Puckett's Restaurant - Downtown Columbia

Not too busy on a Sunday afternoon. Great atmosphere, service and the food. Loved their sweet potato fries. Our server Kenneth was very nice and fast.

Great food and even better service on a Tuesday morning.

This restaurant is located on the square looking out at the courthouse and has an ice cream shop just inside its doors (luckily behind its own door if you don't want your kids to notice it). We went on Memorial Day and had a large party, so we expected a wait, which I think totalled about 20min. We were able to push our baby's stroller up to the table. They also allow leashed dogs on the front patio. At first I wasn't sure about this place - they have no infant changing table in the men's room, and my dad's fish was pathetically small. He actually joked that he should've ordered off the kid's menu, because the kids had great portions. Even my big eater almost 10yr old was happy. But the fish - my husband said they must've needed a tape measurer to make sure it wasn't too small to throw back. I looked up what "cowboy caviar" was and Google said it was beans, corn, and onion, so I ordered a salad plate that was topped with it. You should be aware they make theirs with a very generous portion of fresh cut jalapenos. I can't eat jalapenos because of my severe congenital reflux and IBS. When the waitress came by to ask how the food was, I just said that I hadn't realized the cowboy caviar was made with jalapeno (I had an obvious stack of chopped jalapeno I was picking out). No questions asked, she immediately offered to get me a new salad. She was attentive and sweet, despite the crowd. Excellent service. My oldest daughter said they ruined chicken sandwiches for her, because she's never had one she loved as much as the Nashville hot (the waitress did warn her it was very spicy, but my daughter doesn't have my stomach issues and loves spicy food). It was a big sandwich and she was able to take some home. My husband got the meat plate and also had leftovers. I even had leftover salad. When the bill came, my dad asked if they had a veteran discount. The waitress said they did, and because it was Memorial Day (which was a coincidence), they offered him a great discount. Overall, an excellent experience. Just be aware that their fish is a diet plate. ETA: we went back the week after Christmas, and I have to take off a star for the atrocious service. We didn't mind waiting to be seated, but after we were seated it took a full hour to receive our food, during which time our drinks were refilled only once. It would've been different if this were dinner rush with just me and my husband, but this was lunch and the restaurant was not full. We had my diabetic grandparents in their 80s with us along with our 4 kids, including a baby. By the time we actually got our food my grandmother was about out of energy to eat it - she actually boxed her food and went home for a nap - and the baby was extremely fussy from being stuck in a high chair so long. If it's going to be leisurely dining that should be stated, and consideration should always be given for the very elderly and the very young.

New Year's Eve brunch with a group of 9 our waitress was great and atmosphere is amazing. Food was good....