ColumBEST Awards: Food & Restaurants

We are finally unveiling all the best this city has to offer. This year, you, the readers and voter, highlighted all the popular spots we've all grown to love; familiar faces who have consistently achieved excellence; and of course, a few new places that have changed the way we go about our lives in Central Ohio. We've had our hands full tallying the totals, crossing our t's and dotting our i's. But, without further ado, this is your definitive list of the champions of Columbus.

THIS IS COLUMBEST.

BEST FRIES: Five Guys

2. Brassica / 3. Rusty Bucket

BEST GOURMET BURGER: Thurman Cafe

2. Northstar Cafe / 3. The Rail

BEST TRADTIONAL BURGER: Thurman Cafe

2. Shake Shack / 3. Swensons

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BEST DOGS & BRATS: Dirty Frank's

2. Schmidt's / 3. Weenie Wonder

BEST WINGS: Roosters

2. Hot Chicken Takeover / 3. Buffalo Wild Wings

Fox in the Snow, Italian Village Location

BEST BREAKFAST: Fox in the Snow

2. First Watch / 3. DK Diner

BEST BRUNCH: Kitchen Social

2. First Watch / 3. Northstar Cafe

BEST BAKERY: Resch's Bakery

2. Der Dutchman / 3. Pistacia Vera

BEST COFFEE SHOP: Stauf's Coffee Roasters

2. Fox in the Snow / 3. Crimson Cup

Dish from El Vaquero

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT: El Vaquero

2. Los Guachos / 3. Condado Tacos

BEST GREEK RESTAURANT: Happy Greek

2. Greek Express / 3. Yanni's

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT: Marcella's

2. Carfagna's / 3. Villa Nova

BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT: Tai's Asian Bistro

2. Akai Hana / 3. Molly Woo's

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT: Aab India

2. Rooh / 3. Cumin & Curry

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BEST MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT: Aladdin's Eatery

2. Brassica / 3. Lavash Cafe

BEST GYRO: Greek Express

2. Happy Greek / 3. Lavash Cafe

BEST BBQ: Ray Ray's Hog Pit

2. City Barbeque / 3. Hoggy's

BEST PLACE FOR COMFORT FOOD: Cap City Fine Diner

2. Hot Chicken Takeover / 3. The Eagle

Mikey's Late Night Slice, Olde Town East location

BEST TRADITIONAL PIZZA: Mikey's Late Night Slice

2. Massey's / 3. Hounddog's Three Degree Pizza

BEST GOURMET PIZZA: Harvest Pizza

2. Dewey's Pizza / 3. Paulie Gee's

BEST PLACE FOR PLANT-BASED DINING: Northstar Cafe

2. Brassica / 3. Comune

BEST PLACE FOR A SALAD: Northstar Cafe

2. Cap City Fine Diner / 3. Brassica

Photo courtesy of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT: Mitchell's Ocean Club

2. The Pearl / 3. Columbus Fish Market

BEST KIDS MENU: Roosters

2. Rusty Bucket / 3. Cap City Fine Diner

BEST SUSHI: Akai Hana

2. Fusian / 3. Mr. Sushi

BEST RAMEN: Fukuryu Ramen

2. Slurping Turtle / 3. Meishikou Ramen

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BEST NEW RESTAURANT: Tupelo Honey

2. Agave & Rye / 3. Joya's Cafe

BEST PLACE FOR LATE NIGHT EATS: Mikey's Late Night Slice

2. Buckeye Donuts / 3. Waffle House

BEST HIDDEN GEM RESTAURANT: Basi Italia

2. The Top Steak House / 3. Windward Passage

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BEST FOOD TRUCK: Ray Ray's Hog Pit

2. Schmidt's / 3. Cousins Maine Lobster

BEST CAJUN: Gallo's Kitchen and Bar

2 Yats / 3. J. Gumbo

BEST DELI & SANDWICHES: Katzinger's Delicatessen

2. Brown Bag Deli / 3. Wario's Beef & Pork

BEST TACOS: Condado Tacos

2. Los Guachos / 3. Local Cantina

Condado Taco

BEST QUICK LUNCH: North Market

2. Brassica / 3. BIBIBOP

BEST GASTROPUB: High Bank Distillery Co.

2. 101 Beer Kitchen / Matt the Miller's Tavern

BEST DINER: Cap City Fine Diner

2. DK Diner / 3. Tommy's Diner

Cap City Fine Diner

BEST STEAKHOUSE: The Top Steak House

2. Hyde Park / 3. The Avenue

BEST WAIT STAFF: Roosters

#2 Kitchen Social #3 Lindey's

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BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT: Lindey's

2. The Pearl / 3. The Melting Pot

BEST PRICE IS NOT AN OBJECT RESTAURANT: The Refectory Restaurant

2. Lindey's / 3. Jeff Ruby

The Refectory Restaurant

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BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT: Kitchen Social

2. Lindey's / 3. High Bank Distillery Co.

BEST DINING PATIO: Lindey's

2. Barecelona / 3. Milestone 229

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BEST ICE CREAM: Graeter's Ice Cream

2. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream / 3. Whit's Frozen Custard

BEST DONUTS: Buckeye Donuts

2. Resch's Bakery / 3. Schneider's Bakery

BEST COOKIES: Lion Cub's Cookies

2. Crumbl / 3. Insomnia

BEST DESSERTS: The Cheesecake Girl

2. Pistacia Vera / 3. Chocolate Cafe

The Cheesecake Girl

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BEST RESTAURANT: ARENA DISTRICT: Wario's Beef & Pork

2. Nada / 3. Buca di Beppo

BEST RESTAURANT: BEXLEY: The Top Steak House

2. Harvest Pizza / 3. Giuseppe's Ritrovo

BEST RESTAURANT: CAMPUS, CLINTONVILLE, LINDEN: Northstar Cafe

2. Pat & Gracie's / 3. Harvest Bar & Kitchen

BEST RESTAURANT: DUBLIN & POWELL: The Pearl

2. Tucci's / 3. Local Roots

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BEST RESTAURANT: FRANKLINTON & HILLTOP: Tommy's Diner

2. BrewDog / 3. Yellow Brick Pizza

BEST RESTAURANT: GAHANNA & EASTON: Cooper's Hawk

2. Mitchell's Ocean Club / 3 Lola & Giuseppe's

BEST RESTAURANT: GERMAN VILLAGE, OLDE TOWNE EAST, MERION VILLAGE, BREWERY DISTRICT: Lindey's

2. Schmidt's Sausage Haus / 3. Chapman's Market

Lindey's

BEST RESTAURANT: GROVE CITY: Grove City Brewing Company

2 Roosters / 3. Planks on Broadway

BEST RESTAURANT: HILLIARD: Starliner Diner

2. Roosters / 3. Old Bag of Nails

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BEST RESTAURANT: NEW ALBANY: The Barn

2. Hudson 29 / 3. The Goat

BEST RESTAURANT: REYNOLDSBURG: Block's Bagels and Deli

2. Scali / 3. Prost

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BEST RESTAURANT: SHORT NORTH, ITALIAN VILLAGE, VICTORIAN VILLAGE: Forno Kitchen + Bar

2. The Pearl / 3. Marcella's

BEST RESTAURANT: WESTERVILLE & POLARIS: Kitchen Social

#2 Carfagna's #3 Asterisk Supper Club

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BEST RESTAURANT: UPPER ARLINGTON & GRANDVIEW: High Bank Distillery Co.

2. Cap City Fine Diner / 3. Third & Hollywood

BEST RESTAURANT: WORTHINGTON: The Whitney House

2. Villa Nova / 3. Old Bag of Nails

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