Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. South Carolina
  4. Columbia
  5. Columbia
California Dreaming | Columbia, SC - California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating, Columbia, SC

California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

4.5
4.5
2561 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 127 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
  • Charming
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
  • Area
    Columbia
  • Parking details
    Public Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,561 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Carolina

    Most Booked

  • Columbia

    Good for groups

  • Columbia

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Columbia

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
California Dreaming in Columbia offers a blend of "great atmosphere" and "excellent service" in a historic train station setting. Patrons praise the "delicious food" and standout dishes like the California Dreaming salad. While experiences can vary, the attentive staff and vibrant ambiance make it a popular choice.
2,561 Reviews
  1. Katie

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server Lexi was great! We were seated quickly and the food was yummy. We didn’t have any wait time, and it was an overall excellent experience.

    Is this helpful?

  2. John

    Western NC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service start to finish from Nya. Food was great.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Mathis

    Baltimore

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    It was my birthday dinner and I felt extremely rushed by our waiter, though the service was still spot on we were probably seated for less than 40 minutes in total and went through three courses and a cocktail. This just wasn’t the experience I was looking for on my birthday and would have gone elsewhere if I knew this before hand. I will not be returning to California Dreaming ever again.

    Is this helpful?

  4. DeeDee

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It wasn’t very busy tonight but mist nights are and require a reservation. So I would do it just in case and make your life easier. Plus parking can be a challenge. Food was great as always!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Roberto

    Jacksonville

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and service. Thank you for low sodium options. See you again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Teri

    Central Coast

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Flounder Po Boy was full of bones. Took home to debone. Fries were great and so was croissant.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Teicher

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Although super busy, we had a very small waiting period with our reservation. The restaurant was clean and inviting. Our waiter, Gage was a magnificent server and so is Jordyn. We have her from time to time as well. The food was out in a timely manner, hot, plentiful and correct. Each employee we encountered was pleasant and professional. This is a staple for me and my mom at least twice a month on Sundays. We'll definitely see them soon, and very soon.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Kelly

    VIP

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Our friends chicken sandwich was horribly salty. He could not eat it. The manager wanted to give a 50% discount since he had eaten part of it. (Crazy). He also cut off a small piece for me to try. Anyway, she would not comp the sandwich so we asked for a hamburger to go and she gave a 25% discount on the burger. We eat here almost once a week and this was embarrassing for us as usually things are handled better Since Richard stopped being manager, California dreaming has gone way down.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Fiona

    Phoenix

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 11 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was excellent. She was very attentive and made great recommendations on the menu for food and drinks. Everyone’s food was delicious and came out at the perfect temperature. The place was very charming and fun to dine in an old train station. Next time we are back in Columbia, we will definitely be dining here again!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Audra

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 10 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waitress was fabulous! Food was great and came out in a timely manner.

    Is this helpful?

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 4.5 stars by 2561 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 127 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for California Dreaming - Columbia - Priority Seating

401 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201-4147

Additional information

  • Area
    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 Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable Australia Level 22, 357 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo