Finally, finally, Columbus has its own Restaurant Week!! From March 9th through the 15th, all 42 restaurants who are members of Dine Originals Columbus will feature a prix fix dinner for either $15 or $30.
*Here's a little lecture: I just want to make a little note about eating at locally-owned, independent restaurants. It's a really hard business, and they typically have little to fall back on when times our lean. As we enter this time of "economic uncertainty" (aren't you tired of that phrase? I know I am), we have the opportunity to support the little guys. Just something to think about before you stand in line 2 hours to eat at the blech-cake factory.*
This is your chance to dine in one of your favorite restaurant without taking the risk of breaking the bank. The menus are starting to pop up on the Dine Originals website, and they are varied. Many of the menus give you the option of a fish or meat choice, along with a salad or appetizer and dessert. Some restaurants with lighter menus include beer or wine with a salad and entree. I plan to take full advantage of restaurant week because, well, restaurants are typically slow this time of year and in this economy, some of them are even slower, and even foodblogging waitresses need a cheap meal every once in awhile. It's really hard to look through the menus and try to decide which restaurant we should try - a new spot or an old favorite? Some place we haven't been in awhile? Oh, the agony of decisions. Would that I had the stamina to try 2 restaurants in one night!! Hmmmm.
From the menus currently posted, here are some highlights (to me, anyway: (the links go to the restaurant's Restaurant Week menu, a pdf)
Alana's offers a choice of Lamb Bolo or Risotto - they're risotto is always amazing, and the Mexican Chocolate Pecan tarte they're offering for dessert, well, I've had one in the past 24 hours and it was nothing short of amazing.
The Burgundy Room in the Short North offers a $15/person menu which includes a spinach salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette and for an entree, one of my all-time faves - cornmeal crusted walleye!
Barcelona offers a tapas tasting menu with 7 courses for $30/person. The selections will change daily and include a glass of sangria!
Basi Italia offers their famous Monday night special for a special price - spaghetti & meatballs for $15/person. I can attest to the deliciousness of this meal, trust me.
Betty's will offer a two-course menu along with a beer or glass of wine! Betty's might actually be one of those places which I could hit if I were going to do 2 places in a day, being that they serve food until 2am. This makes them a favorite for those in the restaurant business.
G. Michael's, one of my absolute favorite spots in the city (yes, I used to work there) has a seared scallop for an option as an appetizer (everyone knows they have the best scallops in the city), and highlights from the entree menu include the throw-concerns-about-cholesterol-to-the-wind Chorizo Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Short Ribs (yes, you read that right) and a stuffed pork chop with bourbon caramel sauce. When I worked at G. Michael's, on of my favorite post-shift treats was a bowl of Chef Chef's amazing grits smothered in bourbon caramel sauce. And I weighed less then than I do now, so they can't be that bad for you!
The Inn at Cedar Falls has one of my favorites - flatiron steak - on the menu, and it's a little off the beaten path for us Central Ohians.
Katzinger's has a great option for a steal of a price - a flight of corned beef sandwiches (3 for each person), along with their great potato salad, a fudgie brownie, and of course, a trip to the pickle barrel.
The Rectory offers their yummy goat cheese salad and shoulder filet with their amazing cardamom sauce (we had that dish on our wedding day - everyone say "awwwwww).
Shaw's Restaurant and Inn offers a lunch menu featuring mini burgers, and a dinner menu with macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi!
The Tip Top offers their traditional comfort favorites with a choice of beef or veggie pot roast, and a dessert option of their great fruit pies. Is it just me or does the very thought of a fruit pie make you happy?
Tutto Vino offers a flight of cheeses!
The Wildflower Cafe will be serving up steak or bourbon glazed salmon (bourbon is a magic word on a menu for yours truly) for $15.
The Worthington Inn has a lunch burger, a dinner "discovery" menu, and, get this - a $15 elegant brunch!
I will add more highlights as menus become available. You can see the list of menus here.
