For the past three years, we’ve kept our “Best Restaurant” category very simple, without dividing it into 100 different cuisine sub-genres. While that keeps our survey a manageable size, it has left a lot of room to be desired for properly recognizing all of the great places that Columbus has to offer. So this year, we’ve split the category in two for “everyday” restaurants and for “fine dining“.
We didn’t place any sort of hard definition on “everyday” restaurant, expecting those taking our reader survey to tell us what it meant individually. For the most part, it created a list of eateries in the affordable/mid-range level with a focus on unique, local and independently-owned places.
At the top of the list, you’ll find The Northstar Cafe, a Short North original that expanded to other locations in Beechwold and Easton Town Center. Northstar is known for their use of high quality ingredients and a menu that spans from breakfast to dinner, and coffee to cocktails.
The Top 10 Everyday Restaurants of 2011:
- Northstar Cafe
- Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails
- Betty’s Fine Food and Spirits
- Skillet
- Surly Girl Saloon
- The Rossi
- Nida’s Thai on High
- Knead
- Old Mohawk
- The Jury Room
Flashback: Best Restaurant of 2010 – Alana’s
Flashback: Best Restaurant of 2009 – Alana’s
Flashback: Best Restaurant of 2008 – Alana’s