Columbus Dining Guide Feed

Restaurant review: Cafe Corner

By G.A. Benton — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:34:39 GMT

What the hell kind of miscreant would gobble up tacos for breakfast? My kind, of course, especially if they're the simple yet glorious egg and chorizo tacos made by Cafe Corner. Wait, let me amend that to say the award-winning breakfast tacos made by Cafe Corner.

Table Talk: Neighbor’s Deli

By Gary Seman Jr. — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:48:30 GMT

The way Jon Snyder figures it, what he likes, most people will enjoy.

Lucky $13: Skillet Rustic Urban Food

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:59:19 GMT

Brunch review: Skillet Rustic Urban Food

G.A. Benton — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:07:15 GMT

When Skillet swung open its doors, I was so thrilled with its muscular and brilliant cooking that I overlooked its minor inconveniences.

Easy Columbus: Sloopy's Diner Sandwich Club

Rachel Sova — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:43:04 GMT

American diners have a long tradition of naming favorite dishes in honor of Hollywood stars. "The Elvis" is one well-known example. Fictional TV diners have served cleverly named entrees like the Laverne and Curly Fries ("Friends") and the Ike and Tina Tuna ("Arrested Development").

Lunch Money: Zuppa Downtown

Shelley Mann — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:35:27 GMT

Zuppa is the Italian word for soup, and this popular lunch place serves up some great, made-in-house soups. But that's not the reason I go there.

Menu: The year in dining

G.A. Benton — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:22:19 GMT

As 2009 prepares to hang the "closed" sign on its 365-day notched door and 2010 gets ready to open up shop, I thought it was an appropriate time to take a mini-inventory of some of last year's more prominent restaurant openings and closings. What follows is not an exhaustive list, but it did make me feel exhausted just looking over all the terrific new food I tried and all the old friends I'll surely miss.

Lunch Money: Flavors Eatery

Shelley Mann — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:09:24 GMT

Despite being home to Capital University, Bexley doesn't have too many places that could be described as college hangouts. Flavors is a notable exception.

A La Carte: Phat Wraps

G.A. Benton — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:22:17 GMT

What do you get when you smartly combine the following: a very green-leaning, veggie-friendly, locally owned business that also grills up a couple of brazenly flavored lean animal proteins; a super fresh salad-y bar with an enticing array of approximately 15 items flaunting lots of banh-mi-appropriate Asian accents; and a battalion of potent, mostly hot-saucey and barbecuey condiments?

Lunch Money: Tasi Cafe

Shelley Mann — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:27:06 GMT

Anyone who goes to lunch at Tasi is putting in some effort.

Lunch Money: Broad Street Bagels & Deli

Shelley Mann — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Broad Street Bagels & Deli sits in a building that's adjacent to the Alive office. It's so close, we just refer to it as "downstairs." Like, "Where'd you get that delicious looking sandwich?" "Downstairs."

No-beef burgers: Whole World Natural Bakery & Restaurant

G.A. Benton — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:33:17 GMT

There's a happy hippie mural in Whole World - the painting's been there, like, forever - that depicts anthropomorphized comic-bookish animals frolicking around during the changing of the seasons.

Lunch Money: Milo's Deli

Shelley Mann — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:27:15 GMT

Franklinton is the oldest neighborhood in Columbus, and it's had a long and difficult life. For decades, its flood-prone status and high crime rates kept it from being anywhere close to a desirable area.

In Season: On the Fly

G.A. Benton — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:03:16 GMT

You'd expect that the little-brother eatery attached at the hip to one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the Midwest would specialize in food that was seasonal - especially when considering its back porch is basically an edible garden.

Lunch Money: Serenity Cafe

Shelley Mann — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:33:15 GMT

There aren't many scenarios in which you can eat a burger called Kelley's Belly Buster and feel good about yourself afterward.

Kitchen Ink: C-Town Market & Deli

G.A. Benton — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:15 GMT

Lunch Money: Spinelli's Deli

Shelley Mann — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:17:16 GMT

When your last name is Spinelli, I guess it's pretty much a no-brainer to open a deli. (That, or create a line of jellies.) But Spinelli's, a popular lunch spot in Victorian Village, has more going for it than just a nifty name.

Lunch Money: Warehouse Cafe

Shelley Mann — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:54:18 GMT

Did you know Albania shares its southeast border with Greece? So it's not surprising that the Warehouse Cafe's Albanian owners have sprinkled their sandwich-heavy lunch menu with Mediterranean favorites - you'll find no less than five different kinds of gyros.

What's your favorite sandwich in Columbus?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:29:46 GMT

Sandwich Guide: Half of a Creole Shrimp Sandwich

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:16:18 GMT

t's chunky, it's messy, it's recklessly spilling out juices and its fillings everywhere; in fact, in every possible way this thing is in your face (and on your shirt, your pants ...).

Sandwich Guide: Brie and Prosciutto Roll

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:16:17 GMT

Man, I could live on bread alone at La Chatelaine. This particular munch comes on the place's beautiful baguette at dinnertime, but only during lunch is it offered on a special mini-boule-like loaf that's a joy to eat.

Sandwich Guide: 'Wich hunt

G.A. Benton — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:15:17 GMT

Alive's G.A. Benton shares 12 unique Columbus feasts you can (almost) wrap your hands around.

Sandwich Guide: Torta Cubana

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:15:17 GMT

It's hard to believe how good this monster tastes even though it's overstuffed like a birthday pinata.

Sandwich Guide: Pesto Avocado

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:14:18 GMT

Simultaneously refreshing and rich, this lovely yet hulkingly large sandwich marries tart and creamy goat cheese to crunchy cucumber discs, grassy sprouts and pristine pieces of avocado.

Sandwich Guide: Toni Po'Boy

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:14:18 GMT

Legend has it (and sandwiches like these often come with legends) a tiny little girl named Toni asked Creole Kitchen to construct this fry-tastic reworked muffuletta for her one day. It's claimed Toni still eats it (all of it!) and is still tiny. Maybe that's why it's a legend.

Sandwich Guide: Open Faced "Zoe" Tuna Salad

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:14:18 GMT

I am not a fan of animal protein from a can, but I love this sandwich. It converts high-grade Italian tuna into a refreshing and vibrantly briny salad by combining it with pickles, capers, celery, red onion and a bit of chopped egg.

Sandwich Guide: The Piasan

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:13:16 GMT

Like most winners on this list, it starts with bread you want to keep biting into. For the Piasan, it's the buttery crunch of a properly made (i.e. smashed, toasted) panini sandwich.

Sandwich Guide: Leroy's Smokin' Sandwich

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:13:16 GMT

I'd like to meet this Leroy guy, because the dude really knows how to tease out a theme. Between a smoking jacket of good rye bread that gets ungreasily grilled is a smoldering trio of creamy smoked cheddar cheese, mild smoked ham and peppery pastrami.

Sandwich Guide: Chicken Kabob Sandwich

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:13:16 GMT

I recommend getting this sandwich on the Middle Eastern burrito-like lavash bread, as it's given a good toasting and offers more interesting texture and less meddlesome bread than the puffy pita.

Sandwich Guide: Ba Mon Banh Mi

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:12:16 GMT

Banh mi are like Southeast Asian submarine sandwiches on French-bread-inspired rolls. Here they're especially good - made on a toasty loaf that's still soft enough to chew through without disintegrating into crumbs.

Sandwich Guide: Mother Mohawk

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:12:15 GMT

I bow down before the fearless innovator (or wasted, spit-faced chowhound) who, in 1985, decided to combine grilled roast beef and Swiss cheese with the Mohawk's superlative chicken salad.

Sandwich Guide: Tip Top Pot Roast Sandwich

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:11:16 GMT

Warning: not for amateurs; do not attempt to consume this three-fister on your own without first conscripting a designated driver. Heavens to mooing Bessie, the beef on this thing is piled as high as a corn-fed heifer's eye on the Fourth of July.

Bar profile: Victorian's Midnight Cafe

Bryan Bullock — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:00:21 GMT

ComFest rears its head just one weekend each June, but the festival's bohemian spirit lives year-round at Victorian's Midnight Cafe. The laid-back, eclectic hangout in Victorian Village has grown slowly over the last decade, but its new owners are shaking things up. The coffeehouse, eatery and bar celebrated its grand re-opening last weekend with a lineup of live music.

Chili: On The Fly

G.A. Benton — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:52:17 GMT

Tiny but mighty, On The Fly is the instantly popular and great-priced meatless offspring of the more austere (and expensive) Dragonfly next door. And it makes lusty veggie chilis that easily rival most of its carnivore-catering competitors.

Chili: CaBoom Fiery Foods

G.A. Benton — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:48:14 GMT

Dualities coexist copacetically at a counter-ordering shop in the North Market. There, Holy Smoke, an upstart (though pedigreed) barbecue operation shares space with ready-to-eat goodies from the nationally famous CaJohn's Fiery Foods.

Menu: On the Fly

G.A. Benton — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:45:26 GMT

As it is now, a few short weeks into its pupa stage of existence, On The Fly - the little sib to the renowned Dragonfly Neo-V - is one of the most exciting inexpensive eateries to premier in town in a while.

Menu: Evening Star Cafe

G.A. Benton — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:31:15 GMT

Clintonville's Evening Star Cafe is tucked away in - you guessed it - a ho-hum little strip mall. Yet somehow this pleasant, clean and bright place manages to both exceed and embrace its bland setting.

First Bite: Phat Wraps

By G.A. Benton — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:40:15 GMT

Even if Phat Wraps' chosen title might be behind the times, the place is definitely up to speed in many other ways. And besides, it makes great sandwiches - or rather, lets you do it.

A La Carte: Johnny Oak's Po Boy & Shrimp Shack

G.A. Benton — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:59:26 GMT

The following string of stirring words - "I hope that's not too much meat on your sandwich" - was music to my ears, a virtual impossibility, and what I heard as I greedily grabbed a biceps-stressing bag of monster-sized masterpieces at Johnny Oak's. Johnny wasn't in that day, but that was OK because his pinch-hitter was banging out homers, too. You see, at Johnny Oak's, they build 'em so I come.