River Terrace, New Orleans Cuisine

I’ve had occasion to come to Columbia regularly for the past several months on business, and stay at the Hampton Inn. Not knowing what restaurants were in the area when I made my first trip here in October, I asked the desk clerk at the hotel for recommendations, and was told they send everyone to River Terrace, New Orleans Cuisine, that it was a local independently owned restaurant that their guests were always really happy with. Well, after going there, I can see why. I've been to some of the finest restaurants in the country, and can honestly say that the food here merits 5 stars, right up there with some New York fine dining experiences I've had. The owners - who are actually from New Orleans - visited most every table from what I could see, including my own, and were as friendly and pleasant as could be. I had an appetizer of fried green tomatoes, which had a very unique glaze on them that was to live for, followed by the house salad, which was a full salad plate that had the absolute best homemade dressing on it I think I’ve ever had. I ordered the house specialty, the Catfish Royale, which was a delicate catfish filet smothered in the best crawfish etouffee I've ever had in my life, over a bed of fluffy rice. I was absolutely stuffed from the generous portions and my inability to stop eating so much because it was so good, but could not resist ordering the bread pudding with rum sauce after I was told it was homemade daily. Truly an outstanding culinary experience overall, one that I have repeated several times since with various entrees and from which I’ve never been disappointed - highly recommended.