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PrintA new concept from the Hyde Park folks.
Harvest Pizzeria in German Village.
Jeffry Konczal
Flavor explosion
On the newly introduced seasonal fall menu at Bel-Lago Bistro, 170 N. Sunbury Rd., co-owner Rich Rores says you’ll find the Tuscan long bone rib-eye, a dish he calls “crazy good.” The rib is dusted with a multi-spice rub. After it’s grilled, it’s topped with a microgreen arugula salad and served with lobster mashed potatoes. The arugula is meant to cleanse the palate so “every bite is like a new bite,” he adds.
Rores also mentions that the restaurant’s patio, which overlooks Hoover Reservoir, has been renovated for year-round use and is expected to be available to guests by September. “It’s gorgeous. Our goal is for people to come for the food and enjoy the view, not vice versa,” he explains.
Pizza in German Village
Harvest Pizzeria, 495 S. Fourth St., opened in mid July, says owner Chris Crader, who previously has worked as a general manager at Due Amici, the Rossi and Barrio. A resident of German Village, Crader says he noticed his neighborhood lacked a pizza option. “I really thought we could fill a void,” he says.
Menu items include pasta and, of course, pizza; dishes are priced $6 to $15, and Harvest is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, says Crader.
Openings
Hyde Park co-owner John Messmore says he wants to open a new restaurant in the former Yankee Trader space, 463 N. High St., within the next year. Although the details of the concept are still under development, Messmore says, “What I can assure you is that it is in keeping with the creative and high standards of our existing restaurant concepts.”
Mezzo Italian Kitchen & Wine has opened a second location, says Taste Hospitality Group’s owner and president Sheila Trautner. The Dublin space, 12 W. Bridge St., is two stories and Trautner says about 30 percent of the menu is different from the restaurant’s Gahanna site. “We’ve kept some staples, but we’re allowing chefs to use their creativity,” she says. There are seats for 160 guests inside and 60 on the patio. This spot is the second restaurant Trautner has opened within the past several months (Hubbard Grille, located in the Short North, debuted in December 2010), and she says while there’s still potential for further developments, she’s done for now. “Two in one year is enough,” she says, laughing.
The Wexner Center for the Arts is opening a cafe . . . again, says director of media and public relations Karen Simonian. (Cam’s on Campus closed in 2010, and Taste of Belgium and Abbondanza have since opened and shut down in the same space.) The concept, called Heirloom—owned by Kimberly and John Skaggs, who also run My Catered Table, a catering company—is expected to debut in mid September, says Simonian. She adds that the Skaggses are interested in providing fresh, healthy options for the university and the Greater Columbus community. “They’re hoping foodies will really seek it out. We’re hoping to draw from the broader community,” she explains. The cafe will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. There will be quiches, burritos, soups, salads and sandwiches, and Stauf’s will provide coffee.
Hayley Savage, who owns Hayley Gallery in New Albany, is opening Ella, which stands for “Eat local, love art,” with business partner Amy Schottenstein by November, she says. Ella, 266 E. Main St., will be located next door to Hayley Gallery, which is moving to 270 E. Main St. (There wasn’t enough space for the restaurant if the gallery remained in its original location on Second Street.) The space will seat 90 inside and 75 on the patio, which won’t be constructed until the spring, says Savage. Diners will be able to peruse the gallery before and after dinner. “I wonder why no one has done this yet,” says Savage.
Updates
You can try special summer menu items at Bravo! Cucina Italiana until Sept. 25, says marketing coordinator Danielle Terreri. Seasonal dishes include tomato mozzarella Caprese insalata, chicken picatta and pesce fresco with crab salad and summer vegetables. Terreri also mentions the watermelon martini has been popular with guests this summer.
It’s been a hectic few months for Spinelli’s Deli. Co-owner Joe Spinelli closed the downtown location, 50 N. High St., in early August. “It’s sad to say, but it’s dead downtown after 3 pm. Our Neil Avenue location is constant, all-day traffic,” he explains. “It just wasn’t a good fit for us, but I still believe in downtown. I love it.”
Because of the downtown spot closing, Spinelli is focusing his attention on remodeling the Victorian Village space. There will be a few changes, such as adding a new coffee bar. Spinelli also launched a mobile food service this summer at various markets and events downtown. For now, the food is prepared at the deli and served from a tent on location, but Spinelli says he plans to purchase a food cart eventually. “If it takes off, which I feel pretty confident it will, I’m excited to say we’ll probably be downtown next year with a little Spinelli’s Deli cart,” he says.
—Taylor Swope
