Columbus Thread VII (Convo and Questions About Columbus for Visitors and Locals)

puckfan64

Registered User
May 4, 2007
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C-bus
To me, Hyde Park and The Top are Columbus steak restaurants. Jeff Ruby’s is a Cincinnati steakhouse in Columbus. I guess the question is whether you want the best steak in town or do you want the best Columbus steak which are different questions to me. I haven’t been to Jeff Ruby’s Columbus location.
I believe that Hyde Park is actually a Cleveland steakhouse with locations in Columbus. For a specifically Columbus steakhouse experience, I'd second The Top (especially if you can make it on a Monday night when Dave Powers is on the piano). That said, however, if you are looking for a really unique steakhouse experience that won't break the bank, check out the last remaining York Steakhouse in the US, located on W. Broad St. near I-270. You won't get a prime steak (I recommend the sirloin tips or the honey-glazed chicken), but you will get the 70s-80s atmosphere from the chain's heyday. It was recently purchased by the owner of the Starliner Diner, and I believe they were going to add the chicken & noodles from Nancy's Home Cooking to the menu
 
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KallioWeHardlyKnewYe

Hey! We won!
May 30, 2003
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Re: Steakhouses.

The Top is always a good suggestion. But I will say their approach sometimes chars the outside a little too much, verging on burnt. Inside is often perfect. But buyer beware if too much char is something that bothers you.

Hyde Park is good too. It is based in Cleveland but it's been in Columbus for so long that I don't know that its origin matters that much. I prefer the super old school Upper Arlington location to the snazzier Arena District one (thought the food is good at all and the Arena District is obviously the most convenient to pair with a CBJ game).

The best, most consistent steak I've had in town is honestly from The Avenue. Some folks are reluctant to credit it because it is a Cameron Mitchell place and people in Columbus either really seem to like his places or hate them. But when it comes to steaks, the Avenue has never missed for me.
 

koteka

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Jan 1, 2017
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Hyde Park is good too. It is based in Cleveland but it's been in Columbus for so long that I don't know that its origin matters that much. I prefer the super old school Upper Arlington location to the snazzier Arena District one (thought the food is good at all and the Arena District is obviously the most convenient to pair with a CBJ game).

Isn’t Hyde Park Cleveland based? I feel like I remember going there on Chagrin Boulevard in the early 90s.

I think they wanted to open in Columbus, didn’t find a good location, opened in Cleveland, and then opened in Columbus within a year of opening in Cleveland. Anyway, they name their steaks after Woody Hayes and Urban Meyer (or they did the last time I was there which has been a few years) so it definitely feels like Columbus.

Looking on their website they have 2 Cleveland locations and 3 Columbus locations plus places in Florida, Michigan, Indy, and Pittsburgh so it is more of a chain than I thought.

PS: I am in the anti Cameron Mitchell camp. He goes to creative restaurants, copies what they do, and then runs
focus groups to figure out how to take something interesting and appeal to the masses.
 

KallioWeHardlyKnewYe

Hey! We won!
May 30, 2003
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PS: I am in the anti Cameron Mitchell camp. He goes to creative restaurants, copies what they do, and then runs
focus groups to figure out how to take something interesting and appeal to the masses.

That's definitely true, but I also think originality in restaurants is a little overrated ... or maybe overstated would be the better word.

Most of the places we eat and what we eat is "inspired by," "riffing on" or, if you want to be less generous, "ripping off" something someone else has already done. Some folks are just better about hiding that or framing that than others. None of Hyde Park, Jeff Ruby or The Top invented classy old-school steakhouses.

My bigger complaint about Mitchell's restaurants is that there's kinda a sameness to a lot of them (even if it doesn't seem like it at first), which is as you say, that appeal to the masses. Good for business I suspect, though not always what I am looking for.

But The Avenue does make a damn fine steak and I'm always happy to go there.
 
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Double-Shift Lasse

Just post better
Dec 22, 2004
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Exurban Cbus
Today on "What's at Steak," here at HFCBJ... Hyde Park, delicious or phony?

I kid, I kid.

The Top has historically been my choice, but I confess it's been a very long time since I did a straight-up steakhouse steak - and now I want one.

For BBQ, Ray Ray's deservedly gets a lot of buzz, but Smoked on High is the correct answer to the best BBQ in/near downtown. Pecan Penny's is fine, I wouldn't pass up a meal there if that's where someone wanted to meet, but I don't find it in any way outstanding.
 

spintheblackcircle

incoming!!!
Mar 1, 2002
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Pecan Penny's is fine, I wouldn't pass up a meal there if that's where someone wanted to meet, but I don't find it in any way outstanding.

I think it’s gone downhill recently. I can walk there and the last time I went I got a chicken sandwich that wasn’t better than a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A and it was $12 more expensive.
 

Double-Shift Lasse

Just post better
Dec 22, 2004
34,804
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Exurban Cbus
We managed to keep an off topic Columbus conversation in the off topic Columbus thread and you call the thread “What’s at Steak?” Which is a decent pun. Then I apologized for not discussing steaks in a different thread.
Thanks. I really just wanted to use the pun to comment on the conversation. I’m glad at least someone noticed it. I apologize if you took my comment as judgment on the thread or whatever or if I have inferred time that you didn’t intend.
 

koteka

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Jan 1, 2017
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Also, here


I am a huge fan of Wario’s. It is about to get more crowded.

 

spintheblackcircle

incoming!!!
Mar 1, 2002
67,570
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I am a huge fan of Wario’s. It is about to get more crowded.


Would not be surprised to seem them grow.

Chipotle bought into Brassica, another good Columbus based place that is destined to grow

 

spintheblackcircle

incoming!!!
Mar 1, 2002
67,570
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Anyone getting morning stink?



Many of us have been enjoying beautiful weather the past few weeks, and being outside, some have noticed and complained online about the smell in the mornings.
 

Doggy

Registered User
Oct 11, 2011
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What’s the best burger place within walking distance of the arena? Short North is certainly walking distance.

Please don’t suggest any place we cannot actually get into. We walked into R Bar once, walked right out and have never tried to go back. Great for them but I don’t want wall to wall people.
 

koteka

Registered User
Jan 1, 2017
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Central Ohio
What’s the best burger place within walking distance of the arena? Short North is certainly walking distance.

I haven’t been to the Flatiron Tavern for years but it used to be pretty good. Don’t know how it is before hockey but it might be just far enough away while close enough to walk.
 
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Doggy

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Oct 11, 2011
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I don't know if anyone else is a fan of the Columbus Underground website but I enjoy their articles and learn interesting stuff. Anyway, their recent article about Mikey's Pizza's Thanksgiving special called The Gobbler sounds interesting. Have never been to Mikeys but might need to get down to Dublin and try it. Love the witty name of their upcoming Christmas pizza (name and description mentioned in article).

 
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spintheblackcircle

incoming!!!
Mar 1, 2002
67,570
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I don't know if anyone else is a fan of the Columbus Underground website but I enjoy their articles and learn interesting stuff. Anyway, their recent article about Mikey's Pizza's Thanksgiving special called The Gobbler sounds interesting. Have never been to Mikeys but might need to get down to Dublin and try it. Love the witty name of their upcoming Christmas pizza (name and description mentioned in article).


Yep, that and 614now.com keep me updated on things really well.
 

Doggy

Registered User
Oct 11, 2011
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Wife and I tried something new last night. Instead of I71 South to I670 to whatever (such a cluster duck of lane jockeying), we got off at 5th Avenue and went west to High Street and down to the Vine Street Garage. We dine in Short North so we are there anyway.

Same price for garage, easy walk to arena and crazy easy to get back on I71 North when we exited the garage. Will definitely do this again.

One change though. Next time we find our way to Park Avenue quicker and avoid more of High Street.
 
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