Great first impression! We started with a order of the grilled peaches and an order of fried green tomatoes. Both were very good. I had the Cornmeal Dusted Carolina Mahi-Mahi with a bed of grits and a side of the collards. That was a great pairing for a very delicious taste. My wife had the buttermilk fried chicken breast with garlic roasted mashed potatoes and a side of roasted veggies. That was also very delicious. We will return for more.

Mr. Friendly's lived up to all my expectations, leaving us with satisfied stomachs and smiles. This family-owned gem exuded a local feel on the end side, creating a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere. I wholeheartedly recommend this spot for those seeking delicious, hearty fare. Our order included the Adluh Yellow Grit Cakes, which were bursting with flavor and incredibly filling. The Peach-Mustard BBQ Glazed Atlantic Salmon proved to be a standout, offering a very tasty combination. The Cornmeal Fried N.C. Catfish was fried to perfection, providing a satisfying crunch. Overall, a highly enjoyable dining experience that I would gladly repeat.

I absolutely loved this quaint little place. We were visiting my sister who is in school and decided to give this food a try. It was fresh and so well prepared. The sangria was delicious and herb butter fresh. I loved the famous fried oysters and the fried catfish meal with the perfectly sautéed veggies. I also had the friend green tomatoes. Soooo good. My favorite was the relish on the fried fish.

Upscale comfort food without the steep price! I had the mustard-peach salmon with grits and my date had the meatloaf. Both were fantastic! To drink I had the Apple Spritz cocktail - very tasty. We did not have to wait long for our food, either. My entreé was light enough that I had room for dessert so we split the flourless chocolate cake. Divine!!

Pretty cool place and good was also good too. Staff was very friendly and polite. Our waitress was super nice and was able to easily handle all of our orders. The place can get a little full, so it can feel a little tight in there. Parking is also difficult at times. Make sure to set a reservation and use the vallet.

Wow, what great place for an amazing dinner. The food was awesome and the staff was great. If you are looking for something that will not disappoint you, please check out this place. Everything was delicious. The best part for me was the fried green tomatoes.

My sister and brother-in-law came for a visit. I wanted them to enjoy South Carolina's cuisine and of course, Mr. Friendly's came to mind. Fabulous service staff, delicious entrees, and of course the fried green tomatoes are a must for starters. They had a wonderful time. Cheers, again Mr. Friendly's!!

The ambiance and and service was relaxed, laid back, and “friendly!” I also loved the art decor on the wall from a local art gallery. Now to the food. Our oysters on the half shell and seafood chowder was delicious. One of the best chowders we’ve had. My husband loved his Ribeye steak dinner, paired with roasted garlic mash and yellow squash. My pork tenderloin with bacon jam was good, but came with an unexpected ingredient…nuts! This made me not care for the dish as much although the pork was cooked to perfection. The collard greens were also a surprise delight. They were cooked with tomatoes. I’m not a tomato fan, but in this side dish, the flavors blended well. The cheesecake was a great end to a beautiful dinner.

Mr Friendly's always has an interesting take on southern classics! They have the BEST fried oysters in town and the menu has something for everyone in your party. It can get dark later in the evening and the smaller, more open dining area can get a little bit loud however, the food speaks for itself and I've never seen anyone leave hungry.

Great Lunch/Dinner at one of my favorite restaurants! I converted a single soft shell crab into ciabatta soft shell crab poboy and loved it. What more could you ask for while eating outside, with the pups, and a gentle 82° breeze blowing through my hair or lack there of. The crab was cooked perfectly and the ciabatta bread made a great poboy. FLASH*** Mr Friendly’s said they were going to start back lunch service on April 12th. I’ll be back!!!

Food: B- Service:B- Ambience: B- Food and service took forever. Water didn’t get refilled. Food sounded divine, but tasted mediocre. We had cider-molasses glazed pork belly w grits, mahi mahi, and meatloaf. Nothing was very good. Very disappointing.

Really fine meal. The lump crab watermelon app was ok. Maybe a little pricey for what you get. I had the peach mustard bbq salmon, with grits and I substituted collard greens for the veggies. It was exceptional! The collards were as good as I've ever had. My wife had the halibut and the fried green tomatoes. All in all, we will definitely go back. It is one of the better meals and menu selections we have found in columbia.

This restaurant really lived up to the expectations! Very welcoming atmosphere, staff was wonderful and helped us with great recommendations. The food was absolutely delicious! We had the fried green tomatoes and the crab cakes for starters, then shrimp and grits, and the lime-seared tuna (amazing!). For dessert we split the donut cheesecake and it was the perfect ending to the meal. Definitely recommended!

We had an amazing dinner on Monday! Made a reservation and was seated promptly upon entrance. Started with the Soft Shell Crab appetizer special—best soft shell crab I’ve ever had!! The meatloaf and Pork Tenderloin were cooked perfectly, not dry at all. And, some wines are half off on Mondays!! Service and ambiance were great! I would recommend for any date nights!!

Arrived after a graduation with large party. Manager was able to accommodate our party and a change of reservation time without a problem. Nice ambiance inside, our waitress Claire was top notch! The food was amazing, everything fresh and tasty. Big fan of the sweet corn seafood chowder. Gave our table complimentary appetizer for my daughter’s graduation. Great evening all around, A+.

This charming restaurant serves up some of the best Southern cuisine in the city, and its atmosphere is both warm and inviting. The food at Mr. Friendly's is simply superb. The menu features a variety of classic Southern dishes, such as Buttermilk Fried Red Trout with lemon buttered lump crab, low country tomato “gravy”, and creamy stone-ground grits. The food is always fresh and well-prepared, and the portions are generous. The atmosphere at Mr. Friendly's is also quite special. The restaurant is housed in a historic building, and the interior is decorated with art and comfortable furnishings. The staff is friendly and attentive, and they always go out of their way to make sure that their guests have a wonderful dining experience. Overall, Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe is a truly exceptional dining experience. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is delightful, and the service is impeccable. If you are looking for a place to enjoy the best Southern cuisine in Columbia, South Carolina, then Mr. Friendly's is the perfect place for you. However, I must warn you that Mr. Friendly's is not without its dangers. The portions are large, and the cocktails are tempting. It is easy to overindulge and leave the restaurant feeling stuffed.

Not been for a while, but dropped by last night . It was very busy, great vibe and food on point as usual, both the standard menu and a good choice of specials . We had pan seared trout with shrimp cilantro pesto and grilled mahi, both superb, following swordfish skewers . Cocktails and wine ( great barman), service all faultless.

This place is amazing! The food was absolutely delicious. Mr. Friendly’s Famous Meatloaf was the best meatloaf I have ever had. And the peach praline bread pudding is perfect.

Oh how lucky we were to dine with Mr. Friendly's during soft-shelled crab season. Four of our party ordered the crab. We had several appetizers for the table which were wonderful. My personal favorite is their fried oysters. They are not over cooked so the taste of the oysters can be enjoyed. Not a seafood fan, not to worry, I have dined with them for years and always enjoyed their dishes. The service was impeccable. Our server should have a class on hospitality for all new servers. If you haven't dined with Mr. Friendly's, you owe it to yourself to go out for a delicious meal.

The waiter seemed annoyed that I was there, but he was fairly attentive. The food was excellent. I had the halibut with grits. I'd never even tasted grits before, but they were delicious. I liked the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant. Families were there. Casual fine dining, for sure.

Mr. Friendly's is great! The food is always delicious and the service is top notch! My only complaint is that they are a bit pricey but it's understandable and the food/service that you receive in return, is well worth the money. Be sure to check their site for their daily menu. As the name suggests, it changes daily... Or weekly... Idk. Either way, if you're looking for a great spot for dinner with family or a Romantic date night. Give Mr. Friendly's a shot!! You won't be disappointed.

If you blinked while driving down Greene Street, you’d miss it! But you don’t want to miss grabbing a bite at Mr. Friendly’s. Their lunch and dinner is phenomenal. We went for dinner and loved every bite. We had the fried chicken and meatloaf. They have delish specials every night so you can try something new!

What an amazing night. Great atmosphere. Manager greeted us at our table during dinner to thank us. Food is amazing. Wish I had more room in my stomach to eat everything on the menu on my first visit. A must visit when coming to Columbia. Buttermilk fried chicken is the best I've ever had.

Showed up with no reservation and the host had us a nice outdoor table within 15 minutes. The seasonal soup special was delicious, fried okra was fresh and very favorable and the okra that came with my catfish meal was the best I’ve ever had. Oh and the apple bread pudding thing with toasted marshmallow was a perfect end to a wonderful meal. Thanks !

Overall, we had a good experience and I would definitely recommend this place. It was restaurant week so we took advantage of their three courses. I had the mushroom and goat cheese toast, mahi mahi with grits and seasonal veggies and my partner ordered Caesar salad and shrimp and grits with creole sauce. The food was very tasty! The mahi was cooked to perfection and the grits were very flavorful! For dessert we ordered the raspberry cheesecake and the chocolate cookie cake and they were both delicious 🤤. The only downside is the size of the restaurant. It is pretty tight inside and can get loud since you’re sitting so close to others. The ambiance is nice though.. low lights with candles on each table. They do offer outdoor dining which I will take advantage of when it’s warm.

My friend jumped at the chance for soft shell crabs when we saw the notice on Facebook. We had the fried okra app which was delicious. We usually get the fried oysters which are the best anywhere. She had the soft shell special which she said was the best she ever had. I had the shrimp & grits which was excellent. A bottle of Steele Chardonnay complemented everything well. This restaurant continues to deserve the high 5 star rating & we will return soon.

My partner and my sisters loved this restaurant, as did I. Everything was top tier, the deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes were delicious, shrimp and grits could easily compete with Charleston shrimp and grits. Drinks were mixed well and were raved about throughout our dinner. Bread pudding was very flavorful and rich, definitely met the mark! Service felt warm and welcoming! Prices were spot on for what I estimated dinner would cost, very reasonable and well worth it! Definitely a South Carolina gem and we are looking forward to our next visit when traveling up from Atlanta! Only regret is I didn’t take any pictures to add to this review, words can’t do the food justice!

Portions really small, we paid extra for a "split" charge which was just a surcharge placed in case you want to share food. The server told us we would get a bigger portion but it was absolutely tiny... Don't recommend

The food was great. The inside ambiance looked nice ... from the hostess stand. However , a suggestion moving forward - if the server acknowledges that this is suppose to be fine dining - including fine dining price , I do not believe that you should use a two top metal table up against the glass , outside - that wobbles. In my opinion , this table should be for a sit and wait until your table is ready.