What do Columbia’s littlest foodies love most about our local dining scene? We asked four kids their favorite place to eat in Columbia, what they always order, who serves the best pizza (and how they like it), plus their top spot for ice cream or sweet treats. We also invited them to dream big: if they could open their own restaurant, what would it be called, and what delicious dishes would it serve? Read on for their adorable answers and discover what Columbia’s cutest critics think about the best bites around town!
#1: Kid Critic: Olivia, 7 years old
Olivia’s favorite spot is Sophia’s, where she always orders a cheesy quesadilla—“I LOVE cheese!” she says. Her favorite pizza is pineapple on Shakespeare’s skinny crust, and she loves chocolate ice cream at Andy’s. If she opened a restaurant, it’d be Liv’s Bakery with towering pancake stacks. Every Valentine’s Day, her family celebrates with burgers and fries at Booches—a tradition she adores.
#2: Kid Critic: Declan “Duck”, 6 years old
Declan’s favorite spot is Olive Garden, where he orders mac and cheese—“because it’s so tasty and cheesy!” His top pizza pick is G&D’s with pepperoni, cheese, and pineapple. For treats, he loves chocolate-covered cherries from The Candy Factory. If he opened a restaurant, it’d be Cooking Chickens BBQ Time, serving BBQ and eggs for everyone.
#3: Kid Critic: Autumn, 8 years old
Autumn’s favorite spot is Sake for sushi, and she also enjoys Chinese food, fajitas, or a cheeseburger “in paradise” (she sang it like Jimmy Buffett while answering!) with all the toppings. Her favorite pizza is Shakespeare’s with mushrooms, banana peppers, pepperoni, and sausage. She picks an Oreo Blizzard at Dairy Queen. She’d open Autumn’s Cat Café serving coffee, waffles, and breakfast foods.
#4: Kid Critic: Cal, 6 years old
Cal’s favorite spot is Flat Branch Pub & Brewing, where he always orders crispy chicken tenders with honey mustard—“They’re super crispy and yummy!” he says. His top pizza pick is Arris’ Pizza with bacon and green peppers. For treats, he loves Oreo Speedwagon ice cream from Sparky’s. He’d open Cal’s Diner serving milkshakes and curly fries.