I enjoyed both my beer and food at Flat Branch.  I had two of the American Pale Ales with dinner.  The beers were delicious, but I felt a little hungover the next morning ( I'm not THAT much of a lightweight.)  I ordered the Southwest Chicken sandwich.  The chicken was moist and the foccacia  bun complimented it well.  I ordered the onion rings as my side which were not as crisp as I generally prefer, but still very good.
The service was satisfactory. Â I was with a group of seven, so it took a while for our food to come out; however, our water glasses were always full and we were never short on beer.
I would definitely suggest  stopping by Flat Branch when you're in Columbia - just stick to one beer if it is a week night.
OPEN ON SUNDAY (Yelp states they are closed.)
After reading all the great reviews here on Yelp, we stopped here for lunch on Sunday 14 July. Â
+ All of our food was great, I had the Texas Burger, wife had the Chicken Wrap which she loved, Son had the Pizza which was very, very good. Â Sweet Potato Chips were awesome.
+ Waitress was very nice and polite.
+ Outdoor seating was perfect.
- Hostess...here's a tip: lose your additude...we almost turned around and left just because of you.
- Food took a bit long to get out to us, the only thing that might keep us from coming here again.
+/- Just fyi if you have kids, Â applesauce that comes with kids meals is more whole apples then sauce. Â I thought it was very good, kids didn't want to touch it...
(Do not agree with Zach G. Inside area was perfect temp.)
Great service! Â We called about an hour ahead of time to make a reservation for 25 + folks that were in Columbia for my son's wedding. Â They handled it beautifully. Â We were served promptly. Â The food and beers were great. Â Our server noticed we had a small cake (the portion from the wedding cake that the bride and groom wanted to save) and offered to keep it refrigerated while we dined. Â He even did separate checks for us! Â Thank you Flat Branch. Â It was a fun evening for us.
Review Source:Every time family or friends come to town, this is the place I take them -- and for repeat visitors, it's the place they request! The food is great, and the menu is varied. I've never had anyone in my party complain about the food or say that it was anything less than great.
The only downside is that everyone in Columbia knows about this place, so there are often long waits, especially on the weekends. For this reason, I recommend going there for lunch instead of dinner, unless you get there well before 6:00 and are prepared to wait 45 minutes. Don't arrive there already starving, because you won't make it through the long wait times.
Being from Chicago, I can truly say I can not find a place out here that compares to the food back home. I find the Flat Branch is the best I've had so far. I finally have a place I can go to and get decent catfish. There's a few other items on the menu that are good as well. They have a little bit of everything.
Review Source:This place was very hyped up as a result of my wife and her friends all being Mizzou grads. Well, we grabbed some dinner here on my first trip to Columbia, and let me say...wasn't too impressed.
The restaurant itself is nice. It's clean, it's large, it has plenty of outdoor seating too. The bar area seems a bit orphaned and out of place (as an island), but whatever. Bathrooms are clean. Service is friendly. That's all well and good.
Beer wise, I had the stout which was very good - smooth, flavorful, and the perfect temperature.
For my entree, I had the catfish and chips. The catfish itself wasn't a huge portion, but was moist, flaky and tasty, with a great breading. The fries were typical fries - good, not great, not bad.
Now, why am I giving this place 2 stars? Well, for one, although it was hot outside when I was there, it was even worse inside. It's like they had no desire to turn on the air conditioning. It was, in fact, hotter inside than out - I wish we had sat on the patio. And that's a lot to say when it was 90 degrees outside. The inside was nasty, humid, stuffy...we (all four of us) spent the whole meal sweating. I wanted another beer, but wanted more to get the hell out of this place.
The other negative - the pretzel app. My wife and her friend kept talking about how good the pretzels were, despite learning that they were not made in house, but rather just pulled out of the freezer and heated. For 2 pretzels with a small thing of cheese sauce, it was $9 with tax. NINE BUCKS! My entire entree was $11. And the pretzels were not that good at all - I didn't even finish one. What a rip off.
So, will I return here? Maybe. If the weather is nice, and we avoid the pretzels. But, at the same time, I'm okay just coming for one beer or never coming again...my experience made me indifferent to Flat Branch.
I am impressed with Flat Branch. I'm from out-of-town visiting for business. This place was very crowded, so you know they are doing something right. The bar tender went out of his way to make sure I got the beer I wanted and the food tasted good and beer even better (IPA). I will be back for sure!
Review Source:Once of the best micobrew restaurants I've ever been to, Flat Branch has delicious food and very solid beers. Â They always have 10 or more beers on tap - the Oil Can Stout is great even if you don't like stouts, but their recent Belgium Golden was a real winner in my books.
I really love their pizzas. Perfectly chewy/crispy crusts that taste like they are out of a brick oven with very solid toppings. Â The margharita is very nice as is the artichoke/pesto pizzas. Â I love the artichoke dip served in a bread bowl as well - a very solid appetizers ($8.99) than can easily morph into a meal with the veggie sticks and hearty bread.
The place is always busy so expect at least a 30 minute wait unless you are there very early on weekday or weekends. Â We waited 45 min but it was well worth it!!
I really like this place! (And not just because it has free parking in the middle of downtown COMO.) The location is convenient, there are tons of tables inside and out on the patio as well as space at the bar. The service was good and the food was very good for pub style fare. I'd take this place over Yardhouse anyday.
Get: Bangers and Mash (so English, I know) which gives you two fat sausages on mash potato and gravy (you can taste how deliciously homemade it is) with applesauce and a roll with honey butter on the side. I loved this dish. I was ready to mop every drop of gravy and potato up and even stole some of K's burger bun to slather more honey butter on. Good! The Swiss and Mushroom burger was a good solid burger with a lot of oomph and served with your choice of a side.
Skip:
Chili chicken fingers- I get that the spicy kick of the batter makes your tongue go oooh and ahh, but at the end of the day, it's just chicken fingers. Oh and the steamed vegetables side. Healthy really isn't their speciality and you know, I don't care.
I really want to go back and try the Chokes and Cheese when there's more people (or when I can afford to be that fatty) but this would be my choice on where to take people visiting. Good food, wide selection, decent prices and large portions. Yum!
Took a little day/evening trip to CoMo yesterday for a concert and decided to do a little research on where to stop in for dinner. Flat Branch was consistently on every "best of..." list that popped up on google so we decided to check it out. Flat Branch is situated in the quaint and adorable downtown Columbia area, amidst other local businesses. Immediately when I saw the patio (empty yesterday because it was a bit chilly) I thought it was a perfect little place for summer/spring happy hours. The outside of the place itself was just super cute and the greenery surrounding the patio was just really pretty. We arrived right before 6 so we didn't have to pay the meter, but there was very limited parking around the area. They were also very busy for a weekday (not sure how they usually are other days). We arrived at the tail-end of their happy hour. Maybe that's why the waiter didn't mention it, but when I asked if they had any specials, he did let us know about the 3.75 beers; options were limited but the price was just right (cheap).
For starters, we ordered a half order of the green chili chicken fingers. First off, love how they had a half-order option and as observed by my BF, they definitely cater to the college-student crowd with that one. Big props for knowing your audience. The description on the menu made it seem like these would be super different than typical chicken fingers, but it wasn't. It was pretty standard. Still tasted fine, but just didn't have that extra something I was expecting. For dinner, I had their infamous "Best of..." Flat Branch pub burger (with bacon). It was definitely delicious! And cooked perfectly (I know that shouldn't be a difficult task, but you'd be surprised at some of the places I've been).
The service was fine. It was super busy so our waiter wasn't around much but he was around enough to refill our drinks at a good pace and clear out the table, etc., etc. For such a busy time in the evening, I was impressed by how they seated everyone quickly, efficiently and the servers were all very pleasant.
I had a good experience!
My husband and I go here often because the prices are so reasonable and the food is good. Great atmosphere! Â Veggie burger is the best I've had in Columbia! We haven't tried anything we dislike yet and the service is always good. The girls in the front never greet you though. You just have to walk in and say hello and tell them how many you need a table for.
Review Source:My fiancé and I are driving cross country from new York city ane we stopped in this small college town to rest for the night. Big ups to Ryan at ramada for recommending this place because we so didn't want to eat fast food again. Flat branch was an amazing surprise. Both salads reordered were fresh with amazing dressings. The fish my fiancé ordered was fresh and made to perfection. And my ribs were probably the best ribs I have ever eaten. They fell off the bone. The rub was on point and the BBQ sauce was homemade and should be put in a jar and sold. To top off the experience we ordered the creme burlee bread puddiing. I have no words. Just sheer amazement. Our waitress Jessie was awesome too. Just a great experience overall. If I am ever near this town again in my life I will be sure to go back.
Review Source:I had a chance to try Flat Branch while visiting some friends, and really enjoyed my experience the food was good and so was the beer. The inside was large, however there was a short wait, seems this is a very popular local hangout and I can see why. Once inside and seated I ordered a burger, which was really good so were the fries, not greasy at all. I ordered a beer, I dont recall which one and it was very good. Hopefully this summer I can make it back and enjoy a drink, or two/three outside.
Review Source:This was one of my favorite places to go when I lived  in Columbia, MO. Their beers are amazing and the "Oil Change" one still brings a smile to my face just by thinking about it. Ask for the beer sampler and you can taste some of them.
Their Spicy Spinach Dip and Pesto & Artichoke Pizza are sooooo good as everything they make. Hopefully I ll be back some day.
I have eaten at this great establishment many, many times over the years since my time at Mizzou. Their food is consistently good and continues to be reasonably priced. Their beers are also decent and are ridiculously cheap during happy hour. My last visit was graced with the chokes n cheese (always wonderful) and a very nicely prepared wasabi ahi tuna steak. If you are looking for a reliable establishment in Columbia this place is a must.
I'll be back for sure...for many years to come. Go Tigers!!!!
Delicious food and absolutely FANTASTIC local brews. If you love microbrews, get the beer sampler so you can try a bunch. Have yet to taste a beer that I don't like.
The food is consistently good there, and I always bring people who are visiting from out of town to eat at Flat Branch. There is something to please everyone on the menu -- even my vegetarian friend loves their veggie burger -- and the atmosphere is nice. Even when it's super busy on the weekends, they get you seated fairly quickly.
Came here on a recommendation from a friend and I was impressed. Â The soft pretzel sticks for an appetizer were great. Â The burger for my meal was average but the fries were great -- nice and crispy. Â Had the creme brulee bread pudding for dessert which was definitely very unique and pretty good. Â Nice atmosphere. Â Not a drinker but they had tons of beers that they brew there if that's your thing.
Review Source:I have been here on numerous occasions and always leave happy. Their beer is fantastic. My current favorite is their Irish Red, which is very creamy. Their Katy Trail Pale Ale and the APA are my two others that I regularly order. Their beers are 16 oz.
Their menu is upscale bar food. It never disappoints.
One drawback to the place is selecting when you go. They are ALWAYS packed on weekends; expect at least an hour wait if you go in the evening. There have been many times when we've wanted to go to Flat Branch but it was just too packed and we had to go elsewhere.
Only once have I been disappointed in the service. They were busy (but not more than normal) and it took way too long for our waiter to even come get our drink order. He was super nice though and apologized for the wait. But I've never had problems on any of my other visits so I'm assuming that maybe it was just an off day.
Their bar area has several TVs and they do have a nice outdoor patio. You can get growlers for the beer.
Excellent. I have had numerous things on the menu, and everything has been good. The service is actually decent for Columbia, which has always seemed to have a problem with disinterested college students as waiters/waitresses/bartenders.
I'm not a big fan of 'fancy' beers, but the people I've gone with whose tastes ran more exotic have been mostly happy with their brews. I do like the green chile beer - it adds a nice twist to the meal.
A great example of upscale bar food - delicious and semi-imaginative without being pretentious.
5 stars and every one of them are for the Creme Brulee! Fantastic! My husband and I share one, when we eat there. And sometimes we just go there for the dessert. Â I crack open the caramelized crunchy brown sugar crust and dig into the creamy gooey chewy warm deliciousness . Its an incredible experience.
Its a nice restaurant, nice friendly ambience for friends to hang out. Â I absolutely love their fries and the salsa -horseradish dip. Its super .
Next time, I'll upload the picture of the creme brulee. :D
On the way back home to Kansas City, I recently stopped to explore the little downtown area of Columbia, Missouri. I saw most of what I expected to see of a college town-several coffeeshops, Lots of bars, a park or two, and the hustle and bustle of a Monday lunch-time rush. Â It was a gorgeous day but because time was limited, I did not get to explore as much as I would have liked, but the one place that I did find worthy of review is Flat Branch Pub and Brewing.
I arrived at this brewpub a good 30 minutes before my friends were set to arrive so I sat down at the bar to try a few samplers and was delighted to find soccer on their tv's. The volume was down and the sound system was blaring the strangest mix of music I had ever heard-seriously, My Heart Will Go On, actually came on before the bartender couldn't take it anymore and changed the station. Â I was overwhelmed with suggestions from my KC friends on which beers to try so the bartender allowed me to try a couple of tasters before I settled on 5oz pours of their Oil Change stout and the very popular Honey Wheat. Next on my list was to try the Green Chili beer but sadly I ran out of time and did not want to have too much before hitting the road again.
The food, like the beer, was good. Â I was not blown away by my meal-a vegetarian wrap with house-made hummus served with sweet potato chips-but it was good and I was starving! Â My friends ordered a burger and a fish meal both which looked excellent. The prices were extremely reasonable-all three of us ate for under $25 total and left the table stuffed. The bartender also covered my second glass so in my book, that is always a plus!
I do hope to get to Columbia again soon so that I can continue trying their beer offerings-they have some rare beers that sounded delicious and had I not had to drive, I definitely would have sampled those as well. I liked my food and beer but I feel like my favorite Flat Branch beer is still somewhere on that tap wall and I'd like to try their pizza or another one of their signature dishes...it all looked great.
Seriously....If you've never been to Flat Branch you are missing out! This is by far my absolute favorite place in Columbia to eat (I would choose this over Columbia's famous Shakespeare's Pizza any day!)
As an MU graduate, I miss the days of sitting on Flat Branch's patio in the summer...sipping on their fresh brewed beer and enjoying the scenery. The beer is brewed on site and they always offer a variety to choose from.
The food here is what always brings me back. If you live in Columbia and have never been here (although I have no idea how that would be possible), leave where you are right now and go try Flat Branch's "Chokes 'N Cheese". Even if you don't live in Columbia and can drive there....go now! This amazing concoction is heaven. Although it sounds generic....Artichokes mixed with spinach and cheese, served in a bread bowl and veggies....it's not! This is by far my favorite item on the menu. Their homemade pizzas, sandwiches, and nachos are also very good. Basically anything on their menu will not disappoint...I promise!
Most likely you will have to wait (not too long) to get a table because this place is usually busy, but it's worth it. What are you waiting for....GO NOW!
My son is going to school at Mizzou and we decided to try this place on parent's weekend. I'm a Reuben sandwich nut and we travel a lot. By far, this place had the best Reuben I've had in years. Meat was tender, thinly sliced, fresh bread, great saurkraut. The others said their food was good, but mine was excellent. I guarantee we will be stopping here anytime we're in Columbia.
Review Source:I really enjoyed this place. Â Good food and even better brew. Â The outdoor seating area is huge and exceptional. Â The Black & Blue Burger was very tasty and paired nicely with the beer battered onion rings and Irish Red Ale. Â I can see why Flt Branch Pub is so popular here. Â Columbia is really a nice town it reminds me of Iowa City in size and feel.
Review Source:Outstanding food and beer, but at peak hours it's nearly impossible to get a table without a lengthy wait. I highly recommend the Kansas City ribs and the Oatmeal Stout beer. The seasonal brews are fantastic, but entire vats can sell out within hours of tapping (I'm looking at you Pumpkin ale!)
Review Source:Flat Branch has been a Brewpub in Columbia for almost two decades. Every beer they serve is brewed in-house and is served in traditional imperial pint sized glasses (that's approx. 20 oz. vs. 16 oz.). Furthermore, they offer a "carry out" service for their beer. You can either provide your own growler (1/2 gallon) or buy one from the Bar and they will fill it up for your take-home pleasure.
They also serve a variety of Americana-styled pub/bar food that is really quite good. If you're looking for casual bar food, this restaurant is the best you can get in Columbia.
The Beer:
They offer a selection of "always on tap" beers that range from silky dark stouts ("Oil Change Stout") to wildly hoppy pale ales that are quite quaffable and will slake the thirst of travelers and revelers alike. Their beer is always high quality and I have only compliments to the care and dedication of their master brewer. They also usually have a wide variety of seasonal or somewhat experimental beer on tap. These beers vary according to availability but are always a joy to experience.
The Food:
This is where Flat Branch falls "flat". While as I said it is fantastic bar food, the fact remains that it IS bar food, and frankly I am unimpressed. Their brick oven pizzas are the best items on the menu, however they could be made better if the crust was thinner (like a traditional Italian pizza). It's too doughy. After that, they do have unique items like "chokes n' cheese" but really, aside from that, nothing on the menu stands out as being very good.
The atmosphere:
This is another place they shine. With a well-shaded outdoor patio and an indoor area that is styled in an industrial-modern fashion, the atmosphere is really great for relaxing and enjoying oneself, though it can get very loud inside at times.
Overall I would say come here for the beer, don't get your hopes up too high about the food, relax, and have a good time. It's a great place to spend an evening with a few friends.
Beer-
Flat Branch not only has an extensive variety of great beers that are mainstays, but great rotating choices as well based on the season. My favorite over the years has been Larry's APA. A flavorful brew with just the right amount of hops with an amazing aroma to boot. Generally have something on tap for just about anyone, from an oil change stout to a honey wheat and everything in between.
Food-
Several long time favorites but this changes seasonally as well. You can never go wrong with a burger cooked to order, choice of cheese and a hearty portion of a side.
Staff-
Flat Branch gets extremely busy daily but employs some of the best people you could find. Generally a great mix of college students beginning their journey up to the seasoned vets with over a decade of service. Due to the busy nature of the restaurant you may not become best friends off the bat but I can say that I've seen some amazing relationships form with regulars and employees that wouldn't be traded for the world.
I had the pleasure of working for Tom, Lance, Larry, and the gang for almost 6 years. I would recommend giving Flat Branch a try more than once to truly get the feel for this wonderful establishment.
I'm not a beer drinker so take my review with a grain of salt if you're stopping by for the beer...
I stopped in on a blustery Friday night and found the place to be backed. Â I was able to weasel my way into a seat at the bar to wait for a table. Â And wait, we did! Â The place was packed-zilla.
My beer drinking companion was a little disappointed that they didn't offer a traditional beer sampler, although he was able to order small glasses of beer to try. Â It was a little odd, but it worked. Â Again, I never ever drink beer but he had me take a sip of the green chili beer. Â It really tasted just like eating a pepper. Â Not sure if that was awesome or awful but it was definitely unique. Â
I had an ok pasta dish and my friend had a salmon dish. Â We were honestly more impressed by the beer than the food, so...I'd suggest eating elsewhere and then heading to this pub for some brews.
Oh, Flat Branch! How I miss basking in the glow of your twinkling patio lights!
If you live in or visit Columbia, you must go here to eat. I say this as girl who has lived in cities famous for food...Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle. This place is hands-down one of my all time favorites.
I've had sooo many things off their menu and have never been disappointed. The chokes & cheese dip is good enough to make you forget the worst day of your life. AND you can put it on your BURGER! Or put it on your grilled chicken sandwich! YUM.
The brick oven pizzas are totally delish. Something else they cook in that brick oven....CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES the size of your face. If you want the cookie, place the order for it as soon as your main course is delivered because it takes 20 minutes to bake. Get it with the Tiger Stripe Ice Cream that is also made right there in CoMo.
The charbroiled romaine salad sounds interesting/weird, but it's delicious. Especially topped with chicken.
Fries are really good and so are the green chili chicken tenders.
And the stout brownie. And the stout float. And the stout.
They brew their own ROOT BEER.
I shed tears missing this place sometimes. :'(
I don't know what's to say about Flat Branch that hasn't been said. It's definitely one of my very favorite restaurants in Columbia, and when the patio is open, it's good for nearly any occasion.
The food for the most part is standard pub food: burgers, fish and chips, pizza. They do have other entrees, but I've never had much of a reason to get them. The sandwiches and pizzas are a great price and more than enough food.
The beer list is great, especially for a brewpub. There seems to always be something for everyone, except the drinker who exclusively orders Bud Light. I personally like the Katy Trail Pale Ale and Ed's IPA, but I've never had anything bad. The only thing I can really say is all their beers tend to be sweet.
The patio is huge and comfy and is without a doubt the best you'll find in CoMo.
Flat Branch is a good place to get standard American pub food and drinks in Columbia. When the patio is open it's nice to sit outside, and it's the kind of place you can go with friends or your parents or a group or really anyone and have a good time. The downside is that in the evenings the wait can be around an hour, which is frustrating, but everyone knows a good thing when they taste it.
The Hot Soft Pretzel Twists with Cheesy Spinach Dip ($6.49) and Buffalo Wings ($8.99) are good starters. The California Chicken Club Sandwich is so delicious ($8.99) and the Smoked Pork Sandwich ($7.49) is pretty killer. I've also had the Pub Burger ($7.99), which is a good standard burger. Everything is fresh and seems home made, from the artisan bun to the delicious fries. I did take a Dutch friend and he commented about the California Chicken Club that "this is not foccacia," but if you're from Missouri I'm sure you won't be bothered.
I take off one star because I'm just not a fan of their beer. Maybe I'm crazy. I've had the Honey Wheat and the Oil Change Oatmeal Stout, neither of which are for me. Other people rave over it, so go ahead and try for yourself.
Have you ever been dreaming peacefully, when all of the sudden you are attacked by delicious pretzel twists accompanied by large vats of spinach and artichoke dip for bodyguards? Â Surprised, your only defense is to start eating the pretzels, with the help of your sidekick, zesty spinach dip? Â THEN have you ever further dreamed of swimming in delicious microbrew?
That is how I feel whenver I go to Flat Branch. Â It's a GREAT place. Â Wonderful food, dirt cheap prices on micros and an awesome outside seating area. Â I think this is one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia for the money, and one that I frequent when returning to visit the city of my alma mater. Â If you enjoy beer, good food, sports, outdoors, oxygen, meatloaf, hamburgers, pretzels, beer, delicious, beer, or _____, then you will love Flat Branch. Â
Sure, the service can be a little lacking, but what do you expect in a college town? Â Who cares, for a few bucks a pint, I'll drink away my waitresses shortcomings in the company of friends. Â Awesome place.
Wooohooo!
I was really unimpressed with this Columbia, MO eatery/brewery. With all of the positive reviews, it seemed like this would be a no-brainer.
Here are my complaints (in no particular order):
- There was a long wait at 2 pm... really? It seemed like people were eating fast enough, but the bussers were in no huge rush to clear tables and turn that sh*t around.
- The setup of this place is really awkward. There's really nowhere to wait to be seated unless you go to the bar. And the servers bringing out large trays of food always seem to be in the way.
- Food is bleh! I tried a few different menu items and they were both bland/nothing to write home about. A few reviewers compared the food to Applebee's but I think Applebee's does way better.
- The root beer that they tout is way too sweet. Under normal circumstances, I'll pick a soda over water. After taking one sip of the root beer, I stuck with water for the rest of the meal.
A few additional notes:
- I didn't try any of the beer... And it has to be good. Otherwise, why would people flock here?
- Our server was super sweet. Very attentive and great at anticipating our needs. And I saw her lug around a tray of food that was half of her body weight with ease.
- The outdoor patio area looks really cool. On a fall day, this would be a fun place to hang out. Just eat before you come :)
Since I don't live in CoMo and have some other faves close by, I doubt I'd be back. But if someone had a specific beer to sample, I could be persuaded otherwise.
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