Dempsey’s Restaurant | Columbus, OH

Dempsey’s Restaurant (Facebook / @DempseysDaily)
346 S. High St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 586-0511
Open daily 7a-11p (bfast served till 10:45 Mon-Fri, till 1pm Sat & Sun)
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

Dempsey’s has been on my radar since they opened about a year ago. Finally, after of year of following their regular updates on Facebook and watching them thrive, we made it out on a Saturday morning. I’ve been interested in Dempsey’s, well, a.) because they serve breakfast, but also b.) they’re a downtown restaurant that’s serving breakfast every day of the week – not just weekdays – and right now early morning Saturday breakfasts downtown are hard to come by.

Dempsey’s occupies and long, thin space on South High Street, just north of the intersection at Mound, right around the corner from the excellent brunch at Jury Room. The space has been lovingly renovated to preserve the feel of an older downtown bar, one where you might find attorneys seeking solace after a busy session at the county courthouse across the street.

This is just the type of space I love. On a long brick wall hang photos chronicling Columbus’ history. A big, beautiful wooden bar on one side. Intricate tile floors. It’s big enough while still feeling comfortable and cozy.

They’re a full-service coffee shop, too. Order up shots of espresso or cappuccinos to go along with your breakfast.

Which is just what we did: they make one good cappuccino there. Pillowy foam, rich espresso.

I went for a regular coffee, served in a tall glass with a mug of chilled cream. Dempsey’s serves coffee from Impero in Short North.

While the menu isn’t off-the-charts innovative, it still features a solid line-up of breakfast classics and enough variety to please everyone. We ordered from all four corners of the menu and really, really enjoyed every dish. First, the mushroom lovers’ omelet, made with fresh mushrooms, Swiss, and onions. Balanced blend of ingredients, cooked just right. Served with a side of toast (we picked rye) and their redskin potatoes, which were soft and well-seasoned (thank goodness – so many breakfast potatoes are served under-seasoned) without being mushy.

Grandma Dempsey’s steel cut Irish oatmeal. Cooked properly, again without being turned to a bowl of mush. Served with cream and brown sugar. Very hearty. If you’re stopping by the restaurant for a quick breakfast, this is a good bet. And this dish fits with the Irish theme of the restaurant.

Facing a good line-up of pancakes, we had to order one for our boys. We opted for the chocolate chip pancakes: three thin but fluffy flapjacks packed with chips and drizzled with more chocolate. Impossible not to like.

My eye was immediately drawn to the hash and eggs. It takes their redskin potatoes and substitutes the corned beef with a slow-cooked brisket. Served with a side of toast and topped with two perfectly poached eggs. This dish really hit the spot with me. Good size portion to match the price, very tender brisket, seasoned well, beautiful eggs. I’m adding this to my list of go-to breakfast dishes around town.

All in all, we were very pleased with the total package of breakfast at Dempsey’s. Everything seemed on point: the service, the prices, the quality of the food, the atmosphere, the hours. I think Dempsey’s has joined the list of regular spots for our Saturday breakfasting or to take out-of-town visitors.

Danny’s Deli | Columbus, OH

Danny’s Deli (Facebook / @dannysdeli1)
37 W. Broad St. (entrance is on Front St.) (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 469-7040
Open Mon-Fri, 7a-3p
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Wednesday, October 4, 2012 at 7:00 a.m.

Danny’s Deli is one of the many delis and other little grab-and-go breakfast/lunch spots around downtown Columbus. Many of them have been on my list for a long time, especially the delis, and especially any of them boasting of their corned beef. The reuben is one of my favorite sandwiches, and I think I need to better integrate the corned beef love into my breakfast life.

Thus it was that I sat with my son Will at 7 a.m., chowing down on pancakes, corned beef, and eggs in Danny’s little basement space off Front Street.

The restaurant is decked out in bright reds, blacks, and whites, from the signage to the tiled floor to tables and chairs. There’s something very enjoyable about the “hidden-ness” of the space. You have to head down a short flight of stairs, through some double-doors, and then you’ve found this humming little breakfast spot. Even the address can throw you off a bit: Danny’s address is technically W. Broad Street, but the entrance can be found on Front. Fortunately, they’ve emphasized the red in their awning: if you’re looking for it, you’ll find it.

Despite the small size, there’s a lot of seating. Two rows of tables and chairs extend far back into the space, which curves to the right and features a few more seats.

Given that you’re downtown, you can expect to meet with some of the working crowd. I’m guessing that Danny’s, like most of the restaurants downtown, does most of their business over weekday lunches. But on our visit we saw a pretty good mix of clientele.

Will started out with an orange juice, which was a standard bottled type, while I opted for coffee. I loved the tall circular plastic mugs. Super lightweight. The coffee was good diner coffee: hot, a little weak, and caffeinated.

Will’s a pancake man, so he chose the little stack of fluffy buttermilks. Side note: I rarely talk prices on the blog, in order to keep away from the whole $$$ or star rating thing, but I have to note Danny’s cheap prices. Will’s pancakes were only $3.75, while my plate was $5.75. It’s a stellar deal.

I was in corned beef mode, so I knew my order well before we arrived. I picked the Downtown Special: a generous pile of sliced corn beef, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and toast. It hit. the. spot. I just loved piling a single bite of eggs, corned beef, and potatoes on my fork. It’s all done well: eggs aren’t over-cooked, potatoes are crispy enough, toast was good.

If Danny’s is any indication, then exploring downtown’s breakfast scene is going to be fun. Our server was super sweet – she lightly poked fun of Will and how he was goofing off (it’s good she has such a sense of humor at 7 a.m.). But she was very accommodating and helpful, and she even introduced us to the owner, Joe. He, too, was very nice and welcoming. The deli’s breakfast options are pretty straightforward and are only served until 10:30am, but they’re inexpensive, they include corned beef, and the prices are very easy to like.

de-NOVO bistro & bar | Columbus, OH

de-NOVO bistro & bar (Facebook)
201 S. High St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 222-8830
Open Mon-Fri, 7a-10p (bfast served till 11a); Sat & Sun, brunch served 8a-3p
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Monday, July 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: On the surface, de-NOVO seems like a snappy, cluttered, downtown, after-hours hangout. And maybe it really is those things. After all, it sports a lavishly decorated bar, lots of cab tables with little candles, racks of wine bottles, and huge chandeliers. But would you be surprised to learn that they also serve a wonderful breakfast… starting at 7 a.m… on weekdays? I’ll admit that I was.

Mrs. Breakfast With Nick and I found ourselves downtown on a Monday morning – a Monday, for goodness’ sake – and made our way to de-NOVO’s slim storefront on High Street, overlooking the Columbus Commons.

de-NOVO’s interior, much like their website, can be best described as eclectic. Tall chandeliers, antlers, branches, modern seating, a backlit glass bar, two TVs, shelves full of stuff… this place has got everything! It certainly gives you something to look at, but it’s hard to see a real through-line to the design.

But big lighting with tree branches seems to be a motif.

We did love the local artwork on the walls. Large scale, very colorful. Fitting for the design aesthetic.

FOOD: It was early, and it was Monday, so first: coffee. Two big mugs, plus a box of the sweet stuff, plus a cup of chilled creamer. Our server said they serve one of Seattle’s Best’s blends. It was very good, but I’d love to see a local brew there, especially something from Cafe Brioso or One Line Coffee nearby.

One way of dealing with Mondays is to drink a Bloody Mary. We didn’t have a lot on the docket for the day, so we decided to try one. It was light and spicy. I’ve come to appreciate that a good Bloody Mary isn’t supposed to be thick and heavy like a glass of V8, but instead is a crispy and refreshing beverage, very appropriate for starting your day, whether it’s at 7am or 2pm.

My wife ordered the truffle mushroom omelet, with comes with shitake mushrooms, shallots, truffle oil, and boursin cheese. The eggs were done just right, and the whole omelet just came together very well. Overall lighter flavoring, but the mushrooms really shone through. I’ll be honest: I’m not usually an omelet fan (too many bad omelets will do that to you), but this one I could really get behind. Good creamy texture from the boursin as well.

I went with the chorizo gravy and biscuits. It’s a very flavorful meal. The chorizo gravy is rich, meaty, and a bit smoky, with just the right amount of bite to it. The biscuits themselves are dense but still very moist. It’s a very filling dish, but I really enjoyed every bite of it. I like that they did something interesting with biscuits and gravy, too. Both meals came with a side of de-NOVO’s griddle browns, which are essentially home fries. But they were nice and crispy on the outside without being dry, and were served with homemade ketchup. It’s a bit on the sweet side, and a little tangy, but a great complement to the browns. I just wanted to keep eating them and eating them.

SERVICE: Because we were the only people in the restaurant, we naturally got very personal, attentive service. Our server, who was also the host, kept the coffee refilled and answered our questions, plus our food came out quickly. I’m telling you, if you want a nice, quiet breakfast downtown, this might be your place.

OVERALL: I can’t speak to their lunch, dinner, and bar service, but in terms of breakfast there’s a lot to recommend de-NOVO. The menu offers the very basics (you could just get some eggs and bacon, if you want), but it gives you more creative options, too, like creme brulee French toast, crepes, a crab cake benedict. The decor is a little all-over-the-place, but it’s better than bland cream colors. And if Columbus has another interesting spot for the breakfast – especially downtown – I’m all for it!

Side note: I do think they need a better website. Too much flash, difficult to navigate.

OTHER LINKS:

Capitol Cafe by Milo’s | Columbus, OH

Capitol Cafe by Milo’s (Facebook / @MilosCatering)
1 Capitol Square (inside the Ohio Statehouse) (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 728-9231
Open Mon-Fri, 7a-3p
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 10:30 am

IMPRESSIONS: A few years ago, my wife worked for an event planning company, and one her first big projects was creating new Civil War-era Christmas decorations for the Ohio Statehouse. I helped occasionally with the project, and through that work we both got to know the Statehouse’s layout and history. It’s a grand old stone building, plunked down in what is now the center of Columbus’s busy-and-getting-busier downtown.

During that time, we got to know the Statehouse Cafe, a lackluster basement eatery that served the very basic cafeteria food. Because of their limited hours and slightly hard-to-reach location, the cafe never showed up on our food radar.

Until the summer of 2011, when the Statehouse announced it had been taking bids for a new cafe operator, and that the good folks from Milo’s Deli in Franklinton would be taking over. I’m sad to say I’ve never been to Milo’s (shame on me, I know), but I’m very familiar with Tommy’s Diner, which is owned by the same family, and we love everything about that diner. So the odds were good that we would like the cafe more when it was reborn as Capitol Cafe by Milo’s.

ATMOSPHERE: The Cafe’s change of ownership has resulted in a restaurant than actually has some personality. Sure, there are some aspects of the cafeteria style remaining, but the decor and food quality have taken it far beyond sloppy joe’s on a tray. The entire restaurant has been redecorated, which really maximizes the charm eating in the basement of 150-year-old building: vaulted brick ceilings, portraits of past governors, three small dining rooms. The new cafe owners added a bar in the main room; this meek and mild-looking bar has actually drawn some national attention in a debate over serving alcohol in a government building.

I liked this atmosphere. It’s nice and quiet, and eating in such an historic setting is fun. I kept looking around while we ate, taking it all the details.

FOOD: We ordered a mix of dishes, some standards and some specials. For my three-year-old, we got the plate of 2 Eggs, Homefries, and Toast. This turned out to be a huge plate of food, especially considering that it cost about $4.25. It was more than enough for anyone, and we took home leftovers. Bonus points: it’s all well cooked. Homefries had plenty of brown crispy edges, the eggs weren’t dried out, and the toast was good and buttery.

My wife and I split a couple specials. The first was the Cobb Omelet. This is obviously a cobb salad in omelet form, stuffed with tomatoes, bacon, turkey, and blue cheese, plus a dollop of fresh guacamole. Comes with big sides of toast and homefries. I’m not a huge omelet person, and I generally don’t like blue cheese, but I still enjoyed this omelet. They don’t skimp on the ingredients, and the guacamole itself was great (my wife makes amazing guacamole, so our standards are always high).

The real star of the morning, however, was the Italian Eggs Benedict. Eggs benedict is perhaps one of my favorite breakfasts, and Columbus needs more options for them. This benedict is a special that doesn’t always show up on the menu, but if you can order it, do it. This version is built on a fried polenta cake, then layered with prosciutto, poached eggs, and a rich hollandaise. It comes with a side of crispy red peppers and spinach. It packs a flavorful punch; the only downside for me was that the polenta cake is a tad salty. But this dish now has a place near the top of my favorite-benedicts-in-Columbus list. Serious, my wife and I geeked out about it.

SERVICE:  The kitchen and ordering counter is the first room you encounter when you enter the restaurant. It may seem a little abrupt, and this is where the restaurant feels the most like the old cafeteria. But the process is smooth. You get a brief interaction with the kitchen crew, as you’re standing and ordering, and you can see into much of the prep area. The layout is easy to follow. Once you place your order – either take-out or dine-in – you can have a seat in the dining room and they’ll bring it out to you.

OVERALL: The location and hours work against the Cafe a bit: it’s only open weekdays – obviously aiming for the downtown lunch crowd – and it’s tucked far down in the basement of this gigantic old building. There isn’t any signage outside that would alert a passer-by to its presence. Parking isn’t easy, but it’s readily available: there are meters along Third and Broad, plus an entire garage underneath the Statehouse. But I encourage you battle against these things, because I think the Cafe is more than worth a visit. I’m still craving that Italian Benedict, and the atmosphere is hard to beat. And if you’ve never toured the Statehouse, now’s your time. It’s a beautiful building with a rich history. On the same floor as the Cafe is an interactive museum and the Statehouse Gift Shop (which may or may not carry a certain author’s breakfast book).

As a bonus, we visited when the Statehouse’s Christmas decorations were still up. These are the decorations that my wife created and installed years ago for her event planning job. After enjoying a tasty breakfast, we took some time to revisit them, and I encourage you to do the same when the holidays roll around again.

OTHER LINKS:

Jury Room | Columbus, OH

Jury Room (Facebook / @jury_room)
22 E. Mound St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 220-0964
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Open daily 11a-2a (brunch served Sat & Sun 11a-4p)
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/Y/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 12:45 pm

IMPRESSIONS: Admittedly, it’s difficult for me to write an unbiased review of any of the Columbus Food League restaurants (the organization formerly known as the Betty’s Family of Restaurants). I remember the day when only Betty’s existed, and how soon Surly Girl Saloon joined the ranks, and then Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails downtown. Then we all followed on Twitter the long journey of Dirty Frank’s Hot Dogs opening, and finally the Jury Room around the corner. (Psst, and there’s more to come!)

ATMOSPHERE: We hit up Jury Room early on a Sunday afternoon, and the place was relatively quiet (hint: a little too quiet). We arrived with a group of eight and the server easily pulled a couple tables together. The restaurant is a large single room, with a long wooden bar and an assortment of tables with big wooden chairs. There’s a big chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a fireplace in the corner. The furniture and decor is selected to fit the history of the restaurant, which dates back to the early 1830s. It’s a cozy pub-like setting, and sidling up to the bar or sitting at a table near the fire means you’re joining a long tradition of folks taking a break from the hustle and bustle, even if you’re not on break from a trial at the nearby Franklin County Courthouse.

FOOD: As it was brunch-time and technically p.m., our party started with a couple drinks. First was their Bloody Mary, which you would expect to find on any brunch menu. Jury Room’s version was spicier than I prefer, but it wasn’t so loaded with other accoutrement that it was awkward to drink. So if you want a Bloody Mary that’s flavorful but easily drinkable, this one will work for you.

They also have a nice selection of mimosas, made with orange, cranberry, pineapple, peach, or bitters. One of our brunchers chose the Peach Mimosa. It’s light, refreshing, and delicious.

The food menu has a great mix of things, including some unique items such as brisket and eggs, a bunch of scrambles, sandwiches, burgers, and French toast. Pictured above is the B.E.L.T.: bacon, eggs, arugula, and tomato. It’s a nice big sandwich, very tasty, and comes with really well seasoned and crispy potatoes.

Any trip to the Jury Room must include a plate of their truffle fries. These are thick-cut, crispy potatoes dowsed in some truffle oil and topped with big flakes of shaved parmesan cheese. Pair them with the aioli sauce, and I could eat them for days on end.

I was in a burger mood, and I love a brunch burger, so I picked up Jury Room’s Breakfast Burger. Excellent burger: cooked just right, including the egg, with crispy onion, arugula, and tomato on it. Includes bacon, provolone, and their spicy aioli, plus a side of  the potatoes. Great burger, whether you eat it for brunch or not.

One of our party ordered the Roasted Ohio Chicken off the regular menu. This is a beautiful dish featuring Amish chicken, potatoes, peas, onions, and a cream sauce. I didn’t have a bite, but I was told it’s delicious. If it tastes half as good as it looks, it must be a great dish. This is one thing that I really enjoyed about the Jury Room brunch (and about food at Columbus Food League restaurants in general) is that the menu is fun and casual while still featuring fairly sophisticated food at a good price. It’s costs more than your average diner breakfast, but the quality ingredients and preparation are worth it. Keep in mind, too, that CFL menus always include solid vegetarian and vegan options.

SERVICE: We were well cared-for by the handful of servers at the restaurant, although there weren’t many customers there. But CFL employees are generally very knowledgeable about their food and drink, and our server certainly had fun with us. He was able to accommodate everything for our group, which was decently big and included a three-year-old.

OVERALL: Jury Room holds the distinction of being Columbus’ oldest continually operating restaurant, since 1831. Liz Lessner and the Columbus Food League crew took over about a year ago, when the restaurant went up for sale, and Columbus’ dining scene has been all the better for it. They’ve given this historic restaurant new life, while still retaining some of the traditions of the location. It’s one more step in building a better downtown food scene. The brunch (at least on Sundays) is a quiet and comfortable affair. Great food in a very cozy atmosphere. I look forward to returning for brunch. Oh, heck, or for any meal there.

OTHER LINKS:

Cafe Brioso | Columbus, OH

Cafe Brioso (Facebook / @CafeBrioso)
14 E. Gay St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 228-8366
Open Mon-Fri, 7a-4p; Sat, 9a-4p
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Ah, Brioso. It’s both easy and difficult for me to write about them. It’s easy because seasoned food and coffee fans of Columbus will already know about Brioso and their amazing roasts, their passion for coffee brewing, and their enthusiasm for sharing and teaching coffee culture. But it’s difficult because there’s not much to write beyond saying that they do coffee, and they do it really well. So maybe I should aim this review toward people who haven’t visited Brioso.

In short: you should go. Brioso is one of downtown Columbus’ premiere coffee stops. It’s conveniently located on the corner of High and Gay Streets. Parking is easily found on Gay Street, in both long- and short-term meters.

ATMOSPHERE: Brioso does all of their roasting on premises, so at the front of the store facing High Street you’ll often find roaster Jeff Davis hard at work, making anywhere from 15-20 different roasts. It makes the whole cafe, and the street outside, smell lovely. It’s particularly inviting in the colder months.

FOOD: In addition to their coffee, they serve a wide range of fresh-baked goods, from scones to cookies to muffins. Their scones rotate from sweet to savory flavors, often incorporating seasonal fruits. One of their top sellers are the blueberry muffins. It’s hard to go wrong when you pair that with a coffee drink.

You can order coffee however you like it: lattes with beautiful art, cappuccinos, cubanos (one of my wife’s favorites), or pour-overs featuring any of their roasts. They usually have a featured pour-over each day, so even if you’re a daily fixture there, you can work your way through the full menu of beans.

They serve much more than just coffee and muffins. Stop in for lunch especially, where they rotate soups, salads, and sandwiches.

SERVICE: The staff at Brioso keeps busy – they have to with the active downtown crowd – but they’ve always been friendly to me, and willing to chat about coffee. Their baristas are also some of the best trained in town, so you know that they’re pulling shots of espresso, pouring latte art, or foaming up your cappuccino the right way. Brioso often hosts regional latte art competitions, so they’re also doing a lot to raise Columbus’ coffee profile.

OVERALL: Whether you have time to stop or are in the to-go mood, the Brioso breakfast serves you well. If you work downtown, or are just bumming around seeing the sights, the cafe is a must-see for a drink and a snack. But if you want to take your love of coffee a stop further, they can lead the way. J.J., one of the managers, has a business card that reads, “Coffee Evangelist,” and that about says it all.

OTHER LINKS:

-> my (614) Magazine write-up about coffee shops, including Brioso

The Clarmont | Columbus, OH

UPDATE 1/23/12: The Clarmont is now closed.

The Clarmont (Facebook / @TheClarmont)
648 S. High St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 443-1125
Bfast served Mon-Sat, 7-11 am; check website for lunch & dinner hours
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 10:15 am

IMPRESSIONS: For years, I thought the Clarmont was an old hotel on South High Street. Am I crazy? Is there a chain of hotels under that name? But that’s beside the point. The Clarmont has been around for decades, and for some people (like ignorant me), it sailed under the radar. But their recent marketing efforts have paid off, and they now draw in happy hour crowds and breakfast enthusiasts alike.

The Clarmont opened in 1947, and you still sense the 40′s in the decor. The signs and menu are classic art deco. Rose lamps along the walls provide dim lighting. Lots of glass signs.

Behind the waiting area you can see the big circular bar. It’s become a popular happy hour stop, with drinks like the Twixlen named after regulars.

Old phone booth. When do you see those anymore?

The dining rooms are dimly lit, so your breakfasting experience feels very quiet and relaxing. There are two rooms total. One is slightly raised above the other; it was dark the morning we visited. Overall, lots of pink pastel colors. “Nighthawks” hangs on the wall.

Your experience is punctuated by jazz muzak.

FOOD: Our meal started out with a really impressive note. We ordered coffee (which was very good; fresh ground and it came with small jugs of milk – bonus!) plus a couple juices. It look a few minutes for them to arrive because our server was squeezing them fresh! Above: grapefruit juice.

And here: orange juice. It’s hard to go wrong with fresh-squeezed juices.

We ordered a bunch of different things. Overall, good, although there was some hit and miss. Here are some pancakes with chocolate chips. Very nice!

One of the menu features: scrambled eggs with mushrooms and toast. Straightforward and easy to like.

Something you don’t always see on breakfast menus: fried chicken livers. Casually listed in the Side Orders. My mother-in-law, who grew up in a poultry market, said they tasted good but were a tad over-cooked.

A good Spanish omelette, with onions, peppers, and salsa.

Side of hash browns, nice and crispy.

Classic eggs benedict, although I wasn’t a fan of the hollandaise. Tasted canned to me.

Same with the corned beef hash. Decent dish, but it tasted canned. Comes with eggs and toast.

SERVICE: Our service was really excellent. To the point that we commented about it to each other. Our server was super friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and very quick. She even made a point to bring my two-year-old son’s food out a little earlier, recognizing that he was getting a little antsy.

OVERALL: There’s a lot to recommend The Clarmont. It’s a veritable south-downtown institution, and has been going strong since 1947 for several good reasons. The decoration is a pleasing throw-back, the service is some of the best I’ve experienced in recent memory, and the menu covers all of your favorites, plus a couple unique offerings. It’s a little hit and miss for me, but given the variety, you’ll be sure to find something you like.

OTHER LINKS:

Market 65 | Columbus, OH

Market 65 (Facebook / @marketsixtyfive)
65 E. State. St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 564-6565
Open Mon-Fri, 7:30 am – 8 pm (bfast served until 10:30 am)
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/Y/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Market 65 is a much-needed new addition to the downtown dining scene. They took the spot formerly inhabited by the San Francisco Pizza Oven, and have replaced that forgettable chain with a bright, fresh restaurant that features a lot of great Ohio goods.

ATMOSPHERE: The space flows pretty easily; once you step through the front door, you’re right at the top of the line that follows the counters. I visited on a Thursday mid-morning and the place was quiet, although lunch time can get busier.

There’s a good-sized seating section extending back into the space. The color palette is full of greens and browns; you feel like you’re walking in a forest.

FOOD: The real star of Market 65 is their salad bar, what with the choosing and the mixing and the chopping, but they do feature a good breakfast menu, too. And obviously, that’s why I’m here.

The fun of eating there is watching your food be assembled as you head down the line. They have a huge variety of fresh ingredients to choose from…

…including meats…

…vegetables…

…and cheeses. The biggest dish on their breakfast menu – the wrap – lets you choose two of the vegetables and a cheese (you can add bacon or sausage, too). That’s a pretty wide selection.

Other breakfast items include oatmeal, fresh fruit, and pastries.

Coffee service provided by Stauf’s, with a special Market 65 blend. Very nice.

Baked goods come from Sassafras Bakery, Sue’s Kitchen, and Cupcake Yum Yum.

My son and I split a wrap (which you can also order as a scramble) with some white cheddar and black beans. It’s a hefty wrap, and was plenty for the both of us.

The ingredients are simple, but the flavors were all there. A great option if you need a quick breakfast downtown. The bonus is that these ingredients are sourced locally, so you know you’re getting good Ohio eggs, cheese, and the like.

SERVICE: I’ll be honest: I had a great service experience, although I got to chat with owners Anthony and Patrick. One of their staffers very kindly played with my son Will while we spoke. If Anthony, Patrick, and their staff are anything to go by, they can take care of a long line of customers smoothly.

OVERALL: Market 65 is a simple concept, but one that’s well connected to the local food community and provides a much-needed option for downtown dining. They’re open early and stay open late, which is encouraging for that area. And now that the weather is getting warmer, imagine yourself out here on the patio…

OTHER LINKS:
-> my piece for (614) Magazine on Market 65
-> interview with the owners on ColumbusUnderground

Jack’s Sandwich Shop | Columbus, OH

Jack’s Sandwich Shop (Facebook)
52 E. Lynn St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 224-3655
Open Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Accepts cash & credit/debit
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? N/N/N
Kid-friendly? Y

Date of Visit: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

IMPRESSIONS: Tucked down one of the back alleys of downtown Columbus, a stone’s-throw from the Statehouse, is a little diner out to prove that, yes, they do make them like they used to. Jack’s Sandwich shop has been around as an institution since 1942, with this particular location serving the downtown crowds since 1974.

ATMOSPHERE: The decor and atmosphere reveal that not much has changed since the 70′s. We visited on a quiet Tuesday morning, sandwiched (ha!) between the breakfast and lunch crowds.

Like most diners, Jack’s consists of just one, long room. On one side is a row of 8 booths; on the other is a counter with 13 stools.

Owners Chris and Kathy Kowalski keep the place humming. They’ve owned the business since late 2003. Pictured here is Chris busy at the grill.

Chris was super nice to chat with, and excited to talk about his restaurant. If you’re in, say hi to him. On a side note… I asked if there ever was a Jack who gave the place his name. Indeed there was, said Chris. Jack was the previous owner’s father. He started three restaurants downtown after serving in World War II, and the current diner is the only one left.

The entire experience echoes of yesteryear, like a celebration of the diner heritage. Jack’s has got it all: the old menu sign, the Coca-Cola paraphernalia, the black and white photos of old drive-ins, the old wallpaper and neon lights, and that shelf. You know the one I’m talking about. The long shelf, high up on the wall, above all the booths, packed with train cars and retro signage. It’s a diner thing.

The old school kitschiness is matched by some of Chris’ own, like the mirror ball that, yes, is lit and spinning. Or the strings of Christmas lights draped from the ceiling. Chris said he’s known for decorating up the place for major holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc. Although I’ve definitely heard some question whether the decor is really all that seasonal.

The counter is much lower than I’m accustomed to seeing, but it offers everyone a straight view of the grill, and opens up the space better.

One of my favorite details: the checkered floor. The colors are just off enough that you notice them, but not so tacky that you don’t see anything else.

FOOD: Jack’s serves a simple diner menu, with only a handful of somewhat helpful categories: Eggs & More, Hotcakes, Breakfast Specials, Breakfast Meats, and Potatoes & Grits. I say somewhat helpful because you’ll find French toast under Eggs & More, oatmeal under Hotcakes, and waffles under both Eggs & More and Breakfast Specials.

I opted for an actual special: the steak and eggs. Nice plate of crispy potatoes, plus scrambled eggs. Eggs were good, potatoes thinly sliced and crispy, but they needed some seasoning. That prompted me to ask over Twitter: should your food be salted before it comes out, or left to the diner’s preference? The general consensus – which I agree with – was that food should be seasoned according to the chef’s desire. Unfortunately, these needed a punch up.

Close-up on the steak! It was quite good. I ordered it medium, but should have ordered medium rare. Small steaks like this can be tough to manage, and this one was a little too done. But it had a good sear and nice flavor, although it could have used an extra punch of spice, too.

My wife ordered the two eggs any style. Came with the potatoes, toast, and a side of corned beef hash. We liked that you could order the corned beef hash as your side of meat. First time I’ve seen that. But we both loved it: nice crisp, good flavor and texture.

Her two eggs – nicely poached.

SERVICE: Chris and Kathy clearly know their regulars, and treat them well. And it doesn’t take much to be welcomed as a regular right away. The feeling is mutual. Check this out: pictured above is Mr. John Petro. He’s one of about a dozen men who met regularly at Jack’s from 1968 until this past spring. So regularly, in fact, that they HAVE A PLAQUE above their table!

Look at the dates! They met from 1968 until May 13, 2010. Mr. Petro, who gave me permission to take his picture, said that Lynn Alley Irregulars were attorneys, businessmen, and the like who worked downtown. They made Jack’s Sandwich Shop their home-away-from-the-office for over four decades, and had only two rules: you couldn’t talk about work – politics, sports, anything but work – and you weren’t allowed to read the newspaper if someone else was there. You had to talk.

OVERALL: Jack’s makes my short list of really worthy diners around Columbus. Their longevity, as testified by the Lynn Alley Irregulars, and the tucked-away, side alley location add to the charm. Their breakfast definitely needs some more spice, with no surprises and super stand-outs, but it fits the atmosphere, is dirt cheap, and clearly has been a downtown favorite for decades.

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