Columbia is a town that knows how to surprise you. Just when you think you’ve tried every restaurant or bar, a new establishment opens its doors and adds something special to the city’s ever-growing cultural and culinary scene. On one warm summer evening, I found myself on a two-stop journey through Columbia’s newest gems: dinner at Curry-osity, a traditional Indian restaurant with modern flair, followed by drinks at Magnolia’s Whisky and Wine Bar, a porch-style lounge with Southern soul.
Curry-osity: A Taste of India
Dinner began at Curry-osity, a restaurant Mayank Vankawala opened in mid-April 2025 after years of planning and dreaming.
“What inspired me most was my passion for food and hospitality,” Vankawala explained. “I wanted to create a place where people could experience the rich flavors, traditions, and warmth of genuine Indian cooking, just as it’s meant to be enjoyed.”
The name itself, Curry-osity, points to a playful value that is part of Vankawala’s mission. “It’s about sparking curiosity,” he said. “I want both seasoned food lovers and first-time explorers to step into a flavorful journey.”
The restaurant lives up to that promise. Its menu is equal parts familiar and daring, honoring traditional recipes while introducing creative twists. Among the favorites is the Garlic Crunch Cauliflower, which arrives golden and crisp, each bite balancing sweet, tangy, and garlicky notes. For meat lovers, the Meat Paradise Platter delivers indulgence: skewers of tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, malai kebab, hariyali chicken, lamb chops, and shrimp, each with its own marinade and smoky tandoor-fired flavor. There’s also the crowd-pleasing butter chicken, tender chicken breast pieces swimming in a rich tomato-cream sauce, one of those dishes that makes you slow down and savor. Another sweet, tangy dish is the Tropical Mango Coconut Shrimp. And of course, you can never go wrong with a mango lassi, garlic naan, and vegetable samosa.
But it isn’t only the food that makes Curry-osity shine, it’s the atmosphere itself. Vankawala’s personal passion for woodworking is visible in every corner. Working with local artisans and a California design team, he built an interior that blends modern polish with warm, natural touches. Missouri white oak woodwork lines the restaurant, adding an earthy yet sophisticated glow that envelops diners in comfort.
“When we opened, we had no idea how the community would respond,” Vankawala said. “But the warmth and support from Columbia has been incredible.”
Magnolia’s: Southern Charm on a Downtown Corner
After dinner, we drove downtown to 10th and Cherry. There, in the historic Niedermeyer Building, built in 1837 to house a women’s academy, sits Magnolia’s Whisky and Wine Bar, which opened in mid-June 2025. The sight of its wraparound porch, glowing with vintage lights and filled with guests chatting and sipping, makes Magnolia’s feel less like a bar and more like visiting a friend’s home — if that friend had impeccable taste in cocktails and whiskey.
“We wanted to create something timeless and thoughtful,” said Linda Libert, who owns Magnolia’s with her family. “This isn’t just another bar — it’s a passion project. Every detail, from the drink menu to the atmosphere, is about authenticity and quality.”
The porch seating allows guests to soak up the energy of downtown Columbia while still feeling tucked away. Inside, the historic details of the 19th-century structure — creaky wooden floors, soft lighting, and vintage accents — make the space feel as though it has stories to tell.
The drink favorites include the Celery Saturn, a gin-based cocktail accented with celery and cucumber that feels both fresh and adventurous. Another standout is the Summer of 1821, a bourbon-forward drink crafted with passionfruit liqueur, peach bitters, and lemon. Created for COMO Restaurant Week, it has since landed on the official cocktail menu. Beyond cocktails, Magnolia’s offers a carefully curated list of whiskeys and wines, each chosen with the same attention to detail that defines the entire place.
But Magnolia’s isn’t stopping there. In the coming months, the bar plans to host piano nights (there’s already a vintage upright piano waiting near the beautiful entrance), roll out a Sunday “make-your-own” Bloody Mary and mimosa menu, and launch The Bistro, a food concept that will bring Southern-inspired small plates to complement the drinks.
“Magnolia’s is about community,” Libert said. “We want it to feel like home, but also like an experience you can’t find anywhere else downtown.”
Two Stops, One Evening
The evening began with the bold spices and welcoming warmth of Curry-osity and ended with cocktails and heartfelt conversations on Magnolia’s porch.
Together, the two establishments show just how far Columbia’s culinary culture has come. You can start your night with garlic cauliflower, tandoori meats, and butter chicken, and end it with a bourbon cocktail on the porch of a nearly 200-year-old building, listening to the hum of downtown.
