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    Angry Bear Kitchen Opening in Former Sage American Bistro Spot

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    What happens when you get three of the city’s aspiring young chefs together, give them their own space, and tell them to reinvent regional American cuisine? An establishment that closely resembles The Angry Bear Kitchen, a modern eatery putting an epicurean spin on old-school flavors. It’s poised to open soon in the old Sage American Bistro spot at 2653 North High Street.

    The restaurant is the brainchild of Jarod Norris, Tyler Minnis, and Daniel Scalzo, three co-cooks turned friends and entrepreneurs. They met while working at Latitude 41, where they were nicknamed the “angry bears” by the staff, owing to their grumpy disposition on the line when things got busy. It’s now a term of endearment that reminds them to have fun while making beautiful food.

    And the guys behind the Angry Bear Kitchen are serious about their food. Their approach is nose-to-tail and skin-to-seed sustainable cooking. If they can butcher the animal, they will – and then use every part it. Their pastas will be house-made, as will all their dessert offerings.

    Diners can expect to find Beef Tongue Poutine, Pork Rillete Hand Pie, and Charred Broccoli Raab Salad in the lineup, as well as a brunch menu containing deliciously redefined versions of classic dishes, like Eggs Benedict and Banana Porridge.

    All in all, the menu will boast 11-14 small plates ranging in cost from $5-$15. Entrées will cost diners anywhere from $16-$27. The guys’ backgrounds are in fine dining, and they want to offer the same kind of experience at the Angry Bear without all the frills of formal white-cloth dining.

    Angry Bear will also carry a fun, eclectic wine list, as well as several local and Ohio beers. Their cocktail offerings will be few and primarily stick to traditional concoctions. The menu will change monthly as the guys focus their offerings on what is seasonal and locally available.

    The 2,200 square feet restaurant will seat 65-70 visitors at a time. Angry Bear will serve dinner, a special late night happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays featuring discounted small plates and additional specials, and brunch every Sunday from 10am – 3pm.

    The Angry Bear Kitchen is a venture these three friends embarked on almost by accident as the right space opened up at the right time, for the right price. They’re well-trained chefs who have not only worked the kitchen at Latitude 41, but at Basi Italia and Due Amici as well, and who are now ready to bring a new culinary perspective to Columbus.

    “We want to be that comfortable neighborhood spot that people frequent often and are proud to have there in the community,” shares Norris on going for it. “We are also thrilled to be in Clintonville. The neighborhood is young and hip and we like to think we are too. Truly feels as though this whole thing was meant to be.”

    The Angry Bear Kitchen is scheduled to open in early March. Their hours of operation will be Tuesday-Saturday, 5pm-close, and Sunday, 10am- 3pm for brunch. For more info, visit www.angrybearkitchen.com.

    Photo by Jennifer René for Columbus Underground.

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    Ayana Wilson
    Ayana Wilsonhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Ayana Wilson is a former staff writer at Columbus Underground who covered local restaurant industry news.
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