116 State Street

@116 on State Street in Cayce has been open since August, taking the place of House Coffee - I drove past many times cynically eyeing the place, thinking it was just a snobby wine bar for Columbia yuppies pushing out the crusty kids in droves (and it may very well be, but aren't the terms "yuppie" and "snobby" relative?).

Well, tonight I went for drinks...and dinner...and more drinks. I didn't even mean to make it an all-night affair, but what began as a casual "let's grab drinks" with Larry from the Nick turned into a full night of wine, tapas and White Russians. I'll have to come back to the wine - it has only itself to blame for my memory lapse. It was a Cabernet Sauvignon. That's all I can tell you.

As far as tapas are concerned, our table of four had two plates of coffee-rubbed and chilean spiced flank steak over garlic mashed potatoes, one plate of crab cakes with a potato croquette and spinach salad, one caesar salad with grilled shrimp, and one order of mussels steamed in a romesco and white wine sauce served with fresh ciabatta bread for dipping. I don't think I have had a better meal since October when it was my birthday weekend of gluttony at The Admiral in Asheville and Columbia's own Gervais & Vine. Meals like tonight's are why I love food, the creativity it requires, the community that forms around it, the pretension, the shamelessness, all in one.

Finally, we finished off the night with @116's specialty White Russians. Andrew got the "Colorado Bulldog," a tall glass of Vodka, Kahlua, Cream and topped off with Coke..I know. It was amazing (kind of like a coke float). Joe and I both got Nutty Rasputins, Vodka, Hazelnut Kahlua, Frangelico and Cream over ice...quite possibly the best drink I have ever had with just a tiny hint of hazelnut. Larry got the classic - Vodka, Kahlua and Cream on the rocks.

They graciously let us close down the place. There were patrons on sweet dates as well as casual walkers/runners straight off of the river. It was a perfect blend of homey but semi-snobby food and a totally approachable atmosphere. Visit!