Liberty Tap Room & Grill in Columbia, South Carolina

After viewing the latest Star Trek movie (which was fantastic), we decided to grab a bite to eat. "Want to check out the Vista?" my wife asked. Not having done much touristy stuff in this area of Columbia, SC, I readily agreed. We ended up at the Liberty Tap Room and Grill at Gervais (pronounced jer-vay) and Lincoln.

"The food is pretty good here," my wife announced. Not much of a choice on this late Sunday afternoon, but I'm always game for new experiences.

The atmosphere inside was cozy, cool (it was really warm for a late May day) and inviting. The hostess greeted us with a genuine smile (you can tell when these things are forced) and asked if we wanted to eat inside or on the outside patio. We opted for the latter.

We were shown to the outside patio and our waiter was almost immediately at our table with menus.

I was pleasantly surprised at the variety offered. There were the typical soups and salads, appetizers running the spectrum from Ahi Tuna to Southern Style Chicken Fingers to Flash Fried Calamari. Main course food included steaks, burgers, chicken, seafood and even pizza. The libation section had an amazing assortment of brews from ales (many, including Rogue Dead Guy and Highland Gaelic ale) to ambers (Smithwicks and others), as well as their own and local mini-brews.

My wife opted for the Flash Fried Calamari and a Caesar Salad with shrimp. I went for the Freedom Burger.

The Freedom Burger came and I knew I was in for a treat. There was the bun (deliciously grilled), lettuce, pickles and tomato (all fresh), and the Angus beef burger (thick - at least two inches - juicy and cooked exactly as requested). The thing that made the burger different from others was not only the criss-crossed applewood smoked bacon slices and the cheddar cheese, but the fried egg that was layered in the whole mix.

Believe me when I say this was a true taste sensation. I have not enjoyed a burger as much in quite some time. I savored every bit to the very last bite.

The fried chips that came with my burger were not to my liking, but my wife enjoyed them and said they were very good. Her calamari lacked the savory flavor of some others she has had recently, but it was still good. And she was thoroughly happy with her shrimp Caesar salad.

All in all, the experience at the Liberty Tap Room and Grill was A-1 in my book. The good to great food, the wonderful service from waiters and hostess staff and the fairly reasonable price for our meal (under $35 for the two of us), as well as the quiet ambience of the place, made for a great Sunday afternoon dining experience.

Liberty Tap Room & Grill is located at 828 Gervais Street in the Vista area of Columbia, SC 29201. Phone - (803) 461-4677. They can be found on the web at http://www.libertytaproom.com.