The Iron Bridge Wine Company is a wonderful wine bar and restaurant located on Route 108 in Columbia. This spot is one of the area’s best places to enjoy the artful wonders of pairing food and wine together and should definitely be a summer bucket list item for practically anyone who loves a special dining experience.

This acclaimed restaurant boasts an impressive array of wines across a great many styles. At the same time, the folks behind this concept remain playful and unpretentious in the way these wines are showcased. This is evident in the wine flights available for you to sample. The food menus embody a similar attitude, using top-notch ingredients to create remarkable dishes that refuse to be boxed in by any one label. Whether you’re here for brunch, dinner, or just a snack, your taste buds will be well-taken care of at Iron Bridge Wine Company.

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In only a little more than a decade, Maiwand Kabob has already expanded into four separate locations. That's thanks to the family who owns it and strives to meet just one, simple goal: dish out fresh, authentic Afghan food at affordable prices. They're doing just that at all four branches, including the Columbia restaurant near Monarch Mills.

Unsurprisingly, the menu features many authentic Afghan kabobs. Chefs marinate lamb in a special blend of spices, slice it into chunks, and spear it and sear it. They do the same with beef, ground beef (AKA "kofta"), and chicken. If you want some greens with your dinner, order the chicken salad. The same boneless morsels of chicken are tossed atop a bed of greens with grilled veggies, olive oil, and balsamic. You can always go with the classic gyro sandwich, a mix of sliced beef and lamb in tandoori bread and served with fries and a drink if you're looking for something quick and simple at Maiwand Kabob.

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It doesn't matter what night of the week you come to Stanford Grill, there's always jazz music playing in the dining room. A jazz trio graces the main dining area with soft tunes as guests enjoy happy hour specials and cocktails or dig into a dinner of upscale American cuisine.

Stanford Grill offers a selection of steak, seafood, and burgers, but a few dishes stand out as house specialties. One of them is the wood-fired rotisserie chicken, which is roasted slowly to perfectly tender and then dished out alongside mashed potatoes and green beans. The Danish barbecue pork ribs are also seared very slowly in order to seal in the juices. They come with fries and cole slaw. Your other options range from spicy "rattlesnake" pasta with chicken to hardwood-grilled salmon served with tabouleh and house-made dressing. Stop by Stanford Grill to try one of the inventive dishes here!

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