California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

Review summary

1. B

   Bert

   Charleston

   13 reviews

   4.0

   13 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Service was good, the food was great. Great for an office lunch/special occasion.
   

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2. T

   Toni

   Fort Lauderdale

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 1

   Years ago I loved going to the Charleston location so I was looking forward to this first time in Columbia. It was dark, I had to use my phone flashlight to read the menu, loud music. The croissants were drenched in honey and it was more of a glazed donut, the Caesar salad was dripping with dreasing and the broccoli was also over saturated with a strange sauce. Medium steak was rare and cold. Drinks were great. Will not return.
   

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3. S

   Sydney

   Charlotte

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Nice place just wish my seafood nachos were warm other then that it was ok.
   

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4. s

   susan

   Charleston

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Kennedy waited on us and she was fabulous. She was knowledgeable, personable and took great care of us. Thanks for a wonderful experience.
   

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5. D

   Dan

   Charleston

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 5 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Five girlfriends out for dinner. Made a reservation and were seated immediately. All of us ordered cocktails, several on their specialty menu and they were all unique and excellent. We all ordered different entrées. It had been a long time since I had been here, so I had to order that “infamous” California Dreaming salad. It was as yummy as I remembered. So many local restaurants have tried to duplicate it, but none have ever gotten it just right. Everyone else raved about their meals. She crab soup was spot on. Shrimp Pasta was perfectly prepared, and the fish tacos (I think) or just shrimp I was told were also delish. All portions were generously sized. Our server was also very attentive and came back several times to check on us. Worth the trip…only regret was waiting so long between visits! Just make certain to make reservations or you could have a long wait.
   

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6. L

   Lisa

   Charleston

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 5 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Noise was a little much, especially for my 80 year old mom. But food, service & everything else was awesome as usual! Great experience!
   

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7. F

   Frans

   Phoenix

   92 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   92 reviews

   Dined on 1 December 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   Very busy place! Had to wait 30 min. For our reservation. Good menu and good food. Service was prompt and efficient.
   

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8. M

   Melissa

   Charleston

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 1 December 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   We arrived 15 minutes earlier than our reservations but were not seated until almost 40 minutes after our reservation. Once we were seated and ordered, it took an additional 40 minutes for our food to be served. We had to immediately box our food up and take it with us because we had an engagement to attend. It was so disappointing especially since we had made our reservations early.
   

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9. J

   Janet

   Charleston

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 1 December 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 1

   We had reservations for 4:30 PM. We arrived at 4:25 PM and we’re told that we would have just a few minute wait. We were not seated until 5:13 PM. We continually checked when we would be seated, then telling us repeatedly just a few minutes. This was unsatisfactory. Others were seated prior to us when we were told that we were the fifth in line to be seated. We have made reservations here before and we have never had to wait like this. they were six tables around the bar that had absolutely no one seated there. There should not have been a wait like this
   

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10. J

    Janice

    Charlotte

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2

    We were very disappointed with the reservation process. The restaurant was extremely overbooked. We arrived around 4:15 for our 4:30 priority seating reservation and were told we would have a table "in a few minutes." The entrance to the restaurant around the hostess desk became very crowded quickly, and we realized that we would not be seated "in a few minutes." At our reservation time, I checked in with the hostess and was told they were still seating 4:15 reservations. She explained to me that priority seating is not a reservation but gets us seated before "walk ins." The wait was stressful because there was nowhere to stand that was not in the way of people coming in, leaving, or going to the bar area. The team of people at the hostess desk were not very good at service recovery with the many people who were dissatisfied with the way this restaurant handles priority seating/reservations. I saw eye rolling and was told "How do you think I feel?" when I mentioned that the wait was stressful because of the crowding in the entry way. I am sure the fire marshall would have had an issue with how crowded the entrance to the restaurant was that day. All this to say, when you make a reservation here, it doeson't mean anything because they overbook and cannot meet your expectations.
    

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