Great beer selection, very nice service and average food.

The service was pretty good, could have been slightly better, but nothing to complain about. The selection was huge for Columbia, SC. Lots of great choices, all within their legal limit. Beers were served for the price on the menu in 23 ounce glasses for some reason. You would think that would be a plus, but only being able to drink two beers before you have to call it a night and head out was a little dissapointing. Much better IMO are the standard 16 ounce pints you find elsewhere.

Off the bat, the selection is probably the best you will find in Columbia. However, there is some give and take; to take the selection, you have to give up some ambiance and service (on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights - yes prime beer drinking times and expected to be busy, but they are typically even slower than you would expect). I haven’t had the food there. The prices seem to slide to the high-side, which is expected given the focal point being an immense beer selection and the fact you can’t really get the same selection anywhere else in town (on a sheer numbers level; you can find some places with good quality craft beer). Trivia is really fun and usually the time when I have the most fun at the Saucer. Other enjoyable times are before the late evening and late night busy periods, times where you can sit back, sample through a variety of beers, and have attentative service since it isn’t busy.

Pros: Great selection, attractive & skimpily attired waitstaff, convenient downtown location. Cons: chain restaurant ambiance, average bar food.

There are very few pubs that I insist on visiting whenever I go somewhere, Flying Saucer in Columbia is one such place. Great staff, superb beer selection, a lively atmosphere and only a few minutes drive from the in-laws’ place. Perfect.

Okay, it is a chain but what a beer selection. This was the first Flying Saucer I visited. The bartenders were awesome and the beer selection is about as good as you can get. Food selection is limited but everything I tried was good. Beer isn’t cheap but not too expensive. Beer selection makes this place.

I really wish I could rate this better. I also don’t understand why others have loved on it so much. Aside from the fact that they do have a good beer list (given the area and what’s available). My husband and I are members because we obviously love beer so we tolerate the fact that a. the service is horrendous. They focused more on hiring girls who can sport the mini skirt than knowledgeable attendants who can give advice or make a suggestion. I’ve had a ditzy waitress slosh my beer upon delivery and offer nothing more than a few napkins for me to clean up the mess. b. the food is disgusting. It’s practically unedible. I’ve tried, I want it to be good. I’ve ordered almost everything on the menu. The "german" potato salad with an inch of grease floating atop the cup it’s served in. The stale chips and "salsa" which was more like a cup of rancid tomato water. Yuck. Yes, go for the beer but don’t expect good service and go somewhere else when you need to sop up the alcohol in your belly.

A fantastic bar. I have been a beerknurd member since 2007. I usually sit at the bar and unless its a new bartender who doesn’t know me I get fast, polite service. The food is standard bar food fair (wings, burgers, fries, nachos) but the beer more than makes up for this one shortcoming. Definite recommendation.

One of the best selections of beers in Columbia. decent service. The food is okay.

My first Flying Saucer experience was fun. Loud, raucous, packed with 20-somethings. College/frat party vibe but in a good healthy happy way. Decent draught selection can keep you yapping all night. Fun sci-fi murals. They had X-rated trivia for shits and giggles. Servers wear schoolgirl outfits, which is a very cute look. Whatever it is it wasn’t boring.