The Press in Columbia: Where to Eat Mexican Food and Drink Margaritas

What The Press Offers

The Press is a Mexican restaurant and bar in Columbia's Vista district, known for tableside guacamole, fresh seafood preparations, and a full tequila program. The kitchen focuses on coastal Mexican cuisine rather than the Tex-Mex or interior Mexican styles you'll find elsewhere in the city. If you're looking for ceviche, shrimp ceviche tostadas, or fish prepared with citrus and chiles, this is where to go. The bar makes margaritas to order and stocks enough tequila that you can spend an evening working through different regions and price points.

The restaurant sits on Main Street in the Vista, a neighborhood that has become Columbia's center for dining and nightlife over the past fifteen years. The space itself is designed around an open kitchen, so you can watch the cooks work while you eat. The atmosphere is casual enough for a weeknight dinner but lively enough for a weekend outing with friends.

Key Takeaways

• The Press specializes in coastal Mexican seafood, particularly ceviches and raw fish preparations, rather than traditional interior Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes.
• The bar program centers on tequila and margaritas made fresh to order, with enough selection to explore different tequila styles across multiple visits.
• The restaurant is located on Main Street in Columbia's Vista district, an area with multiple dining and entertainment options within walking distance.
• The open kitchen design lets you watch food preparation, and the casual atmosphere works for both weeknight dinners and weekend gatherings.

The Menu and What to Order

Start with the tableside guacamole, which the kitchen prepares in front of you with avocado, lime, cilantro, and chile. It arrives with warm tortilla chips and sets the tone for the meal. The ceviche offerings change with what's available, but the kitchen typically has a white fish version and a shrimp version. Both come with tostadas or served in a cup with avocado and citrus.

For main courses, the grilled fish preparations are straightforward and let the ingredient quality show. Whole fish roasted or grilled with lime and herbs, shrimp dishes with garlic and chile, and octopus preparations round out the seafood focus. The restaurant also serves traditional items like chile rellenos and enchiladas if you want something more familiar, but the seafood is what draws people here and what the kitchen executes best.

Desserts are simple—flan, churros, and seasonal fruit preparations. The kitchen doesn't try to reinvent the wheel on the sweet side, which is the right call given how well the savory side works.

Drinks and the Tequila Selection

The bar program is built around tequila, mezcal, and margaritas. Margaritas are made to order with your choice of tequila, so you can ask for a blanco (unaged) for something bright and peppery, a reposado (aged a few months) for something smoother, or an añejo (aged longer) for something richer. The bartenders know the differences and can guide you if you're not sure what you want.

Beyond margaritas, the bar stocks tequilas and mezcals organized by region and style, with prices ranging from accessible to premium. If you're curious about tequila but don't know where to start, ordering a margarita and asking the bartender questions is a low-pressure way to learn. If you already know what you like, you'll find bottles here you may not see at other Columbia bars.

Beer and wine are available, but they're not the focus. Cocktails beyond margaritas exist but are secondary to the tequila program.

Hours, Location, and Parking

The Press is located at 1313 Main Street in Columbia's Vista district. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots; the Vista has become dense enough that street parking can be tight on weekend nights, but a lot is never far away. The neighborhood is walkable, so if you're staying nearby or planning to visit multiple restaurants or bars in one evening, you can park once and explore on foot.

Hours vary by season and day of the week. Call ahead or check their website before you go, especially if you're planning a visit on a weeknight or during an off-season month. The restaurant is closed on some Mondays and may have limited hours in slower seasons.

When to Go and What to Expect

Weekends are busy, especially Friday and Saturday nights. If you want a quieter meal where you can linger and talk, a weeknight visit is better. The bar scene picks up after 9 p.m. on weekends, so if you're coming for drinks and people-watching, plan accordingly.

The restaurant takes reservations, which is worth doing on weekends or if you're coming with a large group. Walk-ins are welcome during slower times, but you may wait during peak hours. The Vista as a neighborhood draws a mix of ages and backgrounds—young professionals, families, older couples, tourists—so there's no single "vibe" to expect beyond casual and lively.

How The Press Fits Into Columbia's Mexican Food Scene

Columbia has several Mexican restaurants, but they tend to cluster around interior Mexican cuisine (moles, chile-based dishes, slow-cooked meats) or Tex-Mex (queso, fajitas, combination plates). The Press is different because it focuses on coastal seafood and raw preparations. If you've had ceviche in Mexico or at a coastal restaurant elsewhere, you know what to expect. If you haven't, this is a good place to try it without traveling to the coast.

The restaurant also represents a shift in how Columbia's dining scene has developed over the past decade. The Vista has attracted chefs and restaurateurs interested in regional cuisines and ingredient-focused cooking, rather than broad-appeal comfort food. The Press fits that pattern—it's specific about what it does, does it well, and doesn't try to be everything to everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation?

Reservations are not required but are recommended on Friday and Saturday nights or if you're coming with a group of six or more. Weeknight visits are usually easier to walk into without advance notice. Call the restaurant directly to check current wait times before you arrive.

Is The Press good for a first date or special occasion?

Yes. The open kitchen and lively atmosphere make it interesting to watch and talk in, and the food and drinks are well-executed enough to impress. It's casual enough that you won't feel overdressed, but polished enough that it feels like a real outing rather than a quick meal.

What if I don't like seafood?

The Press does serve non-seafood items like chile rellenos and enchiladas, but the kitchen's strength is in the seafood preparations. If you're strongly opposed to fish or shellfish, this may not be your best choice in Columbia—other Mexican restaurants in the city have broader menus.

Can I bring kids?

Yes. The restaurant is family-friendly during earlier hours, though it becomes more of a bar scene later in the evening. Bring kids before 8 p.m. if you want a quieter experience. The menu has simple items like quesadillas and rice dishes that work for younger palates.

What's the price range?

Entrees typically run from moderate to slightly above moderate for a restaurant in the Vista. Margaritas and cocktails are priced in line with other full-service bars in Columbia. It's not budget dining, but it's not fine dining either—plan for a typical restaurant meal cost.