August Sage Cafe — Restaurant in Columbia

I want to start this review by saying August Sage has truly some of my favorite brunch food in the area. Their salmon toast is to die for. As a 2025 bride, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they cater! I went through the inquiry process and finally (after a full week) got in contact with their catering contact to ask about catering for my small wedding on December 27th. I went through the full process, had picked out a menu, and had discussed plates/disposables options. We went back and forth over email over the course of two weeks. I was told I would get a full proposal after their staff meeting. I never was contacted after the staff meeting, so I finally reached back out. I was then told that they may not even be open to cater my wedding in the first place. I totally understand wanting to close due to the holidays and actually encourage it as I think we should all be with our families for the holidays, but if that was a potential, why not tell me that in the first place? I would not have taken my time, effort, and energy to focus on using this company, and would have instead found another small business. I was then told that they would be making the decision within two weeks and that they would get back to me with their final decision. Welp. Guess what? It's FOUR weeks later and I have yet to receive a response. Obviously due to the horrendous communication, I would not have chosen to use them as my wedding caterer regardless. But I wanted all who are considering them, to beware, and choose a different, more deserving small business. No more salmon toast...

This is a new favorite coffee shop for me, and a sign that Columbia is growing in the right direction. The atmosphere and aesthetic is clean and comfortable, with leather couches, padded seating, plenty of tables, and a large bar area with even more seating. The barista was extremely friendly, conversational, and helpful. The two drinks (pictured) were specialty lattes and both were incredible. The strawberry matcha latte was delicious (and I don't typically like matcha), and the other latte (a blackberry cold foam vanilla latte), was one of the best I've ever had. The coffee menu was adventurous but not too weird, as some craft coffee shops can tend to do. I also ordered their breakfast sandwich, which was incredible. It had egg, the best smoked bacon I've ever had, and a pesto aioli, stuffed between focaccia bread. I didn't partake in any cocktails, but the menu shows a variety of great cocktails for the afternoon/evening, as well as an extensive craft beer and wine list.

All around, one of the best coffee shops in...

I was very disappointed with this place after hearing good things. My husband and I ordered the birria tacos, chicken skewers and pita with hummus. The only decent portion was the 3 birria tacos, but they did not have much flavor and the meat didn’t seem seasoned at all. The chicken skewers were SO tiny and the pita and hummus were good but it wasn’t pita that was made in house. The hummus was the best item we had. We were very disappointed in the portions, because although they were “bites”, the bill was $45 and we still had to make dinner.

In regards to the bill, they included 10% for takeout, which isn’t explained, and they still have a tip line. I understand wanting to leave a space for an extra tip, but it felt a little deceiving to not know up front that tip was already included in takeout orders and to then leave an extra place for another tip.

Overall, I wasn’t impressed and won’t be back but the vibe is cute and maybe is better...