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LulaBelle's Seafood and Steaks, 301 Park Terrace Drive: May 2009   25 comments

Posted at 11:55 pm in Uncategorized

Here's another one of Columbia's many seafood restaurants that I'd never been too. LulaBelle's was at the corner of Bower Parkway and Park Terrace Drive, across from Wal-Mart on one side and Ryan's on the other. The interior and exterior clash a bit. The outside is made to look plain and weathered, but the inside decor appears to have been quite nice. The fishing skiff is rather an Oliver's Lodge touch (now that in it's original incarnation was a weathered old seafood place!). I have the feeling that even though LulaBelle's was pretty new, it wasn't the first operation in this building, but I can't bring anything else to mind right now.

This closing must be very recent as several cars pulled in while I was taking these shots.

(Hat tip to commenter O’Reilly)

Written by ted on May 31st, 2009

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25 Responses to 'LulaBelle's Seafood and Steaks, 301 Park Terrace Drive: May 2009'

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  1. The folks that ran this as I understand had no previous experience in the rest. biz. The name Lula Bell was the name of their dog. That is exactly what I would have named a seafood place. It just screams seafood. Ok that was a bit sarcastic. The biggest problem here was the food. I went for lunch and found it hard to believe that someone could screw up a salad. *** Sticky Fingers near Columbiana has recently bit the dust also!

    Kc

    1 Jun 09 at 6:09 am

  2. This was previously a "Roadhouse Grill" steakhouse. I think that was the original incarnation, but I'm not completely certain of that.

    Brian

    1 Jun 09 at 7:21 am

  3. Ha! I was seriously planning to call this place today to interview them for a Free Times story on local seafood. Guess I'll cross that one off my list. Ted, you're a wonder.

    Eva

    1 Jun 09 at 8:54 am

  4. It was a Roadhouse originally. We ate their once, within a week of their Grand Opening.The food was average, the portions small, and the price very expensive.

    We never even considered going back.

    IrmoJeff

    1 Jun 09 at 8:43 pm

  5. What a very elequent post, IrmoJeff! I think that pretty much sums it up! I went in there a couple times to get a togo menu and it never really looked inviting, other than the ability to sit outside. Although it would not be a scenic view, and w/ summer here, it would be pretty uncomfortable. They did have "blackened" seafood, and that is a plus for me, as mentioned in my Key West post. It doesn't sound like I missed anything....The name was horrible, much like when Tap Room turned to "Naughty Mac's." That was a death sentence. I'd just say, "I'm going to the old Tap Room." Adios, hopefully something quality will move in.

    Jonathan

    3 Jun 09 at 9:09 am

  6. Was a crappy steakhouse before. Had planned on trying them, but they closed before I had a chance.

    Payne

    4 Jun 09 at 1:59 pm

  7. The Roadhouse had this one and the location formerly known as Garcia's. Pretty average.

    Mr. Bill

    4 Jun 09 at 2:03 pm

  8. While Roadhouse's food was pretty average, it was one of our favorite places to eat out when our kids were younger. Back then they still did that whole peanut shells on the floor thing, and so if one of our young children decided that their crackers needed to be on the floor, it blended right in. Also it was a loud place, so if the kids were in a loud mood, they fit right in, and we didnt have to feel like we were disturbing anyone sitting near us :)

    IrmoJeff

    8 Jun 09 at 8:08 am

  9. I found that "Texas Roadhouse" (like the one next to Carabba's on Columbiana Pkwy) does the "Roadhouse" concept better and cheaper too.

    Brian

    8 Jun 09 at 8:25 am

  10. I was an employee here last fall, and it almost put me in the poorhouse. Maybe five tables would get seated during the three hour "lunch rush." The food was decent, but overpriced. There was absolutely no defining character to the place. Shortly after I quit, they got rid of their lunch hours, which were clearly bleeding cash. Closing completely was just the next step.

    If you want good seafood cheap, go to Harbor Inn. They really pile on the portions.

    Abbie

    8 Jun 09 at 11:44 am

  11. I heard something on the radio about a "Hudson's BBQ and Fish Camp" location "near Sam's on Harbison Blvd.

    My first thought was this location. Anybody know?

    Brian

    1 Jul 09 at 9:10 am

  12. Confirmed.

    badger

    1 Jul 09 at 9:53 am

  13. Thanks, badger.

    That's intriguing because I haven't been to a "fish camp" in a long long time and it fits right in with Hudson's BBQ concept. I'd be willing to try it out.

    Brian

    1 Jul 09 at 1:18 pm

  14. The best fish camp I have ever been to was Soap Creek Lodge. It was on Hwy 378 past McCormick and just over the GA line. It was campground, fish camp and the restaurant. This was back in the 80's. All the fish you could eat.

    Pinckney

    1 Jul 09 at 3:49 pm

  15. Please excuse my ignorance on the matter, but what is a "fish camp"?

    IrmoJeff

    1 Jul 09 at 6:31 pm

  16. Jeff - I don't know if this is 100% accurate or not, but my definition of a "fish camp" is basically a fried-fish version of a typical southern BBQ joint.

    Seems like they're usually on or near a lake (like Wateree in my case) and serve fried fresh water fish (like bream, crappie, catfish, bass, etc) with the typical sides (hush puppies, fries). The facilities are usually on par with a BBQ restaurant, with plastic silverware and simple seating and decor.

    I guess the definition could extend to a general "seafood" menu, but that hasn't been my experience.

    I'm curious what this will turn out like. There's nothing on Hudson's website the last I checked.

    Brian

    2 Jul 09 at 7:10 am

  17. Went into this place last year for lunch. Looked over the menu and figured it was going to cost us $60 for the four of us (two adults and two kids. Now way. If you looked at the website, having the ugly dog posted on each page was dumb. Way over priced for Columbia.

    If Hudsons opens a fish camp, I would expect great fried seafood, great fried catfish all at a fair price.

    Theo

    12 Jul 09 at 8:59 pm

  18. A true fish camp will have good fried seafood, whole fried catfish, home made fries all at fair prices. You can't expect a family to pay $11.99 per person to eat out in this economy.

    Theo

    12 Jul 09 at 9:03 pm

  19. 'Hudson's Smokehouse' is open now, and that's what is on the signs. Nothing about a fishes, but I didn't stop to check out the menu. Seemed like they had a pretty decent crowd, though.

    badger

    12 Sep 09 at 11:08 am

  20. Thankyou, very informative.

    Marc Stipes

    4 Jan 10 at 6:08 am

  21. heard Hudson's was leaving due to an increase in rent - is this true?

    Luther

    17 Feb 11 at 11:17 am

  22. @Luther Commenter Walt thought Hudson's folded up already and I had suspected it to be the case about a week prior but it turns out that the location here doesn't open on Mondays & Tuesdays.

    Increase in rent ran Dillard's out of Richland Mall as well as the Charleston Crab House that used to be at Columbiana Station. So if it does happen, it wouldn't be the only place run off by a rent increase.

    Andrew

    17 Feb 11 at 11:39 am

  23. Well, after all the unfounded Hudson's closings reports: Restaurant Fire Near Harbison Boulevard

    ted

    7 Apr 11 at 1:32 am

  24. Officials aren't sure what started the fire but my dad thinks it most likely is a kitchen fire due to the nature of how vulnerable restaurant kitchens are to a fire.

    Andrew

    7 Apr 11 at 2:51 pm

  25. This seems like it would be a great location, but boy, is it snakebit. Went to Roadhouse a couple of times when boys were young. Gave Lulabelles two chances. Fail. Fail. Loved having a Hudson's so nearby, but alas. Fire and did not re-open. why? who knows. Must not have been profitable enough.

    Becky

    10 Oct 12 at 10:08 am

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