Pub Dog would probably be a decent choice. Good beer, casual, and not super expensive. My wife and I go there all the time.

Neo pizza it has wine beer and what ever on self serve tap

I concur and endorse.

I concur and endorse.

Frisco just opened in their new spot in Columbia (by Wegmans). It’s a rolling open but I think the brewpub part is open now. Their new spot looks awesome.

Second Pub Dog, one of my favorite spots in Columbia.

You could also go to Guinness Open Gate.

Victoria Gastro Pub!

Second Frisco. Their new space is fantastic! Black Flag is also great.

Pub Dog! It's a chill date spot and I can vouch that the servers will totally have your back if something goes south.

Second pub dog.

Not sure why people are endorsing pub dog so hard. Beer is very mediocre, but I like the pizza.

The local breweries black flag, hysteria, and sapwood are all solid.

Frisco tap house and Victoria gastro pub are good if you want a more traditional bar with lots of options.

Second vote for Hysteria. Both indoor and outdoor seating if you like the weather, and Bullhead next door (attached, really) has some rather tasty pit beef so you're not running on an empty stomach. Nifty selection of beers, too, rather than just a bunch of identical IPAs like some places seem to do.

I know they've been mentioned but Black Flag, Hysteria, Frisco, Columbia Ale house, Victoria Gastro Pub for beer. Although the have a smaller beer menu Grotto Pizza does have local beers on tap. Also, White Oak Tavern in Elliott City.

If you're open to cocktails, Lost Ark Distillery is in the same strip as Hysteria and has great cocktails. (They also do tours).

Bc it’s on par with neo pizza but significantly cheaper

Well I agree neo gets expensive fast. Neo has ok food and while the self serve beer is fun and allows you to try a lot of different beers, it gets pricey.

between gambrills and EC, you'll find jailbreak in laurel, right where 32 meets route 1. i recommend it all the time. great beer, great kitchen, chill atmosphere.

crooked crab is a good in-between location as well right off 32 and telegraph road (170), though the beers there tend to be more on the hoppy/crafty side compared to jailbreak, so really good if you're into that sort of thing. they don't have a kitchen, but lots of places deliver to that location.

if you want to meet in glen burnie, which would probably be about twenty minutes drive for the both of you, pappas and olive tree have nice bars and fairly conventional comfort food menus.

Rathskeller in Elkridge, awesome German food and beers. You won't be disappointed.

Crooked Crab had a pizza kitchen! Just opened, I had dinner there tonight and it was great!

Dive Bar in Savage Mill.

Royal Farms, Highlandtown.

oh nice! i was last there this summer, and i suppose it wasn't yet opened at that time. i look forward to going back.

The Hideaway in Gambrills is a great option too!

Sapwood Cellars (Columbia) has the best beer in the state/region, and their taproom has the best atmosphere in the county. You won't regret going there.

ale house

This is the place I go to when I like to hear conversation, Pug dog and other options typically are much louder than Neo. Plus the self serve tap is a cool novelty.

Historic Ellicott city is my go to. Walk down to the river to add some adventures to the date

Just for future reference Brew hive Jail break Ale house

Quite possibly the worst pizza I’ve ever had and their self pour system was expensive.

I compare Pub Dog to KISS. Beer is ok enough, pizza is pretty decent, and the price is right. Nothing super amazing, but all of it as a combined unit is pretty great.

Jailbreak, which was once quite good now stinks after their top brewers left.