Love the food, love the drinks and love the atmosphere! For food: Soups are sooo good!! The tomato bisque is delicious. It comes with mozzarella balls in side of it. Chicken Tortilla is delicious and I've heard great things about the potato soup. Salads are large and delicious. I'm not a fan of the caesar dressing her though. Sliders are delicious. 4 different options and they are large in size. The small plate options are all so good and great to share. My favorites are the chicken wraps, nachos and ahi tuna. Drinks: Good wine selection Beer selection is average Mixed drinks are good
(4)
Meredith S.
We don't usually eat at chains, why would you when you have yelp?! But we had the kid with us and were looking for someplace close to our hotel after a long day. Chose this place since we don't have any in our area. Nice surprise! Lots of variety on the menu. I was thrilled to see quiche Lorraine! It was really tasty, just the right amount of bacon, cheese and onions. The crust was weird thought. Not flaky, but kind of tough? Almost like it had been nuked more than once. Yummy side salad - love the option of blue cheese crumbles! The balsamic vinaigrette was tasty. Hubby's steak was cooked perfectly - he likes it rare, and not all places do that well. I use French onion soup as a barometer for quality. I love the stuff, but so many places mess it up. This was great! Not too salty with a good amount of cheese. The kid had mac n cheese-standard blue box fair, which is good. He loves that. The portion was really small though for a 9 year old boy Server was friendly & attentive. We'd eat here again if we're back in the area
(4)
Marcus J.
Food was really good but the service was amazing. Our waitress was so attentive and fun , she really made our night.
(5)
Brooke T.
I've seen this place all up in through during my excursions in Columbia, but I swear I have never had an interest in going in. Well if you buy, I'll go. Pretty easy to see from 175, right off of 108. Good parking. It is nice on the inside, quaint seems like nice date spot with a tbt (temporary boo thang) or something else. The menu was different, it seemed like it was a decent mix of random things. Not one thing really stood out more than the others to me. I guess, I'm still unsure of what this place is known for. No, seriously, what is it known for? Alright, for dinner I got crab cakes, they came with one veggie and french fries. The crab cakes were average, didn't appear to be much filler, but there wasn't anything memorable about them. The string beans were seasoned nicely and the fries were just like all of the others that I have had. I tried the fettuccine alfredo with chicken, and I must say that I preferred that to my meal. The sauce was delicious, and the chicken was cooked nicely. Service: The server was quite attentive and kind. Bottom line: Average at best. Not sure it is worth a return visit.
(2)
Dave M.
The food is decent and the prices are good. Some of the specials are actually pretty reasonable. The service at the bar is rather atrocious though. It can take forever to get a drink, especially if it is a settling beer like Guinness (which is misspelled on their menu).
(2)
Joel L.
Rojo chicken tacos, 2 flatbread pizzas and it was enough to share for 4 people. Even with our previous visits, this location delivers consistent high quality food at reasonable prices. Remarkable for a chain restaurant, competitors should take note. Note: The bar here delivers the coldest beer that you can find anywhere in the area and the selection is awesome.
(4)
Becca W.
Houlihans must have recently changed management or something... The food was great. Appetizer was chicken lettuce wraps (during happy hour only $4). They were good, but pretty small. For my main, I got the fish tacos, and subbed ahi tuna for tilapia. They were fresh tasting, great pico, nice salsa. Absolutely delicious. For those alone, this place might deserve 5 stars. The reason I rated 3 was the service; it was slow and confused. Our server seemed like a nice guy, and he took our orders quickly and was very informative. It was the time lag between ordering the food and actually getting it that was a little irritating. There was a woman (manager?) running around all over the place to talk to the tables. She came over to us after our server dropped a sauce which splattered all over my friend and I. We just laughed it off, but we weren't hit as bad as a couple next to us. The manager offered us $10 off. Nice, but if I had dumped guacamole on someone I probably would offer to comp at least PART if their meal. Lastly, the busser. Asked if I wanted more water; when I said yes she took my water glass and didn't come back... Overall the food was great, but the service...not so much.
(3)
Daniel C.
Houlihan's has a rep as a standard family chain, much like Applebee's, and it isn't undeserved. We just wanted a place to hang out for a while, preferably with a good happy hour, and we figured Houlihan's would fit the bill. They are a very plain place, but we just wanted to sit at the bar where there were a few televisions going. Oddly, several of the tables in the bar area were Reserved. They had pre-printed signs, os that must happen regularly. Didn't bother to inquire, but if you want to sit at the bar, be prepared to sit at the bar. They do have some happy hour specials. They push their cocktails, but all drinks are $1 off at the very least. Don't treat the menu as gospel, they have more beers on draft than they list including several local craft beers including Jailbreak and Union. Their happy hour specials include many $4 appetizers. That list does not include all of their appetizers, and you are clearly getting smaller than normal portions, but they have good food. The fried mushrooms were crispy and crunchy outside and meaty in just the right way inside, served with a superfluous horseradish sauce. The white bean hummus was tasty, a little oily and served with some unfortunately tough pita. We also ordered a pot roast slider. Sliders are normally served three at a crack, right? The happy hour version only came with one, but it was a tasty burger, and with the crispy fries it was priced perfectly, I thought the chicken teriyaki lettuce wraps were easy to eat and tasty, but my wife was unimpressed at the simplicity and basic taste. Our bartender took care of us really well the whole time, but I just wish the atmosphere had more going for it. A good place to get your eat and drink on, if you don't care... about anything.
(4)
Charles C.
Really good food and drinks. Fast service. Friendly staff. Food was fresh and came out of kitchen fast. Excellent :) A little pricey!
(4)
Neal M.
Wow. I remember going to Houlihan's with my mom in Mobile I believe many years ago. It was like if TGI Friday's and Ruby Tuesday had a bastard child. Young Neal LOVED IT. Meanwhile, I'm in Columbia training and some coworkers and I decide to go here for lunch. First thing worthy of note, it was VERY BUSY and seemingly EVERY bar table was reserved. The bartender was taking care of EVERYBODY at the bar AND bar tables. That said, service was flawless. My issue? They didn't have a lunch menu or express lunch menu. How many quick service places doesn't offer such a thing? I opted for Soup and Salad. The loaded potato soup was about what you'd expect and it was tasty. I had a Country Fried Chicken salad with some kind of ranch. I know, I know. I almost immediately regretted my choice and more so when I actually got it. It was bland and just not good. Worst part? It was damn near $20! Everything was pretty expensive and just mediocre.
(2)
Jackie J.
Met some long-time friends for drinks and a dinner here. Interior decor was wood and had a warm atmosphere. Service was fast, attentive, friendly and accurate. They had an extensive and varied menu and hosted several brands of beer both commercial and micro-brewed. I enjoyed the Margherita Flatbread pizza. Delish! I would definitely go here again if the opportunity arose.
(4)
Ellyn A.
Went for lunch today and all three of us who dined RAVED about our dishes, from fish tacos, Asian salad, to the most tender and tasty baby back ribs my hubby had (but my daughter and I tasted and coveted) in YEARS. AND the dessert knocked our socks off--we were literally licking the plate!!! As people accustomed to eating at quality high-end restaurants, we were pretty surprised at the quality of the food, the attentive service, and the modern decor for what we thought was going be a 'typical' quick chain restaurant meal. Only staying in this area a short time, but will frequent several times, it was THAT good. Definitely under rated.
(5)
Matthew C.
Meh... It's exactly what you would expect for the type of restaurant I guess. Basically like an Applebee's/tgi Friday's type of place
(3)
Christine I.
Best service I've had in a long time. I have worked in the business for years and it's rare that you find a server like Erica. She made dining so much fun. The flirt-tinis and bay breezes were so good; as was the tuna app and the spinach dip. The whole thing was so much better when you have a server who makes a quick lunch that much better
(5)
Bradford B.
We really like this place -- it's a frequent treat after we've gone shopping at the Costco next door. My wife loves the veggie burgers and the Blue Moon on tap. Servers are always super nice to our kids.
(4)
Leonard H.
I love this place. Ate here last night and the food was great, but the service was incredible. Alec B was the server...friendly, knowledgeable, professional, quick, attentive. One of our group had a food allergy; Alec realized the implications and engaged Jessica G, assistant manager, to assist. It took several "back and forths" between the table and kitchen for Jessica to answer all the questions we had about menu item ingredient details. Although it took a considerable amount of their time to get the menu items described and the order placed, both Alec and Jessica were super nice, showing only the most positive and friendly attitude. We could tell their only goal was to ensure it was handled correctly, that we were comfortable with the menu selection made, and that we enjoyed coming to "their house". After the food was delivered, Alec continued with his excellent service. I do not spread praise lightly, but Alec and Jessica were truly excellent. I could not thank them enough. Oh yes, as i said, the food was really good too....we will be back, now for sure one of our favorite restaurants.
(5)
Victoria B.
It's gets four stars because the Georgia peach Long Island was soooo good! I don't remember my entree whatsoever but the cocktail makes up for it lol... Enjoy! #4starsgiven
(4)
Jenny H.
I love Houlihan's as an American chain restaurant. They have a few of my favorite staples. 1) Baked Potato Soup- the flavor is awesome, rich creamy potato broth with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon on top. Tastes like a loaded baked potato, love it. 2) Shrooms- You can get 3 or 5, caps of mushrooms stuffed with this cheesy sauce, and deep fried until really crispy, and it's served with a delicious aioli sauce. 3) Stuffed chicken breast- chicken stuffed with a creamy cheesy sauce and deep fried until crispy. Served with mashed potatoes (super buttery, creamy) and string beans which are fresh and crispy. I wish they had the Snickers Pie for dessert- they used to have this snickers ice cream in an oreo crust topped with caramel and fudge, but they got rid of it for some reason, although it was my favorite dessert there. These are the things to order!!! Their ribs are pretty good too.
(3)
K M.
I should preface this review by saying we visited Houlihan's in Columbia, MD on a Sunday afternoon at the height of summer vacation. So the restaurant, maybe, was at 25% capacity. That being said, my first visit will certainly not be my last. The service was exceptional. We were given plenty of time to peruse the menu, drink refills were timely and our waitress was very professional and very charming. My boyfriend and I started out by sharing an order of calamari as an appetizer. The sesame-ginger soy dipping sauce was so good I wanted to drink it. The calamari was very tender/fresh and perfectly cooked. For entrees we ordered the char-crusted ahi tuna salad and the seared scallops. Not sure which of us enjoyed our meal more? We finished things off by sharing a perfect little key lime mousse.
(4)
Sonya M.
I know Houlihan's is a national chain but something felt different about this location to me. Maybe it's because I hadn't eat there in a few years?? Whatever the case I enjoyed the experience and definitely won't wait so long to return. Initially I ordered the meatloaf but the waitress said that they were out of the ground beef used to prepare it. So I ended up going with my second choice which was the pot roast. It came with mashed potatoes and carrots. It was freshly prepared, seasoned well and tasty. I was disappointed about not being able to order the meatloaf at first but left being happy with what I had. My friend had the chicken fingers and he stated that they were very good. Our server was nice and she did her job effectively.
(4)
Margaret N.
Friendly staff and decent food! They have great happy hour specials and a large bar area. Food is decent, but not spectacular! I definitely recommend their wings!
(3)
Laura W.
We came all the way from New Market MD and we were not disappointed. We will be back. Nice atmosphere. Good service and great food.
(5)
Shelley N.
First, we did have polite service, but spotty. Good starters (shrooms, flatbread, parmesan frites), but we were a party of 9, but most of us left unsatisfied. The tomato soup was too salty; the Fish (& Chips) tasted funny - who makes Fish & Chips with tilapia?? My steak and potatoes were meh; not bad, just meh. There were a few satisfied people, but our office lunches won't be at Houlihans again.
(2)
Vy B.
Horrible service! The waitress didn't give us time to look at the menu before asking if we're ready then when we said to give us more time, she literally walked away to the other side of the room then turned back around and asked us again. It's annoying when I keep having to tell you I'm not ready, I mean wait until I look up from the darn menu before you hound me! Then I ordered salmon salad... Which I didn't realize there was two different kinds. They brought the wrong one and as I was eating it, I kept thinking 'this salad is not good' (not to mention the wilted lettuce). Then I remembered that there was supposed to be pecans, mandarin oranges, etc. on the salad but it was missing. I asked to see a menu to compare what was supposed to be on the salad and realized they gave me the wrong salmon salad. The crazy thing was, she took my salad away and asked if I wanted a whole new piece of salmon or if I just want the salmon from the old salad....WTF! I asked for BBQ salmon salad so how are you going to just give me a plain salmon and ask if that's good enough? Anyways, I asked for the salad to go cause my husband was already done eating. I'm probably going to throw the salad away cause with the waitress' attitude, I'm sure she spitted in my food! DO NOT GO HERE!!
(1)
Kiaira B.
This place is quickly become my fav chain bar. Like over Friday's. The food and drinks are really great! And the staff is really nice The fish and shrimp tacos are to die for. The thai wings are good and the happy hour is so awesome!1 I have nothing but good things to say. Honestly. The Angry Orchard LIT is GREAT too! Stop reading this review and go eat there.
(5)
James H.
Great service, delicious food, relaxing ambience, and pretty comfortable. Most items on the menu are very good; the salads are always fantastic, fresh, and never disappoint. My girlfriend and I enjoy eating here every few weeks or so. Definitely a solid place to go for a quick bite to eat. They also have awesome happy hour specials too. Side note: Our server today - Abbie - did a great job and took phenomenal care of us. We will be back.
(4)
Autem C.
Atypical American fare with a splash of ethnic yummy thrown in the mix. It has the feel of a casual dining spot but definitely has the decor and ambiance of an almost fine dining spot. Great on the pockets and great on the flavors. I've been here twice and not yet been disappointed. Might become a regular. My first visit I enjoyed the Parmesan frites, soup (baked potato -übernom) and a side salad. After some talking, I decided on also consuming the Thai Chicken, which was flavorful and everything was cooked perfectly. Today I enjoyed the same soup (about to be addicted) and am eagerly waiting for a chicken quesadilla. I am totally a fan of this place and have nothing bad to say. I've had two great servers and will be back.
(5)
Erin C.
I like coming for the Thursday Happy hour martini specials! Definitely worth it. The happy hour appetizer specials are pretty good for their price. The only problem we ran into while sitting in the bar area was the long wait for service and for the food/drinks to come out. I like how the happy hour specials are throughout the restaurant not just in the bar area. We'll be back to try the Long Island ice tea happy hour specials on weds!
(4)
Ky T.
I usually enjoy happy hour at Houlihans but last night's visit for dinner at the bar at 7:00pm was pretty disappointing for a number of reasons. While a male and a female bartender were both working the bar and there were few patrons seated at the bar on this Thursday evening, they both seemed more consumed with wiping down glasses and dusting things than customer service. We had to wait for waters we asked for. Our Long Island iced tea pitchers were filled waaaaaay more than I've ever experienced with sour mix. My beloved chicken nachos not only took 45 minutes to arrive to me but were also ice cold. When I informed them of this the nachos were returned to the kitchen and brought back in 10 minutes warm in some places and still cold in others but far from hot. The only thing served hot on my friend's crab cake entree plate were the French fries after almost an hour wait for her food. We had to almost stalk the bartenders down for basic things such as napkins, salt and pepper, ketchup, water refills or more guacamole to salvage chips from the cold nachos. The chicken egg rolls may have been cooked in old grease because they had a strange aftertaste and were almost burnt on the outside. Needless to say I doubt I'll return here for a while.
(2)
Yimei W.
To sum it up: our group was "surprised" how good the food was here, and also delighted by the outstanding service of our waiter (someone remembered his name as Alex, he had side-parted brown hair and was tall and young). We went in on Saturday night, 6/13, around 10pm, and every dish and appetizer brought out was followed by the collective oohs and ahhs. The platter of nacho's was truly the size of the menu. Their portions were heaping. They have POUTINE! Aka "Disco fries". Our waiter Alex made the evening go so well and truly went above and beyond. I hope he gets recognized. 1. Without being asked, he brought us spoons to split the dessert! 2. He made everything go smoothly, and even dealt with multiple checks like a PRO. 3. We were having such a great time that we looked down at realized it was a bit past 11pm closing time! He and the management never rushed us, or made us feel bad. Needless to say, I believe we tipped well. He even ran out with someone's jacket that they accidentally forgot-- I'm sure many others would've just been like, meh let them come back later to get their jacket, I'm outta here. That's a class act and an asset to the restaurant. I know several people in the group were impressed by the whole experience and have expressed the intent to come back!
(5)
SabrinaRenee' B.
Service was excellent however my food was mediocre. Dry Salmon.... the mushrooms were excellent. I should have stopped with the mushrooms bc my entree Just did not make my Cut. I used to love this place but i can just stick with the drinks and the appetizers on my nxt visit.
(3)
Wayne G.
The steak, fish tacos, salmon are all good. The apple pie is very good with success of apple throughout and served with good ice cream. The service is good and the place is clean. We'll try it again and update this at a later date.
(3)
Asia R.
Came here with 3 others one night. I've been to the Crofton location a few times and loved the food so I suggested we all head to this one! I love their Long Island options! Long Island's can come in a 1 Liter pitcher and they make multiple flavors of Long Island's! The one I tried was Raspberry I believe, and they used cranberry juice instead of coke. A+ on that one! One thing I love about Houlihan's is that if you sign up for their emails you get a free appetizer on your next visit and a free entree on your birthday. Just about every week they send coupons/deals for Wednesday's. This visit our server was great. He remembered all of our orders and had a very nice personality which made our experience enjoyable! The food was good, not great. This location was a little more on the empty side, especially considering that we came here on a Saturday night. Not sure why!
(4)
Ryan P.
I'm disappointed in not seeing a higher rating for this location. This is one of our top go to places to eat in Columbia. Love the spinach dip, salads (my favorite anywhere!), and mini burgers. The long islands are a favorite too. We have never left disappointed and the management typically stops by the table to check in. Typically we sit in the bar area and you cant beat the happy hour prices! My husband and I were stuffed including drinks for $40 - and felt like we got a good meal. I had also thrown my mom a surprise birthday party here in the back room. Service was great and the manager was very helpful along the way. Mom had a great time! Cant say much else besides this is one of our go to spots! Dont think we'll stop going any time soon!
(5)
Janice F.
Went in for a Saturday lunch. Waitress was nice and attentive to our needs. She knew the menu well and was able to give detailed suggestions. I ordered chicken parmesan while my friends ordered the ribs and crab cakes. We were all satisfied with our dishes, portion sizes were large and we all took to-go boxes. I am absolutely going back and will recommend the chicken Parmesan.
(5)
Susan S.
Their sirloin steak was lackluster- over-seasoned and really tough. Lots of tendon. Service left something to be desired. Their lemon drop martini was pretty good- nice and tart.
(2)
Taylor S.
My BF and I ended up here one night about 3 weeks ago, never heard of the place, just went in on a whim. And Oh my, were we surprised. First the drinks. They have long islands that you can get in different flavors. I got a 1 liter pitcher of Georgia Peach. It was tart and a little sweet but not very peachy. Still it had a good flavor and it was a new swing on a typical long island. They also do a martini sampler. $10 for 3 martini samplers which are probably about a martini and a half in amount. I got the Key Lime Pie (Yuck, thick and creamy alcohol is not my thing) Blueberry (Yum, had actual blueberries floating in it) Apple (Yum, had cinnamon sugar around the rim and a tangy and sweet full apple flavor). I basically want to go back and try every drink on there menu now. Also, we had two servers, and they were both great we had phenomenal waiter service and I never had to wait for anything. So onto the food because that probably why your actually reading this. The BF got the buffalo chicken salad. It was very good. Nice buffalo flavor, a big portion of fried saucy buffalo chicken, and the best part: a sliver of yummy creamy melt in your mouth blue cheese! It was such a delicious addition. Goodbye blue cheese crumbles, hello sweet little sliver of heaven. Anyway, I got the Chicken Parm which isn't you typical chicken parm. Its alfredo sauce and noodles with chicken parm (bread chicken, cheese and red sauce) on top. The "blushed" sauce that the two made together when combined was delicious. The chicken was juicy and a huge portion as well. Overall I can't wait to go back and try some new things!
(5)
Joe J.
Come with a date, family, or with a group of friends and have a great time. The service here has been excellent whether I do the bar, or get a table. The food is awesome. The pitcher drinks are ridiculous, and the food is awesome. What more can you ask for? This place is the truth.
(5)
Sunshine B.
The Disco Fries were okay, but were missing something. I've had much better. The baked potato soup, as always, was delicious. The Calamari was greasy but otherwise it was okay. The food warrants the 3 star rating. The waitress was helpful and nice and she deserves a 4 star rating on her own merit. The only reason why I wouldn't give her a 5 star rating is because she cleared our table, but we sat there for about another 15 or 20 minutes before she brought us our bill. I'd go back again. I would order something different though.
(3)
Lynie H.
Service might be slow but I go mostly during happy hour....drinks n apps r discounted during HH. Good choice of food n drinks. I usually have some mix drink not beer so don't know the beer selection. They have something different for drink special for each day of the week.
(3)
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Address :8240 Gateway Overlook Dr
Elkridge, MD, 21075
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Shayna F.
Love the food, love the drinks and love the atmosphere! For food: Soups are sooo good!! The tomato bisque is delicious. It comes with mozzarella balls in side of it. Chicken Tortilla is delicious and I've heard great things about the potato soup. Salads are large and delicious. I'm not a fan of the caesar dressing her though. Sliders are delicious. 4 different options and they are large in size. The small plate options are all so good and great to share. My favorites are the chicken wraps, nachos and ahi tuna. Drinks: Good wine selection Beer selection is average Mixed drinks are good
(4)Meredith S.
We don't usually eat at chains, why would you when you have yelp?! But we had the kid with us and were looking for someplace close to our hotel after a long day. Chose this place since we don't have any in our area. Nice surprise! Lots of variety on the menu. I was thrilled to see quiche Lorraine! It was really tasty, just the right amount of bacon, cheese and onions. The crust was weird thought. Not flaky, but kind of tough? Almost like it had been nuked more than once. Yummy side salad - love the option of blue cheese crumbles! The balsamic vinaigrette was tasty. Hubby's steak was cooked perfectly - he likes it rare, and not all places do that well. I use French onion soup as a barometer for quality. I love the stuff, but so many places mess it up. This was great! Not too salty with a good amount of cheese. The kid had mac n cheese-standard blue box fair, which is good. He loves that. The portion was really small though for a 9 year old boy Server was friendly & attentive. We'd eat here again if we're back in the area
(4)Marcus J.
Food was really good but the service was amazing. Our waitress was so attentive and fun , she really made our night.
(5)Brooke T.
I've seen this place all up in through during my excursions in Columbia, but I swear I have never had an interest in going in. Well if you buy, I'll go. Pretty easy to see from 175, right off of 108. Good parking. It is nice on the inside, quaint seems like nice date spot with a tbt (temporary boo thang) or something else. The menu was different, it seemed like it was a decent mix of random things. Not one thing really stood out more than the others to me. I guess, I'm still unsure of what this place is known for. No, seriously, what is it known for? Alright, for dinner I got crab cakes, they came with one veggie and french fries. The crab cakes were average, didn't appear to be much filler, but there wasn't anything memorable about them. The string beans were seasoned nicely and the fries were just like all of the others that I have had. I tried the fettuccine alfredo with chicken, and I must say that I preferred that to my meal. The sauce was delicious, and the chicken was cooked nicely. Service: The server was quite attentive and kind. Bottom line: Average at best. Not sure it is worth a return visit.
(2)Dave M.
The food is decent and the prices are good. Some of the specials are actually pretty reasonable. The service at the bar is rather atrocious though. It can take forever to get a drink, especially if it is a settling beer like Guinness (which is misspelled on their menu).
(2)Joel L.
Rojo chicken tacos, 2 flatbread pizzas and it was enough to share for 4 people. Even with our previous visits, this location delivers consistent high quality food at reasonable prices. Remarkable for a chain restaurant, competitors should take note. Note: The bar here delivers the coldest beer that you can find anywhere in the area and the selection is awesome.
(4)Becca W.
Houlihans must have recently changed management or something... The food was great. Appetizer was chicken lettuce wraps (during happy hour only $4). They were good, but pretty small. For my main, I got the fish tacos, and subbed ahi tuna for tilapia. They were fresh tasting, great pico, nice salsa. Absolutely delicious. For those alone, this place might deserve 5 stars. The reason I rated 3 was the service; it was slow and confused. Our server seemed like a nice guy, and he took our orders quickly and was very informative. It was the time lag between ordering the food and actually getting it that was a little irritating. There was a woman (manager?) running around all over the place to talk to the tables. She came over to us after our server dropped a sauce which splattered all over my friend and I. We just laughed it off, but we weren't hit as bad as a couple next to us. The manager offered us $10 off. Nice, but if I had dumped guacamole on someone I probably would offer to comp at least PART if their meal. Lastly, the busser. Asked if I wanted more water; when I said yes she took my water glass and didn't come back... Overall the food was great, but the service...not so much.
(3)Daniel C.
Houlihan's has a rep as a standard family chain, much like Applebee's, and it isn't undeserved. We just wanted a place to hang out for a while, preferably with a good happy hour, and we figured Houlihan's would fit the bill. They are a very plain place, but we just wanted to sit at the bar where there were a few televisions going. Oddly, several of the tables in the bar area were Reserved. They had pre-printed signs, os that must happen regularly. Didn't bother to inquire, but if you want to sit at the bar, be prepared to sit at the bar. They do have some happy hour specials. They push their cocktails, but all drinks are $1 off at the very least. Don't treat the menu as gospel, they have more beers on draft than they list including several local craft beers including Jailbreak and Union. Their happy hour specials include many $4 appetizers. That list does not include all of their appetizers, and you are clearly getting smaller than normal portions, but they have good food. The fried mushrooms were crispy and crunchy outside and meaty in just the right way inside, served with a superfluous horseradish sauce. The white bean hummus was tasty, a little oily and served with some unfortunately tough pita. We also ordered a pot roast slider. Sliders are normally served three at a crack, right? The happy hour version only came with one, but it was a tasty burger, and with the crispy fries it was priced perfectly, I thought the chicken teriyaki lettuce wraps were easy to eat and tasty, but my wife was unimpressed at the simplicity and basic taste. Our bartender took care of us really well the whole time, but I just wish the atmosphere had more going for it. A good place to get your eat and drink on, if you don't care... about anything.
(4)Charles C.
Really good food and drinks. Fast service. Friendly staff. Food was fresh and came out of kitchen fast. Excellent :) A little pricey!
(4)Neal M.
Wow. I remember going to Houlihan's with my mom in Mobile I believe many years ago. It was like if TGI Friday's and Ruby Tuesday had a bastard child. Young Neal LOVED IT. Meanwhile, I'm in Columbia training and some coworkers and I decide to go here for lunch. First thing worthy of note, it was VERY BUSY and seemingly EVERY bar table was reserved. The bartender was taking care of EVERYBODY at the bar AND bar tables. That said, service was flawless. My issue? They didn't have a lunch menu or express lunch menu. How many quick service places doesn't offer such a thing? I opted for Soup and Salad. The loaded potato soup was about what you'd expect and it was tasty. I had a Country Fried Chicken salad with some kind of ranch. I know, I know. I almost immediately regretted my choice and more so when I actually got it. It was bland and just not good. Worst part? It was damn near $20! Everything was pretty expensive and just mediocre.
(2)Jackie J.
Met some long-time friends for drinks and a dinner here. Interior decor was wood and had a warm atmosphere. Service was fast, attentive, friendly and accurate. They had an extensive and varied menu and hosted several brands of beer both commercial and micro-brewed. I enjoyed the Margherita Flatbread pizza. Delish! I would definitely go here again if the opportunity arose.
(4)Ellyn A.
Went for lunch today and all three of us who dined RAVED about our dishes, from fish tacos, Asian salad, to the most tender and tasty baby back ribs my hubby had (but my daughter and I tasted and coveted) in YEARS. AND the dessert knocked our socks off--we were literally licking the plate!!! As people accustomed to eating at quality high-end restaurants, we were pretty surprised at the quality of the food, the attentive service, and the modern decor for what we thought was going be a 'typical' quick chain restaurant meal. Only staying in this area a short time, but will frequent several times, it was THAT good. Definitely under rated.
(5)Matthew C.
Meh... It's exactly what you would expect for the type of restaurant I guess. Basically like an Applebee's/tgi Friday's type of place
(3)Christine I.
Best service I've had in a long time. I have worked in the business for years and it's rare that you find a server like Erica. She made dining so much fun. The flirt-tinis and bay breezes were so good; as was the tuna app and the spinach dip. The whole thing was so much better when you have a server who makes a quick lunch that much better
(5)Bradford B.
We really like this place -- it's a frequent treat after we've gone shopping at the Costco next door. My wife loves the veggie burgers and the Blue Moon on tap. Servers are always super nice to our kids.
(4)Leonard H.
I love this place. Ate here last night and the food was great, but the service was incredible. Alec B was the server...friendly, knowledgeable, professional, quick, attentive. One of our group had a food allergy; Alec realized the implications and engaged Jessica G, assistant manager, to assist. It took several "back and forths" between the table and kitchen for Jessica to answer all the questions we had about menu item ingredient details. Although it took a considerable amount of their time to get the menu items described and the order placed, both Alec and Jessica were super nice, showing only the most positive and friendly attitude. We could tell their only goal was to ensure it was handled correctly, that we were comfortable with the menu selection made, and that we enjoyed coming to "their house". After the food was delivered, Alec continued with his excellent service. I do not spread praise lightly, but Alec and Jessica were truly excellent. I could not thank them enough. Oh yes, as i said, the food was really good too....we will be back, now for sure one of our favorite restaurants.
(5)Victoria B.
It's gets four stars because the Georgia peach Long Island was soooo good! I don't remember my entree whatsoever but the cocktail makes up for it lol... Enjoy! #4starsgiven
(4)Jenny H.
I love Houlihan's as an American chain restaurant. They have a few of my favorite staples. 1) Baked Potato Soup- the flavor is awesome, rich creamy potato broth with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon on top. Tastes like a loaded baked potato, love it. 2) Shrooms- You can get 3 or 5, caps of mushrooms stuffed with this cheesy sauce, and deep fried until really crispy, and it's served with a delicious aioli sauce. 3) Stuffed chicken breast- chicken stuffed with a creamy cheesy sauce and deep fried until crispy. Served with mashed potatoes (super buttery, creamy) and string beans which are fresh and crispy. I wish they had the Snickers Pie for dessert- they used to have this snickers ice cream in an oreo crust topped with caramel and fudge, but they got rid of it for some reason, although it was my favorite dessert there. These are the things to order!!! Their ribs are pretty good too.
(3)K M.
I should preface this review by saying we visited Houlihan's in Columbia, MD on a Sunday afternoon at the height of summer vacation. So the restaurant, maybe, was at 25% capacity. That being said, my first visit will certainly not be my last. The service was exceptional. We were given plenty of time to peruse the menu, drink refills were timely and our waitress was very professional and very charming. My boyfriend and I started out by sharing an order of calamari as an appetizer. The sesame-ginger soy dipping sauce was so good I wanted to drink it. The calamari was very tender/fresh and perfectly cooked. For entrees we ordered the char-crusted ahi tuna salad and the seared scallops. Not sure which of us enjoyed our meal more? We finished things off by sharing a perfect little key lime mousse.
(4)Sonya M.
I know Houlihan's is a national chain but something felt different about this location to me. Maybe it's because I hadn't eat there in a few years?? Whatever the case I enjoyed the experience and definitely won't wait so long to return. Initially I ordered the meatloaf but the waitress said that they were out of the ground beef used to prepare it. So I ended up going with my second choice which was the pot roast. It came with mashed potatoes and carrots. It was freshly prepared, seasoned well and tasty. I was disappointed about not being able to order the meatloaf at first but left being happy with what I had. My friend had the chicken fingers and he stated that they were very good. Our server was nice and she did her job effectively.
(4)Margaret N.
Friendly staff and decent food! They have great happy hour specials and a large bar area. Food is decent, but not spectacular! I definitely recommend their wings!
(3)Laura W.
We came all the way from New Market MD and we were not disappointed. We will be back. Nice atmosphere. Good service and great food.
(5)Shelley N.
First, we did have polite service, but spotty. Good starters (shrooms, flatbread, parmesan frites), but we were a party of 9, but most of us left unsatisfied. The tomato soup was too salty; the Fish (& Chips) tasted funny - who makes Fish & Chips with tilapia?? My steak and potatoes were meh; not bad, just meh. There were a few satisfied people, but our office lunches won't be at Houlihans again.
(2)Vy B.
Horrible service! The waitress didn't give us time to look at the menu before asking if we're ready then when we said to give us more time, she literally walked away to the other side of the room then turned back around and asked us again. It's annoying when I keep having to tell you I'm not ready, I mean wait until I look up from the darn menu before you hound me! Then I ordered salmon salad... Which I didn't realize there was two different kinds. They brought the wrong one and as I was eating it, I kept thinking 'this salad is not good' (not to mention the wilted lettuce). Then I remembered that there was supposed to be pecans, mandarin oranges, etc. on the salad but it was missing. I asked to see a menu to compare what was supposed to be on the salad and realized they gave me the wrong salmon salad. The crazy thing was, she took my salad away and asked if I wanted a whole new piece of salmon or if I just want the salmon from the old salad....WTF! I asked for BBQ salmon salad so how are you going to just give me a plain salmon and ask if that's good enough? Anyways, I asked for the salad to go cause my husband was already done eating. I'm probably going to throw the salad away cause with the waitress' attitude, I'm sure she spitted in my food! DO NOT GO HERE!!
(1)Kiaira B.
This place is quickly become my fav chain bar. Like over Friday's. The food and drinks are really great! And the staff is really nice The fish and shrimp tacos are to die for. The thai wings are good and the happy hour is so awesome!1 I have nothing but good things to say. Honestly. The Angry Orchard LIT is GREAT too! Stop reading this review and go eat there.
(5)James H.
Great service, delicious food, relaxing ambience, and pretty comfortable. Most items on the menu are very good; the salads are always fantastic, fresh, and never disappoint. My girlfriend and I enjoy eating here every few weeks or so. Definitely a solid place to go for a quick bite to eat. They also have awesome happy hour specials too. Side note: Our server today - Abbie - did a great job and took phenomenal care of us. We will be back.
(4)Autem C.
Atypical American fare with a splash of ethnic yummy thrown in the mix. It has the feel of a casual dining spot but definitely has the decor and ambiance of an almost fine dining spot. Great on the pockets and great on the flavors. I've been here twice and not yet been disappointed. Might become a regular. My first visit I enjoyed the Parmesan frites, soup (baked potato -übernom) and a side salad. After some talking, I decided on also consuming the Thai Chicken, which was flavorful and everything was cooked perfectly. Today I enjoyed the same soup (about to be addicted) and am eagerly waiting for a chicken quesadilla. I am totally a fan of this place and have nothing bad to say. I've had two great servers and will be back.
(5)Erin C.
I like coming for the Thursday Happy hour martini specials! Definitely worth it. The happy hour appetizer specials are pretty good for their price. The only problem we ran into while sitting in the bar area was the long wait for service and for the food/drinks to come out. I like how the happy hour specials are throughout the restaurant not just in the bar area. We'll be back to try the Long Island ice tea happy hour specials on weds!
(4)Ky T.
I usually enjoy happy hour at Houlihans but last night's visit for dinner at the bar at 7:00pm was pretty disappointing for a number of reasons. While a male and a female bartender were both working the bar and there were few patrons seated at the bar on this Thursday evening, they both seemed more consumed with wiping down glasses and dusting things than customer service. We had to wait for waters we asked for. Our Long Island iced tea pitchers were filled waaaaaay more than I've ever experienced with sour mix. My beloved chicken nachos not only took 45 minutes to arrive to me but were also ice cold. When I informed them of this the nachos were returned to the kitchen and brought back in 10 minutes warm in some places and still cold in others but far from hot. The only thing served hot on my friend's crab cake entree plate were the French fries after almost an hour wait for her food. We had to almost stalk the bartenders down for basic things such as napkins, salt and pepper, ketchup, water refills or more guacamole to salvage chips from the cold nachos. The chicken egg rolls may have been cooked in old grease because they had a strange aftertaste and were almost burnt on the outside. Needless to say I doubt I'll return here for a while.
(2)Yimei W.
To sum it up: our group was "surprised" how good the food was here, and also delighted by the outstanding service of our waiter (someone remembered his name as Alex, he had side-parted brown hair and was tall and young). We went in on Saturday night, 6/13, around 10pm, and every dish and appetizer brought out was followed by the collective oohs and ahhs. The platter of nacho's was truly the size of the menu. Their portions were heaping. They have POUTINE! Aka "Disco fries". Our waiter Alex made the evening go so well and truly went above and beyond. I hope he gets recognized. 1. Without being asked, he brought us spoons to split the dessert! 2. He made everything go smoothly, and even dealt with multiple checks like a PRO. 3. We were having such a great time that we looked down at realized it was a bit past 11pm closing time! He and the management never rushed us, or made us feel bad. Needless to say, I believe we tipped well. He even ran out with someone's jacket that they accidentally forgot-- I'm sure many others would've just been like, meh let them come back later to get their jacket, I'm outta here. That's a class act and an asset to the restaurant. I know several people in the group were impressed by the whole experience and have expressed the intent to come back!
(5)SabrinaRenee' B.
Service was excellent however my food was mediocre. Dry Salmon.... the mushrooms were excellent. I should have stopped with the mushrooms bc my entree Just did not make my Cut. I used to love this place but i can just stick with the drinks and the appetizers on my nxt visit.
(3)Wayne G.
The steak, fish tacos, salmon are all good. The apple pie is very good with success of apple throughout and served with good ice cream. The service is good and the place is clean. We'll try it again and update this at a later date.
(3)Asia R.
Came here with 3 others one night. I've been to the Crofton location a few times and loved the food so I suggested we all head to this one! I love their Long Island options! Long Island's can come in a 1 Liter pitcher and they make multiple flavors of Long Island's! The one I tried was Raspberry I believe, and they used cranberry juice instead of coke. A+ on that one! One thing I love about Houlihan's is that if you sign up for their emails you get a free appetizer on your next visit and a free entree on your birthday. Just about every week they send coupons/deals for Wednesday's. This visit our server was great. He remembered all of our orders and had a very nice personality which made our experience enjoyable! The food was good, not great. This location was a little more on the empty side, especially considering that we came here on a Saturday night. Not sure why!
(4)Ryan P.
I'm disappointed in not seeing a higher rating for this location. This is one of our top go to places to eat in Columbia. Love the spinach dip, salads (my favorite anywhere!), and mini burgers. The long islands are a favorite too. We have never left disappointed and the management typically stops by the table to check in. Typically we sit in the bar area and you cant beat the happy hour prices! My husband and I were stuffed including drinks for $40 - and felt like we got a good meal. I had also thrown my mom a surprise birthday party here in the back room. Service was great and the manager was very helpful along the way. Mom had a great time! Cant say much else besides this is one of our go to spots! Dont think we'll stop going any time soon!
(5)Janice F.
Went in for a Saturday lunch. Waitress was nice and attentive to our needs. She knew the menu well and was able to give detailed suggestions. I ordered chicken parmesan while my friends ordered the ribs and crab cakes. We were all satisfied with our dishes, portion sizes were large and we all took to-go boxes. I am absolutely going back and will recommend the chicken Parmesan.
(5)Susan S.
Their sirloin steak was lackluster- over-seasoned and really tough. Lots of tendon. Service left something to be desired. Their lemon drop martini was pretty good- nice and tart.
(2)Taylor S.
My BF and I ended up here one night about 3 weeks ago, never heard of the place, just went in on a whim. And Oh my, were we surprised. First the drinks. They have long islands that you can get in different flavors. I got a 1 liter pitcher of Georgia Peach. It was tart and a little sweet but not very peachy. Still it had a good flavor and it was a new swing on a typical long island. They also do a martini sampler. $10 for 3 martini samplers which are probably about a martini and a half in amount. I got the Key Lime Pie (Yuck, thick and creamy alcohol is not my thing) Blueberry (Yum, had actual blueberries floating in it) Apple (Yum, had cinnamon sugar around the rim and a tangy and sweet full apple flavor). I basically want to go back and try every drink on there menu now. Also, we had two servers, and they were both great we had phenomenal waiter service and I never had to wait for anything. So onto the food because that probably why your actually reading this. The BF got the buffalo chicken salad. It was very good. Nice buffalo flavor, a big portion of fried saucy buffalo chicken, and the best part: a sliver of yummy creamy melt in your mouth blue cheese! It was such a delicious addition. Goodbye blue cheese crumbles, hello sweet little sliver of heaven. Anyway, I got the Chicken Parm which isn't you typical chicken parm. Its alfredo sauce and noodles with chicken parm (bread chicken, cheese and red sauce) on top. The "blushed" sauce that the two made together when combined was delicious. The chicken was juicy and a huge portion as well. Overall I can't wait to go back and try some new things!
(5)Joe J.
Come with a date, family, or with a group of friends and have a great time. The service here has been excellent whether I do the bar, or get a table. The food is awesome. The pitcher drinks are ridiculous, and the food is awesome. What more can you ask for? This place is the truth.
(5)Sunshine B.
The Disco Fries were okay, but were missing something. I've had much better. The baked potato soup, as always, was delicious. The Calamari was greasy but otherwise it was okay. The food warrants the 3 star rating. The waitress was helpful and nice and she deserves a 4 star rating on her own merit. The only reason why I wouldn't give her a 5 star rating is because she cleared our table, but we sat there for about another 15 or 20 minutes before she brought us our bill. I'd go back again. I would order something different though.
(3)Lynie H.
Service might be slow but I go mostly during happy hour....drinks n apps r discounted during HH. Good choice of food n drinks. I usually have some mix drink not beer so don't know the beer selection. They have something different for drink special for each day of the week.
(3)