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PrintOn the menu
Hawaiian duck at Lemongrass Fusion Bistro. Photo by Michael A. Foley/Rycus Assoc.
On the menu
Lemongrass Fusion Bistro, 641 N. High St., is known for its eclectic Thai menu, and executive chef Pete Vitt says guests can’t get enough of the Hawaiian duck ($19).
It’s an eight-ounce cut of honey-roasted duck sautéed with coconut milk, fresh basil, grape tomatoes, spicy green chili paste and pineapple and served over a spread of angel-hair pasta. If ordered sans duck, Vitt says it’s a great option for vegetarians.
If you’re worried about the spicy green chili paste, which might sound intimidating, Vitt says don’t be. He doesn’t personally enjoy spicy food, but he likes this paste. “It’s very edible,” he adds.
Opening
Bill Cosgrove and Brett Holland, owners of the Grandview Cafe, are changing course with their latest venture, the upscale Rivage Atlantique, which is expected to open this spring at 652 High St. in Worthington, says Cosgrove.
The restaurant/lounge will specialize in cuisine from the Atlantic shore, such as oysters, clams, shrimp and mussels, as well as steak, pasta and pizza options for guests who don’t love creatures of the sea. Cosgrove expects the average price for dinner to fall between $15 and $25. The front of the space will act as a bistro, while the back bar, which will be called the Back Room at Rivage, will be more of a “sexy, wine-and-whiskey type of place,” Cosgrove says. (The full menu is available in both sections of the restaurant.)
“We have a concept that’s going to fit perfectly in Worthington. We’re excited about it,” he adds.
News bites
There are two specials running at all three Bravo! Cucina Italiana locations in Greater Columbus, says marketing coordinator Danielle Terreri. (There are locations at Hayden Run Road, Crosswoods and Lennox Town Center, which just opened in early February.) There’s a $7.95 lunch special offered Monday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm. Guests can choose one of three daily specials, which could be a salad, sandwich, pizza or pasta dish. Also, a “bar bites” menu is now available Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 pm and from 9 pm to close at the bar. Items include bruschetta with mushrooms and boursin, crispy shrimp Napoli and meatball sliders with fries. All items are $2.95 a plate.
Through April, there will be a $20 three-course menu at Basi Italia, 811 Highland St., says co-owner Trish Gentile. It will “change daily at our chef’s whim,” she says. The prix fixe menu is available Tuesday through Thursday before 7 pm.
A fresh option
Former college roommates Patrick Katzenmeyer and Anthony Micheli expected to open Market 65 in late February at 65 E. State St., Suite 102, says Micheli. (The restaurant is located next to the Hyatt on Capitol Square.)
Menu items include soups, wraps and salads. (You can select a salad option from the menu or build your own.) There also are a few items available for breakfast on the go, including wraps and oatmeal. “It’s a very interactive process,” says Micheli. “You will follow your salad as it is being built. We’re being honest about what we’re preparing.”
After they both graduated from Ohio University in 2007, Micheli says he and Katzenmeyer “saw something lacking in the Columbus market, something truly healthy, fresh and quick.” Since they both have backgrounds in the restaurant business, they took the plunge. “Some of our best memories are in a restaurant setting. Those things stay with us,” Micheli says.
Market 65 seats 60 and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am until 8 pm. Micheli says they expect to be open on weekends for special events downtown, such as the Arnold Sports Festival in March.
