Dining: Veritas Tavern, our top-rated restaurant, plans move to Downtown Columbus

Veritas Tavern, the top-ranked restaurant in our 10 Best Restaurants feature on newsstands this month, is planning a move to Downtown Columbus this spring. After months of rumors, chef/owner Josh Dalton says Veritas will relocate from Delaware to the old Citizens Building at 51 N. High St., currently being developed by Edwards Companies.

Dalton says Edwards representatives visited his acclaimed 4-year-old restaurant located 30 miles north of Columbus one evening and made a pitch: "Let's build your dream kitchen."

The restaurant, known for its tasting menus, will double in size from its current 1,300 square feet to 2,700, add weekday lunch to its repertoire and feature a more spacious kitchen encased in glass, making it the focal point of the restaurant.

"I feel like the way the industry is going, people want to see what's going on; to see where the magic happens," Dalton says. "We looked at a ton of spaces and this gives us the opportunity to do the food we want to do."

And that food is stunning; modern cuisine unlike anything else in Central Ohio, such as the Savory Pumpkin Cheesecake with ricotta, granola and mole on this month's cover as an example.

The move to the stately old building at High and Gay streets will no doubt heighten customers' experience, though Dalton intends to maintain a creative and highly curated dining experience in a relaxed environment.

"Veritas is very warm and welcoming. We want to keep that atmosphere," Dalton says. "We are in the Midwest and we want to make sure that it's warm and welcoming and inviting. I don't want it to be stiff and stuffy."

As for Veritas' current home, Dalton already has plans to open a new restaurant at the Winter Street location. "We'll go Downtown and focus on that space, then come back and open up a new concept that we're just as excited about," he says.

To read more about why Veritas claimed the top spot and see our full list of 10 Best Restaurants, pick up a copy of our November issue on newsstands or subscribe today.