Email
PrintBest of Columbus 2008
Why waste time, money or even gas in search of the Best of Columbus?
Your guide to the city’s best shops, restaurants, night-life venues and more is on the following pages—from best dog wash to best romantic restaurant and best dance club to best ice cream.
In fact, you might find “Best of Columbus” as valuable as a barrel of crude oil.
AROUND TOWN
Loser
MillionDollarBody.com awarded Canal Winchester resident Scott Shoup $50,000 in a weight-loss contest sponsored by the website. Shoup lost 71 pounds, 22 percent of his body fat and 10 and a half inches from his waist.
Way to foster paranoia
The Columbus Division of Police now can send automatic daily, weekly or monthly e-mail alerts to subscribers of a service at www.columbuspolice.org that will notify them about crimes near their home, office, school or whatever address they provide. A map also allows for easy viewing of crimes for any location in the city.
Month to forget
April was awful in Central Ohio. Civic pride took a beating when Skybus suddenly filed for bankruptcy, stranding passengers and kicking workers to the unemployment line—followed by the realization that the Columbus Symphony actually might go under. The hometown restaurant chains Wendy’s and Max & Erma’s announced they would be sold to out-of-state interests. And then came the death of the beloved John H. McConnell, founder of Worthington Industries and owner of the Columbus Blue Jackets. May never looked so good.
Cat in the Hat impersonation (without the cat)
For nearly a decade, the Franklin Park Conservatory has hosted its Hat Day fundraiser in which participants—mostly women—fancy up their best hats with flowers and ribbons (even Wendy’s accouterments one year). About 600 people attended this year’s event, raising a record $244,000 to benefit Growing to Green, which promotes community garden groups.
Parking solution
Anyone who likes to pedal around town on two wheels understands how difficult it is to enjoy one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods—the Short North—because there are few places to secure a bike. But thanks to the Short North Foundation, there are now 41 parking posts for bicycles in the area.
Marketing effort by a nut
Ohio State pimped out its mascot, Brutus Buckeye, as part of an effort to raise awareness and funds to benefit the William Oxley Thompson Library renovation project. The campaign featured the creation of a number of 7-foot-tall fiberglass Brutus statues, which were displayed around the city.
Olympian (nonathlete category)
Rod Crane, CEO and president of MedFlight of Ohio, won the Annual Special Contribution Award for 2007 by the Red Cross Society of China for helping Beijing prepare to host the 2008 Olympics. Crane, a board member of the American Red Cross of Central Ohio, raised $15,000 to fund a team of 10 American Red Cross volunteers to travel to China to run the International Urban Disaster Response Symposium. He also volunteered to serve as the air medical consultant for the Games and negotiated to have $100,000 worth of defibrillators donated to Olympic Village.
Delayed payback
Former Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner made a $1.7 million donation to Denison University in February to create the Dominick Consolo Endowed Professorship. Eisner, a 1964 graduate of the Granville college, says Consolo, an emeritus professor of English, was one of the primary inspirations for Robin Williams’s character in the huge Disney hit Dead Poets Society, which was released nearly 20 years ago.
Exhibit in a dreary space
Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs in the drab confines of the Ohio Historical Center. You’ll soon forget where you’re at when you become engrossed in the compelling, fascinating, horrifying and uplifting photos on display through July 25, including the iconic images of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima, the Kent State shootings, 9/11 and more.
Lazy nature lesson
Metro Parks now offers free rides on a 42-passenger open-air tram through its parks, accompanied by a naturalist who chats about the wildlife, geography and cultural history of various natural areas. Check the Metro Parks website at reservations.metroparks.net/programs for dates and locations.
Delivery service
Ron Culp won a bubble hockey game in a promotion sponsored by Direct Energy. The best part, however, was who delivered the prize to his Dublin home: Columbus Blue Jackets center Dan Fritsche, accompanied by team mascot Stinger. Fritsche also stuck around to play Culp and his son, Daniel, in a couple of games.
Reunion
After 12 years in the Detroit Zoo, Toni (shown), the daughter of Colo—the first captive-born gorilla—was returned to Columbus. With Toni’s homecoming, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium now has four generations: Colo (the grandmother and the star of Columbus’s world-renowned gorilla program); Toni; Toni’s daughter, Jumoke, and Jumoke’s niece, Dotty. Docents report that 12 years didn’t erase Toni’s memory of her favorite keeper, Barb Jones. Toni “galloped” around her cage when Jones entered the compound.
Homecoming
Missing for 26 years, an original oil portrait of Civil War general and Lancaster native William Tecumseh Sherman was discovered in a “to-be-sold” catalog from Garth’s Auctions of Delaware by Julie Parke, director of Lancaster’s Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. Parke placed a call to the Fairfield Heritage Association, owner of the Sherman House Museum, to see if it’d be interested. Curator Phyllis Kuhn quickly recognized the 150-year-old work as the one stolen during a 1982 break-in. And though the long-lost painting was returned to the museum this spring, its whereabouts over the past three decades remain a mystery. The woman selling the work told police she’d only recently purchased it.
Display of big Os
The unifying appeal of dorky cheers has never been more apparent: Ohio State launched an interactive website—osu.edu/O-H-I-O—that allows Buckeye fans to post pictures of themselves spelling out “Ohio” in various locations around the world. Participants include skiers, military types, bikini-clad spring breakers, a wedding party and people in Mickey Mouse and Tigger costumes. And when short a person, Buckeye fans have incorporated such inanimate objects as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.
Beauty
Jasmine Moore, a 2003 graduate of Thomas Worthington High School, was picked to be part of last year’s reality TV hit “Beauty and the Geek” from an open tryout at the Skye Bar. Moore was teamed with her so-called “socially inept” partner, David Olsen from Massachusetts. Ultimately, the two triumphed over nine other couples to split the top prize of $250,000 as voted on by the show’s viewers.
Best knob-turner
Two life-changing events happened to Tim George (shown with self-portrait) in the summer of 1988.
The first was his 4-year-old daughter’s open-heart surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (Born with three holes in her heart, she just recently completed her master’s degree at Ohio State.) The second event occurred in the hospital’s waiting room during his frequent visitations. “There was an Etch A Sketch there,” he says. “She said, ‘Draw me something,’ and I drew a quick picture of Charlie Brown.”
Over the following days, he continued to tinker on the toy. “I started out just entertaining my daughter,” says George, a security officer for the U.S. Bank branch at Broad and High streets. “Then more and more kids would come around and watch.”
His audience has continued to grow. In just the past few months alone, he’s appeared—for the second time—on “Good Morning America” and been the subject of a full-page feature in the Washington Post. He’s also the author of a children’s book, Looking at Animals with Mr. Etch A Sketch.
The challenge to drawing on an Etch A Sketch, of course, is there’s no way to move the cursor to another part of the
5-by-7 screen without leaving a mark. “It’s a constant thinking process, and a lot of backtracking,” says George. “It’s as much problem solving as art.”
George still returns to Nationwide Children’s Hospital every fall to entertain the young patients. “It’s just my way of thanking [Children’s] for what they did for my daughter.”
Dine-and-dance development
Grandview’s Dance Plus Ballroom has long been one of the area’s top dance-instruction studios. Last winter, the owners hatched an idea for the weekends: turning the facility into a nightclub for couples who are more interested in dancing than pickup lines. After an extensive remodel, the studio incorporated a full bar, a patio and an impressive hors d’oeuvre menu from Spagio’s Hubert Seifert. Dance music includes everything from big band to Latin and swing to hip-hop, and there’s a cabaret show every few weeks.
SPORTS
Recruiter
For the third straight season, Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta has brought in a highly acclaimed recruiting class. This time, his five recruits—including Ohio’s Mr. Basketball, William Buford of Toledo—were ranked third nationally by ESPN. Now, if only he can get a few more to stay longer than one year.
Awkward entrance
After holding out for six weeks past the NCAA signing date to announce his college decision, in what some called the most publicized recruiting saga in college football history, Terrelle Pryor, the No. 1-ranked high school quarterback in the country, announced he was signing with the “University of Ohio State.”
Arena quote
Complaints about reserved Schott Center basketball crowds have been going on for years. But when Ohio State played its second game of the NIT in St. John Arena because of a scheduling conflict, the old barn was rocking. After radio talk-show host Bruce Hooley suggested that OSU should play all of its games in St. John, OSU president Gordon Gee told him, “That would be great, except I’m the idiot who OK’d us moving out of here.”
Football phoenix
Ohio Dominican University didn’t start playing football until 2004, when it finished 0-10. Four years later, with 16 players still on the squad from that winless initial campaign, the Panthers capped a perfect 11-0 regular season, claimed a Mid-States Football Association Mideast League title and won its first game in the NAIA Championship Series before falling to Missouri Valley College in the quarterfinals.
Jessica Davenport imitation
Former Ohio State center Jessica Davenport became the first player in Big Ten history to win conference Player of the Year honors three times. But the Buckeyes barely missed a beat when freshman Jantel Lavender stepped in this season to replace Davenport. Not since Katie Smith in 1993 has an OSU women’s basketball player had such an outstanding debut. Lavender averaged 17.6 points per game and tied Davenport’s school record of 306 rebounds. She shared Big Ten Player of the Year honors with Wisconsin’s Jolene Anderson, becoming the first freshman—man or woman—to earn the honor.
Competitive stroll
The New Albany Walking Classic, which attracts participants from all over the country, was named “America’s Best Event for Walkers” by WALK! Magazine.
School of fish
Not only did Upper Arlington High School win its fourth consecutive girls’ state swimming title (and fifth in six years), but the team racked up 400 points at the championship in Canton—a feat no other Division I team had ever accomplished and nearly twice the score of second-place Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati.
Game of leapfrog
During a victory against Penn State, OSU’s Brian Hartline hauled in a screen pass and turned upfield behind offensive tackle Alex Boone, who knocked a Nittany Lions defensive back on his tail to allow the receiver to score a touchdown. To celebrate, Boone—who’s 6 foot 8,
313 pounds—ran and jumped on Hartline, planting his hands on his teammate’s shoulder pads and vaulting over his head—landing on his feet. It might have been the most impressive show of athleticism of the day, if not the season.
Impression of a video game goal
On Jan. 17, Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets left two defenders dizzy as he zigzagged his way to the net to score the game-winning goal against the Phoenix Coyotes with 22 seconds remaining. ESPN’s Barry Melrose called it “the best goal of the season, maybe the last two seasons.” “I could do that,” added Blue Jackets center Dan Fritsche. “On Xbox.”
One person’s opinion: Mayor Mike Coleman
Best new bike trail
What once was one of Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman’s pet projects—the development of multipurpose trails throughout the city—has become a passion. Coleman purchased a new bike last summer, and he says he now rides “a couple of times a week.”
His favorite is a stretch of the Alum Creek Greenway Trail. Coleman says he gets on at Livingston Avenue, near the I-70 ramps, and rides southeast along Alum Creek to Heron Pond at Three Creeks Metro Park near Groveport. The round trip, he says, is about 20 miles.
“I like it because it’s right in the heart of an urban area, but around the trail it feels like you’re out in nature,” he says. “The other day I saw seven deer, two rabbits, some great-looking birds and a lot of people using the trail.”
Day-night double-header
Newark High School basketball coach Jeff Quackenbush and his wife, Darah, celebrated the birth of their first child at 1:41 am on March 14. Twenty hours later, the Wildcats defeated Toledo Whitmer in the Division I state semifinals, putting Newark in its first state title game in 55 years (which it won).
Intra-suburban transfer
Last year, Kate Turvy won the Ohio High School Division I state tennis title while attending Dublin Jerome High School. This season, she claimed the title again, playing for Dublin Coffman.
School of streak-breaking fish
St. Charles High School’s swim team ended one of the most remarkable streaks in Ohio high school sports. The east-side Catholic academy took home the boys’ state swimming title by besting Cincinnati’s St. Xavier, the winner of nine consecutive championships and 29 titles since 1970.
Rejection
Ohio State running back Chris “Beanie” Wells may have one of the best stiff-arms in college football, as LSU’s Chevis Jackson (shown) can attest. During the national championship game, Wells humiliated Jackson—an all-conference cornerback later drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons—by shoving the would-be tackler to the ground as if he were a child. It wasn’t a fluke. Wells employed equally savage stiff-arms against other defenders throughout the season.
GOODS AND SEVICES
Reason to stock up on Febreze
Jeans connoisseurs are sporting slacks made of unwashed, untreated raw denim, available at boutiques such as Milk Bar and Sole Classics. The jeans are stiff at first, but soften and weather with wear, often taking a year or more to reach the desired feel and look. There’s one important rule to follow while breaking in that perfect pair: no washing. The longer the jeans are kept out of the spin cycle, the better the results.
Way to catch some air
When Natalie Koppes decided to combine her artistic talents with her fondness for tree swings, Breezy Wooden Swings was born. The web-based Columbus business (breezyswings.com) offers custom-built, handpainted swings in a variety of sizes and designs, including footballs, fish, American flags and dragonflies. “And it can be a purely custom item if you want that,” says Koppes. The company’s clients, most of whom order from out of state, have even included a celebrity or two. Christie Brinkley requested swings a few years back, and Koppes’s products also have appeared in a number of commercials.
Book club aid
“Word is that the average Upper Arlington resident is in a minimum of one book club,” says Ruth McNeil, community relations manager of the Upper Arlington Public Library. So it’s no surprise that the library started Book Club in a Bag, which provides 10 copies of a book and a discussion sheet. Currently, 19 titles are available, and the books may be kept for 56 days without a charge. And anyone with a permanent address can apply for a card and use the service, not just those voracious Upper Arlingtonian readers.
Aerial test-drive
For those who long to pilot a plane or want to be prepared in case a scene out of Airplane! comes to life, look no further than ProjectPilot.org for a hands-on, introductory flight lesson. Started by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association two years ago, the website can direct you to flight schools in the area that offer the program, and the 30- to 60-minute lesson usually ranges from $59 to $99, says spokesman Gary Beckett. “It’s all under the direction of the instructor, but then you really get to experience what it’s like to fly a plane,” he says.
Mobile history lesson
After taking a Columbus Discovery Tour, impress friends with trivia about Columbus—such as the fact that the American Professional Football League was renamed the National Football League while headquartered in the capital city. The bus tours run from July 5 through Oct. 11, leaving on Saturdays at 10 am from the Columbus Historical Society, 51 Jefferson Ave., says director Jeff Lafever. The guided tour goes through Franklinton, the Arena District, Victorian Village, downtown, the Brewery District, German Village, the Discovery District, Olde Towne East, Woodland Park and the King Lincoln District. The tours are $30, $27 for senior citizens, $25 for members and $20 for children under 14.
One dog’s opinion: Jasper, Chihuahua mix and companion of Columbus Monthly staffer Kimberly Byce
Dog wash
After rolling around in the grass and exploring the muddier portions of his backyard, Jasper likes to get tidied up at Mutts & Company at 7549 Sawmill Rd. This self-serve dog wash is a boutique, too, with racks of canine accouterments, including T-shirts, designer collars, toys and natural food. (Full-service grooming also is available.) And it might be safe to say Wednesday is Jasper’s favorite time to get a bath—that’s when a portion of the proceeds from self-serve dog washes goes to pet-rescue organizations. From the assortment of shampoos at the washing stations (he prefers apple oatmeal) to the gourmet dog cookies, Jasper leaves Mutts & Company with his tail wagging.
Selection of adult toys (not that kind)
You’ll find a boxy pink elephant, a chainsaw-wielding nurse and a poncho-clad mandolin player riding an ostrich on sale at Rivet, an art gallery and purveyor of designer vinyl toys in the Short North (1200 N. High St.). Ranging in price from $2.95 to $130, many of these figurines appeal to serious collectors, though owner Laura Kuenzli says lots of folks wander in out of curiosity. Books and art prints also are for sale, and art exhibits rotate each month.
Boutique
Monica Day (shown), NBC 4 traffic and entertainment reporter, knows a little something about looking good: She’s the reigning Miss Ohio. So where does Day buy her clothing? “I like Jinny,” she says. “They have some really unique pieces and designs you can’t find anywhere else in Columbus.”
The Short North shop, which opened in August 2006 at 844 N. High St., was founded by Jin Fillinger, a former Los Angeles fashion industry insider. “Their staff is really friendly and really knowledgeable,” says Day. “It’s a really fun boutique.”
Way to find someone special (stylist category)
Like dating, finding the right hairstylist often is by trial and error. But while a bad date usually ends in a matter of hours, a haircut lasts a lot longer. Daniel Sadd, owner of Salon Lofts—where independent stylists and aestheticians lease space—has created matchstylist.com to pair clients with stylists. Select a service (hair, massage, nail care or skin care) and a preferred location from the 12 Salon Lofts in Central Ohio. After viewing photos of clients, Sadd says, “You eventually pick customers that you want to look like, and then it starts to match you up to stylists who do work like that.”
Abracadabra assemblage
Located in an unassuming strip center in north Columbus, Be Amazing Magic Shop (5022 Sinclair Rd.) is the go-to spot for local tricksters. Hobbyists, professionals and children alike can pick up instructional DVDs, books on mentalism and scores of other magical merchandise. Private lessons are available, and owner Larry Koebel Jr. (shown) also offers a free videotaping service for budding practitioners. “Everyone thinks magic is just for kids; it’s not,” Koebel says. “Columbus is a great town for the arts, and magic is a performing art.”
KIDS STUFF
Buried treasure
Teens who can’t miss such TV shows as “CSI,” “Bones” and “Law & Order” get to play medical examiner and detective in the summer camp Forensics in the Classroom. The program discusses such cop-show staples as ballistics, fingerprints, trace evidence, DNA and serology. The ninth- and 10th-graders learn about crime-scene management and test real blood—horse blood, but real blood nonetheless. A collaboration among the Ohio State University anthropology department, Metro High School and the PAST Foundation, the $350 camp includes a visit to OSU’s Waterman Farm for the excavation of fake skeletons, among other things. Once participants have assessed their “body’s” age, sex, ancestry and stature, they compare their cases to those of actual missing persons, which program director Jules Angel, a 10-year veteran of Scotland Yard, says provides “a decent dose of reality.” (See www.pastfoundation.org/2008FieldSchools.htm.)
Place to pretend you’re Johnny Depp
Where’s the best spot this side of the Magic Kingdom to channel your finest Captain Jack Sparrow? Think the Scioto River and Christopher Columbus. What buccaneer-loving kid wouldn’t be impressed with a Pirate Birthday Party aboard a replica of the Santa Maria docked downtown? For $275 in cash, not doubloons, you’ll likely be the hero for the birthday celebrant and 19 of his or her closest seafaring buddies. The crew provides a pirate-themed cake, shares stories, gives tours of the ship, plays games (including an on-board treasure hunt) and hands over such booty as a pirate hat, eye patch, treasure map and compass. The 90-minute parties are quite the rage among the preschool and elementary set, with two or three already booked for each weekend through October. Santa Maria executive director Linda Ketcham says an adult must accompany anyone younger than age 8. “You don’t want a 2- or 3-year-old jumping off the side of the ship,” she says.
Alternative to playing video games
Instead of sitting on their behinds playing video games this summer, your kids can use their minds and make up their own games instead. The five-day Science of Video Games camp at COSI (www.cosi.org) teaches campers how to design, program and produce video games. The camp includes a field trip to the computer game development lab at Ohio State University. This may not be how Bill Gates got his start, but it could be the beginning of the next Mario Bros. sensation.
Farm experience
If your children have a hard time believing fresh food comes from anywhere other than the grocery store, it may be time to send them down on the farm. The Stratford Ecological Center, 3083 Liberty Rd. in Delaware, offers a farm camp. Kids get to explore the 236-acre organic farm and take care of a few chores. In addition to planting crops, campers milk cows, feed and water other animals and collect eggs. Kickback time is spent exploring the forest and stream. Prices vary depending on the age of the child and length of camp (stratfordecologicalcenter.org).
Way to spiff up an old idea
An oasis for many kids can be found in the shape of a giant library card on wheels. Last fall, the Columbus Metropolitan Library rolled out two refurbished and brightly painted bookmobiles—one in shades of blue and the other featuring pinks and oranges—designed to match the library cards for children. The bookmobiles mainly visit locations where it’s been a struggle for kids to get to a branch. The new mobile libraries have circulated more than 84,000 books since their mid November debut. The library, which has provided bookmobile service for more than
45 years, is considering rolling out miniature versions in the form of vans to reach streets that aren’t wide enough to accommodate the full-size buses.
READERS RESULTS
SHOPPING/SERVICES
Bookstore: Barnes & Noble easily remains the favorite. A distant second is the venerable 32-room German Village Book Loft. “You need to leave cookie crumbs behind you to find your way out!” writes one reader.
Hardware store: The DIYers apparently are heading to the big-box stores, as Lowe’s and Home Depot finish first and second among Columbus Monthly readers.
Florist: Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts edges Market Blooms in the North Market and Steven Cox Flowers in a close race. Just pray you’re not dating the reader who nominated “Dumpsters of funeral homes” as a favorite.
Shopping complex: Easton is the winner in a landslide.
Garden center: Oakland Nursery wins by a wide margin.
Spa: Charles Penzone is the favorite for those who like to be pampered.
Pet store: PetSmart. No contest.
Grocery store: As usual, Kroger manages to outpace the competition, whether it was Big Bear before its collapse, or the newest contender, Giant Eagle.
Department store: Macy’s reclaims top honors after chasing Nordstrom the past two years.
Home décor store: Crate & Barrel slips past the Great Indoors, winner for the past three years.
PEOPLE
Public official: Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman wins easily. In fact, his biggest competition may come from the cynics who use this category to vent, such as the reader who comments, “The best public official begins with ex.”
OSU male athlete: Linebacker James Laurinaitis, the “Little Animal,” earned his spot in the hearts of Buckeye fans by turning down potential millions in the NFL draft to return to the Shoe. Chris “Beanie” Wells was a not-too-distant second.
OSU female athlete: Ohio State’s newest basketball star, freshman Jantel Lavender, is the favorite.
Former OSU athlete: Make no mistake—this still is Archie’s town. Eddie George remains solidly in second.
Crew player: Central Ohio’s soccer fans respond in record numbers, though their pick for “Best” remains the same: Frankie Hejduk.
Blue Jackets player: The one player who consistently gives the hard-luck Jacket fans a reason to cheer is Rick Nash—the kid, the captain, the NHL All-Star.
Coach: Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel’s popularity just continues to grow. The vested one had more votes than everyone else combined. Woody who?
TV anchor (male): Channel 4’s Cabot Rea managed to hold off a serious challenge from WBNS-TV’s Jerry Revish.
Weatherperson: A Columbus legend, WCMH-TV’s Jym Ganahl has been voted “Best” by Columbus Monthly readers for 19 years in a row.
Sportscaster: Longtime Channel 10 sportscaster Dom Tiberi dominates.
Radio personality: WTVN’s morning drive-time jock Bob Conners edges his afternoon counterpart, John Corby.
Titan: Not surprising, Limited Brands CEO Les Wexner’s name is synonymous with the term.
RESTAURANTS
Romantic restaurant: Central Ohio voters say you can’t beat the old-church charm and French cuisine of The Refectory if you want to win the heart of someone special.
Outdoor dining: German Village’s Barcelona wins for the sixth consecutive year.
Breakfast: First Watch beats Bob Evans.
Fast casual: Central Ohio offers no shortage of candidates, and dozens received votes, but Chipotle is the convincing favorite.
Cheap lunch: Again, it’s Chipotle, beating Wendy’s and Subway.
Steakhouse: Hyde Park pulls away from its closest contenders, Mitchell’s and The Top.
Chinese: China Dynasty ends the five-year run of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.
Asian: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro maintains its “Best” status here, edging Lemongrass.
Sushi: Haiku is the perennial winner in this category.
Mexican: El Vaquero wins this so often, it’s become monotonous. One reader suggests, “Next year instead of asking, ‘What is the best Mexican restaurant,’ ask, ‘Which El Vaquero is the best.’ ”
Seafood: The Columbus Fish Market outpaces Mitchell’s Ocean Club and McCormick & Schmick’s.
Italian: Moretti’s on Sawmill holds off the cadre of challengers, including the killer Bs—Basi Italia, Bravo!, Brio and Buca di Beppo. Runner-up honors, however, went to Olive Garden.
French: The Refectory reclaims the top perch, knocking off Bon Vie, which won the past two years.
Greek: The Happy Greek has owned this category for four years.
Indian: Indian Oven extends its reign to five years. “Best-kept secret in Columbus,” writes one reader. “White tablecloths, no attitude,” adds another.
Middle Eastern: Aladdin’s Eatery fends off challenges from Firdous and Café Istanbul.
Diner: Cap City Fine Diner and Bar maintains its firm grip, though fans of runner-up Starliner Diner scoff: “Diner my ass,” says one. “Find me a trucker who will pay $8 for a lettuce wedge!”
Pizza: For the second straight year, Massey’s claims top honors.
Hamburger: In a town where both Wendy’s and White Castle originated, it’s Thurman Cafe that reigns supreme.
Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, or B-Dubs, beats Roosters once again.
Desserts: Pistacia Vera trumps Cheesecake Factory. “Too beautiful to eat, too good to resist,” comments one fan.
MEDIA
Local news website: NBC4i.com regains the lead from WBNS-10TV.
Morning TV newscast: More Columbus Monthly voters tune in to the NBC affiliate WCMH before work than any other.
Evening TV newscast: Channel 4 wins here, too.
Talk radio station: Bob Conners, John Corby, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of 610 WTVN’s talk-radio programming triumph over the sports chatter of 1460 The Fan and the various public radio broadcasts.
Music radio station: Though it doesn’t top the Arbitron ratings, CD101 has been the favorite of Columbus Monthly readers since 1993. “The music selection is far different from any other on the radio,” says a balloter. “The music is strong and wider in variety.”
Public radio station: The eclectic mix aired on WCBE 90.5, the Columbus Board of Education’s station, not only wins this category over the WOSU AM and FM offerings, but also gave CD101 a good run for favorite music station. One voter confesses, “I listen more than 10 hours a day. Is that wrong?”
Morning radio show: WNCI’s Morning Zoo remains the favorite. “A bit sophomoric at times,” writes one voter, “but they crack a smile on my face in the mornings, which is no small feat.”
DRINK/ENTERTAINMENT
Movie theater: The Arena Grand slips by Lennox. “For some reason, this theater seems to attract people who love movies,” writes one voter.
Performing arts organization: CAPA wins over the trio of BalletMet, CATCO and a still strong and sympathetic cadre of supporters of the struggling—dead?—Columbus Symphony.
Wine bar: Burgundy Room runs away with the category despite the arrival of some well-received newcomers, such as Worthington’s House Wine.
Concert venue: It’s getting easier for Lifestyle Communities Pavilion with the loss of not only Germain Amphitheater, but also Little Brothers and the Picnic with the Pops series.
Dance club: Sugar beats its sister Spice and last year’s winner, BoMA.
Festival: Central Ohio’s little slice of Woodstock, ComFest, beats last year’s winner, the Columbus Arts Festival, with votes that included two “duh’s,” a “hands down” and a “come hug a hippie!”
Coffee shop: Despite a strong showing for the hometown Cup O’ Joe, fans can’t resist the frothy goodness of Starbucks.
Neighborhood pub: Old Bag of Nails Pub beats Rusty Bucket.
Arena District bar: Park Street Patio defeats last year’s winner, Frog Bear & Wild Boar.
Short North bar: In one of the most wide-open battles, the stalwart Short North Tavern finishes as the favorite over a number of close contenders, including Surly Girl Saloon, Press Grill, the Rossi and Bodega.
Sports bar: Park Street Patio slips past Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar.
Happy hour: Spice Bar nudges Applebee’s.
MISCELLANEOUS
Columbus neighborhood: German Village bests Clintonville. “Elegance with an edge!” raves a reader. “Shopping, walking, community, parks,” sums up another.
Corporation: Nationwide is the reader favorite.
Suburb: Dublin emerges as the winner, though Upper Arlington, Worthington and Grandview made this a close race.
Place to take out-of-towners: Despite a number of cynical suggestions that the best place to take out-of-towners is “out of town,” many Columbus Monthly voters say they’d take visitors to Easton to experience the shopping, dining and nightlife. German Village, the Short North and Ohio State on game day also are popular choices.
Park: German Village’s Schiller Park finishes just ahead of the Short North’s Goodale Park.
Health club: Life Time Fitness wins for the third year in a row.
Outdoor farmers’ market: The North Market wins easily.
Vegetarian: A somewhat surprising outcome, as Northstar Café knocks off longtime favorite Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine. A reader explains, “Not exclusively vegetarian, but I eat their vegetarian things exclusively.”
Public artwork: Artist Malcolm Cochran’s concrete Field of Corn along Frantz Road in Dublin. “Zany, fun and painstakingly realistic,” wrote one reader.
TV anchor (female): The votes for Colleen Marshall, Mindy Drayer, Yolanda Harris and Heather Pick combined didn’t match the annual winner, Channel 10’s Andrea Cambern.
High school marching band: The respected Grove City Greyhounds came out on top. Upper Arlington, Dublin Coffman and Columbus East also pull in a large number of votes.
Winners
Thanks to all the readers who participated in “Best of Columbus.” We randomly selected three to receive a $100 gift certificate to any one of the restaurants voted “Best” in the readers’ poll. The winners are Katie Lucas, Jared Rutecki and Kelly Whalen.
FOOD AND DINING
Way to silence that guy who boasts he can handle spicy
Have a friend who prides himself on his tolerance for hot spices? Take him to Thai Taste, which has a heat level described on the menu as “No limits—Dare the cook? No returns!” Trying it might bruise his ego (and sear his tongue).
Meal to remind you of A Christmas Story
Did a pack of neighborhood dogs invade your home and eat your Christmas turkey again last year? This year, avoid the tragedy and head to Hunan House for the House Special Roast Duck. Actually, it’s a good choice anytime—succulent and tender, with crispy skin and spicy sauce. The dish also is available at Hunan House’s sister restaurants, Hunan Lion and Hunan Gourmet, and all three are open every day except Thanksgiving.
Vegetarian comfort food
At Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, both veggie-lovers and carnivores can dine together on hearty comfort fare—and even eat variations of the same dish. While vegetarians and vegans often are relegated to ordering salads—of which there are plenty of good options here—there also are stick-to-your-ribs options such as Blue Ribbon Veggie Roast, which has carrots, onions, potatoes, tomatoes and squash braised in vegetable stock. In addition, the roast beef and onion marmalade, cheese steak and Italian beef sandwiches all are available as vegetarian (with soy beef) and as vegan (without cheese).
Pub food trio
Hardly traditional, the combination of the blackened tilapia sandwich, garlic fries and India Pale Ale—brewed on the premises—at Columbus Brewing Company is a mighty fine twist on the normal pub fare.
Spot for a chocoholic
The Chocolate Cafe has display cases full of sweets from the South Bend Chocolate Company—as well as ice creams and delectable desserts, such as a chocolate layer cake. Three fountains churn white, milk and dark chocolate to be used in fondues and a variety of hot chocolate drinks. Other beverage choices include coffee, milkshakes, floats and specialty chocolate martinis.
Gumdrops
At Pistacia Vera, a popular dessert destination in German Village, the menu lists five kinds of pate de fruit, or what chef/owner Spencer Budros describes as a “traditional French pectin jelly confection.” In other words, a gumdrop. But there’ll be no debate if you call them delicious. (Bon Appétit mentioned the treats in the April issue.) Selections include lemon pernod, passion fruit, blueberry key lime, pomegranate and grapefruit campari.
Spanish sausage sampler
Maca in Powell, which specializes in tapas, has a tasty Spanish sausage sampler, featuring excellent smoky chorizo, lomo (ground pork loin) and the sweet, pepperonilike fuet. For visual effect, the sausages are thinly sliced and spread out on the plate.
Green team
Many of the ingredients at Black Creek Bistro in Olde Towne East come from owner Kent Peters’s Black Creek Heritage Farm near Canal Winchester. Items from the farm include Araucana chicken eggs, Heritage turkey, vegetables and herbs, and the restaurant gets supplies from other area farmers as well. Meanwhile, scraps from the restaurant are taken back to the farm to be composted, and grease is used to fuel a few of the farm’s vehicles. n
One man’s opinion: Archie Griffin, CEO of the OSU Alumni Association
Ice cream
Archie Griffin loves ice cream. Unfortunately, his digestive system doesn’t (he’s lactose intolerant). But that doesn’t stop college football’s only two-time Heisman Trophy winner from enjoying his cold, creamy treat (taking chewable lactase tablets helps). “I really, really, really do enjoy a bowl of ice cream.” So what’s Archie’s favorite? “Graeter’s,” he says without hesitation. “Black Raspberry Chip. There’s usually some in my freezer.”
Happy hour tutorial
After a few cocktails, you may feel smarter—and maybe even funnier and better looking—but at the seafood restaurant McCormick & Schmick’s, you might even learn something at the bar. The drink menu is divided into several eras of cocktails, such as Prohibition and Beyond (1920-1950). “We try to give a brief education of the cocktails and give the customers a little brain food as well,” says Doug Prather, general manager of the Easton restaurant. The ingredients of the drink are listed, in addition to a few sentences about its history—so you can learn about the origins of the Virginia Mint Julep and the story behind the Moscow Mule.
Veggies in a pickle
The Giardiniera Romana, a cold appetizer offered at both the Polaris and Short North locations of Marcella’s, is a tasty mix of celery, carrots, cauliflower and red pepper—pickled in-house.
Trend for buns
Establishments serving hot dogs and sausages are certainly not new to Columbus—after all, Phillip’s Original Coney Island on the west side opened its doors at its original location in 1912 and Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus has been around for more than a century (the restaurant section opened in 1967). But dogs have become even hotter with an influx of new places this year. The Dog Joint (shown) in Westerville and Acme Hotdog & Sausage Company on Cleveland Avenue opened early this year, and Extreme Weiners (inside the campus-area bar Cafe Bourbon Street) was supposed to have debuted in June. In addition, restaurateur Elizabeth Lessner plans to open Dirty Frank’s Hot Dogs with Harold LaRue this summer. Levy’s Custard & Coneys in New Albany had closed last year, but was relaunched by new owners in March. They all join longtime favorites, such as Wholly Joe’s in Lewis Center and Best of the Wurst in the North Market.
Late-night sushi fix
Normally, a craving for sushi after midnight goes unsated—most people aren’t exactly capable of deftly whipping up a sushi snack at home. But Sushi Ting, which debuted in February in the University Plaza, is open until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Mini-sandwich treatment
Mini sandwiches—from the traditional White Castle Slyder to the versions at upscale steakhouses—are everywhere these days. Vino Vino has a slightly different take on the presentation: The trio of tenderloin sandwiches is pierced by a wooden skewer. Peter Danis, who owns the restaurant with wife Laurie, says the thin stick keeps the bun, tenderloin, mini greens, tomato and fried shallots together. “It’s a practical way to serve a fun dish,” he says.
Mobile Marys
On Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, downtown Due Amici offers a Bloody Mary Brunch. A server comes to the table with a cart of glassware, ice and Bloody Mary ingredients—house-infused vodkas, other liquors, tomato juice, clam juice, Tabasco, lemons, limes, pickles, celery, basil etc.—and makes the cocktails to order.
TASTE TEST
Vanilla cupcake
The cupcake taste test got off to an odd start. The first person to arrive was puzzled by the array of sweets, since he was supposed to be attending an insurance benefits meeting—held simultaneously in another part of the Columbus Monthly office. The last person to show up was late because he lost track of time and left a lawn mower in the middle of his yard to rush to the test.
Once the sampling began, someone noted, “I can’t taste the difference. They all taste like cupcakes.” Another wondered aloud if a few had come from the same kitchen. “There’s just one grandmother toiling away at her house,” joked one person.
People weren’t shy with their criticisms. The icing of one, several agreed, tasted like Dimetapp. The texture of another cupcake was compared to drywall.
There was a clear winner, however: The cupcakes from the Suisse Shop received praise from nearly all. “Yummy!” wrote one person. The cake, said another, was “nice—firm but tender.” One judge wrote, “Denser than George W.”—a compliment for the cupcake, if not the president.
TASTE TEST
Chicken salad sandwich
Tasters marveled at the various interpretations of chicken salad sandwiches offered by several restaurants, including one that was encased in pita bread and another that featured almost every ingredient except chicken. The winner, going by the name of Sigsbee Deli Club, was the offering from Banana Bean Café: chicken salad, bacon, Emmenthal cheese, lettuce, tomato and Honeycup mustard on grilled sourdough bread. The close runner-up was the Sicilian chicken salad sandwich at Bravo!
This story appeared in the July 2008 issue of Columbus Monthly.
