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Green eggs and ham at Katalina's Cafe Corner.
Michael A. Foley/MAF Photography
Here’s a hearty breakfast with a catchy and familiar name: green eggs and ham at Katalina’s Cafe Corner, 1105 Pennsylvania Ave., in Victorian Village.
The Dr. Seuss-inspired item makes it a “dish with a twist,” says owner Kathleen Day. It’s two eggs prepared sunny side up, with a basil pesto sauce, prosciutto and Parmesan, served with roasted garlic toast. Day says the pesto—with hints of walnut—is housemade. “I’m a big advocate of homemade and fresh,” she explains. “It helps sustain local businesses and is better for you.”
Katalina’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and for brunch on weekends.
Openings
Liz Lessner’s Columbus Food League is at it again. The Grass Skirt, a “tiki bar with a dark edge,” is expected to open at 105
N. Grant Ave. in the spring, says co-owner and general manager Carmen Owens. The restaurant is still in the design phase, but the menu will combine “standard tiki fare with our usual comfort food twist,” she explains. This concept joins Betty’s, Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, Surly Girl Saloon, Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace and the Jury Room. “There’s no rest for the wicked,” says Owens, laughing.
Another mobile food option is coming to town. Street Thyme, a “boutique burger truck,” will open in late March or early April, says co-owner Josh Chapman, who previously worked for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. The truck will be parked behind Café Bella, 2593 N. High St. (He explains he’s friends with the owner, who will allow the truck to serve food when the restaurant is closed.) Chapman and business partner Steve Zeppetella, who currently is a sous chef at Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus, are excited about the opportunity. “The mobile food movement provides a price point we can get in at without brick and mortar costs,” says Chapman.
Barrel 44, which already has a location in the Short North, is expanding east, says co-owner Shawn Korn. The whiskey bar and restaurant is taking over the former Bexley Monk space, 2232 E. Main St., and should be open by early December. Korn says the entree and flatbread menus will expand along with the liquor selection. The restaurant, which seats 200, is open daily for lunch and dinner. (Korn expects to start a weekend brunch service in January.) “We intend to have a neighborhood feel in Bexley,” he says. “If we can make people happy, then the rest will come.”
News bites
Milestone 229, which opened earlier this year at the Scioto Mile, now is serving brunch, says co-owner Doug Griggs. Menu items include huevos rancheros, steak and eggs, and chicken and waffles. There’s also an extensive drink menu with eight types of Bloody Marys—including one with jalapeño-infused tequila. And there’s “beermosa,” made from Magic Hat #9 ale and orange juice. “We decided to do brunch before the restaurant even opened,” says Griggs, “but the question was just when to start.” For now, brunch is just on Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm, but Griggs might expand service to Saturday. The reaction has been good so far, he says. “We keep the bartender pretty busy.”
Cameron Mitchell Catering offers a prepared holiday meal for 10 for $199, which includes turkey, pork loin, ham or short ribs, plus side dishes and a dessert. Orders must be placed by Dec. 16, says Melissa Johnson, director of catering. She explains that this is an option for people who might have dined out, but can’t because restaurants are closed for the holidays. Orders can be picked up Dec. 23 from the catering headquarters at Crosswoods near Worthington.
Updates
Dragonfly Neo-V, 247 King Ave., will close Jan. 1 and reopen a couple of weeks later as Till, says co-owner and chef Magdiale Wolmark. He and his wife, Cristin Austin, have been serving mostly vegan fare for 10 years, but they’re ready for a change. “I love Dragonfly, the community loves it, critics love it, but my kids didn’t love it,” explains Wolmark. He says he wants to create a less expensive, more family-friendly vibe at Till.
Perhaps the biggest change will be on the menu. Although there still will be vegetarian and vegan options, meat and dairy also will be available. And the couple plans to open Glaze next door to Till in the spring, offering coffee, doughnuts and other pastries. “Dragonfly was great, but it got a little stiff at times, so we want to loosen up and have a good time,” he says.
Galaxy reunion
The Galaxy is back . . . sort of. Ricky Barnes and Tracy Studer operated the popular restaurants in Powell and Grandview, along with Lost Planet Pizza and Pasta, for several years before closing a decade ago.
After recovering from the fatigue of running three restaurants, the duo is back with the Explorers Club, 1586 S. High St. (the former Coyote Jane’s location), which opened in mid October, says Studer. The menu pays homage to favorite items from the Galaxy, such as black bean hummus and plantains served with a spicy cucumber-flavored salsa. There also are rice entrees, pasta and desserts.
Although Studer admits the location is “a little off the beaten path,” he’s not worried because “so was Powell when we opened and people came.” He adds, “We’d like to see downtown come further south than the Brewery District.”
The Explorers Club is open for lunch daily and dinner Monday through Saturday.
