Crowd is much cooler and more mellow in the summer, as I predicted. I've now tried all the beers, and I have to say they're growing on me. My favorite is still the ESB, but I appreciate the Wheat - this is probably what Bud should be. Straightforward, tasty, crisp, and refreshing. Simple but well-done.
I had some BBQ the other day. It was pretty damn good, and I still think H-G has the best food in Columbia, or at least the best food I've had in town. It tends toward heavy, but I'd come here before Mr. Friendly's every time.
Overall a cool place, nice mellow vibe, good booze, and good food. What's not to like?
Was kind of disappointed in this place. The beer was pretty mediocre considering it was brewed in house. The food was pretty decent but thought a place like this would have had a better selection and quality of food. I liked this place but at the same time was disappointed if that makes any sense. Im not sure if i will be going back.
Review Source:We were kind of disappointed in this place. I ordered the pizza and was expecting fresh ingredients, instead I got this tiny pre-made/ frozen crust pizza with not so good toppings. The beer was pretty mediocre too. As for the atmosphere, it kind of seemed dirty to me. I really didn't care for the stuffed rabid dog/hyena hanging on the wall (creepy). Now don't get me wrong I have respect for outdoorsy sportsman decor, but I was not feeling it here.
Review Source:I am pretty much writing this on the ambiance of the place (since my dinner consisted of just a side salad). Â Given that the name of the place includes "brewery" in it - the bar has as decor what would be the contraptions of what beer is made. Â Not too barish and you can order a meal.
Review Source:This place has a bit of a Midwestern vibe, so I felt right at home with the animal heads on the walls and the craft beer. It was a warm night and rather loud inside, so we sat out on one of the sidewalk tables.
I tried the Belgian wheat beer and it was decent. The hummus plate with veggies was pretty good too, but raw celery is off-putting at a restaurant. I just disapprove of that in general.
But onto the really, really good part: My delicious steak. A HUGE NY Strip steak for $16. That could be the price of a salad at another restaurant. I had the bavette steak at Motor Supply, but I think it was double the price. Maybe a better cut, but still. What I'm getting at is that the value is wonderful for this dish. It was so good that we tried to go twice in one weekend, only to discover they are closed on Sundays. Curses!
Even though I really like the atmosphere, which was only missing a giant mounted moose head, I don't think I'd go back. Hunter-Gatherer plays into this whole rustic trend that's putting planks on tables and serving up gourd-based casseroles and duck fat things.The upper level of the restaurant gets a cool view of the bar and other tables ordering rustic things.
I ordered a not-so-hunting lodge take on a bleu cheese and meat pizza. I was hankering for pizza, and the menu may have said it had been made in a fancy oven, so I was sold. It wasn't the best choice for where we were, I'll grant that, but the pizza wasn't anything special. The pie was kind of tiny and not worth how much it cost.
My friend ordered mac 'n' cheese with a Goldfish crust. Wait. Goldfish crust? That's kind of awesome, bringing in a childhood snack for a childhood comfort food favorite. Kind of neat, playful even, but not what I'd expect in a restaurant with dark lighting and thick wood. If I went back, I'd have to give their specials a try, since those seem more to be in line with the way the place feels.
The place wants to have a pub vibe, but I think they're a little too stuffy to be your next neighborhood joint.
Ugh. What a disappointment. The service was fine and the building is beautiful but I have nothing else positive to say. They only offer four beers and two of them were sold out. The Pale Ale and ESB tasted almost exactly the same and they were nothing impressive. The food, though was the biggest disappointment. I got a pizza with goat cheese, prosciutto, and red pepper. Sounds gourmet, right? They might as well have served a Totino's microwave pizza with goat cheese on it. It was a little personal pan pizza with tiny square toppings that had to have been frozen at some point. I was excited to try a local brewery and left wishing I had saved some money and had a good beer and frozen pizza at home.
Review Source:I've been to Hunter-Gatherer several times in the past, but decided that after my visit last night, a review was in order. This place is super cozy and kind of has a tavern feel to it. Any place with taxidermy animals on the walls gets my vote. I love that they brew their own beer here and the crowd is always very mixed, age-wise. I also like that they have a few vegetarian options on the menu. I've had the black beans and rice before which I'd recommend, but this time I ordered the Tofu Marsala and really appreciated when the server asked if I'd like it to be made vegan. My boyfriend ordered the Pecan-Crusted Trout which he devoured. As some people have said here, the portions aren't your typical American, "eat half now and feel stuffed and then have an entire other meal for later" size, but you leave feeling full and satisfied and the ingredients and flavors are quality.
Review Source:Tonight was my first time here...luckily got there before it got too crowded. Â I don't know our server's name, but she was superb and SO nice. Â I love the interior of the building: so open and fun, and next time I want to sit upstairs! Â Now to the food, I got the special of duck breast with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Â The duck was a bit chewy and didn't have the crispy skin I was hoping for, but still tasted good. Â I also tasted the bacon wrapped quail which had an interesting flavor. Â Overall the prices were a bit higher than I expected for smaller portions, but the fast and friendly service made up for it. Â Be prepared to wait at the door for a table if you come at a busy time though; there is no one to seat you so you have to run and grab!
Review Source:Things I love most at HG: the mac and cheese, the Bruce, the specials, Â the hummus plate. To be honest, I am not the biggest beer fan, but my husband is and he loves all of their brews.You can even buy a growler to take home. Their wine options, though limited, have always been pretty tasty. The atmosphere is laid-back, and I love when they have live jazz...
Review Source:We stopped in for a late lunch on the way to Georgia last Friday. Â I thought it would be nice to stretch our legs a bit and walk around the USC campus after a real lunch.
I had the crab cake sandwich with a salad, my husband had a cheeseburger with the hashbrowns. The crab cake was solid meat on a crusty buttered roll, the house vinaigrette was yummy on mixed greens (no iceberg!); my husband's burger was gone *very* quickly but I did get a bite of the crispy, delicious hashbrowns!
We tried both the hefeweizen and the ESB. The ESB was right up my husband's alley with a stout hoppiness, while my wheat beer was tasty without that sweet characterization you sometimes get. I do wish they'd been a few degrees colder, but that's a personal preference. A couple more selections on the in-house brews would also be amazing. I saw they feature a seasonal black patent ale and I'd love to see a rotating seasonal tap!
Service was unobtrusive, but we got everything we needed in short order, especially considering it was near 3pm and we chose to sit upstairs.
Thanks for a nice lunch. We'll be back should we find ourselves in the area.
Five stars, hands down. See my quick tip, add to that great service, artsy ambience with bare brick, African tribal artifacts centered on the giant beer vats in the center and you have a hip but comfortable setting that could fit right in in The Village in NYC. All at an affordable price. (Dinner w/hand crafted pale ale and excellent side Greek salad for less than $20.00.
Review Source:So this is where people hang out in Columbia??!!! Â I had dinner at HG w/two friends last night and was amazed to see people and life, actually felt like I was in a real city!...lol...
The atmosphere is open and laid back. Â They have several wooden tables and chairs on the first level that make it easy for small and large groups to dine. Â I loved the brick walls and high ceilings, it really does have an urban oasis feel to it. Â They have a second level that is open too where diners from both levels can see each other, this adds to the communal tone of the restaurant.
Did the food and service live up to the atmosphere? Â YES! Â Aside from the small annoyance of having to scope the place with razor sharp eyes for a free table (there's no hostess to seat you), once you're at a table, everything is good. Â But be prepared to stand at the entrance for a while before you land a free table, I saw several people last night stuck standing because the place was soo busy. Â Once we snagged a place to eat at, our service was terrific. Â Sylvia was at our table and though she was beyond ridiculously slammed, every interaction she had with us was soo awesome, she was super, super nice, and very responsive to anything we asked her. Â HG is very lucky to have her on their team. Â The food too was equally great. Â I had their "Bad Trip" pizza which has feta, spinach, green onions, and mozzarella on it, and I loved it. Â I especially liked that it wasn't greasy and that the crust was crispy. Â It tasted delicious but I didn't feel stuffed and gross after eating the whole thing, which is a major bonus for pizza! One of my friends got their "Nance" pizza, which has Italian sausage, peppers, onions and mozzarella, and she liked hers a lot too. Our other friend got their chicken gyro and also had a great meal. Â For an appetizer we shared a hummus platter. Â Of all the food the appetizer was the only one that fell short, but other than that, the food was just as good as the vibe of the venue and the fantastic service we received.
All in all, I'm looking forward to another night out at HG :)
I have loved this brewpub since the day it opened. My only criticism is that it's a little too loud for me on live music nights, but I'm probably in the minority on that point. Jazz lovers overrun the place on live nights. The black bean dip is a favorite, and the food is generally excellent. On very busy evenings, you just have to be patient...the wait staff do hustle. If you like a dark eurostyle beer, try the Ye Ol' Bastard...it's fun to say and to drink. Cheers and pass the dip!
Review Source:I went here tonight for my brothers birthday and the staff was totally rude! They told us we needed to be patient..when we nicely asked if we could reserve a table . Then we sat outside for twenty minutes and nobody came over to take a beer order. Our experience was horrible!
I hope the manager knows yall lost a party of twelve people  for being total jerks. This place had horrible customer service...do not recommend!!!!
This was on my radar when passing through Columbia because there is no reason to pass up a local brewery/feeding hole in a college town. This seems to be the drinkers' and foodies' place to go.
Also, as a souvenir junkie, I found that the $5 t-shirt definitely made my day. The food and beer is also extremely well-priced, and the service is quick and attentive.
I went with the ESB Gouda and Cheddar dip, which I thought was going to be fondue consistency, which I do not particularly enjoy. It came out to be the texture of pimento cheese, which I really like! It was fairly standard, with a little punch provided by the cheddar. It could have used a bit of fresh finesse, with some veggies or something. I liked the crisp ciabatta served alongside the dip.
H&G has my vote for a local dive, in both food and drink categories. If you are visiting the down, skip the upscale bars and restaurants and head here for eating on the down-low and on the budget!
I don't get why this place earns such rave reviews. Â If it were just being rated on atmosphere, beer, and service then I'd give it a 5. Â But the food is just kinda boring. Â Yes, there are vegetarian options. Â Yes, there are burgers, pizza, appetizers, and entrees. Â But having sampled dishes from all the categories, I couldn't name one thing that would bring me back on its merit alone. Â
All that said, I'll go back when my friends suggest it because the beer and atmosphere overcome my objections to the food.
Great vibe. An old, run down looking brick building with their brewing vats just behind the bar.
Beers are great. Smooth, naturally carbonated, flavorful, and balanced. Started off with the ESB. Just a touch nutty, ruddy, and medium bodied.
Ordered burger and it came with not fries, but amazing skillet hash browns. Buttery, salt n peppered, and truly made to order. Burger itself is juicy yummy and well dressed.
A great find for someone just traveling through and seeking a good brew.
You can't walk right into the Hunter-Gatherer without feeling like you've completely left most of Columbia, SC. It's a place that allows you to escape the outside of the four walls that encompass the building, and relax in a place of good vibrations. When I'm drinking good quality beer with good company, the environment is crucial to me. The dark atmosphere is engrossing and you could get lost for hours chatting with friends and drinking the perfect liquids that come from the taps.
The Hunter-Gatherer fills my beer-loving heart and good-food-loving soul to each their own content. They brew their beers right there on the spot, one of every style you could ask for and even seasonals. The food is prepared with fresh ingredients and is portioned just right. I've been here for lunch and dinner more times than I can count if I had three sets of hands, and every single visit has been fantastic.
You simply can't ask for a better place to kick back, chit chat, eat a great meal, and drink a great beer all in one place at one time.
Let's be serious, folks. Â Hunter Gatherer, when I found it, basically saved my life. Â Though it's located in a city that doesn't really speak my language, Hunter Gatherer gave me a place in Columbia where I felt at home. Â When I know I have Hunter Gatherer waiting for me after work, my heart thrills, just a little bit.
I love the dark, paneled atmosphere and the attentive but unobtrusive service. Â (There isn't much turnover among the staff, which says something about the management style and also helps contribute to the vibe of the place.) Â I love their beer - lovely and smooth and perfect after a long day. Â I love, love, love their menu, which is pretty evenly split between veg. and non-veg. options.
I have tried and failed to replicate their black beans and rice at home, particularly the awesome salsa verde, which no success. Â It alone would keep me coming back.
Also, the roasted fingerling potatoes and garlic with curried ketchup? Â DIVINITY ON A PLATE.
To round it off, HG is one of the few places in Columbia that doesn't have an overly fratty vibe - some college students, but mostly grad students and young working folks (who've moved on from their fratty period). Â Yes, please.
Any place that makes their own beer, and its good, is a winner in my heart. Â I love a good liquid bread.
Their food is also stellar if a little pricey. Â It is a nice atmosphere, nice servers and great, live music on occasion.
You can see the brewing equipment which adds to the ambiance as well as the old, refurbished building feel. Â Right near USC so very convenient. Â On some nights, though, parking can be a little bit of an issue.
On a side note my teacher who taught me about real hunter and gatherers in western civ at USC highly recommended this place so it must be good! Â ;)
Great Beer Joint!
This place is all about the beer, beer, beer! The food, at least on the night we ate here, sucks, sucks, sucks! OVERLY SALTY! and a tad bit bland!
Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Ale House is a cool place to hang out and get a drink- more of a standard south Texas beer joint than a place where one would go to get a good meal! The people, both the staff and fellow patrons, are super nice! Just hanging out having a good time!
The food... we ordered the Prince Edward Island Mussels
Steamed in HG Pale Ale with prosciutto, chickpeas and garlic butter. So super salty! I don't think I actually saw any prosciutto??
Pan-Seared Scallops With grilled romaine, cucumbers, roasted red peppers with a sweet chipoltle vinaigrette. So super, super salty!
The Bad Trip Pizza- Spinach, feta & green onion. Crust was a tad bit over done- It just lacked some Zing!
The Beer...They say this is their pride and joy- and this is so true! I am no beer connoisseur. However, this beer is super tasty! And it packs a punch! I tried the Pale Ale, Wheat , and the Extra Special Bitter (ESB) Each was very good! with the ESB being the best of the bunch! Not overly bitter, with a nice mellow taste.
The waitress said they have a jazz band play on Thursday nights- this would be the time to go! hang out have a few drinks... The atmosphere is nice, mellow, semi dark, and a maybe a little rustic - very comfortable! The food- maybe I ordered the wrong stuff? The beer super good!
PS my wife said they make a good Manhattan!
As soon as I walked into Hunter-Gatherer, I felt right at home. Â The cozy exposed brick and weathered wood with subdued lighting makes for a comfortable environment, and the Wednesday night crowd was lively but not overpowering. Â The music was a pleasant selection of classic and contemporary alternative rock (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was on when I arrived). Â Great first impression.
I sat at the bar, as is my custom while dining alone on the road, and sampled a few of their beers over the course of my dinner. Â First, the food. Â I went for the pulled pork sandwich, which was filled with tender but not particularly exciting meat, and I thought the hashbrowns instead of fries was an interesting but unsatisfying twist as a side. Â The meal was just okay.
On to the beer. Â Bearing in mind that I'm a fan of big, hoppy west coast style pale ales, I found their pale to be a fairly refreshing and relatively light-bodied alternative. Â It has a nice malt character that's not overly hopped and finishes nice and clean - a solid general purpose beer in my book. Â The ESB was medium bodied and really rather unremarkable, although still quite drinkable. Â I sampled the Ye Olde Bastard seasonal, which packs a bit of a punch at 7% ABV, but it isn't exciting with a middle-of-the-road maltiness and lingering hop bitterness that didn't encourage me to try another. Â Not being a fan of wheat beers, I took a pass on that and finished the evening with another Pale.
While I enjoyed the atmosphere of the building, the food and drink left me a bit underwhelmed, although far from disappointed. Â It's certainly worth at least one visit, and I know I won't argue at the prospect of second should my travels bring me back to the Columbia area.
Yes, the beer. Â That's what it's all about. Â Stay away from the apps, they are overpriced for the amount of food you get... Get more beer! Â Try all the types they make on site. Â But be careful - I don't even think the owner of HG knows how high the alcohol content is in his brews. Â And honestly, it probably varies for every batch he makes. Â I can't tell you how many people I know who've stated the classic: Â "I just had only three beers... I don't know why I'm so wasted." Â That's cause they were HG beers, friends!
If you absolutely must eat (after all there are many types of beer to try), get a burger. Â Usually one of the best in town. Â It's hand-formed, around a half-pound, and made with top quality beef. Â No 80-20 stuff here. Â For the more affluent among us, there are some tremendous options that use Caw Caw Creek pork that is absolutely fantastic. Â But really, just look at the chalkboard and see what's being cooked up special for the night and order from there. Â The chef at HG is very creative and often blends tastes from multiple cultures into a single dish.
But really, what am i doing? Â I'm getting away from what really matters. Â The beer. Â Just go and try the beer.
I'm not much of a microbrewery person, so I'm not wild about the beer. Â I was also fairly surprised that over at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchowhound.com&s=78af27adf2db658402a0addd5077927f20c32f5ddcdd756bfb7bd5815fe22ad4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://chowhound.com</a>, a few folks touted H-G's cheeseburger as the best in Columbia.
I'm always looking for the best burger around, and the burger I had at H-G last night wasn't even close to being in the Top 10 in Columbia. Â It was verging on being a charcoal briquette on a bun, and the thin layer of cheese was easy to miss. Â I didn't care for the hashbrowns either. Â (They weren't seasoned at all.) Â Overall the meal -- beer included -- was unimpressive.
For the best burger and beer combo in Columbia, check out the Cock N Bull on Rosewood.
Man....you can see the beer brewin' from the street! Â And you can hear the straight-ahead jazz kickin' at the front door! Â I have been going on Thursdays to hear Skip do his thing and put down a couple of the home-brewed porters. Â The fact that there isn't much on the menu that strikes me is not important....'cause they had me at jazz and micro-brewery. Â
The décor in this place leaves a little to be desired, but it fits in with the "hunter-gatherer" theme.  The place features lots of rustic woods and antique tables.  The service is good and the crowd is genteel and educated (on Thursdays).  Nice place.
This is what a brew pub is: open, loud, plenty of variety and good times at larger tables. That's what Hunter-Gatherer is.
I went in and tried all of their beers and they were all good with the 80 shilling standing out as their prime example.
Met some locals and chatted it up for a long time spending a good hour with them before wandering over to my group's table.
The food was good as well and they have a variety of specials. Give it a try!
This is the kind of place you either love or hate. Â I'm in the love it category. I had several of my graduate classes at the long table downstairs and it was an experience I'll never forget. Â When I was back in town on business I just had to swing by and hoped things hadn't changed. Â I was not disappointed.
The food might not be the best there is, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Â The place goes from empty to jumping in minutes and is one of the places where you can see senior citizens, professors, graduate students, undergrads, and business people all enjoying the place together. Â Be aware that service does take awhile since there is no host(ess) so don't expect an American style meal. Â If you have been to Europe expect the service to be similar and you will enjoy your meal more.
The Hummus plate is probably the best thing on the menu and easily can make a meal.
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