California Dreaming

I recently had an absolutely delightful experience at this establishment. From the warm and attentive service to the exquisite food, everything was wonderful. The croissants, in particular, were a standout – perfectly flaky and flavorful. The atmosphere added another layer to the overall charm; it was simply wonderful. I can't recommend this place enough for a delightful culinary and atmospheric journey.

Went today for a late lunch or early dinner. And man oh man, my burger and margarita was DELICIOUS. I believe I got the Tex-Mex Burger cooked medium.

My mom, however, got the blackened chicken pasta. I think there was some misunderstanding on her end, but overall, she said the food was good as well.

We had Charlie as our server, and he was just very kind and attentive

Mmmm..... dinner was amazing. My husband and I had CD salad with the house dressing, potato soup, and the famous croissants. There is no comparison to this meal. Great food and establishment.

I was greeted immediately upon entry by a host of friendly hosts and hostesses who guided me to a table. My server Deveric was warm and attentive without becoming bothersome. The building itself is beautiful both inside and out. I had a good view of the front door and all the guests were greeted just as helpfully and promptly as I was. My server Devron did a phenomenal job and I felt very well taken care of. I had the Caesar salad and the marinated sirloin with blackened broccoli and not only was it delicious but it was delivered much faster than I would have expected from such an upscale restaurant. California Dreaming continues to be one of my favorites in Columbia. Thanks y’all!

I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant! It was recommended by a friend, and I was impressed right from the start. The restaurant, formerly an old train station, has ample parking space, and the service was exceptional. The ambiance was delightful, with each table adorned with a small candle. Our order included Fried Crab Claws, Chicken Strips Platter, Chicken Pasta, Baby Back Ribs (one rack), and Fried Seafood Platter. Every dish had the perfect amount of cheese, the fish fillet was wonderfully crispy, and the pasta had the right texture. The only downside was the slow food delivery and slightly delayed plate clearing by the servers.

We were celebrating our grandsons 23rd birthday! As active on the job grandparents my husband and I never miss an occasion that we can be with our grandchildren ❣
California Dreaming has just the right atmosphere for any occasion!!
The chicken strips are outstanding 😊

I was invited to lunch today at the well-known California Dreaming. It was a true pleasure to soak up the ambiance of this historic spot once again. My choice today was the aged prime rib steak paired with a Caesar salad, a duo that hit just the right notes and left me completely satisfied. Everything on the table was delightful to the senses, and our server, Thomas, was the epitome of attentiveness, adding a warm and personal touch to our experience...

This place is beautiful and delicious! Our server was quick and spot on. And when I tell you how good their chicken tenders are, and these are the best I've ever eaten!
And don't get me started on the croissants and she crab soup! Soo so good. We all left saying that soup was *soupin* 😊

Got off the beaten path to check this place out while on the road heading back to Georgia and it was 101% worth the time and effort. Has about a 15 to 20 minute wait that I avoided by sitting at the bar. Didn't drink but the shelf was stacked and the cocktail list was impressive

Such an amazing place. My husband wanted to surprise me with a dinner date that I would love & California Dreaming didn't disappoint. The food was amazing & the service was wonderful.

California Dreaming is very open and well lit. Our sever Katrina was great. Besides our order, she helped us with directions for parking at the arena. We arrived around 12:30 and our wait time was only 20 minutes. My wife had the roasted salmon, and she said it was great.

Everything about California Dreaming was the best. Restaurant was located in an old train station. The architecture was amazing. Our server was top notch! Food was superb!! Can’t go wrong!!

One of the few places we could get a reservation the day before. Was super crowded when we got there. Had to circle the large parking lot several times. There were 5 of us and we were seated right on time. Food and service was great! Things seemed to be slowing down as we left so maybe 7pm Sunday is better than 5:30, but we made it to our concert on time!

Great foot and our server was great 👍🏽. Wil definitely visit again when we are in town.

My family and I love eating at the Columbia California Dreaming restaurant location because it's in the old train station right off Main Street and only a few blocks from the beautiful USC campus! The food is always delicious and served hot. The service is always superb, and the atmosphere is great! I would highly recommend any of the three locations of the restaurant chain in South Carolina: lowcountry, midlands, or upstate! Always a pleasure wherever in our great state you may find yourself!

I cannot write enough positive things about this place. We came in from out of town and needed a place for Christmas Eve dinner. I’m so glad this was open.

The service was PHENOMENAL. We were served immediately, constantly checked in on, refilled drinks, food came out quickly. Our waitress was so nice and personable. It seemed like everyone was, and all worked together too.

The food was amazing as well. The prices for what you get are great. The seafood nachos are something I will probably talk about for a while. The San Francisco and Blackened Chicken pasta were both huge and delicious.

Honestly if they had been open on Christmas, we would have gone back again. It was that good. 10/10 would recommend.

Awesome place. Made reservations earlier that week so as soon as we walked it we were seated... Jasmine was a excellent server. Always had a smile on her face and continously checking on my wife and I to make sure we were satisfied. The food was excellent! Definitely going back again soon!

Our server was Charles & he was great. We had a family group of six for dinner. The marinated sirloin & California Dreaming salad are always great. We have been eating here for over 30 years and always enjoy our meal. Again, Charles handled everything perfectly!

This is an old favorite of mine going back over 20 years. Love the ambiance, and the food is consistent and tasty- I mean- those croissants?! The CD salad is a favorite and had the Knob Hill Chicken this visit. Could have used a little more ham on the chicken. The single deli-thin slice was barely noticeable. The server was super, very attentive and personable. Really can't go wrong with this place.

My first time visiting this chain of restaurants, and it was a wonderful first impression.
I appreciate the Manger seating us so quickly on a Friday lunch rush. Being in the building alone was an experience. Many historical details to appreciate especially if you’re into Architecture.

The food and service was exquisite. Also the price point is very reasonable given the ambiance of this restaurant.
I totally recommend visiting this location if you haven’t visited a California Dreaming Restaurant.