Looking for something fun and off-beat in Columbus

[ClevelandRandy]

Will be in Columbus for 3 days in late November, staying downtown. Have been to Columbus plenty of times, and have eating at all of the "usual suspects." Last year I wound up at Black Creek Bistro, and loved it (funky place, funky neighborhood, great, locally sourced food, unpretentious). I would gladly go back, but wondered if you Columbus chowhounds can recommend similar spots. I will have a car, and price isn't really an issue. Also, would love recommendations for breakfast downtown -- especially in the greasy spoon genre. Thanks!!

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Black Creek Bistro
692 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43215

[mattstolz]

If you havent been to North Market yet, its a nice little place to explore with some fun options. theres also a Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream which is definitely a must-hit for any trip to Cbus.

For a slightly more infamous columbus spot, German village has some good places, including Thurman's (home of the famed Thurmanator Burger) which is not only a fun little dive bar but also a really solid burger spot (go hungry but prepared for a wait!)

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North Market
59 Spruce St, Columbus, OH 43215

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream
714 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215

[dreamers50]

I second the recommendation for the GV coffee shop, but anticipate a wait if you go on the weekend... all of the Betty's restaurants (Tip Top, Surly Girl, Jury Room, etc.) serve unique brunches. Skillet is good, but would recommend for lunch rather than dinner if you enjoy a cocktail with your meal as they don't serve alcohol.

Have you been to Thurmans? A must stop if you haven't (come hungry though!)

Other favorites:
Alana's (soooo good, higher end, but funky, always changing menu, sources her food locally, I always enjoy going there as she often comes out and serves samples to her guests and is happy to chat)

Basi Italiana ( a little hard to find as it is hidden down an alley, in a house, but is great)

Deepwood (more mainstream/ steakhouseish, haven't been there, but every time I see their menu I am reminded that I need to go)

G. Michaels- great food, never disappoints, usually there are a few suits, but still awesome

Barcelona- if you don't stop by now, come back in the spring and request to sit on the patio, best one in town!

Knead- good, casual, locally sourced diner grub

Any of the Betty's restaurants:
Bettys: Traditional, comfort bar food
Surly Girl: Tex-Mex
Tip Top: Ohio themed comfort food
Dirty Franks: Gourmet hotdogs (if you want funky and like hotdogs/ sausages, try here!)
Jury Room: Prohibition/ 1920s style food and drink
Her places are all great,casual, have atmosphere, are reasonable and unique, can't say enough about them!

Also, I would recommend the website Columbus Crave for more inspiration: www.columbuscrave.com ; they do a good job of breaking up the restaurants by neighborhoods.

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Tip Top
73 E Gay St, Columbus, OH 43215

Jury Room
22 E Mound St, Columbus, OH 43215

Deepwood
511 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215

[ClevelandRandy]

Thanks for the great list. Alana's, Basi Italia (that pasta dish with the golden raisins -- yum) and G. Michael are some of my favorite places in Cbus. Haven't been to Thurmans, but want to go. Jeni's -- incredible (they have one in Cleveland now).

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Basi Italia
811 Highland St., Columbus, OH 43215

[ladybugthepug]

Columbus has long been a pizza wasteland, but no more. Harvest in German Village is easily the best pizza I've had in the entire state. Modeled after Pizzeria Mozza in LA, this hip little pizzeria stresses organic and local ingredients whenever possible. It is small but if you're only one or two you can eat at the small bar. The Yuma with red onions subbed out for the hot peppers is fantastic. Wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas as well as apps and desserts. My wife and I can't wait to go back. It's VERY small and very popular so plan accordingly.

[Diane in Bexley]

Danny's Deli is a block west of Broad and High at Broad and Front St. They do breakfast, although terrific corned beef sandwiches is what they are knwn for.

Definitely try Tommy's if you like diners. It's a traditional Greek style diner and great breakfast/lunch. Skillet in GV is way too pretentious for me, much too hipster wannabee. The German Village coffee shop is also a recommend.

If you venture to the East side, try the Grill & Skillet, another dive diner. It't across from the Bexley post office on E. Main St., about a 10-15 min drive from downtown.

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Danny's Deli & Restaurant
37 W Broad St Ste 50, Columbus, OH 43215

[Ditdah]

Ooo - thanks for the Skillet tip. I've only heard about the food, not about the ambience. I definitely wouldn't enjoy it if it's pretentious and one of those "trying too hard to be trendy" places!

[darbit]

Lindeys and Sage for dinner, Jury Room for lunch and German Village Coffee Shop for breakfast.

www.lindeys.com
www.sageamericanbistro.com
www.juryroomcolumbus.com
www.gvcoffeeshop.com/

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Lindey's
169 E. Beck Street, Columbus, OH 43206

[ClevelandRandy]

I've been to Lindeys, but not the others. They all look great. The cocktail list at Jury Room makes me want to hop in the car and drive to C-bus right now!

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Lindey's
169 E. Beck Street, Columbus, OH 43206

Jury Room
22 E Mound St, Columbus, OH 43215

[Lauren in OH]

You won't go wrong with any of the suggestions you've received. I also like T. Murray's, a new bar/gastropub on High Street. If you're dining alone you won't feel out of place. It's owned by the old bartender from Lindey's.
www.tmurrays.com

[Ditdah]

Well, I'd suggest hitting Black Creek Bistro again, just because I love it so much. But some other places that might not have been included in your previous "usual suspects" trips:

Betty's Fine Food and Spirits: Honestly, I've never been inside this place, but we lived 3 blocks away and got carryout all the time. Food is wonderful, comfort-food favorites mostly, but some with modern twists. I love their Vegan Shrooms and also their meatloaf. I have no idea what the inside looks like, since my roommate always picked up the food, but I know it's a bar atmosphere. (May be a 'dive bar' type place, honestly.)
http://www.bettyscolumbus.com/

Breakfast at Tommy's Diner: American diner with some Greek additions; great breakfast place, but can be VERY crowded. Their cinnamon rolls are huge; when ordered they slice them in half, butter them, and grill them. They're not healthy, but tasty.

Due Amici: This is a little more upscale and modern, but still fun. Great food - their wild mushroom pizza and an Insalata mista make me happy, happy.
http://due-amici.com/

Just a few suggestions that aren't quite the nornal recs that get thrown out for Columbus...

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Black Creek Bistro
692 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43215

Due Amici
67 E Gay Street, Columbus, OH 43215

Tommy's Diner
914 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43222

Betty's Fine Food & Spirits
680 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215

[Ditdah]

Also, a good place to look for Columbus (and other) breakfast reviews: http://breakfastwithnick.wordpress.co...

[ClevelandRandy]

Have been to Betty's and loved it (truth be told, though, I was already a little cocktailed before I got there!). Have been to Due Amici for lunch, and would try it for dinner. Kind of like the idea of escaping from the downtown "suits." Tommy's sounds great! Is there a name for that neighborhood?

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Due Amici
67 E Gay Street, Columbus, OH 43215

[Ditdah]

The neighborhood where Tommy's islocated is called Franklinton.

There's also Skillet, which I haven't been to but have heard good things about. http://www.skilletruf.com/

How far out of downtown do you want to go? If you're looking to travel further, there are plenty of other places to venture. One that really fits the "fun and off-beat" is Starliner Diner, located in Hilliard.

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Starliner Diner
5240 Cemetery Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

[ClevelandRandy]

For breakfast, I'd rather stay close in. For dinner, I'm pretty open to driving for something fun and worthwhile.