The date is looming closer for the Hilton Columbus Downtown’s second tower to make its debut, and with it, three new bar and restaurant concepts.
Rising 28 stories at 401 N. High St., the new wing of the hotel will include wood-fired grill FYR, classic, Midwestern-focused Spark, and rooftop lounge Stories on High.
At the helm of the Hilton’s new dining experiences is Executive Chef Sebastian La Rocca. The Argentinian-born chef, who has worked in some notable and honored kitchens across the world, brings a list of accolades to Columbus including nabbing a spot on San Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Discoveries list in 2021. Most recently working in Puerto Rico, La Rocca will trade the tropics for all four seasons as he brings his family to Central Ohio. He’s attracted to the region for the same reasons many are – he sees it as a great place to raise his daughter. He also sees an opportunity to put Columbus on the culinary map.
“I wanted to challenge myself; see what’s next in my career,” he says.
Feeling himself reaching the roof in Puerto Rico, La Rocca sees Columbus as a blank canvas, a place where everything hasn’t been done before, where he can create an experience that makes some noise in the culinary world.
FYR will feel familiar to the chef as he calls it a 2.0 version of one of his previous restaurants. Serving as the hotel’s signature dining experience, the two-story restaurant will seat 200 plus guests and be accessible via High Street.
Diners can expect a menu of smoke- and fire-kissed dishes from the kitchen’s wood-fired grill. There will be pizzas, but La Rocca also plans to incorporate dishes that speak to his Argentinian roots, giving Columbus something new to nosh on.
Lobby-level bar and restaurant Spark will offer a more casual dining experience, seating around 100 guests. La Rocca calls it a good place to catch a game or post up after work, with a more Midwestern menu featuring burgers and sandwiches, plus cocktails and local beers and spirits.
Atop the tower, Stories on High will take the crown as the tallest rooftop bar in Columbus. To pair with its 360-degree skyline views, Stories on High will offer a Japanese-influenced menu with sushi, yakitori, small plates and more. Cocktails will be the star of the drink menu along with an extensive wine selection. Inside, Stories on High will seat 120, with room for nearly another 100 guests across its two outdoor terraces.
The Hilton’s kitchens might also see some guests as La Rocca hopes to collaborate with both local and international chefs. Through his accolades, La Rocca says he has connections to many celebrity chefs, and is already starting to forge connections in Central Ohio.
In addition to the three restaurants La Rocca will oversee, the expansion project will also house The Market, a grab-and-go option with sandwiches, salads and other sundries that has direct access to the hotel and the Convention Center. With the new restaurants, the Hilton’s existing eatery, Gallerie Bar & Bistro, will transition into a private banquet, reception and event space.
A project three years in the making, the new tower and restaurants are expected to open in late August and hiring is underway. When it opens, the Hilton will the be the largest capacity hotel in the state, adding 463 rooms for a total of 1,000 plus rooms across the new and existing space.
For more information, visit hiltoncolumbusdowntown.com.
