After five years of continuous growth, North Market’s Little Eater will open its physical location in Clintonville next week. The restaurant started out as a seasonal popup at The Hills Market in 2012 and added a year-round catering business a year later. They started selling their salads at grocery and specialty food stores that same year and broke into the North Market in 2015.
Last October, after Columbus restauranteur and chef Amber Herron joined the team, owner Cara Mangini announced their plans for a brick-and-mortar. It’s finally opening next Thursday, October 19, at 4215 N. High St. The new space will offer a familiar, fuller experience that will grow even more as the year goes on.
“Since our first pop up restaurant in Columbus a little over five years ago, I’ve had this full restaurant experience in my mind,” Mangini said in a press release. “With the leadership of Chef Amber Herron and GM Janelle Kilbane and an extraordinary team, this new endeavor is even more special than I could have ever imagined.”
Little Eater’s new 2,700 square foot restaurant can seat 70 and will allow guests to carry out or eat in. A patio will be added by next spring, and it’ll seat another 16 to 20 guests. The expanded menu offers nine of their signature vegetable scoops that guests can mix and match or pair with other menu items to make a complete meal. A new vegetable scoop flight will be available as well, containing six tasting portions.
Other options include mixed mushroom quiche with gruyere and frittata. Soups, entree-sized salads, and sandwiches can also be found at their new location, as well as open-faced sandwiches, or “Toasts.”
More will be added this winter, along with a wine and beer service.
Operations at the North Market will continue as usual once preparation for the Clintonville grand opening is done. They’ll close at the Market on Sunday, October 15 and Monday, October 23. And while the core menu and service experience at the North Market will remain the same, there are some changes and additions in the plans.
Little Eater will make its Clintonville debut with dinner service from 5 to 9 p.m. on October 19, continuing on October 20 through 22, from 4 to 9 p.m. Regular hours will be Wednesday through Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.
“It is a joy and a pleasure to finally bring it to life,” Mangini said. “We couldn’t be happier or more grateful to open our own doors to Columbus and our Clintonville neighbors, and to be able expand our support of hero farmers and food producers in our community.”
For more information, visit littleeater.com.