Some restaurants win you over with fancy plates, but others do it with a hot piece of fried chicken and a scoop of collard greens. Lizard’s Thicket on Nates Road in Columbia is the second kind of place.
It is a family-owned spot where locals have lined up for Southern cooking for decades, and plenty of them carry their meals home in takeout bags. If you want to know what keeps people coming back, here is a closer look.
A Southern Kitchen on Nates Road
Tucked along 7411 Nates Rd in Columbia, South Carolina, Lizard’s Thicket Restaurant looks like a place you might drive past without a second glance. That would be a mistake.
Inside, the kitchen turns out down-home Southern cooking that has earned a 4.3-star rating across more than 2,700 Google reviews.
Google lists it simply as an American restaurant, but the menu tells a more specific story. Think fried chicken, chicken fried steak, flounder, okra, cornbread, and collard greens.
It is the kind of food many South Carolina families grew up eating at Sunday dinner.
The location is part of a family-owned chain, so the Nates Road spot shares a name and a style with other Lizard’s Thicket restaurants around the Columbia area. Still, each one feels like a neighborhood hangout.
The setting is low-key, the prices are friendly, and the food arrives on plates meant to fill you up.
For travelers, it is an easy stop. For locals, it is often a habit.
Decades of Family Tradition
Thirty years is a long time to keep eating at the same restaurant. One family says that is exactly how long they have been visiting Lizard’s Thicket locations in Columbia, and it has become a must-visit whenever a grown son comes back home.
That kind of loyalty says a lot. Family-owned chains like this one tend to become part of a city’s routine, the place you go after church, after a long work shift, or when relatives roll into town.
On their latest visit, that family reported hot food, timely service, and fair prices, just like always.
Other regulars have their own rhythms. One diner stops in once a week for a work lunch and says the meal is great every time.
Another called it a go-to spot for both breakfast and dinner over the years.
Not every longtime visitor is thrilled, though. A few have said they noticed dips in quality lately.
Even so, the steady stream of repeat customers shows how deeply rooted the restaurant is in the community.
The Hand-Breaded Fried Chicken
Crunch first, then juice. That is the order of events when you bite into the fried chicken here, and it is why the dish is the heart of the menu.
One group of diners described the chicken as hand breaded and perfectly cooked, adding a big WOW to their praise. They also noticed something else while they ate.
So many takeout orders were heading out the door that they finally understood why people keep calling ahead.
Dark meat fans are well served too. One visitor raved about a leg and thigh plate paired with collard greens, creamed corn, and rice and gravy, calling the food hot, delicious, and full of choices.
The chicken also shows up in a few different forms. You can get it baked instead of fried, or you can find it sitting on top of a large salad.
But if it is your first visit, the classic fried version is the one to try. It is the dish that built the takeout line.
Chicken and Waffles for a Sweet-Savory Fix
Syrup and fried chicken on the same fork sounds odd until you try it. At Lizard’s Thicket, the chicken and waffles plate has picked up some enthusiastic fans.
One reviewer called it AWESOME in capital letters, pointing to the hand-breaded chicken as the star. Another diner said the chicken and waffles were delicious and priced at about $12, which feels like a solid deal for a plate that big.
The combo works because it hits two cravings at once. You get the salty, crispy bite of the chicken and the soft, sweet waffle underneath.
It is comfort food doubled up.
Not everything on the table wins the same praise. The same diner who enjoyed the waffles mentioned her husband was less impressed with the baked chicken, which cost around $16.
So if you are torn between options, the fried route seems to be where the magic happens.
Vegetables Done the Old-Fashioned Way
Around here, the vegetables are not an afterthought. Okra alone comes up in dozens of reviews, and collard greens, black-eyed peas, and squash casserole all have their fans.
One visitor called the green beans cooked perfectly, adding that you could taste the bacon grease. That is a compliment in Southern cooking.
The same diner said the okra and tomatoes were spot on and claimed it was the best meal they had eaten in a long time.
Fried okra shows up on plenty of plates too, often next to candied yams, coleslaw, or lima beans. Another group sampled black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes, and squash casserole and said everything was excellent.
Of course, tastes vary. A couple of diners felt some sides, like canned-tasting creamed corn, fell flat.
But for most visitors, the long list of vegetables is half the fun. You can build a whole plate around them and still leave full.
Flounder, Catfish, and Other Fried Seafood
Here is a surprise from one reviewer. She normally smothers fish in tartar sauce, but the flounder at Lizard’s Thicket did not need any.
Her friend called that flounder amazing, and it has plenty of other supporters too. The fried flounder appears in reviews from longtime regulars who order it with coleslaw, candied yams, fried okra, and mac and cheese.
Catfish is another strong pick. One diner described it as tender and flaky, while a separate group of friends said the fried catfish was great.
That makes seafood a smart choice for anyone who wants something besides chicken.
If you are sharing, try ordering one fish plate and one chicken plate. That way you get a taste of both sides of the fryer.
Chicken Fried Steak and Hearty Mains
Few dishes spark as much debate on the menu as the chicken fried steak. It gets mentioned often, and opinions land on both ends of the scale.
Some diners enjoy it, especially when it arrives fresh and hot. One husband who was not impressed with his breakfast still said his chicken fried steak was the best part.
Others were less kind, describing a country fried steak that seemed mushy or rubbery, with watery gravy.
The hamburger steak with onions and mushrooms tends to earn smoother reviews. Guests have paired it with crinkle-cut fries and said it was great.
BBQ pork and pork chops also appear on the lineup for anyone who wants something different.
The takeaway is simple. If you love gravy-covered classics, give them a try, but you may want the fried chicken as a backup plan.
Cornbread, Rolls, and Mac and Cheese
Bread on the side is almost a rule in Southern cooking. Cornbread comes up around thirty times in reviews here, which tells you people notice it.
For many diners it is a highlight. Even one unhappy visitor who disliked most of the meal admitted the cornbread was the good part.
Others, though, said it came out dry and crumbly, so it may depend on the day.
Rolls and sweet iced tea also round out plenty of orders. Mac and cheese is another common pick, with one family calling it tasty and another group describing it as super great and homemade.
As with the cornbread, not everyone agrees. One reviewer found the cheese sauce separated from the noodles.
Still, most folks treat these sides as the comfort-food glue holding the meal together.
Breakfast From 6 AM
Early birds, take note. The doors open at 6 AM every single day, which makes Lizard’s Thicket a handy breakfast stop before work or a road trip.
The morning menu leans hearty. One diner ordered four eggs over easy, onion sausage with an extra helping, potato squares, toast, and coffee, and called the whole thing excellent.
Another loved a grilled pork chop with scrambled eggs and American cheese.
Smoked sausage, biscuits, spiced apples, grits, French toast, and liver pudding are part of the mix too. That last one is a regional favorite that pops up in a few reviews, so adventurous eaters might want to try it.
Morning results can vary. One couple found their chicken sausage overcooked and the gravy plainer than expected.
But plenty of regulars start their day here happily.
Small Plates for Lighter Appetites
Traveling often means oversized meals and wasted leftovers. One road-tripper found a neat fix at Lizard’s Thicket.
The restaurant offers small plates for lighter eaters and full-size plates for bigger appetites. That traveler appreciated the choice so much she stopped on the way out of town and again on the trip home.
Small plates make it easier for kids, older diners, or anyone who just wants a taste of fried chicken without feeling stuffed. The option shows up at breakfast too, where one guest ordered a small breakfast plate with biscuits and apples.
If you are hungry, though, the regular portions are generous. One group said the servings were great and that they did not leave room for dessert.
Either way, you can pick the size that fits your stomach and your budget.
Service That Feels Like Home, Mostly
A good server can make a plate of food taste even better. Many guests say the staff here does just that.
One diner wrote that her server made her feel like she was eating at home. Others described waitresses who were friendly, fast, and accurate, plus servers happy to chat.
Even on a hectic Mother’s Day, visitors praised the team for working together and keeping drinks refilled.
The experience is not flawless. A few reviewers reported cold food, slow tables, or a dismissive response when they raised a portion concern with a manager.
Those stories are worth keeping in mind.
Still, the bulk of feedback points to a warm crew. If something is off with your meal, speaking up early seems to be the best move.
Seating, Menus, and a Cozy Low-Key Room
First-timers sometimes pause at the door, wondering what to do. It is easy.
You seat yourself, and the main menu is posted on a board on the wall, with another menu waiting on your table.
The room is casual and relaxed. One weekly lunch regular called it cozy and comfortable, while another guest thought the lighting was a little dark.
It is not a place for dressing up. It is a place for loosening your belt.
That easygoing feel suits families, work crews on lunch break, travelers passing through, and neighbors grabbing dinner. Groups fit in fine too, as parties of six have been spotted at nearby tables.
And if you would rather eat on your own couch, you will have company. Takeout orders keep flowing out the door all day.
Hours, Prices, and a Final Word
Planning a visit is refreshingly simple. Lizard’s Thicket on Nates Road is open from 6 AM to 9 PM seven days a week.
You can call +1 803-788-3088 or check lizardsthicket.com before heading over.
Prices stay friendly. Reviewers mention plates around $12, with some items like baked chicken near $16.
One visitor from Miami joked that he could not complain about the price, since plates back home often run over $20.
So is it worth the trip? Most visitors say yes, especially for the hand-breaded fried chicken, the flounder, and the long list of Southern vegetables.
Some meals miss the mark, and service can vary. But with thousands of reviews averaging 4.3 stars and a takeout line that rarely slows, this family-owned spot has clearly earned its place in Columbia.
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