Shakespeare's Pizza

A Slice of Heaven
Shakespeare’s Pizza
225 South Ninth St.
Recommended dish: Vegetarian Pizza
Shakespeare’s Pizza is a perfect place to meet friends or family for delicious pizza and a friendly, fun atmosphere. In high school, my friends and I went there frequently for pizza slices served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Slices are big, already prepared and cheap at .50. The vegetarian always has been my favorite with red onions, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers and loads of mozzarella cheese. If you get addicted to the pizza, you can even order frozen pizzas off their Web site.

573-449-2454
http://www.shakespeares.com
Hours: Every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit our Trip Planner for directions how to get there.

The Broadway Diner

The Greasy Spoon
The Broadway Diner
22 South Fourth St.
Recommended dish: The Stretch
The diner used to be on the corner of Broadway and Providence roads until Walgreens bought the land and built a pharmacy. The diner literally was picked up and moved to its location on Fourth Street. The Stretch is a large portion of hash browns topped with eggs done your way, chili, cheese, green peppers and onions. The diner almost always is crowded and has limited seating, but it definitely is worth the wait.

573-449-2454
http://www.shakespeares.com
Hours: Every day from 11a.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit our Trip Planner for directions how to get there.

Booche's Billiards Hall

The Classic Burger Joint
Booches Billiard Hall
110 South Ninth St.
Recommended dish: Hamburger
There is absolutely nothing fancy about it. You need a menu? Look up — it is written on the wall. The hamburgers served on waxed paper are renowned throughout the United States and were once voted as one of America’s top 10 burgers. While you’re there, don’t miss out on a chance to play billiards in the restaurant, which opened in 1884. Remember to stop by an ATM before you go — they don’t accept credit cards.

573-874-9519
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day but Sunday

Visit our Trip Planner for directions how to get there.

The Cherry Street Artisan

A Whole Latte Love
The Cherry Street Artisan
111 South Ninth St.
Recommended dish: Turkey, Apple and Brie Sandwich
Recommended drink: Latte
The turkey, apple and brie sandwich (served with tortilla chips and tasty hummus) may sound odd, but it is absolutely delightful. Monday through Friday the Artisan hosts live music lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. that feature talented local musicians. Leather couches, soft lighting, local artists’ works and the smell of coffee brewing makes the Cherry Street Artisan my favorite place in Columbia to relax, sip coffee and read a book.

http://www.cherrystreetartisan.com
Hours: Sunday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to midnight
Friday and Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to midnight

Visit our Trip Planner for directions how to get there.

Bangkok Gardens

The Thai-phoon
Bangkok Gardens
811 Cherry St. (just off the corner of Cherry and Ninth Streets)
Recommended dish: Peanut Sauce Phat Thai
Hip and relaxing, Bangkok Gardens is a great place to fulfill your craving for ethnic food. The restaurant’s most popular dish is Phat Thai, which features rice noodles, cabbage, bean sprouts and egg garnished with peanuts, green onions and lime. The Peanut Sauce Phat Thai variation is even more scrumptious. Bangkok, Thailand, may be about 10,000 miles from Columbia, but at Bangkok Gardens, you may mistake where you are.

573-874-3284
http://www.bangkokgardens.com
Hours: Lunch Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dinner Monday through Thursday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dinner Friday and Saturday: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit our Trip Planner for directions how to get there.

CCs City Broiler

Fancy Schmancy
CC’s City Broiler
131 South Tenth St.
Recommended dish: Steak Sinatra
Wine me and dine me! Located in an abandoned bus station, CC’s is pricey, but with steaks and seafood flown in daily and a selection of more than 100 wines, it is worth absolutely every penny. CC’s City Broiler may be the perfect date place, but it is enjoyable no matter who you go with. I ate there last winter with my family, and I enjoyed everything from the attentive waiter, the beautiful salad wrapped in cucumber and the linen tablecloth to the ambiance and the decadent, top-of-the-line steak.

573-875-2282
http://www.ccscitybroiler.com
Hours: Every day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit our Trip Planner for directions how to get there.