Why I Do What I Do
On the Dispatch's website this morning, I read the following quote in a story about chain restaurants invading Columbus like a swarm of locusts:
"At a time when consumers are being pinched by a slowing economy and many former restaurant buildings in Columbus stand vacant, the question is: What keeps the restaurants coming?
The experts' short answer: a national trend favoring chain restaurants, which have more marketing muscle than those that are independently owned . . ." (emphasis mine)
I could go on forever about why I don't like this, but instead, I thought maybe we could collectively list some of our favorite locally-owned restaurants, for readers who might be new to the area or are looking to support more local businesses.
What are your favorites?
M at Miranova
Rosendales
Jeni's
Omega Bakery
Tyfoon
Dragonfly
Refectory
Alana's
Kaya
Posted by: uhockey | Wednesday, April 09, 2008 at 08:32 PM
A couple of places that are off the beaten track and deserve some attention: Crater's on South High St. - some inventive dishes, inexpensive, great people; Bangkok Restaurant on Refugee Rd. just east of 33 - I know it looks seedy, but the food is good and I'm told it's the most authentic "mom & pop" Thai place in town; Phuong Hoang, 1270 Morse Road - Vietnamese; I was glad to see someone else mention Sparano's Pizza - they've expanded from their sole location on Hague Ave. to a second shop, this one in Grandview.
Posted by: Lisa | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Lots of good places already listed, so some of these have been mentioned, but a few of my favorites are:
Figlio's
City BBQ
Cap City
Nida's Sushi
Kaya
Tucci's (in Dublin)
Places I miss:
Lulu's
Soulvaki's Palace
Posted by: Tony | Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Florentine's!!! I could live on their salad, not to mention the homemade pasta. My husband loves their cheesecake, too.
Posted by: Amanda | Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 09:38 AM
My personal favorite is Anatolia Cafe, on Worthington Galena road--great Mediterranean food.
Posted by: Mike | Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Alana's
Surly Girl
Cuco's
Maca (great find in powell)
Hound Dog
Burgandy Room
MoJo Lounge on the Cap
Thai Taste
Hunan Lion
and there are more.. but thats enough for today :)
Posted by: Sarah | Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 08:01 AM
The Rossi is my favorite restaurant in the city. I'm really excited for their renovation and expansion, which should be complete in a week or so!
They have fantastic wine, great cocktails, incredible food and an ambiance that is redolent of New York or Washington DC. It's so great!
Posted by: Chris | Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Waaay too many posts have gone by without anyone mentioning Kihachi!
Posted by: Alex | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 11:06 PM
oh, so many...and so many I haven't even been to yet!
Figlio Arlington
Starliner Diner
Chile Verde
Cuco's
Figlio Grandview
Taj Palace
New India
Caio's
Did I mention Figlio?
My Big Fat Greek Kuzina
Chef-o-nette (Tremont Center)
La Marketa (Sullivant Ave)
Danny's (North Market)
Vino Vino (same owners as Figlio's. 'nuff said)
PS Thai Tai (King & Northstar, Grandview)
Alladin's Eatery (ok, technically a chain, but 16 of the 26 locations are in Ohio, so I"m going mostly local...)
Talita's (Yes, Talita's lives! In Grove City, used to be Frankie's Burritoville - Frankie Talita, that is...)
Sparano's Pizza
Eastern Bay (Chinese)
La Chatelaine
Posted by: Lorence | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 11:02 PM
New Chopsticks, Dublin
Posted by: Julana | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Is Benevolence still down by the North Market? I ate lunch there last February and it was lovely and wholesome! When I move back to Ohio in July, I'm also looking forward to:
- North Star
- Jeni's ice cream
- the Vietnamese place at the North Market
- the Vietnamese place on Hamilton Road between Main Street and Broad Street, East of Bexley - it's in a shopping plaza facing Hamilton, just north of the southwest corner of that intersection
(Sorry, I don't know the names of the two above - my friends have taken me there when I've been visiting, and they are awesome!)
- Billy Lee's on Broad Street in Bexley
Posted by: Jane | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Hang Over Easy is nice for OSU students on a budget. ZenCha's tea and brunch are AMAZING... The regular menu items aren't too shabby, either!
Apollo's, Buckeye Donuts, and Sicilia's are my favorite late-night are some of my favorite deliver dives.
Indian Kitchen is amazing Indian food; it's slightly less appealing at which to look, though.
Happy Greek (Gateway) is delicious; MadMex nighttime is CHEAP, and I love the slip into CupOJoe at Lennox Center after dinner/ before a movie.
Posted by: Brittany | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Had to run after three, earlier. Let's see. In addition to Alana's, the Refectory (awesome bistro menu!), and Rosendales, in no particular order, Basi, ZenCha (my vote for best brunch no one seems to know about!), TipTop, Cafe del Mondo, Barcelona, Burgundy Room (food flights -- great idea!), Jeni's, Northstar, L'Antibes, Diaspora, Pad Thai, Sun Tong Luck. I'm itching to try Black Creek Bistro, as well as a number of other places that probably should be on the list.
More off the beaten path or quirky picks: Creole Kitchen in Old Town East (amazing etoufee); Apollo's (people will throw things at me for this one -- it's a dive, but personally I think they have some amazing gyros); Press Grill (Press Burger and ale... mmm....)
Posted by: Bear | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 05:02 PM
I am an out-of-towner who wishes she could eat in Columbus more often as there are so many options.
Here is my list:
Jeni's
Lac Viet
North Market Poultry (name??)
Ha Long Bay
Ba Sho
Posted by: Jenn | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Barcelona
Tip Top
The Burgundy Room
El Arepazo
Indian Oven
Nida's Sushi
Lac Viet
Posted by: JoeV | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 01:29 PM
the banana bean cafe
moretti's
barcelona
peking dynasty
haiku (on a busy Friday night… love it!) and shoku (on Sundays so we can bring our own wine!)
pistachia vera
club 185
Posted by: stephanie | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 12:23 PM
So many of my fav's have already been mentioned, but I will highlight them again :)
Cuco's (my most favorite place in all of Columbus!! off of Henderson Rd. in UA)
Starliner Diner (Hilliard)
Tip Top (Downtown)
Barcelona (German Village)
Marshall's (Grandview)
Jeni's (all locations :))
Lac Viet (North Market)
Saigon Palace (downtown)
City BBQ (so it is a local chain... sue me :))
Bahn Thai Bistro (Henderson Rd again)
El Arepazo (downtown)
Happy Greek (short north)
Z Cucina (Grandview)
Yoshi's (Dublin)
I am sure I could come up with more if I tried... :) This list will be a great resource! You should post a roundup at the end :)
Posted by: Josie | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 11:46 AM
blue nile is super great. as is mr. sushi in gahanna--it's as good as the stuff i got in japan. then there's zen cha's brunch. what could be better than chai waffles???
i've moved to d.c., and i miss all the great restaurants (and prices!) all the time.
Posted by: Amanda | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Cuco's- Great food, service and very family friendly!
Sushiko at the Crossroads
Figlio's - Always take guests too, always consistant
Mrs. Goodmans Bakery in Worthington-Fantastic cupcakes and French Silk Pie
Golden Delight-Home of the Strawberry cake
Starliner Diner in Hillard
Eagles Pizza in New Albany
Indian Oven downtown-BEST in town ,hands down!
Chinaway-fast take out in Worthington
Posted by: Nemis | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Oh, forgot to mention - any of the places on Dine Originals Columbus (http://www.dineoriginalscolumbus.com/). They're having an event on May 1st, which is a great way to get a taste of what the independents have to offer and to support a great charity too. Plus on the Dine Originals web site, you can get discounted gift certificates for participating restaurants. Can't beat that deal with a stick. :)
Posted by: Columbus Foodie | Monday, March 31, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Oh, so so many.
Johnnie's Tavern on Trabue. Mi Mi Cafe and Nazareth Deli at Columbus Square. Betty's and Surly Girl in the Short North. Restaurant Silla at Reed and Henderson. The Refectory (love love the Bistro menu). Too many more to mention.
Posted by: Columbus Foodie | Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Just living here for a year and a half, I already have so many local favorites; Columbus is really a wonderful, wonderful city for great food and ambiance.
So, here goes:
Basi Italia - I adore the cornflour dusted eggplant parmesan
Betty's (and all related establishments: Surly Girl, Tip Top) - First restaurant I went to in Columbus and still one of my absolute favorites. I have never ordered anything I didn't like there.
Jeni's - A scoop of Backyard Mint and one of Cocoa Zin, please. My friend from Chicago asked to come back to Jeni's TWICE during her visit here.
Buckeye Donuts - Being frequently stuck on OSU's campus, my favorite late night and Sunday morning go-to for fresh Buttermilk cake doughnuts.
North Star Cafe - Looking forward to heading over for a veggie burger and some cookies on my birthday on Thursday. Not a breakfast food sort of girl but their pancakes are the best I've ever eaten.
Posted by: Amy Gee | Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Alana's. Refectory. Rosendale's.
Posted by: Bear | Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Here are my votes, in no particular order:
1)Dragonfly. Worth a visit for the lavender gimlet alone. Chef Magdiale Wolmark is a genius, and his wife, Cristin is an uber-welcoming host.
2)Basi Italia. To start your meal, try the sauteed zucchini topped with pecorino and Marcona almonds.
3)Mac's. My favorite burger in town.
4)Dosa Corner. (My favorite for south Indian takeout -- it's on Old Henderson Rd.)
5)Tip Top. Their green bean and goodness salad gets me through my workdays.
Posted by: Renee | Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Black Creek Bistro -- Just went there for the first time last week and it was amazingly good. The short ribs were many times better than Rosendale's for two-thirds of the price.
Northstar -- I am in deep and abiding love with the ham and cheese scones.
Jeni's -- Spoiling me for ice cream everywhere since 1997
Omega Artisan Bakery -- My husband is addicted to the cinnamon rolls, I am addicted to the olive nuggets, the turbante, and the specialty butters.
I'll second Club 185 -- Go there on Thursdays for Beef on Weck day.
Posted by: Libby | Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 07:37 PM