2018 Gervais Street Bridge Dinner: A True Best of Columbia

A review by Tammy Davis

Words don’t do the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner justice.  Organizers describe it as a marquee celebration of the Columbia region.  I’m describing it as a must-do event.  It feels likes a true best-of Columbia.  The best views, the best fashion, the best foods, the best music, and, let’s not forget, the best beverages.

The views from the bridge are spectacular.  Watching the sun set over the river while sipping a glass of wine makes the price of the ticket worth it.  Keep the sunset in mind when you select your seat at the table.  Your neck will thank you.

The bridge dinner accommodates 1,000 guests.  The tables aren’t the only things well-dressed.  The Gervais Street dinner is to Fall what The Cup is to Spring.  The Cup gives women a chance to strut their spring stuff.  The bridge dinner lets them put on a fall fashion show.  Vests, scarves, boots – beautiful people wearing beautiful clothes.  Smart folks wore low-heeled boots and cute, comfy shoes.  The bridge is longer than you realize, and even if you Uber, it’s a good little walk.  I’m betting the women in tall boots won’t do that again next year.

As guests enter, they find the tables loaded and ready – brie, goat cheese, candied nuts, grapes, crackers and crostini.  Jars of jelly and mini honey bears from Mast General were a nice touch.

You will not leave the bridge dinner hungry.   The meal is served family style. The platters just keep on coming.  Pork belly cheddar biscuits, tuna nachos, and fried deviled eggs started the feast.  Unless you had a dietary restriction that caused you to order a special meal option, you enjoyed short rib wellington, white cheddar mashed potatoes, and brussel sprout salad.

The desserts were the perfect ending to a perfect night.  The folks from Eloise and Ally outdid themselves.  They are now my new favorite bakery.   I hope the bridge dinner desserts can be purchased in their shops.  We’ll find out soon enough.  Flourless chocolate bites, bourbon coconut pecan bars, cookies, caramel cake pops with popcorn sprinkles, carrot and chocolate baby cakes – I’m coming for all of you.  Indah Coffee Company kept everyone warm and happy during the last course.

I’ve always been a fan of the Reggie Sullivan band, but he sounds even better perched above the Saluda.  All the entertainment added to the evening that was nothing short of magical.

I had been wanting to go to the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner for four years.  First year, that pesky flood of 2015 got in my way.  Second year, recovering from the flood filled my schedule.  Last year I was ready, but it sold out before I got my ticket.  I now understand why.  This year, I let it sell out again, but thanks to Facebook, I found someone who couldn’t go at the last minute.   I promised the original ticket holder that I would make sure to enjoy every minute of the night.  She said, “Oh, I know you’ll enjoy it.  It’s the best night in Columbia.”  I couldn’t agree more.

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