24 Columbus restaurant openings and 13 closings for the month of August
To say the Columbus restaurant scene has been busy this month, with several new openings and closings would be an understatement.
Highlights include the opening of Hiraeth, a live-fire restaurant in the Short North; Habibi Grill, a Lebanese restaurant in Italian Village; and Good Night John Boy, a 1970s-themed club and restaurant in the Short North set to open this weekend.
Plus, a new location for Smashburger, the return of Caribou Coffee to Columbus and a short relocation for Hilltop's Third Way Cafe, while the closings of Tasi Café, The Butcher & Grocer at East Market, The Hummus & Pita Co. and The Crest round out the list.
Here's what's new and what has left the Columbus restaurant scene as of August:
Pat and Gracie's Kitchen x Tavern
Pat and Gracie's Kitchen x Tavern opened late last month at 121 S. High St. Downtown, in the former BurgerIM location inside the Lazarus Building. It's the second location for the Columbus eatery, which also has a location at 138 Graceland Blvd. in Clintonville.
The Downtown restaurant has the same menu Pat and Gracie's fans love, including smash-cooked Angus burgers, chicken sandwiches, "big bowl" salads, brunch and more.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursdayand 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Lupita's Mexican Cuisine
Family-owned restaurant Lupita's Mexican Cuisine opened at 1586 S. High St. in Merion Village on July 31, serving authentic Mexican food, including tacos, fajitas, burritos, soups, salads, vegetarian options, desserts and more.
Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday.
Holy Crepes
Food truck Holy Crepes opened a stall in North Market Bridge Park early this month. The eatery's menu features sweet and savory crepes with toppings like Nutella, peanut butter, fruit, jam, cheese, chicken, ham, steak, eggs, veggies and more.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Market Bar Vinoteca
North Market Bridge Park opened Market Bar Vinoteca this month, a wine and cocktail bar operated by Market Bar. Vinoteca serves wine-based cocktails, local craft beer and wines wines from around the world by the glass or for retail.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, and11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Mariposa Mexican Cuisine
Mariposa Mexican Cuisine opened in early August at 5 S. 3rd St. in Newark in the former Barrel & Boar, which closed in January.
The restaurant is owned and operated by Square Roots, which also owns and operates fine dining restaurant 1922 on the Square. The menu includes a dozen kinds of tacos, including barbacoa and chorizo; plates, including tequila salmon and huevos rancheros; soups, salads and more.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Broadway Plates & Pints
Broadway Plates & Pints opened at 4008 Broadway in Grove City on Aug. 4. The restaurant offers burgers, wings, calzones, tacos, sandwiches, salads, brunch and more.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Hiraeth
From the owners of Chapman's Eat Market and Ginger Rabbit, Hiraeth held its grand opening on Aug. 9 at 36 E. Lincoln St. in the Short North. The live-fire restaurant uses a hearth, dishes like a Greek tomato salad with tzatziki sauce, smoked scallop, classic beef tartare with naan bread, oysters and more.
Hiraeth is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday.
Little West Poutine
Little West Poutine opened in mid-August at The Junto, 77 Belle St. in Franklinton, offering nighttime poutine — French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy — from a walk-up window at Little West Tavern.
The menu includes classic poutine, poutine with short rib or sweet potato poutine with bourbon brown butter glaze and marshmallow.
Hours are 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.
Anand India Restaurant
Anand India Restaurant opened at 3011 Olentangy River Road on Aug. 11, serving Indian cuisine, including samosas, chicken tikka, kebabs, paneer, curry, saag, biryani, soup, salad and more. The menu includes chicken, lamb, goat, seafood and vegetarian dishes.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The Dish African Restaurant and Bar
A new African restaurant opened at 2009 E. Dublin Granville Road in Northland. The Dish African Restaurant and Bar opened a new location on Aug. 12 and serves fufu, spinach stew, turkey and chicken wings, grilled tilapia, yam balls, kebabs and more. The restaurant also features a full bar.
Hours are 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to midnight and Sunday.
Delaney's Diner
With its fourth restaurant, Delaney's Diner opened at 1105 W. 1st Ave. in Grandview Heights on Aug. 15.
The neighborhood spot features a menu of classics like buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and omelets, plus some uncommon options, including the breakfast "conewich." Other locations are in Groveport, Reynoldsburg and Westerville.
Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Popeyes
Polaris Fashion Place welcomed the fast food chain Popeyes to the mall's food hall on Aug. 16. The restaurant joins I Scream Gelato, Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog and Bonjour Cafe — which moved from downtown Columbus late last month —as recent additions to the food hall.
Popeyes is located between Nori Japan and China Wok in the mall's upper-level food hall.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Columbus openings: Restaurants that opened and closed in June
Rodos' Greek Taverna
Rodos' Greek Taverna opened at 2151 W. Dublin Granville Road in Linworth on Aug. 16 for its soft opening. The restaurant's menu includes gyros, rodos, sandwiches, kebabs, lamb chops, salads, zupa, baklava and more.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Habibi Grill
From the owner of Mr. Hummus Grill in New Albany's Bubbly Hall, Habibi Grill is a new concept at 1131 N. 4th St. in Italian Village. Opened on Aug. 19, the Lebanese restaurant serves various dishes, including falafel, shrimp and beef tacos; gyros, burgers, pizza, wraps, soups, salads and more.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
Cocky's Bagels
Cleveland-based Cocky's Bagels opened its first Columbus location at 1484 N. High St. in Weinland Park on Aug. 20, offering bagels and bagel sandwiches. Options include the Lox bagel sandwich, steak, egg and cheese bagel sandwich, the BLT bagel sandwich and more.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday.
Cento
Cento, the awaited opening of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants' fine-dining Italian eatery, opened at 595 S. 3rd St. in German Village on Aug. 22. The 100th restaurant for Cameron Mitchell opened in the former G. Michael's Bistro & Bar, which closed in 2021.
Cento features entrees such as branzino, duroc pork chop and swordfish; a variety of pasta; and an antipasto menu of burrata, octopus and more.
Hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Goood Friends
Wario's concept Goood Friends held its official grand opening Friday at Jackie O's On Fourth, 171 N. 4th St. Downtown, joining Bagel Street Deli. The concept offers sandwiches with a Midwest spin, like mushroom-blended burgers, fried bologna sandwiches, fried chicken sandwiches, fries, loaded corn, fried apple pie, PB&J moon pies and more.
Hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Gyropolis
Gyropolis opened on Friday at 3369 Indianola Ave. in Clintonville. The restaurant offers chicken, falafel and steak gyros, hummus with pita, wings, calamari, cheesesteak, burgers, sandwiches and more.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Fanatics Betting and Gaming
Online sports betting platform Fanatics Betting and Gaming opened a retail sportsbook location at 401 N. Front St. in the Arena District on Friday. The location is in partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets and is just outside Nationwide Arena. The sportsbook features betting windows and kiosks, a giant LED video wall and a full-service restaurant operated by Delaware North, which operates concessions and dining at Nationwide Arena.
Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Smashburger
Smashburger opened its sixth Ohio location at 1840 N. High St. in the University District on Saturday.
The location serves made-to-order burgers, chicken sandwiches, turkey and black bean burgers, salads, fries, shakes, all-day breakfast and beer and cocktails at a full bar. The restaurant will also offer a new limited-time menu item, the Carolina BBQ burnt-ends burger.
Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Créme de la Créme Bakery & Café
Créme de la Créme Bakery & Café hosted its official grand opening at 5311 Westpointe Plaza Drive on the West Side on Saturday, after being open for over a month. The Ukrainian-owned European-style cafe features cake, eclairs, tarts, turnovers, danishes, panna cotta, avocado toast, lattes, espressos, cappuccinos and more.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Third Way Cafe
Third Way Cafe moved to 3059 W. Broad St. in the Hilltop, just across the street from its former location, on Saturday. The coffee shop, which debuted in 2017, will also offer new menu items, including blueberry matcha from Potion Matcha Bar, new cold brews, including a nitro cold brew, new house-made syrups and more.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Caribou Coffee
A new Caribou Coffee drive-thru location opened on Tuesday at 7010 E. Main St. in Reynoldsburg. The new location is the second Caribou Coffee franchise in Ohio, following a location that opened in Wooster last fall. Caribou Coffee shops left the Columbus market in 2013.
The compact "Caribou Cabin" features a drive-thru, walk-up window and an outdoor patio. Caribou Coffee offers coffee, espresso, teas and other beverages, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and other snacks.
Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Good Night John Boy
Good Night John Boy, a 1970s-themed club and restaurant, will open its fourth location next month at 906 N. High St. in the Short North, replacing SeeSaw. The club will feature an LED-lit dance floor, cocktails and food inspired by the era, including elevated Happy Meals, TV dinners and a disco-themed brunch.
Good Night John Boy also has locations in Cleveland, Chicago and St. Petersburg, Florida, owned and operated by Forward Hospitality Group.
More summer openings: New entertainment venue 'Eupouria' to open in campus Gateway
Closings: Tasi Cafe, Chick-fil-A, Hummus & Pita Co. and more
Tasi Café closed at 680 N. Pearl St. in Italian Village on Aug. 4 after nearly 17 years in business. However, the restaurant teased a return in some form, saying, "We are coming back strong."
A Grove City Chick-fil-A location closed at 1696 Stringtown Road on Aug. 10 temporarily for remodeling, with an expected reopening in November.
The Butcher & Grocer announced on Aug. 15 that it would close its East Market restaurant immediately and grocery store soon after. A restaurant in Grandview, at 1089 W. 1st Ave., is unaffected. The Near East Side food hall evicted and filed a lawsuit against The Butcher & Grocer this month for allegedly failing to pay rent. The Butcher & Grocer has filed a countersuit, claiming East Market owes the former vendor more than $91,000 because of the food hall's delayed opening.
East Market lawsuits: Vendors, Residents Clash with East Market Over the Direction of the Columbus Development
Colin's Coffee and Basil closed locations in the Golden Bear Shopping Center on Riverside Drive in Upper Arlington, following Figlio Wood-Fired Pizza, which closed in July. The closings are to make room for the forthcoming redevelopment of the shopping center.
As of Aug. 21, O'Charley's closed four Ohio locations, including 4850 Morse Road on the Northeast Side and 1650 Georgesville Square Drive on the Far West Side. The restaurant chain cited "industry challenges" as the reason for the closure, which includes 18 closures nationwide.
Safia Sweets & Kitchen closed on Aug. 20 after about four months on the North Side, at 2375 Silver Drive, however the restaurant will continue catering services.
Zoup is down to one location after closing at 1555 W. Nationwide Blvd. in the Arena District. Columbus' last remaining Zoup franchise is at Easton Gateway, 4189 Weaverton Lane.
Fast casual chain The Hummus & Pita Co. appears to have closed its first and only Columbus-area franchise at 1777 Hilliard Rome Road in Hilliard. The location, which opened in May 2022, is listed as closed on Google and no longer listed on the chain's website. A listing for the space appeared online earlier this month.
Two-Step Tacos announced it would leave Crooked Can Brewing at Center Street Market, 5354 Center St. in Hilliard. The owners, who also own Legacy Smokehouse, 3987 Main St. in Hilliard, said they wanted to focus on growing the restaurant and catering side of the business. Legacy Smokehouse will, however, add Two-Step's tacos to the menu.
Center Street Market also announced vendor Al's Delicious Popcorn would close its stall at the market.
The Crest will close after a decade at 2855 Indianola Ave. on Sept. 2 and will be replaced by Yellow Springs Taproom & Kitchen, which is expected to open this fall.
Columbus distillery news: Watershed Distillery acquired by international firm, plans to grow
tmoorman@dispatch.com
@taijuannichole
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The Columbus restaurants, cafes, clubs and more that opened in August
