I just came across a posting and some reviews of this newly opened burger place over at Columbus Underground.  Sounds good.  Especially like the idea of a local owner taking over a closed down Starbucks.

 

Independent burger joint opens in former Starbucks on Sawmill

Tuesday,  May 19, 2009 - 10:50 AM

By Gary Seman Jr., ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

Tag 'em and bag 'em. Graffiti Burger is now open.  It's a simple concept: three Black Angus burgers, one vegetarian burger, fresh-cut fries and shakes.  Co-founder Jim Torski, former vice president of operations at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, said he resisted the urge to load up the menu with several different items so he could ensure quality control.  Torksi teamed up with another restaurant industry veteran, George Tanchevski of the local Aladdin's Eatery chain and Giorgio in Clintonville.  The place is located in an 1,800-square-foot storefront, formerly a Starbucks, at 7561 Sawmill Road, north of I-270. 

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/food/stories/2009/05/20/table_talk.html?sid=104

Sounds delicious :)

Too bad it's all the way up on Sawmill. ;)

Hopefully they will expand. Ding Ho is one of my favorite restaurants (also in a terrible location) off of Phillipi.

News on Stauf's Coffee, the original high-quality coffeehouse in Central Ohio:

 

Stauf’s in Grandview Adds Breakfast and Lunch

 

Restaurant Review from the Dispatch | Stauf's Coffee: 'Original' maintains quality with in-house offerings

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/j-gumbos-coming-soon-to-gay-street

 

<b>J. Gumbo’s Coming Soon to Gay Street</b>

By Walker | June 8, 2009 4:28pm

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/jgumbos.gif">

 

The former Skambo location at the corner of Gay Street and Pearl Alley has sat empty for over two years, but that should be changing soon. New signage in the windows indicates that the space will soon be the new home of J. Gumbo’s, a Louisville-based cajun and creole restaurant. Their menu includes a variety of soups, stews, and chilis including Jambalaya and Etouffee as well as salads, appetizers, po’ boys, and muffalettas. No opening date has been announced as of yet, but we’ll provide more updates and information soon.

<b>Downtown Market Opening This Summer</b>

By Walker | June 7, 2009 12:42pm

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ctown.jpg">

 

One of the main amenities missing from the heart of Downtown is a convenient market option for quick on-the-go food shopping. Sam Shalash hopes to fill some of that demand later this summer when he opens up the C-Town Market and Deli at the corner of State and Fourth Streets.

 

The new convenience store will sell everything from deli sandwiches to snacks to aspirin to beer and wine. Shalash is optimistic that the store could be open as early as mid-July, but said that it may not actually open until early-August.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/downtown-market-opening-this-summer

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ctowndeli.jpg">

Wonderful news!

That's terrible news regarding Handke's!  Fine dining in Columbus definately takes a hit with the loss of that place...  :(

Yes, it is too bad about Handke's closing.  Truely one of Columbus' old-guard fine dining venues.  But sometimes restaurants like this have a finite life span.  The restaurant was so associated with Chef Handke that his semi-retirement was probably the handwriting on the wall.  Plus the Short North has consolidated as the city's primary fine dining area since Handke's opened 18 years ago instead of the Brewery District.  Plus the current economy is knocking down the number of fine dining outings.  It adds up to a brutal environment for higher priced fine dining places like Handke's. 

 

I noticed the other day that the Soup Man at Broad & High was gone. They weren't paying their rent and got the boot.

 

Also worth noting that Dirty Frank's is finally a few days away from opening as they've only got one more final inspection to clear. ;)

Great news about Dirty Frank's imminent opening.  Another Liz Lessner contribution to Columbus.

 

And as for the Soup Man leaving, don't let the door hit ya buddy!

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

Mozaik joins lounge scene along Vine St.

Business First of Columbus - by Dan Eaton

Friday, June 19, 2009

 

The owners of a popular Pittsburgh nightclub are opening their next venture in Columbus’ Arena District.  Mozaik Modern Lounge & Tapas was scheduled to open June 19 at the former home of Gibby’s on Vine Street.

 

Mozaik is the latest lounge variation to open in Columbus.  Level opened in the Short North two weeks ago, which offers a restaurant and lounge.  The Sugar and Spice bars are nearby on Vine Street, and Corso Gallicchio Ventures LLC is planning a private lounge for the neighborhood.  Beechwood-based Hyde Park Restaurant Systems Inc. opened Eleven last summer.  Rich Rosendale debuted his lounge, Details, next to his Short North restaurant last fall.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/06/22/story10.html

First Bite: Third and Hollywood

Thursday,  June 18, 2009 - 6:11 AM

By G.A. Benton, Columbus Alive

 

In an era when upscale restaurants are scaling down, the Northstar Cafe's gone Hollywood.  As in Third and Hollywood, the brand-new, ambitious Northstar-related restaurant that borrows its name from its Grandview intersection.  With fresh ingredients (many locally sourced), smart modern style and a homemade attitude, the Northstars pump out vibrant and healthy-edged 21st-century dishes with remarkable consistency.  They ain't exactly cheap, but the prices reflect a commitment to high quality, reliability and a take-a-number, no-tipping policy.

 

Read more at http://columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2009/06/18/ca_fo_bite.html?sid=108

 

Third and Hollywood

1433 W. Third Ave., Grandview

www.thirdandhollywood.com

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/dirty-franks-hot-dog-palace-opens-this-week

 

<b>Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace Opens This Week</b>

By Walker | June 28, 2009 6:09pm

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/df2.jpg">

 

After over a year of delays and setbacks, Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace is scheduled to officially open on Wednesday, July 1st at 4pm. Hot dog fans will be treated to a variety of menu choices with toppings ranging from Sriracha Slaw to Beef Brisket to Kim Chee to Indian Mango Chutney.

 

Drinks include Frostop Root Beer, Cherry and Lime Slushies, a variety of specialty draught beers and one-of-a-kind cocktails.

 

The interior of the restaurant has been completely revamped, and includes a bright red-and-yellow color palette. In the photos below, you can see that the walls are adorned with paintings by artist Thom Lessner.

 

Dirty Frank’s is located at 248 South Fourth Street and will be open every day of the week from 11am to 2am. More info will be online soon at DirtyFranksColumbus.com.

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/df1.jpg">

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/df3.jpg">

Dirty Frank's opened today! Hooray!

 

Some photos here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/dirty-franks-opening-night-review-and-photos

 

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/several-new-businesses-coming-soon-to-gay-street

 

<b>Several New Businesses Coming Soon to Gay Street</b>

By Walker | July 4, 2009 1:25pm

 

After the recent two-way streetscaping conversion, Gay Street quickly has become the gem of Downtown with new restaurants, businesses, and residences flocking to the area. And a quick stroll down the sidewalk this morning reveals that even more is on the way.

 

Right next door to Tip Top, in the window of a recently closed hair salon, there is now a “coming soon” sign for The Plantain Cafe. The sign doesn’t provide many details other than their slogan: A Taste of Cuba.

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/plantain-cafe.jpg">

i have a request -- can anyone tell me about the banana leaf on bethel? looks like its in that old strip plaza just west of olentangy, yes?

 

the menu looks great:

 

http://www.bananaleafofcolumbus.com/

 

would you rec banana leaf or that dosa place (or someplace else?) for south indian food?

 

I went to Banana Leaf once. Thought it was ok. But I don't know enough about South Indian food to know how they all compare.

 

It's cheap enough though that I'd recommend at least trying it once and see what you think. ;)

The 8th Annual North Market Food and Wine Festival

 

The North Market will host its eighth celebration of Ohio’s finest wines and great foods to pair with them during the weekend of July 10th-12th.  Sponsoring organizations of the North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival include: National City/PNC, Ohio Grape Industries, Ford Motor Company, Master Clean and Columbus Alive.

 

The festival will kick-off on Friday night with a special preview party from 7-10 p.m.  Tickets to the event are $20 and include a customized wine glass, 10 tasting tickets and a $5 North Market gift certificate. Proceeds benefit the historic North Market. Columbus celebrities will serve as guest pourers for the wineries. The Inner City Blues Band will be on hand to get the party jumping and the bodies shaking in the streets. Discount coupons good for $5 off Preview Party admission are available at local National City Bank branches starting in July.

 

Throughout the weekend the following wineries from around Ohio will offer select wines by the taste (50 cents to $2.00 each), glass, bottle and case: Chalet Debonne Vineyard, Madison; Ferrante Winery, Geneva; Firelands Winery, Sandusky; Henke Winery, Cincinnati; Laurello Vineyards, Geneva; Maize Valley Winery, Hartville; Markko Vineyard, Conneaut; Meranda-Nixon Winery, Ripley; Mon Ami Winery, Port Clinton; Ravens Glenn Winery, West Lafayette; Slate Run Vineyard, Canal Winchester; St. Joseph Vineyards, Thompson; Stoney Ridge Winery, Bryan; Troutman Vineyards, Wooster; The Winery at Wolf Creek, Norton; Valley Vineyards, Morrow; Viking Vineyard, Kent and Wyandotte Winery, Columbus.

 

There will be two fun additions to the festivities this year. First, Ford Motor Company will be offering test drives of their newly designed Ford Fiesta, due at dealerships next year. Second, cooking demonstrations will take place in the newly minted Ohio Proud mobile kitchen. The kitchen consists of a 24-foot trailer that has the look and feel of a home kitchen with three large screen monitors to display the demonstrations to the audience. The Market is excited about the enhancement that both of these features lend to our event.

 

“With an ever-increasing focus on everything local, our Food and Ohio Wine Festival provides visitors the opportunity to sample a wide variety of the best wines made in our state.  The overall quality and variety of Ohio wine is surprisingly good and I’m confident that everyone who attends will find a wine or two that can become a regular choice when they shop,” said David Wible, Executive Director for the North Market. “Wine making is a local agricultural activity and fits perfectly with the mission of North Market to support local businesses, agriculture and economies.”

 

Festival hours are Friday, July 10, 7-10 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 12, 1 – 6 p.m.  Preview Party admission is $20 with $5 discount coupons available at local National City Bank branches. Saturday and Sunday admission is free.  A $5 tasting fee includes a souvenir glass with tasting tickets available for purchase in any quantity for $.50 apiece.  For additional information on the North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival, please call 614-463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com.

 

North Market Food and Ohio Wine Festival Presented by National City Schedule of Activities:

 

Friday, July 10th - Admission $20 (includes souvenir glass, 10 tasting tickets, $5 North Market certificate)

Festival Hours, 7 – 10 p.m.

 

7 – 10 p.m. Ohio Wineries open for tasting, North Market remains open

7 – 10 p.m. Meet the winemakers, celebrity wine pourers, music by The Inner City Blues Band

 

Saturday, July 11th – Tasting admission $5 (includes souvenir glass)

Festival Hours, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

8 a.m., North Market merchants and Farmers’ Market, open for business

9 a.m. – 11 a.m., music by Folkwood Players on the porch

10 a.m., Ohio wineries open for tasting

10 a.m. – 4 p.m., hourly cooking demonstrations by local chefs in the Ohio Proud kitchen

11 a.m. – 1 p.m., music by One More Time String Band on the porch

11 a.m., culinary demonstration by John Hard, CaJohns Flavor & Fire

10 a.m. – 12 p.m., calypso music by Island Breeze on the Spruce Street stage

10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Ohio Farm Bureau Corn Climbing Wall

1 p.m. – 3 p.m., music by the Shaw Brothers on the porch

12 – 2 p.m., music by the Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folks on the Spruce Street stage

3 – 5 p.m., Joy Unspeakable, the living statue, as the god of wine

3 p.m.-5 p.m., music by Willie Phoenix on the porch

2 – 5 p.m., music by the Gipson & Fitz Trio on the Spruce Street stage

5 – 7 p.m., music by the Great Mad Hoax on the Spruce Street stage

 

Sunday, July 12th - Tasting admission $5 (includes souvenir glass)

Festival Hours, 12 – 6 p.m. (wine tasting begins at 1 p.m.)

 

12 p.m., North Market merchants, Ohio Proud and Artisan Market open for business

12 – 2 p.m., bluegrass music by Slate Ridge on the porch

1 p.m., culinary demonstration in the Ohio Proud kitchen

12 – 2 p.m., music by Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk on Spruce Street Stage

12 – 2 p.m., Joy Unspeakable, the living statue, as the god of wine

2 - 4 p.m., CD101 prize wheel, you spin, you win!

2 p.m., culinary demonstration in the Ohio Proud kitchen

2 - 4 p.m., music by the Gadabouts on the porch

2 - 4 p.m., music by the Great Mad Hoax on the Spruce Street stage

3 p.m., culinary demonstration in the Ohio Proud kitchen

4 – 6 p.m., music by Eileen Howard Jazz Trio on the porch

4 p.m., culinary demonstration in the Ohio Proud kitchen

4 – 6 p.m., music by Willie Phoenix on the Spruce Street stage

 

For more information, visit www.NorthMarket.com.

First Bite: Dirty Frank's

Thursday,  July 9, 2009 - 6:00 AM

By G.A. Benton, Columbus Alive

 

Ironic T-shirts and tattoos are not required at Dirty Frank's, but they are welcome.  Open barely a week, local business whiz Liz Lessner's new hot dog emporium has the built-in cachet of instant hipster hangout.

 

Then again, if Lessner (Betty's, Surly Girl and Tip Top) took over an MCL Cafeteria, it'd probably be immediately swamped with a swarm of PBR-clinging kids lining up for retooled liver and onions.  And I'd probably be there too, because Lessner's restaurants are flat-out fun.

 

Read more at http://www.columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2009/07/09/ca_fo_bite.html?sid=108

 

 

 

Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace

248 S. Fourth St., Downtown

614-824-4673

Web: www.dirtyfrankscolumbus.com

 

FROM HERE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/j-gumbos-opens-downtown-on-july-14th

 

<b>J. Gumbo’s Opens Downtown on July 14th</b>

By Walker | July 11, 2009 2:35pm

 

On Tuesday at 11am, J. Gumbo’s will open their doors at 31 E. Gay Street (corner of Gay & Pearl in the former Skambo space) and start serving up a variety of Cajun and Creole dishes. The revamped space has preserved the seating areas both upstairs and downstairs, and will also have patio seating available out front. Their walk-up window in Pearl Alley will be utilized for phone orders to-go, and an outdoor tent will be set up outside on Tuesdays and Fridays during the Pearl Market for sampling.

 

The management team stated earlier today that their hours should run from 11am to 10pm Monday through Saturday, and that a liquor license is currently being obtained. Happy hour specials will be offered, and live music will accompany specials on certain evenings.

 

Wallspace in the downstairs area will be dedicated to featuring local artists and will be rotated on a monthly basis. A wall mural is being commissioned for the upstairs dining area.

 

More information can be found online at www.JGumbos.com.

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/jgumbos2.jpg">

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/jgumbos1.jpg">

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/jgumbos3.jpg">

Awesome!

I was a "celebrity" wine pourer last night at the fest. Fun times. ;)

 

Anne & I will be volunteering tomorrow at one of the ticket sales booths. Say hi if you stop by! :D

Great news about J. Gumbo's.  That interior space is way too good to be unoccupied.  Fantastic views to Gay Street too.

Restaurant redux (J. Gumbo's)

Tuesday,  July 14, 2009 - 3:02 AM

By Bill Chronister, The Columbus Dispatch

 

Fans of Downtown New Orleans restaurant, which operated at 163 N. High Street until 2005, will want to check out J. Gumbo's at 31 E. Gay Street.  The recipes are the same.  In a dispute over the High Street location's lease, owner Billy Fox moved Downtown New Orleans all the way to Louisville, Ky.  Since then, he's conducted market research, changed the restaurant's name and begun licensing the concept.  The restaurant, which has room for 42 inside and 10 to 15 on the patio, has started serving lunch only, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.  "Big bowl" entrees, which cost $5 to $7, include red beans and rice, jambalaya and etouffee. Also available are po' boys and wraps.

 

As time goes by, and especially when the liquor license is approved, McCoury and Stauffer will go after the dinner and weekend crowd.

 

More at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/14/rest_0714.ART_ART_07-14-09_A8_U1EFDO8.html?sid=101

Remembering the '80s (Tommy's Diner)

Tuesday,  July 14, 2009 - 3:02 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Michael Pappas and his parents, Tom and Kathy Pappas, are peeling back the layers of time on Wednesday at Tommy's Diner, 914 W. Broad St. in Franklinton, for their restaurant's 20th anniversary.  "We're taking five of our most popular items and giving them 1989 prices," Michael said.

 

The five: gyro platter with fries ($4.25), grilled ham and cheese with a bowl of bean soup ($3.50), cheeseburger and fries ($3.50), the No. 5 breakfast -- two eggs any style, three strips of bacon, home fries and toast -- ($2.99), and a stack of three hotcakes ($2.50).  The restaurant will be open from 5:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., as it has been every day for the past 20 years - and for the next 20, if all goes well.

 

More at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/14/rest_0714.ART_ART_07-14-09_A8_U1EFDO8.html?sid=101

Hello,

 

I have a friend flying in from out of town that I will be taking out to dinner on a Friday.  What is a good date restaurant in the Short North area?  I went to OSU (although I no longer live in Cbus) and I am thinking either Martini's or the Happy Greek but was looking for any other suggestions.  Neither of us are picky so the style of food makes no difference.  Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

 

Thanks

Rossi + Bar or Northstar Cafe are both great affordable places.

Thanks for the response ColDayMan, I will have to look into those.  I just realized this should probably go under "restaurants and entertainment" so feel free to move this thread.

 

More suggestions are welcome.

All good places mentioned previously.  Here's a few more:

 

Italian choice: MARCELLA'S - http://www.marcellasristorante.com/

 

Steakhouse choice: HYDE PARK STEAKHOUSE - http://www.hydeparkrestaurants.com/

 

Asian/seafood choice: LEMONGRASS FUSION BISTRO - http://www.lemongrassfusion.com/

I would recommend Marcella's.  I ate there on New Year's Eve.  Aside from having reasonable prices for fine dining, they are small plates so you can taste a good number of things and share easily.  Also, John Cooper sat behind me, he frequents there often.

Restaurant Review | On the Fly

Eclectic street food undergoes a vegan twist

Thursday,  July 16, 2009 - 3:07 AM

By Jon Christensen for the Columbus Dispatch

 

On the Fly offers a no-frills collection of sandwiches, salads and finger foods.  As with its next-door parent, Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine, its assortment of foods -- modeled after the offerings of kiosks and pushcart vendors in various countries -- is entirely vegan.  Prepared in the Dragonfly kitchen, the food is organic and kosher.

 

On the Fly

249 King Avenue

www.neo-vevents.com

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/weekender/stories/2009/07/16/9A_JON16.ART_ART_07-16-09_T7_QKEFDQ6.html?sid=101#Scene_1

<b>LNS: Late Night Slice</b>

Posted by cmhgourmand on July 13, 2009

 

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/3718451629_781ae6fec7_m.jpg">

 

I was driving north on High Street – trying to explain the concept of hipsters to my Nascar Hippie co-pilot by pointing out examples strolling, stumbling and strutting along the street.

 

My head did a double take a couple times, but locked on to a small shack with a neon sign, a cluster of tables and young people engaged in food consumption. If it was not 11:00 at night I would have thought it was a picnic.

 

Circling around for a better look I spied a neon pizza sign and knew some sampling was in order.

 

Read More: http://cmhgourmand.com/2009/07/13/lns-late-night-slice/

<b>Fast-casual deli planning expansion to central Ohio</b>

Thursday,  July 16, 2009 3:12 AM

By Tracy Turner

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

<img src="http://www.columbusdispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/images/jul/columbus_1..JPG_07-16-09_A12_0HEG3DS.jpg">

 

A new Southern-style restaurant chain known for its sweet tea has announced plans to build at least 10 locations in central Ohio by 2012.

 

McAlister's Deli, based in Ridgeland, Miss., already has five Ohio locations, all in the Cincinnati area. The company is looking to expand into Columbus because of its central location and growing population, said Bill McClintock, senior vice president of development.

 

The fast-casual chain offers counter ordering and table service at a value price, McClintock said.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/16/McAlisters_Deli.ART_ART_07-16-09_A12_G9EG2MH.html?sid=101

Linden Cafe closed....now reopening. BLT with fried green tomatos anyone? Looks like I have an excuse to go to Linden and do some picture-taking.

 

Linden Cafe makes comeback

New restaurateurs cater to community spirit

Tuesday,  July 28, 2009 2:58 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The Linden Cafe is rising from the ashes of the former Columbus Urban Growth Corp., having reopened yesterday after some cosmetic improvements.  The old Linden Cafe "was very popular to people in the area," said Michael Mayfield, who's running the place at 1393 Cleveland Ave. with his wife, Tamara.  The original Linden Cafe served up soul food for a number of years in the Crosstown Building at Cleveland and 11th avenues. But it was closed during the wind-down of Urban Growth, the taxpayer-supported, nonprofit development arm of the city that bought the 1930s-era building and renovated it around 2000.

 

<b>Caffe Daniela Coming Soon to Broad & High</b>

By Walker | July 29, 2009

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/caffe-daniela.jpg">

 

Joe and Mary Jo Milano opened Caffe Daniela, a casual contemporary Italian restaurant concept in Worthington last August. While the new business is just celebrating its one year anniversary, expansion plans have them already opening a second Caffe Daniela Downtown, near the corner of Broad & High in the Huntington Building.

 

“What we’re trying to do is replicate an authentic cafe from Italy,” said Joe. “Many European cities are set up with more pedestrian-driven communities. Here in Worthington we’ve been able to do that quite nicely, and I think we can duplicate that Downtown. There’s a little bit of a different demographic, but we’ll adapt with a slightly more urban cafe.”

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/caffe-daniela-coming-soon-to-broad-high

Rosendale leaving town, but restaurant staying

Business First of Columbus - by Dan Eaton

Monday, August 3, 2009, 5:13pm

 

Richard Rosendale is leaving Columbus, but his eponymous restaurant will stay.  The restaurateur has been named executive chef of the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., where he worked before coming to Columbus to start Rosendales Modern Bistro and the adjacent Details Minibar & Lounge in the Short North.  “This is a life-changing opportunity,” he said.  “I thought I might have an opportunity like this down the road, but I didn’t think it’d come this early in my career.”  Rosendale, 33, came to Columbus in 2007 to open his first restaurant, leaving his position as head of fine dining at Greenbrier. 

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/03/daily8.html?surround=lfn

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/cantina-laredo-opens-first-ohio-restaurant

 

<b>Cantina Laredo Opens First Ohio Restaurant</b>

By Walker | August 4, 2009

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cantinafront1.jpg">

 

The Dallas-Fort Worth based Cantina Laredo opened up their first Ohio location today in the Lifestyle Center expansion at the Polaris Mall. According to their website, the restaurant serves “authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated atmosphere”.

 

Their menu includes a variety of steak, chicken, and seafood specialities and their website advertises daily specials as well. Prices mostly range from $8 to $12 for lunch and $11 up to $27 for dinner entrees.

^^^^That is great news about the Linden Cafe reopening.

^^^Also great news about a restaurant going into the old Cheryl's Cookies location at Broad and High.  That should be an ideal downtown location for lunchtime.

Torski hoping his Graffiti Burger business makes mark with area diners

Business First of Columbus - by Dan Eaton

Friday, July 24, 2009

 

Jim Torski sees success where Starbucks Corp. acknowledged failure.  The Seattle-based coffeehouse chain shuttered 600 underperforming shops last summer, including six in Central Ohio.  Torski took a site on Sawmill Road and opened Graffiti Burger in May and now plans a second one in an abandoned Starbucks on West Fifth Avenue in Columbus.

 

It was as Torski traveled for that job that he honed the idea for Graffiti Burger, after seeing chains such as In-N-Out Burger, Fatburger, Smashburger and Five Guys Burgers & Fries gain national attention.  Of those chains, only Five Guys operates in Central Ohio, having opened three stores in the past year.  The 2,500-square-foot West Fifth Avenue restaurant is scheduled to open in the fall, and a store in the Polaris area is scheduled to follow this year.  Torski also is looking near Ohio State University.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/07/27/newscolumn1.html

Array of Asian eats arrives in Powell

Business First of Columbus - by Dan Eaton

Friday, July 24, 2009

 

Mark Pi Jr.’s newest restaurant brings something that Central Ohioans haven’t seen in years – full-service dining from the company that helped popularize quick-service Asian restaurants.  The Pi family’s dining roots stretch to China Gate in Hilliard, a full-service restaurant opened by Mark Pi Sr. in the 1970s, but Columbus-based Asian Concepts Inc. grew mostly through its Mark Pi’s Express chain.

 

The 37-shop company, which once had more than 70 locations, has six full-service restaurants but none in the area.  Kogen’s, on Sawmill Parkway in Powell, changes that.  “We’ve done fast food, full-service, you name it, but this allows us to get back into full-service,” said Pi Jr., president.  The 3,400-square-foot restaurant opened this month with seating for 96 diners inside and 34 guests on the patio. 

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/07/27/newscolumn1.html

Wine Guy reaching Hilliard, may join resurrected Corazon

Business First of Columbus - by Dan Eaton

Friday, July 31, 2009

 

The Wine Guy, in the midst of taking his wine shop-bistros to Dublin, downtown Columbus and the Grandview Heights area, is opening a white tablecloth restaurant in Hilliard and could take on the food and wine business at a revived Corazon Club & Spa, the Dublin club that fell into receivership this year.

 

WG Bistro, another variation on his original Wine Guy Wine Shop Wine Bar and Bistro in Pickerington, is scheduled to open Aug. 8 on Scioto Darby Road.  The site once was home to Vito’s Italian Pub and has housed three restaurants in the past three years.  Columbus-based Anchor Cos., owner of the site and development partner to the Wine Guy chain, asked Decker to take over the space.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/03/newscolumn2.html

Restaurateurs seize an opportunity

Business First of Columbus - by Emily Mullin

Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 8:00am EDT

 

Restaurateurs aren’t letting the tough economy eat at them.  Despite the recession, new eateries – especially those with healthy and affordable menu items – are sprouting up all over town.  That’s because people still are eating out, though often at lower price points than before.  But for every new restaurant that opens, it seems one or two shut down.  That’s because the restaurant landscape in Columbus never has been at a standstill, which is true for most cities.  Restaurants come, restaurants go.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/03/focus1.html?b=1249272000^1869023

Rise & Dine to sport new name; Canada push set

Business First of Columbus

Friday, August 7, 2009

 

Rise & Dine Restaurants Inc. is hoping a name change will drive lunch sales.  The Columbus-based breakfast-and-lunch chain is renaming its restaurants Sunny Street Cafe.  “Our consumer research tells us that Rise & Dine generally connotes breakfast to most people,” Chief Operating Officer Joe Deavenport said Friday in a release. “This means our brand must communicate clearly to consumers that our concept specializes in lunch as much as breakfast.”

 

All new restaurants will bear the Sunny Street name.  Existing restaurants will be renamed by the first quarter 2010.  The company’s new Web site, sunnystreetcafe.com, is operating.  The 15-restaurant chain also is pushing into Canada, with three or four restaurants scheduled to open in the province of Ontario in first three months of next year. 

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/03/daily38.html?surround=lfn

New wave of Pi fare

Mark Pi Jr. and siblings follow in their restaurateur father's footsteps in opening their own ventures

Tuesday,  August 11, 2009 - 3:01 AM

By Bill Chronister, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

After a few years of quietly concentrating on their restaurant chains, including Mark Pi's Express, China Gate and Feast of the Dragon, the Pi family is making a new imprint on Columbus.  Mark Pi Jr. has opened Kogen's Far East Fare at 9711 Sawmill Parkway in Powell, and siblings Ko-Rely and Konan Pi plan to open Mark Pi's KoKo Light-Hearted Fare in October in the new food court at Nationwide Children's Hospital.  Kogen's is a particular passion for Mark Pi Jr.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/08/11/rest_0811.ART_ART_08-11-09_A6_AGEO0TE.html?sid=101

Burgers in the air

 

The fourth Five Guys Burgers and Fries in central Ohio has opened on the second floor of Easton Town Center's main building -- an unusual place to find a burger shop.  "It's unique, being inside a mall rather than outside on the street," said Bob Dorfman, whose TCH Restaurant Group is the local franchisee for Five Guys.  "But (mall developer Steiner and Associates) was extremely supportive and cooperative."

 

The Brown Bag Deli, at 898 Mohawk St. in German Village, is filling in a small annex with the Grab Bag -- a weekday-only space in which to buy prepared lunch items -- and an ice-cream shop featuring Johnson's Real Ice Cream.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/08/11/rest_0811.ART_ART_08-11-09_A6_AGEO0TE.html?sid=101

Morton's is closing Downtown steakhouse

Thursday,  August 13, 2009 - 3:12 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The parent company of Morton's the Steakhouse closed its Columbus location yesterday in order to focus on "more premium locations," a spokesman said.  The restaurant, which opened at 280 N. High St. in 1991, is one of four closed this year by Chicago-based Morton's Restaurant Group.  Those restaurants were in Charlotte, N.C.; Southfield, Mich.; Westchester, Ill.; and Minneapolis.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/08/13/mortons_closes.ART_ART_08-13-09_A8_2VEOK94.html?sid=101

Morton's closed in downtown Columbus.  Morton's remains open in Cleveland and Cincinnati.