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California Dreaming | Columbia, SC - California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating, Columbia, SC

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

4.4
4.4
2505 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 47 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
  • Neighbourhood gem
Located in downtown Columbia, SC, inside the historic 1902 Union Station, California Dreaming welcomes guests with its vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the rail tracks, stretching from the inactive platform to the main terminal. Paired with our hearty, made-from-scratch menu, it's no wonder California Dreaming has been a beloved local institution since 1984. Open for lunch and dinner daily, including online ordering with curbside pickup.

Celebrating 40 years, California Dreaming has been a valued part of the Columbia community. Union Station, its historic home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

**We provide Advance Priority Seating to reduce wait times and expedite the seating process when your entire party arrives. To ensure the best experience for all guests, we seat groups of up to 8. While larger groups are seated separately, this arrangement is flexible during quieter hours.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (803) 254-6767
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Neighbourhood
    Columbia
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,505 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Carolina

    Most Booked

  • Columbia

    Good for groups

  • Columbia

    Healthy

  • Columbia

    Hot spot

  • Columbia

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Columbia

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
California Dreaming in Columbia offers a "fabulous atmosphere" within a historic train depot, perfect for special occasions. Guests rave about the "delicious food" and "great service," with standout dishes like the Cali Dreaming salad and seafood nachos. Priority seating ensures prompt service, though the place can get busy on holidays.

2,505 Reviews
  1. Joanie

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a wonderful experience for the second year in a row.( Thanksgiving) This year we didn’t wait long to be seated. Our server Tyler was amazing. My only complaint would be that the portions were a lot smaller than last year. Otherwise, a wonderful experience!

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  2. Sharon

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We thoroughly enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at California Dreaming! We will definitely do that again!

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  3. Stephen

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Good experience even though it was on a very busy holiday for a restaurant. Seated fairly quickly. Great waiter with an awesome personality. Meal brought to our table quickly. We’ll consider visiting California Dreaming again soon!

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  4. Steven

    Charleston

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It was busy for Thanksgiving. My seafood platter is ice cold. The server was great.

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  5. Carlette

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server AJ, was attentive and even though it was a shortened Thanksgiving menu…..the food was delicious.

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  6. Jim

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Thanksgiving dinner was excellent....until the pie. Pecan pie was the worst. Too much filling and hardly any pecans. Our server was excellent.

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  7. Heidi

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I made reservations two months in advance and still had to wait upon arrival. The hostess seemed a bit unfriendly, possibly due to the busyness and apparent overbooking. On the positive side, our waiter provided excellent service. The food was mixed—while the fish and shrimp were good and served in generous portions, the filet mignon was disappointing, as it was tough and not what I’d expect for the price.

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  8. Beth

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We were seated quickly with no issues. The food was good, and the service outstanding. All in all, a great choice for Thanksgiving.

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  9. Sandra

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The California Dreaming Thanksgiving meal was delightful. Plenty of tasty traditional dishes. The plates were generous and the service excellent!

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  10. Lisa

    Charleston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Four years in a row our family has enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal at California Dreaming. The food is delicious and there is always plenty to take home for supper.

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FAQs

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (803) 254-6767.

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating is rated 4.4 stars by 2505 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 47 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

401 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201-4147

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    Columbia
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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