The Gourmet Shop

This is one of my favorite cafes in Columbia! I was brought there by a friend and got the Tomato bisque soup and The Veggie Choice open-faced sandwich. The food was delicious and has been every time I've gone since! I've also tried some of the bakery pasteries. The croissants are delicious and the scones (though small) are the best i've ever tasted. I make sure to get a few scones every time I go there! I've brought my family there a few times and they got other menu items that were equally delicious. The atmosphere is wonderful as well as the service. Definitely a Go-to when you're in the Five Points area in Columbia! more

My roommate raved about this restaurant and I have to admit it lived up to my high expectations! The atmosphere is so charming and offers a nontraditional dining experience that chain restaurants cannot offer. I had the tomato bisque soup and a croissant with butter and jam. The soup is now one of my new favorites and I could tell the croissant came from an established and authentic bakery. The croissant was so flaky and light it hit the spot! Being a student at the University of South Carolina cost is always an important factor. The prices were so reasonable I think I paid a little under $7. If you're a fan of Panera then you will most likely enjoy this place. It is a great place to go out to eat with your parents if they are ever in town for a visit and you want to eat somewhere near campus! It is located in Five Points and a great place to buy souvenirs for the entire family (the shop in side is similar to a Cracker Barrel and loaded with cheeses, wines, cookies, and gourmet chocolates and other candies). Love, love, love this spot! more

The Gourmet shop is an amazing sandwich/salad/brunch spot in five points! The atmosphere is very cozy and fun. There is outside seating available to sit on the sidewalk and enjoy the beautiful scenery that five points has to offer. The service is incredible, all the staff is friendly and helpful. It gets really crowded on the weekends and it can take a while to get seated on the weekends. But the kitchen shop attached to the Gourmet Shop is a fun place to browse while you are waiting for your table. It is full of fun and unique nik naks and kitchen stuff. The bakery is absolutely to die for! Anytime anyone comes to town the first place I take them is the Gourmet Shop! Hands down the best cafe in the Columbia area! more

The Gourmet Shop has so many things to offer. While people do rave about the kitchen supplies the Gourmet Shop offers, I'm more of a sucker for their food. Don't get me wrong, the store is to DIE for...but nothing gets between me and my food. The service is amazing and always very quick and friendly. The have a wide variety of fresh things to offer on the menu, however the bacon and brie croissant is heavenly. Their sidewalk seating offers the perfect spot on a crisp autumn day. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! You do not want to miss out on the Gourmet Shop! more