Smashing Grapes

The food was delicious and Casseus made our dining experience top tier! I would definitely recommend this to a friend!

I went to the Smashing Grapes location in Annapolis and enjoyed it, but it didn't last long. I was happy to see another location in Columbia. Just as I expected the decor and ambience was lovely. I don't know who designs the restaurants in this group but they always do a great job. I had the lobster bisque and braised short ribs with onions, zucchini, carrots, and a parsnip purée. The lobster bisque was just OK. It wasn't as rich and creamy as others I've had in the past and it needed a little more flavor. The short rib was delicious. It was fork tender with just the right amount of gravy and it practically melts in your mouth. I enjoyed the vegetables too. They weren't just afterthoughts on the plate, but they were properly prepared and seasoned, and they complemented the short rib really well. My only complaint was, I wish there was more meat on the plate. Tonight's occasion was a birthday dinner, not mine but someone else's, and the staff was so helpful and accommodating. I was able to secretly give my waiter a candle for the dessert and was able to give them my card before the guest of honor arrived so that I was able to pay for the meal without any complications. I believe we tried the dessert special that night, which was a sweet potato poundcake or something like that. They should make that a regular item on the menu. It was that good but I'm biased because I love sweet potatoes.

Smashing Grapes--big letdown. Let's start with the good: the place itself is beautiful. Big wooden booths, great interior design, and an overall solid ambiance. That's where the highlights end.Service? Easily one of the worst parts of the experience. At first, our waitress just seemed like a no-nonsense professional, but it quickly became obvious she just didn't care about our table. She barely came by, and when she did, it was only after we had been clearly looking around for her. It wasn't even a busy night, so no excuses there. Meanwhile, other tables got plenty of attention and actual hospitality. Definitely killed the vibe.Now onto the food. The crab and artichoke dip had potential, but the portion was laughably small--maybe five bites total. The hummus duo (avocado and chipotle) with naan chips? Solid, no complaints. The seared ahi tuna was actually really enjoyable, with the mango pineapple sauce and wasabi cream pairing well with the fish. Then came the entrées--short rib pappardelle was just okay, lacked much flavor but wasn't terrible. The real disappointment was the vegetable stir-fry, which felt like some sad, leftover pasta thrown together with vegetables and drowned in tomato sauce to mask the lack of real seasoning.Ironically, the food runner was more attentive than our actual waitress, checking in and offering boxes. Service sucked, but hey, everyone has off days. That said, can't say I'll be back--some of the food was decent, but nothing was worth dealing with that level of indifference.

Came here on a Thursday night for dinner. We had a reservation as other reviews have stated it is necessary to be seated quickly. The restaurant was pretty empty. Our server was ok, she forgot one of our appetizers but quickly added it and it came before our main entrees. Service here is terribly slow both drinks and food. We started with the seared tuna and crab dip. The seared tuna was horrendous, it almost tasted as though it was from a can, I don't recommend it. The crab and artichoke dip had some strange spice added to it, possibly cayenne, that made it hardly edible. This is MD, make your crab dip the proper way with Old Bay please.I chose the short rib entree and my companion chose the crab Alfredo special. The short rib tastes like the pot roast I make, tender but nothing special and the parsnip puree tasted off. My companion stated his crab Alfredo was just okay. We also ordered dessert. The blueberry cobbler was not a cobbler, it was chunks of bread and some sort of cookie mixed in with some very sweet blueberries and topped with a small dollop of ice cream. The cheesecake Brulee with tart cherries was pretty good but I feel more cherries would have made it better, it's a huge piece of cheesecake. I did enjoy the very sweet Ranch Water drink. They do not have fountain sodas but they do have canned options, their tap water tasted terrible. Service was ok and our table was bussed quickly with polite staff. It is aesthetically pleasing but I think that's where the charm ends. I would not come here again as there are better options in the area. A lot of new restaurants have popped up in Columbia with the surge in population, I find this restaurant to be on par with those, over priced and underwhelming.

I planned a friend's birthday dinner at Smashing Grapes this past weekend. The process was easy and Allison was invaluable and attentive during planning. Alexis, our server, was awesome. She offered details about dishes and wines when necessary and was attentive to our party of 12. I want to give the staff a HUGE shout-out for making us feel welcome during our time. The private room was a great option and we could even play the football game on our TV in the room. Smashing Grapes is elevated casual, yet classy. As for the food, everything is made from scratch, so that's a huge plus. I do feel that the dishes lacked a bit of seasoning to make them stand out. My carrots had no flavor and my branzino was a bit dry. The Heirloom Tomato Salad disappointed me a bit. It wasn't anything special. This is not to say the food was bad, because it wasn't. It just was nothing to write home about.

Had a wonderful late lunch here between the Christmas and New Year holidays. Our server was attentive and made great suggestions along the way. I had the peach ice tea, garlic edamame and the cilantro shrimp sandwich. All very delicious. My guy opted for the ahi tuna and the house burger topped with an egg and accompanied by broccolini and loved all of it. The decor is modern and posh. There are glass enclosed private dining rooms and a spacious bar area too. We'll definitely be returning.

Recently visited Smashing Grapes with some friends that were in town. I personally was not for going to this area in general as the first I went here about a year ago was so busy but also not nearly as built up as it was today. The restaurant sits alongside with some other restaurants in a small complex that also have apartments above them. The concept is convenient especially for those who live in this neighborhood. I suppose since the construction is done, there are more parking spots and driving around the area is not as congested as before. We had a reservation for 6 and after jumping around the area for some drinks, we decided to head over about 30 minutes earlier. Granted, we were not expecting to be seated immediately but we were asked to sit at the bar and wait for our table to be set up but to check in shortly as they were getting it ready. We grabbed a small table by the bar to grab a cocktail and the espresso martini is very delicious! I got it the first time with Bailey's and it was smooth and not bitter at all! The service at the bar was good too. The bartender was not keen on us sitting/standing by the bar but nonetheless, she was prompt with our drinks.After a while, we just checked in with the hostess and she said they needed a few more minutes but then proceeded to bring us over assuming our table was ready. However, we ended up standing around for another 10-15 minutes before we were actually seated. Once seated, we put our order in and I think just about everything we ordered was DELICIOUS! The wait staff was friendly throughout our entire dining experience and prompt. My favorite items were the wings and the Chesapeake Pizza. The pizza was creamy and came with a big pieces of shrimp and crab. The crust was thin but also remained a nice chew. Highly recommend!

Food:I really enjoyed the lemongrass chicken with the jus. Everything on that plate was cooked with the same attention as the chicken. The potatoes were seasoned just right, with a crispy skin and a fluffy interior. The green beans were bright green and delicious, especially with the grilled lemon squeezed on top. Finally, the star of the dish, the chicken and jus, was juicy and flavorful. It transformed every time I dipped it into the lemongrass jus. If you're a pasta lover, I recommend this place for an elevated dining experience, as they make the pasta fresh every day. I enjoyed my main course, but the appetizers were a bit too cold for my taste, even though they were tasty. I would not recommend dessert; the blueberry tart and doughnut holes did not live up to the hype. Service:Our server, Pablo did an excellent job. Friendly, funny, knew what we needed before we could ask. Ask to sit in his section. Ambiance:If you are dining for dinner, I recommend leaving the casual attire at home and dressing up a bit. The design is beautiful everywhere you go, including the restroom.

Smashing Grapes is a great restaurant for a date night. The food is good and the environment is friendly. Our waiter was Casseus and he made sure we had everything we needed.

I am THOROUGHLY impressed. The service, ambiance, and food were amazing! Kayla explained everything perfectly...shared her favorites and had such a beautiful personality. She made the experience for sure. Every single meal was great. The white wine flight was a perfect touch. Andreas checked on us and even left his card. I cannot wait to come back again. 10/10 for sure.