Indian$$worthingtonTue-Thu 08:00-14:00; Fri-Sat 08:00-18:00; Sun 08:00-14:00; closed Mon
Joya's Cafe on High Street in Old Worthington is Chef Avishar Barua's Bengali American Columbus daytime room, named for his mother Joya, since 2022.
Signature: Bengali breakfast plates, Chai with house pastries
Order: The Bengali breakfast plate and a cardamom chai off the tea list.
Tip: Barua was a 2024 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes semifinalist; weekday mornings move faster than weekend brunch.
American Tavern$$german-villageMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
The Old Mohawk on Mohawk Street in Schumacher Place has been a Columbus German Village tavern since 1933, with turtle soup and a tavern burger.
Signature: Turtle soup, Tavern burger
Order: A cup of turtle soup followed by the tavern burger and a cold draft.
Tip: Cash-friendly bar; weekend lunches are the easiest seating, dinner gets a wait.
New American$$$downtownTue-Sat 17:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-14:00 brunch; closed Mon
The Wolf's Ridge Brewing dining room on North Fourth Street downtown Columbus runs a chef-driven new American menu alongside the brewery taproom.
Signature: Beer-pairing plates, Pizza Kitchen pies
Order: Whichever beer-pairing plate the kitchen is featuring with the seasonal IPA on tap.
Tip: Dining room reservations on OpenTable; the Pizza Kitchen takes counter walk-ins.
Italian Seafood$$$dublinMon-Thu 10:00-21:00; Fri 10:00-23:00; Sat 09:30-23:00; Sun 09:30-21:00
Tucci's on North High Street in Historic Dublin has run as the Columbus suburb's Italian seafood room since 1992, with a fine-wine cellar list.
Signature: Italian seafood plates, Whole-fish preparations
Order: The whole-fish special of the night plus a glass from the deep Italian list.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable; the bar holds a few walk-in seats Tuesday through Thursday.
Mediterranean$$short-northDaily 11:00-21:30
Brassica on North High Street in Columbus's Short North is the Mediterranean fast-casual counter with hearth-baked pita and house-made falafel.
Signature: Hearth-baked pita, Roasted vegetable bowls
Order: Build a bowl with falafel, roasted carrots, hummus and the marinated eggplant.
Tip: No reservations, line moves fast; the to-go counter side door beats the dining room queue at lunch.
German$$grandview-heightsSun-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00
Hofbrauhaus Columbus on Goodale Boulevard in Grandview Yard is the city's full-scale Bavarian beer hall, with house-brewed lagers and pretzels.
Signature: Bavarian pretzel, Schnitzel platter
Order: A house pretzel with mustard, the schnitzel platter and a one-liter Mass of the Original lager.
Tip: Live oompah Friday and Saturday nights; outdoor biergarten in season is the best seating.