Taking its cue from Columbus’ old nickname, Arch City Tavern opened in the Short North this month with a specific focus: to create a place where the locals would be comfortable on all fronts.
“We didn’t want a campus bar, or a sports bar, even though we have the TVs,” co-founder Xhevair Brakaj shared. “We really wanted a place for young professionals to come in, feel comfortable, you know, have a good beer, some good food, and a good time.”
Brakaj, along with his partner Koli Memushai, have completely gutted the former Havana spot to install Arch City. An accomplishment in and of itself to even get the smell out of the previous bar and event joint, the whole space has been reworked so now it showcases hardwood floors, a long, elegant bar, and artwork capturing poignant moments in the Short North, the highlight of which is a penciled mural on one of the back walls by artist Dasiliev Nini.
Indeed, the whole vibe is quite chic now, and the menu reflects that as well. Chef Eric Gordon’s offerings center around locally-sourced ingredients, and are designed to be comforting while maintaining a cultured feel. So you can get a burger, but that burger is made from short-rib, sirloin, chuck and brisket, and served with grilled red onion, avocado, seasoned bacon, and Muenster. Similarly, the pizza you order may very well have arugula, roasted pine nuts, black mission figs, prosciutto, goat cheese, a roasted garlic spread, and truffle oil on it instead of pepperoni.
But you need those kinds of dishes to accompany the eclectic drink menu, which runs the gamut from re-imagined signatures like the 862 Old-Fashioned No. 1 finished with Aztec Chocolate Bitters, and the William + Hannah’s Highball with Fig Jam and Hibiscus, to craft beer selections including several from local breweries like Elevator and Four Strings.
The staff at Arch city is also pleasant, knowledgeable, and eager to offer patrons a complete experience. But don’t only take my word for it. Stop by and check them out. They are always updating both their food and drink menus to reflect seasonal availability and customer desire. Arch City Tavern is located at 862 N. High Street, and opens every day at 4pm.
Visit www.archcitytavern.com for more information.
Photos by Craig Ferance.