Friday Food Bites: Zaftig Italian Village closes, Cup O’ Joe and Hungarian Butcher reopen, Brass Eye debuts

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

• Earlier this week, Zaftig Brewing announced that its Italian Village brewpub (119 E. Fifth Ave.) has closed effective immediately, citing a decline in traffic to the spot. The brewpub is now for sale as a turnkey operation. The closure also includes the Java Central Coffee Roasters location inside the pub. Zaftig’s original Worthington taproom and Java Central’s Uptown Westerville shop remain open.
• After its closure a few weeks ago due to a fire, the Hungarian Butcher reopens today, Friday, June 30. The butcher shop, owned by Dan Varga, is located at 2177 W. Dublin Granville Rd. in Linworth.
• Speaking of Linworth, Velca Grill seems to have closed and will be taken over by Rodos European Grill, which announced its move from Indianola Avenue in Clintonville after three years.
• After weeks of renovations, the Clintonville Cup O’ Joe location reopened this week. Find the shop at 2990 N. High St., and get a look at the newer Cup O’ Joe location downtown.
• The eighth-story rooftop bar and restaurant of The Junto, dubbed the Brass Eye, is now open. The Brass Eye features a menu of cocktails, wines, beers, non-alcoholic options, and small plates; the space features patio spaces that wrap around three quarters of the building.
• The new Buckeye Donuts stall is now open at the North Market downtown. The stall is operated by the team that owns the donut shop location on South High Street.
• The eighth edition of the Columbus Ale Trail launches on Saturday, July 1. This year the trail features 35 breweries throughout Franklin County. Guests can collect up to 10 stamps to earn a sticker and all 35 for a limited edition T-shirt.
• Polaris Fashion Place gained two new eateries this week! Locations of I Scream Gelato and Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog opened inside the mall.
• This week Dos Hermanos soft opened a new location at Cypress Kitchen, the recently debuted group kitchen space at 177 Cypress Ave. in Franklinton.
• CHOP5 Salad & Kitchen has opened a location at 1305 W. Lane Ave.
• Tickets for the 2023 Columbus Coffee Festival – held September 23-24 at Ohio Village – are now on sale.
• Watershed Distillery just released its Four Peel Strawberry Gin this week. Tickets also went on sale this week for its annual Four Peel Fest, held Saturday, July 22 this year.

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