it did NOT disappoint. Everything was how I remembered it. Id heard the quality had gone completely down for a while, but I guess they got their swagger back! That Cobb salad, croissants and seafood nachos were all I needed in this world. Keep doing your best C.D.!

The wait was 15 minutes and was worth the wait. I had a great dining experience the food was delicious. The staff was courteous and constantly checked to make sure everything was okay. The atmosphere was comfortable and I did ot have to wait long for my dinner. The management and other staff resolved and issue with my dish quickly and my dish was priority. I will definitely tell my friends about California Dreaming.

I ordered the California Club salad! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ the chicken was delicious, fresh and hot! I was amazed on how big and filling this salad was!

Designed from a train station in downtown Columbia SC I consider the food here as excellent. All the flavor all the atmosphere!

You will need a reservation. I love California Dreaming, From the amazing service to great food. The atmosphere is beautiful. My first time eating inside of a train station.

They changed the menu on us. Its been a while but we went there for the Chicken Quesadilla thats been on the menu for years. Not anymore!Food was good, service was adequate.The Resturant is located in an old train station. The architecture is fantastic! Fairly easy to get through located on the edge of the University of South Carolina campus. Its also only a few blocks from the state capital building. Worth a visit!

Met friends there on a Sunday night. Would recommend making reservations. Our waiter was pleasant but seemed to rush us. When the food was brought we waiting and waited for silverware. The food was good but not hot and steamy. I so wanted cheesecake for dessert but they were out. 😔 Good location, plenty of parking.

Food was way too salty. I usually rate them a 5 (Charleston was a 5 both times. This one in Columbia, though🧂 The food was almost inedible. I did manage to eat a few fries. The ranch was watery. Salad itself was tasteful without the ranch. Atmosphere was cool. The waitress was nice and perhaps a little high.

This is a fantastic location. The interior and exterior of the restaurant are stunning.I was shocked to learn that they had removed the prime rib from their menu. The prime rib here was excellent and was what I graded all other prime rib by.The service was good but the quality of the food has definitely taken a hit.

Just ordered a California Dreaming salad to go. Not sure when these are made but with the amount of brown and old lettuce in a $15 salad either means, the workers don’t care about quality or they serve old salads and thereby don’t care about quality. Either way, I expect better m!

My family took me here for my birthday dinner. I had the fried shrimp platter and it was delicious. Large butterfly shrimp perfectly seasoned and cooked. The waiter was very attentive. The atmosphere is incredible as its located in the old Union Train Station. The restaurant had a lot of guests all seemed content.

Nice old building. Great staff. Bar seats a super. Great drinks and good local beer selection. Food was ok. A little overpriced for what is. Over a pleasant experience

Visiting the area and California Dreaming was suggested. We were told a 45 minute wait but it took less than 15 minutes. Our server, Ameenha, was the best 👌. We had the ribeye and sirloin both with loaded bake potatoes 🥔. The Babaa had grill cheese with french fries. It was a lot. I ordered baby back with slaw. Came with a house salad that was one of the Best I have ever had. Saved room for apple and pecan cobbler with ice cream. Sorry no puc cuz I ate it up. My only dislike is the place is really dark. I almost couldnt see my food. Next time I will come with daylight and sit near a window. It is the old union Station rail house. Big place. Thanks California Dreaming...now I cant walk. Lol too full.

My visit to one of my favorite places on March 14th was the epitome of what customer service & top management skills feel like. So, knob hill chicken is usually one of my favorites there, and my 1st time guests followed my suggestion and ordered the same thing. However, our meals came out opposite of what I had been bragging about all day so I made the decision to send our meals back. CD was Super packed as usual so I really didnt want to cause an inconvenience but my thought was is, its them or us and this food isnt cheap, so we should enjoy our moneys worth. Ms.Amena (waiterwas personable and friendly! Ms. Rasheika R. (Managercame over and at 1st glance she knew our meal wasnt right! With little explanation needed, she took our plates back, had our meals made over, and offered us drinks on the house. I am a 1 hit wonder on drinks, so we passed on that. In closing she gifted us with a courtesy coupon that would cover a good portion of our next meals, and wished us a well and safe evening!! She made such an impression on my 1st time visitor who owns a restaurant in Greenwood, and I promised her & Amena that I would share my experience here, so if you are in their neck of the woods, request them and I promise youll get exceptional service! CD has become my #1 spot!

Great food and service! The pasta was so good, the steak was a bit small for the price

Went for lunch and vist was okay. Salad dressing was crazy watered down and not much flavor. Entrées came on 1 minute after they brought the salads so our food was getting cold until we got down with first course. Tacos were great and very spicy but still good. Potato soup was tasty.

The rolls were great and so was the main dish and all the food is bigger then expected so it’s definitely worth your money.

I would rate 3.5 stars between okay and like...The ambience is nice, we arrived before the crowd on a Friday. The waitress was attentive until our food was served, then she didnt check on us again. We didnt get our drinks refilled until we were leaving (were offered a to go cup). We ordered a shrimp po boy and flounder po boy. The flounder was salty and the tartar sauce wasnt the best... it left a bad aftertaste in my mouth. The baked potato was good. I would return for the soup and salad during lunch, to see if those options are better. Overall, its a little overpriced but the atmosphere is good.

The food is not what I was expecting. There are many place that have dust. The salmon and shrimp from the seafood taco don’t taste fresh to me. The drink are good. Atmosphere are great too.

What a beautiful place. The food was excellent, and Trevor is an awesome waiter. I look forward to our the next visit.

Earlier this year I had their DELICIOUS BREAD PUDDING with vanilla ice cream and tonight I drove just to purchase this item. It was worth the drive. I called in the order and checked in over the phone once I arrived at designated parking spot. The server bought the dessert to the car, I paid her and drove off. Quick Service even on a very busy night.

It wasnt my best experience there however it was good...The only issue I had was that the app Seafood nachos was placed on a smaller then normal plate causing them to be stack higher so the cheese and sauce was on only the top 7 or 8 chips. My boyfriend and I took out his 90yr old grandmother which we was sat closer to the door but had to go up steps which should be a no with an older person or atleast an option (we proceeded with caution)...Then we placed her order 1st because we knew she would eat at a slower pace, however her food did not arrive until we was mid way through our meals... We packed everything and paid the tab.

Just ate here for a late lunch/early dinner. Thankfully we didnt have to wait to be seated. For appetizers, we had the BBQ Chicken Nachos, Tijuana Chicken Wings, and croissants. All were delicious! For my entrée, I had the 14 oz ribeye steak served with a garden salad and 1 side. I chose the loaded baked potato. A friend in our party had the baby back ribs and was highly disappointed because they were very dry, bland, and even though the menu stated the ribs would be charred, they were a little too charred to enjoy. To end my wonderful dining experience...I had a chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream for dessert. If youre in the Columbia area, please treat yourself to this great restaurant!

We enjoyed our date night here. The sangria was delicious. The croissant appetizer was drizzled with a sweet glaze, which I enjoyed, but we didn’t expect lol Both our steaks were incredible, cooked perfectly. The ambiance was wonderful, perfect for a romantic date night, the architecture inside is absolutely beautiful.

Very nice place to get something to eat. The atmosphere was really nice. Ot was impressive that you could see all the way through the kitchen due to the glass windows. The food was very tasteful and the portions were plentiful. The server was amazing answered all questions and stop by the table just enough times to make sure everything was good. I would recommend this place for a nice evening meal out. I will definitely be coming back.

Visited for our 30th wedding anniversary. Love their house salad dressing and baked potato soup. For dinner we had ribs and steak and shrimp. All was good except the shrimp which was not very warm and was chewy. Desserts were walnut apple cobbler and brownie sundae. Both excellent. Only complaint is its very noisy in that building so dont expect to have a quiet romantic dinner or conversation.

Food was good, Bellini didnt taste like it was fresh peach puree more of a peach flavor but still was decent. The waiter was very nice and provided great service. Definitely would return.

Checked this place out for Sunday lunch and it was BUSY so reservations recommended. Shane was our waiter and good about getting us what we need.Highlights- the croissants are amazing, soft, and delicious. The shecrab soup was creamy and flavorful. A condensed but good selection of beer and a diverse choice of cocktails/wines/liquors. The atmosphere is great, well decorated and eye appealing.The menu is a pretty standard American. The spicy chicken sandwich wasnt really spicy but still good. The fries left much to be desired. The house salad was pretty standard but the fried oysters were a unique touch.