Want to support local restaurants in the new year? Curious about new openings or under-the-radar finds? Here are five restaurants I’m suggesting you try this month!
Image courtesy facebook.com/waydownyonderneworleans
1. Way Down Yonder
It seems appropriate to highlight a New Orleans restaurant in the month of Mardi Gras (okay, it’s actually March 1 this year, but you get it). Way Down Yonder is a family-run spot just outside the Great Southern Shopping Center. Owner Yonder Gordon has been on a long journey to open the restaurant, and it’s been loved by the community ever since she opened in 2019. It’s easy to see why, with her seafood gumbo, shrimp po boys, fried fish, wings. Bonus: Chef Yonder will open a companion restaurant, Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee, on February 15! Look for it at 386 E. Main St. downtown.
3847 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 662-8623
waydwnyonder.com
2. Stav’s Diner
It’s hard to beat a good diner, and the one-room Stav’s, located in the Bexley Centre on East Broad Street, is a great little hole-in-the-wall. You’ll find inexpensive and filling breakfasts; I’m partial to their house-made corned beef hash.
Read more from me here: breakfastwithnick.com/2018/02/07/stavs-diner-bexley/
2932 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43209
(614) 725-4330
3. Da Levee
Since it’s the month of Mardi Gras, so I’m featuring two different New Orleans-style restaurants! I was very happy to hear of Da Levee’s return last month. The Cajun and Creole spot was an old favorite of ours until it closed in 2018. Owner Justin Boehme converted the space first into Eugene’s Canteen and then into the bar Short Supply. Just recently he brought back Da Levee as a carryout/delivery-only concept based out of the bar, available for dinner hours Tuesday-Saturday.
Read my post on Da Levee from 2013: breakfastwithnick.com/2013/01/23/beyond-breakfast-da-levee-columbus-oh/
765 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
dalevee.com
4. Atlas Tavern
I’m always in the mood for a good burger, and Atlas Tavern has impressed me every time we visit. It’s tucked into a development outside Polaris and serves a solid pub menu of burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, wings, and other creative bites. The place isn’t huge, though, so expect a wait if you’re visiting.
Here’s my recent highlight of all the local options in and around Polaris, including Atlas: breakfastwithnick.com/2022/01/19/dine-local-at-polaris/
8944 Lyra Dr.
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 468-1906
atlastavern.com
5. NeeHee’s Vegetarian Indian Street Food
NeeHee’s recently invited us out to “tour” some of their expansive menu, but we were already fans of this vegetarian Indian spot. Their space is as big as the menu, which means it’s great for a large group. The concept is Indian street food, served in a slick and modern format. The menu can be intimidating, but large video menus help you navigate the selection.
Read more from me here: breakfastwithnick.com/2022/01/26/neehees-indian-vegetarian-street-food/
6080 Sawmill Rd.
Dublin, OH 43017
(614) 389-6304
neehees.com
Want more ideas for places to try? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, follow our Current Cravings, or…
