Stanford Grill

Reviews 4

TA

Tabitha Drum

Stanford Grill is my go-to for any special occasion in Columbia. The atmosphere is sophisticated without requiring formal attire from the diners (though many people dress up). One thing that I love is the live music around 7 every evening - a bass and piano set a jolly mood. The wait staff here provide some of the best service Ive ever had at a restaurant. They worked together as a seamless team to make sure my table was never waiting for anything. Drinks, appetizers, the meal, and the check were delivered promptly and usually by a different staff member. And our main waiter checked in frequently to make sure we had everything we wanted. It was truly impressive. They have a handful of options for most types of wines, several beers on tap, and delicious cocktails that range from a traditional Moscow mule to a few more original mixes. Every appetizer I have tried has been well-made and tasty but the one thing I crave regularly is their salsa. Its made fresh every day and honestly is one of the best salsas I have ever eaten. Its not a solo appetizer, but we order extra as a side to the guacamole, which is made smooth and smokey. They are delightful together. Portions at Stanford are not shy. From the Rattlesnake Pasta to the French Dip, I am always happy and full by the end. Vegetables are always perfectly cooked and seasoned - the asparagus blew us away. It was perfectly tender but not mushy. They have always cooked the protein exactly as weve asked, whether thats medium, well, or rare. If you have room for dessert, you may want to share - these are also huge and delicious. The cheesecake has been a staple for us, but last time I tried the brownie with ice cream and it was one of the best brownies Ive ever had. It was baked with cinnamon and high-quality chocolate, with creamy vanilla ice cream, house-made whipped cream, and caramel drizzled on top. Absolutely scrumptious.

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Nicholas Bartolotta

If you want something grilled with perfection, especially a tender beef steak, look no further than Stanford Grill. The company I work for used to have happy hours here and I had never indulged in their actual menu items as we were given prepared finger foods such as nachos, sliders, chicken wings and an assortment of other tasty appetizers. The wait staff was always very happy to see us even when some of the folks were apparently quite inebriated. One day I decided to try the joint out for a real dinner. This fine establishment is not recognizable as merely a "joint." However, it is wholly a fine dining experience with a relaxed atmosphere. Sure, they have a bar setting to the far left when you walk in but it doesnt draw attention to the sounds and fragrances of the dining experience like some other establishments at which Ive dined. As I often do when I dine out, I tend to order some variation of a filet mignon with some vegetable side and a glass of wine as recommended by the wait staff. When my order comes to me, it is fresh off the grill and the aroma of hickory greets me before my first bite. Even the grilled asparagus is fragrant with the hickory flavor. I take my first bite of the filet and am not surprised that it is one of the best tasting steaks Ive ever had. The heavy-weighted knife cuts through as simply as a butchers knife through the thawing cattle, though with a fraction of the force, almost as if cutting through butter. The taste is magnificent, with aromas of hickory before and after. This meal is exceptional! The wine complemented the steak, as the server states it would and I had a very grande experience. I ended my meal with a palette clearing bowl of mango sorbet. I should mention, my server was VERY detailed with her descriptions and knowledge of items on the menu. There wasnt one thing i would change about my dining experience! Bravo Stanford Grill, bravo!

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Amy Syversen

My family had a reservation for a large party that we made months ago. We got there and waited 50 minutes to be seated because they had nothing for us. We had two toddlers, and someone who drove really far to be there, so waiting that long was really really hard on everyone (if you have a toddler you understand). What is the point of a reservation if you arent given a table when you arrive? The manager on duty was really rude and mean about it and made no effort to make things right. He was a 20-30 something African-American male with glasses and I dont know his name, but he should not have a job with the way he treated our family. It got worse! Our waitress, Korinne, was just as rude and acted like we were troubling her all night long and rushed to get us out as soon as she could. The way she spoke to us was unprofessional to say the least. She kept taking our drinks and wouldnt bring them back and kept taking or plates and utensils and napkins, so almost all of us were drinkless before we were even done eating, and all our napkins were gone so I was unable to even wipe my hands. She then started boxing up our food before we were even done, and we were trying to hold conversations, so it was hard to pay attention to what she was doing and she tossed food we were still eating! For the large $400 bill we had and the amount of money we made them, you would have though wed at least be treated like customers...they were rude and unprofessional and I would not recommend them to anyone who wants to be treated well at dinner. After all we went through I figured they would at least comp an appetizer or a dessert, but they didnt. The rude manager never even checked on us, but we watched him check on every other table. Also, Korrine, toldl us she expected more than her "base service charge" as she called it. Wow...I wish I could get my parents hard earned money back from these thieves.

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Bryan Zillig

I went here recently for a family members birthday dinner. The ambiance and setting of the restaurant was very welcome for a cold Fall evening. We had a reservation, and my wife and I were early. Luckily the staff promptly sat us. We walk through the very nice looking restaurant to the patio which is enclosed with heaters and a fireplace (not as nice as the inside of the restaurant). Thought that was strange to be seated out there. Initially they tried to sit us (a party of eight) at a table clearly made for only six, maybe seven people. The hostess was going to grab another chair since seven chairs were already at the table, but we thought it would be too cramped to jam eight people at the table, so she offered to move us to a more spacious table (a table for eight people... go figure). The waiter was nice enough, but continued to make mistakes and exclaimed "Strike two for me" or "strike four for me" and then laughed every time he did. Bad waiter-ing aside, the food was EXPENSIVE and nothing to write home about. I got the chicken and avocado sandwich, and asked for the honey mustard to be put on the side. The sandwich was the driest sandwich ever, even after I spread the honey mustard on the bread. They do give you a lot of shoestring french fries though. Overall I would maybe check this place out one more time, but I am not chumping at the bit. There are better options within ten minutes, so maybe give those a try before coming here. Pros - Good setting/ambiance Cons - Food was too expensive, and what I ordered was very dry and not good, waiter was mistake-prone (but did make us laugh and kept a smile on his face at least)