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

Thanksgiving Dinner: 10:30am-6pm | 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 7.95

      A rich and creamy Charleston classic

    • Steamed Peel & Eat Shrimp 9.95

      (9) Old Bay boil, served with cocktail sauce

    • Fried Crab Claws 15.95

      Served with spicy cocktail sauce. Llimited availability

    • BBQ Chicken Nachos 13.95

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

    • Seafood Nachos 15.95

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

    • Tijuana Chicken Wings 13.95

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

    • Our Famous Croissants (5) 6.95

      Topped with honey-butter

    • Baked Potato Soup 6.95

      Creamy soup, scallions, cheese, ham, bacon

  • Entrees

    • Chicken Tenders Platter 16.95

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

    • Blackened Chicken Pasta 17.95

      Alfredo, scallions, tomatoes, with romano cheese

    • BBQ Chicken 15.95

      Double breast of chicken basted with BBQ sauce, with side item

    • Knob Hill Chicken 17.95

      Topped with ham and monterey jack cheese, with side item

    • Crispy Shrimp Tacos (3) 15.95

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

  • Seafood Favorites

    • Shrimp San Francisco 17.95

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

    • Roasted Salmon 24.95

      Encrusted with rosemary and thyme, with side item

    • Carolina Trout 23.95

      Grilled with arugula and lemon

  • Fried Seafood Platters

    • Shrimp 20.95

    • Oysters 24.95

    • Flounder 20.95

    • All Three 25.95

      Served with french fries

  • Salads

    • California Dreaming 13.95

      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

      Salmon15.95
      Chicken14.95

    • Caesar

      Crisp romaine, grated romano cheese, croutons

      Chicken or Fried Shrimp14.95
      Fried Oysters16.95

    • Chicken Club 14.95

      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 Rare - cold red center | Medium Rare - warm red center | Medium - hot red center | Medium Well - hot pink center | Well Done - brown center

    • Pork Chop 25.95

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

    • Marinated Sirloin 24.95

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

    • Steak + Shrimp 25.95

      Two 3oz. filet medallions, crispy fried shrimp

    • Ribeye 33.95

      14oz. hand cut

    • Filet Mignon 35.95

      8oz. barrel cut

    • Baby Back Ribs

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

      One Rack19.95
      Two Racks27.95

  • Burgers

    Served with french fries

    • American 12.95

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

    • Veggie 13.95

      Beyond Burger®, sweet soy, Duke's® mayo, monterey jack cheese, lettuce, pickle, tomato and red onions

  • Sandwiches

    Served with french fries

    • Spicy Chicken 12.95

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

    • Club 12.95

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

    • Chicken 12.95

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

    • BBQ Pork 12.95

      Pulled pork, pickles, red onion and cole slaw

    • New Orleans Po' Boy 14.95

      Flounder, Fried Shrimp or Oysters with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce on french bread

    • Steak 17.95

      Two 3oz. filet medallions, lettuce, mayonnaise, tomato, and jack cheese

  • Sides

    $4.95

    • French Fries

    • Seasonal Veggie

    • Mashed Potatoes

    • Creamy Cole Slaw

    • Baked Potato

      after 4pm

  • Desserts

    • Chocolate Brownie 7.95

    • Apple Walnut Cobbler 8.95

    • Croissant Bread Pudding 7.95

    • Cheesecake 8.95

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

DRINK

  • Cocktails

    • Winter Sangria 8.95

      Traditional red with cranberry and cinnamon

    • Maple Bourbon Smash 12.95

      Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, maple syrup, orange & lemon juice, bitters

    • Espresso Martini 11.95

      Mr. Black Coffee liqueur, Absolut vodka, Java House

    • Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned 13.95

      FEW 'Bottle In Bond' Bourbon

    • Sugar Cookie Martini 10.95

      Baileys, Absolut Vanilla vodka, Amaretto

    • Pear Spritz 10.95

      Aperol, pear, cinnamon, prosecco

    • Cherry Limeade Spiked Soda 9.95

      Topo Chico, Skyy vodka, lime, simple, cherries

    • Blue Hawaiian 10.95

      Parrot Bay rum, pineapple, sweet & sour, blue curacao

  • Frozen Drinks

    $9.95

    • Cali Crush

      Skyy vodka, OJ, Grand Marnier

    • Margarita

      Lunazul tequila

  • 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

  • Margarita's

    $10.95

    • Classic

      Lunazul tequila, agave, lime

    • Hibiscus

      Lunazul tequila, hibiscus, simple, lime, agave

    • Ancho Chili

      Ancho Reyes Chili liqueur, Lunazul tequila, agave, lime

    • Apple Cider

      Espolon tequila, Grand Marnier, apple cider, cinnamon

  • Spirits

    • Bourbon / Whiskey

      • Booker's Rye 18.95

      • Buffalo Trace 9.95

      • Bulleit Rye 8.95

      • Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 10.95

      • Four Roses Small Batch 9.95

      • Henry McKenna 11.95

      • Jack Daniel's Bonded 9.95

      • Jefferson's Ocean 15.95

      • Knob Creek 9.95

      • Maker's Mark "Living the Dream" 14.95

      • Michter's Rye 10.95

      • Old Forester 1920 10.95

      • Pikesville Rye 12.95

      • WhistlePig 10 Yr 18.95

      • Wild Turkey Longbranch 11.95

      • Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 11.95

    • Tequila

      • Casamigos Blanco 11.95

      • Don Julio Silver 9.95

      • El Tesoro Anejo 14.95

      • Espolon Blanco 9.95

      • Gran Centenario Cristalino 24.95

      • Herradura Reposado 13.95

      • Ocho Plata Reposado 13.95

      • Teremana Blanco 8.95

    • Beer

      • On Tap

        • Blue Moon 5.95

        • Columbia Craft 6.25

        • Coors Banquet 5.95

        • Hunter-Gatherer 7.25

        • Leinenkugel 6.25

        • Michelob Ultra 5.95

        • Steel Hands 6.95

        • Sweetwater 5.95

        • Terrapin 6.95

        • Wicked Weed 6.25

      • Bottles / Cans

        • Athletic N/A 5.95

        • Austin Eastciders 6.25

        • Bud Light 4.25

        • Corona 4.95

        • Coors Light 4.95

        • Miller Lite 4.25

        • Modelo 5.95

        • Nutrl Seltzer 5.95

        • Yuengling 4.95

        • Not Beer Sparkling Water 5.95

      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.

      WINE

      • Whites

        • Chardonnay, EOS, California 7.95

        • Chardonnay, Stoller, Oregon 9.95

        • Chardonnay, Buehler, Russian River 11.95

        • Chardonnay, Frank Family, Carneros, California 55.00

        • Moscato, Seven Daughters, Italy 8.95

        • Moscato Rosé, Innocent Bystander, Australia 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, Norton 1895, Mendoza 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, Rebellious, California 9.95

        • Red Blend, Conundrum, California 42.00

        • Red Zinfandel, Edmeades, Mendocino 9.95

      Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

      DESSERT

      • Desserts

        • Chocolate Brownie 7.95

        • Apple Walnut Cobbler 8.95

        • Croissant Bread Pudding 7.95

        • Cheesecake 8.95

      Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

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