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California Dreaming | Columbia, SC - California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating, Columbia, SC

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

4.4
4.4
2519 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 74 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
  • Neighbourhood gem
Located in downtown Columbia, SC, inside the historic 1902 Union Station, California Dreaming welcomes guests with its vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the rail tracks, stretching from the inactive platform to the main terminal. Paired with our hearty, made-from-scratch menu, it's no wonder California Dreaming has been a beloved local institution since 1984. Open for lunch and dinner daily, including online ordering with curbside pickup.

Celebrating 40 years, California Dreaming has been a valued part of the Columbia community. Union Station, its historic home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

**We provide Advance Priority Seating to reduce wait times and expedite the seating process when your entire party arrives. To ensure the best experience for all guests, we seat groups of up to 8. While larger groups are seated separately, this arrangement is flexible during quieter hours.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    (803) 254-6767
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Area
    Columbia
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,519 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Carolina

    Most Booked

  • Columbia

    Good for groups

  • Columbia

    Healthy

  • Columbia

    Hot spot

  • Columbia

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Columbia

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
California Dreaming in Columbia offers a "fabulous atmosphere" within a historic train depot setting. Guests rave about the "great service" and "delicious food," particularly the "stellar honey croissants" and California Dreaming salad. Despite occasional wait times, the restaurant remains a "Columbia staple," perfect for special occasions and family gatherings.

2,519 Reviews
  1. Toni

    Fort Lauderdale

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    Years ago I loved going to the Charleston location so I was looking forward to this first time in Columbia. It was dark, I had to use my phone flashlight to read the menu, loud music. The croissants were drenched in honey and it was more of a glazed donut, the Caesar salad was dripping with dreasing and the broccoli was also over saturated with a strange sauce. Medium steak was rare and cold. Drinks were great. Will not return.

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  2. Sydney

    Charlotte

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Nice place just wish my seafood nachos were warm other then that it was ok.

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  3. susan

    Charleston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Kennedy waited on us and she was fabulous. She was knowledgeable, personable and took great care of us. Thanks for a wonderful experience.

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  4. Dan

    Charleston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Five girlfriends out for dinner. Made a reservation and were seated immediately. All of us ordered cocktails, several on their specialty menu and they were all unique and excellent. We all ordered different entrées. It had been a long time since I had been here, so I had to order that “infamous” California Dreaming salad. It was as yummy as I remembered. So many local restaurants have tried to duplicate it, but none have ever gotten it just right. Everyone else raved about their meals. She crab soup was spot on. Shrimp Pasta was perfectly prepared, and the fish tacos (I think) or just shrimp I was told were also delish. All portions were generously sized. Our server was also very attentive and came back several times to check on us. Worth the trip…only regret was waiting so long between visits! Just make certain to make reservations or you could have a long wait.

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  5. Lisa

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Noise was a little much, especially for my 80 year old mom. But food, service & everything else was awesome as usual! Great experience!

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  6. Frans

    Phoenix

    92 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    92 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Very busy place! Had to wait 30 min. For our reservation. Good menu and good food. Service was prompt and efficient.

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  7. Melissa

    Charleston

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    We arrived 15 minutes earlier than our reservations but were not seated until almost 40 minutes after our reservation. Once we were seated and ordered, it took an additional 40 minutes for our food to be served. We had to immediately box our food up and take it with us because we had an engagement to attend. It was so disappointing especially since we had made our reservations early.

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  8. Janet

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    We had reservations for 4:30 PM. We arrived at 4:25 PM and we’re told that we would have just a few minute wait. We were not seated until 5:13 PM. We continually checked when we would be seated, then telling us repeatedly just a few minutes. This was unsatisfactory. Others were seated prior to us when we were told that we were the fifth in line to be seated. We have made reservations here before and we have never had to wait like this. they were six tables around the bar that had absolutely no one seated there. There should not have been a wait like this

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  9. Janice

    Charlotte

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    We were very disappointed with the reservation process. The restaurant was extremely overbooked. We arrived around 4:15 for our 4:30 priority seating reservation and were told we would have a table "in a few minutes." The entrance to the restaurant around the hostess desk became very crowded quickly, and we realized that we would not be seated "in a few minutes." At our reservation time, I checked in with the hostess and was told they were still seating 4:15 reservations. She explained to me that priority seating is not a reservation but gets us seated before "walk ins." The wait was stressful because there was nowhere to stand that was not in the way of people coming in, leaving, or going to the bar area. The team of people at the hostess desk were not very good at service recovery with the many people who were dissatisfied with the way this restaurant handles priority seating/reservations. I saw eye rolling and was told "How do you think I feel?" when I mentioned that the wait was stressful because of the crowding in the entry way. I am sure the fire marshall would have had an issue with how crowded the entrance to the restaurant was that day. All this to say, when you make a reservation here, it doeson't mean anything because they overbook and cannot meet your expectations.

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  10. Annette

    Toronto

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We like California Dreaming, but even with priority seating, we still have to wait 30-45 minutes to be seated the last three trips. Recommend to plan accordingly.

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FAQs

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (803) 254-6767.

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating is rated 4.4 stars by 2519 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 74 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

401 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201-4147

Additional information

  • Area
    Columbia
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00–21:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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