When I'm slightly hung over mid morning on Sunday I head to Motor Supply Man. I get a table outside order what ever the special is, could be fish or fried lobster. Everything I've had from the biscuits to the stone mill grits is superb! I wash it all down with Bloody Mary or a nice cup of coffee to soothe my soul. Lunch is also great, but get there early or suffer a line or the overflowed parking lot. Local is Better ! Local is Great!
Review Source:Highly recommend this restaurant. Â Who would have thunk it in Columbia, SC. Â Very cool atmosphere, great staff and service. Â I sat at the bar and ate, as I was traveling for work by myself. Â The bar is incredible, great beer menu and great wine menu. Â The menu changes and everything is fresh. Â I had the mussels as an app and had Sole fish (I believe that is right, I am writing this review a little later than usual). All I know is I will be going back whenever in Columbia!
Review Source:You had me at handcrafted bourbon.
Perfectly made, with this delightfully smoky finish that just left you wanting more. Â I started off with the bourbon and ginger, but then just ended up with their bourbon on the rocks because it was just that good. Â And I don't ever drink anything on the rocks, so that's saying something.
The whole place was fantastic, a chic little bistro that you'd find in Europe, most certainly not in Columbia, South Carolina.  A friend of mine who went to USC recommended it, and it absolutely did not disappoint.  The menu changes daily, part of the farm to table concept so  many restaurants try to abide by but end up failing miserably.  MSCB excelled here, with the staff knowing the ins and outs of the plates, ensuring each patron was more than happy with their decision.  I think everyone at my table had a case of food envy, not because they were displeased with their own choice, but because everyone else's plate looked equally delicous.  There's something to be said for a place that knows food, and more importantly, knows flavors and how they can all blend together.
If you're in Columbia, whatever the reason may be, go here. Â Maybe for every meal possible!
I love the idea of this place (different nightly menu, some locally provided foods) and the ambiance and the location. Very cute, modern chic but withouth beige and camel everywhere (appreciated!). Free valet parking even on a Friday night. Reservations are simple with Open Table. I especially loved the mosaic hostess stand!
Food:
We got PEI mussels in a miso broth. Some of the plumpest mussels I've ever seen, and I've been to PEI a few times. Broth was a tad too salty (miso has that tendency in my opinion, so you have to be careful). I'd order it again though. Delicious.
Then I made a mistake. Oy. A bad bad mistake. Because the menu is daily, they have a veggie option. It seems its always a pasta option? And not vegan, FYI. I got neufenchatel panko crusted macaroni. It was... borderline inedible. As in, I am so glad I devourced the mussels because I took two bites and thought "CRAP WHY DID I ORDER THAT?"... It had North Carolina Ramps in it too, so it made me concerned I would never like these things.... but I had them later (at Husk in Charleston) and know I'm a fan....
It was equivalent of dorm food. For $18.
On the other hand, my mom got some chicken dish and it was unbelievable she said (I took the menu with me, I will update later).
The Best restaurant in town hands down! Great daily menu. Service awesome. Food quality great and eclectic menu. Awesome salads. We come here every year during Masters week and it keeps getting better. Highly recommend. Server at bar was awesome,he's been there 3 years and you can tell he loves his job so management must be doing its job.
Review Source:There aren't many places for fine dining in Columbia. Â We came here for my husbands birthday when we lived in Columbia. Â It was ok. Â Nothing special. Â I can't even remember what I ordered that night... Â Menu was hand written, I do remember that part. Â It's a cute little restaurant for date night, but I definitely wouldn't go back.
Review Source:With the rave reviews, I couldn't NOT go to Motor Supply.
It's a terrific little bistro that we checked out on a Sunday night (they also serve brunch and lunch, and are one of the only area restaurants open on Sunday nights).
Their menu is handwritten daily, so it changes, but it includes some really wonderful "New American" cuisine. If you see the bavette steak on there, you're gonna want to order it. Demi glaze, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus and a big hunk of perfectly cooked meat. I'm still thinking about it a month later. The fiance got the biggest pork chop I've ever seen, which was also good but we both agreed the steak was the winner. So tasty, in fact, that the fiance returned there for it the following weekend with his parents.
Enjoyed a terrific pre-show dinner with friends.
Varied and creative salad choices followed by a delicious main course. Split the flour-less chocolate dessert. Â Excellent wine and beer choices.
Service was  knowledgeable, friendly and attentive.
My third visit and while the menu is always changing, I have yet to have anything but a delicious meal and a terrific dining experience
Dinner reservations recommended. Â Great choice for an outstanding, upscale dining experience.
We stopped by for brunch and they seated us right away even though they were busy. I was waiting for my husband and no waiter came up to offer me water or anything until he sat down, hence the no five stars.
They offered homemade eggnog but ran out by the time I put my order in :(
We had quiche which was amazing, and my husband had the biscuits and gravy.
Everything was great food wise.
Love this place. The food is beyond compare. I had the white shrimp & sausage gravy over pureed cauliflower and it was fantastic. We always sit on the patio for a nice romantic experience. The service is great, our wine glasses are always full! I would recommend the Motor Supply HIGHLY to anyone looking for a speacial night out!
Review Source:I've been to Motor Supply several times and have been rather disappointed each time. Â The menu changes daily and tries to live up to expectations of a Southern fine dining establishment, but falls short. Â Most of the time, there is nothing on the menu that I even want to order. Â It's like the chef tries really too hard to be "upscale". Â Just try to cook some real food once and a while. Â I much prefer one of Motor Supply's competitors located on Greene St.
Review Source:Recently I stopped by Motor Supply for lunch. Â After reading a several reviews, my expectations were high...unfortunately, they were not met.
I ordered the crispy duck thigh confit, which was served with a blueberry glaze and  mashed sweet potatoes.  I am only half certain that the leg and thigh were in fact duck, and not a bland, flavorless, chicken leg/thigh that was over cooked in duck fat.  The glaze also underwhelmed.  As for the sweet potatoes, a dish which would almost have to be intentionally sabotaged to screw up, I can confirm that they were, in fact, not sabotaged.  Buttery, sweet, with a pinch of spice, made just like they are in virtually every competent kitchen in the world. Â
As for the service, the server was very attentive, courteous, and prompt...no issues there.
Perhaps I picked a bad dish on a bad day? Maybe I'll have to give them another try another time.
** (the Tiffia E review was actually written by me -she is our daughter)
My wife and I were visiting from Arizona and searched high and low for "the best place to eat" while in Columbia...I believe we found it. We consider ourselves "serious foodies" and wanted to experience something unique while dining abroad - we were not disappointed. The dinner menu that night was very unique and creative; we had 3 courses to split and enjoyed each of them. Order the "Butcher board" sampler of meats and pate (our starter). Next was a great fried tofu salad with local greens and an amazing dressing. Our main dish was what was called a "Porterhouse Pork" - Awesome.
Service was great and knowledgeable; cocktails were creative and delicious too. Do yourself a favor and spend the money on wine and food at this great restaurant.
My wife and I were visiting from Arizona and searched high and low for "the best place to eat" while in Columbia...I believe we found it. We consider ourselves "serious foodies" and wanted to experience something unique while dining abroad - we were not disappointed. The dinner menu that night was very unique and creative; we had 3 courses to split and enjoyed each of them. Order the "Butcher board" sampler of meats and pate (our starter). Next was a great fried tofu salad with local greens and an amazing dressing. Our main dish was what was called a "Porterhouse Pork" - Awesome.
Service was great and knowledgeable; cocktails were creative and delicious too. Do yourself a favor and spend the money on wine and food at this great restaurant.
I've been here for brunch and dinner, and enjoyed their unique menu. Â Very interesting art work inside, and it's somewhere you need to go at least once if you're in Columbia (Danny DeVito says so!) Â I wouldn't say the food or service is exceptional, but it is different than most of the other restaurants around.
Review Source:Manager George is a real gem and he did his best to salvage the experience. Â In fact, he was so sincere and attentive he was almost successful. Â
The food and service, however, was more than underwhelming enough to make his efforts wasted in vain. Â "Crispy Skinned Duck" it read on the menu. Â What came out, however, was bland, overdone, "soggy skinned" duck I actually had to spit out in my napkin to avoid gagging. Â The accompanying sweet potato mash, though cold, was quite flavorful. Â The "creative" cocktails were just wrong (stick to the originals if you can't improve) and the server, while mostly nonexistent, did stop by once in a while to pretend to clean the table (just wiped the fried duck eye from the table onto the floor) and mess up our bills.
Don't even get me started on the creepy wall art... human body and animal head art a la Donnie Darko just made me feel guilty..
Ultimately, and this is hard to say, now I spell disappintment: M-O-T-O-R-S-U-P-P-L-Y.
I have heard great reviews from many friends, so I've been there many times. However, I've always been disappointed with my meal.
The handwritten menu leads you to believe you're in for a delicious gourmet dinner, however, the actual offering is far less than the description sounded.
I would never recommend Motor Supply, but I'll go along with friends to at least enjoy their company.
The atmosphere is very nice, beautiful wood floors, lovely artwork and soft lighting. A good place for a drink before dinner.
Several coworkers and I visited the Motor Supply Company when we were in Columbia last week. We had a great dinner here after booking a five top for an 8:30pm reservation on Open Table just 1 1/2 hours prior as we were sipping beverages at Wet Willies down the street.
Though it took them a few minutes to seat us, they accommodated us on all levels. Several people in our group asked for substitutions and special requests which were graciously dealt with. They even split our check up, giving each one of our party a check for food and one for alcohol, a major pain in the rear.
I would talk about the food but it will probably change by the time you get there. Â The chef changes the menu daily. Whatever sauce the escargot was in was awesome, though. My only gripe was that the portions were just a bit on the small side but that is fine dining for you sometimes. The entrees offered a variety, two cuts of beef, duck, shrimp, rockfish, etc. with a nice array of salads and appetizers. Â I am not sure but I gather that this is one of the better restaurants in town or at least in this area of Columbia called The Vista.
Oh my I love this place. Â It's not the cheapest but is reasonable for a special night. Â The menu's are handwritten, food seasonal and I believe local. Â I think they change the menu every night. Â The menu is definitely unique. Â If you are a traditional steak and potatoes type of person you may want to go elsewhere. Â The flavor pairings are unusual but amazing. Â They make an amazing duck and the bread and cheese plate is to die for. Â Desert was awesome as well. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the wine list, it's extensive!!
Review Source:Graduated from USC in 2011 and have since moved away but I will never forget Motor Supply...
This restaurant has found a great thing and should stick with it. Simple, handwritten menus with seasonal favorites and surprises. Price is reasonable for a nice date or special occasion. Great full bar with a great bartender. Can get a little cozy, but service has never left me in a bad mood. If the weather is nice, ask to sit on the porch!
Favorite is the pork porterhouse with sweet potato mash. Yes please.
Although mine was the least expensive entree on the menu - I still think that $18 is terribly pricey for a bowl of undercooked (crunchy) fettuccine noodles with two pieces of tofu. Â Though I assumed the lack of tofu was bad luck, I checked with my dining mate to find he only received one, though his noodles were cooked all the way through. Â He was able to eat his dinner, but mine was practically inedible. Â I can't remember a time in recent history when I had turned down a doggie bag (I hate waste and love leftovers), but I did this time. Â
I would NOT recommend this place for vegetarians. Â The menu is loaded with meat options - mashed potatoes with a steak on top, rice with fish on top, mashed potatoes with pork on top - but is seriously lacking in creative vegetarian fare. Â I also would liked to have known ahead of time that the fettuccine plate (labeled as "pad thai") would contain overcooked fried egg. Â I know eggs are usually an ingredient of Pad Thai, but I assumed that Motor Supply would advertise the ingredient on the menu as "local, farm fresh eggs," as they are known to do with other ingredients - whether they are local or not. Â One of my dining mates actually called ahead and requested a vegan meal ahead of time. Â Apparently, the chef is unaware of the term "vegan."
After that $60+ meal that I did not eat - i went home, poured myself a bowl of cereal, enjoyed the crap out of it, and vowed not to go back to Motor Supply unless I happen to hear a rave review from a vegetarian friend. Â Anybody can make meat taste good (I certainly did not give it up because I didn't like it), but a true chef can impress without it.
I love Motor Supply - Not even going to try to hide it. It's a refined, eclectic-chic, 'ladies who lunch' kind of place you'll want to take your aunt or your favorite gay to again and again.
+3 of 5 stars for the atmosphere and attentive service. They were really legging it, hustling. Really great for those in your group who're extra fussy - a bit diva-ish - and I think you know what I'm talking about here.
+4 stars for the food - was above and beyond tasty. The rustic guacamole - scraped the bottom of the ramekin and wanted more. The cornbread crusted catfish with basil aioli - stealing that idea and serving as soon as possible at my next dinner with pals. I took a great picture of this when it came to the table.
I'd marry the catfish if South Carolina would let me. I'm not even being funny here.
Pros:
good atmosphere
the menu changes
the hosts/hostesses are nice
Good beer selection but nothing on draft.
Cons:
Both steaks we ordered were burnt. I'm sure they were trying to get a char on the outside but when you order a steak medium and it taste like beef jerky it's totally not worth $24.
The shrimp and grits were cold and really didn't seem to have too much flavor.
Our server seemed like he was lost or just in a daze.
If you're looking for a place to bring a date you really want to impress, the only thing that will impress her is how much you paid for her meal.
Solution:  Goto Terra just down the road, there food is always on point and  in the same price range. Also, the service is incredible there.
The quality of service I received and the detail put into my food deserves five stars. However, I have to give this restaurant four. I ordered the tempura fried lobster despite the fact that I dislike tempura thinking a chef who can get me to like a dish with tempura is worth ordering from regularly. Unfortunately, it didn't quite meet my expectations. The pairings they had for the dish was great, but the lobster lacked a certain taste to bind the whole dish or perhaps just a pinch of salt. It was good, but tiring after half the dish. If you enjoy sweet dishes, this one would be for you.
Other than that, I wish the server would give us imitate details about dishes we had questions about. It's all good is relative, and it certainly doesn't describe how it tastes.
The food is good and exotic for regular Columbia residents, but certainly worth trying if you want to branch out into higher quality dining. They are very keen about saving seats for those with reservations so I'd recommend making one before heading there.
I am visiting my friends and they wanted to take me to the Motor Supply Company for a great meal. Â We showed up for our 9pm reservation and the restaurant is nice. Â The decor is nice and the building is obviously older. Â The Hostess seats us right next to another table in an otherwise empty restaurant - one of my pet peeves. Â I was in the restroom when we were sat or I would have asked to be moved. Â Once we were seated and waiting for the drinks, one of our party knocked a roach looking bug off the table. Â It might have been a singular event, as I didn't see any other insects anywhere during the meal, however it really dampened the mood.
The waiter was pleasant, knowledgeable about specific dishes, but otherwise didn't really offer any information proactively. Â My friend had asked for an appetizer that, when he had it last time, had blown his socks off the last time he was there and what arrived was not presented in the same manner as before, thus the disappointment started. Â They grilled the bread giving it a great appearance, but it tasted very metallic. The portions of the appetizer were placed on a plate rather than the butcher's block previously giving us the feeling of them not wanting to put much effort into it.
 When the Entree's arrived, 3 of the 4 were top of the game:  well prepared and flavorful if not otherwise creative.  The Duck, the Pasta and the Snapper.  Being the unlucky 4th, I had the shrimp gumbo which resembled gumbo in name only as what I was served was neither Creole or Cajun.  The Shrimp weren't tailed - they peeled and cleaned the shrimp but left the tails on them like shrimp cocktail shrimp and put in the mixture.  Thus I had to fish each shrimp out of the 'gumbo' and remove the tails.  The gumbo was weak and it seemed like a poor mixture of red peppers, canned tomatoes and okra.  I couldn't discern any celery or onion and it was served on a bed of over cooked rice.  They should watch food network more and figure out what gumbo really is.
 At the end of the meal, they couldn't get us out of there faster.  They tepidly asked us if we wanted coffee or desert and immediately left the check.  Since the menu is different day to day, I couldn't reasonably expect a better execution next time.  My local friends however assure me the food there is normally really good.  From my perspective, I would say spend less money for better food and service elsewhere.
Super quaint place to go for brunch! We had 7 in our group and from the get go the experience was really positive.
The first thing that I liked was they gave us a nice ROUND table outside in the back patio and it was ideal for us to have an inclusive discussion. I'm not a big fan of long rectangular tables where you inevitable miss talking to someone in the group. I know a lot of restaurants just don't have round tables, so when we got seated at Motor City, it was a pleasant surprise. This was a major plus in my book.
The second thing I really liked was that the entrees automatically came with a side of fruit. A lot of places offer an unhealthier side but at Motor City, they serve your dish with a side of fresh fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe, etc.).
My veggie quiche was delicious. Nice portion size and not too heavy. The coffee I had was also really good.
The only reason I'm not giving this place a five is b/c their veggie options are quite scarce. They do accommodate vegetarians, but it would've been nice to see a bit more diversity on the menu.
However everything else was good from service to food to atmosphere, so I have no problem recommending this place and would not mind going back at all.
I had a New Year's Eve dinner at Motor Supply. Â My table was ready at the appointed 9:15. Â We ate on the heated terrace which wasn't unpleasant.
Although I hadn't eaten here in some years, I wasn't disappointed. Â I've always been attracted to restaurants that change menus frequently, and this daily changer was quite pleasing.
A round of prosecco was followed by an arugula salad topped with house-smoked sausage and abundant pecorino-romano cheese and a house-made balsamic dressing. Â This salad was substantial in size and rich in flavor.
The main course was a pan roasted filet of beef with a cabernet demi-glace over mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. Â The beef was a smidge under-done (rare as opposed to med-rare) and the demi-glace was a hint salty. Â Fortunately, these faults were outweighed by the overall flavor and presentation of the dish. Â The beef was deelish and was quite a large portion. Â If this is on the menu, order it.
My dining partner's iceberg wedge and half-duck were well-received, as well.
It was a great special occasion dinner. Â Competent service. Â Pricing wasn't unreasonable. Â All in all a delightful evening.
Be sure to take advantage of the valet parking. Â Totally convenient in an area with occasionally-difficult parking. Â Personable service, too.
Wow. nice bar, great wine, fabulous food. I visit Columbia several times a year and this is the first local restaurant I truly found to be great. The appetizer was a killer and enough to be a meal. Â I had the lamb chops. A very generous portion that was so good, I could have eaten the bones. My wife had the shrimp and the sauce was phenomenal.
Ambiance was intimate, casual dress and eclectic decor.
This is a must go place.
UPDATE: I changed my rating from three stars to four. Â My husband and I decided to try Motor Supply Co. Bistro again and took a friend who was visiting from out of town. Â My friend and I shared the crispy duckling and absolutely LOVED it. Â The duck was perfectly crisp outside and moist inside, and was paired with mashed sweet potatoes which complemented the duck very well. Â My husband had the shrimp with gravy over mashed potatoes and he loved his dish too. Â Very glad we decided to try the place out again and definitely will be coming back soon (for dinner only though lol).
---
(Old review) My husband and I ate here for Sunday brunch and, unfortunately, it wasn't as good as we expected it to be. Â I ordered the quiche with fruit and my husband ordered the biscuits with gravy and grits. Â He enjoyed his food more than I did mine, but we still weren't completely satisfied. Â I did, however, really enjoy the bloody marys (probably one of the best I've ever had!). Â
The ambiance and decor was pretty awesome though. Â We would like to give Motor Supply Co Bistro another try, but maybe for lunch or dinner next time.
I don't spend a lot of time in Columbia. In fact, if not for relatives, I would probably not go there at all. But, if not for visiting relatives, I also would never have gone to Motor Supply Co Bistro...and what a meal I would have missed!
OK...yum, just yum.
We started with the Charcuterie plate. Everything on it was delicious. BTW...WGM stands for "whole grain mustard"...so you don't have to ask :)
I had their vegetarian entree, which was a savory Parisian pate au choux. THIS is the kind of vegetarian entree that makes you not miss meat in an entree. It was simply spectacular.
On top of all of the entrees being wonderful, the service was pleasant and cheerful, and we sat on the outside patio...our first outdoor meal of the season...which made the entire thing even better.
Oh, and they do a Sweet Tea Vodka and house made lemonade that shouldn't be missed...and the mark up on their wine menu doesn't seem exorbitant, so help yourself to a nice bottle.
I can't say enough good things...if you find yourself in Columbia, go here.
One of my new favorites in Columbia. Cool chef and wine list has some killer values ('03 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Pinot for $50? Retails at $40, if you can even find it).
I sat at the bar and had the crispy duck confit. Good, not perfect, maybe a bit dry, and I'm not a huge fan of the sweet potato pairing, but it was definitely delicious. Also, it's a half duck - a very large portion. Just that entree, no app, was enough to fill me up.
Everyone was super nice to me - bartender, chef, wait staff, even the valet. When I'm traveling alone on business, that is something that really plays into my experience. Hell, I have no else to talk to at the bar by myself. :)
Can't wait to go back and try the house made charcuterie....maybe tonight...
Was recommended to this place by the front desk of my hotel. Â The place is hidden away in like a alley way. Â Â The inside seemed very clean and made me exicted to find a place like this.
As i was looking through the menu, i noticed it be hand written so i think they have a different menu everyday which sounds very exciting.
I decided to go with the steak and was not let down. Â I would def. go back.
My wife brought me here for my Father's Day dinner (she has to work Sunday) after years of putting it off. Â Tres chic! Â Portion sizes were about what you'd expect from someplace as trendy as this, and plated decently. Â Nice selection of beers (though lacking in the nut browns) and I enjoyed some Turbodog. Â Our waitress was extremely pleasant, as was the gentleman I spoke with earlier in the morning when making our reservation.
Because their menus are changed daily and from lunch to dinner, their hours are limited and they're between meals. Â Call ahead to verify the dining hours because when he was explaining it to me they varied somewhat from day to day.
As far as the atmosphere, I was hoping for more of a throwback to the name/history of the building, but it was pretty abstract. Â Going in that direction, for as small as the seating area is, I thought the lighting could have been dimmed down a bit.
I had a bowl of creamy asparagus soup followed by the sauted domestic (Charleston) white shrimp tossed in a sweet three pepper relish on a bed of - not pilaf, but rice done in a creamy style with a flavor I've never had before - all of which was superb!
My wife (who started with steamed P.E.I. mussels in a white wine broth finished with fennel pollen and followed that up with seared New Zealand rack of lamb over mixed greens, exotic mushrooms, sweet onions and tossed in a brown sugar-mustard vinaigrette) is already making plans to return...
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