I truly cannot say enough good things about Columbus.
It is an easy going yet active city with so much to offer. Summers are filled with farmer's markets and outdoor concerts. Every neighborhood has a unique and charming downtown area with local shops and outdoor patios. The parks are clean and perfect for running all times of the years. The fall brings out football excitement. And the winters are pretty unpredictable, but nevertheless filled with ways to embrace some holiday cheer.
In the past year, I have come to love quite a few restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries. My love language is quality time. So whenever I have an opportunity to catch up with a friend or host a loved-one in town, we have to catch up over a meal or a slice of cake.
Here are some of my favorite places in Columbus and the reasons why! I will continue to update the photos of my favorite dishes and meals with my favorite people.
My favorite place in town, by far! This restaurant is a health food restaurant with a causal vibe, perfect for brunch, dinner, or happy hour. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is that their happy hour goes from 5-7PM Monday through Friday. That is one of the latest HH's you will find in town! The $5 glasses of wine, discounted appetizers, and variety of fresh juice mock-tails could fill you up before you think about ordering a meal. The menu is thoughtfully designed with dietary restrictions in mind, combining power foods and whole grains into delicious plates. My favorite menu item is the Ancient Grains Salad with a piece of salmon. Other friends adore the Pad Thai with chicken. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! I highly recommend a seat on the patio!
A cute and beautiful high-end steakhouse in Historic German Village. The patio is probably one of the most sought after seats in the city. The menu changes seasonally and the deserts are to die for. I have enjoyed fresh pesto pasta on one occasion and butternut squash risotto on another. I spent my 27th birthday here with some friends. If dining inside, I would recommend business casual attire (at the least). The outdoor patio is a little more casual, but also does not take reservations. Plan accordingly and enjoy your meal.
The cutest market in Upper Arlington! It is a specialty market, providing an extensive selection of wine, cheeses, and produce. The front of the restaurant hosts a wine/coffee bar. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. If dining in, I would recommend taking a stroll of the store before or after eating. Some of my favorite finds there include the fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and bakery focaccia. In the summer, they have the most adorable patio with frozen drinks and table service. Some of my favorite eats on the menu for summer 2024 have been the grilled fish sandwich and the burrata appetizer. There are also $25 mini gluten free birthday cakes available for sale that are adorable and delicious.
Adorable little coffee shop with 2 locations - one in German Village and the other closer to OSU campus at Open Air. I love to try their seasonal lattes and their egg sandwich. The German Village location has limited seating inside, but I would recommend a takeout order and a stroll to Schiller park.
Coffee and pastries, anyone?!? I once went to this bakery when it opened at 7am and the smells were incredible. Some of my favorite menu items here are the blueberry scone and the egg sandwich. The line will form out the door on Sunday mornings, so plan accordingly. There are multiple locations in town - my favorite is the one in Italian Village.
Northstar is a fast-casual health conscious restaurant with one of the best veggie burgers in town! I have never had a bad meal from here. Their rotating menu includes items like sweet black bean and chicken chili, pad thai, buddha bowl, and wood stone oven pizzas. They also serve a fantastic brunch which is where I refueled after my first Columbus Half Marathon in October 2023.
Brassica is owned by the same company as Northstar. I would consider it like the Mediterranean version of Chipotle, but better (sorry, Chipotle!). They make hummus bowls, salads, and pita wraps customized to your liking with a variety of meats, vegetables, and savory toppings. My favorite salad has brown rice, falafel, pickled cabbage, baba ganoush, roasted cauliflower, and special sauce - plus a few other toppings depending on my mood! The tahini chocolate chip cookie is also a fan favorite, if you haven't filled yourself up enough with your meal! Yum!
IMO best pizza in town. But I will say that it is the "fancier" of the pizzas in town. There are multiple locations which do not accept reservations, but have a full service bar to enjoy a drink while you wait for your table. I have gone there multiple times with my friends and those who eat gluten free will definitely appreciate their crust. All of the locations have a very casual vibe with great drinks and seats at the bar. My dad and I went to visit the Dublin location in Fall 2023. We split the kale caesar salad and a butternut squash season pizza. We loved both and cleaned our plates! Now every time I go, I must order the kale salad to share.
Either you are Jeni's fan or a Graeters' fan in Columbus. Honestly, I still feel like there is room to be both. Jeni's is all about the experience. They have seasonal flavors for the simplest or boldest of tastes! You can appreciate the smell of their crisp waffle cone when you open the door. My favorite flavor combination is a scoop of "brambleberry crisp" and a scoop of "salted peanut butter with chocolate flecks" on a waffle cone. A beautiful peanut butter and jelly (ish) combination. Other signature flavors include "gooey butter cake" and "brown butter almond brittle". I would highly encourage a stop at one of their shops, which are located throughout the country but originated in Columbus, OH!
This was one of my very first finds in Columbus. It is locally owned and has such an authentically homey feel to it. They have a menu which consists of breakfast, lunch/dinner, and dessert. They are open late in the evenings to stop in for an after dinner snack or wine/chocolate pairing. BTW, the lemon blueberry cake is TO DIE FOR. Must visit the location in Upper Arlington!
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