131 South 10th Street
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 514-4755
My boyfriend and I went there for our one year anniversary the day before New Year's Eve. I chose Mackenzie's because Chris McD's had some pretty poor reviews and CC's was a bit more pricey. I had only made our reservation one day in advance, so I was a bit worried that we might have a problem sealing the reservation. Received an e-mail back the next morning confirming my reservation, I was excited about that. We arrived about 15 minutes early, I wasn't sure how parking was going to be, so we wanted to get downtown early. We were seated immediately, there were only two other diners at one table and three guests at the bar. I figured for a Friday night at 7 pm, the place would be a bit busier. Anyhow, our waiter was over to fill our drinks, fill us in on the specials, and take our orders immediately. He was phenomenal, and I can't say enough about him. My boyfriend and I both ordered 14 oz ribeye, mine cooked medium-well, his cooked medium. Both came out EXTREMELY charred, but his had a sauce, maybe a glaze on top of it that made the steak so delicious that my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Mine, however, did not have this glaze or sauce or whatever it was. Mine was a charred, dried out, tough 14 oz, 24 dollar steak. I have no idea why I didn't send it back. I ate less than half of it, took the rest home, drenched it in A-1 and ate it the next day.
The decor is terrible and SO outdated. I sat there trying to remember back to 10 years ago when I was there when it was CC's City Broiler, and I think it looked the same then. The lighting was terribly low. Low lighting is romantic, but it was so low that I couldn't see where I was walking. In addition, there was an OBNOXIOUS man at the bar complaining about his wireless internet not working on his laptop. He proceeds to take a phone call in the middle of our dinner. I was pretty disgusted at that point, and had made up my mind that I'd never be returning to Mackenzie's Prime. I'll pay an extra 20 dollars to have a decent meal at CC's City Broiler. I hope that our waiter can escape that place, he was the ONLY thing that made that place the least bit enjoyable!
I can only assume that everyone who works there has taken a turn at writing a favorable review in order to pad their overall rating. Our servers were completely untrained. Food quality was below average given the prices, and preparation was amateurish. A poor experience overall. I expect more from a restaurant that pockets more than $50 a head for dinner.
My husband and I went to college in Columbia, but we currently live in Washington DC. We were visiting friends this weekend and wanted to eat at Addison's, an old favorite of ours. However, when we found out that the wait was 45 minutes, we decided to go to Mackenzie's Prime downtown, which we had passed on a walk earlier in the day. Wow. We were seated immediately, and our waiter (Sean) was extremely knowledgeable about the wine list and the menu. He made excellent suggestions regarding both, and we (including our 2 friends) were extremely pleased with the soup, salads, entrees, and drinks that we ordered. The tuna was wonderful (according to our friend), the caprese salad rivaled the caprese I have eaten many times in Italy (where we lived for 3 years), and the beef entrees were flavorful and very well cooked. I would have expected to pay $400 for a similar (although not as good) meal for 4 in DC (including the tip). We paid half of that for the best meal that I have had in a long time. We will absolutely come back to Mackenzie's Prime the next time that we are in town. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates a good meal, good wine, and good service.
I LOVE Mackenzies. Different menus at both locations and both are great. I usually go to the downtown one (although the cheese ravioli at the other is to die for). I'm such a picky eater and the staff is very accommodating. They are always very happy to make something just for me. And it's always delicious. The staff is friendly without being overbearing and professional without being stuck up (the snobbery on Forum is crazy). Love this place!
I'm surprised to read reviews from people who are comparing it to C.C.'s. I love C.C.'s, but it is significantly more expensive than Mackenzie's. Also, I was dismayed when C.C.'s moved, so I'm glad there is a steakhouse with ATMOSPHERE in Columbia again. I have never been to I am also surprised to read that anyone has had a bad server because I have never been to Mackenzie's without receiving excellent service. I concur with a previous review that Shawn (host/server) is great. I found the menu to be universally crowd pleasing. My dad is very simple when it comes to food and I prefer adventurous, exciting flavors. Mackenzie's satisfied us both...so much so that when I graduate law school in May, it is where I will eat my celebratory dinner with all of my loved ones. Ignore the grumpy people who reviewed it poorly. They seem impossible to please.
My husband and I went there last night because we had heard about it and CC Broilers had a wait of 2 hours. When we arrived, we were seating immeadiately but that's when the fun began. There appeared to be two waiters on a Saturday night, plus the bartender. Our waiter was taking care of the patio area, which when we got there had 3 tables with patrons, and our table in the main dining room. We ordered and waited, and waited and waited. The appitizer of Chicken/Chorizo Dip came out 45 mintues after we ordered it. No one asked we wanted bread, nothing. That was fine but then we waited another 30 minutes for salads and they finally brought the bread out as an after thought. Almost two hours after we arrived, our entree's came and the shrimp scampi was actually the lobster bisque, my steak was under cooked and when I told the waiter, he didn't offer to take it back, have it re-cooked - just said he would take $15 off the bill. While this was going on, the other waiter was actually fired and was in the bar/dining room telling other workers what happened. This was a nightmare. I explained to the waiter that while I understood it was not his fault, I was not happy with the service nor the food. We counted and 12 tables came in after and left before our entree was ever served. We kept looking around to see if there were hidden cameras because we were waiting for Gordon Ramsey to pop out of the kitchen and tell us we on the newest episode of "Kitchen Nightmares" and he was shutting it down! Save your time, your money and quite frankly, your blood pressure medication and go to CC's - waiting is nothing compared to this.
My boyfriend and I wanted to go out to a nice steak restaurant and normally we go to Ci Ci's Broiler, the wait though was 1.5 hours so we decided to try Mackenzies. I wish we would have waited. They only had one actual waiter on staff on a Saturday night and the other was his first night training. We did not have to wait to sit but then waited 15 minutes before we got a waiter or even water. We both ordered wine, but my wine glass came out dirty but of course they switched it out. However they did give me the wrong brand of wine but they were so busy it wasn't worth trying to get it switched. The bread was actually my favorite part along with the lobster bisque soup. I would go there again and only order that and be happy. My salmon was fine, pretty plain and my boyfriend's top sirloin was really more medium than medium rare but the taste was okay but not as good as Ci Ci's and annoying to pay that much and it just be okay. Pretty much for the same price as Ci Ci's Broiler you get a lot less variety of food options and not as good of food. Sorry!
This was my first time experiencing this restaurant and I am in love. We expected a wait since we did not have a reservation, but it was not any longer than any other place on a Saturday night. The side salad with the house made vinagrette was superb. I decided to have the KC strip, my fiancee and I debated on if we had ever had a better steak...which we concluded we had not. The two criticisms I do have is that the steak could have been served a little warmer and the seating is limited and unfortunately I was seated behind a large man with flagulance problem, but once he left I was able to enjoy the quaint atmosphere. The service was quick and polite. I look forward to returning with friends.
I took my boyfriend there on saturday december 18th for his birthday. It was by far the best choice I could have made! The staff there were very polite. I wanted sangria and asked if they offered anything like that. They didn't but were more than willing to make me some, which I thought was very thoughtful. We had the boursin cheese and crab dip as an appetizer which was amazing! My boyfriend had the lobster bisque which I recommend as a must have when you go there. Our dinners were very delicious. Not only was I impressed with the food but more so with the quality of service. The staff was very polite and attentive. It's a nice cozy atmosphere, very romantic for a date. It's honestly the best restaurant I've been to in Columbia.
I was a bit nervous when my boyfriend told me that he had made reservations at Mackenzies Prime. I had read some of the reviews posted on mid mo dining guide and wasn't sure if it was a place I wanted to go. But I held my concerns to myself and away we went. When I got there I ABSOLUTELY fell in love with the old world feel of the place! The tables were lit up with crystal clean sparkling silverware and the glistning wine glasses looked like REAL CRYSTAL! The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the staff made us feel like V.I.P's, it felt like I was in a movie. The walls could use a little more decoration though.
But I digress, the host Shawn, which ended up being our server greeted us right away and had us laughing before he could even hang up our coats. He elaborated on thier daily features which sounded like something I've only seen on the food network.
I was suprised to see that none of the wine was over 9 dollars a glass and most were between 6 and 7. I ordered a bone in ribeye and the server quickly described how (and I did not know this but,) the bone actualy deflects the heat and if I ever got to a part of the steak where I felt it was too rare, that he actualy PREFERED me to tell him so he could have the chef continue to cook it. I have just never recieved such personal attention before. I just can't believe that this was the same restuarant that I had read reviews about, did those people actualy eat here or what?! I am deffinatly planning on going back, (I think I might actualy make a reservation in Jan for a surprise one year anniversary dinner (I hope my boyfriend doesn"t read this ha!)
Anyways I can't say enough, I have been made a believer and strongly suggest that if any of you were like me and had reservations about eating here, take a chance you might just be pleasantly surprised! I just wish they were open on Sunday.
P.S. ask for Shawn, he was great for us. and sorry this was so long
Dinner at 8 on a rainy Friday night so the parking behind the building was nice. Seated immediately. Service was good. Started with lobster (good) and mushrooms (fair) appetizers. Bisque was good. Steak was very good. Ordered medium rare and came slightly under which is better than overdone. Very good flavor. Wine selection was reasonable. Cost about $50 per person. I would go back.
Friday night. Very few diners.
To start:
Tried the Boursin Cheese and crab dip. Far too rich. Not to my taste.
Then on to Seafood Bisque-excellent but a bit too salty for me.
I had filet which was slightly undercooked for medium. Dinner partner had the Porterhouse with toppings added. This was good but undercooked for medium as well. It was actually raw near the bone.
Had creme brulee for dessert. The custard portion of this was not quite set. Definitely the worst I've ever had.
The service was good but food seemed lackluster.
I wouldn't make this restaurant my first choice.
Re: Mackenzies downtown; dinner for two adults at 9:00p.m. on September 25th; very few customers in the restaurant.
The entire experience was frustrating. It began with a short wait at the bar – cool. The bartender seemed nice enough, but his inexperience was painful to watch. My pint of beer was served with a full 1/3 of the glass as foam, and my wife's $12 glass of merlot came in a small white-wine glass. Am I being a wine snob? No. That white-wine glass was filled with about 3 ounces of wine. I didn't want to start the evening off by schooling the bartender on drink-pouring etiquette, so I let it slide. No biggy...on to our table...
Of the 15+ times someone came to our table to take our order, ask us questions, and bring us our appetizer and salads, I don't think that the same person came two times in a row. Consequently, the service was very schizophrenic. Once our entrees came, no one seemed to even notice that we were still eating in their restaurant. No inquiry about the quality of those entrees, no attempt to refill our drinks, and no dessert offering. Seriously, once our entrees came, they never came back to our table once, not even to bring us the bill.
After about twenty+ minutes of sitting there with empty plates and glasses in front of us, I decided to just go up to the bar to get the check and pay the bill. I asked for the bill and the bartender asked who our server was. I responded that I had no clue, which was true. He abruptly turned and walked away without a word. I was left standing alone at the bar another ten minutes before one of the waiters approached. He was apologetic for the delay and handed me the bill and walked away. The bartender then came back so I tried to hand him my card and the bill. He just looked at me. I said that I would like to "settle up." He abruptly informed me that it was the waiters job, not his. He left again and returned with a different waiter who cashed me out.
As for the food? It was just a tick above average, but it was not memorable in any way. The next time I pay for a $100 dinner for two I will just go to CC's. I certainly will not be going back to Mackenzies for a good long time. I wish them luck, but I luck alone will not fix what is ailing this joint.
We went to Mackenzie's on Rain Forest on Friday night. They were not busy whatsoever, so we were seated immediately. We sat down and ordered drinks and an appetizer. The drinks came quickly enough and we ordered our food. I ordered a stuffed burger and my husband ordered prime rib. We ordered a burger for our son. Our appetizer came out in good time, and shortly after our son's food came. 10 minutes after he was served, our waitress came back and said she was so sorry, but the kitchen just ran out of prime rib, and asked my husband if he wanted something else. He ordered the tenderloin sandwich. In this time frame, another party came in after us, sat down and ordered and got their food! Guess what was on one of thier plates? PRIME RIB! In fact, they were finished with their meal and we still had not even gotten ours. We had been sitting for over an hour at this point and decided to get our meal to go. When we told the bartender (server was NOWHERE to be found) we wanted it to go, it was brought to our table immediately, already boxed up and ready to go. I have never had such poor service. I won't go back. The food was good, however.
I visited Mackenzies at the downtown location last night - it was a business meeting and I took two guests for dinner. Although I did notice that the menu at the restaurant is different than the one that is on-line, the food selection and descriptions made it hard to choose a meal. The watier was great from the time he met me at the door and was attentive during the whole dining experience. We did not order anything that was not considered excellent. We had two appetizers (if you like scallops, these with mango chutney were so tender and had an excellent flavor) - salads were good and we each had a different meal. Salmon, Mahi Mahi, and steak. Very good and the bread they serve - very different and delicious. We were too full for dessert, so I cannot comment on that, but based on my experience, the overall experience was great. The room is small but I didn't notice the problems that some of the other reviewers list.
Overall we had a very poor dining experience. The atmosphere was very awkward and we did not feel welcome at all. If anything we felt as if we were more of an inconvenience. The food was mediocre at best and the house salad was horrible. The house salad dressing was overbearingly spicy. Very odd. We were also very disappointed in the menu because it was completely different from the version we viewed online before our visit. We will not be returning to this restaurant and I would not recommend anyone else. I really wish CC's City Broiler was still at this location.
If I started at midnight Sunday morning and kept saying it over and over, I'd still have a stack of great things to say about the new Mackenzies by the time the week was over.
I LOVE their food. Their steaks are the absolute best in town and their lobster bites are amazing! They work hard for great service and to a great job!
Can't get enough!
We ate at this restaurant on a Sat. night with a group of 14 people. We did have reservations. I was disappointed in the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. We were seated on what looked like a covered deck, some called it like a "garage" off the main part of the restaurant. It had a brick floor with wicker chairs and the seating was a little tight. The room smelled musty, or damp, first it was cold then they blasted the space heaters hanging from the ceiling and it became warm. Our waiter was good though, thankfully. Food was just "OK". Certainly not worth the $80 we spent for 2. I had the ribeye with garlic mashed potatoes, my husband had the bistro steak with vegetables (he said the veggies were gross). Basically, we just weren't that impressed, not $80 impressed at least.
We started off the evening waiting at the bar for a table, which was just fine because I love wine and can't wait to try new wine lists when I visit a new restaurant. My boyfriend picked a Dancing Bull Zinfandel which they were out of. When we got to our table we were seated next the kitchen wall and were able to hear ALL the prep noises on the other side. Also, our rectangular table was against the wall long way so were VERY far from each other. We ordered TWO different bottles of Bordeaux wine and they were out of both! Who drank all the wine at Mackenzie's? The bright side of that was we got a more expensive bottle for the price of our first pick. Our crab rangoon appetizer was amazing and I wish that I had just ordered more for my entree. My crab stuffed steak was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The waitress was nice but did not come often enough for refills. She did not give us the specials for the night either, which we overheard a male waiter telling customers at a nearby table. Overall this experience was much less than what we anticipated. Probably will still give the downtown location a shot though.
If the downtown location is anything at all like the north location, then Columbia just got tastier. I have visited several times and done take out at well. The staff is by far the friendliest staff in town, with excellent timing. Corey has been my sever twice and both times he has been phenominal. Last friday I brought some friends in and though they were packed, we were able to nestle into a booth. The bartender took great care of us, and she pours a fantastic martini. The Mahi Mahi was cooked to perfection! I cannot wait for any occasion that calls for a dinner at Mackenzies!
Best restaurant I have ever ever been to in my entire life, and the best place to eat in Columbia. By far!!!!! I assure you, with the perfectly cooked and amazing tasting food and the PERFECT cusotmer service, you WILL NOT be let down if you go here. I am not exagerating one bit...you have got to try this place! It's pricey, but it's worth every penny and I would have payed double.
I have had good experiences at Mackenzies before with bigger groups. Last night I went to meet a friend for some drinks and talk at the bar. The mixed drinks were great and Dennis (the bartender) took good care of us. For anyone wanting to go get a drink and just talk, Mackenzies is a good alternative to the general bar scene. Whether you head outside or sit inside at the bar it is a nice quiet atmosphere, and if you happen to get hungry you have some great food to choose from (we had some delicious Calamari Fries). I recommend Mackenzies to anyone I meet and if you haven't tried them yet, well you should.
I came here on Tuesday night for my husbands birthday. It was my first time and I didn't know what to expect. We sat outside and were promptly greeted with water and menus. Our server was Annie, and she was really great. She had information about all the dishes we were interested in, and was able to make suggestions. We had a seafood stuffed pasta and some appetizers, all cooked perfectly. We would put this little secret right up there with CC's City Broiler, if not better! From the staff to the food to the beautiful patio---good job Mackenzies!
Went there for the first time last night and thought the meal was excellent. I had the steak stuffed with mushrooms and cheese with green beans. Their house salad was more than just lettuce with carrots and dressing.
Overall not cheap but worth it.
I meant to write this weeks ago, a group of friends wanted to come to a different restaurant in Columbia. My co-worker recommended MacKenzie's from the moment the call was made for reservation till the end of the night everything was excellent. Greeted at the door and seated immedately, our server was Jamie and I have to say she is one of the BEST. Sometimes a group of 9 can be overwhelming, but not for her. Quick, smiling great explaining the menus. Our food, the desserts, drinks were all amazing. Great service and would recommend to anyone who has not tried MacKenzie's to do so and if you have Jamie as your server is will only add to the dining event. Great!fyf3f
All I can say is wow! Wonderful food and service. Our waiter was Cory, best waiter I've ever had. I highly recommend the crab dip, absolutely delicious. My steak was cooked perfectly, and they have an extensive wine list, including some reserves. Thanks for a wonderful night!
We love this place!!!!!!!!!
My boyfriend and I tried Mackenzies for the first time last night (July 11, 2009) and I have to say the atmosphere was perfect for our date night, and the food was absolutely FABULOUS, we did not have one dish we did not enjoy, from appetizer, salad, bread, entree all the way to dessert. However our server was TERRIBLE!! She began the experience by telling us all the specials were gone-we didn't even know they had them, cutting me off when I was saying how I wanted my steak cooked, when by boyfriend asked how their medium was cooked, she exclaimed sarcastically-just the way every other restaurant makes it, never once said you were welcome, seemed like she didn't want to be there and was rushing, seemed irritated when I requested sweet and low for my tea, and even went as far to make fun of a neighboring table who had request ketchup for their fish. Being able to hear the conversation from our table when it was requested she replied "What do you need ketchup for!?", and then told him to try it without it but she would get it. Then proceeded to our table to tell my boyfriend he had requested ketchup! How rude to her other table, unprofessional and not the quality of service we would have expected from a food with such quality in all other areas. Seriously this waitress should be at a burger joint, or a more casual atmosphere where her style might be humored. Worst waitress we have ever had, due to her rudeness.
Went for our anniversary and enjoyed the food. We arrived early to avoid the dinner rush and were thankful. It still took 40 minutes to get our food; we missed the movie we were planning to attend 1.5 hours after our reservation. Waitress was very attentive and friendly. Food was above average, my steak was perfection. The music was too loud and the wood smoke smell was somewhat annoying. Price for food was a little high. Will only go for special occasions.
I'm Disappointed!
My husband and I eat out a lot. We like most all
types of food and give most places 2 or 3 chances before we make up our minds. If we have a Great experience or a Terrible experience I always write a review.
We have left 2 reviews about Mackenzie's.
Unfortunately, they were both bad.
Poor service, Cold food. Too expensive for what
you get.
I wrote one review last year and one in January 2009.
I was not rude - I just told about our experience.
Neither is still here. Some of the other poor reviews that I remember about Mackenzie's are also missing.
I checked my other reviews for other restaurants
(good and bad) and most of them are still showing (that I can remember).
So, I'm disappointed in the fact that I thought this was an unbiased place to read about local restaurants - but obviously it's not.
Too bad.
I was at Mackenzie's on Saturday May 16, sat outside and the service was great. I understand that the menu was changed due to graduation weekend I am sure that Mackenzie's wanted to provide the best possible menu to the community. I have been there multiple times and everything is always amazing. Mackenzie's do not win awards for no reason.... they provide a great atmosphere and miraculous food and drinks.
I went here for the first time for an anniversary party. Most of the people were excited for the burgers or chicken sandwiches. The restaurant decides to eliminate items because of graduation weekend and also raise all the prices. We had horrible service. A drink was spilled on somebody and drenched them. The restaurant did not offer a free drink or anything. They messed up mulitiple orders and were just overall had awful service. I will never go there ever again!
EXCELLENT!!! Great place to dine for any occasion. Seafood is incredible as is the steaks. Great relaxing atmosphere.
Wonderful staff! I highly recommend this restaurant.
My fiance took me to Mackenzies for my birthday on April 11th. It was one of the best meals we have ever had. The service was good and the atmosphere was great. I will go there again.
My wife and went on a Monday afternoon/evening and had a MARVELOUS time! For 45 minutes we had the restaurant to ourselkves. Our waitress was very cordial and helpful and attentive, but not obnoxiously. She was there when we needed her to be and did not need to look for her. Their wine servings are very generous, their service was fantastic, and the food was SUPERB! Highly recommend!
Wife and I went Saturday 04/04/09.
Greeted promptly by hostess and friendly. Even though I made a reservation, they did not have it. I explained I did it online and got a reply - they seemed more worried about if I was lying or not rather than seat us.
Got seated, next to the front door (wife got cold) and a great view of the waiters/waitresses hanging out at the bar talking about the basketball games or flirting with each other at the end of the bar.
Wanted to have a drink before dinner however they did not have coke or ginger ale, so ordered two of the worst margritas that I ever had I thought I was picky and just did not like the taste, but my wife (who loves margratias)would not drink it.
Ordered - Wife got fillet and twice baked, I got the special beef wellington. Her's was undercooked, but had decent flavor, and mine was cold. For those who have not had beef wellington - it is a fillet that has been pre-cooked only enough to finish it off in a puff pastry to your desired temp. However, my steak was so cold in the middle that no juices flowed out, my puff pastry was dough on the bottom - meaning they flash baked enough to bake the pastry on top. People do this instead of baking at 350 to save time. We ate within an hour - they really pushed us out the door. They were full so since the lost our reservation, they probably had to get rid of us. The grilled aspargus was the best! The potatoes had an acid taste - not lemon probably too much sour cream to make up for the dryness of the potatoe.
Our server was great - attentive (expcept he should have noiticed my wife not drinking her drink), and friendly. He rushed us, but I could understand why - they needed the table.
$73 for 2 steaks and 2 drinks.
Would never go again. I would rather go to other high end resteraunts that the food and prices match.
Usually I do not write reviews regarding my experiences at restaurants, however after this past Friday evening I must. My wife and I had a fabulous time at Mackenzie’s. The food was absolutely delicious. Mackenzie’s has indeed the best steaks in town, and I am willing to put my reputation on the line to say so. Our server was very charming and knowledgeable. The cocktails were perfect, and just priced right. Once again, our overall evening was fabulous and I highly recommend this establishment to anyone who is willing to experience a nice romantic atmosphere. Thank you!
Just stopped in last night to get some food to go. Waited at the bar while my food was cooking. Normally I don't notice, but the bartenders were very charming and friendly. Dennis took our order and poured our drinks and was very attentive. The girl bartender (i didn't catch her name) talked to us for a while in her down time and was very sweet (and "absolutely beautiful", in my wife's words). The big suprise was when we got home..the food was AMAZING. Next time we have a date night, we will stop by and enjoy the atmosphere a little longer.
This place was AWESOME! The food was outstanding and the service was excellent. The only comment I have is that the wall between the kitchen and the tables should be "sound proofed" if possible! We were there having a romantic dinner and the banging was a bit annoying at times and I think the tables shouldn't be so close to the restroom entryway, BUT......food, service, environment - outstanding! We will be back!
Went for drinks after work Friday with friends. The drinks were wonderful and very affordable with their specials. We all had appetizers and everyone seemed to enjoy them.
Mackenzie's is just about my favorite restaurant in town! The service is always great and the food is better than CC's!! I frequent very often and will continue to do so, especially with Summer approaching and the patio opening! I love that it's a nice restaurant that also has tv's so if you want to go out to eat and catch the Mizzou game, you can! You can't beat Mackenzie's, great service, great food, great atmospher, and great wine!!
Good wine, good friends, good times!
I wrote copious comments prior to this, but something went wrong. Suffice it to say that this place is an excellent choice for all palates.
Our daughter has been talking about how good Mackenzies is for years, and finally drug us there.We are very glad she did. Move over Chris McD's and C.C.s,Mackenzies was better and less pricey. I started with the salad that had a little gargonzola on it and the homemade mango vinagarette which combined for a light and fresh sweet and sour taste. My husband had the cabbage soup which had a unique, eastern european flavor that was delightful. For the main course I had the mahi-mahi which was simply and deliciously cooked on a wooden plank and served with herbed butter. The rest of the table had beef dishes. My husband loved his prime rib, and everyone else loved the various steaks they got.We topped all this off with a huge piece of carrot cake that was moist fruity and delicious and a piece of New York cheesecake which was the only thing we found pretty standard.I'm going back in two weeks for my birthday and you might want to try it also.
Excellent cuisine! The minute you walk in the door, you can smell the wood fire from the kitchen. This place is romantic, classy, but is also very casual. The customer service is excellent. One of my favorite places in Columbia!
My husband always listens to sports and a few weeks ago, he took me to Mackenzies. I was familiar with the reputation for the food and service, but had never been. It was a great experience! The food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was warm and romantic. This is my new favorite place. He said the radio station was asking listeners to share their story and after such a wonderful evening, I gladly agreed! Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.
I took my husband here for his birthday dinner. We had a pleasant time, but it was not really a dinner to remember. We shared the Fried Spinach, which was reminiscent of green cellophane. It tasted alright, but I wouldn't order it again. He had the Crab Stuffed Bistro and I had the Mahi Mahi. Both were cooked to order with no surprises. The twice baked potato was delicious.
The restaurant is small and attractively decorated, except for the several TVs placed around the room. I felt like it was trying to be both sports bar and upscale restaurant. Didn't work for me.
Service was friendly, though not overly attentive.
It was fine once, I don't think we'll go back.
When you first walk through the door, you will be hit with the fantastic smell of the cedar wood burning grill. That just puts you in the right mood for an outstanding dining experience. I like to start off with the Boursin Cheese Crab Dip, however, many of the friends that we bring to Mackenzies enjoy the Fried Spinach Appetizer. Upon finishing these, I look forward to diving in to my Crab Stuffed Bistro Steak with the Twice Baked Potato. Our many dining experiences at Mackenzies have always been outstanding from the hostess and servers, to the clean bathrooms. If you are looking for a place to make reservations on a Special Occasion Day, this is about the only place in Columbia that will even take reservations. The staff have always been friendly, courteous and accommodating, even with some of the large groups we have brought there. Look forward to a great dining experience in a small but quaint dining room. Enjoy.
Mackenzies is the best kept secret in town. If you haven't dined here then your tastebuds are missing out!!! The atmosphere exudes romance, and the service is extraordinary without being overbearing. The crab rangoon is a must try, and the best in town. I had the house sirloin stuffed with their homemade crab salad....the meat was cooked perfect and the crab inside SET IT OFF!! Go to Mackenzies....take your friends.....ENJOY : )
Corey is the best server in the world! Thank you for making our experience remarkable. You will be very successful in life. We will be back and hopefully have Corey as our server again!
We had an enjoyable dinner at Mackenzies. My food was excellent. The steak was grilled perfectly. They were very flexible with their menu and were more than happy to meet a special request for a chicken pasta dish. The waiter was new & a little nervous, but very cordial and attentive. The atmosphere was both casual and formal. Very nice & classy. I will definitely come back.
My friend and i ate there recently and were actually surprised. At first its appearance was rather small but the environment was nice. We both had the stuffed chicken breast with the twice baked potato, the chicken was awesome. I recommend this place. Good food and the service was great. Hard to find both now a days.
We had heard good reviews for Mackenzies and tried it with friends on Friday night. One good thing is that you are able to make a reservation. The menu selection was great, very hard to decide. We all got something different and it was all well prepared and presented in a timely manner.
Our waiter was Corey and he was an expert on the food. Any questions we had he was very able to answer.
It was an enjoyable evening.
I LOVE this place! I pretty much never get to go somewhere nice so it was extra special when we got to go to dinner there. Food was fantastic and loved the herb garden outside! That's what I call fresh!
My husband and I ate here the weekend after Valentine's Day. The food was middle of the road and we felt it was too pricey for the quantity. Our server was okay but the server for the adjacent table dropped a large tub of butter on the floor and then never cleaned it up even though she looked at it repeatedly. After about 30 minutes, another server cleaned up the mess.
There is sometimes a door mail coupon but it's disappointing that it does not apply to weekends.
We went to Mackenzie's for our anniversary and everything went great! We both got steaks and they were awesome and we loved the variety of desserts offered. Our waitress mentioned she was new, yet she did a fabulous job. We would highly recommend trying Mackenzie's. It was nice to see a restaurant do different things, like Calamari fries, and everything was so good.
After reading the disparity of reviews with such a minority being critical of Mackenzies, I feel the urge to comment.
I have been going to MacKenzies for over a year. A single man, Mackenzies is my choice for dinner when meeting a female for dinner. I have found the food excellent, the service good and the ambiance in this little hidden jewell to be great for entertaining, romantic and perfectly suited for that perfect place to take someone.
The steaks are succulent, always prepared exactly to order and from the highest quality beef. The filet's are those that you yearn for in higher priced restaurants, they almost melt in your mouth and you have your choice of two sizes. The lobster tails are HUGE, moist and can be prepared two ways, but I prefer them over the wood flame and they are fantastic. The salad and the dressing raved about by many, the house dressing, is great and a thing that I always appreciate, the salad is served on a chilled plate.
The people are friendly, the wine list is extensive, correctly priced and a large pour.
The owners and the staff strive to please. I have seen people with children there and Mackenzies has a smaller menu (strips always it seems for the kids) and have never seen any child have any trouble with the booster chairs.
The outdoor patio is pleasant and I am not sure when they have entertainment but the performer(s) are always low-key but yet add to the overall ambiance of that special place.
I have dined all over the world; eaten at many fine restaurants and based on that experience I feel very fortunate that we have here in Columbia a place like Mackenzies.
The absolute best service we have every had at a restaurant. Zach was our waiter and he did a superb job helping us select wine and gave us some great recommendations to help us select what to eat. The food was excellent as well. A truly wonderful dining experience.
What a refreshing find in Columbia. My boyfriend and I have eaten everywhere in this town, or so we thought, until we found Mackenzie's. Our server, Rachel, was wonderful. They seemed a little short handed for how busy the place was on a friday night, but the food came out in a timely manner, and it was cooked to perfection. I noticed that the menu on this website is old, so check out their new one, it is fantastic. I had the plum pork loin, and my boyfriend had the tomahawk ribeye. The biggest steak I have ever seen! Every thing was perfect. Everyone should try this place at least twice. Oh, and the patio is beautiful.
In response to the previous comment, I would just like to say the following: I have worked at Mackenzie's for well over a year, which is rare in the food service industry. We have two other employees who have been there a year and one who has been there over 6 months. Despite that, of course we have turnover and are going to have new servers once in a while. But, for those of us who have worked there for a while, we love our restaurant and will do everything we can to accomodate everyone we can. I personally paid for a dessert and three side orders this evening just to make sure my customers had the best possible time and service they could have. I have never heard of anyone in Mackenzie's waiting an hour for food, but I will not doubt your integrity. If there is anything we can do to improve your dining experience, please don't hesitate to ask. We take our service very personally. Thank you,
The Mackenzie's service staff.
Will not go back. After waiting over an hour for our food and watching people get their food that entered after us, we got our food to go. Upon giving our gift card to the waitress (who had been hostess and I think was filling in) she put the whole amount on our CC...then couldn't figure out how to fix it..then credited our CC..the lady even told us she knows we had terrible service...we will stick to CC's for our great service and steaks...esp for the same price..the lights were too dim the music was too loud. We heard several tables ask the lady to fix that and she did.
5-21-08...I had a perfect dining experience last night with my Dad for my birthday dinner. They have newly designed menus that looks great! I was able to spend time with the owner Charlene and her daughter Mackenzie (hence the name of restaurant) and Chris is the chef. It was very pleasant and relaxing to have a glass of wine and eat wonderful food. This is my favorite restaurant in Columbia not only for the atmosphere but the friendliness of the staff and owners. Just a WONDERFUL experience!!!
This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Columbia. I took a party of 7 adults and 2 children (1 & 6 yrs)and while they may not be set up for lots of kids, they were able to accomodate us nicely, and no these children don't scream and throw food.
The food was outstanding, we all ordered something different and shared. I didn't hear anyone say anything other than "That great!" The steak was tender and cooked to perfection, the Pork chops were thick and juicy. The mango salad dressing was very good. Even the chicken strips for the 1yr old were the most tender I've even tasted. Try the steak tip Appetizer and then use the steak sauce with your fresh warm bread... really good!
Overall a really great place to go for a fine meal.
On May 7th, you left a review for Mackenzie's describing the removal of a previous post. The post was removed by our staff due to the nature of the review. As per the conditions listed on the review form, we reserve the right to edit or remove any reviews we feel are inappropriate or contain personal attacks.
I have spoken with the owner and he welcomes the opportunity to meet with you and discuss this matter further. He is very interested in resolving any misunderstandings that may have occurred. You can contact him at 449-4004 or at mackenzieseafoodandsteaks.com.
Your information has not been shared with Mackenzies, but they are aware that I am contacting you on their behalf. We thank you for your support of Mid Mo Dining Guide and we encourage you to continue to leave reviews about your experiences.
Heather - Account Manager - Mid Mo Dining Guide
PS: I attempted to e-mail you this rather than posting it, but the e-mail you used for the post was returned.
So I wrote a comment a few weeks ago and it looks like it is not on here. So now you can edit what you want to be seen? That doesn't seem right. A majority of the comments are only positive. That is fine, but I think those "not such good dining experiences"should be shared as well and not edited off the site. Isn't this site suppose to share honest and real experiences at the establishment? Too bad others can't see what this restaurant is really like.
Thank you again for the wonderful hospitality & incredible food we enjoyed at Mackenzie's!
I cannot say enough nice things about this little spot, which has the atmosphere & price of a "neighborhood" establishment but the food quality (& even selection) of much higher-end fine-dining names. Mackenzies doesn't try to do too much, but what they do, they do exceedingly well -- wood-fired meats & seafoods cooked very nicely over an open-flame wood grill, solid side dishes & salads, an excellent staff, & a decently broad-based wine list.
My dining companion & I were fortunate enough to "discover" them via this website & decided to return the favor by recommending them here, especially if what you are craving is high-quality, well-cooked protein & veggies!
Great place for a nice dinner. No, it's not "kid friendly" but that is a HUGE PLUS in my opinion. You want kid friendly, go to Chuck E. Cheeses. The atmosphere is for adults, nice, dark, and romantic. The food has always been excellent. We went recently when a wedding party of 22 was taking up a large portion of the restaurant and we still received excellent service, great food, and a great server. I have NEVER known you to need reservations at MacKenzie's unless it was a holiday like Valentine's Day where most people would know it is recommended to have them.
FABULOUS! From the wonderful waitress to the very last bite of dessert - absolutely fabulous! Five of us enjoyed a lovely Friday evening of fine food and a very inviting atmosphere that manages to exude elegancy and casual comfort at the same time. Our waitress was attentive and very pleasant. The food was delightful, from the wonderful fried spinach appetizer, to the crisp salad, to the perfectly grilled sea bass with a side of potato souffle, to the final morsel of the dessert (little deep-fried bites of gooey chocolate and bananas foster and creamy vanila ice cream...mmmmmmmm.) We will be back...again and again!
Mackenzies is THE BEST restaurant in Columbia and mid-Missouri! Their selection of appetizers, entrees & desserts is truly incredible. The crab rangoon is the best I've ever had and I just tried their chocolate cobbler for dessert, and it was amazing. If you want a romantic atmosphere, excellent service and one of a kind dishes go to Mackenzies!!!
I would first like to say that my wife and I have gone out to this restaurant two times for "date nights" and have been overly pleased each time we have gone there. We have never waited more than 5 minutes to be seated. We have gotten the same waiter (Corey) each time and even though it had been almost a month since we were there last he remembered us. The food there is awesome and I think they have the best steak in town & we have been to CC's which I think is highly over-rated and overpriced. The atomoshere is great and like previous comments below, it is a nice place to go with your significant other to have a pleasant dining experience.
The location for us is great on the north side of town. Kudos!!!
You can also include us in the camp that has never had a bad experience at MacKenzies. I'm sorry for the person who lost his reservation on Valentines Day but I can remember the first year they opened, we were one of the only couples dining early on Valentines Day and it was strange to have the restaurant all to ourselves. This year we walked up at 5:15 to be greeted with a sign that said "No walk-ins until after 8:00." Personally, I am thrilled for them. We came back the next evening and had a lovely dinner as always. I am glad though that the chef has stopped deep frying the bread. Good bread does not need to be deep fried. Oh, and I appreciate that I don't have to dodge mashed potatoes being flung at me from the younger set.
Liked being able to make a reservation since we are coming from OOT - Able to dress nice casual and relax - low lighting; tablecloths - can actually hear each other while you talk. Drinks were generous; food was great - steaks were done as requested - seafood was very good and portions were just right. Menu was difficult to read but you can find menu online and see it prior to visit to decide - and it was hard to decide because everything - especially the specials - sounded good. Our server, Becca, answered all of our questions and was very patient with us - dessert was awesome. Not a large restaurant and we liked the intimacy of the booths was nice. It is a nice change and overall positive experience. They have been there a couple of years and we found them on this website. Can recommend it for people who enjoy conversation and good food.
My husband and I dine frequently at Mackenzie's. We have NEVER had a bad meal, and our service has always been superb! The appetizers are to die for, especially the duck spring rolls, and the fried mushrooms (my personal favorites!) plus they are HALF PRICE from 4-6 every day!!!!!!!!!! The steaks have always been cooked to perfection. The crab stuffed Bistro Filet is mmmmmm yummy! They have a great wine selection, and martini specials. This is not a restraunt for the kiddies (Thank you Jesus) leave 'em at home and enjoy some adult time. This place is Columbia's best kept secret. Thanks goodness for the North Side!
Well what can you say when best part of the meal was the salad. The waitres was new and couldnt tell us anything about the food, when asked about the lobster tail we were told it was lobster and it was large, my prime rib was tuff and over cooked. I always try places twice because we might have hit it on a bad night but it will be awhile before we do.
My wife and I dined at McKenzies on friday night as part of our Valentine's day celebration. My brother and his wife accompanied us. We arrived without a reservation and had to wait a few minutes at the bar. The beverage selection was excellent and the bar tender was very friendly and brought us our drinks quickly. We were moved to our table before we finished our drinks. The seating was so clean it looked brand new. We had scallops for an appetizer that were delicious, everyone loved them. We had a combination of salads and soups around the table next. I had the chicken fajita soup. It was enjoyable but nothing special compared to the rest of the food. For an entree I had a lobster tail and my wife had a filet. We shared. The steak was exceptional. Cooked a perfect medium, it tasted like it had never been frozen. You could taste that it had been cooked over a wood fire but we argued around the table as to what kind of wood. A waiter told us it was a combination of hickory and apple. It was sweet and tender. The lobster tail was huge! There was no need to be stingy because there was plenty to go around. Overall we had an excellent time. The waitress we had was very friendly and knowledgeable. She served at an enjoyable pace. We never felt rushed even though the place was very busy. It was a nice place to have a conversation. I can easily recommend this restaurant to others.
My wife and I thought we would beat the Valentine's Day rush and decided to dine out a night early. We chose Mackenzie's because we had only been there once and remembering liking it. When we arrived, there was a wait for a table because others had the same idea as we did. That was all right because we were able to get seats at the bar and enjoy some drinks. The place was crowded, but the wait would have been more pleasurable if it weren't for the gentlemen (and I use the term loosely) that were next to us. The only reason why I bring attention to this is we deducted from theironversations that they were "regulars" there. At one point they were using such vulgar language and topics that I had to switch seats with my wife so that she would not have to be seated right next to them. The bartender was very busy and we knew that she didn't have time to pay attention to what they were saying or else I am sure she would have said something to them. However, she made time to make an excellent reccommendation for a wine for my wife and appetizer choices while we waited. The boursin crab dip was AMAZING!
Needless to say, we were very glad to receive our table and leave the bar, which we enjoyed an excellent dining experience. We felt sorry for the other patrons around those "genetlemen".
Even though the food and servie were excellent, we are going to think twice about returning in case those "gentlemen" are going to be there. We just don't think we can patronize a place that tolerates that kind of behavior. If Mackenzie's is striving to be an upperscale, intimate restaurant, they shouldn't encourage "gentlemen" like that to be patrons.
This place is great! I LOVE that it's not "kid friendly"! Some of us like not having to listen to your kids scream while we eat! The food was superb and the atmosphere very nice!
This is our favorite spot in town for a laid back but amazing meal in a cozy and romantic atmopshere. The salads are crisp, twice baked potato is cheesy and flavorful and the steaks are cooked to perfection every time. I love the frequent customer perks and the owners are friendly and make each dining experience a pleasure. Try the crab rangoon, mango vinagrette dressing, and the filet. This is cozy and quaint and a far cry from the boring chains cropping up all over Columbia. Enjoy!
I really like this restaurant. It was nice to go to a restaurant and not have any children around. I have 3 children and a nice dinner without them and other ones around was really nice. The food was wonderful. My husband and I especially like the dessert. The mini cheesecakes and ice cream was wonderful. I had the tortilla tilapia and that was wonderful. I would recommend this restaurant.
Let me start off by saying, my wife and I are regulars at Mackenzies. We love the food and the atmosphere is great for a quiet dinner for two. You really can't beat the price for what you get. Its about the same price as Longhorn or Outback but with twice the taste and a very romantic atmosphere. Regarding not being child friendly....well lets say I'm glad there is a place that finally is serving people that want a nice dinner out away from the typical fit the mass market restaurants. I like the fact that I typically don't have to listen to kid across the room throw a tantrum because he doesn't like that he as to eat vegetables or he's tired for having to wait longer than 15 minutes for a real meal to be cooked, instead of a meal pulled out of a box and thrown in the microwave. On the other hand I've been there and seen well mannered children have a sit down dinner with their parents with out an issue. If your kids like to run around then go to Chucky Cheese "Please" and let the rest of us who like the mature atmosphere have a place to eat.
My wife loved this place, my steak was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time!Our waitress was wonderful , she took care of us all night.
I would also like to respond to those who said it wasnt kid friendly - There are many places to take your kids to dinner where they can play and be loud, Mackenies isnt one of them. This is more up-scale dinning ,a nice quiet place to take your wife or a date......
NOT Child friendly
Overpriced
Terrible location
Awkward seating
NO customer service
Food plain
What else is there to say...
Great food!
GREAT PLACE! Extremely nice, cozy atmosphere (NOT MEANT FOR KIDS, GEEZ!). The food is incredible. We've several things from the menu, but the steaks can't be beat. Now that Everett's is closed this will be a regular place for many.
This place was amazing. I have only been there one time, but I will definately go back!! We started with the crab rangoon (which was absolutely incredible!!!) I had the fish special (I don't remember the name, but the server described it as a rich, buttery fish) and my husband had the stuffed steak. Both were delightful; I would get the fish order again anyday of the week. Husband really loved his steak. We finished with pumpkin cheese cake even though we were so full. The dessert was so good we finished it all. We left full and very satisfied. BEST RESTAURANT IN THE AREA!!
Without question the finest restaurant north in Columbia and possibly in the area.
Service is excellent, and the steaks melt in your mouth. It rivals CC's and might be even better because of the smallo, casual intimate surroundings.
Jazz on Tuesday and Saturdays and a place on Rainforest, just off of Rangeline at the entrance to the Vanderveen subdivision.
We try to make it once a week and twice if we are lucky.
We had an excellent meal and both the steak and philly sandwiches were great. Sounds like the previous post needs to check out McDonalds down the road...cheap food and great high chairs. We had friendly service and plan on going back soon.
Only was there once, but will definitely go back.
Excellent service, excellent food (had the Bistro steak). Great salad with the meal. Our server was new to the job, but we would not have known if he had not told us.
Had a lovely meal there that will keep us going back again and again. I had the salmon and it was cooked to perfection. A nice relaxing atmosphere.
This is our favorite restaurant in town. My wife and I have been there about a dozen times. We have never had a bad meal and the owner and his wife are really great people. The Bistro filet is great for the price. Also, the Mango salad dressing is incredible. We look for any excuse to go there!