Oh, I think I forgot to mention on here, I finally ate at Kihachi last week. My girlfriend made reservations for my birthday. She ordered the 9 course chef's special for both of us (I guess you have to do this a few days in advance). We had a private table with sliding doors and the waitress has to take her shoes off and step up into our area. All 9 courses took almost 3 hours but we never waited more than 5 minutes between courses. And we left very, very full. To full to even go out drinking afterwards! It was FANTASTIC. Tons of fresh fish. Some things i hadn't had before (or very little of)- sea urchin, fish liver, some fish i hadn't eaten before. Everything was artfully presented and you could tell everything on the plate was put there very deliberately. The waitress was even anal about which way the plate was facing you as she presented the dish. My favorite was probably this porridge. It was pretty much a solid... almost like a hot jello. But the second it touched your mouth it just melted to this delicious broth. It did cost around $300 (food, drinks, tip) for the two of us. But with the quality and freshness of the food and the private, intimate atmosphere, it is worth splurging maybe once a year or so. I did notice a mom, dad, and 10ish year old kid at the bar area, a few people coming and going by themselves or just a couple. We actually were first given the wrong bill. They wrong one was for someone at the bar. looked like it had 5 small plates and a beer and it was around 80 dollars. I heard the waitress tell an other couple that if each person ordered around 4 plates each to share, it would probably be enough for dinner. So, I do think its possible to get out of there for around $100-150 for a couple. If I had one complaint, every course was a seafood dish. Now, I love seafood, but I really wanted to see what that amazing chef could do with other ingredients. And, my girlfriend isn't the biggest seafood fan. But even she really, really enjoyed almost every dish (she didn't car much for the soft-shell crab and one other fish... can't remember). But I am sure this changes based on what the chef happened to have available any given week.
He is a magician in the kitchen. Even the simplest things were phenomenal. He had these little new potatoes that were sliced and then cored out and there was the best ham salad I have ever had in them. I don't normally like ham salad either. The lamb was perfectly done. It was a treat.
Tanuki Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar up in Powell, anyone here ever been? Seen it the last few times we've been up in that neck of the woods on Sawmill and was thinking about giving it a try.
How about Piada Italian Street Food? Anyone got the scoop on that? There is one at Easton (where Potbelly's used to be) and another opening up on Sawmill.
There is one in Uppah Arlington on Lane in the plaza where the old bowling alley was just west of West Campus. I've been there and enjoyed it. It's kinda an Italian Chipotle. Bring an appetite, it's filling.
As an avid Chipotle person, cant imagine why, I offer the following Piada take; it's very good but they have WAY too much on the menu and in their offerings. At Chipotle you can mix-match pretty much everything on their line and it's still going to taste damn good at the end of the day when you bite in to a burrito, taco, bol or salad. Piada offers so much variety in their toppings that you have to be careful what you mix-match as you're going down the line filling your bowl or your *piada* wrap, the first few times I went I learned the hard way. Once you get the ingredients down it's a damn good, big meal for a good price...
The charcuterie plate appetizer is pretty good. I've been underwhelmed by Rossi overall. Good but not great. Let me know what you think.
I thought the food was pretty good, it wasn't the most amazing meal I've ever had in Columbus (like I've heard some describe the place) but I would certainly go back again to try some other things on the menu. We had the lamb lollipop appetizer to start and it was very, very good. I am pretty sure it would have been even better a degree less done-wise but alas, my wife doesn't like to see her meat with much red in the middle so I just went along with it. I had the burger, which I have heard so much about. It was a very good burger. Perfectly cooked, still oozing with juice and with the standard accompaniments. The fries that came with it were just okay - I also heard that they were supposedly amazing, not really, they wouldn't even been in my Top 10 fries. My wife had one of the specials which was a black risotto with chicken and apples, it was very good. I would get it myself in the future, although maybe it's just the risotto kick I've been on recently - who knows.
I saw on the Three Legged Mare page that they are posting pics of their new menu. It looks really good. I was there for a morning game and had their limited breakfast menu and it was very good. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeLeggedMare
Being an OU grad, yes. Being ten years out now, I can't speak too much to some of the new places, but there are definitely some old stalwarts. We only get down there a few times a year now, so we tend to stick to the stuff we like and miss. You'll probably have to be aware of the hours places are open. A lot of places on Court Street are open until 3-4am (especially the buggies at Court and Union) but some places are only open until 7pm. Bagel Street tends to close a lot earlier than you would expect given the location. The General Tso's at Lam's Garden is fantastic. Get it extra spicy. My wife and I make sure to go there every trip we make to Athens. Goodfella's is great if you like cheap, greasy pizza. Plus it's open after the bars close. Avalanche is also quite good. A new pizza place is open on State St. near Premiere Video but I haven't been there yet. It looks like it only has a 68% on Urbanspoon so who knows. Beer at Jackie O's is awesome, brewed on premises. A little expensive, but good. I've heard Restaurant Salaam is good, but haven't been there. I doubt I will because the wife is picky. Bagel Street is a good place is you're into bagel sandwiches. They have tons upon tons of options, plus stuff I wrote on the wall is still there 10+ years later. Souvlaki's has also been around for years, and is some good stuff as well. Planning on hitting up O'Bettys Hot Dogs next time I'm there. It's apparently quite good but I've never gone in the 7 years they've been open. Most of the 'fancy' places that were there during my days are gone now, so I can't really speak to the couple of comparable places that have opened since I was there.
Gallos BBQ to be on 161 in Linworth Anyone ever had their BBQ before thru their catering business? Just curious. This is right around the corner from our house and I'm hopefully it'll be better than Hoggy's which it is replacing...need a new good *local* place in the moderate range in the area.
I always though *that* Hoggy's, the first time around, was great. After they left and then came back after Sunset Inn (I think that was who it was) belly-flopped it wasn't the same.
My Athens faves: Casa (of course), O' Betty's (pretty delicious garlic fries when you're drunk), Purple Chopsticks (it's an Asian-fusion type place with more personality than that typically implies), and Village Bakery (decent organic — and sometime veg-friendly — sandwiches and soups).
A couple of things: Athens--went to O'Betty's for dinner. It was good. Had some funky hot dogs and cajun fries. Pretty cool little place. We went to O'Betty's because Casa had a two and a half hour wait (WTF?!). Miller's Chicken for lunch. That places rocks. Had breakfast/brunch yesterday Explorer's Club. This is Ricky Barnes (Galaxy Cafe, Lost Planet, etc). Delicious, as always. Felt so good to be back in one of his restaurants. For the parents and/or bird enthusiasts out there, you should definitely check out the Grange Insurance Audubon facility/park off of Whittier. Amazing, totally free place. The fam and I did that, then Explorer's, then Columbus Museum of Art (free on Sundays).
No idea. Just head south on whatever (High, Front), turn right on Whittier. Whittier literally dead ends into it.
Yes. There is a dog park there too if you want to bring the whole family. And yeah BG13, Explorer's Club is pretty good. Although, I have only been for brunch so far. They took over that space when Coyote Janes moved to (and I guess merged with) the Banana Bean (the old strip club spot across from Berliner Park). When I drove by this weekend it looked like Coyote Janes may now be closed. I always though Banana Bean was pretty terrible in terms of service and only so-so on food despite the raving reviews it got. So, Explorers Club down there is definitely an upgrade. Also, roomier and no wait compared to other brunch options in the Village.
I've seen the entrance to it, as we have friends who live in the Brewers Yard complex (which is pretty snazzy). Guess we'll have to take a look (and take my 300 mm zoom) next time I'm down that way.
