Locavore favorite Alana’s Food and Wine has several changes in the making.
“Fine dining is dead,” said owner Alana Shock, illuminating the recent menu switch from large plates to small. “I just want to do something else. My life is more than half over, and I want to do something with it.”
The North Campus restaurant, tucked back on a High Street garden patio, serves a daily changing menu that, up until a few weeks back, focused on a traditional appetizer-entree-dessert format. The format has flipped to mostly shareable small plates, priced around $8 – $15. The menu now consists of 15-16 items, with items like moroccan-spiced zucchini crespelle, kahlua beef relleno, and seasonal basil-tomato risotto with savory pancetta.
“The new age of diners are far more casual than what was in the past, and I don’t think people really want to sit down for formal dinners anymore,” said Shock, who’s weathered a 16-year stint in the Columbus dining scene.
Customer response has been extremely positive, save for a few apprehensive old-school regulars. Additional adjustments to a more casual crowd means Alana’s no longer takes reservations for parties less than five, with the exception of degustation (read: tasting menu) parties. Hours will remain the same, Wednesday through Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
Alongside the menu change, Alana’s is also considering a move to a smaller location. Shock doesn’t have an exact location on deck for the time being, but the 138 days left on her 2333 North High Street lease, set to expire this May, are ticking down.
“I’m in no hurry to open up another restaurant, but if something appears, I’m not opposed. I might try something totally different,” said Shock. “My advice is to dine here as much as possible before I leave, so that I can open up another restaurant if I find one.”
Let’s hope that she does just that.
For more information, visit www.alanas.com.