The Blue Ridge Restaurant Group, based in Howard County, has opened its sixth restaurant, Stanford Grill, in Columbia. The “upscale casual” menu is straight-ahead American cuisine, with dishes such as hickory-grilled steaks, Eastern Shore-style crab cakes, wood-grilled fish and wood-fired rotisserie chicken. The wine list is primarily domestic, with 27 varieties available by glass. The building occupies the former Lone Star Steakhouse and has been fully renovated. The interiors, which seat 250 people, feature an open-air kitchen, a bar area and wood, granite and leather accents. There is also an outdoor patio for dining, and the restaurant offers jazz nightly. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 8900 Stanford Blvd., 410-312-0445
