Smashing Grapes - Columbia

Review summary

1. t

   tye

   Baltimore

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

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

   Our reservation was honored promptly and we were seated in a very cozy booth for a 2 top that was surprisingly low to the ground yet very comfy. We were greeted promptly by a server who was covering her colleague who was running late for our shift. We received the abbreviated table talk as she knew she would be handing us to a colleague. The ranch water margarita type drinks were exquisite. The bread was warm, chewy and flavorful. The mussels appetizer was divine. The branzino was kicked up a notch with the grilled lemon. The sea bass paired well with the sexy scallions but the mushrooms and bok choy were mediocre. There were 2 disappointing notes to our experience. The white wine flight was significantly delayed and came to the table after my wife was full from her entree. The second and less egregious item was the French roast coffee being out of stock and I thought it would have paired well with the brûlée cheesecake. I’d definitely patronize the restaurant again. The ambience was cool, the servers attentive and the food was good. Definitely a spot to take the wine lover in your life.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 1 day ago

   Tye, thank you for your review-while we are disappointed to learn that there were a couple of hiccups to your experience, we are very happy to hear that the majority of your time with us was excellent! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback so we can work hard to improve and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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2. Y

   Yolanda

   Baltimore

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

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

   We were in the restaurant for 3 hours… service too slow
   

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3. D

   Dovedale

   Baltimore

   16 reviews

   4.0

   16 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

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

   Two words... AMAZING ALEXIS! A bit of a busy night with a holiday private event on one side of the restaurant challenged the kitchen's timing for food execution and quality to a degree... however, my second visit here having Alexis as a server for the second time was the saving grace! She is just amazing.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 5 days ago

   Thank you so much for your excellent review! We are so pleased to learn you enjoyed a wonderful dining experience with us and that our amazing team took such excellent care of you! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and offer your insight so we can improve, and we look forward to serving you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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4. T

   Tim

   Richmond

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

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

   I recently visited Smashing Grapes and, while there were a few highlights, my experience was overall disappointing. The fresh pasta, made daily, was definitely a standout and very tasty. The wine selection was great as well, offering some nice pairings to the meal. Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired. Our server seemed disinterested and inattentive, which made the dining experience less enjoyable. The bigger issue came with my main dish, which was supposed to come with chicken. When my meal arrived, it was missing the chicken entirely. I flagged down our server, and when she brought it out, it was a separate chicken breast, charred from the barbecue. Not only did it look out of place on the plate, but the flavor was off—it was dry and had a burnt taste that didn’t pair well with the rest of the dish. Overall, I had high hopes for Smashing Grapes, but the lackluster service and subpar chicken really affected my experience. While the pasta and wine were enjoyable, I’m not sure I’d return given the disappointing service and quality control issues.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 6 days ago

   Tim, thank you for your review-while we are happy to hear that you enjoyed some aspects of your experience dining with us, we are disappointed to learn about some of these negative service issues, for which we can offer no excuse. Thank you for taking the time to let us know so we can address our team and ensure this doesn't happen again. If you would kindly email us at columbia@smashinggrapes.c0m with a copy of your review, date dined & location, we will work hard to remedy this and prove we can do better. With Gratitude & Apologies, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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5. T

   Tamara

   Washington DC

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on December 8, 2024

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

   This was my first time and it was great! The food was delicious.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 7 days ago

   Tamara, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We are delighted to hear that your first experience dining with us was top-notch and we are so grateful to you for taking the time to share your positive experience & offer your recommendation! Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our table again very soon! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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6. M

   Mike

   Baltimore

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 8, 2024

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

   Loved the wine flights. Opening seating in bar area was good option to wait for table to be ready. Lobster ravioli fantastic. Charcuterie board expensive and good quality, not that big for the money. Lamb chops great, not big portion. Salads w added steak were awesome. Seems to stay open late, which is rare for hoco. Wood and ambience very good, wasn’t a ton of food for the money, but quality which we didn’t mind. Very nice night and couples and date night. We will go back for sure.
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded 7 days ago

   Mike, thank you so much for your excellent review! We are so pleased to learn you enjoyed a wonderful dining experience with us and we appreciate your feedback so we can improve. Thank you, and we look forward to serving you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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7. T

   Thomas

   Washington DC

   12 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on December 6, 2024

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

   I had the pleasure of being served by Alexis B. She was absolutely outstanding! Her friendly and welcoming demeanor immediately made the experience enjoyable. She was knowledgeable about the menu, offering spot-on recommendations that turned out to be perfect. Her great energy and attentive service truly stood out. On top of that, her polished and professional presentation added an extra touch of class to the evening. I hope to have her as my server again—she’s a gem!”
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on December 7, 2024

   Thomas, thank you so much for your excellent review! We are delighted to hear that your experience dining with us was top-notch and that our amazing team took such great care of you! Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our table again very soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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8. C

   Corinne

   Baltimore

   4 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on December 6, 2024

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

   Smashing grapes was wonderful. The bartender Jill was excellent as was the food and beverages. Try her Hot Toddy & I highly recommend the Ahi Tuna
   

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   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on December 7, 2024

   Corinne, thank you so much for your 5-star review! We are thrilled to learn that you enjoyed the exceptional dining experience we strive for and you deserve and that our amazing team offered such outstanding service! Thank you for sharing your recommendation, and we can't wait to serve you again very soon! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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9. D

   David

   New York City

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 5, 2024

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

   Overall loved the food and our server. The only thing was it took a long time to actually get food
   

   Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on December 7, 2024

   David, thank you so much for your excellent review! We are so pleased to learn you enjoyed a wonderful dining experience with us and we appreciate your feedback so we can continue to improve. Thank you, and we look forward to serving you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
   

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10. T

    Ted

    Baltimore

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2024

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

    Great service and ambience but the food was dry, overcooked and lacked sufficient seasoning. I had the pan seared half-chicken selection. If you're having desert... don't select the blueberry cobbler... analogous to gummy bread dipped in blueberries... not your typical blueberry cobbler dish... ugh. Overall, if you're looking for ambience and good service... this is your place. But if you're dining experience to include good tasting food, at this price point, you can do better.
    

    Smashing Grapes - ColumbiaResponded on December 4, 2024

    Ted, thank you for your review-while we are pleased to learn you enjoyed excellent service and the beautiful space, we are disappointed to hear that your meal was not equally as top-notch. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback so we can work hard to improve, and we hope to have the chance to serve you again soon to prove we can earn those 5 stars! With Gratitude, The Team at Smashing Grapes Columbia
    

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