An Ode to Trattoria Roma in Grandview

Words cannot begin to describe how much I love Trattoria Roma in Grandview, Ohio.

If I had to use one word: Delicious. But that only describes their food. Their service is also impeccable, both on the restaurant side and at the bar. Their servers are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The management is amenable and responsive, and their kitchen is always ready to offer inventive specials to complement their already expansive menu. (The owners are Shawn Mason and Keith Dunn, and their Chef is Matthew Prokopchek.) In short, this restaurant rocks! Please try it.

I know it's such a standard dish, but I can't stop singing the praises of their lasagna. In my humble opinion, it is the best lasagna in Columbus. (And no, I haven't tried the lasagna in every other restaurant; I simply can't imagine a lasagna being prepared any better.)

The menu description gives little hint of the joy this dish will bring to your taste buds:

Meat, three-cheese, spinach lasagne served with a slow cooked marinara sauce.

I guess if there's one thing they need to work on, it's their menu descriptions.

Anyway, their pasta is fresh and made in house (of course.) Their marinara is a tomato-lovers delight, not too sweet or salty, and not too spicy. It's just warm tomato goodness. They include a layer of spinach in their lasagna, which adds a surprising texture of leafy substantialness—and I think it might help the dish hold together, which makes a wonderful presentation. The three cheeses blend together in a melodious, creamy symphony of melted delight, and the meat (a mixture of beef and pork, I believe) is in just the right proportion to neither dominate the dish but also not get lost in the other flavors.

The portion size is more than enough to share with a friend. The picture below actually shows a half portion, and I was stuffed by the time I sopped up the last bit of marinara with their garlic toast (which, for what it's worth, is the one thing I think could be improved upon).

So. Good. 

If you're in the Grandview area, I strongly suggest you try Trattoria Roma on Grandview Avenue. All of their menu items are superb, they offer a wide selection of reasonably prices wines, and their service is friendly and warm. 

And no, I'm receiving no money for my resounding endorsement of this gem of an Italian restaurant. :-o

Ciao!

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:

Tucci's Wood-Fired Bistro

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!

Trattoria Roma

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!