Photo courtesy Bear’s Bagels

There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

First, a special note: it’s time for the Columbus Arts Festival this weekend! I’ll be downtown on the riverfront working social media for it (make sure you’re following @ColumbusArtsFest on Instagram to see all the fun). There will be nearly 40 food trucks, boozy slushies from High Bank Distillery, beers from Rhinegeist, lemon shake-ups, and a lot more culinary fun, on top of all the visual art, performances, kid’s activities, and demonstrations. I hope to see you there!

• Bear’s Bagels opens its first storefront this morning at 4142 Main St. in Hilliard. They’ve been appearing at the Dublin Market for a while, and this marks the move to a brick and mortar. They’ll be selling bagels, schmears, and sandwiches.
• The Peanut Shoppe downtown has been sold to new owners, who are moving it across Capitol Square to 4 E. Broad St. this September. The Stone family has owned it since 1996 (and worked there since 1972), and they’ve sold it to the Powells. The move will mark the fifth location downtown for the shop, which first opened in 1935! (You can read my article on them on Ohio.org last year.)
• Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ newest local eatery, Del Mar, is set to open at 4089 The Strand East at Easton town center on Tuesday, June 11. The Mediterranean-focused Del Mar takes over the former Bon Vie space. CMR operates Del Mar locations in Naples, Florida and a forthcoming one in West Palm Beach.
• The city of Hilliard announced recently that Drunch Eatery + Bar will add a second location in the TruePointe development coming next year. Drunch operates its first location at 995 N. Fourth St. in Italian Village.
• A churro-centric shop called Oh Churros opened last week at 2110 W. Henderson Rd. in Upper Arlington. (This is the former Peace, Love, and Little Donuts location.)
• The Columbus Summer Wine Festival returns on Saturday, June 8 at McFerson Commons. There will be a collection of 30 wineries, live music, and vendors from the Front Street Flea.
• The Columbus Natural Wine Fest returns for a second year this Sunday, June 9 on West Gay Street downtown, underneath the Current installation. It will feature a dozen local wine shops and restaurants, lots of natural wines, and food from Avishar Barua and B.J. Lieberman.
• Talita’s Burritos and Coneys announced last week that it has closed its location at 6542 Hayden Run Rd. in Hilliard. Their location at 1335 Dublin Rd. is still open.
• The owners of Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream at 1947 Hard Rd. shared on Facebook that after 25 years running it, they have sold the shop to new owners.

This week I’m also writing:

• 5 Restaurants That Opened Last Month: June 2024
• Coffee, Donuts, and Breakfast at the Columbus Commons Every Wednesday
• McGinnis’ Grill Joining Budd Dairy Food Hall; Drunch Eatery Headed to Hilliard (Columbus Monthly)
• Peanut Shoppe Moving to New Downtown Location; Bear’s Bagels Opens in Hilliard (Columbus Monthly)
• Jackie O’s on Fourth in Columbus (Ohio Magazine)

Want to keep up with more? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, search for travel inspiration, explore the breakfast map, or…

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With the return of warm weather, the food trucks have returned to the Columbus Commons! In addition to the Thursday Food Truck Food Court, you can snag breakfast, coffee, and donuts at the Commons every Wednesday from 7:30-10:30 a.m.

Wednesdays they feature a rotation of 3-4 food trucks with a variety of foods, whether you just want coffee and a light snack, or need a heartier breakfast to start the day.

New this year is the Columbus Coffee Company, which serves up hot coffee, cold brew, flavored lattes, lemonades, and other beverages.

I’m a sucker for a good nitro cold brew, and I love that they have it on tap.

Also new this year is the Roaming Rooster food truck.

They feature a variety of breakfast sandwiches, bowls, and French toast nuggets.

I tried a breakfast sandwich with chorizo, over medium eggs, and tomatoes.

And an order of the French toast nuggets topped blueberry jam, lemon sugar, and a sweet cream drizzle. They also feature savory versions topped with a fried egg, meat, and gravy.

Donna’s Delicious Dozen also makes appearances with their truck.

They fry up small cake donuts and cover them with fun toppings.

And Biscuit Boss is on hand serving their giant biscuit sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and sides.

You can go all-in with their Bodacious sandwich: sausage, bacon, egg, cheese, and a honey butter sauce, served between two biscuits and drizzled with syrup and powdered sugar.

While you’re there, you can take a stroll around the Commons!

Breakfast at the Commons is every Wednesday, May through October, from 7:30-10:30 a.m.!

Food trucks may rotate, but you can keep up with the latest info at columbuscommons.org/events/food-trucks.

Parking is available at metered spots around the Commons or in the Columbus Commons garage at 55 E. Rich St.

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There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• This week Black Kahawa coffee roasters opened its new coffee patio at the northeast corner of Broad and High downtown. Currently their trailer is parked there while they build out their full shop in the former Tim Horton’s. Read more about what they’re serving here!
• Stauf’s Coffee Roasters closed its Discovery District shop yesterday. Located at 350 Mt. Vernon Ave., on the ground floor of the View on Grant building, the shop first opened in late 2018.
• Hoof Hearted Brewing opened its new bar, Hoof Hearted Fifth Ave., last week at 26 E. Fifth Ave. in the Short North (the former Brothers Drake Meadery, which moved to Grandview earlier this year). The bar features a dozen Hoof Hearted beers. The nearby Hoof Hearted Brewery & Kitchen is still open, although they’re in a legal dispute with the restaurant owners over the brand ownership.
• The owners of Hiraeth in the Short North announced that the restaurant will close for dinner service after June 1 and transition instead to hosting pop-up dinners, guest chefs, special events, and more. In response to it, they said they’ll bolster the menu at Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge nearby, and transition Chapman’s Eat Market to daily service next month.
• Get ready, folks! Guy Fieri’s Columbus restaurant, Guy Fieri’s Trattoria, opens Sunday, June 2 at the Eldorado Scioto Downs at 6000 S. High St. Their website says they’re serving Italian classics with a twist.
• The Budd Dairy Food Hall shared that sandwich-centric McGinnis’ Grill will open in its Hatch incubator space on Tuesday, June 4.
• A new location of fried chicken chain Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders opened this week at 53 W. Wilson Bridge Rd. in Worthington.
• The Dipped Donut in Delaware announced that it will close its primary donut shop on July 27 of this year, while expanding its gluten free facility next door.
• Earlier this month, Velvet Ice Cream in Utica opened Ye Olde Mill ice cream parlor and retail shop for the season.
• This Saturday, June 1, is the final night of service for Mouton cocktail bar, which is closing as its storefront (and the adjoining one) will be redeveloped.
• Missing Thurn’s Specialty Meats already? You can attend a Farewell Tasting Night that celebrates Thurn’s on Friday, June 14 at Mitchell Hall.
• Derive Brewing in Clintonville hosts its annual festival Wild Springs: Saison & Sour Fest this Saturday, June 1. It will feature dozens of wild-fermented beers from multiple breweries.
• And the fifth-annual Chicken and Beer Festival returns this Saturday to Dodge Park, featuring food trucks serving fried chicken, beer from a couple breweries, live music, family activities, and more.

This week I’m also writing:

• Black Kahawa Coffee Roasters Opens Patio at Broad and High
• Stauf’s Closing Discovery District Coffee Shop; Hoof Hearted Brewing Opens New Bar (Columbus Monthly)
• Delightful Dining at Glenlaurel Scottish Inn & Cottages
• Martiny’s BBQ is a Barbecue Destination Worth Seeking Out

Want to keep up with more? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, search for travel inspiration, explore the breakfast map, or…

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Standardized Brewing is a new brewery and coffee shop in the growing Evans Farm development in Lewis Center.

It’s open daily serving coffee from One Line Coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and Der Dutchman donuts.

In addition to coffee, they have a full bar with cocktails and house brews.

The space features loads of natural light.

They have games for kids to play, lots of outdoor space, and have started hosting food trucks in the afternoon and evenings.

Standarized Brewing
5920 Evans Farm Dr., Suite A
Lewis Center, OH 43035
(614) 428-0900
Web: standardizedbrewing.com
FB: Standardized Brewing Co.
IG: @standardizedbrewingco

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Sometimes its hard to keep up with all the new restaurants in Columbus! So I’m here to highlight five eateries that have opened in the past month. Hopefully this helps you keep up with new ideas for culinary adventures around the city.

1. Los Potosinos

After many years of parking their food truck around the city, Los Potosinos has settled into its first brick and mortar storefront! They found a home on East Long Street in King-Lincoln, right next to the highway. The location is geared more towards carryout, although they’ve already built a brick patio with picnic tables outside. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy some pollo al carbon, tacos, quesadillas, even some Mexican breakfasts!

Read more: Los Potosinos Opens Its First Storefront in King-Lincoln

2. Standardized Brewing

Standardized Brewing debuted at the gateway to the Evans Farm development in Lewis Center. The new neighborhood features streets of picturesque houses, with a mini “downtown” at the front. Although it’s named as a brewery, Standardized opens early every day serving breakfast sandwiches, One Line Coffee, Der Dutchman donuts, and other snacks. You can transition nicely from coffee to beer, or grab dinner from one of the food trucks they host.

Read more: Standardized Brewing Brings Coffee and Beer to Lewis Center

3. Maison Skalli

Maison Skalli is a new spot in Dublin serving beautiful pastries, coffee, and breakfasts and brunches. They draw their inspiration from both European and Northern African sources, so you’ll find a delightful range of dishes.

Learn more: Maison Skalli on Instagram

4. El Carajillo Mexican Cafe & Bar

The owners of the Trading & Coffee trailer, which used to appear in Worthington before migrating to German Village for regular markets and events, took over the old Woodhouse Vegan space in Italian Village, transforming it to El Carajillo. It’s open daily, all day long, serving coffee and breakfasts as well as boozy drinks and dinner.

Read more: Trading & Coffee on Instagram

5. Hank’s Low Country Seafood & Raw Bar

Hank’s technically joined the dining scene at the end of April, but it’s worth highlighting here. The Charleston-based seafood spot debuted in the new build at Gay and High streets downtown, offering a swanky new lounge and restaurant with, of course, a heavy feature on all things from-the-sea.

Read more: Hank’s Low Country Seafood & Raw Bar Arrives in Downtown Columbus

BONUS: Mecha Noodle Bar

Okay, so like Hank’s, Mecha Noodle Bar technically opened in late April, but it’s still worth noting. The northeast chain took over the former White Castle space in the heart of Short North, revamping it with tall ceilings and beautiful natural wood accents. Their creative menu spans ramen and pho, bao buns and fried rice, and more.

Read more: Mecha Noodle Bar Brings Ramen, Pho, and Other Delights to the Short North

Want to keep up with more dining, drink, travel, and other fun ideas? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, search for travel inspiration, explore the breakfast map, or…

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In preparation for its new shop at Broad and High streets downtown, Black Kahawa coffee roasters has opened up its trailer on the patio, serving coffee, snacks, and whole beans.

Black Kahawa is revamping the former Tim Horton’s on the northeast corner of this key downtown intersection. They plan to open the full shop sometime this summer.

They’ve already had a steady presence downtown, from pop-ups at the Hills Market to appearances by their trailer on the Scioto Mile last summer.

In the meantime, their trailer is serving all your coffee needs!

Their menu includes drip coffee, espresso drinks, nitro cold brew, tea, plus snacks from Bite This By Annie. You can also purchase whole bean coffee.

I’m especially partial to their nitro cold brew with their Zanzibar spice blend. It’s lightly sweet with touches of cardamom and cinnamon.

Black Kahawa features East African coffees, imported from small farmers and roasted here in Columbus.

The coffee trailer is up and running Tuesdays through Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Black Kahawa
2 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Web: blackkahawa.com
FB: blackkahawa
IG: @blackkahawa

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Martiny’s BBQ is a family-run barbecue spot operating on a busy stretch along Route 23 in Lewis Center. Their small, faux log cabin building is easy to drive by, but it’s worth making a detour to taste some of their barbecue!

Inside there’s a small dining room with a handful of picnic tables.

It’s cozy, to say the least!

But if you don’t want to get out of your car, they actually have a drive-through around the back of the building!

We sampled a pair of identical platters: brisket, baked beans, mac and cheese, plus sides of rolls and pickles.

The brisket was a touch lean but the flavor was great. Next time I’ll ask for the fattier end of it!

I appreciated that the baked beans were very flavorful without being overcooked and mushy.

And this mac and cheese is perhaps the best I’ve had at a barbecue joint: properly cooked pasta that’s rich, creamy, and very nicely seasoned.

Clearly we have to go back for more: the half chicken, pulled pork, and especially the pork belly burnt ends. I’ll update this post as we try more, but suffice it to say that we’re fans!

Martiny’s is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Martiny’s BBQ
5808 Columbus Pike
Lewis Center, OH 43035
(740) 201-8864
Web: martinysbbq.com
FB: Martiny’s BBQ
IG: @martinysbbq

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Disclaimer: this stay was hosted by Glenlaurel. Photos and opinions are our own.

We’ve enjoyed a few different stays at Glenlaurel Scottish Inn & Cottages over the years and have always had a delightful time. The Scottish-themed getaway is tucked into a rolling property in Rockbridge, Ohio, right near Hocking Hills State Park, and there they feature a full restaurant, cozy cottages with hot tubs, a ravine for exploring, and even a nine-hole golf course.

Glenlaurel features a mix of cottages, crofts, and guest rooms in the main house.

The Scottish theme plays out throughout all the rooms.

Each cottage and croft features a private deck with hot tub.

Behind the property is a small ravine with trails running through it. There are a few benches and other casual seating areas throughout.

One of the big delights of staying at Glenlaurel is the dining experience. Glenlaurel changed up its culinary team several months back, and they’re really creating some interesting dishes.

But first… your dinner at Glenlaurel always starts with a cocktail hour, either in the pub or on the patio, depending on the weather. It’s a lovely time when everyone’s invited. (Your first drink is included with your meal.) After about an hour, a bit of recorded bagpiping will call everyone in to dinner. Depending on the size of your group, you may be seated in the main dining room, the downstairs pub, or the big dining table off the entryway.

And then the evening progresses with a six-course meal. The main course varies depending on the day of the week: pork on Mondays, salmon on Tuesdays, rack of lamb on Saturdays, etc., although you can request a different entree in advance.

You can order additional drinks with your meal as well: wine, beer, cocktails, spirits. Everything is beautifully presented.

As you can imagine, there’s also a handsome whiskey list. And the pours are very generous.

The meal generally consists of an amuse bouche, an appetizer, a soup, a salad, a little break for a palate-cleansing sorbet, then the main course followed by dessert.

Our meal this time around included a delightful tuna tartare.

And a very memorable mushroom soup. We chatted with the chefs about some of the morel hunting that takes place all around the region.

We were visiting on a Friday, so the main course was seafood-focused.

After dinner and dessert, it was time to thank our hosts, then head back to the cottage for the night.

But that’s not all! In addition to dinner, a lovely multi-course breakfast is included in your stay. Just like the dinner, it has no right being this good (or no need to be, given the captive audience). But great care and attention is given to the service and dishes. Like these house-made scones!

Or the little bowl of porridge! This version was loaded with blueberries.

In addition to coffee, tea, scones, and porridge, you get your choice from two entrees. We tried one of each. (You can also purchase brunch cocktails!)

This beautifully plated stuffed French toast was loaded with berries and came with a side of bacon.

And check out this open-faced BLT with cherry tomatoes, poached eggs, and hollandaise on a toasted croissant!

We’d highly recommend a stay at Glenlaurel! It feels secluded and relaxing while offering plenty of amenities, including remarkable dining experiences.

Glenlaurel Scottish Inn & Cottages
14940 Mount Olive Rd.
Rockbridge, OH 43149
(740) 385-4070 or 800-809-7378
Web: glenlaurel.com
FB: Glenlaurel, A Scottish Inn & Cottages
IG: @glenlaurel_inn

Disclaimer: this stay was hosted by Glenlaurel. Photos and opinions are our own.

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There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• A new combined brewery and coffee shop called Standardized Brewing opened yesterday at 5920 Evans Farm Dr. in Lewis Center. It’s part of the new Evans Farm development, and features house brews, One Line Coffee, and donuts from Der Dutchman.
• Crimson opened a new coffee shop late last week at 64 W. Lane Ave., inside the Newman Center across from Ohio State’s campus. It’s the second shop for Crimson, which opened its first in late 2020 at Easton. Read more in Check Out Crimson’s New Coffee Shop Near Ohio State’s Campus.
• The Little Grand Market, coming this summer to Thrive Companies’ Grandview Crossing development, announced six new vendors coming to the market. These include a second location of Los Agavez Taqueria, For the Love of Dough cookie vendor, Gant’s Pizza out of Circleville, Just Chicken (which has a stall at East Market), Seoul Food on the Go (which is at Bubbly Hall), and Pablo’s Havana Cafe (which also has a presence at North Market Bridge Park).
• This week Johnson’s Real Ice Cream completed a trio a new store openings with the arrival of its Canal Winchester shop. Located at 20 S. High St., it joins newcomers in Grandview and Italian Village.
• The owner of York Steak House on the West Side announced on Facebook this week that he’s retiring after 45 years and has put the steakhouse up for sale. It’s remaining open as normal in the meantime. York Steak House first started in Columbus in 1966 and crew to nearly 180 stores.
• BrewDog opened a small brewpub on Concourse B of John Glenn Columbus International Airport this week. Find it near Gate B20, serving BrewDog beers, guest drafts, and a menu focused around burgers, pretzels, and the like.
• The Ohio Distillery Trail officially kicked off this week. The digital passport will take you around to nearly 40 craft distilleries all across the state. Many distilleries are hosting special events, such as Echo Spirits, which will hold a launch party on Saturday, May 25 from 4-10 p.m., with music, tours, food trucks, and the release of a maple-finished rye whiskey.
• The Jeni’s Strawberry Jam is this Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26 at Land-Grant Brewing! It features Jeni’s ice cream, strawberries from local farms, Fox in the Snow strawberry shortcake, and Land-Grant beers – on top of live music, food trucks, and family activities. It’s taking place all over the Land-Grant campus, including their new Extension bar.

This week I’m also writing:

• The Granville Inn Unveils Renovations and New Menus in Time for its 100th Anniversary
• Thurn’s Specialty Meats to Close This Weekend; Crimson Opens Campus-Area Coffee Shop (Columbus Monthly)
• Where To Find Mochi Donuts in Columbus
• York Steak House For Sale, Standardized Brewing Opens in Lewis Center (Columbus Monthly)
• Chile Verde Just Launched a Killer Southwestern Brunch

Want to keep up with more? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, search for travel inspiration, explore the breakfast map, or…

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After debuting its first store at Easton in 2020, Crimson – a brand under the Crimson Cup Coffee umbrella – just opened its second store, this one inside the St. Thomas More Newman Center near Ohio State’s campus!

The shop occupies a single front corner room of the building facing Lane Avenue, with vaulted ceilings and windows allowing plenty of natural light.

Their menu covers the usual suspects: espresso drinks, pour overs, cold brew, tea, seasonal creations, plus breakfast sandwiches and treats from Freedom a la Cart.

I started my visit with my usual cortado. I love the brown glass cups.

I snagged a bacon gouda breakfast sandwich as well.

And a cappuccino for my second round. Again, I love the presentation.

A small stand near the door features Crimson beans, tea, and coffee brewing equipment.

Crimson is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. There’s free parking around back in the Newman Center’s lot.

Check out Crimson’s first store at Easton Town Center, too!

Crimson
64 W. Lane Ave. (inside the Newman Center)
Columbus, OH 43201
Web: crimsoncoffee.com
FB: CRIMSON
IG: @crimsoncolumbus

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I’m excited to share my latest culinary adventure with the freshest Sweet Georgia peaches from Kroger! Today, we whipped up one of my signature Dutch baby pancakes topped with a fresh peach and thyme compote. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors that scream summer! Dive into this seasonal treat with me and discover the freshness of Kroger’s peaches firsthand.

Fresh Peach and Thyme Compote

Ingredients:

• 4-5 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced (about 4 cups)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust based on sweetness of peaches)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Peel the peaches using a sharp knife and remove the pits. Slice some of the peaches into thin slices and leave some in larger chunks or wedges. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sliced and chunked peaches with the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, thyme leaves, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
3. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
4. Let the compote simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the peaches are tender and the mixture has thickened slightly. If the compote seems too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of water during cooking.
5. Remove the compote from heat and let it cool slightly. 
6. Serve warm or chilled as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, pancakes, or waffles.

Storage:

Store any leftover compote in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy your delicious peach-thyme compote with the perfect balance of sweet peaches and aromatic thyme!

The post Recipe: Fresh Peach and Thyme Compote appeared first on Breakfast With Nick.

I’m a little embarrassed to say that, in more than 20 years of living in Columbus, we’ve never been to Chile Verde. Sure, we’ve tasted some of their stuff at Taste of Dine Originals (the forerunner to the current Columbus Independents), but we’ve never been to their restaurant! And if ever there was a reason to finally visit, it’s THEIR NEW WEEKEND BRUNCH.

Owner Tom Anthony invited us in to try the new weekend offerings, in the works for a couple decades, and let me tell you: it is killer. We’re already planning return visits. Their Southwestern fare is colorful, wonderfully seasoned, and served in generous portions.

Chile Verde been around since 1991, starting first near Bethel and Sawmill before adding a location on Gemini Place behind Polaris, then consolidating the two at Gemini earlier this year. Their weekend brunch menu debuted earlier in May, with coffee, cocktails, shareables, handhelds, entrees, and a kid’s menu.

Our server suggested we start with the Carlsbad cold brew: coffee flavored with honey and cinnamon, then topped with whipped cream.

Our server brought over salsa and chips, and we tried a little queso with chorizo.

We started with an order of sopa-pillows, their take on sopaipillas, little fried pillows dusted with cinnamon and sugar.

Their tostadas, waffles, and pancakes are all made with blue corn. The blue corn waffle is topped with fresh fruit, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with whipped butter.

The chicken and waffle uses that same blue corn waffle and tops it with a large piece of crispy hot honey fried chicken.

The sandia sopaipilla is a massive sopaipilla stuffed with cheesy scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and your choice of green chile pork, shredded beef, or steak, and your pick of red or green chiles.

Chile Verde is known for their green chiles, especially their green chile stew. Tom said they ship in about a hundred pounds of red and green chiles from New Mexico every week. And his family owns a farm near Sunbury, so they incorporate produce from it in the menu.

We were positioned to see a lot of dishes coming out of the kitchen (believe, we didn’t eat ALL of this!. We caught a glimpse of the three sisters skillet hash, loaded with shredded potatoes, your choice of meat, eggs, baked cheese, pico, grilled jalapeños, chiles, and the three sisters: black beans, corn, and zucchini.

And we spied the blue corn pancakes!

And here’s cowboy chilaquiles

This was one of my favorite dishes of the meal. It features freshly fried chips sauteed in red chiles, then piled high with your choice of meat (I highly recommend the chorizo), queso fresco, onions, cilantro, grilled jalapeños, sour cream, and two eggs cooked to order.

It was full of flavor and served in a huge portion. I got more than two meals out of this one dish!

If brunch isn’t your thing, the regular menu kicks in at 11 a.m., so you can order their massive burrito.

Or the equally generous and overflowing quesadilla.

Needless to say, we were super impressed with Chile Verde, and again a little sheepish for not having tried it out before. We can’t wait to go back for brunch, lunch, dinner, or all of the above. It’s been a while since we’ve had a place that wowed us quite like this!

Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Chile Verde
1522 Gemini Pl.
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 846-8773
Web: chileverdecafe.com
FB: Chile Verde
IG: @chileverdecafe

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This year the Granville Inn, that handsome local institution on Broadway in Granville, turns 100 years old. In conjunction with its centennial, the restaurant just completed significant renovations to its Tavern and Oak Room dining rooms and released a new spring menu. They were kind enough to invite us out to try dinner and drinks!

The inn was built in 1924 by coal and railroad magnate John Sutphin Jones, who later went on to build Bryn Du Mansion next door. The Inn has been through a few ownership changes over its 100 years, most recently being purchased in 2013 by Denison University and renovated in 2015.

The latest renovations have separated out the more casual Tavern side…

…from the Oak Room dining area.

The Tavern and Oak Room menus differ from each other, in that the Tavern is a little more burger-and-sandwich leaning while the Oak Room features larger entrees.

But both menus are pretty focused, offering a nice variety without sprawling over too many dishes.

The drink menus in both sections are pretty much the same, including a small wine list and cocktails (with a couple non-alcoholic offerings). This is the smoked Old Fashioned made with Middle West Spirits’ Dark Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey.

The Oak Room Paper Plane marries Del Maguey Vida mezcal with Amaro Nanino, Aperol, and lemon.

We began with a pair of appetizers suggested by our server.

The Brussels sprouts are nicely roasted so they’re crispy and covered with lavender honey, crumbles of applewood bacon, and pickled onions.

One of my favorite dishes of the night was the fried buttermilk calamari. They’re wonderfully tender, and flavored with a sweet Thai chili sauce, toasted cashews, mint (I’ll allow it), on a bed of greens.

The entrees cover chicken, steak, pasta, a Moroccan chickpea stew. The Korean marinated salmon really stood out. It’s a sesame-crusted Faroe Island salmon served with a delightful kimchi fried rice, baby bok choy, charred scallion, and an gochujang glaze.

The braised lamb shank was beautifully plated. It was just a tad tough for my taste, but the flavors were spot-on, especially paired with farro, marinated tomatoes, and wild mushrooms with a lamb demi-glace.

We were enticed to try a pair of desserts as well, like this beautiful lemon blueberry basil tart.

And these zeppole, Italian donuts flavored with a little powdered sugar and a side of mixed berry compote.

The dining areas have been very nicely restored, to preserve the historic character of the building while offering some modern dining amenities. And I didn’t even touch on the patio space out front!

It should be noted that the Inn is open for lunch and weekend brunch as well.

And in case it wasn’t clear, the Granville Inn is a working inn, with 39 guest rooms and suites, plus event spaces!

Granville Inn
314 E. Broadway
Granville, OH 43023
(740) 587-3333
Web: granvilleinn.com
FB: Granville Inn
IG: @granvilleinn_ohio

The post The Granville Inn Unveils Renovations and New Menus in Time for its 100th Anniversary appeared first on Breakfast With Nick.

Look, I’m always on the hunt for donuts, so it’s fun seeing more mochi donuts pop up around town!

Mochi donuts are a blend of classic American pastries and Japanese mochi, which are confections made with a spongy and chewy rice flour. These versions are typically crafted into circles of eight tiny balls, then lightly frosted in a variety of flavors.

Here’s where to find mochi donuts in Columbus!

1. The Mochi Shop

The Mochi Shop has been a staple of the Worthington Farmers Market for a couple years. Their donuts have undergone a few different changes over the years before landing on the trendy, eight-segmented style.

Nowadays they often appear at farmers markets like Dublin and Worthington, shops like Little Cat Boba and Kitty Bubble Cafe & Bar. You can also pre-order from their website and pick up from Global Gallery Coffee Shop in Clintonville on Saturdays.

You’ll find flavors like cookies and cream, ube, strawberry cream, matcha white chocolate, passionfruit, honeydew, and more.

They sell out fairly quickly at the markets on Saturdays, so make sure you visit early!

Learn more: @the.mochi.shop on Instagram and the-mochi-shop.square.site

2. Mochi Ring

Mochi Ring is a small chain mainly centered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, although they’re expanding eastward, including a new shop in Columbus’ Kenny Centre on the northwest side!

In addition to mochi donuts, they serve more Instagram-friendly treats like bubble tea, Korean corn dogs, and “tornado potatoes,” spiral-cut fried potatoes on a stick.

Mochi Ring’s displays are lined with trays of donuts in a variety of flavors.

You’ll find fun flavors like milk chocolate with marshmallows.

Or vanilla icing with Fruity Pebbles.

Find Mochi Ring at 1144 Kenny Centre Mall!

Learn more at mochiringohio.com or @mochiringcolumbus on Instagram.

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In case you missed the news last year, Rockmill Brewery outside Lancaster has new owners and is re-establishing itself after a rocky few years. Last June its operations were assumed by Austin Caulk and Taylor Scribner, who got engaged and married at the farm! They worked hard to purchase the brewery, eventually winning an auction earlier this winter.

Rockmill had been on rough ground thanks to the pandemic and the difficult exit of its original owner Matthew Barbee. (It also closed Rockmill Tavern in Columbus and its follow-up restaurant.) To read the full story, check out this feature in the January 2024 Columbus Monthly.

BUT… we were happy to reconnect with it again over Mother’s Day weekend. We hadn’t been out there since June of 2021 (you can also read my 2015 post), so it was good to sip beers on the lawn again.

A few years back Rockmill added a modern taproom to the property, with a full bar, fireplace, and shaded patio. The original farmhouse and taproom was used for events, although that’s currently dark.

The new taproom is brightly lit with natural wood accents.

There’s a stone fireplace to one end.

While the new owners work to rebuild the beer menu, there are only about 3-4 Rockmill brews on tap, along with several more guest taps from Ohio breweries, plus cocktails.

They also host food trucks pretty regularly. (Keep an eye on their social media to see who’s visiting.) There’s often a pizza truck, so we snagged a couple pies and a giant pretzel on our visit.

The patio is two levels, one stone and one grassy, with lots of shaded spots. Kids and dogs are welcome!

After we enjoyed some pizza and beer, we walked further into the property. The real charm of Rockmill is the giant lawn (it used to be a horse farm originally) with a big pond and a rustic little chapel. We brought a picnic and some blankets, plus a frisbee and a tennis ball to throw to our black lab.

The chapel is a really charming little spot. We have a number of friends who got married there over the years!

Rockmill is currently open:

• Thursdays, 4-9 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday, 12-9 p.m.
• Sunday, 12-8 p.m.

Rockmill Brewery
5705 Lithopolis Rd. NW
Lancaster, OH 43130
(740) 209-0114
FB: Rockmill Brewery
IG: @rockmillbrewery

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There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• Today at 11 a.m. Land-Grant Brewing opens its new bar, Extension. The stand-alone space is next to the Gravity Experience Park, across the alley from Land-Grant’s main taproom and beer garden. It serves experimental beers, wine, and cocktails. See more in Land-Grant Brewing Opens The Extension Bar!
• Also today, Lucky’s Market opens its new Victorian Village store at 747 Neil Ave. It’s part of the rebuilt Thurber Village plaza, former site of a Giant Eagle (and a Big Bear, if you remember that far back). In addition to Lucky’s, the plaza includes a new apartment building and a reconstructed CVS on the corner.
• The Toro Meat Market also opened a new store at 704 Parsons Ave. this week! This makes for three locations for the family-owned Mexican market. Two years ago Toro took over the former Carfagna’s space at 1405 E. Dublin Granville Rd. when Carfagna’s moved to Polaris.
• I’m excited to check out this place! The Latin-inspired Cocinamos Bakery + Bistro opened recently at 3 W. Winter St. in downtown Delaware, serving coffee, baked goods, and lunch.
• Budd Dairy Food Hall announced that Zaki Mediterranean Grill would become a permanent stall in June, taking over the former Cousins Maine Lobster space. Zaki was previously part of Budd Dairy’s Hatch incubator program.
• Mouton cocktail bar announced this week that its official last day in business will be June 1. Back in April Mouton announced that its landlord hadn’t renewed its lease, as a new business would take over Mouton’s storefront and the one next door.
• Agape Mediterranean announced that it will add a fifth location this fall at Grandview Yard.
• The Pearl Market opened for the season this week! This year you’ll find it every Tuesday at Pearl and Gay streets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every Thursday at the Columbus Commons from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., now through October. Also kicking off this week is the Food Truck Food Court every Thursday at the Commons and Breakfast at the Commons Wednesday mornings from 7:30-10:30 a.m.
• Chef Alana Shock of Alana’s Food & Wine hosts a pop-up dinner this Saturday, May 18 at Station in Granville.
• In the latest round of reader’s polls, Buckeye Donuts has been nominated for USA Today’s 10Best awards for Best Donut Shop. Go vote for them daily!

This week I’m also writing:

• Land-Grant Brewing Opens The Extension Bar
• Aardvark Wine & Beer Opens Dive Baar; the Junto Appoints New Executive Chef (Columbus Monthly)
• 8 Reasons to Make a Food Road Trip to Butler County (Ohio Magazine)
• Land-Grant Brewing Opens Extension Bar; Lucky’s Market Joins Victorian Village (Columbus Monthly)

Want to keep up with more? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, search for travel inspiration, explore the breakfast map, or…

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This Friday, May 17, Land-Grant Brewing in Franklinton opens its newest addition, a separate bar that’s appropriately called The Extension! The bar sits next to the Gravity Experience Park, which debuted late last year with a secondary bar, ice bumper cars, public art, and outdoor seating. For the warmer months, the park has been converted to pickleball and basketball courts.

The Extension is a long, rectangular space with a bar and one end, tables, and TVs that look like mirrors when they’re off. A trio of garage doors open the space onto the Gravity Experience Park and the alley back to Land-Grant’s main taproom and beer garden.

To distinguish itself from the taproom, The Extension serves a menu of experimental beers in their Cultivation series, ciders, cocktails, and a curated wine list. This is their Cerveza de la Casa Negra Mexican dark lager.

For the non-beer drinkers, there’s a small cocktail menu featuring Land-Grant’s take on the classics.

And experimental beers like the Blanc, a crisp, refreshing blend of beer and Sauvignon Blanc wine.

The Extension opened just in time for the Jeni’s Strawberry Jam, May 25-26. And it fills in the gap between the original taproom, the beer garden, and the Experience Park.

The Extension will be open daily, and is kid-friendly until 8 p.m.

The Extension will be open:

• Monday-Wednesday, 3-10 p.m.
• Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight
• Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Land-Grant Extension
458 W. Chapel St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Web: landgrantbrewing.com/extension
IG: @landgrantextension

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There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• This week Ace of Cups in the Old North announced a new partnership with Dirty Frank’s Hot Dogs and Blackened Coffee Co. The two vendors will be joining the music venue this summer, with Blackened Coffee offering vegan breakfast and coffee, and Dirty Frank’s slinging hot dogs and tots. The existing Ray Ray’s food truck will keep up operations, too.
• In case you missed the news last week, Los Potosinos opened its new storefront at 695 E. Long St. in King-Lincoln. Get a look at their first brick and mortar, and its menu, here!
• Also over the weekend, the owners of the Trading & Coffee food trailer, which currently pops-up at the German Village Farmers Market, opened El Carajillo Mexican Cafe & Bar at 851 N. Fourth St. in Italian Village. The corner cafe was formerly Woodhouse Vegan, which consolidated its cafe with the shared bakery space in the Short North with Park Service Coffee.
• Aardvark Wine & Beer’s new bar, dubbed the Dive Baar, opened at the rear of its space this week. Get a look at Dive Baar and its offerings here.
• The owners of Agave & Rye announced a new restaurant called Loco Social coming to 1295 Grandview Ave. Debuting later this month, the eatery will feature rum cocktails and an all-day brunch menu.
• Pam’s Market Popcorn & Windy City Eats announced that it will be closing on June 22 of this year. Owner Pam Tylka cited health concerns as the reason. Pam’s first started at North Market downtown in 2005 before moving to 955 E. Johnstown Rd. in Gahanna in 2017.
• Over the weekend, Homestead Beer Co. closed their original taproom in Heath. They’re moving the taproom and production facility to Gahanna, where they purchased Heart State Brewing at 750 Cross Pointe Rd. They’ll be renovating the facility to become a full bar and restaurant. (Get a look at Homestead’s original taproom in our 2019 itinerary Let’s Go To Licking County.)
• This Saturday, May 11, Bubbly Hall in New Albany welcomes its newest vendor, Crunchick. The Korean fried chicken stall takes the place of Just Chicken, which closed earlier this year.
• This week Way Down Yonder New Orleans Finest Restaurant launched their own food truck! Look for it making the rounds across Columbus.
• Combustion Brewery hosts the Clintonville Lager Fest this weekend, May 10-12, featuring special beer tappings and other events!

This week I’m also writing:

• Los Potosinos Opens Its First Storefront in King-Lincoln
• Los Potosinos Opens in King-Lincoln; El Carajillo Mexican Cafe & Bar Joins Italian Village (Columbus Monthly)
• Explore these Mid-Sized Arts Galleries and Museums in Ohio (Ohio.org)
• Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Adds Lewis Center Location
• Dirty Frank’s and Blackened Coffee Joining Ace of Cups (Columbus Monthly)

Want to keep up with more? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, search for travel inspiration, explore the breakfast map, or…

The post Friday Food Bites: Dirty Frank’s and Blackened Coffee joining Ace of Cups; Los Potosinos, El Carajillo, Dive Baar open appeared first on Breakfast With Nick.

Aardvark Wine & Beer opened in late 2022 in Linworth, converting a former carryout into a colorful and well-stocked space with an expertly curated selection of wine and beer. Since opening they’ve expanded their collection and even invited a Ray Ray’s Hog Pit food truck to park on site Thursdays-Sundays.

Well, they’ve been busy at work on the under-utilized rear portion of their building…

..and just opened it up as the Dive Baar!

The Dive Baar is a comfy and spacious area in the back serving wines by the glass, beer, cider (drawn from Seek-No-Further in Granville), and local snacks.

The joke with the name (aside from the double-A like “Aardvark”) is that the building was once used as a scuba diving school! You can still see the outline in the floor where the pool once sat.

Hanging out in the Dive Baar gives you more time to eyeball the wine selection, too!

You can also duck into the open beer cave for a refrigerated selection of craft beers.

You’ll find a good stock of Belgian beers and other specialties, too.

Congrats to Donnie and Megan on the opening of Dive Baar!

Dive Baar at Aardvark Wine & Beer
2355 W. Dublin Granville Rd.
Columbus, OH 43235
Web: aardvarkwineandbeer.com
FB: Aardvark Wine & Beer
IG: @aardvarkwineandbeer

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After opening a coffee shop in Hiliard, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. has added a second central Ohio store in Lewis Center! They’ve taken over a large space in the strip mall facing North Old State Road, north of Polaris Parkway.

This space is significantly larger than their Hilliard storefront, and even in the first couple weeks in business it’s been filled with big community events.

Qamaria features all Yemeni coffee roasts. Yemeni coffees were amongst the first produced in the world, and they’re often described as robust and rustic coffees, with deep, earthy flavors.

The shop features a large menu of traditional drinks, made with a variety of spices and seasonings.

It’s especially fun to watch them mix up many of the drinks over induction burners.

The drink on the right is the mufawaar, flavored with cardamon and sweetened condensed milk.

This is the iced version of the Qamaria latte, made with medium roast Yemeni coffee with real pistachio flavoring.

They feature a full bakery case with pastries and cakes.

A good starting point is the honeycomb pastry. It’s filled with a very mild white cheese and drizzled with honey.

There are plenty of reasons to check out Qamaria in Lewis Center! There’s tons of space for meeting or working, and the coffee and pastries are some of the most unique in the area.

Read about Qamaria Yemeni Coffee in Hilliard as well!

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
8911 S. Old State Rd.
Lewis Center, OH 43035
(614) 396-7601
Web: qamariacoffee.com
FB: Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
IG: @ohios_biggest_coffeehouse

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