Met a friend this morning at Cafe Strudel on State Street in West Columbia for my absolute favorite breakfast in the Midlands — their famous “hangover hashbrowns,” which were once featured in Southern Living Magazine.  (Side note: I was an intern at Southern Living‘s headquarters in Birmingham during college.  Came home 10 lbs. heavier and with 8 new cavities in my mouth.)  The hashbrowns are homemade and topped with eggs (any style), tomatoes, grilled onions, banana peppers, and cheddar cheese. Shake a little hot sauce on there and thank me later.

Cafe Strudel is a favorite haunt of Columbia’s artsy folk and is dripping with indie cred.  If you need respite from the starched shirts and suits at Starbucks (Say that 10 times fast!), then head over the Gervais Street bridge and check out Cafe Strudel.