We asked about your favorite meals from bygone Columbia restaurants, and boy did y'all answer.

From the Trout Almondine at S&S Cafeteria, the Arkansas Traveler at Yesterday's, and the Shrimp Athenian with Epicurean Potato at the Elite, we've compiled a list of some of your favorite meals. And though you can't go back and have it one more time, maybe you can recreate it at home, like those who’ve tried with several memorable meals.

🥘 The Elite Epicurean

We heard you loud and clear Soda Citizens, some of your fondest Columbia memories were made at the Elite Epicurean. From high school graduation dinners, to many special occasions, this downtown white tablecloth restaurant served Columbia for decades until it closed suddenly in 1997.

Located directly across from the City Hall and the courthouse, it was a who's who of Columbia at lunchtime, and THE fine dining experience in Columbia for many years in the evening.

The Dish:

Shrimp Athenian w Epicurean Potato — Elizabeth N.
Lamb Chops with honey and feta cheese, Epicurean Potato — Gail L.
Calves Liver with grilled onions — Helen F.
Flounder Ann and Bose from the Elite Epicurean — reader submitted

🍔 Yesterday's

There isn't a more iconic storefront than a man in a bathtub above the Yesterday's entrance in the heart of Five Points. When it closed its doors in April 2020, an audible gasp could be heard across Columbia.

The back bar area was a local museum, and was a favorite place to dine for the likes of Pat Conroy, Darius Rucker, and everyone in-between. Let's have a look at the meals you miss most.

The Dish:

Arkansas Traveler — @___clifff___
Chicken fried steak from Yesterday’s!!!! — @aoedwards22
Fried chicken and collards — @mintergreen
Fried chicken in cheese grits — @caroline_butcher
Vegetable plate from yesterday’s! My favorite place to eat ever, my parents started taking me there when I was an infant. @aliii6
Shrimp Tacos @sweston5
Meatloaf — @pizzeriaopa
Cucumber salad — @do_yall_have_grits
chicken tenders .. mac n cheese ,. whew lawd the cheese fries wit the ranch .. i want it back NEOW😂😂😂– the_simplicitea
Chicken fried steak from Yesterday’s!!!! – aoedwards22

116

Mussels Romesco and extra bread from 116! – d_cantelmi

5 Points Diner

The burgers at 5 Points Diner were amazing!! Still Miss those burgers and tots. – thefoxandtheermine
Psycho burgers from 5 points diner even though I’m a vegan now 😂 – kittylangston

A.G. Floyd’s

Eggs Benedict from A.G. Floyd’s. – the_ajw

Birds on a Wire

Chicken Pepper Pasta Salad from Birds on a Wire! – hmt720

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp4_79LF4gD/

Blue Cactus

bulgogi from blue cactus! – rolandcc1

Bone In BBQ

BBQ plate from @boneinbbqsc or really anything from them! – hollymcg3

Cellar on Greene

A three course meal and wine flight at Cellar on Greene 🤤 – emilyrmarra

Cloud Nine

Chicken Salad Melt from Cloud Nine on Gervais! – meredithemorris

Cogburn’s

Cogburn’s ribeye steak sandwich on a Gamecock football Saturday 😍– lynnwelch91

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKuVlhBSD8/

Delaney's

A breakfast burger from @rip_delaneys 💔flowers.jake

Devine Foods

The beef wrap at Devine Foods and fish and chips from the Kraken. Literally think about one or both every day. – brittanycainodom

Spanakopita or Kabobs from Devine Foods!! – maggie_herring

Downstair's Plaza (DSP)

Club sandwich in the Downstairs Plaza (DSP) under the Bird, with cheap pitchers of crappy beer. – andysmithsc86

Edna's

Oh man… Duck confit nachos from cellar on Greene, bananakopita at solstice, breakfast pizza at pizza man, queso at el burrito & a cheeseburger from Edna’s 💔– chlo_ne
I’ll also add 3 or 4 chili dogs from Ednas or Dougs Dogs. – bryant_on_bourbon

https://www.instagram.com/p/5Z1-A3Kqv1/

El Burrito

@elburritocolumbia adobo chicken salad 💔 claytonpatteson

Chicken tacos from El Burrito 💔 – marthadoes

El Menchaca

The enchiladas ( any kind ) at El Menchaca !!❤️– sheri.bruce

Fran’s on Forest

The squash casserole at Fran’s Farm Fresh Foods! – awsprat

Frank's in Five Points

Late night hot dogs at Frank’s in 5 Points! – just_jo_318

Garden Bistro

Garden Bistro's Cuban sandwich and red pepper soup! – sarahosipes

Garibaldi’s Five Points

Garibaldi’s Five Points ~ Crispy whole flounder and heart of palm salad – southernbellybbq

Goatfeathers

My husband and I fell in love over a slice of white chocolate macadamia cheesecake at Goatfeathers over 25 years ago! ❤️ – jen_and_darryn

Grandmas

A off menu hotpocket at Grandmas – camtay90

Grilled Teriyaki

A late night plate from grilled teriyaki 🥲 – tashpoint_oh13

Hannah Jane’s

EVERYTHING at Hannah Jane’s. But particularly the Spreads! – eliquojo

Harper's

Chicken finger plate from Harper’s 😭 – hannahdez09

Hooligans

Chicken tenders and fries from Hooligans RIP – emilyhiggins_93

Keg of Nails

Turkey Foccia sandwich from the keg of nails on rosewood – southcarolinaoutdoorexperience

New Orleans Riverfront

A House Jambalaya and glass of wine while sitting on the porch at New Orleans Riverfront – emilymakesit

Nice n Natural

Mushroom cheese melt from Nice N’ Natural. – bobakanoah

Pandinis

IFKYK

Pizza Man

Everything from El Burrito. And the cinnamon rolls from Pizza Man. kylelanierr
Muffuletta pizza at Pizza Man – chase_dearman_

Po Folks

Anything and everything fried from Po 👏 Folks 👏– citylimitsq

Rising High

Chicken salad on sweet black bread from Rising High 🥪 – kaycietimmons

Rosso

Mushroom pizza at Rosso!! – blackroostersc

Rupert's

Wings from Rupert’s and anything from Yesterday’s. 😢 – lorilarkinmckelvey

S&S Cafeteria

Chili cheese dogs from LuLu’s or Chicken and Dumplins with eggplant casserole and egg custard bowl for dessert from S&S – wombat_44

Sandy's Hot Dogs

A Sandy’s hotdog 😭 – booksandbighair

Sherlock Holmes Pub

Pot roast from Sherlock Holmes Pub. – davisadmedia

Solstice Kitchen

Solstice fried chicken with Mac and cheese. – scelisetb

The Capitol Cafe

Half Sprung chicken from Capitol Cafe – queenofhurtts

The Parthenon

The Parthenon’s Lasagna 🔥– krieman_18
Pizza and greek salad from The Parthenon. 😢– carolineallensc

Yo Burrito

Chicken finger basket w honey mustard and an ice cream from hooligans or the salsa bar from yo burrito – ebee_jeebies