Schmidt's Sausage Haus is a german restaurant in German Village, Columbus.
Schmidt's Sausage Haus on Kossuth Street is Columbus's canonical German Village hall, run by the Schmidt family since their 1886 meatpacker.
Signature dishes: Bahama Mama sausage, Cream Puff
Must order: The Bahama Mama sausage plate followed by the cream puff, sized to two hands.
Tip: No reservations, expect a wait on football Saturdays; walk in mid-afternoon for the shorter line.
Address: 240 E Kossuth St, Columbus, OH 43206
Comune on Parsons Avenue in Columbus's Schumacher Place is the plant-forward dining room serving in-season vegetable plates and small dishes.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable plates, Grain bowls
Order: Whatever the kitchen is doing with that week's farm haul, plus the seasonal cocktail.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable; the menu changes weekly, follow the Instagram for the day's pickup.
Service Bar on Courtland Avenue is the chef-driven new American counter inside Middle West Spirits, the Columbus distillery cocktail pairing.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Cocktail pairings
Order: Whichever seasonal small plate the chef is featuring with a Middle West Vim and Vigor cocktail.
Tip: Counter seats facing the open kitchen book up first on Resy; weekday dinners are easier than Friday night.
The Pearl on North High Street is the Cameron Mitchell oyster bar and gastropub anchoring the Columbus Short North strip with a deep raw bar.
Signature: Oysters on the half shell, Steak frites
Order: Half-dozen oysters from the daily list and the steak frites.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable, but the bar takes walk-ins; oyster happy hour weekdays from 16:00.
Speck Italian Eatery on North High Street in downtown Columbus is the modern Italian counter for fresh pastas, wood-fired pizza and house salumi.
Signature: Hand-rolled pastas, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Whichever house-rolled pasta is on the chalkboard, plus a slice of speck off the salumi list.
Tip: Reserve on Tock for the prime 19:30 window; the bar seats face the pasta pulling line.
Forno Kitchen and Bar on North High Street is Columbus's Short North wood-oven Mediterranean room with a long bar and a weekend brunch service.
Signature: Wood-oven pizza, Weekend brunch
Order: The wood-oven pizza of the moment, plus a brunch mimosa flight on Sunday.
Tip: Brunch fills first; reserve on OpenTable for any seating after 10:30.
Comune on Parsons Avenue in Columbus's Schumacher Place is the plant-forward dining room serving in-season vegetable plates and small dishes.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable plates, Grain bowls
Order: Whatever the kitchen is doing with that week's farm haul, plus the seasonal cocktail.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable; the menu changes weekly, follow the Instagram for the day's pickup.
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.
