Al’s Favorite Restaurants and Venues
Favorite Restaurants
Columbus has some wonderful restaurants well worth checking out while you are here!!
GREAT steak house located in an old back building. Lots of character and great food and great bar. Pricey but well worth it!
8 locals recommend
Mitchell's Steakhouse
45 N 3rd StGREAT steak house located in an old back building. Lots of character and great food and great bar. Pricey but well worth it!
GREAT for elegant dining!! Food is continental and always done well. Has the #1 outdoor dining patio in Columbus
125 locals recommend
Lindey's
169 E Beck StGREAT for elegant dining!! Food is continental and always done well. Has the #1 outdoor dining patio in Columbus
GREAT dining and vibrant bar, can be a bit LOUD, but if you can be seated on the patio is vie's for the #1 spot for outdoor dining as well!! Great sangria too!! Pricey and use the valet parking - both are well worth it!!
84 locals recommend
Barcelona
263 E Whittier StGREAT dining and vibrant bar, can be a bit LOUD, but if you can be seated on the patio is vie's for the #1 spot for outdoor dining as well!! Great sangria too!! Pricey and use the valet parking - both are well worth it!!
Due Amici
67 E Gay StSimple and Elegant in Downtown's Gay Street Area.
Best sushi in town and best burger in town. A bit loud (but aren't they all?) It's just south of Shiller Park in German Village. You'll probably want to make reservations!
24 locals recommend
South Village Grille
197 Thurman AveBest sushi in town and best burger in town. A bit loud (but aren't they all?) It's just south of Shiller Park in German Village. You'll probably want to make reservations!
Lots of variety with several different food vendors in one place. Creole 2 Geaux and the Butcher are our FAVS!
The Historic Trolley District: East Market
Lots of variety with several different food vendors in one place. Creole 2 Geaux and the Butcher are our FAVS!
Speck Italian Eatery
89 E Winter StGREAT Italian food with creative modern twists without being too weird!
HangOverEasy
51 Parsons AveClose and great for breakfast
GREAT Italian food, known for quality and known for being a bit loud too! try of an outdoor table when possible. Mid range price and also well worth it!! Also close to the Drexel!!
13 locals recommend
Giuseppe's Ritrovo
2268 E Main StGREAT Italian food, known for quality and known for being a bit loud too! try of an outdoor table when possible. Mid range price and also well worth it!! Also close to the Drexel!!
Also VERY close by and very popular watering hole! Great outdoor patio, good bar food and BEST veggie chili in towne!
60 locals recommend
The Olde Towne Tavern
889 Oak StAlso VERY close by and very popular watering hole! Great outdoor patio, good bar food and BEST veggie chili in towne!
Indian Oven
427 E Main StGreat local place for Indian Food. Nice interior, outdoor dining and easy parking too.
Really great Italian place we discovered recently. Make a lot of their own pasta!! Pizza if REALLY good also!! May be hard to get into w/o reservations. It's a small "Mom and Pop" type place.
La Tavola
1664 W 1st AveReally great Italian place we discovered recently. Make a lot of their own pasta!! Pizza if REALLY good also!! May be hard to get into w/o reservations. It's a small "Mom and Pop" type place.
In the heart of the Short North Arts District, this is a high end steak house that delivers great quality!
24 locals recommend
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
569 N High StIn the heart of the Short North Arts District, this is a high end steak house that delivers great quality!
ICONIC Columbus FAV since the 1960s. The retro theme is original and the food is among the very best meat and potato places in town!! Reservations a must!
16 locals recommend
The Top Steak House
2891 E Main StICONIC Columbus FAV since the 1960s. The retro theme is original and the food is among the very best meat and potato places in town!! Reservations a must!
BRAVISSIMO!! Impressive interpretation of classic and favorite Italian dishes! Creative, attractive and above all delicious! In our party of 6, 4 got the lasagna and all said it was excellent. I got the bronzino and it was delicious. We share appetizers and they were well portioned for 6 and each was excellent. The handmade gnocchi (all pasta is handmade daily) and the carbonara were standouts! Also VERY popular for dessert was the panna cotta and the lemon tart! At first we though of it as a 'Special Occasion' restaurant but in this case any day of the week could be reason enough to go back to Cento! "Che buono!"
Cento
BRAVISSIMO!! Impressive interpretation of classic and favorite Italian dishes! Creative, attractive and above all delicious! In our party of 6, 4 got the lasagna and all said it was excellent. I got the bronzino and it was delicious. We share appetizers and they were well portioned for 6 and each was excellent. The handmade gnocchi (all pasta is handmade daily) and the carbonara were standouts! Also VERY popular for dessert was the panna cotta and the lemon tart! At first we though of it as a 'Special Occasion' restaurant but in this case any day of the week could be reason enough to go back to Cento! "Che buono!"
Favorite Destinations
Here are a few of our favorites destinations:
A #1 destination in Columbus and you are just a mile away!! A perfect spot if you have an extra hour of two. Especially great i the Winter months!
251 locals recommend
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1777 E Broad StA #1 destination in Columbus and you are just a mile away!! A perfect spot if you have an extra hour of two. Especially great i the Winter months!
About 1 mile way and well worth the trip!! You'll see a great permanent collection as well as some world class traveling exhibits.
270 locals recommend
Columbus Museum of Art
480 E Broad StAbout 1 mile way and well worth the trip!! You'll see a great permanent collection as well as some world class traveling exhibits.
World renowned for it great collection of topiarys. Next door to the #1 Library in America, don't miss either!!
47 locals recommend
Topiary Garden
480 E Town StWorld renowned for it great collection of topiarys. Next door to the #1 Library in America, don't miss either!!
Stunning library building with a great addition. See why its names the #1 library in the USA!
29 locals recommend
Columbus Metropolitan Library
96 S Grant AveStunning library building with a great addition. See why its names the #1 library in the USA!
Close to the Topiary Park and the Main Library and the Museum. Limited hours so check the website. Well worth the trip!!
6 locals recommend
Kelton House Museum & Garden
586 E Town StClose to the Topiary Park and the Main Library and the Museum. Limited hours so check the website. Well worth the trip!!
Marvelous Art Deco movie house that has been recently restored! Plays 1st run and Art House type films.
15 locals recommend
Drexel Theatres
2254 E Main StMarvelous Art Deco movie house that has been recently restored! Plays 1st run and Art House type films.
Don't miss a stroll through German Village while you are here!! Just a couple of miles away with great coffee shops, restaurants (like Lindey's and Barcelona) and Shiller Park
201 locals recommend
German Village
Don't miss a stroll through German Village while you are here!! Just a couple of miles away with great coffee shops, restaurants (like Lindey's and Barcelona) and Shiller Park
Stroll around the park, see the Huntington Gardens and the historic homes that line the park!
118 locals recommend
Schiller Park
1069 Jaeger StStroll around the park, see the Huntington Gardens and the historic homes that line the park!
Spectacular restoration of the Ohio Capital building. Take the guided tour and plan to have lunch there or downtown.
24 locals recommend
Ohio Statehouse
1 Capitol SquareSpectacular restoration of the Ohio Capital building. Take the guided tour and plan to have lunch there or downtown.
The Official Theatre of the State of Ohio. Check the website for Broadway Shows, Columbus Symphony performances along with many other opportunities to see the great 1930 movie palace!
60 locals recommend
Ohio Theater
39 E State StThe Official Theatre of the State of Ohio. Check the website for Broadway Shows, Columbus Symphony performances along with many other opportunities to see the great 1930 movie palace!
If you want to take a walk, this is the showplace of Columbus along the riverfront. Stop for dinner at the Mile 229 and eat inside or out.
71 locals recommend
Scioto Mile
If you want to take a walk, this is the showplace of Columbus along the riverfront. Stop for dinner at the Mile 229 and eat inside or out.
Nearly 300 restaurants and shops with several art galleries. Gallery Hop is the FIRST Saturday of every month! Parking can be a hassle so Uber or use the CBus parking app.
326 locals recommend
Short North Arts District
Nearly 300 restaurants and shops with several art galleries. Gallery Hop is the FIRST Saturday of every month! Parking can be a hassle so Uber or use the CBus parking app.
Food scene
Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall
Huge beer selection, decent menu