MidMoDiningGuide.com staffers were put to the challenge by our Facebook fans to try out Coley's for lunch and report back with our observations.
Coley's is located in downtown Columbia on South 6th Street by Kinko's and Lucy's Corner Cafe. The outside looks a little small, but there's plenty of seating inside, we promise!
Self-titled "the best kept secret in Columbia," Coley's features sandwiches, burgers and entrees with a unique twist--From their Chicken Philly with a Cajun blast of flavor to their Vegetable Sandwich steaming with grilled eggplant and zucchini, each dish is far from your mainstream American bistro.
The hard wood floors and deep blue walls add to the relaxing, jazzy feel of the restaurant, which is perfect for a dinner date or business meeting. We were seated in a room adjacent to the bar and main entrance with moody lighting and smooth background music, which was a nice change of pace.
There was a little bit of a rush when we went at 12:30 p.m. because Coley's is only open three hours for lunch (11-2). We had to wait longer than most places for our appetizer and drinks because there was only one server for the entire restaurant when we went. Even still, our server made sure we felt accommodated and brought our meals promptly. We weren't disappointed!
Coley's currently has one menu, so the prices feel right for dinner but a little high for lunch. Appetizers range from $7-$9, main entrees like steak, pasta, and fish range from $12-$16, salads are generally $8 (more with meat or fish) and their sandwich list will cost you $7-$9. Our portions were incredibly hearty and filling, so we suggest coming on a day were you don't have too much to do afterward! We were craving a nap by the end of our feast.
Their drink menu has the best deals and most interesting combinations--Martinis are only $5 and feature a wide array of liqueurs (like the Banana Splitini, which features Svedka Vanilla Vodka, 99 Bananas, Creme de Cacao, Pineapple Juice and Grenadine). Beers were generally $3 and wine about $5.
Each of us ordered something different to taste, enjoy and experience for our readers. Here’s a summary of each of the menu items we tried, in each staffer's own words:
Fried Calamari Appetizer 
This was one of the best orders of calamari we've ever eaten! The meat is flash fried so the breading was light and melt-in-your-mouth good, but still crisp. The appetizer came with two dipping sauces, a slight-garlic tasting aioli and spicy red buffalo. Our crew liked both but preferred mixing them together for a less spicy flavor. One of our crewmembers liked the breading so much, she barely touched the sauce and sprinkled lemon juice on her pieces instead. A great start to a delicious meal!
Honey Citrus Chicken Wrap with Pepper jack Mac & Cheese
I was a little concerned when the wrap came out without the normal ranch sauce that most restaurants serve but I thought I'd give it a try without it and am pleased that I did. The Honey glaze on the chicken is a sweet and spicy mix that is a little more spicy than sweet, but makes for a very flavorful wrap. Add in some white American cheese, lettuce and tomato and this was a perfect meal for a warm day such as today. On the side I decided to forgo fries and go with the waiter's suggestion of pepper jack mac and cheese. I can't remember the last time I had pepper jack mac and cheese, but I have to say this hit the spot. One tip if you order this as a side ... mix up the noodles, as the cheese tends to be at the very bottom of the bowl.
Cajun Chicken Philly with Fries and Schlafly APA
This sandwich was really good--I usually get the same thing at every place, but this version of the Chicken Philly ranks high for me. The chicken was juicy and fresh with a spicy blast of flavor with each bite. I usually eat a side order of fries as an after thought, but I ended up eating all of mine at Coley's. My APA was cold and crisp. The only problem I had with the dining experience was the wait. It took 15 minutes to get my beer and much longer for our sandwiches to come out. If you have a tight hour lunch break, this isn't the place for you.
Gorgonzola Burger with Fries
With the meat sautéed in red wine along with mushrooms and sprinkled with gorgonzola cheese, the burger was incredibly flavorable, but no one taste overpowered it. The Gorgonzola cheese added an unusual flavor--very sharp, but it still had a creaminess to it that complimented the earthy taste of the mushrooms and moist beef. The burger was so big I couldn't even finish it. The fries were also perfectly cooked, crisp on outside but soft and hot with each bite. They were also cooked to a lovely golden brown. Coley's as a whole has a very small feel to it but there were definitely enough tables for the lunch crowd. The place has a lot of character--great place to go with coworkers or your sweetheart.
Sautéed Pork with Apples and Fries
I haven't had a pork chop sandwich this flavorable in a very long time--the meat was sautéed with spiced apples, mushrooms and onions and topped with provel and honey Dijon. I had to cut the sandwich in half just to pick it up! The meat and veggies completely filled the hoagie bun it was served on. Each bite was deliciously different depending on the apple-pork or onion combo. Tender and sweet complete with an amazing aroma, I couldn't recommend this sandwich more! I was stuffed and content by the end of the meal. The wait was a little too long, but our crew wasn't in a huge hurry. I would love to come back to Coley's at night for a fancy dinner with friends.
