The suburbs, so the stereotype goes, are filled with strip malls and chain restaurants. And while it’s true that plenty of both do exist in Columbus’ suburban neighborhoods, there are restaurant gems to be found if you look beyond the glowing fast food signs.
101 Beer Kitchen
7509 Sawmill Road — Dublin
397 Stoneridge Lane — Gahanna
The menu at 101 Beer Kitchen changes seasonally, but always spotlights hand-crafted items designed to pair with craft beers. And don’t worry if your beer knowledge doesn’t extend much further than Miller Lite vs. Miller High Life—the friendly servers are trained to educate guests on the “joys of food and beer,” and can give reliably great pairing suggestions.
Chile Verde
4852 Sawmill Road — Northwest Columbus
1522 Gemini Place — Polaris
This pair of casual, friendly restaurants celebrates the unique fusion of Native American, American pioneer and Latino flavors found in New Mexico. Try the Green Chile Stew, Stacked Enchiladas and Navajo Tacos served on authentic Navajo flatbread to experience Chile Verde’s spin on New Mexican cuisine.
Ella Bistro
266 East Main Street — New Albany
A destination restaurant well worth the drive to New Albany, Ella specializes in straight-forward American comfort food. The menu is seasonal, with a focus on local, freshly harvested ingredients. Must-try dishes: the Polenta Fries starter and the Steak Frites.
Local Roots
15 East Olentangy Street — Powell
This cozy spot is a locally sourced, farm-to-plate restaurant situated is historic downtown Powell. You’ll find scratch-made comfort food, popular pizzas and creative entrees on the wide-ranging menu. A big draw is live local music on the patio during the warmer months.
Mozart’s Cafe
4784 N. High Street — Clintonville
The owners of Mozart’s, a longtime Clintonville favorite, moved to Columbus from Austria in 1995 with a dream to bring a taste of Vienna to their new neighborhood. Customers love the relaxed European cafe feel, which encourages lingering over coffee and artisanal pastries. Try the Veal Wiener Schnitzel with buttered spatzle, prepared in the traditional Viennese style.
Nicola Restaurant & Bar
4740 Reed Road — Northwest Columbus
This delightful Italian restaurant tucked into an Arlington-area strip mall serves rustic Tuscan fare from Executive Chef Nicola Bedalli, who moved to the U.S. from Siena, Tuscany. Nicola grew up making pasta in his father-in-law’s restaurant, and you won’t find his style of handmade pasta anywhere else in Columbus.
The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro
1092 Bethel Road — Northwest Columbus
This highly lauded French restaurant has long been touted as the city’s finest dining experience. Chef Richard Blondin’s inspired and beautiful French cuisine is served in a restored former church on the Northwest Side.
The Top Steakhouse
2891 East Main Street — Bexley/Eastmoor
All the best things about The Top have stayed the same since the Bexley restaurant first opened in 1955—the charbroiled steaks, the mid-century decor and the jovial piano bar atmosphere. This is the place to head when the stresses of today’s crazy world start to get to you.
Worthington Inn
649 High Street — Worthington
History, elegance and fine dining all rolled into one? Yes, please. Enjoy sustainable, seasonal cuisine in the restored inn’s stately Victorian-style dining rooms. The dinner menu boasts “local, fresh, natural” fare, while the Inn’s weekend brunch has become a Columbus institution.
Veritas Tavern
15 E. Winter Street — Delaware
You’ll have to drive about 25 miles out of Downtown to find the restaurant that’s ranked high on the city’s top-10 restaurants lists since the year it opened. It’s well worth the drive. At Veritas, Chef Joshua Dalton’s small plates menu offers an accessible and enjoyable introduction to cutting-edge modern cooking techniques.
Dine Originals Columbus celebrates, supports and promotes the culinary diversity that locally owned and operated member restaurants contribute to the identity and culture of our city. The nonprofit group is committed to strengthening the local economy and enriching the community through education and charitable partnerships.
Dine Originals Week is back Monday April 11-Sunday, April 17! Columbus’s original restaurant week celebrates the best in local dining with original prix-fixe menus at the city’s best independent restaurants. Visit DineOriginalsColumbus.com for a full list of participating restaurants and to browse the lunch and dinner menus.
For more information, visit www.dineoriginalscolumbus.com.