So. The Other Paper came out with their readers' picks of best places in Columbus. The Alive did it a few months ago. It's something both papers do every year and every year it leaves me scratching my head. Clearly, their readers need to get out more. It has only been in the past few years that Bucca di Beppo has edged out the Olive Garden for the city's best Italian. Seriously?! That's embarrassing
So, I thought I'd get us started on a "best of" of our own. Please feel free to argue and add in your own faves. I have left a few blank where I have no idea whatsoever. I am not ashamed to admit that I copied this list directly from TOP's website. A few categories have been deleted because my 14 year old niece reads this, for the love of crumb cake.
Best Asian: Best Asian seems like kind of a broad category. So I'm dividing it up.
Best Japanese: Kihachi
Best Vietnamese: Mi Mi Cafe
Best Chinese: hm. Probably not the best in the city, but I eat lots of Coco's
Best Asian Fusion: Indochine (primarily Vietnamese & Cambodian)
Best Thai: again, probably not the best in the city, but I eat lots of PS Tai Thai
Best Brunch: Sage American Bistro
Best Wine List: Alana's
Best Greek: The Pita Hut. I'm totally addicted. The schwarma, the falafel, the HUMMUS.
Best Italian: Giuseppe's
Best Mexican: Cuco's. I'm also fond of the taco cart on 5th Ave just East of Neil,
Best French: the Refectory
Best Indian: There's this really great Indian buffet on Polaris. Just give me a second to remember the name. (hm. still can't remember or find it on Google. It's at the corner of Polaris & Sancus)
Best Vegetarian: Dosa Corner
Best Steakhouse: The Top, of course! Yum.
Best Seafood: G. Michael's, best scallops in Cbus, I promise.
Best BBQ: Although I do find it to be hit or miss, I'll have to go with the rest of the city on this and give it to City BBQ; although there's this place in Hilliard I've heard a lot about.
Best Farmer's market: Again, I'll agree: the North Market. But of course, you know I also love Pearl Alley, Clintonville, and Worthington.
Best Pizza: No contest, bonoTOGO. Although, see below:
Best 2 a.m. food: Hounddog's is our go-to late-night delivery
Best Deli: Brown Bag
Best Bakery: Pistachia Vera
Best Wings: Barley's - extra grilled, please
Best Subs: Um, okay, as much as I hate to have a chain in here, I really, really love Potbelly. Italian on Wheat with loads of hot peppers.
Best Dessert: any flavor of macaron from pistachia Vera is the best $1 spent in the city.
Best Ice Cream: Seriously? Jeni's.
Best Burger: Rigsby's & the Rossi (it's a tie, but the Rossi has another category)
Best French Fries: Rosendale's
Best Pub Grub: Betty's. I actually think the fish 'n chips @ Old Bag are quite terrible. Good fish & chips can be found at Brazenhead, the last time I checked.
Best Greasy Spoon: Jack & Benny's
Best Beer Selection: Tip Top
Best Sushi: Kikyo
Best Place to Lunch: The last time Husband & I had lunch at Cbus's fave, Northstar (which was this past week), it was $33. No lie. the best place for lunch in Cbus is El Arepazo.
Best Coffeehouse: I refrain from comment.
Best Small Plates/Appetizers: we agree again: the Burgundy Room.
Best New Restaurant: Sage
Best Overall Eats/Drinks: the Rossi
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Best Festival: Asian Festival. Comfest is fine but it's too crowded these days.
Best Art Gallery: Is it okay if I've never actually been in and just gaze at it through the windows? Rivet. I love that stuff.
Best Place to Hear Poetry: As a girl with an English degree, I think I am forbidden from letting my true feelings about poetry be know.
Best Place to See Comedy: The only comedy I've really seen lately is Lisa Lampenelli at the Palace.
Best Local Band: Absolutely no opinion. I'm probably not as in tune with local music as I should be. Although, my friend Barry has a band called Main Street Gospel, so let's go with them.
Best Local Record Label: I think it's pretty cool we even have record labels.
Best Local Dance Company: I really only know BalletMet?
Best Museum: Columbus Museum of Art. I don't think it gets enough credit.
Best Cinema: I also like the Arena Grand, but hey people at the Other Paper? the Drexel doesn't own it anymore, so I don't think you can call them brethren.
Best Charity Event:
Best Theater/Performance Space: I like the Southern. Of course, the Ohio Theatre is the best, but it always gets the attention.
Best Theater Company: Let's go for my friend Kevin and his Carrickmacross Productions.
SPORTS/ FITNESS
I pretty much have no opinion here. Feel free to leave your comments.
Best Local Sports Team: can it be someone other than the buckeyes? Please? OH! I know! The Roller Girls!!
Best Sports Arena:
Best Martial Arts Studio:
Best Yoga: Yoga on High won the city vote; the lasts time I was there someone sat directly in front of me and flashed me their coin slot for an entire hour. And it was another food writer.
Best 5K/ Marathon Event: let's go for the Marathon. I have friends who run in it.
Best Place to Jog: jogging. Ha.
Best Bowling Lanes: I'm a really bad bowler, which makes me a pain to go bowling with. I peter out after like 4 frames.
Best Gym/ Sports Facility: I'll agree here - I used to be a member of Lifetime, but it became too expensive and too far away for me to pay to not go every month. Now I pay to not go to Victory.
Best Bike Shop: I'll vote for Bike Source, even though they laughed at me when I asked if I could buy a basket for my new bike.
Best Bike Path: Is there more than one?
Best Public Golf Course: There's no golf in the Widow household.
PEOPLE
Best Local Politician:I'll agree with Mr. Coleman, and I do believe he has been tipped off regarding his tipping habit, because I wait on him frequently and he always tips 20%.
Best Local Artist:
Best Self-Promoter: Cameron Mitchell
Best Coach: I'll agree with Jim Tressel, because I have a little crush on him.
Best Buckeye:
Best Blue Jacket:
Best Crew Member:
Best Clipper:
Best Local Actor:
Best Local Actress:
Best Local Comedian:
Best Sound Guy:
Best Local Columnist: I'll agree: Mike Harden, although I rarely read the Dispatch
Best Sports Reporter: I rarely watch local news.
Best TV Weatherman: see above
Best Overall Local Celeb: Jeff Smith!!
MEDIA
Best Blog: hello? Restaurant Widow, of course.
Best Radio: I'll go with CD101, even though I listen to way more NPR, I'm not completely happy with any of our public radio stations.
Best Local Newscast: I hardly watch the news, but I'll have to go with Channel 10 even though Angela Pace isn't in front of the camera anymore. Also I like Jerry & Andrea. And their website doesn't have any annoying popups like Channel 4 does.
DAYLIFE
Best Park: North Bank
Best Neighborhood: Have to stick with the hood here, and go with SoHud, even though the High street part of it kind of looks like a war zone right now. We're going to have to work on that.
Best Boating/Watersports: I'd really like it if we could rent peddle boats or kayaks at North Bank.
Best Employer: Anyone who pays me to work in my jammie pants.
Best House of Worship: bed
Best Zoo Exhibit: Kangaroos
Best Salon: Anyone who knows me knows I don't really go to a salon, but my friend and former tiny-adopter Jessie works there, so I'm going to agree with Lucky 13
Best Spa: a what now?
Best Waterpark: No one gets to see this waitress in a bathing suit.
Best Car Wash: we have an old, paid off silver car so we don't have to make use of a Car Wash.
NIGHTLIFE
Best Nightclub/Dancing: Hm. I miss the garage.
Best Live Music Club:
Best Sports Bar: Gallo's. They rock. A great beer selection and the Steelers on a giant screen.
Best Gay Bar: attention TOP - it's not Union Station anymore, it's Union. I can't really vote here, because the last time I was at Union, I felt uncomfortable. Some girls started making fun of me in the bathroom, bringing up painful middle school memories. I try to avoid situations where I can't wash my hands in peace. I used to work at Union Station once upon a time, so before you go thinking I'm homophobic, you probably don't know me very well. I've waited on boys wearing leather and chain halters. I suppose I've aged out of the hip gay bar scene. Most of the people I knew back in the day are old coupled homebodies just like me.
Best Pub: St. James Tavern - cheap yummy beer and a super cool owner
Best Singles Bar: I am terrified of Park Street on the weekends. Seriously. Terrified.
Best Campus Bar: Fortunately I have absolutely no idea.
Best German Village Bar: Thurman.
Best Grandview Bar: yikes, Grandview Cafe won? Their staff was really rude to me and my friends when we happened upon their karaoke night, which is apparently members-only. We weren't looking to butt in, just wanted a beer. So I'll have to say Brazenhead.
Best Downtown Bar: I agree: Tip Top
Best Clintonville Bar: O'Reilly's.
Best Short North Bar: The Rossi
Best Happy Hour: Hyde Park, hands down. They have the best bartenders who never scowl at me when Husband and I roll in wearing non-brand name jeans and raggedy tee shirts. Their crabmeat cocktail is $14 very, very well spent. And the girly cocktails are a bargain for 4 measly dollars. Beware; they taste like juice, but they sneak up on you. Plus, watching the Patrick-Bateman actalikes is really fun for me.
Best Billiards: I am as terrible at billiards as I am at bowling. Nonetheless, I suppose St. James because it isn't completely terrible when I'm there watching other people play pool.
Best Jukebox: St. James.
Best Showbar: I agree: Shadowbox. Although if we had a real cabaret, I mean with big ladies singing and wearing feather boas, I'd totally go.
Best Patio: Lindey's
Best DJ: I'm old.
Best Open Mike: YIKES.
Best Comedy Night: I didn't even know Surly Girl had comedy night. I'll have to start checking this out.
Best Dive Bar: You'll have to get to the 'burbs for this one, but it's hands down the Ruckmoor north of 270.
Best Blues Club: I wish I knew. Don't say Thirsty Ear because it is ear-splittingly loud in there and I can't stand that.
Best Jazz Bar: I don't have the patience for jazz. Call me crazy.
Best Country Bar: um, what?
Best Karaoke Night: no.
Best New Bar: I think it technically opened last year, but Rhumba Cafe in SoHud wins for opening the first bar in the Clintonville area that doesn't make you want to slide into a black hole.
Best Overall Bar: the Rossi.
COMMERCE/ TRADE
Best Mall: Easton, I suppose. However, the Polaris area has my favorite place in the world - Costco
Best Boutique for men: Tigertree
Best Boutique for women: Tigertree. I love Tigertree. If I'm every feeling like I need a little perking up, I know I can go into Tigertree and buy myself a treat for under $30. Usually a handbag. On Paper is a close second.
Best Jewelry: I'll agree - the Diamond Cellar, because that's where my platinum emerald-cut engagement ring came from, and besides the rings in my traguses, it's usually the only jewelry I wear.
Best Bookstore: yay! I love the Book Loft. Although, I get a little claustrophobic in there, and I'm the sort of weirdo that always has to have their escape route planned, and the thought of a first starting while you are shopping in there can make your knees feel a little shaky.
Best Grocery: Weiland's, followed by Carfagna's.
Best Lingerie: Hm. Lately I'm a big fan of the new Hanes 360 stretch line at Target.
Best Wine Shop: Spagio Cellars
Best Record Shop: Magnolia, of course. Since I was 15
Best Accessories: ooh! Tigertree, again.
Best Dance Studio: Those guys who own the ballroom dancing studio in Grandview are always a treat for the eyes. They're fabulous.
Best Electronics: hm. Ebay.
Best Organic Food Store: I suppose Whole Foods, even though I should probably say Raisin Rack, but I haven't been there.
Best Place to Buy Buckeye Gear: There is no buckeye gear in the Widow household, unless you count chocolate and peanut butter.
Best Car Dealership: Our Honda came from Honda East. Although, I love MAG because I'm a VW girl at heart.
Best Mechanic/Garage: Hugh White Honda downtown always fixes my flats for cheap and they are nice to me.
Best Garden Store: Hopefully Weiland's will have their outdoor garden center back next year.
Best Sporting Goods: I've never shopped there, but I got a very nice email from Clintonville Outfitters, so let's go with them. They're close by.
Best Home/Garden:I really have to say, I really love Lowe's a lot.
Best Furniture Store: Costco
Best Shoe Store: Hm. Whoever sells Danskos and Simples. They're pretty much all I wear.
Best Place to Buy Jeans: I'm cheap. Old Navy.
Best Dry Cleaners: Spring Cleaners. They are the best. Last year I took my down comforter in after a cat puked on it. They told me it was going to be $18, which was fine. But when I went to pick it up, the owner said "Oh, it's only $13. The guy who took it thought it was a comforter, but it's really more of a blanket." Rock on, customer service. Those guys are the best.
Best Apartment Complex:
Best Bank Credit Union:
Best Green Company: Sure, I'll go with COSI.
Best Tattoo: I'll agree with High Street Tattoo, although they haven't given me any tattoos personally, they've given my friend Matt loads of great ink. And one of these days, I totally plan to go there for the tattoo I've been thinking about . . . (oh mom, I'm an old grown up!)
Best Thrift Shop:
PLACES
Best Arts/Entertainment district: Yep, the Short North
Best Building Downtown: I also like the LeVeque Tower
Best View: North Bank Condominiums
Best Date Spot That's€™s not Dinner, a Movie or a Bar: Franklin Park Conservatory
Best Place for Couples: in the kitchen.
Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners: The North Market
Best Place to Walk Your Dog:
Best Place to Say “I "I do"€:
Best Place in Ohio for a Daytrip: Yellow Springs
Best Place to Let Your Kids Run Wild:
MISCELLANEOUS
Best Scandal:
Best Use of Taxpayer Money: I'll agree with bike paths, although later COTA service would be nice for next year please
Best Waste of Taxpayer Money: I agree. Streetcars. Give me a break. As a good friend of mine once said "screw streetcars! The best thing that ever happened to this city was Skybus. Bring Skybus back!"
Best Kept Secret: I'll agree with this - Columbus itself.
Best Thing That Hane's€™t Been Mentioned: Best new additions to the local Columbus Food Scene: Blue Jacket Creamery.
