Up Front Performance Space

This is a great place to spend an evening over drinks and some kind of show. For $7 tickets, you can't really go wrong, after all.Service is always friendly, the food is bar food but really good, and the mixed drinks actually have alcohol in them ;-) It's not cheap, but not more expensive than any other Columbus bar.I've seen everything from Columbus Science Pub to stand-up comedy here, and it's always been fun.

My group of friends and I visit Backstage Bistro pretty often and usually on Wednesday nights. This is because, we LOVE Hashtag Comedy! HC is a hilarious $5 improv comedy show that is guaranteed to make you laugh. Their show usually includes some other performer who does something in between the comedy acts. We have seen everything from Rappers, stand-up comedians and weird guys from German Village telling awkward anecdotes. The little acts in between the comedy are very hit and miss. Some are awesome and some are awful but the comedy troupe never fails to entertain!The space at BB is very large. They have a lot of seating options and if you're there for a show, I recommend getting there early so you can get a good view of the stage. They have a great drink menu with lots of different options. The food is pretty standard bar food. There's nothing particular to write home about. I often get a sandwich or a wrap and my friends usually get one of their flatbreads. They also have a chips and salsa plate that is large and good. The food is a bit overpriced in my opinion for quality but they make up for it with really good service. Everyone is super friendly and they do their best to make sure you have a wonderful experience.I would definitely recommend to anyone that they stop in for some entertainment and food at the Bistro. I have also come in for lunch and had a really nice soup on a cold day. It was expensive but it was good. I hear that they serve brunch but I have never been. Parking is not included so be prepared to park at a nearby meter or paid lot. The meters are free on Sundays and in this area, most are free after 10pm.

I'm writing this review from a lunch perspective...I had always associated Backstage Bistro only with going to Shadowbox, and clearly that was wrong. I had assumed it was a spot to grab a quick bite before a show, and I figured it was more like bar food than a real restaurant.Nope. Wrong again, Bryant. Backstage Bistro is a real-deal full-service restaurant. And it's not "good for being connected to a theatre"--it's genuinely delicious all on its own. Here's what I'm loving:--The décor--Since I had only been previously before a show, I didn't even notice the beautiful restaurant with its intimate corner dining area--I'm in love with those curtains that help separate the space. It's very lovely, but still casual.--The service--The service is spot on. Everyone is extremely helpful and upbeat. No snarky customer service here. They made great recommendations and always anticipated my needs (more water, a to-go box, etc.). --The food!--From what I'd heard, BB made a few changes recently to their menu. They have clearly-marked GF and veg options, and they even source many of their ingredients locally! I had this spicy rice dish that had local chicken, bacon, and a heap of spices that made this dish perfect. I was blown away with how delicious it was.--In the end--I was teetering between 4 and 5 stars (mostly because I get accused of being too nice), but I'm going with a 5 on this one. But think about it: A lunch spot that gets me in and out in under an hour, less than $10, loads of local ingredients, clearly-marked dietary restrictions, and delicious food... there are very few places in the city that do all of these. Five stars it is!Note: I think if you're coming for dinner before a show, you'll have quite a different experience. Backstage Bistro can get extremely crowded--so just come with the right expectations.

The show we saw was great. The food was great, as always. However the service was atrocious. We arrived at 6:50, well before the 8:00 showtime. A server came around 7:00, and she took our drink and food orders, and then she never stopped by again. We saw her multiple times, made eye contact with her, and did everything short of physically waving her down before the show started. But, we had to go up to the bar to order any drinks before the show started, and had to asked another server to take plates away from our table and for a box. After all of this, our original server was all to quick to drop off our checks, divided incorrectly, once the show was over.We've been at several backstage bistro shows, and have enjoyed the productions, food and service in the past, however tonight was by far the worst service I've ever had an any establishment. I'm not sure if I'll be coming back.

Bad food period. In addition, way overpriced as well. They even require that you give them a credit card before ordering. Name another restaurant that does that? Very unprofessional. As for the Brunch Punch thing, don't bother. I have seen better entertainment at a 6th grade talent show.On a side note: this establishment had my last review removed because they did not like constructive accurate criticism. My understanding is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and review. That is what Yelp is about. This is not the only one star review on here!

So I usually don't like to go to bars that do breakfast after having some truly dreadful meals at some local establishments but what the heck, I had a 50% off brunch email for the Backstage Bistro. As that it's in my hood we gave it a shot. As with a lot of the "we are a bar that does food" places the tables were too small and the layout not conducive to dining. That said the food was tasty and the service was good. I had the goat cheese herb omelette which was very good. They happily subbed out the potatoes for some toast and served it with some wonderful, and i mean wonderful jalepeno and raspberry jam. More on that later.The lone waiter/barista on staff didn't even know about the promo email but happily honored it. He also had no idea how to make a bloody Mary but accepted some coaching and created one for the nice ladies at the next table over. More marketing FAIL as that the promo email specifically mentioned the availability of mimosas and bloody Marys. But as I said the rather sweet waiter happily followed my directions and learned how easy bartending can be.The jam came from http://sweetthinggourmet.com, a local company I had never heard of. And they told me that they will sell jars of the jam at the BackStage Bistro pretty much at the wholesale price. It was amazing stuff- highly recommended.I think once they work out the pr bugs and bar issues this place will be a fabulous spot for brunch. It's already good, but it can be great.

The new Backstage Bistro opened by Shadowbox Cabaret is a welcome addition to the Brewery District. The still unfinished space is welcoming and fits in well with the neighborhood and the staff is friendly and enthusiastic. So far only the coffee shop is open with a few limited food options, mostly from local bakeries such as The Angry Baker and Rogue Bakery, both awesome local options. Everything is clean and the wi-fi is an added bonus.I had a Crimson Cup coffee and some cookies from Rogue Bakery. Both were delicious and I appreciated the Gluten Free and Vegan options offered by the bakery. I would like to see more such options from Angry Baker or other nearby favorites. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that the Bistro is still unfinished, I hope to see a five star establishment at the end.After chatting with the staff while deciding on my order, I learned that they will soon be opening a full cafe, including a bar and a patio. If the Bistro can continue to offer good service, local food options and a clean dining space, it will be very popular amongst brewery district residents. I am certainly excited to see the renovations completed.

Great atmosphere at the Backstage Bistro, everything else is mediocre to me. It is in a beautiful old brick building with lots of class, old looking wood, good mood lighting and plenty of space. It makes you feel comfortable while eating, drinking, and/or waiting for a show.The bar area is nice, but why no draft beer at all? They were out of several beer selections and didn't seem current on the seasonals. I feel like the drinks are anywhere from a little to a lot overpriced. $10 for a glass of Brothers Drake mead is uncalled for.The menu is pretty compact, which is a good thing. You won't get paralyzed by choice here. I ordered a buffalo chicken wrap which is a pretty good dish. Unfortunately it was basically falling apart and the fillings were going everywhere. The kettle chips were good, but the bleu cheese dressing was uninspired. On the service side, I really enjoyed the company of the waitress and bartender however the bartender seemed grossly overworked. Being the only one behind the bar, he struggled to keep up and it wasn't a very busy night either.

i started going there for alittle morning eye opener. Crimson coffee, and scones from local bakers. Then it was lunch; the stew is to die for, hearty!! Sauted olives and bread are outstanding. So far everything I've tried has been really fresh and prepared nicely. A dinner then a show afterwards is a great one stop night out.

I enjoy coming to this place for the atmosphere--it's a beautiful old brick building located in the Brewery District.The restaurant is pretty crowded about 1-1.5 hours before show time at Shadowbox, but if you come in and grab a table just as a show is about to start, no problem, in fact the place was empty by 7:30 on Saturday evening.Menu prices seem to be about average, however the menu selection is rather small, I think, due to the fact that some dishes are also prepared for the dinner theatre. The menu has a few pasta dishes, some pizzas, and some sandwiches. I will say the crostini are always good.I love the partitioned off dining area--the wispy curtains add a touch of romance and seclusion to the place, making it a great date spot.The bar area is nice and has gorgeous large windows looking out to Front St. If I recall correctly, the drink menu is fairly large.All in all, nothing stand-out when it comes to the food, except for the crostini. But would be a fun place to grab a drink with friends or a date.