This year has seen a nice shift in the Columbus culinary scene - more and more chefs are sourcing their ingredients from local growers and those who have been doing so for a long time are finally getting some attention for it. I can only hope this trend continues. Columbus' ethnic population continues to grow, bringing a wealth of new cuisines and cultures to our fair city - from Asian to Mexican to African, we see new and exciting start-ups all the time. For someone who can't wait to taste the next unfamiliar thing, this is a blessing.
Without further ado, here are my picks; as always, in a self-serving manner, links go first to my review; the review will contain all pertinent contact information. In the event I haven't reviewed or written about something, its location will be listed below.
Dinner
Basi Italia - the cozy quarters and hidden alley location make you feel like you're dining in the city's best kept secret. The patio is especially nice during the spring and summer. Basi has a well conceived wine list. Order the chicken with grapes and the best Caesar in town.
Guiseppe's - I tried Giuseppe's for the first time this year and I am thoroughly hooked. The risotto is a triumph, and the spaghetti and meatballs are just the thing to bring out the kid in all of us.
G. Michael's Bistro (595 s. 3rd St) - One must go for the shrimp & grits if for no other reason. A quaint little bistro in German Village with a cute patio, G. Michael's is a great restaurant for comfort food (hello fried chicken).
Kihachi - A perennial favorite; flawlessly executed, traditional Japanese cuisine in a serene setting. Chef Kimura is always quick with a lesson (on oyster-shucking, knives, how to cut a pike eel, whatever); besides being an exquisite chef, he is also skilled in the art of Japanese flower-arranging (all arrangements in the restaurant are his). A true Renaissance man.
The Refectory - It might be old-school, but when it comes to classic French Cuisine, no one does it like the Refectory. The only place in the city where one can get a truly good slice of foie gras torchon. They have their own herb garden, which is fun to stand over and inhale during the summer.
Lunch
Flat Iron (129 E. Nationwide blvd) - A favorite I have never reviewed, strangely enough. Downtown nice lunch option with a New Orleans flavor - great gumbo, po' boys, and crawfish cakes. Good BBQ as well.
General Tso's - Oh the hotpot! Traditional American Chinese with some other Asian flavors thrown in as well, one of the best all-around lunches in town.
Ha Long Bay - Primarily Vietnamese in unfortunate far north location. Must try the Hot & Sour soup, the Summer rolls, and the Banh Xeo.
Lac Viet - North Market Vietnamese favorite is cheap and delicious. I can't imagine how many "number 9s" they must sell in a day (broken rice stick and rice with chicken). Service is fast and incredibly friendly.
Mi Mi Café - One of the best tiny ethnic spots to open this year, without a doubt. Amazing Vietnamese sandwiches and cooked-to-order soups and entrees. Very kind owner cooks and serves.
Taste of Bali (2548 Bethel Rd) - Another great lunch I never documented. Their $8 lunch deal is a steal, and you get to try a number of different tastes. The black rice pudding is hands-down the most memorable dessert I've eaten this year.
Late-Night/Casual Dining
8 Bar (N. High st. at Buttles in the Short North)- another newcomer to the Short North restaurant scene, 8 bar boasts Chef Ben Graham cooking up his comfort food favorites. Whimsical creations include swordfish fish sticks with tater tots and an outstanding mac 'n cheese with truffled mushrooms and breadcrumbs. Great selection of beers on draft, as well.
Burgundy Room (641 N. High st) - the only place in town to get a decent meal and a $15 glass of wine at midnight.
Press Grill - (N. High st Buttles in the Short North) Who doesn't crave a hamburger with a fried egg on top every once in awhile? Also good specials, such as $1 taco nights on Wednesdays.
the Rossi Bar - Rather expensive but good bar food; pizza is always a favorite of mine, particularly the Italian sausage with Giardinara combo.
Silla - Koren restaurant with Japanese influences and sushi bar serves until 2 am or later with a typically lively crowd of Karaoke singers. Worth it for the himachi kama and scallion pancakes.
Watering Holes
Eddie George's Grille (N. High at 9th ave on campus)- You've got to watch those non-televised games somewhere, so it might as well be on 100 flat-screen TVs. Reasonably priced beers with average food; popcorn shrimp are addictive.
MoJoe Lounge (N. High at Goodale on the 670 cap)- cozy fireplace for the winter and huge patio for the summer, lots of specialty cocktails and good selection of beer on tap. They don't carry Basil Hayden, however, which is a disappointment after a long night of work.
Rhumba Cafe (Summit at Hudson, south of Clintonville) - newcomer to the serious dearth of non-depressing watering holes in the Clintonville area; low cover charge with inexpensive beers and good (mellow) live music most nights of the week.
Spagio Cellars (Grandview Ave at 3rd)- Retail and drink-in wine shop with good pizzas and snacks. A nice, low-key evening where you can enjoy your $12 - $120 bottle of wine in peace. Besides, Jeni's Ice Cream is just a few doors down.
Farmers - Click for Farm Market Reports
Arbor Hill Organics - Worthington & Clintonville markets - the season for their coveted potatoes might be short, but it's worth the wait. My favorites are the lovely red thumbs with their pink flesh.
Cottage Gardens - North Market - one of the few farmers who grow shallots and shelling beans - cranberry beans, kidneys, and limas, as well as popcorn, which those of us living at Chez Widow cannot live without.
Elizabeth Telling - North Market - my CSA farmer and grower of interesting squash and green varieties. Sandy Sterrett is very well educated and willing to share her knowledge. The eggs are incredible.
Garden Patch/Good Start - Worthington - growers of a wide variety of produce, some hard-to-find things like okra, kale, and celery. Also carry good plants in the Springtime. Very prolific cherry tomato plants, in my experience.
Wayward Seed Farm - North Market - new to the market scene this year, Wayward is growing interesting things no one else grows, like heirloom radishes and good carrots. Also experimenting with their own smoked meats.
Producers
Curly Tail Organic Pork - Worthington Farmer's Market - great pork products, one of the first to become Organic, and probably the only place to find nitrate-free bacon. Good sausages, as well.
Oink Moo Cluck Farms - Worthington Farmer's Market - reasonably priced chicken, pork and beef, along with ears and bones for dogs, sausages, jerky, etc. They even offer delivery in the off-season.
Quiverfull Family Farm - North Market - local, organic wheat and cornmeal, freshly-milled. Their cornmeal makes outstanding polenta. Also grow oatmeal, barley and other grains.
Toby Run Growers - North Market - the best shitake mushrooms! Also grows beautiful oysters mushrooms.
Up the Lane Cattle - Worthington Market - A newcomer this year, reasonably priced grass and grain fed beef, sold out at the Worthington market in just a few weeks, so buy early.
Bakeries
Crescent Bakery (3368 Kenny Square) - Japanese bakery with good lunch buns and sweet options, especially love the curry buns.
Ichiban bakery - (1157 Kenny Square)Japanese bakery with my favorite strawberry cake. A wide selection of other cakes as well as savory steamed buns.
La Chatelaine (Old Worthington on High st. and on Lane Ave) - they didn't get a lunch nod, although they are a favorite lunch spot, good French pastries, especially the giant, puffy macaroons.
Omega Artisan Bakery (in the North Market) - Husband gets very cranky if he doesn't get one of their croissants on Saturday mornings after the farmer's markets. Also good breads - rather expensive, but worth it.
Pistachio (680N. Pearl) - High end baked goods, lovely cakes always impress for birthdays and the like. Small treats are expensive but whole cakes are on par with other bakeries.
Other Mentions
Jeni's Ice Creams (North Market and Grandview) Of course, no best-of list would be complete without a mention of Jeni's Ice Creams. Nothing makes my day like a bite of Jeni's Ice Creams. Fortunately (or unfortunately, for my waistline), we carry her ice cream in the restaurant where I work. While I don't typically advocate eating when stressed, there's nothing like the 15 seconds of calm I get while standing in the walk-in eating one teaspoonfull of Jeni's Dark Cocoa Gelato or Salty Caramel. It also nourishes the soul when you're sick almost as much as chicken soup (see below).
Barry's New York Deli (North Market) - I think I'm one of the only people who knows about the matzo ball soup at Barry's. At least, people always seem shocked to hear about it. Poor Barry, he only sees me when I'm sick and in need of his $2 (that's right, folks two dollars) cup of matzo ball soup. It comes in a 20 ounce styrofoam coffee cup, so you can walk around sipping the comforting broth for ahile before opening it up and sucking down the light and delicious matzo balls. His sandwiches are pretty good, too.
Maybe next year I'll add a deli best of. And a breakfast/brunch best of. If you know of any brunches, please let me know!
I'm sorry if I left out your favorite restaurant, but I'd love to hear about it. Please leave comments and let me know what you love - or hate.
