Liked the extensive beer list, the Laughing Skull Amber was delicious. Ordered She Crab soup, was wonderful! Got the burger where they melt smoked gouda over it. I have to say, it's a nice change of pace from the usual cheddar you find in many places. Enjoyed the time there, will definitely go back when I am downtown.
(4)
Roger H.
Grabbed lunch with the fella's from the office and the itis was immediately upon us. We had a hankerin' for burgers and Liberty has a nice short list. I had the Freedom, because, well, merka. And because I'm always looking for that fried egg burger that knocks my socks off. ...nothing bad to report here. The burger was perfectly cooked and delicious. Service was polite and prompt. We were in and out. "Potato chips" described as raw fries were actually just potato chips. That's my fault though. I forgot that most folks don't understand what a raw fry should look and taste like. No worries. It wasn't a deal breaker.
(4)
Sean B.
The good: 1. My freedom burger, although it was a bit overcooked. I asked for rare and didn't see much pink. Oh well, just glad I didn't ask for medium rare! 2. Pint night. $2.75 for some pretty good craft beers? Yes please! 3. According to my colleagues, the bbq pizza. 4. Customer service. More elaboration in "the bad" section below. The bad: 1. The shrimp and grits "sucked ass" according to one coworker and was very average according to my token "can't say anything bad about anything" coworker. 2. Another coworker was so horrified by her chicken dish, that she demanded something else. To the restaurant's credit, they were happy to do so. The ok: The service. While they were very accommodating with my coworker and her entree, they messed up her 2nd order (so she had to send it back). Overall Liberty Tap Room & Grill isn't bad. I'd go back for another burger and a cheap ass beer.
(3)
Anna D.
best shrimp and grits i've had here.... just trust me. i get it every single time and i die from happiness when i'm done. I promise, if you're a shrimp and grits person you'll love it; if you're not a shrimp and grits person, you'll also love it. win win right? well, that is unless you're allergic to shrimp then never mind. Actually, i can't find a better way to kick the bucket :p just kidding. Another word of advice from Lady Bloody Mary herself: give yourself and the person you're with a gift of one of their delicious bloody marys (disclosure: will come with huge prawn as a garnish). Yes, you heard me, a shrimp garnish. Say whaaaaaa?! you're welcome. Hands down, best show case drink on any day with any meal. Try these and send me a note if you like it. maybe we can go together and give each other high fives for being so food and drink savvy
(5)
David B.
This place is good, similar to the one on Greenville, but seems cleaner with s nicer staff. I've had the B&B burger, wings, chicken nachos, and she crab soup. The burgers are the best item I've had on their menu. All are good, though I don't care for the vegetables in the soup...in my opinion, she crab soup should only have crab in it. I think they may do this to mask the relatively small amount of crab in it. I'd recommend the restaurant, I just don't prefer the soup.
(4)
Coen H.
The positives: portion size, taste, value for money. The negatives: noise, dishonest servers (be sure to grab your customer copy--you'll need it to dispute charges with your bank), inattentive bartenders.
(1)
Grace M.
Their brunch is absolutely to DIE for! I had a bloody mary and sips of my friends mimosas, which were BOTH delicious. I feel it is very rare that a place makes both well, especially Bloody Mary's... they're usually not spicy enough. To start, they give you cute little apps for free (I think they were corn muffins or whatever they're called... those were pretty addicting, if I do say so myself. For my meal I had a salmon benedict, which was ABSOLUTELY amazing. I cannot wait to go back and try it again... I really do want to try their banana foster french toast and their florentine benedict, but their salmon benedict was THAT good.
(4)
Jeff S.
Really decent place here. Good food with VERY reasonable prices. Great tap selection. Beers on tap that you don't get normally on tap. The wedge salad and ahi tune sandwich were wonderful Bruma done perfectly definitely a place to return.
Had a late night snack and drink while in town, very tasty! Also, had brunch - pretty good! Those mini muffins were really tasty!
(3)
Brandy B.
Where to begin?!? Apps were decent... Crab Dip was a tad too runny for my taste - I'm used to the dip having a little more texture. The pitas were okay (I can't get Diprato's pitas off the brain). Calamari was calamari, nice and crispy - the remoulade was not a hit with us (also runny). The zucchini were a little too thick and bready for me - the aioli was delicious!! (We ended up dipping the calamari in it too). We ordered off the Masters special menu because our server recommended it (he said he had a role in the ideas for the dishes and was super proud). CAB Ribeye with a Jalapeño Bacon Cream Sauce over grilled Asparagus. Bf wanted rare, I hate rare so I met him halfway with medium... the meat came out bloody... I cut into it and the blood started to turn the white cream sauce pink! GAG! We were full so we got a to-go box... we'll try it again after throwing it on the grill tonight. Service was good, atmosphere was nice and quiet... until some d-bag came in and started screaming "TURN DOWN FOR WHAT" - (consider yourself lucky if you've never heard the song before). The guy yelled at least 4 times and other couples started looking around. Not cool. The sun hadn't even set! I used to thoroughly enjoy this restaurant years ago - maybe it was because I had an inexperienced palette and there were less options in the area.
(3)
Joe M.
The beer selection and price is fairly reasonable. I ordered the pizza for dinner. I'll never understand how one bite can be molten lava and the second bite is cold. The bartenders are rude. I won't be back. There's too many other options proximate for me to worry about coming back here.
(2)
Brandon D.
My friend and I went here tonight for a quick bite to eat and despite my previous experience of receiving subpar service on previous visits, I am happy to report that the service this time was OUTSTANDING! Our waiter, Matthew, I believe that's his name was awesome. He made sure that our drinks were filled and that we had everything we needed to enjoy our meals. I once again got the BBQ burger and it was delicious. And my friend got the Liberty Steak & Cheese and was very happy with it. The service has diffidently improved since the last time I was here, and the food quality has stayed the same. This place has excellent burgers.
(5)
Robert F.
It was pretty good. No major complaints on the food. But the selection was pretty lame. Of course this is a tap room... and their beer selection was terrific. That would have gained them a star... but... not only did they not have several of the TVs on at 8:30 pm, but when I inquired I was told that they couldn't find the remotes. This is an inexcusable service issue.
(3)
Kevin S.
Always a good meal and the tap selection is second to none. Recommend the pub pretzel, wedge salad is always great and the ribeye is hard to beat.
(5)
Tejas P.
Ordered liberty chicken sandwich with fries. The fried looked and tasted old. Sanwich was ok. Its near my workplace so might go once a month.
(3)
Adam B. J.
Liberty is a great place for lunch, happy hour, dinner and brunch. I love their fish sandwich, blue cheese fries, burgers, and steaks. They have good service and its a good place to get a beer and an app if you do not want to eat a huge meal. Saturday night they had a DJ. We ended up staying there for quite a while.
(4)
Willie D.
MY 1st time here and waited less than 12 minutes for a table, waitress was friendly and knew the menu very well.We ordered 2 apps fried calamari and veggie sticks. I had the Black Angus comfort food meatloaf with mashed potatoes and brown gravy it was one of best loafs I had ever tasted! Moist not too salty and full of flavor.My friend had the shrimp alfreado pasta with huge shrimp and pasta noodle again, just full of flavors. To sum it up great service great flavors and a nice place to hang with friends and family. The prices are average for places like this....ENJOY!
(4)
Tyler G.
Good food. The waiter let us eat even though we got there 2 min before kitchen close. He was super friendly about it. It was close to the arena where we went to see show. They were able to accommodate our group quickly. I had pizza which was very good. But mostly pleased with service :)
(5)
Cody A.
I am only rating the food at this place. I picked up my food and ate it in my hotel next door. I had A steak sandwich which was their attempt of a Philly cheese steak but it turned out to be a bunch of burnt meat on an oversized hot dog bun. there is a difference between a seasoned grill and a grilled that desperately needs to be cleaned.I also ordered 10 chicken wings which was a mistake. They looked like they were sitting on a hot plate for 10 hours and tasted even worse. Wings were small and very dry. I ate two then tossed them in the trash. Finally I ordered a meatball for my son to eat. when I tasted it the meat was very loose and tasted like dog food and Yes I know what dog food taste like. The best thing about this meal was the after dinner mints . i've only eaten there once but I strongly don't recommend the liberty.
(2)
Aaron S.
UPDATE: Excellent floor coverage. Conner took care of the table efficiently and glasses never ran dry for too long even given the fact that I empty cups quicker than the server usually walks away. Pleasant visit with good food.
(5)
Kafid K.
Amazing filet! Great dessert! Good wine! Place was great would defiantly go back, great atmosphere amazing service!
(5)
Carolynn R.
I have now had dinner and brunch at liberty and was blown away by my experience. For dinner we came in with a group of 11 and got just as good service as if we were a small group. The staff was all very attentive and On spot with service. Good was great from the tuna to pizza to the club it was all done very well! Brunch was way to good, Benedict was amazing, burrito, steak and eggs everything was wonderful!!! Service again was spot on I am very happy I recommend liberty to everyone!
(5)
Zohra B.
Nice little place in downtown Columbia. Enjoyed the ambiance of the place, Very nicely laid out with booths and ultra long bar area. Really cool statue of liberty with little colored glass pieces to decorate her to look like the SC state flag. Very cool!!! Insane list of beers on tap. Seriously - it was a bit overwhelming. But I soon found a few that I was able to try and liked. I just recently started to venture out and try new beers, so I loved that they let me have a small taste of whatever struck my fancy at the time till I found one to stick with. We split the Club sandwich, and it was delicious!!! Half of it was more than enough for one person. My son got the chicken fingers, and the serving was as large as the regular adult servings. You do have to ask for the kids menu, bc they do not have a specific menu for you to look at. They just kind of recite the kids stuff. Would be nice if they had like a little thing for him to color or draw on or something of that nature. All in all, i really like the place and we talked about coming back next time we are in the columbia area. I am looking forward to trying the one here in Mt.Pleasant to see if its also as great.
(3)
Jason R.
This place was terrible. We only ordered appetizers that took 45 min and showed up cold ROACHES crawled on top of the table. Silverware had food on it. Worst place ever.
(1)
Megan B.
We came here for dinner on a Friday night. Started out with the fried zucchini and they gave us spears that seemed to equal three whole zucchinis. They were great and a lot for the money! I got the meatloaf stack and it was really good. The portion size was huge and well worth the price. My friend got a salad and the other got the bourbon chicken. They both liked theirs as well. It is a solid spot for dinner. Service was kind of slow and she forgot a few things. My friend also asked for a bloody mary and was given a bloody maria (vodka and tequila are very different)!!
(4)
Robert P.
Bad Food, Bad Service with an Attitude - Go Elsewhere I went there tonight for a nice meal as we had good experiences in the past. First, it was demanded that I present an ID to order beer despite the fact that I am in my mid-forties. We had dinner last night a few blocks away without such a demand. Very strange. After settling on the sirloin steak, the snarky waitress strongly recommended the New York strip steak topped with pimento cheese as the night's special to be cooked medium to medium well. I received a mess as the steak was rare and bathed in pimento cheese sauce. Further, the steak was a fatty cut of meat. Upon complaining to the manager, he took off 50% of the entree price and apologized. The waitress, rather than showing concern about the botched meal, made excuses that "they don't cook this steak all the time and the "cooks are learning to make that meal." How hard can it be? It is a steak. The waitress could care less about my bad experience. Three co-workers who joined me for dinner were not impressed with their meals.
(1)
Tianna G.
My absolute favorite eatery in Columbia, Sc. I've always received excellent service and food. Any one who has or will visit me is taken here for the shrimp and grits! Love this place.
(5)
Brett J.
Half sports bar & pub, half classy restaurant. This is a great go to place if you need either a place for buddies or for a date. We came here for a military-related event...which mainly involved drinking. I didn't have any food here, however the dishes I did see going to other patrons looked pretty good! The bar-staff was great. They definitely put up with my flirtiness. (it does help them remember you) :) The back pub area was pretty large, wood-built, and had plenty of flat screens for the game watchers. There were also a ton of booths and a long bar area in the middle of Liberty for the more intimate sports watchers. As the night went on, we saw a DJ setting up tables in between the booths and long bar and started playing today's top music. I'll have to come back to try out the food and update this review, but from what I saw it was a great place in a great location!
(4)
Laddie B.
As a tourist in many cities across the U.S., I rely on Yelp reviews to find good places to eat when I don't have a local's recommendation. I almost skipped this place because there were a few reviews about time and service (two things that are pretty far down on my list of things that matter to me when I'm on vacation). So, I tried Liberty. Fabulous food! Everything from the salad to the entree was fresh and well prepared. It is obvious the chef cares about taste and quality. I also found the service was good and the time not unreasonable. If I had 30 minutes for lunch, I would be very careful about what I ordered, but if not, and I lived in Columbia, I would be a regular here.
(5)
WanderLustinDani P.
The food at Liberty's appear simple, but the flavors have basic taste. Presentation of the food was great. A host of items on the menu, offering something for the whole family. The shop is both clean and tidy, having plenty seating space and a nice bar. Staff members there greeted us when we can in, but no good-byes or Thank U when we left. I would give this restaurant another chance and try a different item for sure. I know I'll certainly be returning soon.
(3)
Lee C.
I own a salon right down the street and we ordered great takeout yesterday. I had the smothered chicken and my stylist had the bbq chicken pizza! It was great!
(4)
Martin G.
Spec grill and bar. The strawberry spinach and shrimp salad was good but common. Good wait staff in bar. Big place with lots of room. Sports and classy too.
(3)
Mike L.
What can I say... Roaches, cold food, terrible specials, ignorant, fat, balding manager, lame service and awful mixed drinks. But roaches... For years. Ridiculous.
(1)
Anthony N.
I ordered the smothered chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans and the chocolate cake for desert. The chicken was good quality the sauce was amazing the potatoes had good texture and flavor. Chocolate cake was good but not quite my style will definitely be returning ordered on a friday night quick service and hot food.
(5)
Emily R.
One of my favorite restaurants in Columbia! The brunch blows me away every time. I've been over 10 times and have yet to be disappointed.
(5)
Karen S.
I went here last night with a group of friends for my birthday dinner. I was going in not knowing what to expect. We were heading to another business in the Vista after dinner, so I was looking for something in the Vista that was reasonably priced. My one friend had made a reservation for our group. Good thing if you have a party, you do not have to worry about waiting a while for a table (especially on Friday and Saturday nights). Only thing is they will seat you only when a majority of your party has arrived. Also, parking might be a pain (again especially on weekends) since there is limited parking in front of restaurant and there is quite a few places in that general vicinity. Liberty does offer free valet parking. We had sat down and ordered our drinks. Me and one of my friends had ordered water. She noticed in her glass something funky in her water and my glass was severely cracked. Our waitress did replace drinks. Food was OK. Nothing over the top. Really only other complaint was that either they need to up their AC or invest in ceiling fans. It was getting quite warm towards the end of dinner and had no way of keeping comfortable.
(3)
Matt S.
Pretty amazing place.....great place to get some food and do an obscene amount of shots. And I'm about to steal that waitress savannah from her boyfriend....
(5)
Stephanie F.
Yum! Awesome unique beer list. Delicious food. I had the shrimp salad but with chicken and my family tried to steal it it was so good. River rat ale- on point!!
(5)
April C.
Finally, a review for dinner time! My friends and I ordered a lot of food and most of it was pretty delicious. To start: blue cheese chips. These are freakin' AWESOME. Another establishment also does some pretty tasty cheese chips but these reign supreme. The chips stay crispy and the sauce is perfectly velvety. I got the Caesar salad with salmon. The salad was fine but the salmon lacked any seasoning, although perfectly cooked. It just didn't taste like much of anything. My friends enjoyed the chicken chili and the BBQ chicken pizza. For dessert, we ordered the turtle cheesecake which was delicious...once we were able to break the top apart and subsequently also broken the cheesecake into a big ol' mess! It was actually a hilarious scene to behold. In the end though, it was delicious and well worth the effort!
(3)
Michael D.
Very nice selection of beers and some excellent food. I had the shrimp and grits and they were as good as any I've ever had. Everyone I was with said their food was just as good. Took a bit long for the main course but the friendly waitress kept us topped off with water and drinks while we waited. Definitely worth another visit.
(4)
Winston L.
What can I say... This place just doesn't have it. We tried coming here as a group of about 18-20 and they wouldn't seat us at the same table or modify the configuration to at least get us near each other, mainly because they didn't want to affect how much tips each server would get according to the table layout. They placed higher priority on how the servers were assigned then just simply seating us together. Terrible, and they were uncompromising and short with us regarding it. All I wanted to do was sit with my friends but I got stuck alone on my own table. Gee thanks. Second, it took us over an hour to get our food. Everyone else at the other tables of our group (refer to paragraph above) got their food even though we ordered at the same time. Then they had the audicity to say it was on its way, 30 minutes before it actually came out. I wanted to cancel my order but the manager came out and said it was "on its way". Five minutes later I got a cold uninspired crab dip that is nothing short of a culinary abortion. Only plus side of this place? That there is a large sign out front so at least I can see it from far away and thoroughly avoid it.
(1)
Shawn N.
We made reservations as a group, and had a few additional tag along, but they wouldn't let us sit together. Reason: they wanted to split up tips. Then, it took them over a half hour to take and deliver our drink orders. So, I ended up just going to the bar. Reason: the waitress was waiting other tables even though there were plenty of other servers standing around with empty tables. Finally, it took them two hours to get us all our food orders! Then, when we complained did they apologize or offer a comp? Nope. They only gave excuses. Reason: they split our orders and inserted another large group's order in between, and apparently they are more worried about immediate profit instead of repeat business. Additional note: my "medium" ribeye steak was still raw in the middle. And if you order it with mash potatoes, they serve it on top like meat loaf. Who does that? Ghetto! Not coming here again, and neither are any of the several hundred other soldiers that I have the ability to influence. Nice job Liberty!
(1)
Dean H.
Excellent food in more or less a sports bar. We had lunch on a Friday and it was not busy. Calamari app was not rubber and was excellent. Liberty Club had real chicken. Asian tuna sandwich was great. Sweet potato fries are crisp and a must try. Mediterranean steak salad was excellent. Obviously the beer list is huge, diverse and good. Service was great.
(5)
Joe M.
Food was so, so. Eggs Benedict was prepared poorlly. Muffin not toasted, and eggs very runny. Way overpriced. The worst part was the staff, our waitress was very inattentive. She messed up our order and then blamed us for the confusion. I've been there a few times. I was never impressed before, but this last experience has convinced me to keep on walking.
(2)
Stem E.
GREAT beer selections - thought it would be just their own brewed beers like in Myrtle but it was much, much more. Service was not as quick as it should have been even though we were a party of 14. The place was near empty. My friend ordered meatloaf, which I wanted, but settled for Steak and Cheese, and right as all our food was coming out, Server came and told him that they were out of meatloaf..Odd that they waited until the food was coming out to tell us that. He ordered something else, which meant he had to wait for his meal, but they did comp it so.... Food was ok...nothing back, but nothing that stood out.
(3)
Jennifer B.
Not being from South Carolina we ventured into downtown Columbia and went here for dinner. Meal was decent. For an appetizer we had the chicken nachos. The folks I was with had the meatloaf that was very good. Service and price was good. Lot of beer to choose from. We will probably come again!
(4)
James N.
If you come here, get the meatloaf. It'll be your lunch the next day too because it's huge! Excellent beer selection and great bartenders. Servers are hit or miss, so I always sit at the bar. Happy Hour apps are a good deal and this is a great place for a business lunch, happy hour or dinner. Sunday brunch is great but it gets really crowded.
(5)
Josh W.
The food is pretty good...But the real reason I go is for that smokin' server. Savannah? I think that's her name. I would give her a big tip anytime!
(5)
Chris S.
Good food, and be sure to order beers off the chalkboard where there's a list of 5 or 6 cheap ones they're getting rid of. Service was bad at the bar, but decent in the restaurant.
(3)
John F.
We did not go to the bar, but it did look like a cool place to hang out. By the time we left, the bar was jumping with 25 to 40 year olds. We did eat there and I will never go back there again. We sat down, the waiter took our drink order, he had to come back twice because they did not have the drinks we ordered. We order nachos for the table. As soon as they were delivered I asked for plates and silverware. After a few minutes. I asked another waiter for the plates and silverware, then after more time passed I asked a third waiter for plates and silverware. The nachos could have been good if they just put my chips on the plate. I ordered chicken which was dried out, my wife ordered a steak which she said was ok, my daughter order a burger which she said was average and my other daughter order BBQ pizza which was actually great. The place was cool, the bar looked great, the service was terrible and the food was ok at best!
(2)
Thu D.
Great hangout place for a Friday night. I love their mix drinks - they are not stingy on their alcohol unlike some places.
(4)
Rodell N.
It's a really nice sports bar/pub. The bloody Mary is awesome, it's almost a meal by itself. The food and atmosphere is really nice to listen to jazz with brunch, watch the game or impress your date with a nice dinner. It's an all in one spot:-)
(5)
Kevin L.
The reviews for this place is lower than I thought it would be. I enjoy the downtown and lakeside locations quite a bit. Admittedly the food takes awhile to get served but the service while we were waiting was always good. We've also never had to wait too long for tables. I am impressed with the overall quality of the food and it makes it worth the wait. When we have family in from out of town this is somewhere they ask to go back to.
(4)
Erik D.
A couple days late but here we go. The liberty fries were on point and the honey barbecue chicken was equally good. The beer selection is extensive and the service is good. This one does right what the one on the lake messes up. It's a complete 180 from the nightmarish experience I had at liberty on the lake.
(4)
Kelly A.
Been here twice in a month. The food was OK to good. The service needs to be improved. It was slow and both times the restaurant was not packed. The beer selection is amazing.
(3)
Kristen M.
Bleu. Cheese. Chips. Do you know how delicious bleu cheese chips are when you're hungover? Nothing goes better with one of their bloody marys... nothing! I went for both brunch and a late afternoon lunch, I'll be honest, the lunch drops it down a star or two. The service just wasn't as good as the brunch, which I'm not really sure why... At any rate, BCC and bloody mary were awesome, I also had the french toast, which was absolutely delicious. Light, fluffy, perfect amount of powdered sugar... If you want some welcoming Sunday morning comfort food, this is absolutely you're place! If you're coming for the rest of the food, I'd go elsewhere.
(3)
Lauren F.
Decent food. Maybe I have too-high expectations for steaks, but I just wasn't terribly impressed. The wait was too long and the prices too high for me to want to go back. It's a decent place, but nothing exciting.
(3)
Swetha G.
This was the first place that I had brunch in Columbia and it was everything I was hoping it would be, and more. Hallelujah! I almost didn't go to Liberty b/c of the average 2.5 star rating on yelp. Almost! What a relief that it exceeded expectations! Service was very good from hostess to waiter. Everyone was professional and friendly. The place is pretty big and from the entrance you can be seated in the left section or to the right (which is closer to the street side), both large and roomy. We fortunately got a table on the right side near 2 tall windows and enjoyed a lot of natural light and a downtown view. Big points in my book. I love brunch with natural light, it gives me endorphins! As for the food, I was happy with it. They start you off with a very cute basket of mini muffins with butter. These bakery treats are fresh, warm and melt in your mouth! For my drink I ordered a coffee, which was brought out in a HUGE mug, the size of a soup bowl. Also a plus! For my entree I got the florentine benedict which comes with a choice of potatoes or grits, I got the grits. The benedict was good, basically it was about average. The grits on the other hand were really good. Our waiter said something about how they're made in the factory next door and are very fresh. He was right about that. Even though it was super filling I cleaned my bowl and had it all! As for money, I consider this place VERY pocket friendly. Considering the volume of food we got, plus quality service, my total was only $9 and change! With tip, I shelled out just under $13. Not bad. Not bad at all!
(4)
Dorothy C.
After the game today, the family headed to the Liberty Tap Room & Grill. By the way, we were victorious. Orders ranged from burgers, salad with grilled chicken, pizza, fish, taste fillet, pasta Alfredo and appetizers. Never a bad meal, nor service.
(4)
Geoff G.
Good flavor...lousy service on a night when the dining room was 1/4 full. Ribeye was cooked just right but the mashed potatoes were cold Salad was late. Beer was late. One of our orders was messed up. Yelp tried to warn me but I didn't listen.
(2)
Alan J.
Arrived here not expecting much due to hit and miss reviews on yelp. Maybe we landed on a good night, but the shrimp Alfredo featured 6 jumbo shrimp and bow tie pasta and Joan's salmon was grilled perfectly. Wing appetizers were good and hot! Ice cream cup for Joan topped off an excellent dinner.
(4)
Logan B.
Came here for sunday brunch. Hint: it gets crowded fast, we ate at 11 and waited 30 mins but when we left a hour or so later the waiting crowed had almost doubled. The food was very good but their Grits are to die for!
(5)
Mia C.
We found liberty tap room to be good except for their service. Went there on a Saturday evening, and this place was surprisingly full of family crowd. My husband enjoyed their beer and I liked the shrimp Alfredo pasta I ordered. But their service was terrible.
(3)
Neuropickle S.
Good selection of beer; but Smithwick's tasted as if it was at the end of an old keg. Bar sitting area had a great Wednesday evening atmosphere: could hear my dinner mates; relaxed environment. Liberty Chicken & Piled Meatloaf were flavorful, and good collard greens. Iceberg Wedge of my friend didn't arrive with the rest of our salads so it was removed from his tab. My significant other's "Fresh Catch" Mahi-Mahi tasted very fishy; and certainly wasn't fresh. 4 stars is what we agreed on on the premise of the beer selection, 2 of 3 meals, and the atmosphere. We will be back because I'd like to try the meatloaf.
(4)
Michael M.
Hey if you looking for great food and drinks this is the place. Awesome local beer on tap. Happy hour is M-F 4pm-7pm half price on certain beers (good selection) and house wine as well as $1.00 off well drinks. Service was outstanding, staff is well trained and knows their menu front to back. This place is somewhere I will definitely go back for more.
(5)
Nestor C.
Came here with my boyfriend during a Friday night. The hosts greeted us very politely and were seated promptly. The rest of the service was downhill. The waiter was slow. I understand he is busy, but that's hardly an excuse, his job is to serve us customers. The food is expensive and BLAND. I ordered the grilled chicken and the only flavor was the charred part of the chicken! The side of mash potatoes were actually better tasting! My boyfriend agreed the chicken tasted bland and burnt. His pizza was also bland. Too expensive for taste quality below fast food. At least with fast food you taste something. Would not recommend.
(2)
TheHungryDad Jeff C.
great food!
(4)
Brent F.
The blackened filet bow tie pasta is really good. The noise level increases greatly after 9pm so if that bothers you get there early but the atmosphere overall is good.
(3)
Aaron Z.
Nothing special, steaks are good quality, food was ok.
(3)
Roel F.
I have been to Liberty Tap Room & Grill several times now, mostly because a few of my friends like the place, and I find the place hit-and-miss. Unfortunately for Liberty, I there is only one hit for every three or four misses! Liberty is located in the middle of The Vista in an attractive looking building. The interior is pleasant, even though the place can get a bit loud. The hostesses are nice and efficient. The waiters are usually pretty nice, but I had a few that were sub-par. The beer list is extensive and has some interesting options, which is a good thing because you want to steer clear from the mixed drinks! (Not once have I, or any of the people I was with, received a mixed drink that was worth the wait or the money.) Moving on to the important part, the food! Here are my findings: unless you like eating a salty brick you should avoid the meatloaf, the steaks are decent (but then again there is not much that can go wrong with a steak), the burgers are okay (even though one of my friends once had a burger that was simply inedible because of the seasoning on it) and the crab soup is also okay (but nothing more than that). I would recommend the tenderloin pasta, which is the one dish that seems to be good pretty consistently, even though on one occasion they managed to mess that dish up as well! In short, Liberty Tap Room & Grill is a decent place, but fails to serve consistently good food. If you are going to drop a good amount of money, I suggest you go dine elsewhere. If you are just looking for an evening out with friends, Liberty certainly is an option... but you never know what you are going to get. To quite Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry: "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
(2)
Ne'Cole V.
Mediocre lunch, service was poor and food was blah. Won't be back.
(1)
Kim W.
Had Sunday brunch. French toast was good. It was quite loud as many families come here after church. Our waiter, James, was absolutely awesome. We'd come back to just see him.
(4)
Tanya M.
Don't go here for food. Go for drinks and to see boys in bowties dance to rap music with girls wearing pearls. Hilarious!
(1)
Heather H.
The atmosphere was great. Lots of different rooms and seating options. Calamari and crab dip were yum! Overall presentation of the dinner was lacking, and they gave me only half my order. They should have probably kept the other half. The tuna filet was not good. However, the sweet potato fries were tasty and a good fry shape.
(3)
Mark S. I.
+2 of 5 stars for service - our waitress took care of us, was attentive. +3 of 5 stars for having very crispy and tasty fried calamari and a rad, great-tasting, creole-style shrimp and grits. Savory, sausage-y, well-spiced. Will make a special trip to Lib
(3)
suzanne v.
I will definitely be back here. The food was good, nothing amazing, priced a little high for what was served. I received amazing service on a Friday night with a crowded bar! She was very attentive, helpful with the menu, and friendly. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is they have a local Californian cider called Ace Cider that is outrageously delicious on tap! The ambiance was crowded screechy drunk people; but it was a Friday night in the bar... I'd definitely go again
(3)
Denise B.
For a local bar, this is a great place to go. The food was delicious. The services was really good.
(5)
jack q.
The place looks nice and the service was good. The food was decent, but not memorable. We split the fried calamari - just pre cut, frozen rings - but the coating and seasonings were okay and they weren't too greasy. We also split a cup of she crab soup and an iceberg wedge salad. Both were pretty flavorful and the salad was large, with lots of blue cheese and bacon chunks. Our server Christina was very cheery and cute and she provided good service. Overall a decent place to stop in for a bite and a beer.
(3)
Terri W.
I wanted to like this place it's very reminiscent of the Yardhouse here in LA. We sat out on the patio and Christie was our server. She never really looked around the room to see if anyone needed anything so we always had to go over to her or wave her down if we needed anything. My sister ordered the spinach pizza which she said she liked. i ordered the burger which was highly recommended but it came back super overcooked and I was starving so I ate it. Plus Christie disappeared forever and never checked in with us. Probably what ruined my meal the most is that my girlfriend ordered the filet Mignon which was really good. it was so good it made my burger taste even worse than it already did. ok food, mediocre service. Not going back.
(2)
Antwanika S.
This restaurant has a well laid out menu of simple items and very diverse. If you want a steak you can get it, a salad you can get it, steak and shrimp you can get it, hamburger you can get it. No lack of variety here. I had a creole style shrimp and grits. It was probably the best I've yet yet. I'd go back just for this.
(4)
Jennie P.
Food was amazing, but the beer selection was even better! Server was very friendly and knew the menu and the beer list very well. We will definitely be returning to The Liberty Taproom!
(5)
Ka T.
So I decided to give this place a try despite the the bad rating on yelp. I guess i should have listened. i got a seat at the bar was given a menu and sat there waiting to get served. I sat and sat and watch the bartenders Two of them talk to other customers, clean glasses and even serve a girl right next to me. (keep in mind the girl was there after me) I continue to sit and sit and finally just walked out, which i have never done before. If i had a option to give it no stars i would.
(1)
Emily E.
I'm not one to give out low ratings, but Liberty really failed big time today. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a seat, which wasn't bad for Sunday brunch, but then the problems started. We placed our order, and were brought some muffins, but no silverware to butter them with until they were gone (very minor flaw, imo). We kept waiting and waiting, and saw other tables get their food, but never ours, and our server refilled our drinks but said nothing to us about the wait. When the food FINALLY arrived (was not brought out by our server), 1 hour later (not an exaggeration), the order was wrong (we were given grits instead of hashbrowns), and the rest of the food was cold. She did not come out to check on us for at least 5 minutes after it came out, and we let her know it was wrong, and she told us they had run out of hashbrowns so "everyone had gotten grits instead". She made no mention of the wait time or why we couldn't have been told of this before. It seems our orders (steak and eggs and classic benedict) were held up because of this grits issue, which is maddening! When the hashbrowns were brought out ( I guess somewhere in there they acquired more), they were not at all seasoned. The steak was rare and unseasoned as well. It was a very frustrating experience to not even have a ridiculous error and wait time acknowledged (we didn't see a manager around to inform) and to waste an hour sitting around with no idea what the holdup was. I've also had dinner at Liberty on another occasion and they cooked my steak incorrectly. Needless to say, I won't be wasting my money or time here again. It would be one thing if they were understaffed, but this was not the case. The timeframe we were there for was not overly busy, and there were plenty of empty tables around us.
(1)
Jesse D.
Liberty is a bit of an anomaly. It's a Taproom, but it's bigger than that, and they serve so much beer besides their own I don't know why they still brew it. (Well, the Amber Ale is delicious...) It's a Grill, and there is a great big dining area where to order overpriced, though quite tasty, food. But it isn't really either of those things. It's really a place for folks in Columbia to get dressed up in their best party wear, throw back some nice brews (good set of spirits too), and hang out in large crowds to loud music. It's a sexed up, Southern style, polished wood, pseudo-micro-brewery discotheque. Enjoyed the beer, ate the food, payed a bit much, hated the waitstaff, and don't care for the scene.
(3)
Diego C.
Was in Columbia for the weekend out at the lake and Found Liberty on Yelp. Although reviews were mixed we decided to give it a try since it was close and on the water. Glad we did!! Contrary to many reviews, our server was FANTASTIC!!! He was friendly, courteous and knew his beers. We had the raw oysters and several apps which were all great! I would definitely go back again!
(4)
Jason R.
Drink and food menu are pretty extensive. Food came out perfectly cooked. Get the bleu cheese chips or seared tuna app. Order a steak, they know how to do it right. House made brews are very tasty as well. Service can be inconsistent at times, but that is to be expected at this price tier.
(4)
Dave M.
Great bar and restaurant. Lots of beer on tap, excellent burgers and steaks, and awesome atmosphere.
Brew pubs are great, not only do they push to create something special in their beer kettles but many can hold their own in the kitchen. For starters we ordered blue cheese chips, these hand cut chip are great by themselves, but with warm blue cheese they're awesome. For lunch we had burgers, mine ,the red White and blue was the perfect burger, Cajun spice, onion strings and blue cheese. My wife had classic burger, also excellent . They also make a great white pizza. The best part of brew pub is the brew, unfortunately, early afternoon and to many miles to drive to enjoy more than one, but thumbs up to their amber ale
(4)
Dave G.
Best fish&chips i've ever had, amazing ahi tuna salad. I wish i lived locally, just so i could come back.
(5)
Dexter M.
Good sized menu, the food was okay. Liked the atmosphere, worth going to.
(3)
Sharon R.
Wasn't very impressed with the food or beer... nothing special
(3)
Martin V.
Good food, good service, ample drink choices. The place changes totally at night and becomes much more dance floor oriented with a DJ set up and whatnot, but the back beer garden still stays pretty laid back for those not looking to cut a rug.
(3)
Tim B.
I really can;t complain about our meal, our service or really anything else for that matter. Valet parking which was a plus as finding a parking spot on GErvais is a pain in the as&%$. Server was great. The menu was average, nothing special about it. Food quality was average. Again no complaints but not going to rave above a bar/restaurant. Great place for inexpensive eats with friends.
(2)
Stephanie D.
A group of us went when it just opened for the day. There were only three tables occupied including ours. The hostess went ahead and got our drinks while we waited on the server. The service was okay. The waitress helped me pick a great fish for lunch, but never returned to refill my cup of water after I had finished the meal. When she did return, it was only to hand us our bill. She was really kind, but not very attentive in the almost empty restaurant. The food is overpriced. There's nothing special- just the run of the mill steaks, fish, and salads. The only thing that stood out is the sweet potato. It's possibly the best I've ever had though my boyfriend said the one at Outback was much better (later that day). I wouldn't recommend getting the seasonal veggies. I was lucky enough to get 6 pieces. My boyfriend was only given 4. The sweet tea was also nasty, but it might have been a bad batch. I guess it didn't help having the cup 3/4 full of ice. None of us understood why she kept adding more ice into cup when she refilled it. I don't intend on returning. Ironically, I get better service at Applebee's.
(2)
ERIC B.
Went there Friday night of parents weekend since it was adjacent to our hotel. Place was packed which we took as a good sign. Hostess said the wait would be 45 minutes so we hung out in the bar. Nice selection of drafts. There are also lots of tables in the bar that we assumed were seated by the hostess. After awhile though it became apparent the bar tables were first come fist serve. By that time though we were 2 or 3 from being called. We finally got a table after 90 minutes. After seeing how small the dining room is we understood. The food was very good. My daughter had the meatloaf and couldn't finish half. My wife had the Mediterranean pizza, again very large. I had the filet which was probably the most tender I've ever tasted. We also had the zucchini strips appetizers which were good, but too big and thick to really enjoy. I would say great food and drinks, nice atmosphere, but be wary of the dining room wait times (double what they tell you) or hover over one of the bar tables.
(3)
G. N.
Worth more than its 3 star composite rating. Ambience and beer selection alone make it at least 3.5, possibly 4. Sunday brunch menu is solid. Breakfast burrito was pretty good, and the chef accommodated all of my fussiness (light on the cheese, no bacon, cheese sauce on the side, etc.). Recommend getting the cheese grits instead of hash browns, especially if your from the west coast and the novelty of grits hasn't yet worn off. Not a bad place to have brunch and beer on a hot summer afternoon.
(4)
Carol S.
Although I love their salads, we don't go often because there is no gluten free menu. Hard to believe. It is the only restaurant I know of that does not accommodate such a large group of people. We'd go more often but half my family can't eat there. They need to get with the time, care about customers more. Do they even realize how many people can't eat foods with gluten? Seriously?
(3)
Stephen P.
Shoddy bar... usually full of Metro Center shills drinking watery beer and eating rubbery chicken on the company dime... unless you're on an expense account Liberty Taproom is overpriced for the lack of quality you receive... There's much better to be had in Columbia...
(2)
Sherra S.
The food was excellent & so was our server, Geoffrey.
(5)
Ashley D.
Good food good beer good service. Very pleased.
(4)
Chris M.
Terrible. Only redeeming quality is their beer selection. Go if you like another TGIFridays or Applebees, thats it. Service was ok. This is the same food you will find at ANY Brewpub or suburban slop-house across this country. Its a cookie-cutter menu, and nothing distinct or that reminds you you are in the south..let alone in South Carolina. A few regional touches to the menu might be interesting, but who am I. Its located in the Great Vista area. So, when you're done finally finding parking..or using valet..you expect better in your restaurant..and menu. Its terrible. Food was bland. I had the steak, wife had the fish. Both tasted the same. We wondered the entire time why this place would allow kids to run amok in the restaurant?? Its not their fault families want to overpay for Junior to eat half his sandwich. But, please..the rest of us want to enjoy our evening..and have some dinner conversation. Not have to converse over screaming kids, or bottles and food being thrown from unruly kids. Please, take charge of your restaurant. It was a miserable experience (save for the beer).
(1)
Matt S.
If you are looking for some reasonably priced American Fare and a good beer selection, I would highly suggest Liberty Tap room. One of my favorite things about the restaurant is its 3 distinct seating areas that you can choose from. They very from a nice dimly lit formal dining area, to bar area to beirgarden, Honestly I prefer the seat yourself Bar as the menus are the same, there is always room to sit down and is not crowded plus I have the option of watching a game. I will be honest I havent strayed much past the burgers on the menu. I can also speak for those went with me everything that I have seen come out of the kitchen is fresh and delicious.
(5)
Erica A.
The food at this centrally located restaurant is pretty decent. It's overpriced, but you're also paying for location and ambiance. If I was really interested in beer, I'd probably be willing to overlook the other flaws. Just based on all that part of the experience, I'd give them 3-4 stars. So why do they only get one star here? Because my credit card was overcharged. The difference ($0.43) is not exorbitant, but such action is the height of dishonesty on the part of the server. To bump up the gratuity without my permission is deplorable, especially when I was generous enough to give a 20% tip on a unimpressive $24 meal. Liberty Taproom & Grill won't ever see me in there again, and I'm telling all my friends who work downtown, too!
(1)
sarah p.
Liberty gets a bad wrap. It is a good place to go if you have a crowd for dinner. Usually there is decent music in the bar and they have a good drink and beer selection. It is better than any 'chain/big box food' restaurant. The food is not microwaved, it is actually cooked and made on site. I really like their blue cheese chips and most entree/sandwich items on the menu. Though the concept and food might not be very original, it is not a bad place to grab a bite to eat. The renovated old building, atmosphere and location in the Vista make Liberty a good place to take out of town guests.
(4)
Jeff H.
Slowest service in Columbia, even during offpeak hours. Food is OK, but the poor service is the reason to look elsewhere.
(1)
Paul W.
went for a quick snack, blue cheese chips (had at other liberty's and love them) this version had a giant glob of blue cheese dressing in the middle. When they heated it, the dressing didn't heat, not sure why there was dressing oin it at all, others just have bleu cheese melted on them. not good wings were so salty they were not enjoyable.
(1)
David C.
I have only been to the bar, not the restaurant. Apparently, the food is pretty similar across the board. This is a nice spot down in the Vista with lousy food and so so service. I liken this place to a daring bar and grill experiment run by applebee's. It's obvious the people who run the place have put none of themselves in to the menu or even the immense bar. There is nothing terribly wrong with this place but there is nothing right with it either. If you gave me a choice, I would much rather eat at an Applebee;s or Ruby Tuesday.
(2)
Chip O.
Their beer choices are decent, but I was not impressed with their entrees. I got a $14 bowl of shrimp and grits and felt like I did not get my money's worth. A friend if mine got a hamburger for under $10 and they were happy with their order.
(2)
Anton G.
I was really impressed with their tap beer selection, including quite a few Belgian-style Canadian brews (think La Fin Du Monde), Saison Dupont and Delirium Tremens (which they lovingly misspell as Delerium Tremors). Local brews are also well represented. I chased the Dupont with a "small" 12 oz slice of prime rib that was quite excellent. Very pleasant decor with exposed red brick walls. Bar staff was also pretty friendly and made me feel welcome. Over-all, a great take on classy American bar / restaurant.
(4)
John O.
This is my second trip to Columbia. I have had dinner and drinks at Liberty both times. Both visits were OK. As mentioned in other posts, the beer selection is excellent and the food is OK. Service was nothing special on the first trip and was not much more than shoddy the second trip. The server acted like she could not get rid of us fast enough despite a very good (20%+) tip.
(3)
Nicole M.
Excellent beer selection. Good wine selection. Really neat-looking place. We sat in the bar area, but not at the bar. It was Sunday, late afternoon. It was not crowded at all. The initial wait for the server took a minute, but it wasn't too bad. The sweet tea was bad; I asked for a coke after one sip. However, the food was excellent. I ordered the fish and chips and it was great. My husband even stole some of it. They make their own tartar sauce; it was mild and good. My husband had the meatloaf and he liked it, but liked my fish and chips better. We would definitely come back. Also, the whole area is cool. If you go to Liberty and don't like it, there are like 4 or 5 other places nearby without having to cross any intersections. It's like restaurant-town. And, the price at Liberty wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, jusging by the decor; not cheap, but not too expensive either.
(5)
Tepintzin H.
Merely all right. I had to have she-crab soup during my stay here (it was an imperative) and while theirs was good, it wasn't orgasmically great. (Blue Marlin was closed for the weekend.) My ahi tuna, which I asked for rare, was medium. My Sauv Blanc was overpriced. Almost everything else was closed for Labour Day though, so beggars couldn't be choosers. At least I didn't leave angry.
(3)
Justin S.
Worst service in the Vista. My office is in the Vista and I have been to every restaurant within miles and this is the slowest and most uneducated wait staff I have ever experienced. The food is ok, often overcooked but ok. They have some neat dishes and I think they could really shine if they were cooked properly. I have a hard time blaming the chefs when they probably get told the wrong order by the staff. I swear the only reason they are still in business is because they are right next to the convention center and they have a steady influx of out of towners that just do not know any better. That and they have a big bar. It is pretty hard to mess up a cold beer, but I somehow imagine they could.
(1)
Ryan N.
It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I didn't really like the decor. I had the liberty chicken. I don't really get the theme. What does Liberty have to do with my dinner entree?
(2)
Jeff S.
Good food and a nice beer selection but the inside was too dark and the patio was dirty.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes 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 : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Wm B.
Liked the extensive beer list, the Laughing Skull Amber was delicious. Ordered She Crab soup, was wonderful! Got the burger where they melt smoked gouda over it. I have to say, it's a nice change of pace from the usual cheddar you find in many places. Enjoyed the time there, will definitely go back when I am downtown.
(4)Roger H.
Grabbed lunch with the fella's from the office and the itis was immediately upon us. We had a hankerin' for burgers and Liberty has a nice short list. I had the Freedom, because, well, merka. And because I'm always looking for that fried egg burger that knocks my socks off. ...nothing bad to report here. The burger was perfectly cooked and delicious. Service was polite and prompt. We were in and out. "Potato chips" described as raw fries were actually just potato chips. That's my fault though. I forgot that most folks don't understand what a raw fry should look and taste like. No worries. It wasn't a deal breaker.
(4)Sean B.
The good: 1. My freedom burger, although it was a bit overcooked. I asked for rare and didn't see much pink. Oh well, just glad I didn't ask for medium rare! 2. Pint night. $2.75 for some pretty good craft beers? Yes please! 3. According to my colleagues, the bbq pizza. 4. Customer service. More elaboration in "the bad" section below. The bad: 1. The shrimp and grits "sucked ass" according to one coworker and was very average according to my token "can't say anything bad about anything" coworker. 2. Another coworker was so horrified by her chicken dish, that she demanded something else. To the restaurant's credit, they were happy to do so. The ok: The service. While they were very accommodating with my coworker and her entree, they messed up her 2nd order (so she had to send it back). Overall Liberty Tap Room & Grill isn't bad. I'd go back for another burger and a cheap ass beer.
(3)Anna D.
best shrimp and grits i've had here.... just trust me. i get it every single time and i die from happiness when i'm done. I promise, if you're a shrimp and grits person you'll love it; if you're not a shrimp and grits person, you'll also love it. win win right? well, that is unless you're allergic to shrimp then never mind. Actually, i can't find a better way to kick the bucket :p just kidding. Another word of advice from Lady Bloody Mary herself: give yourself and the person you're with a gift of one of their delicious bloody marys (disclosure: will come with huge prawn as a garnish). Yes, you heard me, a shrimp garnish. Say whaaaaaa?! you're welcome. Hands down, best show case drink on any day with any meal. Try these and send me a note if you like it. maybe we can go together and give each other high fives for being so food and drink savvy
(5)David B.
This place is good, similar to the one on Greenville, but seems cleaner with s nicer staff. I've had the B&B burger, wings, chicken nachos, and she crab soup. The burgers are the best item I've had on their menu. All are good, though I don't care for the vegetables in the soup...in my opinion, she crab soup should only have crab in it. I think they may do this to mask the relatively small amount of crab in it. I'd recommend the restaurant, I just don't prefer the soup.
(4)Coen H.
The positives: portion size, taste, value for money. The negatives: noise, dishonest servers (be sure to grab your customer copy--you'll need it to dispute charges with your bank), inattentive bartenders.
(1)Grace M.
Their brunch is absolutely to DIE for! I had a bloody mary and sips of my friends mimosas, which were BOTH delicious. I feel it is very rare that a place makes both well, especially Bloody Mary's... they're usually not spicy enough. To start, they give you cute little apps for free (I think they were corn muffins or whatever they're called... those were pretty addicting, if I do say so myself. For my meal I had a salmon benedict, which was ABSOLUTELY amazing. I cannot wait to go back and try it again... I really do want to try their banana foster french toast and their florentine benedict, but their salmon benedict was THAT good.
(4)Jeff S.
Really decent place here. Good food with VERY reasonable prices. Great tap selection. Beers on tap that you don't get normally on tap. The wedge salad and ahi tune sandwich were wonderful Bruma done perfectly definitely a place to return.
(4)Andrea R.
Went here for NYE 2015 and had their dinner special, 3-course dinner & a bottle of champagne for two people at $70. You had to share the appetizer and dessert and you each got an entrée. The food was good, not great. We started with the spinach dip which was delicious, came with pita chips for dipping (favorite part of the meal). My husband and I both got the bacon wrapped filet mignon that was stuffed with pimento cheese. The steak was ok, it was actually kind of chewy and my bacon was floppy (how dare they). The mashed potatoes were really, really thick and had no flavor. I didn't like the sweet sauce that the filet was resting on either. For dessert they only had one option, banana fosters cheese cake. It was good but not my first choice for dessert. Overall we felt like we paid too much for what we received, we looked at their normal menu the following day and calculated that we would have spent less had we just ordered from there instead. We are still pretty new to the area and weren't sure where to head for dinner that night, but will not be back next year.
(2)Caitlin J.
Had a late night snack and drink while in town, very tasty! Also, had brunch - pretty good! Those mini muffins were really tasty!
(3)Brandy B.
Where to begin?!? Apps were decent... Crab Dip was a tad too runny for my taste - I'm used to the dip having a little more texture. The pitas were okay (I can't get Diprato's pitas off the brain). Calamari was calamari, nice and crispy - the remoulade was not a hit with us (also runny). The zucchini were a little too thick and bready for me - the aioli was delicious!! (We ended up dipping the calamari in it too). We ordered off the Masters special menu because our server recommended it (he said he had a role in the ideas for the dishes and was super proud). CAB Ribeye with a Jalapeño Bacon Cream Sauce over grilled Asparagus. Bf wanted rare, I hate rare so I met him halfway with medium... the meat came out bloody... I cut into it and the blood started to turn the white cream sauce pink! GAG! We were full so we got a to-go box... we'll try it again after throwing it on the grill tonight. Service was good, atmosphere was nice and quiet... until some d-bag came in and started screaming "TURN DOWN FOR WHAT" - (consider yourself lucky if you've never heard the song before). The guy yelled at least 4 times and other couples started looking around. Not cool. The sun hadn't even set! I used to thoroughly enjoy this restaurant years ago - maybe it was because I had an inexperienced palette and there were less options in the area.
(3)Joe M.
The beer selection and price is fairly reasonable. I ordered the pizza for dinner. I'll never understand how one bite can be molten lava and the second bite is cold. The bartenders are rude. I won't be back. There's too many other options proximate for me to worry about coming back here.
(2)Brandon D.
My friend and I went here tonight for a quick bite to eat and despite my previous experience of receiving subpar service on previous visits, I am happy to report that the service this time was OUTSTANDING! Our waiter, Matthew, I believe that's his name was awesome. He made sure that our drinks were filled and that we had everything we needed to enjoy our meals. I once again got the BBQ burger and it was delicious. And my friend got the Liberty Steak & Cheese and was very happy with it. The service has diffidently improved since the last time I was here, and the food quality has stayed the same. This place has excellent burgers.
(5)Robert F.
It was pretty good. No major complaints on the food. But the selection was pretty lame. Of course this is a tap room... and their beer selection was terrific. That would have gained them a star... but... not only did they not have several of the TVs on at 8:30 pm, but when I inquired I was told that they couldn't find the remotes. This is an inexcusable service issue.
(3)Kevin S.
Always a good meal and the tap selection is second to none. Recommend the pub pretzel, wedge salad is always great and the ribeye is hard to beat.
(5)Tejas P.
Ordered liberty chicken sandwich with fries. The fried looked and tasted old. Sanwich was ok. Its near my workplace so might go once a month.
(3)Adam B. J.
Liberty is a great place for lunch, happy hour, dinner and brunch. I love their fish sandwich, blue cheese fries, burgers, and steaks. They have good service and its a good place to get a beer and an app if you do not want to eat a huge meal. Saturday night they had a DJ. We ended up staying there for quite a while.
(4)Willie D.
MY 1st time here and waited less than 12 minutes for a table, waitress was friendly and knew the menu very well.We ordered 2 apps fried calamari and veggie sticks. I had the Black Angus comfort food meatloaf with mashed potatoes and brown gravy it was one of best loafs I had ever tasted! Moist not too salty and full of flavor.My friend had the shrimp alfreado pasta with huge shrimp and pasta noodle again, just full of flavors. To sum it up great service great flavors and a nice place to hang with friends and family. The prices are average for places like this....ENJOY!
(4)Tyler G.
Good food. The waiter let us eat even though we got there 2 min before kitchen close. He was super friendly about it. It was close to the arena where we went to see show. They were able to accommodate our group quickly. I had pizza which was very good. But mostly pleased with service :)
(5)Cody A.
I am only rating the food at this place. I picked up my food and ate it in my hotel next door. I had A steak sandwich which was their attempt of a Philly cheese steak but it turned out to be a bunch of burnt meat on an oversized hot dog bun. there is a difference between a seasoned grill and a grilled that desperately needs to be cleaned.I also ordered 10 chicken wings which was a mistake. They looked like they were sitting on a hot plate for 10 hours and tasted even worse. Wings were small and very dry. I ate two then tossed them in the trash. Finally I ordered a meatball for my son to eat. when I tasted it the meat was very loose and tasted like dog food and Yes I know what dog food taste like. The best thing about this meal was the after dinner mints . i've only eaten there once but I strongly don't recommend the liberty.
(2)Aaron S.
UPDATE: Excellent floor coverage. Conner took care of the table efficiently and glasses never ran dry for too long even given the fact that I empty cups quicker than the server usually walks away. Pleasant visit with good food.
(5)Kafid K.
Amazing filet! Great dessert! Good wine! Place was great would defiantly go back, great atmosphere amazing service!
(5)Carolynn R.
I have now had dinner and brunch at liberty and was blown away by my experience. For dinner we came in with a group of 11 and got just as good service as if we were a small group. The staff was all very attentive and On spot with service. Good was great from the tuna to pizza to the club it was all done very well! Brunch was way to good, Benedict was amazing, burrito, steak and eggs everything was wonderful!!! Service again was spot on I am very happy I recommend liberty to everyone!
(5)Zohra B.
Nice little place in downtown Columbia. Enjoyed the ambiance of the place, Very nicely laid out with booths and ultra long bar area. Really cool statue of liberty with little colored glass pieces to decorate her to look like the SC state flag. Very cool!!! Insane list of beers on tap. Seriously - it was a bit overwhelming. But I soon found a few that I was able to try and liked. I just recently started to venture out and try new beers, so I loved that they let me have a small taste of whatever struck my fancy at the time till I found one to stick with. We split the Club sandwich, and it was delicious!!! Half of it was more than enough for one person. My son got the chicken fingers, and the serving was as large as the regular adult servings. You do have to ask for the kids menu, bc they do not have a specific menu for you to look at. They just kind of recite the kids stuff. Would be nice if they had like a little thing for him to color or draw on or something of that nature. All in all, i really like the place and we talked about coming back next time we are in the columbia area. I am looking forward to trying the one here in Mt.Pleasant to see if its also as great.
(3)Jason R.
This place was terrible. We only ordered appetizers that took 45 min and showed up cold ROACHES crawled on top of the table. Silverware had food on it. Worst place ever.
(1)Megan B.
We came here for dinner on a Friday night. Started out with the fried zucchini and they gave us spears that seemed to equal three whole zucchinis. They were great and a lot for the money! I got the meatloaf stack and it was really good. The portion size was huge and well worth the price. My friend got a salad and the other got the bourbon chicken. They both liked theirs as well. It is a solid spot for dinner. Service was kind of slow and she forgot a few things. My friend also asked for a bloody mary and was given a bloody maria (vodka and tequila are very different)!!
(4)Robert P.
Bad Food, Bad Service with an Attitude - Go Elsewhere I went there tonight for a nice meal as we had good experiences in the past. First, it was demanded that I present an ID to order beer despite the fact that I am in my mid-forties. We had dinner last night a few blocks away without such a demand. Very strange. After settling on the sirloin steak, the snarky waitress strongly recommended the New York strip steak topped with pimento cheese as the night's special to be cooked medium to medium well. I received a mess as the steak was rare and bathed in pimento cheese sauce. Further, the steak was a fatty cut of meat. Upon complaining to the manager, he took off 50% of the entree price and apologized. The waitress, rather than showing concern about the botched meal, made excuses that "they don't cook this steak all the time and the "cooks are learning to make that meal." How hard can it be? It is a steak. The waitress could care less about my bad experience. Three co-workers who joined me for dinner were not impressed with their meals.
(1)Tianna G.
My absolute favorite eatery in Columbia, Sc. I've always received excellent service and food. Any one who has or will visit me is taken here for the shrimp and grits! Love this place.
(5)Brett J.
Half sports bar & pub, half classy restaurant. This is a great go to place if you need either a place for buddies or for a date. We came here for a military-related event...which mainly involved drinking. I didn't have any food here, however the dishes I did see going to other patrons looked pretty good! The bar-staff was great. They definitely put up with my flirtiness. (it does help them remember you) :) The back pub area was pretty large, wood-built, and had plenty of flat screens for the game watchers. There were also a ton of booths and a long bar area in the middle of Liberty for the more intimate sports watchers. As the night went on, we saw a DJ setting up tables in between the booths and long bar and started playing today's top music. I'll have to come back to try out the food and update this review, but from what I saw it was a great place in a great location!
(4)Laddie B.
As a tourist in many cities across the U.S., I rely on Yelp reviews to find good places to eat when I don't have a local's recommendation. I almost skipped this place because there were a few reviews about time and service (two things that are pretty far down on my list of things that matter to me when I'm on vacation). So, I tried Liberty. Fabulous food! Everything from the salad to the entree was fresh and well prepared. It is obvious the chef cares about taste and quality. I also found the service was good and the time not unreasonable. If I had 30 minutes for lunch, I would be very careful about what I ordered, but if not, and I lived in Columbia, I would be a regular here.
(5)WanderLustinDani P.
The food at Liberty's appear simple, but the flavors have basic taste. Presentation of the food was great. A host of items on the menu, offering something for the whole family. The shop is both clean and tidy, having plenty seating space and a nice bar. Staff members there greeted us when we can in, but no good-byes or Thank U when we left. I would give this restaurant another chance and try a different item for sure. I know I'll certainly be returning soon.
(3)Lee C.
I own a salon right down the street and we ordered great takeout yesterday. I had the smothered chicken and my stylist had the bbq chicken pizza! It was great!
(4)Martin G.
Spec grill and bar. The strawberry spinach and shrimp salad was good but common. Good wait staff in bar. Big place with lots of room. Sports and classy too.
(3)Mike L.
What can I say... Roaches, cold food, terrible specials, ignorant, fat, balding manager, lame service and awful mixed drinks. But roaches... For years. Ridiculous.
(1)Anthony N.
I ordered the smothered chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans and the chocolate cake for desert. The chicken was good quality the sauce was amazing the potatoes had good texture and flavor. Chocolate cake was good but not quite my style will definitely be returning ordered on a friday night quick service and hot food.
(5)Emily R.
One of my favorite restaurants in Columbia! The brunch blows me away every time. I've been over 10 times and have yet to be disappointed.
(5)Karen S.
I went here last night with a group of friends for my birthday dinner. I was going in not knowing what to expect. We were heading to another business in the Vista after dinner, so I was looking for something in the Vista that was reasonably priced. My one friend had made a reservation for our group. Good thing if you have a party, you do not have to worry about waiting a while for a table (especially on Friday and Saturday nights). Only thing is they will seat you only when a majority of your party has arrived. Also, parking might be a pain (again especially on weekends) since there is limited parking in front of restaurant and there is quite a few places in that general vicinity. Liberty does offer free valet parking. We had sat down and ordered our drinks. Me and one of my friends had ordered water. She noticed in her glass something funky in her water and my glass was severely cracked. Our waitress did replace drinks. Food was OK. Nothing over the top. Really only other complaint was that either they need to up their AC or invest in ceiling fans. It was getting quite warm towards the end of dinner and had no way of keeping comfortable.
(3)Matt S.
Pretty amazing place.....great place to get some food and do an obscene amount of shots. And I'm about to steal that waitress savannah from her boyfriend....
(5)Stephanie F.
Yum! Awesome unique beer list. Delicious food. I had the shrimp salad but with chicken and my family tried to steal it it was so good. River rat ale- on point!!
(5)April C.
Finally, a review for dinner time! My friends and I ordered a lot of food and most of it was pretty delicious. To start: blue cheese chips. These are freakin' AWESOME. Another establishment also does some pretty tasty cheese chips but these reign supreme. The chips stay crispy and the sauce is perfectly velvety. I got the Caesar salad with salmon. The salad was fine but the salmon lacked any seasoning, although perfectly cooked. It just didn't taste like much of anything. My friends enjoyed the chicken chili and the BBQ chicken pizza. For dessert, we ordered the turtle cheesecake which was delicious...once we were able to break the top apart and subsequently also broken the cheesecake into a big ol' mess! It was actually a hilarious scene to behold. In the end though, it was delicious and well worth the effort!
(3)Michael D.
Very nice selection of beers and some excellent food. I had the shrimp and grits and they were as good as any I've ever had. Everyone I was with said their food was just as good. Took a bit long for the main course but the friendly waitress kept us topped off with water and drinks while we waited. Definitely worth another visit.
(4)Winston L.
What can I say... This place just doesn't have it. We tried coming here as a group of about 18-20 and they wouldn't seat us at the same table or modify the configuration to at least get us near each other, mainly because they didn't want to affect how much tips each server would get according to the table layout. They placed higher priority on how the servers were assigned then just simply seating us together. Terrible, and they were uncompromising and short with us regarding it. All I wanted to do was sit with my friends but I got stuck alone on my own table. Gee thanks. Second, it took us over an hour to get our food. Everyone else at the other tables of our group (refer to paragraph above) got their food even though we ordered at the same time. Then they had the audicity to say it was on its way, 30 minutes before it actually came out. I wanted to cancel my order but the manager came out and said it was "on its way". Five minutes later I got a cold uninspired crab dip that is nothing short of a culinary abortion. Only plus side of this place? That there is a large sign out front so at least I can see it from far away and thoroughly avoid it.
(1)Shawn N.
We made reservations as a group, and had a few additional tag along, but they wouldn't let us sit together. Reason: they wanted to split up tips. Then, it took them over a half hour to take and deliver our drink orders. So, I ended up just going to the bar. Reason: the waitress was waiting other tables even though there were plenty of other servers standing around with empty tables. Finally, it took them two hours to get us all our food orders! Then, when we complained did they apologize or offer a comp? Nope. They only gave excuses. Reason: they split our orders and inserted another large group's order in between, and apparently they are more worried about immediate profit instead of repeat business. Additional note: my "medium" ribeye steak was still raw in the middle. And if you order it with mash potatoes, they serve it on top like meat loaf. Who does that? Ghetto! Not coming here again, and neither are any of the several hundred other soldiers that I have the ability to influence. Nice job Liberty!
(1)Dean H.
Excellent food in more or less a sports bar. We had lunch on a Friday and it was not busy. Calamari app was not rubber and was excellent. Liberty Club had real chicken. Asian tuna sandwich was great. Sweet potato fries are crisp and a must try. Mediterranean steak salad was excellent. Obviously the beer list is huge, diverse and good. Service was great.
(5)Joe M.
Food was so, so. Eggs Benedict was prepared poorlly. Muffin not toasted, and eggs very runny. Way overpriced. The worst part was the staff, our waitress was very inattentive. She messed up our order and then blamed us for the confusion. I've been there a few times. I was never impressed before, but this last experience has convinced me to keep on walking.
(2)Stem E.
GREAT beer selections - thought it would be just their own brewed beers like in Myrtle but it was much, much more. Service was not as quick as it should have been even though we were a party of 14. The place was near empty. My friend ordered meatloaf, which I wanted, but settled for Steak and Cheese, and right as all our food was coming out, Server came and told him that they were out of meatloaf..Odd that they waited until the food was coming out to tell us that. He ordered something else, which meant he had to wait for his meal, but they did comp it so.... Food was ok...nothing back, but nothing that stood out.
(3)Jennifer B.
Not being from South Carolina we ventured into downtown Columbia and went here for dinner. Meal was decent. For an appetizer we had the chicken nachos. The folks I was with had the meatloaf that was very good. Service and price was good. Lot of beer to choose from. We will probably come again!
(4)James N.
If you come here, get the meatloaf. It'll be your lunch the next day too because it's huge! Excellent beer selection and great bartenders. Servers are hit or miss, so I always sit at the bar. Happy Hour apps are a good deal and this is a great place for a business lunch, happy hour or dinner. Sunday brunch is great but it gets really crowded.
(5)Josh W.
The food is pretty good...But the real reason I go is for that smokin' server. Savannah? I think that's her name. I would give her a big tip anytime!
(5)Chris S.
Good food, and be sure to order beers off the chalkboard where there's a list of 5 or 6 cheap ones they're getting rid of. Service was bad at the bar, but decent in the restaurant.
(3)John F.
We did not go to the bar, but it did look like a cool place to hang out. By the time we left, the bar was jumping with 25 to 40 year olds. We did eat there and I will never go back there again. We sat down, the waiter took our drink order, he had to come back twice because they did not have the drinks we ordered. We order nachos for the table. As soon as they were delivered I asked for plates and silverware. After a few minutes. I asked another waiter for the plates and silverware, then after more time passed I asked a third waiter for plates and silverware. The nachos could have been good if they just put my chips on the plate. I ordered chicken which was dried out, my wife ordered a steak which she said was ok, my daughter order a burger which she said was average and my other daughter order BBQ pizza which was actually great. The place was cool, the bar looked great, the service was terrible and the food was ok at best!
(2)Thu D.
Great hangout place for a Friday night. I love their mix drinks - they are not stingy on their alcohol unlike some places.
(4)Rodell N.
It's a really nice sports bar/pub. The bloody Mary is awesome, it's almost a meal by itself. The food and atmosphere is really nice to listen to jazz with brunch, watch the game or impress your date with a nice dinner. It's an all in one spot:-)
(5)Kevin L.
The reviews for this place is lower than I thought it would be. I enjoy the downtown and lakeside locations quite a bit. Admittedly the food takes awhile to get served but the service while we were waiting was always good. We've also never had to wait too long for tables. I am impressed with the overall quality of the food and it makes it worth the wait. When we have family in from out of town this is somewhere they ask to go back to.
(4)Erik D.
A couple days late but here we go. The liberty fries were on point and the honey barbecue chicken was equally good. The beer selection is extensive and the service is good. This one does right what the one on the lake messes up. It's a complete 180 from the nightmarish experience I had at liberty on the lake.
(4)Kelly A.
Been here twice in a month. The food was OK to good. The service needs to be improved. It was slow and both times the restaurant was not packed. The beer selection is amazing.
(3)Kristen M.
Bleu. Cheese. Chips. Do you know how delicious bleu cheese chips are when you're hungover? Nothing goes better with one of their bloody marys... nothing! I went for both brunch and a late afternoon lunch, I'll be honest, the lunch drops it down a star or two. The service just wasn't as good as the brunch, which I'm not really sure why... At any rate, BCC and bloody mary were awesome, I also had the french toast, which was absolutely delicious. Light, fluffy, perfect amount of powdered sugar... If you want some welcoming Sunday morning comfort food, this is absolutely you're place! If you're coming for the rest of the food, I'd go elsewhere.
(3)Lauren F.
Decent food. Maybe I have too-high expectations for steaks, but I just wasn't terribly impressed. The wait was too long and the prices too high for me to want to go back. It's a decent place, but nothing exciting.
(3)Swetha G.
This was the first place that I had brunch in Columbia and it was everything I was hoping it would be, and more. Hallelujah! I almost didn't go to Liberty b/c of the average 2.5 star rating on yelp. Almost! What a relief that it exceeded expectations! Service was very good from hostess to waiter. Everyone was professional and friendly. The place is pretty big and from the entrance you can be seated in the left section or to the right (which is closer to the street side), both large and roomy. We fortunately got a table on the right side near 2 tall windows and enjoyed a lot of natural light and a downtown view. Big points in my book. I love brunch with natural light, it gives me endorphins! As for the food, I was happy with it. They start you off with a very cute basket of mini muffins with butter. These bakery treats are fresh, warm and melt in your mouth! For my drink I ordered a coffee, which was brought out in a HUGE mug, the size of a soup bowl. Also a plus! For my entree I got the florentine benedict which comes with a choice of potatoes or grits, I got the grits. The benedict was good, basically it was about average. The grits on the other hand were really good. Our waiter said something about how they're made in the factory next door and are very fresh. He was right about that. Even though it was super filling I cleaned my bowl and had it all! As for money, I consider this place VERY pocket friendly. Considering the volume of food we got, plus quality service, my total was only $9 and change! With tip, I shelled out just under $13. Not bad. Not bad at all!
(4)Dorothy C.
After the game today, the family headed to the Liberty Tap Room & Grill. By the way, we were victorious. Orders ranged from burgers, salad with grilled chicken, pizza, fish, taste fillet, pasta Alfredo and appetizers. Never a bad meal, nor service.
(4)Geoff G.
Good flavor...lousy service on a night when the dining room was 1/4 full. Ribeye was cooked just right but the mashed potatoes were cold Salad was late. Beer was late. One of our orders was messed up. Yelp tried to warn me but I didn't listen.
(2)Alan J.
Arrived here not expecting much due to hit and miss reviews on yelp. Maybe we landed on a good night, but the shrimp Alfredo featured 6 jumbo shrimp and bow tie pasta and Joan's salmon was grilled perfectly. Wing appetizers were good and hot! Ice cream cup for Joan topped off an excellent dinner.
(4)Logan B.
Came here for sunday brunch. Hint: it gets crowded fast, we ate at 11 and waited 30 mins but when we left a hour or so later the waiting crowed had almost doubled. The food was very good but their Grits are to die for!
(5)Mia C.
We found liberty tap room to be good except for their service. Went there on a Saturday evening, and this place was surprisingly full of family crowd. My husband enjoyed their beer and I liked the shrimp Alfredo pasta I ordered. But their service was terrible.
(3)Neuropickle S.
Good selection of beer; but Smithwick's tasted as if it was at the end of an old keg. Bar sitting area had a great Wednesday evening atmosphere: could hear my dinner mates; relaxed environment. Liberty Chicken & Piled Meatloaf were flavorful, and good collard greens. Iceberg Wedge of my friend didn't arrive with the rest of our salads so it was removed from his tab. My significant other's "Fresh Catch" Mahi-Mahi tasted very fishy; and certainly wasn't fresh. 4 stars is what we agreed on on the premise of the beer selection, 2 of 3 meals, and the atmosphere. We will be back because I'd like to try the meatloaf.
(4)Michael M.
Hey if you looking for great food and drinks this is the place. Awesome local beer on tap. Happy hour is M-F 4pm-7pm half price on certain beers (good selection) and house wine as well as $1.00 off well drinks. Service was outstanding, staff is well trained and knows their menu front to back. This place is somewhere I will definitely go back for more.
(5)Nestor C.
Came here with my boyfriend during a Friday night. The hosts greeted us very politely and were seated promptly. The rest of the service was downhill. The waiter was slow. I understand he is busy, but that's hardly an excuse, his job is to serve us customers. The food is expensive and BLAND. I ordered the grilled chicken and the only flavor was the charred part of the chicken! The side of mash potatoes were actually better tasting! My boyfriend agreed the chicken tasted bland and burnt. His pizza was also bland. Too expensive for taste quality below fast food. At least with fast food you taste something. Would not recommend.
(2)TheHungryDad Jeff C.
great food!
(4)Brent F.
The blackened filet bow tie pasta is really good. The noise level increases greatly after 9pm so if that bothers you get there early but the atmosphere overall is good.
(3)Aaron Z.
Nothing special, steaks are good quality, food was ok.
(3)Roel F.
I have been to Liberty Tap Room & Grill several times now, mostly because a few of my friends like the place, and I find the place hit-and-miss. Unfortunately for Liberty, I there is only one hit for every three or four misses! Liberty is located in the middle of The Vista in an attractive looking building. The interior is pleasant, even though the place can get a bit loud. The hostesses are nice and efficient. The waiters are usually pretty nice, but I had a few that were sub-par. The beer list is extensive and has some interesting options, which is a good thing because you want to steer clear from the mixed drinks! (Not once have I, or any of the people I was with, received a mixed drink that was worth the wait or the money.) Moving on to the important part, the food! Here are my findings: unless you like eating a salty brick you should avoid the meatloaf, the steaks are decent (but then again there is not much that can go wrong with a steak), the burgers are okay (even though one of my friends once had a burger that was simply inedible because of the seasoning on it) and the crab soup is also okay (but nothing more than that). I would recommend the tenderloin pasta, which is the one dish that seems to be good pretty consistently, even though on one occasion they managed to mess that dish up as well! In short, Liberty Tap Room & Grill is a decent place, but fails to serve consistently good food. If you are going to drop a good amount of money, I suggest you go dine elsewhere. If you are just looking for an evening out with friends, Liberty certainly is an option... but you never know what you are going to get. To quite Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry: "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
(2)Ne'Cole V.
Mediocre lunch, service was poor and food was blah. Won't be back.
(1)Kim W.
Had Sunday brunch. French toast was good. It was quite loud as many families come here after church. Our waiter, James, was absolutely awesome. We'd come back to just see him.
(4)Tanya M.
Don't go here for food. Go for drinks and to see boys in bowties dance to rap music with girls wearing pearls. Hilarious!
(1)Heather H.
The atmosphere was great. Lots of different rooms and seating options. Calamari and crab dip were yum! Overall presentation of the dinner was lacking, and they gave me only half my order. They should have probably kept the other half. The tuna filet was not good. However, the sweet potato fries were tasty and a good fry shape.
(3)Mark S. I.
+2 of 5 stars for service - our waitress took care of us, was attentive. +3 of 5 stars for having very crispy and tasty fried calamari and a rad, great-tasting, creole-style shrimp and grits. Savory, sausage-y, well-spiced. Will make a special trip to Lib
(3)suzanne v.
I will definitely be back here. The food was good, nothing amazing, priced a little high for what was served. I received amazing service on a Friday night with a crowded bar! She was very attentive, helpful with the menu, and friendly. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is they have a local Californian cider called Ace Cider that is outrageously delicious on tap! The ambiance was crowded screechy drunk people; but it was a Friday night in the bar... I'd definitely go again
(3)Denise B.
For a local bar, this is a great place to go. The food was delicious. The services was really good.
(5)jack q.
The place looks nice and the service was good. The food was decent, but not memorable. We split the fried calamari - just pre cut, frozen rings - but the coating and seasonings were okay and they weren't too greasy. We also split a cup of she crab soup and an iceberg wedge salad. Both were pretty flavorful and the salad was large, with lots of blue cheese and bacon chunks. Our server Christina was very cheery and cute and she provided good service. Overall a decent place to stop in for a bite and a beer.
(3)Terri W.
I wanted to like this place it's very reminiscent of the Yardhouse here in LA. We sat out on the patio and Christie was our server. She never really looked around the room to see if anyone needed anything so we always had to go over to her or wave her down if we needed anything. My sister ordered the spinach pizza which she said she liked. i ordered the burger which was highly recommended but it came back super overcooked and I was starving so I ate it. Plus Christie disappeared forever and never checked in with us. Probably what ruined my meal the most is that my girlfriend ordered the filet Mignon which was really good. it was so good it made my burger taste even worse than it already did. ok food, mediocre service. Not going back.
(2)Antwanika S.
This restaurant has a well laid out menu of simple items and very diverse. If you want a steak you can get it, a salad you can get it, steak and shrimp you can get it, hamburger you can get it. No lack of variety here. I had a creole style shrimp and grits. It was probably the best I've yet yet. I'd go back just for this.
(4)Jennie P.
Food was amazing, but the beer selection was even better! Server was very friendly and knew the menu and the beer list very well. We will definitely be returning to The Liberty Taproom!
(5)Ka T.
So I decided to give this place a try despite the the bad rating on yelp. I guess i should have listened. i got a seat at the bar was given a menu and sat there waiting to get served. I sat and sat and watch the bartenders Two of them talk to other customers, clean glasses and even serve a girl right next to me. (keep in mind the girl was there after me) I continue to sit and sit and finally just walked out, which i have never done before. If i had a option to give it no stars i would.
(1)Emily E.
I'm not one to give out low ratings, but Liberty really failed big time today. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a seat, which wasn't bad for Sunday brunch, but then the problems started. We placed our order, and were brought some muffins, but no silverware to butter them with until they were gone (very minor flaw, imo). We kept waiting and waiting, and saw other tables get their food, but never ours, and our server refilled our drinks but said nothing to us about the wait. When the food FINALLY arrived (was not brought out by our server), 1 hour later (not an exaggeration), the order was wrong (we were given grits instead of hashbrowns), and the rest of the food was cold. She did not come out to check on us for at least 5 minutes after it came out, and we let her know it was wrong, and she told us they had run out of hashbrowns so "everyone had gotten grits instead". She made no mention of the wait time or why we couldn't have been told of this before. It seems our orders (steak and eggs and classic benedict) were held up because of this grits issue, which is maddening! When the hashbrowns were brought out ( I guess somewhere in there they acquired more), they were not at all seasoned. The steak was rare and unseasoned as well. It was a very frustrating experience to not even have a ridiculous error and wait time acknowledged (we didn't see a manager around to inform) and to waste an hour sitting around with no idea what the holdup was. I've also had dinner at Liberty on another occasion and they cooked my steak incorrectly. Needless to say, I won't be wasting my money or time here again. It would be one thing if they were understaffed, but this was not the case. The timeframe we were there for was not overly busy, and there were plenty of empty tables around us.
(1)Jesse D.
Liberty is a bit of an anomaly. It's a Taproom, but it's bigger than that, and they serve so much beer besides their own I don't know why they still brew it. (Well, the Amber Ale is delicious...) It's a Grill, and there is a great big dining area where to order overpriced, though quite tasty, food. But it isn't really either of those things. It's really a place for folks in Columbia to get dressed up in their best party wear, throw back some nice brews (good set of spirits too), and hang out in large crowds to loud music. It's a sexed up, Southern style, polished wood, pseudo-micro-brewery discotheque. Enjoyed the beer, ate the food, payed a bit much, hated the waitstaff, and don't care for the scene.
(3)Diego C.
Was in Columbia for the weekend out at the lake and Found Liberty on Yelp. Although reviews were mixed we decided to give it a try since it was close and on the water. Glad we did!! Contrary to many reviews, our server was FANTASTIC!!! He was friendly, courteous and knew his beers. We had the raw oysters and several apps which were all great! I would definitely go back again!
(4)Jason R.
Drink and food menu are pretty extensive. Food came out perfectly cooked. Get the bleu cheese chips or seared tuna app. Order a steak, they know how to do it right. House made brews are very tasty as well. Service can be inconsistent at times, but that is to be expected at this price tier.
(4)Dave M.
Great bar and restaurant. Lots of beer on tap, excellent burgers and steaks, and awesome atmosphere.
(5)Paul B.
Lets go to the Liberty Pub Bar Brew Bar Sports Bar Grille?? I think this place has an identity crisis? If it's a brew bar why didn't the waiter push their brews?? Didn't even mention them?? only way we knew was we noticed the taps labeled "Liberty Taproom" Oh well... The building is nice, with exposed brick, nice big bar and all, the location is right, in the Vista and all, and the food is, as you guessed it, all right- however, all in all, it's just an all right place- kinda generic, it lacks a certain pizazz that would make you say "lets go to the liberty" This is what we ordered.. Freedom Burger- Cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon, fried egg, lettuce & tomato...$8.95 A nice juicy burger, the egg is a perfect touch. Piled High Angus Meatloaf Served over garlic mashed potatoes & topped with mushroom gravy...$12.95 Way overpriced for some salty mystery meat Grilled Bistro Steak Salad Bleu cheese, pico de gallo, tomatoes & onion straws...$9.95 Steak was nice and tender Bananas Foster Cheesecake Flambéed bananas combined with warm foster sauce over creamy cheese cake, topped with whipped cream...$6.95 Good firm cheese cake, graham cracker crust Throw in a couple drinks, and whoa! "the tab is how much"?? Like someone else mentioned- It's not an original place with an original concept, or original menu. However, the food is good, the atmosphere is nice, soooo... All in all -I probably would say "Lets go to the Liberty" Go figure ya-all
(4)Frank B.
Brew pubs are great, not only do they push to create something special in their beer kettles but many can hold their own in the kitchen. For starters we ordered blue cheese chips, these hand cut chip are great by themselves, but with warm blue cheese they're awesome. For lunch we had burgers, mine ,the red White and blue was the perfect burger, Cajun spice, onion strings and blue cheese. My wife had classic burger, also excellent . They also make a great white pizza. The best part of brew pub is the brew, unfortunately, early afternoon and to many miles to drive to enjoy more than one, but thumbs up to their amber ale
(4)Dave G.
Best fish&chips i've ever had, amazing ahi tuna salad. I wish i lived locally, just so i could come back.
(5)Dexter M.
Good sized menu, the food was okay. Liked the atmosphere, worth going to.
(3)Sharon R.
Wasn't very impressed with the food or beer... nothing special
(3)Martin V.
Good food, good service, ample drink choices. The place changes totally at night and becomes much more dance floor oriented with a DJ set up and whatnot, but the back beer garden still stays pretty laid back for those not looking to cut a rug.
(3)Tim B.
I really can;t complain about our meal, our service or really anything else for that matter. Valet parking which was a plus as finding a parking spot on GErvais is a pain in the as&%$. Server was great. The menu was average, nothing special about it. Food quality was average. Again no complaints but not going to rave above a bar/restaurant. Great place for inexpensive eats with friends.
(2)Stephanie D.
A group of us went when it just opened for the day. There were only three tables occupied including ours. The hostess went ahead and got our drinks while we waited on the server. The service was okay. The waitress helped me pick a great fish for lunch, but never returned to refill my cup of water after I had finished the meal. When she did return, it was only to hand us our bill. She was really kind, but not very attentive in the almost empty restaurant. The food is overpriced. There's nothing special- just the run of the mill steaks, fish, and salads. The only thing that stood out is the sweet potato. It's possibly the best I've ever had though my boyfriend said the one at Outback was much better (later that day). I wouldn't recommend getting the seasonal veggies. I was lucky enough to get 6 pieces. My boyfriend was only given 4. The sweet tea was also nasty, but it might have been a bad batch. I guess it didn't help having the cup 3/4 full of ice. None of us understood why she kept adding more ice into cup when she refilled it. I don't intend on returning. Ironically, I get better service at Applebee's.
(2)ERIC B.
Went there Friday night of parents weekend since it was adjacent to our hotel. Place was packed which we took as a good sign. Hostess said the wait would be 45 minutes so we hung out in the bar. Nice selection of drafts. There are also lots of tables in the bar that we assumed were seated by the hostess. After awhile though it became apparent the bar tables were first come fist serve. By that time though we were 2 or 3 from being called. We finally got a table after 90 minutes. After seeing how small the dining room is we understood. The food was very good. My daughter had the meatloaf and couldn't finish half. My wife had the Mediterranean pizza, again very large. I had the filet which was probably the most tender I've ever tasted. We also had the zucchini strips appetizers which were good, but too big and thick to really enjoy. I would say great food and drinks, nice atmosphere, but be wary of the dining room wait times (double what they tell you) or hover over one of the bar tables.
(3)G. N.
Worth more than its 3 star composite rating. Ambience and beer selection alone make it at least 3.5, possibly 4. Sunday brunch menu is solid. Breakfast burrito was pretty good, and the chef accommodated all of my fussiness (light on the cheese, no bacon, cheese sauce on the side, etc.). Recommend getting the cheese grits instead of hash browns, especially if your from the west coast and the novelty of grits hasn't yet worn off. Not a bad place to have brunch and beer on a hot summer afternoon.
(4)Carol S.
Although I love their salads, we don't go often because there is no gluten free menu. Hard to believe. It is the only restaurant I know of that does not accommodate such a large group of people. We'd go more often but half my family can't eat there. They need to get with the time, care about customers more. Do they even realize how many people can't eat foods with gluten? Seriously?
(3)Stephen P.
Shoddy bar... usually full of Metro Center shills drinking watery beer and eating rubbery chicken on the company dime... unless you're on an expense account Liberty Taproom is overpriced for the lack of quality you receive... There's much better to be had in Columbia...
(2)Sherra S.
The food was excellent & so was our server, Geoffrey.
(5)Ashley D.
Good food good beer good service. Very pleased.
(4)Chris M.
Terrible. Only redeeming quality is their beer selection. Go if you like another TGIFridays or Applebees, thats it. Service was ok. This is the same food you will find at ANY Brewpub or suburban slop-house across this country. Its a cookie-cutter menu, and nothing distinct or that reminds you you are in the south..let alone in South Carolina. A few regional touches to the menu might be interesting, but who am I. Its located in the Great Vista area. So, when you're done finally finding parking..or using valet..you expect better in your restaurant..and menu. Its terrible. Food was bland. I had the steak, wife had the fish. Both tasted the same. We wondered the entire time why this place would allow kids to run amok in the restaurant?? Its not their fault families want to overpay for Junior to eat half his sandwich. But, please..the rest of us want to enjoy our evening..and have some dinner conversation. Not have to converse over screaming kids, or bottles and food being thrown from unruly kids. Please, take charge of your restaurant. It was a miserable experience (save for the beer).
(1)Matt S.
If you are looking for some reasonably priced American Fare and a good beer selection, I would highly suggest Liberty Tap room. One of my favorite things about the restaurant is its 3 distinct seating areas that you can choose from. They very from a nice dimly lit formal dining area, to bar area to beirgarden, Honestly I prefer the seat yourself Bar as the menus are the same, there is always room to sit down and is not crowded plus I have the option of watching a game. I will be honest I havent strayed much past the burgers on the menu. I can also speak for those went with me everything that I have seen come out of the kitchen is fresh and delicious.
(5)Erica A.
The food at this centrally located restaurant is pretty decent. It's overpriced, but you're also paying for location and ambiance. If I was really interested in beer, I'd probably be willing to overlook the other flaws. Just based on all that part of the experience, I'd give them 3-4 stars. So why do they only get one star here? Because my credit card was overcharged. The difference ($0.43) is not exorbitant, but such action is the height of dishonesty on the part of the server. To bump up the gratuity without my permission is deplorable, especially when I was generous enough to give a 20% tip on a unimpressive $24 meal. Liberty Taproom & Grill won't ever see me in there again, and I'm telling all my friends who work downtown, too!
(1)sarah p.
Liberty gets a bad wrap. It is a good place to go if you have a crowd for dinner. Usually there is decent music in the bar and they have a good drink and beer selection. It is better than any 'chain/big box food' restaurant. The food is not microwaved, it is actually cooked and made on site. I really like their blue cheese chips and most entree/sandwich items on the menu. Though the concept and food might not be very original, it is not a bad place to grab a bite to eat. The renovated old building, atmosphere and location in the Vista make Liberty a good place to take out of town guests.
(4)Jeff H.
Slowest service in Columbia, even during offpeak hours. Food is OK, but the poor service is the reason to look elsewhere.
(1)Paul W.
went for a quick snack, blue cheese chips (had at other liberty's and love them) this version had a giant glob of blue cheese dressing in the middle. When they heated it, the dressing didn't heat, not sure why there was dressing oin it at all, others just have bleu cheese melted on them. not good wings were so salty they were not enjoyable.
(1)David C.
I have only been to the bar, not the restaurant. Apparently, the food is pretty similar across the board. This is a nice spot down in the Vista with lousy food and so so service. I liken this place to a daring bar and grill experiment run by applebee's. It's obvious the people who run the place have put none of themselves in to the menu or even the immense bar. There is nothing terribly wrong with this place but there is nothing right with it either. If you gave me a choice, I would much rather eat at an Applebee;s or Ruby Tuesday.
(2)Chip O.
Their beer choices are decent, but I was not impressed with their entrees. I got a $14 bowl of shrimp and grits and felt like I did not get my money's worth. A friend if mine got a hamburger for under $10 and they were happy with their order.
(2)Anton G.
I was really impressed with their tap beer selection, including quite a few Belgian-style Canadian brews (think La Fin Du Monde), Saison Dupont and Delirium Tremens (which they lovingly misspell as Delerium Tremors). Local brews are also well represented. I chased the Dupont with a "small" 12 oz slice of prime rib that was quite excellent. Very pleasant decor with exposed red brick walls. Bar staff was also pretty friendly and made me feel welcome. Over-all, a great take on classy American bar / restaurant.
(4)John O.
This is my second trip to Columbia. I have had dinner and drinks at Liberty both times. Both visits were OK. As mentioned in other posts, the beer selection is excellent and the food is OK. Service was nothing special on the first trip and was not much more than shoddy the second trip. The server acted like she could not get rid of us fast enough despite a very good (20%+) tip.
(3)Nicole M.
Excellent beer selection. Good wine selection. Really neat-looking place. We sat in the bar area, but not at the bar. It was Sunday, late afternoon. It was not crowded at all. The initial wait for the server took a minute, but it wasn't too bad. The sweet tea was bad; I asked for a coke after one sip. However, the food was excellent. I ordered the fish and chips and it was great. My husband even stole some of it. They make their own tartar sauce; it was mild and good. My husband had the meatloaf and he liked it, but liked my fish and chips better. We would definitely come back. Also, the whole area is cool. If you go to Liberty and don't like it, there are like 4 or 5 other places nearby without having to cross any intersections. It's like restaurant-town. And, the price at Liberty wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, jusging by the decor; not cheap, but not too expensive either.
(5)Tepintzin H.
Merely all right. I had to have she-crab soup during my stay here (it was an imperative) and while theirs was good, it wasn't orgasmically great. (Blue Marlin was closed for the weekend.) My ahi tuna, which I asked for rare, was medium. My Sauv Blanc was overpriced. Almost everything else was closed for Labour Day though, so beggars couldn't be choosers. At least I didn't leave angry.
(3)Justin S.
Worst service in the Vista. My office is in the Vista and I have been to every restaurant within miles and this is the slowest and most uneducated wait staff I have ever experienced. The food is ok, often overcooked but ok. They have some neat dishes and I think they could really shine if they were cooked properly. I have a hard time blaming the chefs when they probably get told the wrong order by the staff. I swear the only reason they are still in business is because they are right next to the convention center and they have a steady influx of out of towners that just do not know any better. That and they have a big bar. It is pretty hard to mess up a cold beer, but I somehow imagine they could.
(1)Ryan N.
It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I didn't really like the decor. I had the liberty chicken. I don't really get the theme. What does Liberty have to do with my dinner entree?
(2)Jeff S.
Good food and a nice beer selection but the inside was too dark and the patio was dirty.
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