Don't Miss Cafe Strudel in Columbia, South Carolina

"Let's go eat." My roommate sighed and moaned out the phrase. The previous night's adventures were nipping at our heels and food sounded like something that needed be done before the indulgences of yesternight fully caught us.
"Where?" I winced and put on my sunglasses.
"Cafe Strudel."
"What? Where is that?" I had never heard of the place.
"They have Hangover Hashbrowns."
With those two words I was sold. I didn't know what Hangover Hashbrowns were, how they were made, what could possibly make them worthy of such a title, but they sounded like the answer to everything at that moment.
I was not disappointed.

Clearing the Air: Excellent Food, Chaos-Meets-Feng-Shui Atmosphere, and Even...Coffee

So what are Hangover Hashbrowns you ask? Well they are the perfect cure for your brunchy-munchies, regardless of your state of mind at the time. To be more specific, the menu reads: "A generous portion of our Golden Hash Browns with Grilled Onions, Banana Peppers, Tomatoes, Cheddar and Two eggs cooked to order. (Half order has one egg)". The description hardly does the meal justice. The breakfast entree that was featured in Southern Living (Sept. 2006) is one of those meals that you want to funnel down your gullet. The steaming shredded potatoes, the long slices of tomato, the perfect balance of the vinegary spice of banana peppers. Que Bella! Oh yeah, and it comes with some toast.

Cafe Strudel is in a thin two story, crammed between a bar and another coffee joint. Entering the establishment is immediately disarming even with the chaos if you go during the "rush hours". The inside is covered in wood, with tables and chairs that seem to have been pulled from flea markets, swap meets, and yard sales. One of my favorite parts about Cafe Strudel is the fact that they use normal coffee mugs you'd find in any cabinet (from "Best Boss" to "#1 Dad!") for your coffee. You fill it yourself, and can drink any one of the daily blends they have out till you pop.

Swing by in the evenings any Thursday, Friday, or Saturday for some live music on their back deck. Even if you can't bring yourself to order anything else on the (fantastic) menu other than the hashbrowns, it's worth a stop any day or time. I would recommend you try some of the desserts that they rotate, or some of the wonderful beers they have on tap and in the cooler.

I can easily say that it is the least pretentious cafe I've ever had the pleasure of eating at in America. So what are you waiting for? Go check them out at 118 State St., West Columbia, SC!

HOURS:
MON, TUE, WED - 8:30a to 4:00p
THU, FRI,SAT - 8:30a to 11:00p
SUN 10:00a to 3:00p

WEBSITE: http://www.cafestrudel.com/