Great Harvest Bread Company: Stock Up on Fresh Baked Goods

Since 1976, Great Harvest Bread Company has grown from a single shop in Great Falls, Montana to a nationwide franchise, which includes a Columbia location. However, Great Harvest hasn’t allowed success to compromise its commitment to making fresh, simple whole grain breads. The breads and baked goods here are made with the highest-quality ingredients and are free of preservatives and additives. Order a tasty fresh sandwich, or try sweets including scones, cookies, brownie bread, and apple cake. Regulars say the fresh baked breads and sweets are some of the most flavorful they’ve ever had.

Grab a fresh loaf of bread or order a sandwich – popular sandwiches include the power house, the turkey sandwich, the monster focaccia, and the Swiss. Enjoy free samples of bakery items to help decide which loaves and sweets to buy. Great Harvest Bread Company is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Great Harvest Bread Company
8835 Centre Park Drive
Columbia, MD 21045
(443) 542-5912
www.greatharvestcolumbia.com
www.yelp.com/biz/great-harvest-bread-company-columbia

Hickory Ridge Grill: Breakfast And More

The owners of Columbia’s Hickory Ridge Grill aren’t satisfied just making some of the best breakfasts and brunches in the area – they’re also looking to serve up great Mediterranean food as well. And when those two categories intersect, like the delicious omelets with gyro meat, something truly special happens.

The omelets here draw raves from locals for how precisely the eggs are cooked – fluffy and moist, they serve as a great platform for the bevy of fresh ingredients the kitchen stuffs them with. If you have a sweet tooth, the Hickory Ridge Grill provides a selection of pancakes, waffles, and other breakfast treats. Lunches and dinners are also quite well-liked, with a bunch of sandwiches winning special praise as well as some very good pasta dishes.

Visit Hickory Ridge Grill's website to learn more about this Columbia restaurant!

Hickory Ridge Grill
6420 Freetown Road
Columbia, MD 21044
(443) 535-9876
http://hickoryridgegrill.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hickory-ridge-grill-columbia

Pub Dog: Pizza And More

What goes better with beer than a big cheesy pizza? Nothing, if you’re a regular at Pub Dog. This locally-owned business first owned in historic Federal Hill before opening the Columbia location, and regulars have been flocking there to eat great pizzas and drink the house-brewed craft beer.

The pizzas come in a variety of combinations, with strong flavors predominating. Some favorites include the Atomic Dog, which packs serious heat with hot sauce, cherry peppers, smoked gouda, bacon, mozzarella, and pepperoni, as well as the excellent Veggie Dog for non-carnivores. Salads are also made fresh and very satisfying, and the bar’s fresh-made pretzels make a great snack. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, go for the “Dog Deal,” which gives you two mugs of beer for one low price.

Pub Dog
8865 Stanford Boulevard
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 872-0364
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pub-dog-columbia

Bird Is The Word at Columbia’s Grille Chick’n Pollo

Grilled chicken is one of the healthiest options that you have for protein, as it’s light on fat and heavy on nutrients. Unfortunately, if it’s not done right it can also be pretty bland. Thankfully, the chefs at Grille Chick'n Pollo know exactly what to do to wring the utmost in flavor out of the bird. Cooked in the Peruvian style over charcoal, chicken here is incredibly moist and tasty. Don’t take our word for it, though: If you stop in, they’ll give you a free sample. (Make sure to get the dark meat!)

The menu features some other options, including very delicious chicharrones (fried pork skins) and sides. Try the yucca fries. Made from a South American root, they’re a little denser than normal potatoes but have exceptional flavor. The antichuco, marinated sliced beef hearts skewered and grilled, are also super tasty. Make sure to leave some room for dessert, as the house-made flan here is creamy and delicious.

Grille Chick'n Pollo
6470 Freetown Road
Columbia, MD 21044
(240) 755-0079
www.grillechicknpollo.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grille-chickn-pollo-columbia

Tropical Smoothie Café: Fresh Fruit Drinks

If you’re looking for something a little healthier, visiting the Tropical Smoothie Café is a fine idea. This national chain has several outposts in the Mid-Atlantic area (including one in Columbia, Maryland), and they work hard to deliver a high-quality menu made with fresh ingredients. As you’d expect, smoothies are the big attraction here, and regulars rave about the flavorful, nutrition-packed combinations.

Some favorites include the Sunrise Sunset, made with strawberries, pineapple, orange, and mango for an energy-filled blast, as well as the Blue Lagoon which is full of antioxidant-powered blueberries, strawberries, and banana. If you feel like having a solid meal, the Tropical Smoothie Café boasts a good selection of salads and sandwiches as well. Regulars rave about the toasted hummus veggie wrap, which is a heart-healthy collection of rice with corn, black beans, asparagus, onions, romaine lettuce, and salsa with pepper jack cheese and hummus in a toasted garlic tortilla, and the Ultimate Club sandwich is also exceptional.

Tropical Smoothie Café
6455 Dobbin Road
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 730-6564
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tropical-smoothie-cafe-columbia-2

Coal Fire: An Ellicott City Pizzeria

Fresh mozzarella, house-made sauce, and thin crust pizzas make Coal Fire a popular place for a tasty lunch or dinner not far from Monarch Mills. A coal fired 900 degree oven bakes your pizza to sizzling perfection. You can adorn your pie with your choice of three different sauces – classic, slightly sweet, or spicy — and an array of toppings like sundried tomatoes, fresh basil, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and more.

Other dining options include Oven Baked Wings, salads, and pastas. Hero sandwiches are also on hand, including the Ribeye with grilled steak, grilled onions, and melted provolone, and the Italian Cold Cut with sliced deli meats, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and oil & vinegar dressing.

Visit Coal Fire's website to find out more about this Ellicott City restaurant!

Coal Fire
5725 Richard's Valley Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Frisco Taphouse and Brewery: 50 Beers on Tap

Frisco Taphouse and Brewery in Columbia features the potent ales and lagers of Maryland microbreweries. Regulars praise the extensive beer selection here. With 50 different brews on tap, along with a “beer engine” that pumps from a cask in the eatery’s cellar, you could sample for days and not get halfway through Frisco Taphouse's offerings!

Of course, you need snacks to go with your beer, and the menu here delivers well-esteemed bar bites. The “Ken’s Chorizo-Queso Obsession” is a popular choice, featuring melted cheese and sausage ideal for dipping chips. The fire-grilled wings with ancho chile glaze is also a good bet. For larger plates, the cornmeal-dusted chicken sandwich with pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayonnaise wins raves, as does the spicy steak sandwich brushed with Thai chiles.

Frisco Taphouse and Brewery
6695 Dobbin Road
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 312-4907
www.friscogrille.com
www.yelp.com/biz/frisco-taphouse-and-brewery-columbia

Trattoria E Pizzeria Da Enrico: Throw The Dough

There are plenty of places to get solid pizza in Columbia, but if you ask locals the top of the heap is Trattoria E Pizzeria Da Enrico. With three locations in Howard County, this locally-owned micro-chain focuses on high-quality, homestyle Italian dishes made with fresh ingredients. The pies here are New York style, with a thin, durable crust that isn’t too puffy, quickly charred in the oven. Tomato sauce is made fresh and they pile plenty of cheese on their pizzas.

The calzones here also win raves from regulars – they’re stuffed with delicious, creamy ricotta cheese. They also offer a variety of traditional Italian dishes, including a veal Parmigiana that diners rave over. For lunch, the sub sandwiches are a popular choice.

Trattoria E Pizzeria Da Enrico
8630 Guilford Road
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 381-1256
www.facebook.com/pages/Trattoria-E-Pizzeria
www.yelp.com/biz/trattoria-e-pizzeria-da-enrico-columbia

Try the Reuben Sandwich at Joe’s Place

Joe's Place is a Columbia, Maryland deli that has been serving awesome sandwiches for over a decade. In 1997, they were the first restaurant in the area to win a “Healthy Howard” award for offering health-conscious menu choices.

Regulars have a few sandwiches that they recommend. Try the classic Reuben sandwich with hot leaned corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and sauerkraut on toasted rye, or get it with hot turkey breast instead. The October Road is also recommended: hot ham, melted Swiss, lettuce, tomato, and dijon mustard on a pretzel roll. Or you can try the hot roast beef sandwich, which melds hot roast beef, Swiss cheese, and spicy-sweet tiger sauce on a soft kaiser roll.

Portions are large, and prices are relatively inexpensive, with a sandwich costing around $8. Visit Joe's Place's website to learn more about this Columbia restaurant!

Joe's Place
7130 Minstrel Way
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 381-7880
www.joesplacedeli.com
www.yelp.com/biz/joes-place-columbia

Bertucci’s: Brick Oven Pizza and More

The most important thing in the world of pizza is the oven. Your crust can be perfectly formed, your sauce can be tangy and delicious, but if your oven can’t get hot enough to cook it, the pizza may not turn out right. The key to Bertucci’s success is the brick oven at the heart of the restaurant, which gets each and every pizza perfectly crisp.

This is an excellent casual Italian chain that delivers high-quality food at reasonable process to Columbia locals, and it’s usually quite packed, especially on weekends. Some of the most popular dishes include the Ultimate Bertucci pizza, which is divided into quarters, each with a different flavor profile – meatballs, chicken, ham, and pepperoni. The eggplant Panini is also quite good, and the calzones are hearty and satisfying. You can choose your own ingredients, letting you tailor the meal to your liking!

Bertucci’s
9081 Snowden River Parkway
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 312-4800
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bertuccis-brick-oven-restaurant-columbia

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