Flat Branch Pub & Brewing

The beer is good but that was the only positive. I ordered the pizza margarita and it was very very bland. I will be back to try another item. But for the beer and the nice atmosphere this is a nice place to go out.

WOW! Had lunch here this afternoon & we were very impressed! Even my two picky eaters (both autistic) ate their meals without any issue. That’s a biggie for me! My 6 y/​o actually ate his entire lunch! My husband had the Cuban sandwich & said it was one of the bast sandwiches he’s ever had (this is coming from someone who used to travel for his job AND lived in Nashville for 10 years). I had the Pub Dip. Like a French Dip but bigger. The fries were really good. We got a cpl apps. My 12 y/​o really liked the jalapeño cheddar hush puppies. My husband loved the crab cakes. The soft pretzel braid with the spinach cheese dip was really good! We will definitely be returning customers!

Love their beers! The food is good, too, but they don’t offer any vegan dishes except a veggie burger. Need some options. Vegans don’t always want a veggie burger when we go out to eat.

Food is always great. Service is okay. It is always super busy, so no matter what day or time you go, be prepared to wait. My only issue is that it is always so loud.

This is my favorite restaurant in town! You should try the pasta and sandwiches, they are just amazing. Service here is fine.

This is the American brew pub I compare all brew pubs to. Good food, good beer. The menu includes lots of foods that pair really well with drinks. Most other brew pubs just don’t compare favorably, truth be told.
Favorite appetizers:
— Spicy spinach dip
— Nachos
— Chokes ‘n’ cheese
— Pretzel twists
Favorite mains:
— Black ‘n’ bleu burger
— Pub burger
— Bacon & chicken wrap
— Baby back ribs
Favorite desserts:
— Crème brûlée bread pudding
— Chocolate chip cookie sundae
Favorite beers:
— Katy Trail Pale Ale
— Pumpkin Ale (seasonal — end of October/​beginning of November only)
— Strawberry Ale (seasonal — usually in May I think — made with fresh strawberries)
NOTE: I recommend doing a beer sampler! This way you can try several beers.
Flat Branch is always a must on my list when I’m home. My only regret is that there’s no way I can work my way through all my favorites when I’m in town.

I was in Columbia just before Christmas and stopped for dinner and a beer here at the suggestion of some people I was working with. I say at the bar the place was packed. I had a beer they have great beer! I ordered a BLT with fried egg. Really good not good for you but oh well! I had the onion rings. I met the owner and he was raving about how good their onion rings so I went with the O. R. They were not hand dipped they were not all he made them out to be but that’s ok the rest was great. I sat next to a lady who had the fish and chips and she said it was really good as well. Great place for happy hour. I really enjoyed myself there. Everyone was really friendly to me. Check it out.

Love love love love this place. This is my favorite restaurant in Columbia and love going there for nicer occasions. If you’re going during the weekend, you’re most likely going to have to wait a bit as they are usually packed. You can choose to be seated indoors or outdoors (which is romantic!). They don’t take reservations, which is a bummer.
On the plus side, their salmon pasta is to die for. Their portions are usually pretty big. I usually find myself asking for a box to take it home. I think the price is pretty good for the amount they give you, but I’m just speaking on behalf of the pasta entrees. My boyfriend loves their cream soda as well. Probably one of the best places you can eat at in the Columbia area.

My party of 9 revived the worst service ever. I will give the flat branch staff the benefit of the doubt. They were packed due to graduations parties trying to celebrate the accomplishments of their loved ones.
However, when our food was brought to the table our waitresses dropped an entire cup of ranch dressing on the suit and tie of one of the members in our party. After it happened can there was no apology until we said something and they kept serving food as if nothing happened.
We had to ask for seltzer water for the stain. You’d think they’re comp the one meal or ask for a cleaning bill for the suit but nope! Nothing. Mistakes happen but when they are not acknowledged that becomes a problem. The manager didn’t make the situation any better.
He acted as if he’d didn’t know when he brought a towel out after we asked. Yeah do better flat branch staff do better.

When the Flat Branch opened in Columbia in 1995 the brew pub concept was pretty new so the idea of being able to order a wide array of decent bar food with fresh-​brewed beer was an exciting one and they had a monopoly on the excitement! Over the years I was always pleased when the occasion came to eat and drink here, especially when we didn’t have to wait for hours to get a table in this enormously popular place.
I have been here twice in the past year with the most recent visit being this past weekend and I must say that I am disappointed with how complacent they have become. Brew pubs are now a dime a dozen so you can’t just brew decent beer and serve decent food and expect to have the same effect on people’s taste buds as you could 20 years ago! Their beer list has changed very little if at all since they opened and nothing on it was interesting, daring, or unexpected. I had their hoppier IPA and it was just OK.
As for the food, it’s alright too but the menu is also pretty uninspired in my obviously not to humble opinion. I had the baby back ribs and they weren’t bad for a place that doesn’t specialize in just barbecue. Our server was friendly and attentive at least.
Still, they seem to have no trouble filling the house and attaining a long wait list most nights. I suppose that’s something. Regardless, I would be hesitant to return unless they revamp their beer menu at least. They can do better than this!

This is a great brew pub! Food is solid, beers are great (the honey wheat and green chili are my favorites), prices are fair, atmosphere and location are good. The wait can be long and it gets crowded, but overall, this is a great place and a «must» while in Columbia.

When I lived in Columbia I used to love going here. They are a good brewery with a large arrangement of microbrews that are brewed literally in front of you — you can see the brews in action LOL. You can get refilled growlers.
Not only that — the food is AMAZING delicious

Standard pub fare, but be prepared to wait up to 45 minutes outside for a table.

Great beer, great food, and great atmosphere. This a must do if in Columbia. I had the hob-​gobbler. Its really just a turkey sandwich, but it is a good one! The Belgian Abbey beer was also great. Tons of flavor.
This place is always busy, so if you are looking to go during an obviously busy time of day, you will be waiting.

Great food. Great service. Great beer.
Sausage and Chicken Bayou Pasta is my favorite. Spicy and plentiful.
World Famous Chokes and Cheese is a must have.
I get both of these every time I come in.

My son took us here as we were visiting him at Mizzou.
Wonderful food. I had to Texas Burger with onion rings while my wife had a salad. My son had a wrap.
We were all thrilled with each item we chose. Fun atmosphere and outdoor dining is available.
If you are in Columbia you need to eat here.

I could not have been any mor pleased with my first experience at Flat Branch. The service, food, and atmosphere of this place is simply wonderful. There’s outdoor seating as well as indoor seating for when it’s a bit more chilly in Como. They have rotating seasonal beers, a menu that will cater to almost everyone, and a great atmosphere all around. The service was also really wonderful. Our waiter was kind and helpful and really engaging, and our food was brought out very quickly. Definitely recommend stopping at Flat Branch for any lunch or dinner occasion. Pro tip, order the soft pretzel sticks as an appetizer. So good!

We’ve dined here a few times and enjoyed all of the meals we’ve had. Tonight we came to satisfy a burger craving.
This was exactly what I wanted. ½ pound burger with bacon and cheddar. Toppings on the side (lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles) and a good side serving of fries. The burger was a perfect medium rare and the bacon was two thick-​cut, full length strips. The cheddar was also a decent slice. The buns are a soft, but they toast them on the grill to give a nice crunch.
I paired the burger with the Green Chili Ale and it was a great way to cut the fat.
Service here has always been good for me, but we usually sit at the bar so getting service isn’t hard. Tonight our waitress checked in just enough that I didn’t feel interrupted.
Wait time on a summer Monday is nothing, we didn’t even have a problem getting a spot in the small lot.

Tried this place my first night in Columbia, and if I return to the area I will be going back! The daily soup – gaspacho – tasted more like a salsa in a cup, so I won’t be ordering that again, however the grilled romaine salad was the BOMB. I really want to try and recreate this at home now. What a perfect summer meal!
I wanted to order take out, which they said had to be done from the bar, but the service there was pretty slow – order a drink while you wait or call ahead!

Food– 4 stars
Ambiance-​3 stars
Prices/​Portions– 4 stars
Menu options — 4 stars
Service — 4 stars
Patio — 4 stars
If you are trying to decide where to eat…
This is it! Good food, a lovely patio, attentive service, all at a remarkably reasonable price.
The soft, hot Pretzel is «to die for» ! A delicious foot long braided pretzel, covered with a heavy sprinkling of coarse salt. For $ 1 extra try it with the spinach artichoke dip. Yum!
Jalapeño cheddar hush puppies are crispy on the outside, with a delicate crumb on the inside. There are not nearly enough jalapeños to suit my taste, but the spicy Remoulade sauce more than makes up for the missing pepper action.
Last, but not least, the Bacon Flat Branch Burger. This is a thick, smoky burger, topped with pepper jack cheese (my cheesy choice), crispy bacon, served on an egg bun with all the fixins. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles adorn this delectable burger.
The outdoor patio is lovely place to while away the evening, drinking craft beer and enjoying a hearty meal, but alas, I’m driving across Missouri, so beer, even a perfectly crafted ale is not an approved travel beverage. But, if you are able to take the time to stop and smell the roses… this patio would be a good spot to do it, and Spring the perfect season.