Missing in St. Andrews/Irmo (Columbia, Lexington: environment, relocating, work)

[sunstate]

After almost three months in this area I can not find decent places to eat. I have tried four chinese restaurants here and all seem to have geared their food for this regions (bland) taste. Pizza is no better with five places tried to date and none make their own sauce or dough. Better Mexican food can be found at Taco Bell than the three places I have tried. The only viable places to eat are chains (sadly). Locals say "well, this is a small town"...huh? I thought the Columbia area had about 1/2 million folks. Service in stores and restaurants is indifferent at best.

I went to a local seafood place and asked the server if anything on the menu was fresh instead of frozen. This should not be a strange question. Places do in fact get delivery of fresh seafood. He responded "oh yeah, we just go out back and catch all our fish on the menu". I asked what sort of breading was used on the fried seafood, cornmeal or flower (like tempora). He said "I dunno....it's just seafood breading". I asked if he would ask the kitchen and he came back and said they did not know. Odd. I expect more from an establishment when my bill for two guests is over $100. P.S. this same server thout it O.K. to serve three girls aged 17 through 19 alchohol. Huh?


I also miss a real newspaper. The State is a joke. It is sad that there is no other source for news here. Local TV news is funny too. No one seems to dress (or talk) like they are on TV. I am having to get all my news from the internet.

I miss taking to people who do not feel a need to know where I go to church. I miss not being told I would "burn in hell" unless I was "saved".

I miss being able to go to Home Depot or Lowes and finding someone there who knows the products the store sells. I miss being able to find items in those stores when I need them. I had to wait three weeks for an "in stock" item to come in and was told that is common.

I miss real and genuine people. People here may say "yes mame and no mame" but I would rather have a genuine smile and exchange once in a while from a clerk or server giving a response to an inquiry than a blank stare and hear that automatic, fake, humorless bleating of "yes mame".

I miss racial acceptance. I think it is terrible that a town would employ a police office who would feel free to use the N word to me just because I am a middle aged white woman.

I miss being around people who think it is O.K. to be anything but a republican. I have been cursed at for being a Dem. What?

I miss not being openly accused of being gay just because I am unmarried and have no children. Weird.

I am sure this writing will be met with the same sort of attitude I have been encountering to date. That is "we don't need your kind here anyway".

Any others reading this, beware if you are a forward thinking, non racist, libral democrat. Oh yeah, and I hope you are a good cook because you will eat at home A LOT.

[NancyM]

Where did you move from? I'm relocating to Columbia/Lexington area in another month or so an I'm currently in NJ. I'm also single with no kids...and not gay.

[NancyM]

Actually, if I were liberal and not interested in being around christians, the Bible Belt is the last place I'd go. I'm moving to SC because I'm looking foward to being in that kind of an environment.

[MRaynor]

Welcome to SC. I live pretty close to this area you speak of. As far as Mexican food, try Lafagotta. Out here in Chapin the food and service is great and there is one on Broad River Rd. Hooters is pretty good and it is at exit 103 Harbison Blvd. you know right in front of Home Depot. I don't recommend Applebees though. It was not good at all last time we went.

[waccamatt]

OK, you probably should have asked some residents for restaurant recommendations. If the only part of the metro you've looked in is St. Andrews and Irmo, you've missed out on a lot of places.

Chinese: Miyo's, M Cafe or Sesame Inn
Thai: Baan Sawan or Thai Lotus
Mexican: Little Mexico
Greek: Bull Market, Devine Foods, Grecian Gardens or Zorba's
Italian: Villa Tronco, Garibaldi's, Divino or Dianne's on Devine
Middle Eastern: Al Amir, Mediterranean Tea Room or Elie's
Vietnamese: Golden Chopstix
Fresh Seafood: Bonefish Grill, Blue Marlin
Sushi: Sakitumi, Tsunami, Miyabi Kyoto, Sakura, Sushi Yoshi

Accused of being gay because you're single? Interesting. I'm gay and I don't consider being gay something to be "accused of", it's something to rejoice about. To each his own, I guess.

As far as being Republican, if you live in Richland County, Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2 to 1, so I don't know where you've been looking.

[sunstate]

To NancyM: I know I am in the bible belt. I moved here for family reasons. I have nothing against Christians at all. I just think it odd that some who say they are Christians, do not act like they are.

To Waccamatt: Thanks for the list. I have read many of your posts and find you to be a very helpful and intelligent person. I am very sorry to give the impression that to be thought gay was a bad thing. My statement was more about the good ol boy attitude toward single women. It bugged me that a few knot heads have felt free to say rude things to me just because I own a lot of tools and do all my own home remodeling and repair. What? Women can't own tools, be childless and unmarried without being gay?

Now, about Dems v Reps...when I went to vote the other day, I was only one of three (3) in line and the woman in front of me said, "oh good, I thought I would be the only one here". I am in Lexington County.

Side note: after voting, I went to give blood and almost everyone at the blood drive mentioned something about either just having voted or being on their way to vote. Made me feel good. It was cool to see a bunch of socially responsible democrats in one place.

Also, I have been to Miyo's and found their food to be flavorless (although they used very good quality meat and vegs). The dim sum was good only because it was a curry and therefore had some flavor. I hated Sesame however. I thought it stange that a chinese place would serve a salad with the entree. Again, no flavor whatsoever. Seems the seasonings in these places are geared toward the local palate.

Zorba's is safe from me. Bad presentation, so-so quality, high prices for what you get, bad service, odd decor.

I will try Golden Chopstix this week as wellas Little Mexico. I will work my way down the list. I WILL find a decent place to eat around here if it kills me. It may just.

I have looked online for groups that do not revolve around hunting, fishing, church, guns, or Harleys. I have found a few and hope I will not be run out of town before I have a chance to meet the other four or five like-minded people here.

[Brandon Hoffman]

It will sound harsh, but perhaps it's the way you present yourself. Strangers rarely ask me about what church I go to, I've never heard of anyone accused of being gay because they are singe and I've lived in SC my whole life. I go to Lowe's regularly and find employees both knowledgeable and helpful. You have ignorant, racist people no matter where you go. You say not genuine people, but at least they are polite. If you'd like to be treated the way people really feel about you try other parts of the country. I prefer at least polite to my face.

Columbia isn't for everyone, maybe it's not for you. If you have a house to sell call me.

[Nausikaa]

It must be a huge burden to carry around chips on both shoulders. Get rid of the chips and lighten up, then people might like you.

[Slappy san]

Sorry to hear about your problems there. It gives me something else to consider.

[hapscat]

Originally Posted by sunstate

After almost three months in this area I can not find decent places to eat. I have tried four chinese restaurants here and all seem to have geared their food for this regions (bland) taste. Pizza is no better with five places tried to date and none make their own sauce or dough. Better Mexican food can be found at Taco Bell than the three places I have tried. The only viable places to eat are chains (sadly). Locals say "well, this is a small town"...huh? I thought the Columbia area had about 1/2 million folks. Service in stores and restaurants is indifferent at best.

I went to a local seafood place and asked the server if anything on the menu was fresh instead of frozen. This should not be a strange question. Places do in fact get delivery of fresh seafood. He responded "oh yeah, we just go out back and catch all our fish on the menu". I asked what sort of breading was used on the fried seafood, cornmeal or flower (like tempora). He said "I dunno....it's just seafood breading". I asked if he would ask the kitchen and he came back and said they did not know. Odd. I expect more from an establishment when my bill for two guests is over $100. P.S. this same server thout it O.K. to serve three girls aged 17 through 19 alchohol. Huh?


I also miss a real newspaper. The State is a joke. It is sad that there is no other source for news here. Local TV news is funny too. No one seems to dress (or talk) like they are on TV. I am having to get all my news from the internet.

I miss taking to people who do not feel a need to know where I go to church. I miss not being told I would "burn in hell" unless I was "saved".

I miss being able to go to Home Depot or Lowes and finding someone there who knows the products the store sells. I miss being able to find items in those stores when I need them. I had to wait three weeks for an "in stock" item to come in and was told that is common.

I miss real and genuine people. People here may say "yes mame and no mame" but I would rather have a genuine smile and exchange once in a while from a clerk or server giving a response to an inquiry than a blank stare and hear that automatic, fake, humorless bleating of "yes mame".

I miss racial acceptance. I think it is terrible that a town would employ a police office who would feel free to use the N word to me just because I am a middle aged white woman.

I miss being around people who think it is O.K. to be anything but a republican. I have been cursed at for being a Dem. What?

I miss not being openly accused of being gay just because I am unmarried and have no children. Weird.

I am sure this writing will be met with the same sort of attitude I have been encountering to date. That is "we don't need your kind here anyway".

Any others reading this, beware if you are a forward thinking, non racist, libral democrat. Oh yeah, and I hope you are a good cook because you will eat at home A LOT.

thats funny . about the gay thing . just ask them if they have a sister or a mother who would be interested . the look on there face is priceless.