Columbia, SC

Located in downtown Columbia, SC, inside the historic 1902 Union Station, California Dreaming welcomes guests with its vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the rail tracks, stretching from the inactive platform to the main terminal. Paired with our hearty, made-from-scratch menu, it's no wonder California Dreaming has been a beloved local institution since 1984. Open for lunch and dinner daily, including online ordering with curbside pickup.

Celebrating 40 years, California Dreaming has been a valued part of the Columbia community. Union Station, its historic home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Please note that we provide Advance Priority Seating to reduce wait times and expedite the seating process when your entire party arrives. To ensure the best experience for all guests, we seat groups of up to 8. While larger groups are seated separately, this arrangement is flexible during quieter hours.

401 South Main St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Directions

803.254.6767 Order Now

Reserve

Hours

Catering | Curbside to-go

Christmas Eve: 11am-6pm | Christmas Day: CLOSED | New Year's Eve: 11am-9pm | New Year's Day: 11am-9pm

DINE

DINE

  • Apps

    • She Crab Soup 9.95

      A rich and creamy Charleston classic

    • Steamed Peel & Eat Shrimp 10.95

      (9) Old Bay boil, served with cocktail sauce

    • Fried Crab Claws 16.95

      Served with spicy cocktail sauce. Llimited availability

    • BBQ Chicken Nachos 15.95

      Smoky BBQ sauce, red onions, house-made chips, cheese sauce

    • Seafood Nachos 17.95

      Spicy shrimp, salmon, red onions, house-made chips, cheese sauce and lobster cream sauce with dill

    • Nashville Hot Wings 15.95

      Marinated in hot pepper sauce, fried crispy, with bleu cheese dip

    • Our Famous Croissants (5) 6.95

      Topped with honey-butter

    • Baked Potato Soup 7.95

      Creamy soup, scallions, cheese, ham, bacon

  • Entrees

    • Cali Bowl

      Warm sushi rice, avocado, jalapenos, sesame seeds, mango, scallions, jicama slaw, pickled red onions, chipotle mayo. Choice of:

      Tuna Poke17.95
      Miso Salmon18.95
      Steak18.95
      Fried Chicken15.95

    • Chicken Tenders Platter 17.95

      Fried chicken tenderloins, served with house-made honey BBQ sauce and french fries

    • Blackened Chicken Pasta 17.95

      Alfredo, scallions, tomatoes, with romano cheese

    • Knob Hill Chicken 18.95

      Topped with ham and monterey jack cheese, with side item

  • Seafood Favorites

    • Miso Salmon 24.95

      Miso glazed, sweet soy, with side

    • Shrimp San Francisco 17.95

      Mushrooms, garlic cream, white wine, served over pasta, topped with romano cheese

    • Carolina Trout 24.95

      Grilled with arugula and lemon

  • Fried Seafood Platters

    • Shrimp 20.95

    • Oysters 24.95

    • Flounder 20.95

    • All Three 26.95

      Served with french fries

  • Salads

    • California Dreaming 14.95

      Mixed greens, ham and turkey, cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, egg, tomatoes, almonds topped with warm ham and bacon, house dressing

    • Roasted Salmon or Chicken

      Mixed greens, bacon, egg, avocado, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette

      Salmon16.95
      Chicken15.95

    • Caesar

      Crisp romaine, grated romano cheese, croutons

      Chicken or Fried Shrimp14.95
      Fried Oysters17.95

    • Chicken Club 15.95

      Mixed greens, fried chicken strips, avocado, bacon, egg, tomatoes, house-made ranch dressing

  • Steaks, Chops + Ribs

    Aged USDA Choice | Served with a house or caesar salad and side item

    • Pork Chop 26.95

      16oz. double bone, frenched chop, peach jalapeno jam

    • Marinated Sirloin 26.95

      10oz. sirloin marinated in fruit juices, garlic, soy sauce and spices

    • Steak + Shrimp 26.95

      Two 3oz. filet medallions, crispy fried shrimp

    • Ribeye 37.95

      14oz. hand cut

    • Filet Mignon 39.95

      8oz. barrel cut

    • Baby Back Ribs

      Danish full-flavored ribs, grilled with a charred exterior, basted with BBQ sauce, with side item

      One Rack21.95
      Two Racks29.95

  • Tacos (3)

    Served with side item

    • Chicken 15.95

      Shredded lettuce, chipotle & cilantro mayo, pico de gallo, Monterey cheese

    • Steak 17.95

      Cilantro cabbage slaw, chipotle mayo, pickled onions, queso fresco

    • Crispy Shrimp 16.95

      Jicama slaw, chipotle mayo, tomatoes, pickled onions, scallions, queso fresco

  • Sandwiches

    Served with french fries

    • American Burger 12.95

      Lettuce, tomato, red onions, pickles and Duke's® mayo

    • Veggie Burger 13.95

      House-made, pepper jack, avocado, lettuce, tomato, BBQ molasses sauce, mayo and mustard

    • Club 13.95

      Thinly sliced turkey, ham, bacon, cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, lettuce, tomato and mayo on toasted sourdough

    • Spicy Chicken 14.95

      Crispy fried chicken, american cheese, jicama slaw, pickles, chipotle mayo

    • Chicken 14.95

      Broiled, topped with jack cheese, bacon, arugula, tomato and honey mustard

  • Sides

    • French Fries 5.95

    • Seasonal Veggie 5.95

    • Mashed Potatoes 5.95

    • Creamy Cole Slaw 5.95

    • Baked Potato 6.95

      after 4pm

  • Desserts

    • Chocolate Brownie 8.95

    • Apple Walnut Cobbler 8.95

    • Croissant Bread Pudding 9.95

    • Cheesecake 9.95

      seasonal topping

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

DRINK

  • Margaritas

    Pouring: Lunazul tequila

    • Classic 10.95

      Agave, lime

    • Spiced Cranberry 10.95

      White cranberry, cinnamon, lime, Cointreau

    • Smoky Peach 10.95

      Ilegal mezcal, peach, agave, lime

    • Pineapple Jalapeño 10.95

      Pineapple, jalapeño, lime, triple sec

  • Cocktails

    • Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned 13.95

      Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon

    • Dreamsicle #3 10.95

      Evan Williams bourbon, Licor 43, vanilla, orange juice

    • Spritz-mas 9.95

      Aperol, cranberry, lemon, prosecco

    • Harvest Ember 10.95

      Evan Williams bourbon, apple butter, lemon, spiced honey, apple wood smoke

  • Martinis

    • Toasted Marshmallow 11.95

      Hoodoo Espresso vodka, toasted marshmallow infusion

    • Sugar Cookie 11.95

      Baileys, Absolut Vanilla vodka, di Amore amaretto

    • Strawberry Rose 12.95

      Tito's vodka, rose essence, Chambord, strawberry

    • Dirty 13.95

      Grey Goose vodka, olive brine, Dolin dry vermouth

  • Frozen Drinks

    $10.95

    • Cali Crush

      Parrot Bay Coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple, house sour

    • Irish Coffee

      Jameson whiskey, Kahlua, cream, whipped cream

  • Zero Proof

    • Coconut Faux-Jito 9.95

      Non-Alcoholic, Seedlip Spice 94, Coco Lopez, pineapple, lime, mint

    • Pineapple Spritz 9.95

      Non-Alcoholic, Seedlip Grove 42, pineapple, lime, grenadine, cherry

  • Spirits

    • Bourbon / Whiskey

      • Booker's Rye 18.95

      • Buffalo Trace 11.95

      • Bulleit Rye 10.95

      • Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 10.95

      • Four Roses Small Batch 9.95

      • Henry McKenna 11.95

      • Jack Daniel's Bonded 11.95

      • Jefferson's Ocean 15.95

      • Knob Creek 10.95

      • Michter's Rye 10.95

      • Old Forester 1920 15.95

      • Penelope Toasted 14.95

      • Pikesville Rye 14.95

      • WhistlePig 10 Yr 21.95

      • Wild Turkey Longbranch 11.95

      • Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 12.95

    • Tequila

      • Casamigos Blanco 13.95

      • Don Julio Silver 10.95

      • El Tesoro Anejo 14.95

      • Espolon Blanco 10.95

      • Gran Centenario Cristalino 24.95

      • Herradura Reposado 13.95

      • Lalo Blanco 11.95

      • Ocho Plata Reposado 13.95

    • Beer

      • On Tap

        • Blue Moon 6.25

        • Columbia Craft 6.25

        • Coors Banquet 5.95

        • Highland 6.95

        • Leinenkugel 6.25

        • Michelob Ultra 5.95

        • Sierra Nevada 6.95

        • Terrapin 6.25

        • Wicked Weed 6.25

        • Yuengling 6.25

      • Bottles / Cans

        • Athletic N/A 5.95

        • Austin Eastciders 6.95

        • Bud Light 4.95

        • Coors Light 4.95

        • Corona 4.95

        • Heineken 5.95

        • High Noon 7.25

        • High Rise Pineapple THC Seltzer 8.95

        • Miller Lite 4.95

        • Modelo 5.95

        • Not Beer Sparkling Water 5.95

      Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

      WINE

      • Whites

        • Chardonnay, EOS, California 7.95

        • Chardonnay, Diora, Monterey 9.95

        • Chardonnay, Buehler, Russian River 11.95

        • Chardonnay, Frank Family, Carneros, California 55.00

        • Moscato, Seven Daughters, Italy 8.95

        • Moscato Rosé, Risata, Italy 7.95

        • Pinot Grigio, Lunardi, Italy 7.95

        • Prosecco, Riondo, Italy 8.95

        • Riesling, Loosen Bros. "Dr L" Mosel, Germany 7.95

        • Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau River, New Zealand 8.95

        • Sauvignon Blanc, Jax, California 10.95

        • Sparkling Wine, Poema, Cava 7.95

      • Reds

        • Cabernet Sauvignon, Firestone, Paso Robles 7.95

        • Cabernet Sauvignon, Leese-Fitch, California 8.95

        • Cabernet Sauvignon, The Federalist, California 11.95

        • Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake Sonoma, California 49.00

        • Malbec, Alta Vista "Vive", Argentina 7.95

        • Merlot, Spellbound, California 8.95

        • Pinot Noir, Elouan, Oregon 9.95

        • Pinot Noir, Fowles Wine, Australia 11.95

        • Pinot Noir Rosé, Villa Wolf, Pfalz, Germany 7.95

        • Red Blend, Clos de los Siete, Argentina 9.95

        • Red Blend, Conundrum, California 42.00

        • Red Zinfandel, Seghesio Family Vineyards, California 10.95

      Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

      KIDS

      • Kids Menu

        Served with fries and a beverage.

        • Chicken Strips 6.95

        • Cheeseburger 6.95

        • Fried Shrimp 6.95

        • Chicken Wings 6.95

        • Grilled Cheese 6.95

        • Fettuccine Alfredo 6.95

          (no side)

      Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

      DESSERT

      • Desserts

        • Chocolate Brownie 8.95

        • Apple Walnut Cobbler 8.95

        • Croissant Bread Pudding 9.95

        • Cheesecake 9.95

          seasonal topping

      Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

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