If we’ve learned anything about our COLAtoday audience over the past two years, it’s that y’all love reading about food. (We knew we’d get along just fine. 😏)

Our emails + social media posts on $10 lunch deals, where to order cheese + charcuterie boards and even new restaurant logos consistently outperform each other.

Here's a few new Cola eateries we’re excited about…

🍽The Mousetrap | 2711 Middleburg Plaza | reopened November 2018 | So, this Middleburg Plaza restaurant isn’t exactly new. The Mousetrap first opened in the 1970s, but recently reopened after its original owners retired. While the space has been revamped, The Mousetrap still retains its old-school charm and longtime menu favorites (hello, burger). Plus, they’re now serving breakfast and have an expanded list of to-go options. Pop in on their grand opening weekend – Jan. 25-27 – for live music + specialty menus.

The Mousetrap | Photo by @mousetrapsodacity

🍽Citta del Cotone | 2150 Sumter St. | opened November 2018 | After a rocky start due to inflammatory social media posts made by one of their (now former) co-owners, Citta del Cotone has publicly apologized and wants to serve you a delicious, Neapolitan-style pizza if you haven’t stopped in yet.

🍽smallSUGAR | 709 Gervais St. | opened November 2018 | Opened last year by restaurateurs Sarah Simmons + Aaron Hoskins (of Rise Bakeshop + Richland Library’s The Café fame), smallSUGAR is serving up breakfast + lunch – ft. a variety of inventive pastries (like this banana pudding croissant), salads, sandwiches, tartines (we order the egg) + more – in the former Wired Goat location in The Vista.

🍽Halls Chophouse | 1221 Main St. | opened December 2018 | Everyone’s favorite steakhouse in Greenville + Charleston has finally made its way to Cola. Hallelujah, Halls. We’re can’t wait to dress in our finest threads and order a lobster tail.

Halls Chophouse Columbia | Photo by @colatoday

🍽Hendrix | 1649 Main St. | soft-opened January 2019, grand opening February 2019 | Main St. finally has a new rooftop bar + restaurant, y’all. Hendrix is currently soft-open (call them at 803-834-5132 for reservations), but they’ll officially open their doors (and roof) to the public on Thursday, Feb. 7. And yes, they’re serving up brunch too – ft. Greek avocado toast.

COMING SOON:

🍽Black Rooster | 1000 Alexander Rd., West Columbia | opening late March/early April 2019 | Black Rooster – the first restaurant (ft. a rooftop + stellar river/skyline views) that will open at West Columbia’s Brookland development – is a self-proclaimed French-ish bistro by Bourbon’s Kristian Niemi.

Black Rooster at Brookland | Photo by @brookland_sc

🍽Home Team BBQ | 700 Harden St. in Five Points | opening March 2019 | Last year, we asked you what should go in the old Harper’s location in Five Points, and some of you said Charleston’s Home Team BBQ – a restaurant/live music joint that combines an upscale service feel with classic southern fare + slow BBQ favorites. (The State newspaper mentioned back in August that Home Team COO Aaron Siegel said they decided to expand in Columbia because they saw Home Team “was tagged several times on social media as a good fit” when Harper’s closed. 😯) A little birdie told us that they hope to open before St. Pats in Five Points on March 16.

Did we miss your favorite recently-opened (or soon-to-open) restaurant in town? Comment here to let us know where you think our readers should eat out this year.

– Beth