Explorer?
I sense a theme.
Next in line;
Prefect.





Explorer?
I sense a theme.
Next in line;
Prefect.
Checked it out today and it's true, the food is really great. Tried the cuban omelet which was a ton of food. The service is leaps and bounds better than Coyote Jane's too.
Dee and I have dined twice here in the last few days... both dinner and brunch. Great menu, tasty food, friendly and quick service. Explorers Club is a wonderful, wonderful addition to our neighborhood.
Galaxy Cafe vets open Explorers Club in Merion Village
Dan Eaton
Staff reporter - Business First
The Explorers Club is more than a new restaurant — it’s a reunion for two one-time restaurant partners.
Tracy Studer and Ricky Barnes once teamed up for three restaurants in the 1990s and early 2000s, most notably the Galaxy Cafe in Powell and two offshoots in Grandview Heights and the Short North.
“We split in 2002, went our separate ways,” Studer said. “We lost touch with each other.”
READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2011/10/galaxy-cafe-vets-open-explorers-club.html
I ate here this past weekend - I had the chilequiles, with side of half red-skin potatoes and half black beans. It was excellent - the food, the service, the vibe of the place. I understand they got their liquor license sorted & will be serving booze every day but Sunday (oh, silly Ohio).
I didn't love the tall-tall booths - my legs are long enough to reach the heel-hook bar, and was fairly comfortable, but my dining companion found it not comfortable at all. It's such a small space & those booths are so big - imposing, even. I'm not sure it's the best use of the space. The bar looked great though.
We keep going back there for breakfast on the weekends because, well, there's no other place as good. The huevos rancheros are amazing and the breakfast burritos are delicious and huge. The portion sizes are a bit large but that just means I can eat lunch and/or dinner from my breakfast.
Congratulations on reopening. We used to love going there when it was in Powell. I wish it was closer.
Just took three people from work over. I really like the place. Great friendly staff, nice typically quirky feel, and really good food. I had the Bhan Mhi, today's version being tofu. Very good take on Bhan Mhi. Very reasonable pricing too. My friend Ben had the special of the day, a flat taco with shredded beef brisket. Big portion and the small sample of brisket he shared was perfect, with at touch of cinnamom on the back end. Leslie's Explorer Sandwich with chicken was another huge portion and will be my next lunch pick. Who else would work thin sliced parsnip into a chicken, onion, and grilled pepper melee. Explorer's is going into my "regular visit list". Being a lover of really good simple roast chicken-a favorite comfort food-I am looking forward to making it over for dinner.
This place is awesome. I went back again today and seriously can't speak higher of the service, the food. It's so great. I've had the cuban omelet, the burrito and the banh m and this is my new favorite place.


Made it for lunch today. Awesome.
That jalapeno slaw is amazing, I need more as soon as possible. The ropa vieja sandwich was perfectly cooked and seasoned with a good ciabatta bun. Very good fresh cut fries on the side.
Going back for brunch this weekend and I can't wait.
Finally got a chance to try it Tuesday night. got there at 15 til 9 and they were still glad to seat us, feed us, and treat us in a fashion that a LOT of places in this town could sit up and take notes on.
My beef brisket with black beans and red potatoes was amazing. Its been years since I've ordered brisket in a restaurant (other than on the doginator at dirty Franks) and it was absolutely the right choice. Only one I've ever had better than my own. The g/f got a penne with chicken that was perfectly spicey (and I do believe was on the menu at one of the old locations. Lost planet maybe?) It tasted like an old friend. Brilliant.
And if you go, you MUST get Mrs. Barnes pumpkin surprise. One of my favorite desserts in this 'burg...
My wife and I went for brunch today and loved it. I had the special Cuban breakfast and it was just what I was looking for. I only wish (broken record here) that they offer a cafe Cubano as well as the regular coffee. They have so many other Cuban themed things it only seems natural. If they did I would for sure sit outside and sip one with a nice cigar every Sunday after my brunch. :)
If you have not been yet, you should check this place out.
vestanpance said:
My wife and I went for brunch today and loved it. I had the special Cuban breakfast and it was just what I was looking for. I only wish (broken record here) that they offer a cafe Cubano as well as the regular coffee. They have so many other Cuban themed things it only seems natural. If they did I would for sure sit outside and sip one with a nice cigar every Sunday after my brunch. :)If you have not been yet, you should check this place out.
Your review is one that really makes me want to get there...(I shall)...the cigar reference hits home!
If you've been looking to try the Explorer's Club this is your chance! $9 will get you $18 towards food & drink at this new spot today on local deal site, Faveroo.com.
Restaurant review: Explorers Club
Wednesday November 16, 2011 5:50 PM
By G.A. Benton
Columbus Alive

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (well, kinda — it was Powell during the ’90s) alterna-musician/chef Ricky Barnes opened a game-changing local restaurant called (you saw this coming, right?) the Galaxy Cafe. It might be hard to believe now, but in those primeval days, there were a whole lot of old fogey/steak and potato/spaghetti and meatball feeding options in Columbus, but few hip, fun or ethnic ones. With its bold, Latin-tinged, veggie friendly and revved-up diner fare plus its rock ’n’ roll atmosphere, the Galaxy helped change that. In fact, you can easily see the Galaxy’s influences on current beloved eateries like the Starliner Diner, Betty’s and Knead.
READ MORE: http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2011/11/17/restaurant-review-explorers-club.html
Went to Brunch the last weekend here, it was very tasty, the service was excellent.
One thing that seemed odd to me was the lack of descriptions on the menu, simply because they were Mexican style breakfasts I imagine that many people may not know what the meal is.
I got the huevos rancheros which is probably my favorite breakfast, and also hard to find in the city, and I enjoyed it, it was a bit spicy, and the waiter asked if I wanted potatoes or beans and how I wanted my eggs done, which was strange but hey why not!
The traditional breakfast also looked good, the potatoes and link sausage were real good. I am not sure it will pull us away from the Coffee House for our diner breakfast but it was well worth the trip.
I really liked what they did with the place inside, great art, really comfy chairs (which goes a long way in my book)!
We will be checking out dinner for sure. Glad to see such positive reviews!
I'm pretty obsessed with the black bean hummus and citrus flatbread. The cucumber & ginger margaritas are super good too.
i checked it out for brunch, and had a nice time. Food was great (grilled cinnamon bread! huevos rancheros, etc.) and the servers were sweet. The only thing I'd put in their suggestion box is that they enlist the help of someone with a bit photography prowess to help them with their facebook page. The dark and plain photos there do not do the quality of the food or vibrant atmosphere appropriate justice.
*sigh* What am I missing here? The wife and I had the chance to have dinner there last week. The staff was friendly, the food was served in good order and was plenty hot. But, I just wasn't 'blown away' like I thought I would be. For appetizer we split the tofu fries, I had the ropa vieja, she had the galaxy original. And it was good, don't get me wrong. But for what I read for past ventures they've had in the city, I just wasn't screaming from the top of the LaVeque that it was the bomb...Did we just not order the best stuff? For us, Starliner was leaps and bounds ahead....What did I miss? I wanna love this place, it's a local place with good people...
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