Thursday, November 26, 2009

Giving Thanks for three of my favorite restaurants

Today I'm posting a short blog "Giving Thanks" for three of my favorite restaurants here in central Ohio.

For those who live here, you might or might not realize how lucky we are in having such a wide variety of "foodie" restaurants. My advice to you: Avoid the chain restaurants at all costs. Locally-owned restaurants give better service than chain restaurants, and the food is invariably fresher and tastier.

Without further ado—My three favorite restaurants:

35 North High St.
Dublin, Ohio 43017
614-792-3466
  • The salmon is melt-in-your-mouth good, and they'll even make it without oil (and it's still awesome!)
  • Their wood-fired pizzas are tasty and feature locally-grown veggies when in season
  • Fresh, homemade pasta dishes
  • They feature an extensive wine list at reasonable prices
  • Their outdoor patio is an warm-weather delight, especially when they have live music
  • They recently added at happy-hour menu featuring $5 cocktails and $2 beers!

J. Liu Restaurant and Bar (formerly Jason's)
50 W. Bridge Street
Dublin, Ohio 43017
614.718.1818
  • Two locations: Dublin and Worthington
  • American, Italian or Asian: Take your pick. Their menu covers it all—with a welcome twist.
  • A very tasty appetizer menu featuring freshly made novelties such as potstickers (steamed or fried), lettuce wraps, boneless chicken wings and sliders
  • Their happy-hour menu is just plain frugal—and good
  • Generous pours from the bar!

1447 Grandview Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43212
614.488.2104

  • Authentic Italian cuisine
  • Friendly, knowledgeable staff willing to go the extra mile
  • Features fresh, locally grown ingredients prepared by Chef Matthew Prokopchek
  • In my opinion, they have the best lasagna in Columbus
  • They appetizer menu is very reasonable and features several tasty items that could be a main dish for price-conscious patrons
  • A Wednesday Ladies Night menu featuring $5 cocktails, $4 wines and a three course dinner
  • A 2 for $20 menu featuring a combination of two entrees for $20, including salads
A close runner up to these three would be Spagio's European and Pacific Rim Cuisine. I love their Spanish salad, which features roasted Spanish almonds , tomatoes sautéed in sherry, shaved Manchego cheese and sherry dressing. But I still struggle to find a main dish there that I can't live without.

Whether or not you experience the restaurants featured above, try to support the locally-owned restaurants in your area. Bon Appétit, and Happy Thanksgiving!