By this point in the semester, everybody should be well on their way to freaking out about Spring Break and the poor state of their bodies. I personally just ate a large bag of Pizza Rolls and in no way am I ashamed.
Full disclosure: I should tell you I am not going to a beach over break and don’t have to worry about being in shape. So in the words of my favorite president, “Hardy Har Har!”
My next stop on my misadventure of finding the best food in all of Columbia took me to Booches on South Ninth Street in Columbia, right next to Shotbar. Booches has been in operation since 1884 and functions still today as a restaurant, bar and pool hall. Online reviews credit the place as nothing special but with great food. My older brother, who by all means knows nothing about food but has lived in Columbia for years, suggested that you get burgers and be sure to order two of them.
Booches has the classic downtown look with big windows in front that let you see through to the back of the long pool hall. When you walk in, you can see the large bar to your left and roughly a dozen tables along the right wall. Call me weird, but I like historic things: The bar back reminds me of an old-West saloon. The old dark wood is arched and interspaced with big mirrors where you can see a gunslinger step up behind you with guns drawn. Yet instead of a cowboy behind you, it’s about 30 other people in various stages of dining.
As if to go along with the rustic feel of the bar and the old sports memorabilia dominating every wall, Booches is definitely a place for the older crowd. It is not a bar full of college students, but what seemed to be people who live in Columbia and don’t go to college. I know — it surprises me, too, that there are adults in this town.
Now to what I’m (not) paid to talk about: the food. Booches’ burgers are a local legend. Everybody I know will go and order two cheeseburgers and a cup of chili. The burgers are served on a piece of wax paper and truly, you need to order two. While I was eating, I overheard an older couple behind me exclaim that they don’t know how such a simple burger recipe could be so good. Personally, I think it’s in the seasoning.
I had what is called a “Fat Freddie” or a hot dog smothered in sauerkraut and chili. You would think that chili and sauerkraut would work about as well as Rose letting Jack on the big door in “Titanic” instead of drowning, but it was surprisingly delectable. I haven’t had a better chili dog in a long time.
After eating at Booches, I was left with about three surprising facts. The first is that you can rent pool tables in the back of the restaurant. They have six tables and an entire wall full of cues for that weird uncle who always tries at least five before finding one that is straighter than the rest. For groups of three or more, you can play for an hour for only $10.
The second thing is that there is no back kitchen. Instead, the food is cooked on the small grill up at the very front of the shop, visible from standing outside. Even though the food is cooked on a small grill, everything took almost no time to cook. It only took about 20 minutes from walking in to be done eating.
Lastly, and most importantly, is that Booches is a cash-only restaurant. From drinks to food to renting pool tables, you have to have cash. So make sure when you take your significant other out for the best bar food in this town, you have plenty of cash to fully enjoy Booches.
