Openings: Arch City Tavern

Arch City Tavern, officially open for less than a month now, has quickly cemented a spot as a go-to neighborhood bar in the Short North. It helps that the bar celebrates the neighborhood itself, with a giant mural depicting the area as it was a century ago. The mural is paired with an actual metal arch mirroring the ones found along High Street outside. But the real draw, I think, is the drink list. It's designed by prominent cocktail consultant Nicolene Schwartz, and is one of the first in town to feature her new line of Roake syrups.

Those syrups, ranging from a spiced cherry to a kaffir-citrus, help turn standard favorites (Old Fashioned, Moscow Mules, Gin and Tonics, margaritas) into cocktail rockstars. I've sampled my way through nearly the entire cockail list and have been delighted with each drink, from a bright and summery highball made with grapefruit and fig jam to a cinnamon-infused margarita that should be sought out before the temperatures warm up and it's replaced with something more seasonally appropriate.

For some reason, I keep forgetting to photograph my drinks, but I did grab a photo of the bar's cozy interior as well as one of their more unique food offerings: French onion soup served in an actual hollowed-out onion.

Here are the full menus:

COCKTAILS

826 Old-Fashioned No. 1: Bulleit Bourbon, Roake Spiced Cherry Syrup, Aztec Chocolate Bitters

Kerr Street Mule: Watershed Vodka, Roake Ginger Syrup, Fresh Lime, Nutmeg

The Railroad Tipple: Vodka, raspberry, honey, citrus, prosecco

Nine-Spice Gin + Tonic: Watershed Bourbon Barrel-Aged Gin, Roake Nine-Spice Winter Tonic Syrup topped with soda

Seurat's Sunday Afternoon: vodka, Roake Anise-Spiced Pineapple Syrup, citrus

The Columbus Experiment: clove and cardamom-infused Oyo Bourbon, Laird's Bonded applejack, Green Chartreuse, maply syrup, lemon

Ohio Country Sazerac: rye whiskey, pastis, Roake Kaffir Citrus Syrup, Peychaud's Bitters

Great Southern Margarita: El Jimador Blanco Tequila, St. Germain, elderflower, einnamon, sage, citrus

William + Hannah's Highball: gin infused with grapefruit and pink peppercorn, shaken with fig jam and hibiscus

FOOD

Starters

French Onion Soup, $6: hand-hollowed onion bowl, croutons, gruyere

Lobster Mac n Cheese, $12: smoked gouda bechamel, fresh chives

Fresh Cut Fries, $6: truffle oil, truffle salt, parmesan, roasted chile aioli, watercress aioli

Charcuterie Platter, $15: chorizo, Salame al Barolo, prosciutto, chicken pate, Delice de France, fait gras organic cheddar, sharp gouda

Moule Frites, $12: Prince Edward Island mussels, bleu cheese broth, bacon, watercress, fresh-cut fries

Bibb Salad, $7: artichokes, beets, apples, almonds, Green Goddess dressing

Heirloom Spinach Salad, $7: warm bacon vinaigrette, dried cherries, spiced walnuts, goat cheese

Entrees

Arch City Burger, $13: short rib, sirloin, chuck and brisket, grilled red onion, avocado, seasoned bacon, cilantro, Muenster cheese, fresh-cut fries

Gallery Burger, $12: short rib, sirloin, chuck and brisket, sunny-eyed egg, grilled asparagus, fennel, smoked gouda, fresh-cut fries

Fish and Chips, $14: beer-battered cod, fresh-cut fries, house tartar

Fig Pizza, $14: arugula, pine nuts, black mission figs, prosciutto, goat cheese, roasted garlic spread, truffle oil

Margherita Pizza, $12: roasted garlic oil, roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil

Mediterranean Pizza, $13: kalamata olives, feta, fresh mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, roasted garlic spread