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Halls Chophouse is without a doubt one of Columbia’s best fine dining restaurants, and it’s certainly the best steakhouse in Columbia, SC.
Located in the heart of the capital city, across from the state capital, it offers by far the finest steak in Columbia.
Some very reasonably priced menu items on both its bar and lunch menu also make it a bit of a hidden gem even for less fancy occasions if you can resist the urge to order a juicy steak.
Read on for my full review of Halls Chophouse in Columbia, South Carolina, and why you shouldn’t sleep on it even if you don’t plan to splurge on a steak.
Halls Chophouse in Columbia, South Carolina
Halls Chophouse in Columbia, SC opened in 2018, an extension of the flagship Charleston location that dates to 2009.
The Charleston location has garnered rave reviews for years, even being named the #2 steakhouse in the US by Yelp in 2024!
To be honest, I have never eaten at the Charleston location. It was a bit way too pricey for my college days at CofC!
However, I always heard rave reviews!
You can read a review of the Charleston Halls here and read more about Halls Chophouses’s backstory here.
And if you happen to be in Charleston, do check out my guide to the Charleston beaches too, by the way!
I first checked out the Columbia Halls Chophouse location back in 2021, actually to treat my mom as a thank you for letting Susana and I live with her for a while when we first moved back to the US from Cartagena, Colombia, where I had lived ever since the end of my CofC days.
On that occasion, I definitely splurged on a steak, and it was definitely a splurge, and it was also definitely so, so worth it!
I’ll throw in some more thoughts on that visit when I get to my thoughts on the Halls Chophouse menu below, but it’s probably the best steak I’ve had at a restaurant and maybe the best overall dining experience I’ve ever had in Columbia.
First, though let’s talk a bit about the Columbia Halls Chophouse location.
Halls Chophouse Columbia, SC Location
Pretty tough to beat this location!
The Columbia, SC Halls Chophouse is located on the bottom floor of the Synovous Building aka the Tower at Main and Gervais, at the corner of, you guessed it, Main and Gervais Streets, just across from the South Carolina state capital building.
That puts it square in the heart of the Main Street District and adjacent to the Vista District, home to many of Columbia’s best restaurants.
Its location makes it a great choice for visitors to the city, whether it be for business, pleasure, or visiting USC, people that work downtown, and locals who just want to treat themselves to a great meal.
The locale and setting is really pretty, certainly elegant enough to match those hefty steak prices.
Decor is classy without being haughty.
Despite this being a fairly new building and even newer restaurant, it also manages to feel lived in but also nice and shiny.
There’s a nice patio that has a pretty good view of the state house, perfect for the times of year when it’s nice enough to sit outside in Columbia.
Considering you can use the garage next door for free (more on that below!), and there is valet parking, parking here can be easier than many of the other places along Main Street nearby.
Live Music at Halls Chophouse
In a nice touch, there is live music most evenings at Halls.
Generally, these are local acts, and there is some variety of different music genres to set the mood.
You can see upcoming live music at Halls here.
Halls Chophouse Menu
Let’s talk about the Halls Chophouse Menu.
First, let’s address the cow in the room: the steaks!
As the best steakhouse in Columbia, and perhaps one of the finest in the country, this is the main draw without a doubt.
Halls serves USDA Prime Steaks exclusively from Allen Brothers of Chicago, which dates to 1893 and is one of the most highly considered meat distributors in the country.
They have a variety of cuts on the menu and the option to order most of them dry aged or wet aged.
I remember on our first visit, as someone who really enjoys steak, occasionally buys nice cuts to cook at home, and even occasionally orders them at restaurants but does not consider themselves a connoisseur by any means, I really appreciated explainers on the menu and the fact that our waiter was really knowledgeable and willing to provide tips and indications on tastes.
For example, this was the first time I had ever been in a restaurant that offered the choice of dry or wet aged, and the waiter helped me choose.
There is also some good info on Halls steaks on their website if you wanted to do some homework before hand.
However, here’s the thing I actually would like to emphasize in this review: there’s so much great on the menu at Halls Chophouse in Columbia, SC!
That includes other things you might expect at a steakhouse, like chicken, pork chops, and salmon. My mom had the salmon and loved it on that first visit, by the way.
It also includes their sides, which are served family style. We loved the collards on that first visit.
However, there are some real hidden gem items on the menu too.
Well, ok, maybe hidden gems isn’t the right word, but there are some items that are really reasonably priced considering the locale that makes this a place you can come for a meal even when you don’t want to totally break the bank.
Just to be upfront though, you will, of course, spend quite a bit if you go for the steak!
If you want to treat yourself, go for it!
I hope to one day feel like I have enough disposable income to throw down and treat myself to a Tomahawk steak here one day!
I would say if you’re looking to spend a little less or want a more intimate atmosphere, Saluda’s in Five Points also does a great steak and their menu is always terrific.
However, don’t discard Hall’s for a solid meal even if you’re not looking to treat yourself to a steak. As I mentioned before, my mom thought the salmon was spectacular, and I’m sure anything on the menu here is tasty.
While most dinner entrees here are still on the pricier side, as you’d expect at a fine dining restaurant, you can also actually treat yourself to more casual fare that’s really good spending all that much if you come in for lunch or sit at the bar.
I guess this makes a lot of sense, as they surely do a lot of lunch business from people working around the capital and downtown and have no shortage of competition nearby.
No reason not to take advantage of that even if you don’t work nearby though!
To see what your options are, see the full Halls Chophouse Columbia menu here.
Columbia, SC Halls Chophouse Review
I’ve scattered in some details on my first visit above, but this review is primarily based on a solo visit where I sat at the bar for lunch and did just what I suggested above, treated myself to something that didn’t break the bank.
I had heard from my brother in law that Halls had pretty reasonably priced menu items on its bar menu and lunch menu, and had it on my list to get in here when I could to check it out for myself.
I was really happy I did!
Bar at Columbia’s Halls Chophouse
First of all, the bar area is really nice.
It’s more a classy, have a drink, maybe with some food, and chat kind of bar, but there were a couple small TVs if you wanted to catch some sports with lunch too.
You do get a little bit of a view of the patio and State House beyond from the big windows behind the bar as an added bonus.
It’s not incredibly large, but there are a fair number of stools, meaning you should be able to find a spot if you pop in here for lunch on a typical weekday like I did.
There are also a handful of smaller high tops and a few larger tables in the bar area if you’re not flying solo like I was and want to have something slightly more intimate but still lower key than the main dining rooms.
Service from my bartender was great and I felt much fancier than I actually am sitting here having drinks and lunch.
What I Ate and Drank
I enjoyed both my drinks and meal at Halls!
Drinks at Halls
I ordered their Barrel Aged Manhattan to start.
I tend to usually go for Old Fashioneds or just neat whiskey when I get whiskey at a nice bar, but this sounded really good and figured I’d try their version of a cocktail I don’t order very often.
It was tasty and hit the spot. It was whiskey forward but also well balanced, something not every bar manages well with whisky cocktails.
I followed it with a Bill’s Bramble, which has Bourbon served with blackberries.
I liked it but it was sweeter than I would have liked.
I also wasn’t crazy about the crushed ice piled up almost like a snow cone it was served with either. I’d imagine it would be refreshing on a hotter day, but I probably wouldn’t order it again, personally.
It was pretty though, and if you like sweeter cocktails, it makes a fine choice.
For what it’s worth, there’s a terrific wine and whiskey selection here, and I’ll have to give the Old Fashioned, made with that special edition Halls Woodford Reserve, a try on another visit.
Food
I took my brother in law’s recommendation to try the burger. I figured a place famous for its steaks ought to have a great burger.
The reasonable price made it an easy decision too!
Honestly, compared to similarly, or even less fancy, places nearby, the burger is priced very well.
In fact, it’s a bit cheaper than the burger I had at nearby Cola’s Restaurant a week or so earlier.
Unlike that one, I also appreciate there isn’t too much going on in this burger.
While I love trying creative burgers with less conventional and unique toppings, there’s something to be said about a classic, simple one that has great beef and just lets that beef shine through.
That was definitely the case with Halls Chophouse’s burger!
It was big, tasty, and juicy, all without being unwieldy.
The parmesan truffle fries were also really good.
They were thin, shoe string style and tasty.
I would have been just as happy with traditional fries, but I left full and satisfied, and for a fancy place with what I know is high quality beef, it really is very reasonably priced.
Speaking of fancy, I appreciated the condiments served in a little ceramic platter.
Similar to the mouthwash in the bathroom, that’s one of the marks of a fancy place!
Some other things that caught my eye on the bar or lunch menu that I’ve got on my mental list to try on another visit include the prime rib sliders, the prime beef nachos, the shrimp po boy, and the chicken sandwich, which looked absolutely massive and scrumptious in front of a guy down the bar from me.
Actually, come to think of it, his buddy had the nachos, and they also looked great.
Honestly, I don’t know if I can ever bring myself to order it over all the other options on the Halls menu, but the Hot Dog also sounds pretty darn intriguing!
Ordering a Hot Dog in a place like this also just feels intriguing, and I have a feeling it wouldn’t be on the menu at all unless it’s a real favorite.
Oh, and I’ve heard wonderful things about the She Crab Soup at Halls. It sounds like it’d make a great lighter lunch or appetizer for that po boy!
All of these options are pretty reasonably priced too!
That chicken sandwich or the nachos will probably be what I order on my next visit, but I’ve got a nice list of things to use as an excuse to go back and try so I can update here if they are as good as they sounded and looked.
Service
Service at the bar was great!
My food also came out quicker than I would have expected.
Our table service on the earlier sit down visit in the dining area was also superb, and, as I mentioned above, the waiter was really helpful with food and wine suggestions.
Given how highly considered Halls is, I would be shocked if anyone ever gets bad service here, but it’s nice to know with the high price tag that the servers do come through.
Planning Your Visit to Halls Chophouse
Hopefully I’ve convinced you that Halls is more than worth checking out, whether it be for a casual lunch in a fancy locale that’s more affordable than you might imagine, a special treat, a date night, or celebrating a special occasion.
Let’s talk about some practicalities of planning a visit to Halls Chophouse in Columbia.
Halls Columbia Hours
Here are Halls Chophouse Columbia’s normal operating hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 11 am to 11 pm
- Friday-Saturday: 11 am to 12 am
- Sunday: 10 am to 9 pm
A few additional notes on hours and when certain menus are available:
- Brunch menu is available Sunday only 10 am to 2 am
- Lunch menu is available Monday-Saturday 11:00 am to 2 pm
- My understanding is you can order anything off the main lunch, dinner, or brunch menus at the bar, but you can only order the bar menu at the bar.
Reservations at the Columbia Halls Chophouse
If you want to do dinner in the main dining area, you should definitely plan to make a reservation.
For lunch or sitting at the bar, you can probably walk in most days, especially if it’s not right during the midday rush.
There are walk in tables in the bar area that you might be able to snag for dinner with much of a wait some nights too, but if you’re set on eating here, I wouldn’t chance it and go ahead and make a reservation.
You can make reservations for Halls via Resy here.
Halls Chophouse Dress Code
According to their website, Halls has a recommended dress code of business casual.
Guys should plan on pants and proper shoes and a decent shirt at least.
They do allow slightly more casual attire at the bar area and the walk in tables by the bar. I still wouldn’t show up in shorts and a t-shirt though.
The website does specifically prohibit cut-off t-shirts, and says that baseball caps are permitted only at the bar and not allowed in the dining rooms.
Free Garage Parking at Halls Chophouse in Columbia
Anyone whoever goes to eat or drink or both on Main Street in Columbia knows the parking situation can be tough.
While there is a good amount of street parking, there are just so many places in close proximity that it seems like they always fill up and it can be hard to find a spot.
The nice thing about Halls is you can park in the adjacent garage of the building for free.
However, it’s a tad tricky and, as even my bartender noted, confusing.
I actually didn’t realize they had the complimentary garage parking, and I got lucky and managed to snag a close spot on the street on this visit.
However, let’s talk about how to take advantage of the complimentary parking if you don’t manage to snag a spot on the street, which is actually a worse deal and is now enforced Mon-Sat until 7 pm now!
According to this post on its website, the parking management company for the garage now uses license plate readers. Therefore, to make sure you get the complimentary parking, you need to register your license plate at the host stand when you enter.
So, unlike the traditional way of getting a ticket validated or getting something from the restaurant when you leave, you have to validate your parking before you dine.
There is a little notice at the host table when you walk in along with a QR code. Hosts or hostesses should be able to assist you too, and my bartender the day I went for lunch was happy to explain it all to me too.
Just remember, register your license plate before you sit down to eat!
Ready to Plan Your Visit to Halls Chophouse in Columbia, SC?
In conclusion, if you want the best steak in Columbia, Halls Chophouse is totally worth the hype.
Even if you don’t want the steak, you can have a great fine dining experience here for dinner.
Again, though, the hidden secret of Halls, in my opinion, is you can come by for lunch or a casual meal anytime at the bar for pretty reasonable prices considering the upscale locale.
So, don’t be shy about splurging on that steak on a special occasion, but don’t discard dining here as only for special occasions either!
If you want to learn more about Halls, you can check out their website, their Facebook page, or their Instagram. Once again, you can see their menus here and make reservations via Resy here or find that link through the restaurant’s website.
If you’ve been to Halls, I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments below!
Especially, if you’ve by chance had the nachos or that massive chicken sandwich, or if you think the She Crab Soup lived up to the hype, let me know.
If you haven’t been to Halls in Columbia yet, I hope you found this review useful in planning your own visit, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did!
Cheers and Happy Exploring!
The point about the bar and lunch menus being reasonably priced is the most useful part, since it makes the place approachable without committing to a steak dinner. One practical tweak: check the current bar and lunch menus on the restaurant’s own site the same day you plan to go, because those offerings and prices can shift by season or day of week, and the steakhouse reputation may not reflect what is actually available at those times.
Yup, good tip