Blue Marlin

I sat outside because it was freezing inside. My waiter (Kevin?) was great. I had the gumbo which was very good. Make sure you ask for it to be hot in served. I had the shrimp plate with collard greens (good), cold slaw (nope, it was dry) along with a salad. To drink i had a mocktail. Peach...?? It was ok. I couldn't taste the peach flavor. It was more lemonade. I probably wouldn't get it again. Would I return? Yes, they did have a few things on the menu I would like to try.

I didn't know much about this place other than that it was right down the street from my hotel. I glanced over the menu and decided to try it out. It was fantastic! I love a good shrimp and grits, and Blue Marlin's is one of the better ones I've had. You can get it as a main course, but I opted for the appetizer portion so I could order the Mahi Orleans as my entree. That dish was phenomenal!!! The Mahi was delicious, and the butter sauce with the crab and shrimp in it, took it to another level. I was highly impressed with their food, and the pricing was surprisingly affordable for some great seafood. Highly recommend!

Tried Blue Marlin in Columbia, SC for a late lunch, and it was a solid experience overall. My date and I had the Blackened Salmon Charleston, paired with a Caesar salad. I also tried the Salmon Pontchartrain, a cup of She Crab Soup, and a side of Fried Large Gulf Shrimp. For sides, we had the grit cakes and asparagus, and both were really good additions to the meal. Here’s how everything stacked up: ⭐ Salmon Pontchartrain – 8/10 ⭐ Fried Large Gulf Shrimp – 10/10 (perfectly cooked, flavorful, and easily a standout) ⭐ Caesar Salad – 10/10 (fresh, crisp, and surprisingly memorable) ⭐ She Crab Soup – 6/10 (good, but didn’t quite live up to the rest of the meal) ⭐ Grit Cakes & Asparagus – 8.5/10 (both were flavorful and complemented the meal well) What really stood out was the ambiance—great atmosphere, relaxed but upscale—and the service was excellent. The staff was attentive without being overbearing, which made the experience even better. Overall, Blue Marlin made a strong impression, and I’ll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

Well….(exhale) Blue Marlin is my favorite go to when in Columbia. I was there at about 2pm for a late lunch. There were probably 10 tables/ booths with guests which left ample tables/ booths available. They were going to seat us at a table and I prefer a booth. The change was made without hesitation. After being seated for 15 minutes I asked a passing staff if they knew who was assigned to my table. He said he would check. 10 more minutes pass and I motioned a waitress that was standing by the kitchen chatting. I made her aware that we had not been acknowledged. She apologized and took over service for our table. I was perplexed. I have always had exceptional, attentive service until today. My reasoning for a 4 star rating is past experience has been exceptional. I recommend Blue Marlin often. I will try again in hopes of Blue Marlin recovering the fumble.