An Evening at Hendrix in Downtown Columbia

A plate of blue crab hush puppies is a fine way to begin an evening at Hendrix. The downtown Columbia restaurant has the polished look of a special-occasion destination, but its rhythm is more relaxed: settle in at the bar, order a few things for the table, stay for dinner, then head upstairs for a drink.

The menu works in that same easygoing-but-dressed-up mode. It is described as American fusion, with dishes that borrow ideas from well beyond one culinary lane. A group can make a meal from smaller plates, while someone in the mood for a proper entrée has plenty of ground to cover.

Hendrix unfolds across several levels, with a main dining room, bar area, outdoor patio or terrace, private-dining option, and rooftop lounge. The change of setting gives a night here some natural movement without requiring anybody to rush through it.

The blue crab hush puppies have become one of the appetizers people seek out. They offer the familiar comfort of a Southern table staple, but fit neatly into Hendrix’s more contemporary, worldly menu.

Deviled eggs are another small plate worth noticing, including a version served with pork belly. They are a smart early order for a table that wants something savory before deciding how far dinner will go.

Spicy lamb naan gives the appetizer list a different direction entirely. It is one of the menu’s recurring favorites and a good example of how Hendrix moves comfortably between regional ingredients and international influences.

Mushroom toast, burrata, beef tartare, oysters, mussels, and cheese boards add further possibilities for a grazing-style meal. With cocktails on the table, it is easy to keep the opening round going a little longer.

South Carolina shrimp is among the dishes frequently associated with Hendrix, while Peri Peri chicken brings a little heat to the entrée side of the menu. The chicken has appeared as a half-chicken entrée, making it a more substantial choice after a round of snacks.

For a classic steakhouse direction, there is a New York strip. Other reported mains have included scallops, pork chop, roasted chicken, a burger, and short ribs over mashed sweet potatoes.

That breadth helps when the table is not all in the same mood. One person can go for strip steak or pork chop, another can choose seafood, and somebody else can build a lighter dinner around a salad and a couple of shared plates.

Vegetarian dishes are clearly labeled on the menu, a useful touch when a mixed group is choosing where to eat. Menu selections can change, but the overall approach leaves room for both a full dinner and a less formal assortment of plates.

Crème brûlée and berry cobbler have appeared among Hendrix’s desserts. They are familiar finishes, which is not a bad thing after a dinner that may have ranged from lamb naan to Peri Peri chicken.

A dessert course can also serve as the pause before the next change of scene. Rather than ending the evening with the check and a walk to the car, Hendrix offers a straightforward next stop upstairs.

Hendrix handles the shorter, drinks-first visit as comfortably as the long dinner. Happy hour can turn into an order of small plates, then into a full meal; the venue has the flexibility for that sort of unplanned progression.

The Hometown Honey and an espresso Old Fashioned are among the cocktails that have made the rounds here. Wine, draft beer, and canned beer provide alternatives for a table with varied tastes.

The bar is useful even if dinner is the main event. Arriving a little early for a drink gives the evening an unhurried start, and a final cocktail can keep it from ending too abruptly.

The rooftop lounge is the livelier evening setting in the Hendrix mix. It has become a natural destination for drinks after dinner, with a stylish atmosphere that is more animated than a seated dining room without turning the whole night into a production.

Getting there means walking up a flight of stairs. That small transition helps separate the two moods: downstairs for a composed meal and attentive table service, upstairs for another round and a more social finish.

The rooftop need not be reserved for the end of a long dinner, either. It also suits a casual drinks-focused stop, especially for people who want the atmosphere of a downtown night out without committing to a multi-course meal.

Hendrix has an elegant, fine-dining atmosphere, but it does not present itself as hushed or overly formal. The dining room can be a comfortable place to talk over dinner, while the other spaces give the restaurant a little more energy and variety.

Service is attentive, professional, and knowledgeable, which matters when the menu ranges from seafood and steak to globally influenced starters. The tone supports an anniversary or birthday dinner just as readily as a weeknight drink and a plate of oysters.

A stairwell arrival has been described as a threshold into the restaurant’s more polished world. Once inside, though, the mood is designed for lingering rather than ceremony.

The restaurant has hosted birthday dinners, large groups, and private events. It has also put together customized food and bar arrangements for a wedding reception, a sign that the multiple spaces can be put to work beyond an ordinary reservation.

Dinner reservations are used and recommended, particularly when the plan involves a celebration or a larger party. Seating options extend beyond the dining room to the bar, patio or terrace, rooftop, and private-dining space.

Parking around the restaurant may involve a garage, street spaces, paid lots, or valet service, and availability can vary. Once the evening is underway, though, Hendrix makes it easy to stay put: another dish, another cocktail, then the stairs to the rooftop.