The Tastiest New American in Columbus

High Bank Distillery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (811) • $$

"This is a HAPPY HOUR STAPLE! My friends and I love coming here and getting some delicious drinks and tasty treats! The bartenders are so sweet and they love experimenting with new flavors with the cocktails. Get to know your bartenders they are some of the coolest people you will ever meet.We got a Smoked Old Fashion, End of Anxiety and 2 bartender specials. All were unique in their own way. Warning: the Smoked Old Fashion is BOOZEY. Definitely designate a driver for that one. We paired that with the Bravas potatoes for good measure."

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant- Columbus

★★★★☆ 3.8 (975) • $$

"Everything from start to finish at Cooper's Hawk was delicious! The restaurant was nice inside with low lighting and simple decor but had a comforting vibe for the holidays. We made reservations for Christmas Eve and although it was busy, we did not have to wait long for our table to be ready (maybe 20 minutes). Our waitress was spunky and hilarious (she introduced herself as Oprah lol). She was lovely and did a wonderful job with our service. We started off with their over the boarder egg rolls and died at how amazing they are! The pretzel bread was also insanely delicious and we also enjoyed the bruschetta and Italian sausage and whipped vuestra flatbread. Everything was great! For dinner, we ordered a variety of items including the prime churrasco grilled steak, the jambalaya, braised short rib risotto, and grilled tenderloin medallions. We all thought our dishes were quite tasty. The only hiccup was three of us ordered the churrasco steak and they did not quite get our meat cooked as each of us requested but aside from that, the dish was great and the cilantro-lime aioli was awesome! For dessert we enjoyed the salted caramel crème brûlée and some of the house-made truffles. Highly recommend! Lovely experience here and looking forward to coming back!"

The Whitney House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (660) • $$

"Whitney House recently hosted my group of a dozen friends for a baby shower. Everything was spectacular. They had us in an area where we could easily speak to one another and enjoy our time together, even as such a large group. The Whitney House has easy parking and is a beautiful space. I enjoyed their steak and eggs on the brunch menu. Everything was perfect and it was very fairly priced.The service was outstanding. Our waitress did an amazing job taking care of us and she did a great job passing out the celebratory cake we brought. I am very grateful for the gracious staff and the lovely experience at the Whitney House."

Flip Side

★★★★☆ 4 (719) • $$

"Best burger I have had at Easton! The sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly, the mezcal cocktail was delicious, and I am a sucker for Brussels sprouts lol The temp of the meat ran a little pink for me and my friend, so I was glad I went with medium for my Black and Blue Burger. It was absolutely perfect! It's a little pricey on the whole, but not really when you consider the quality of ingredients. The decor was fine. Nothing to write home about. The guy delivering our food was awesome, our first server was polite and attentive, but our second server was barely present which was too bad because I was hoping to try a shake after we had been there a while.I wouldn't call this a destination burger, but if I'm at Easton I will definitely eat here again!"

Local Roots

★★★★☆ 4 (565) • $$

"Went here for lunch on Sunday with some friends. We got a table right away. They all got the chicken & waffles special and seemed to love it. I got the BLT sandwich and sweet potato fries. The fries were so good!! Get them!! I'd love to come back and check out more of their dishes that are all farm to table!"

Hubbard Grille

★★★★☆ 4 (560) • $$

"Not sure if this is Elite-exclusive, but if you check in here on Yelp, you'll receive a $10 off $40 coupon!This time, I ordered the pasta rosa again, and my partner ordered the goat cheese ravioli. (Note: I forgot to specify, but my previous picture of the pasta rosa is only a 1/3 portion; the server kindly had the kitchen plate the dish in portions since she knew we were sharing. Thanks Robin!)The pasta rosa was once again amazing, and the goat cheese ravioli was just as great if not better. It was savory, sweet, tangy, and just perfect. We also ordered Protea white wine, which was also delicious and a perfect complement to the food.Additionally, the women's restroom is so clean and has a basket of free menstrual products, which I think says a lot about the restaurant and their care for the customer. This may be on the pricier side, but it is worth the quality of the food and experience."

The Walrus

★★★★☆ 3.8 (602) • $$

"I kept hearing about this place, and hearing how good it was, but it didn't quite seem like my kind of place, and it wasn't quite in the neighborhoods frequent. Today, I figured what the heck, and stopped in when I was passing nearby. It's joined to a bar, and the inside has a very old-school bar feeling with brick walls, etc. I happened in on a Monday, which is burger day, and they talked me into trying one. And it was excellent. $5 burgers, all toppings a small extra charge. I ended up spending $7.50 for one with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, chipotle mayo, and queso fresco. It came out and looked pretty small, but also pretty tall, and paired with a side it was plenty for lunch. Nice meaty burger, excellent bun, perfect toppings. Just a really good burger all around. At a really good price. Get two if you're super hungry, although by the time I ate it and my side of excellent Brussels sprouts topped with a ton of bacon, I was full. Service was excellent. Prices were good, but of course it was a super deal so I'm not sure about the rest of the menu. And the rest of the menu is very interesting, with essentially upscale bar food. The beer and cocktail menus also look interesting. The place is cozy and comfortable; the restaurant area in the front doesn't seem that big, but in the back it is bigger, and there's a bar, and there's a whole 'nother side of the building. There's a pool table, a stage, an interesting booth/dining nook, and more. Excellent fast friendly service all around. I will definitely be back to try some of the other options, andheck, if I am hungry for a burger on a Monday."

The Woodbury

★★★★☆ 4.1 (458) • $$

"A surcharge is added to any non-cash payment (both credit and debit cards)! Personal consumer view, It turns me off to a business that does this and should be factored into to the cost of doing business. I have seen businesses offer a discount with cash payment which comes across a lot better (personal opinion).It's a cool place. Love the inside, and plenty of parking around. We were nicely greeted and quickly seated (I had made a reservation via OpenTable). Our server, Keri was absolutely wonderful and it was her first dinner rush and she handled it like a season pro. Made sure to leave her a 25% tip (on top of the total + surcharges.) She really added the experience and did such a nice job. The food was good (not perfection, but good), we enjoyed: -Tap water (no charge) -Diet Pop $3.50 -Beignets $11.00 -Bottle of Jam Jar $32.00 -Lemon Barramundi $23.99 -Meatloaf Dinner $22.00 -Asparagus $7.99I would have liked for the Barramundi had more Lemon Caper Sauce than what it did and maybe some capers. The meatloaf dinner could have used a bit more seasoning in the meat too. It would have been so bland if it didn't have the sauce and the mashed potatoes and sour cream on top. I think I would try something else that sounded good next time.Even with those observations the food was good, the service was best, and would come back to try another dish or two."

South Village Grille

★★★★☆ 4.4 (376) • $$

"We managed to slip in on the Eve of NYE. No small task. I think they are just crowded every night they are open. Monday is $1 oysters. Now that's a sweet promotion (if you like that sort of thing). Our four top ordered a dozen. They were very nice sized, meaty, and came with two excellent dips. I'll come back just for that promotion!Cocktails are well prepared and inventive. I opted for a rye OF. It was excellent. I actually ordered two. Service was impeccable. So nice to see. Menu is tight. Our four top had two dinners, fish sandwich, and a pizza. Each were excellent. You can't go wrong. Great experience all around. We will surely return. (Just don't call me Shirley)."

Jimmie's Ladder 11

★★★★☆ 4 (425) • $$

"It was our first time and we went to the third sitting of the Mother's Day brunch! The service was fast, the food was excellent and the mimosa was strong lol Definitely going again soon!"

Asterisk Supper Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (394) • $$

"I've never eaten at the asterisk. I do come in for drinks. They have the best bartenders for cocktails in the W. The smoked old fashioned is always a favorite. The bar sets the tone from the moment you walk in ...it has such a cool story coming all the way from Europe to Westerville Ohio."

Rebol

★★★★☆ 4.4 (325) • $$

"This is an eclectic and modern health food spot. They have gluten-free vegan and vegetarian options. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The place was clean. They even sell items that are healthy. They have a scale for your weight. There is plenty of parking in the shared parking garages that are free. The food was filling and delicious. I definitely will return one in the area. Hope you enjoy."

Forbidden Root

★★★★☆ 4.1 (372) • $$

"We relocated by to Ohio and have been enjoying the restaurants in the area. Forbidden Root caught our attention because the menu offers options for us non-meat eaters. We arrived at lunch time on a Saturday and found parking along a side street near the restaurant. We were seated immediately upon arriving and our waiter was great. Very informative and polite. During the meal the waiter gave us ample time to chose, sit, munch the app, and eat the main course. He did a great job.The restaurant is very well organized inside and has a casual vibe. There is plenty of seating to chose from. We were seated by a window in a booth.We had water (but fully intend to return for one of the beers!) to drink and started with the Szechuan fried eggplant. I highly recommend it. it was so good that we took multiple pictures and plan to try to duplicate it at home. Very, very good. For our main course I had the fried mushroom sandwich with french fries and my husband had the smash burger with french fries. Seems like a lot of "fried" in our meals but it just happened that way. We love to compare and contrast fries and the FR fries were awesome. The right amount of crunch and no need for additional seasoning. My sandwich was quite unique. I loved it. My husband remarked that his smash burger was very good and that he would order it again. We are looking forward to going again!"

SŌW Plated

★★★★☆ 4.3 (333) • $$

"The best vegetarian-oriented restaurant I've been to in Columbus, SOW plated is a must-visit. Service was nice and attentive, and the outdoor patio ambiance (especially sitting outside in November!) was delightful.But the food - what I ordered and loved:Cold-pressed pineapple cocktail: Pineapple Infused Aged Rum, Pineapple, Lime, Pineapple Gomme Syrup, Tiki Bitters, Allspice Dram SpritzAncient grain salad: Farro & Onion, Arugula, Roasted Acorn Squash, Roasted Sweet Potato, Golden Raisins, Feta, Pecans, Yogurt Dill Dressing -- took half home for lunch the next day and it was equally incredible in tasteSOW burger: Green Chickpea Pepper Plant-based Patty, Curry Aioli, Pickled Cabbage-Onion Slaw, Arugula, Vegan Seeded Bun -- packed with flavor and vegan! Breads & spreads: a few breads and a few dips / this was just ok comparatively to the meal, but if you go for drinks and dips, it'd be a delight.Edamame dumplings: Brussels Sprout Kimchi-Brown Rice & Quinoa-Edamame Bean Filling, Gyoza Wrapper, Thai Almond Sauce -- must try this starter!"

Agave & Rye - Short North

★★★★☆ 4.1 (303) • $$

"I'm a little conflicted on my feelings about A&R. There were tons of positives to mention about my experience, but there were also some pretty prominent negatives. I'll start with the positives. TL;DR - most everything was fabulous aside from the service/staff.Location - GREAT! Very convenient and within walking distance of several hotels.Decor/Vibes - OMG! I loved how beautiful it was in here. The artwork, the chandeliers, the dinnerware and glasses. Everything was gorgeous!Drinks - I had the Jalapeno Pineapple Marg and it was good!! It was sweet, but the the spice from the jalapeno was a nice balance with the agave and pineapple. My colleague ordered another margarita and thought it was too sweet, which is totally preference. The agave is obviously a sweet addition, so just keep this in mind!Food - Awesome! The tacos are legendary for a reason. The Birria options are especially unique and tasty. My friend got chicken and raved over them! I really enjoyed my "Epic Tacos", too. I got the Gangsta and the Swipe Right. They were HUGE and tasty. I also LOVED the queso and salsa. The salsa was chunky and fresh, unlike any I've ever had. Prices - it's a little pricey, but the portion sizes are large ($8+ for a taco, but I think it was worth it!)Service - I think this is where they fell really flat. Look, I am super easy going and understanding. I still was in this situation, but there were just several little things that added up. It wasn't very busy when we went, but it took about 15 minutes or more to be sat. Our waiter was nice, but several things were forgotten and missed. It could have just been an off day. But overall, the staff just wasn't super friendly or efficient. I'm not sure what was going on, but it was really off putting.All this to say, check out A&R! The food and decor are well worth the trip, but maybe this location or this day was just struggling."

NAPA Kitchen + Bar Dublin

★★★★☆ 4.1 (294) • $$

"Food is outstanding. I love the cozy feel everyone I step in here. Service is great. The wine selection can be overwhelming. I can't wait to come back!"

Polaris Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (339) • $$

"Haven't been here in a long time so we decided to stop by and have dinner . Ruth was our server and did a great job in answering our questions and describing some of the dishes .I had the maque choux which was very good . Couldn't eat all of it so brought the left overs home for another meal. My daughter had the six cheese ravioli which she really liked and my granddaughter had the chicken and Tasso penn . Which was also good . Over all it was a very nice meal . Had the crème brûlée for desert, which was covered with whipped cream and strawberries, alittle different but very good"

Over the Counter

★★★★☆ 4.3 (246) • $$

"We meet some friends here for dinner before going to a concert. It is located in a strip mall and has a little patio in front with some umbrellas. It does not have any heaters, so it would only be good in the warmer months. There was plenty of parking as the other businesses were closed by the time we arrived. On the inside it has some high tables with a bench on one side and high-top chairs on the other. The bar is located on the other side and has plenty of seats and televisions. Our server was nice and friendly. Big surprise, we started out with drinks. I got a whiskey sour with Makers Mark and a couple of cherries, to make it a wee bit sweeter. My man got a Yeungling draft, one of his regular beers. We shared the Beer Pretzel Bites, they were delicious. Oh, so crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, it even came with two ramekins of cheese. There was some cheese left over, which usually never happens. For my meal I got a cup of French Onion Soup and the Italian Chicken Sandwich. The croutons on the soup were large and crunchy, and there was a ton of melted cheese on top. I ordered the cup and it appeared to almost be bowl size. The chicken was grilled, with red peppers, lettuce, tomato, provolone cheese and some pesto aioli. The bread was something I had never seen before, grilled tomato swirl beard, like a marble rye. YUMMY!My man got the Counter Burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion on a grilled bun, with a side of onion rings. It also came with a pickle spear on the side. Everything must have been good because he ate it all and did not even save me a bite, lol. We will definitely be back a couple of times. First for the brunch which is served on both Saturdays and Sundays. Second for the fish and chips and maybe a steak."

High Bank Distillery - Gahanna

★★★★☆ 4.3 (213) • $$

"I live near the Gahanna High Banks, and when good friends da come to visit, especially ones who like whiskey, this is where we go.My friend had never been here before, but he's a whiskey lover, and I knew this was the perfect place to come. We got the Whiskey War flight, a sampler of the traditional winners that you'll always find a winner with.We wanted something light to snack on so we chose the pimento cheese... soooo glad we did. Great portion but better flavor.By the time we'd made notes on the whiskey and finished the cheese we were ready to hit the gift shop and purchase a bottle of Midnight Cask and the original Whiskey War. Believe me that it's a great place for a meeting, date, or just an afternoon by yourself. You'll have a good time in either situation."

CHOP5 Salad Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (212) • $$

"Always great service and love the Mexican bowl. Great healthy choices for lunch or dinner."

Muddy Misers

★★★★☆ 4 (213) • $$

"The restaurant sits right on the river and there is a nice view from the patio. Service was prompt and efficient and staff were very friendly. We ordered the prime rib special and the portions were very generous and the food was cooked perfectly."

Liberty Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (221) • $$

"I love Liberty Tavern! Such amazing food! There is a parking lot right behind to park in. Kinda hard to find..I feel like their location kills them a bit. I would be advertising this place so much more with the awesome experiences I have had. The staff is kind, so helpful. I would come here for a date night, with the fam, a work party, honestly anything. I have had their apps, burgers, brunch. They know how to make a girl happy. Keep up the good work Liberty!! I will have to try out their new location on Polaris!"

Denmark

★★★★☆ 4.2 (162) • $$

"This is a pretty dope cocktail lounge. It's in a prime location, making it really easy to get to and I'm honestly surprised it took me so long to get here for a drink. It's located right off High St. across from the Convention Center and it's on the second floor. Once you make your way up the staircase, your greeted with a rather large, open space. The bar can be found directly ahead with plenty of seating to the right near the giant windows that face the street. The décor is modern and sleek and there's a mix of comfy lounge seating and tables. The lighting is somewhat romantic and you definitely get a good vibe while you're here. The cocktail menu is rather large and ranges from whiskey drink to vodka drink (gosh, now I'm singing chumbawamba in my head) and everything in between. They also made a lot of the syrups they use in house, which is pretty special. Both times I've visited Denmark the staff was extremely welcoming and helpful. I like to ask the staff for drink recommendations because after all, they're the experts, and they definitely pointed me in the right direction. The most recent drink I got had gin and concord grape. It wasn't too sweet and I really enjoyed it. I'll definitely be back!"

J Liu Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (216) • $$

"We love this place. We ordered the spring rolls to start. Then the Mongolian Beef and sesame chicken. Max's service was great. We have been coming her for almost 16 years now. It looks great."

35 Brix

★★★★☆ 3.7 (201) • $$

"Overall nice place. Great ambiance, fantastic wine list!!!Cauliflower wings were not cooked through-- raw batter in the middle. Smaller pieces would likely be cooked more thoroughly. Sauce was great. I liked their homemade ranch with them better than the blue cheese. Harvest salad was flavorful. However when I order a " mixed greens" salad I don't expect it to be 90% romaine, which I don't care for, hence why I order mixed greens salads. Otherwise would've been five starsChicken for salad could've been trimmed prior to cooking. Fat on the edge and the center weird part. Or offer the salad without meat and price as an add on. Guest had the Reuben and he said it was great. It looked well-made to me. Hostess, wait staff, service excellent. **Overall definitely worthy of visiting and likely revisiting. Decorated nicely for the holidays too!!**"

Austyn's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (143) • $$

"Wonderful meal at Austyn's. Our server, Oliver, was very efficient and visited with us. He told us lots about the area. We enjoyed the prosciutto prawns with granny smith apple slices. The spicy shrimp soup was wonderful. I enjoyed the Mediterranean pasta and my husband enjoy the Chicken prosciutto. The creme brulee was very tasty with fresh blueberries. It was a nice dinner!"

Harvest Kitchen and Pizzeria - Bexley

★★★★☆ 4.1 (139) • $$

"We'd had dined at their Granville Harvest Pizzeria location before and enjoyed both the food and the experience. Last night at the Bexley location we ordered the Monaco pizza and the chopped salad. The pizzas are about 12" and enough to share. The salad is a large portion as well. My one complaint was the pizza was quite oily and the crust was quite chewy. Not bad but a bit under their best. Service was fine, the atmosphere is nicer than that Granville location. Street parking."

Wolf Creek Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (146) • $$

"Very unassuming spot. Interior is very Bavarian, all wood everything lol. The menu is fantastic. We started with the lamb nachos, hear me out: lamb meat and a curry sauce atop pita chips. Then for my meal I had the scallops appetizer, garnished elegantly and the house salad. You can tell their lemon basil vinaigrette is made in house. Others at the table had the hot honey salmon, chicken parm and the blackened swordfish. Everyone loved their dishes. I want to try everything they have!"

Boathouse BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.6 (174) • $$

"So good. Service is usually pretty good as well. Every once in a while I might get a dude who is more intersted in turnover than creating a great experience for dining but MOST of the time there are no complaints. Food is always great as well and good portion sizes."

The Galaxy Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (204) • $$

"A very good experience. Started off a little shaky; somehow our Saturday reservation, made through the website, was for 6:30 am, not pm. The manager, Dave, quickly handled the situation and it was all good from there.Everything we had was delicious. My wife's filet was cooked to perfection and my peppercorn crusted strip steak was very flavorful. All of the side dishes were excellent as well, especially the Cowboy potatoes.Our waitress was very attentive & efficient. Dave came by several times and really added to the whole experience; a true professional who set a great example of customer service to the young staff.We came because we had a gift certificate that was burning a hole in my wallet, but we will definitely be back!"

Hungry Buffalo

★★★☆☆ 3 (209) • $$

"Had a decent experience here. Went in a Wednesday evening . Had decent food and good service. I heard a lot of mixed reviews that this place was hit or miss. This time it was a hit. Again food is decent and our service was good."

Parlay Sporting Club + Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.7 (124)

"The food is amazing for a sports bar. We were blown away by the quality. We went for the Ohio state game. Plenty of tv's."

Bernards Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.5 (132) • $$

"The food here is INCREDIBLE. We got cheese curds and taquitos and they were gone in five minutes. Delish!!!"

District 13

★★★★☆ 3.7 (118) • $$

"This was my first visit to District 13 but certainly won't be my last. My wife and I try to go out to lunch every Wednesday and we have to find restaurants that aren't part of a national or regional chain. We like the small, independently owned and operated, local establishments. District 13 fit the bill for our weekly lunch.The restaurant is in an old Chase Bank branch and the beer taps are fitted into the front of the old vault.My wife ordered two appetizers as a lunch meal - the appetizer portion of crab cakes and the Crispy Bangkok Brussels (which the menu bills as "tossed in Thai chili sauce, toasted cashews, mint, and sriracha aioli". The brussel sprouts was a large portion - intended to be shared - and my wife did indeed share them with me. Both were excellent.I ordered the Sweet Whiskey Burger which was topped with carmelized onions, smoked bacon, white American cheese and a whiskey glaze. It comes with chips but I upgraded to fries and I am SO GLAD I did. The burger was exceptional (definitely makes my "TOP 5" list and the fries were incredible. These were among the best fries I've had. Since my wife was sharing her brussel sprouts, I shared my fries with her. She's not as big of a burger and fries fan as I am but she also loved the fries.The service was excellent and the server was very personable and friendly."

Fourth Street Taproom & Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (132) • $

"4th Street Bar and Grill is one of the better bars in the eastern University area. It has super cheap drink specials and friendly bartenders. The happy hour is one of the best around. It's very popular for game days. The bar food is better than average too. It has one of the best happy hours in the area. It goes from 2 to 7. They even got it on Saturdays. It's not too crowded if there isn't a big sporting event. The drinks are mostly all half off. It has a nice patio for when it's warm enough. This is a great viewing place for watching the bar crawlers and football fans tearing it up. It also has some better than usual food. The hummus is good and the sriracha hummus is my favorite kind. I would recommend it for happy hour as well as a game day hangout. It has some of the best prices. The atmosphere is great especially if you're watching football on Saturdays."