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15 Best Restaurants in Columbia, MD

Travel Lens

Oct 13, 2022 • 13 min read

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Located southwest of Baltimore and northeast of Washington, D.C., Columbia is Howard county's planned community in the heart of Maryland.

This census-designated place ranks fifth in the Best Cities to Raise a Family in America and is one of the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan areas' biggest communities.

You'll find a wide diversity of coffee shops, restaurants, and parks in Columbia that the whole family will enjoy.

Most of them find their places in the Mall in Columbia, a good marketing strategy since more people go to the mall to buy and eat.

You'll love the food they serve, and you cannot help but go back to the place and have some more.

As a planned community, Columbia consists of ten contained villages.

If you're planning to treat your family to a food trip, visit the best restaurants in Columbia, Maryland!

The Corner Stable

You'll find the Corner Stable along York Road Cockeysville and another one along Guilford Road Suite C 10 in Columbia.

It's a family-owned business that started in 1972 and became known for its colossal lump crab cakes and famous baby back ribs.

The best thing about the Corner Stable is you can have your food customized if you don't find it on their menu.

The restaurant offers a vast selection of American classics and local favorites, including their signature moist and flavorsome cornbread.

When you need a place for business meetings or any occasion or want to treat your family to a nice meal, the Corner Stable is the perfect rendezvous.

It offers catering services across Maryland and specializes in handling different sizes of parties with guests of up to 1,000 people.

Urban Hot Pot

One of the best ways to enjoy your food is to have a different kind of service like the Urban Hot Pot provides.

You'll find this high-tech restaurant at Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD Mall.

You can't say no to the all-you-can-eat choice of meat, vegetables, noodles, seafood, and sauces served in your choice of broth at the Urban Hot Pot.

You'll have a unique dining experience at the Urban Hot Pot because you'll use an iPad, a conveyor, or a working train to get your order.

Enjoy an added special Cajun seafood menu, including a choice of clams, crabs, crawfish, scallops, mussels, and of shrimp with a medley of specialty sauces.

Your kids under ten can eat for half the price of adults.

You'll get your money's worth because of the eat-all-you-can setting.

Tino's Italian Bistro

Are you craving some pizza and other Italian food?

Look no further because Tino's Italian Bistro is the place to go and is Howard County's top wine bar, selling coffee and non-alcoholic drinks.

Located along Center Park Dr., this restaurant serves fresh, homemade, and classic authentic meals at affordable prices.

It was recently hailed as the Best Italian Restaurant in Columbia, Maryland, for offering the best Italian cuisine in Howard County.

Tino's Italian Bistro also offers a splendid assortment of Italian wines worldwide.

When you need to celebrate a special occasion or impress your business colleagues, you can count on this exceptional bistro to provide the most palatable food for any event, whether big or small.

Seasons 52

Another restaurant you must visit and dine at is Seasons 52, which can accommodate up to 76 people.

Also located inside The Mall in Columbia, this highly regarded grill and wine bar serve fresh and in-season ingredients for the food they serve.

Season 52 is a perfect place to host private dining events, such as birthdays, wedding receptions, and other important occasions.

You can select from various reasonable bridal packages, allowing you to host a shower, cocktail celebration, rehearsal dinner, or luncheon.

Indulge yourself in their best-selling flatbreads, sumptuous fresh salads, and mac-n-cheese with a glass of great-tasting wine.

They generally prepare and cook the food similarly to oak-fire grilling and brick oven roasting to emphasize the food's natural flavors.

Don't let the day end without tasting the flatbread with pesto chicken at Seasons 52.

The Food Market

The Food Market began in Hampden in Baltimore City in 201, a concept from Chef Chad Gauss and his skilled team.

Their hard work paid off, resulting in another establishment in Columbia to provide customers with excellent food and services.

Located inside the Mall in Columbia, the Food Market is also great for friends or family gatherings.

You must taste some of their mouthwatering dishes, including salt & pepper tuna, red lentil rotini noodles, cheesesteak steam buns, and pat Elfrieda burgers.

The best thing about their offerings is you can modify your order to make it gluten-free, except for deserts.

The Food Market makes it more convenient for you because of its selections, like coffee, beer, cocktails, wine, gender-neutral restrooms, patio/outdoor dining, and more.

The Walrus Oyster & Ale House

When it comes to serving the most extensive collection of newly shucked oysters, the Walrus Oyster & Ale House is the best.

Located in Little Patuxent Pkwy, it serves 15 different varieties of oysters you can eat for indoor or outdoor dining.

Delicious dishes include crispy calamari, chips & fish, and a half-pound walrus burger.

You can choose your catch, sauce, and sides, enabling you to appreciate more of your dining experience.

At the Walrus Oyster & Ale House, you'll sample delectable food, great space, and outstanding service.

The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory is a restaurant that doesn't just offer cheesecake.

Located inside The Mall in Columbia, near AMC Theaters, it offers over 200 menu selections.

It includes appetizers, pasta, specialty salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and more.

Take a bite of one or more from its 50 cheesecakes and desserts along with a latte or cappuccino, and bring some home for your loved ones to enjoy.

After shopping at the mall, don't forget to drop by the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, dinner, Sunday Brunch, or Full Bar to get the best value for your time and money.

These cheesecakes are excellent presents for birthdays, graduations, baptismal, and others.

GrillMarx Columbia Steakhouse & Raw Bar

Situated along Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, GrillMarx Columbia Steakhouse & Raw Bar offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

You can relish its hickory-grilled hand-cut steaks, seafood, and fashioned cocktails.

Taste GrillMarx Columbia Steakhouse & Raw Bar's succulent brunch, served every Saturday and Sunday, along with crafted cocktails, while you listen to live music.

You won't be able to resist their vast selection of food that uses fresh ingredients, steaks, homemade dressing, sauces, and much more.

GrillMarx Columbia Steakhouse & Raw Bar is perfect for friends and employees to hang out after a week-long work.

Maggiano's Little Italy

If you love authentic Italian and American food simultaneously, try Maggiano's Little Italy, located at the Mall in Columbia.

The place serves lunch or dinner with dishes that will satisfy your palate and satiate your hunger.

They specialize in offering splendid pieces of made-from-scratch Southern Italian cooking.

Delight yourself in their large and diverse selection of homemade pasta, fresh fish, chicken, salads, and fresh fish, to name a few.

It's a great place to bring your family and friends when you want to experience great food and service.

Maggiano's Little Italy accepts reservations and offers daily takeout where catering and delivery are also available for social and corporate activities.

Stanford Grill

Stanford Grill lies at the back of the Columbia Corporate Park on Stanford Boulevard.

It highlights comfortable leather booths and a lovely patio for exclusive events.

You can bring friends and family to Stanford Grill for a luscious meal and courteous service.

They serve flavorful starters, juicy burgers and sandwiches, fresh salads, and inviting desserts, to name a few.

Enjoy listening to live jazz while you dine with your favorite food and drinks.

Don't forget their specialty, the wood-fired rotisserie chicken and barbeque pork ribs, which keeps customers coming back for more.

The Turn House

The Turn House has earned consistent acclaim as one of the best restaurants in Columbia, Maryland.

Thomas Zippelli owns and operates the restaurant, which delivers local flavors and cuisine to the Howard County region.

Hobbit's Glen Golf Club in Willow Bottom Dr. serves tempting takeout, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

You can choose to dine on their large patio or eat in one of their wonderfully decorated dining rooms.

The Turn House is a contemporary, spacious restaurant with four fireplaces serving modern seasonal cooking with a magnificent view of the golf course.

It's a remarkable venue for business functions or celebrating a momentous occasion with family or friends.

Cazbar – Columbia

Established in 2006, Cazbar is the first and premier Turkish restaurant in the area.

It also serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine so that you can have an exotic and fascinating dining experience.

You'll find Cazbar at Snowden River Pkwy Ste 122, Columbia, MD.

The superb food will tickle your fancy palate and pokes your interest in watching belly dancing.

Cazbar would be an excellent venue for parties, banquets, and meetings where you'll experience royal treatment fit for a sultan.

There's wheelchair access for customers who have a disability, so they too can enjoy the food and entertainment.

The Ale House Columbia

Are you planning to spend dinner with a loved one or go on a friend's night out?

Treat them at the Ale House Columbia, located along Dobbin Center Way.

Sink your teeth in their full-flavored flatbreads, tacos, burgers, and salads which go well with excellent drinks.

The Ale House Columbia serves homemade cuisine and over 50 craft beers, including Oliver Ales.

Enjoy live entertainment, whether in the indoor bars or at the roomy back patio.

Don't miss your favorite team because you can watch them on enormous screens.

You have all you need at the Ale House Columbia: great food, exceptional service, excellent ambiance, and terrific nightlife.

MISSION BBQ (Columbia)

Barbecues will always be an American favorite.

Whoever you are, you will love the food and drinks at MISSION BBQ.

Located in Columbia Crossing Circle, the business opened its doors to the public on September 11, 2011.

Mission BBQ got its name from a fast-actual concept by Bill Krauss and Steve Newton to honor America's military, firefighters, police officers, and first responders.

The restaurant's wall is embellished with different patches, pictures, and other archives from the local community.

It's a family-friendly food chain since there is always something for everyone, and kids can enjoy Jr Ribs, Kid Mac, and Sliders.

Adults can feast on divine salads, tasty sandwiches, drinks, and the BAY-b-Back Ribs, one of their best-selling smokehouse signatures.

The Iron Bridge Wine Company

Eating delicious food with family and friends inspired Rob and Steve Wecker to open a little wine shop in Maryland called the Iron Bridge Wine Company.

Located on State Route 108, this humble wine shop also made history with its array of small-production wines from across the globe.

It serves world-class wines, tapas-style appetizers, small plate entrees, and everyday specialties in a friendly, farm-side fashion.

The wine bar features more than 35 wine-by-the-glass offerings and wine-tasting flights and also offers good cocktails using homemade infusions and bottled beers.

Moreover, you won't get enough of their fresh salad, seasonal soups, and some gratifying dessert selections at the Iron Bridge Wine Company.

Final Thoughts

Reward yourself with food and wine in Columbia, Maryland!

These dining choices will show you and your family a good time.

Whether a local or tourist, you must never miss some of the best restaurants in Columbia, MD.

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