Downtown lunches, for the most part, are all about speed. How quickly we can get what we want, and eat it, before we have to return to the daily grind. This means that often, we sacrifice quality for efficiency, and are happy with that because it fits our schedules.
This summer, The Carvery will open at 51 East Gay Street with a single, simple focus: to serve delicious, cooked-for-hours meals in minutes. The menu at The Carvery will primarily be roasted meat sandwiches, reasonably priced and oozing with flavor.
Upon entry, customers will be able to approach the carving station of their choice, have their slow-roasted protein carved-to-order, and pay for their meal in under three minutes. The Carvery will only offer around five different sandwiches at a time in order to ensure the right amount of attention is paid to each.
Their signature will be the Porchetta Sandwich, but they will also carry a Meatball Sandwich, Vegetarian Sandwich, BLT made with thick-cut bacon, and a Sandwich of the Day, variably. All of the breads at The Carvery will be fresh-baked on site every day, as will the muffins and cookies served.
Most sandwiches at The Carvery will cost $8. There will also be scratch-made sides, like Roasted Potatoes with Pork and Pasta Salad, available for $2-$3, soups, and rotating weekly specials, so there’s always sure to be something for everyone every day of the week.
Much of the work still to be done at the site is in converting the interior to restaurant look and standards. Vinyl Frontier was the last occupant at the spot, and owners David Ruhl and Patrick Daly are determined to preserve the exposed brick and beams of the over 100 year old building.
“This building was the right size, age, and feel for what we want to do,” shares Daly. “When you look at Gay Street now, down every other door, there’s a great restaurant with awesome food and people, and that kind of support and energy is something we want to be a part of building.”
The roughly 1,800 square feet restaurant will be able to seat about 40 guests, while the small patio along Gay Street will hold less than ten. The Carvery will only be open for lunch initially, from 11am – 4pm.
The Carvery hopes to open its doors for business in mid-July. They also hope to offer future patrons a sneak preview of their goods during the Moonlight Market on Saturday, June 14th.
For a peek at what’s to come at The Carvery, visit www.carverycolumbus.com.
Rendering via Lincoln Street Studio.
