Sophia's, Columbia

It’s easy to toss some regular cheese and pepperoni on a pizza and call it a day, but the chefs at Sophia's strive for something more with their pies, something that awakens the palate. That’s why they crown their gourmet pizzas with ginger-apple chutney and gruyére cheese. Beyond pizzas, they whip up tapas-sized portions of housemade baked italian meatballs and sea scallops wrapped in smoky bacon. Their cuisine draws inspiration from Southern European dishes—in that vein, the chefs use stocks of fresh seafood and pastas to craft entrees such as the ravioli aragosta with lobster-, shrimp-, and scallop-stuffed pouches and asiago cream sauce. Glasses of wine complement the upscale food, and the vino menu catalogs more than 100 different selections. They range from sweet rieslings and sparkling wines to pinot noirs as bold as a third grader enrolling in college.

The cuisine’s elegance doesn’t go unmatched by the decor—lofted ceilings affect an airy modern atmosphere, which complements the contemporary paintings of local scenery by artist David Spear. Spear hails from Missouri, and he’s been ensconced in Columbia’s art community for more than a decade now. His evocative paintings evince scenes of colorful individuals in an urban setting, as well as black-and-white works.