Whether you are a veteran Columbia SC tailgater or are rolling into town for the first time with team colors blazing, we welcome you to the home of some of the finest tailgating around.
Perhaps you are in charge of bringing just one signature dish to share. Wow your tailgate mates with one of these Columbia SC favorites as your contribution.
Boiled Peanuts
Stop by Cromer’s new location in NOMA The Trestle District for legendary boiled peanuts (they’ve been serving them up since 1935, in addition to popcorn, cotton candy and more). Or visit Soda City Market on Main Street and scoop up some goodies to share from Boiled PNUTS Y’all.
Pimento Cheese
Columbia SC has the pimento cheese game going so strong that we actually have a Pimento Cheese Passport to showcase restaurants that prepare this Southern spread exceptionally well. Grab a takeaway tub from DiPrato’s along with their savory pita chips or a pile of sandwiches from Mathias Sandwich Shop.
Chicken, Three Ways
Fried: A bucket of fried chicken from, Bernie’s or Zesto’s is the perfect pregame and may be gone before you set up your tent.
Wings: D’s Wings in Cayce and Publick House on Devine Street are two of Columbia’s can’t miss stops for chicken wings in multiple flavors.
Tenders/Strips: Chicken strips from Lizard’s Thicket are clutch if you have oodles of hungry kids hanging around your tailgate spot. Multiple locations around the Midlands makes pick-up a breeze, no matter which direction you're coming from.
Deviled Eggs
We know there’s an art to deviled eggs, and The War Mouth, The Gourmet Shop and 1801 Grille have it figured out.
Sweets
Whether a pan of blondies or brownies from Main Street Bakery or plate of custom cookies resembling your team’s mascot from Blue Flour, your sweet contribution to the table will be a hit.
Perhaps you are in charge of the whole shebang including the sweet tea and tablecloth. Bless your heart!
The solution for you may be ordering everything in one fell swoop. Check out the tailgating menus from Bone-In BBQ, which include specials like the Carnivore Platter, which feeds 15-20 football fans with pulled pork, smoked brisket, ribs, smoked wings and all the trimmings. Hudson’s Classic Catering, Doc’s Barbeque, Spotted Salamander, Seawell’s and Lizard’s Thicket have been providing trusted, tasty tailgates for locals for years and have their menus down to a science. Now all you have to worry about is the bar!