Grab a snack or a drink for this edition of Bites & Sips! There’s much to catch up on in the world of dining and drinking in Central Ohio. From new spots, to Valentine’s Day specials and ways to give back, get the rundown on local food news!
Shake No.Ei8ht Opens Near Campus
Shake No.Ei8ht is keeping OSU students running with caffeine and sugar. Offering a humble cup of coffee to extravagant milkshakes, this new coffee meets milkshake shop opened at 1537 N. High St. in December.
Find craving-inducing photos of their specials on Facebook at facebook.com/shakeno8.
Uptown 51 Kitchen + Bar Debuts on Gay Street
Uptown 51 Kitchen + Bar made its Downtown debut late last year at 51 E. Gay St. Opting to offer takeout and delivery only for now, Uptown 51 presents a streamlined menu of burgers and chicken. Diners will find burgers like the Bacon Dream or Blue Shroom, and The Nuggs – one pound of fried buttermilk chicken nuggets with a side of Uptown 51 sauce.
The restaurant, which touts offering “a fresh twist on everyday eats” with modern American fare, takes over the former home of Phenix Bistro which closed in June 2020.
Uptown 51 is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 – 9 p.m.
For more information, visit uptown51.com.
Kitchen Social Opening Second Location at Bridge Park
Kitchen Social is expanding, heading to 6791 Longshore St. at Bridge Park in Dublin for its second Central Ohio location.
The 5,420 square foot restaurant is aiming for a late summer opening, perfect for the location’s nearly 700 square foot patio.
Kitchen Social’s menu will include scratch-made eats, as well as speciality wines and cocktails. The menu at its Polaris location spans unique starters, to sandwiches, salads, pizza and tacos. In the entree department, diners can find dishes like fish n’ chips, salmon, steaks and more.
Kitchen Social opened the doors to its first location, 8954 Lyra Dr. at Polaris, in November 2019.
For more information, visit ourkitchensocial.com.
Longer Hours, More Vendors for North Market Bridge Park
Speaking of Bridge Park, North Market is expanding the hours of its limited preview as more vendors open in the space.
North Market Bridge Park is now open from 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday. (Individual hours may vary by vendor.)
The Market is also up to 10 of its previously announced 15 vendors. Now serving are:
- Bake Me Happy
- Bubbles Tea & Juice Co.
- Coastal Local Seafood
- Dos Hermanos
- Falafel Kitchen
- Kintsugi Sushi Bar
- Lan Viet
- Market Bar
- Pasta Ditoni’s
- Reuse Revolution
Vendors yet to open include Black Radish Creamery, BREaD Bakery + Café, Hoyo’s Sambusas & Juices, The Little Kitchen and The Pit BBQ Grille.
In addition to longer hours, North Market Bridge Park has also debuted a weekly happy hour from 3 -7 p.m. Thursdays, during which vendors offer a variety of specials.
For more information, visit northmarket.org.
Daily Growler Departs Polaris
December 27 was the end for The Daily Growler inside the Food Hall at Polaris Fashion Place.
“We were so optimistic heading into year 2 at Polaris! We had great momentum from our first holiday season and were working with PFP on a slew of spring + summer events…then the first shutdowns hit,” Owner John W. Blakely said in a press release. “We tried to re-open a couple of different times, but with limited hours and such a small footprint, it proved a sisyphean endeavor. Like a lot of businesses forced to close because of the pandemic, we’ll probably always wonder “what if” with that location.”
The Daily Growler opened at Polaris in February 2019. Its locations in Upper Arlington, Powell and the Brewery District remain open.
For more information, visit thedailygrowler.com.
Columbus Shares some of its Best with Cleveland
Two Columbus-based businesses are expanding in Cleveland.
First up, Hot Chicken Takeover will double down in Northeast Ohio, opening a restaurant at 17830 Royalton Rd. in Strongsville as well as a delivery-only site in Downtown Cleveland.
HCT opened its first Cleveland-area restaurant at Crocker Park in Westlake in October 2019.
“We’re excited to be in Strongsville and we’re excited to keep growing in the community,” says Founder & CEO Joe DeLoss. “We have a growth strategy plan for Northeast Ohio that includes suburban and city center opportunities. This plan is really contingent on the availability of real estate.”
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing will also share its beer with Cleveland. The brewery has started self-distributing in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. WRB beer will be available at Heinen’s and other local shops.
For more information, visit hotchickentakeover.com and wolfsridgebrewing.com.
Donatos Adds Cauliflower Wings
Donatos is debuting a new menu item – cauliflower wings. The oven-roasted cauliflower florets are served with choice of four different dry rubs (Italian Parmesan, Roasted Garlic, Hot Chicken or Wood Fired Chipotle) or three different sauces (Mild, Hot or BBQ). The wings are available in three sizes – side, full or party.
The Columbus-based pizza joint with 250 plus locations across the country is the first national pizza chain to add cauliflower wings to its menu.
For more information, visit donatos.com.
Piada Teams Up with LeBron James Family Foundation for Piada Gives Launch
Columbus-based fast-casual Italian eatery Piada is launching Piada Gives, an opt-in donation program that benefits organizations that support the restaurant’s core causes: cancer research, education, eliminating food insecurity and social equality.
Piada Gives’ first benefactor will be the LeBron James Family Foundation, an Akron-based organization that provides fundamental resources, wraparound supports and programming to help children and families thrive.
To participate in Piada Gives, guests can download the new Piada One app and select “opt-in to Piada Gives” in the app settings. The app will automatically donate 1% of every purchase of guests who opt-in to a charity or non-profit making an impact.
Proceeds collected through the end of March will support LJFF.
“Service is at the heart of what we do at Piada, but it means so much more than providing the Guest with an exceptional experience and delicious food,” said Matt Harding, senior vice president of culinary and menu innovation at Piada. “It means supporting our Guests by building up our communities, and we can do that by supporting incredible organizations like the LeBron James Family Foundation.”
For more information, visit mypiada.com/gives.
Together & Co + Kittie’s Cakes Offering Valentine’s Day Bundles
If your Valentine’s Day will be an at-home celebration this year, Together & Co and Kittie’s Cakes have some decadent bundles for your dining pleasure.
Three pre-order options are available:
- The Valentine’s Day Tapas Box – Includes a bountiful bundle of hand crafted hors d’oeuvres, including favorites like shrimp cocktail and charcuterie, along with cut-out cookies from Kittie’s Cakes
- The “You’re the Ravioli One for Me” Dinner – a 3-Course dinner with a Lobster Ravioli entrée and a Chocolate Torte from Kittie’s Cakes
- The “Steak Me Home Tonight” Dinner – a 3-Course dinner with a Beef Wellington entrée and a Chocolate Torte from Kittie’s Cakes
Bundles are to be picked up at the High Line Car House Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13. (Pre-orders for the 12th are due by February 11 at noon, and pre-orders for the 13th are due by February 12 at noon.)
For more information, visit togetherandco.com/valentines.
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Offering Carryout Specials for Valentine’s Day
The Barn at Rocky Fork, 1370 E. Johnstown Rd. in Gahanna, has your Valentine’s Day menu all settled. The restaurant’s $100 Valentine’s Day Box for two features Shrimp Scampi, choice of 6 oz. Crab Crusted Filet or Seared Scallops, with Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert. Don’t forget the cocktails! The Valentine’s Day Cocktail Kit, $32, includes prosecco, lemons, house-made grenadine and two cake pops.
All orders must be placed by Thursday, February 11, with pickup February 12-14.
Click here for additional details and to order.
Mitchell’s Ocean Club will be offering its own Valentine’s Day box with Surf & Turf Dinner for Two. The box features a first course of Lobster Bisque, a Beef Tenderloin with choice of Garlic Shrimp Scampi or Alaskan King Crab Legs for the second course, along with the choice of two sides, and chocolate fondue with strawberries and whipped cream for dessert. The dinner with shrimp is $199, and crab legs, $229.
Boxes are for carryout only and orders must be placed 72 hours in advance.
Click here for additional details and to order.
Find Valentine’s Day features and specials at other CMR locations here.
Berwick Creates Traveling Feast with Taste of Italy Tour
The Berwick is bringing its Italian eats to neighborhoods across Columbus. The 65 year-old family-run business has pivoted in the face of the pandemic, launching its Taste of Italy Tour.
Folks can get in on the feasts in two ways. First, diners can browse the list of current tour dates and locations (with plenty of options in February), or schedule and host their own tour date.
Diners can order family dinner packages with choice of two entrees, one side and Italian bread & butter. Dishes – and desserts – are also available a la carte.
The tour gives back as well – 10% of sales from each location are donated to a local organization connected to that neighborhood.
For more information, visit the-berwick.com/taste-of-italy-tour.
