Every college student knows that a visit from a parent usually entails a few free meals.

With Parents’ Weekend right around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of my favorite restaurants in the Columbia area. Here are some of the places that I think are well worth your time and money:

Sizzle is the brand new “bacon eatery” that just opened up at 819 Harden Street in Five Points. This place is unreal – a bacon lover’s dream. It features a variety of different burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more. You can even top off your meal with a bacon brownie or a bacon split.

Cantina 76 is a locally owned and operated restaurant with two locations in Columbia: one on Devine Street and the other on Main Street. It features a taqueria-based menu, which includes all kinds of tacos and Mexican specialties. A visit to Cantina 76 is not complete without the “Tres hombres” sampler: a delicious trio of salsa, guacamole, and cheese dip.

Rockaway’s is Columbia’s hidden gem located at 2719 Rosewood Drive. It can be a little difficult to find if you’re not from the area, but the food will keep you coming back again and again. I believe that the Rockaway Pimento cheeseburger is the best in Columbia, and I have yet to find someone who can prove me wrong. 

Burger Tavern 77 is another restaurant located on Devine Street known for its preservation of the classic American burger and beer combination. The really cool thing about this place is that they have a “Build Your Burger” option with over 200,000 different combinations. 

Here are just some places I suggest you try out in Columbia. The City of Dreams has a ton of great restaurants, you can't go wrong.