NOTHING SAYS GREATNESS LIKE AN INTOXICATED POLAR BEAR IN A TOP HAT BEING FED SUSHI. That’s the conclusion we came to as we brainstormed how to symbolize this city’s collective excellence. And if you hadn’t guessed (or read his fancy little ribbon), our cover model friend from the animal kingdom represents the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a champion yet again. But it was just one winner among many – this year’s 128 categories represent all the entertaining, delicious, exciting, irreplaceable things that make Columbus great. The best part of our annual ColumBest survey, of course, is you: the readers and voters who, over the past five years, have made this the greatest reader poll in the city. We asked, and 15,150 of you provided us with 372,844 votes, our biggest poll ever. Celebrate* the winners, though we’d recommend letting the bear rest. He’s a bit hungover. *let’s party together – join us for our annual columbest bash on Thursday, may 22, at union café in the short North.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 64% 0.06%
6 5 4
of all Best Shopping Center votes – EASTON
difference between first place and second – M at MIRANOVA over THE REFECTORY – Best “Price Is No Object” Restaurant
top-three finishes – NORTHSTAR CAFÉ, UNION CAFÉ top-three finishes – THE PINT HOUSE, LINDEY’S
ColumBest wins – NORTHSTAR CAFÉ
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Food
Best oVeRall RestauRaNt lindey’S
15.54% of 3,900 votes • The unquestioned Best Overall Restaurant for five years running. When someone writes the definitive Columbus culinary book (wait, were we supposed to do that?) Lindey’s will get a whole chapter. 169 e Beck st., www.lindeys.com
2 Marcella’s ristoraNte 12.46% 3 BarceloNa 8.62%
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Best Steakhouse Hyde Park Steakhouse
Best New Restaurant Melt Bar & Grilled
Best Seafood Columbus Fish Market
26.87% of 3,588 votes • As if their twin filet and the decadent béarnaise it's swimming in wasn’t enough to get you through the fancy revolving door at Hyde Park, their happy hour cocktails and bar menu items offer champagne taste on a PBR budget. Multiple locations, www.hydepark restaurants.com
26.29% of 3,617 votes • With a concept like Melt, where customers are incentivized to get tattoos that will earn them 25-percent off for life, its craziest patrons get to wear their gluttonous hearts on their sleeves. The Cleveland import easily won over the Columbus crowd from its new Short North location, embracing indulgence with its creative and colossal grilled cheeses, as well as ample kitsch and craft beer to boot. 850 N High St., www.meltbarand grilled.com
39.71% of 3,543 votes • Oft-cited as the city’s most trusted fishmonger, the Fish Market is also one of the best places to catch a quick, fresh, and affordable cocktail at their underrated happy hour. Multiple locations, www.columbusfish market.com
2 The Top Steak House 20.29% 3 Mitchell’s Steakhouse 14.77%
2 The Crest 18.47% 3 Bakersfield 8.52%
4 &5
It's a TIE!
Best Hidden Gem Katalina’s Basi Italia
22.28% of 3,654 votes • 811 Highland St, www.basi-italia.com
22.28% of 3,654 votes • 1105 Pennsylvania Ave., www.katalinas columbus.com
One could argue that such a contested race in this category means these two local entities are no longer “hidden” at all. Basi and Katalina’s have all the makings of a “hidden gem”: the seats are a little harder to come by, and the tabletops a little tighter, but that’s all part of the allure with these two Victorian Village establishments, whose carefully curated menus and charming patios make them two of the most sought-after seats in town. 3 Explorers Club 17.73%
2 Mitchell’s Ocean Club 23.57% 3 Bonefish 13.55%
Photos by: 2,3, OPPOSITE PAGE: chris casella, 4&5: megan leigh BARNARD
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1 Best meXiCaN RestauRaNt el vaQuero
31.55% of 4,171 votes • In a city with a deep and fantastic selection of Mexican cuisine, El Vaquero takes the nod for the top spot another year. These cowboys (or “vaqueros,” if you habla Español) offer a south-of-the-border menu that features authentic treats, killer chips and salsa, as well as prices that won’t break the bank. Multiple locations, www.vaquero restaurant.com 2 la foGata 9.49% 3 chile verde 9.40% El Vaquero Also Won:
Best BaNG foR youR BuCk RestauRaNt
25.14% of 3,731 votes 2 cap city fiNe diNer 22.86% 3 cluB 185 10.05%
Best Chips & salsa 23.88% of 3,593 votes 2 la foGata 13.03% 3 chile verde 9.40%
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Best Asian Restaurant Haiku 18.02%
Best Italian Marcella’s Ristorante
of 3,835 votes • From the gorgeous, serene patio facing High Street to the live jazz music, Haiku is all about creating a singular dining experience. Patrons are even encouraged to add to the ambiance by contributing a poem to the walls. Our attempt: An evening sunset / A plate of finest sushi / We’ll be back for more. 800 N High St., www.haikushort north.com
25.99% of 4,275 votes • With boulder-sized meatballs, house-cured meats, and an excellent wine list, Marcella’s seems like a shoe-in for best Italian, but this deceptively spacious Short North/Polaris hotspot gets even better in nice weather, when the floor-to-ceiling windows open to the street below. Multiple locations, www.marcellas ristorante.com
2 Tai’s Asian Bistro 14.05% 3 P.F. Chang’s 13.92%
2 Basi Italia 15.35% 3 Buca di Beppo 10.99%
Haiku Also Won: Best Sushi 28.66% of 3,332 votes
Marcella’s Also Won:
2 Akai Hana 17.92% 3 Blue Ginger 9.69%
4 Best Cajun Restaurant J. Gumbo’s
33.84% of 2,500 votes • For flavors right out of the bayou, J. Gumbo’s has seduced Columbus with its Creole and Cajun offerings for years in three locations around the city. Whether you’re into red beans on Wash Day or have a need for heat with the Voodoo Chicken, laissez le bon temps roule! Multiple locations, www.jgumbos.com 2 Da Levee 21.72% 3 Flatiron 16.96%
Best Happy Hour
14.47% of 2,315 votes 2 Bodega 13.17% 3 Matt the Miller 9.94%
Photos by: 1,4: Megan leigh barnard 2,3: Chris casella
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Best iNdiaN RestauRaNt aaB india
36.63% of 2,782 votes • A Cincinnati legend for years, those in the know were thrilled at the arrival of this bastion of all things creamy, spicy, and savory from the Sub-continent. Now with a new location in Dublin, Aab continues to astound. Multiple locations, www.aabindiarestaurant.com
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2 BaNaNa leaf 11.93% 3 iNdiaN oveN 9.35%
photos By chris casella
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant Aladdin’s Eatery
29.76% of 2,819 votes • If you found a magic lamp and wished for things like tabouli, hummus, and lamb, you’d be a damn fool. You can get those at Aladdin’s. Multiple locations, www.aladdinseatery.com 2 Cafe Istanbul 19.76% 3 Lavash Café 18.55%
Best Greek Restaurant The Happy Greek
38.38% of 3,197 votes • Our gyro hero yet again, the Happy Greek serves up slow-roasted lamb, Tzatziki, and pita powerhouses with flavor and flare in the Short North, and has been your favorite for five years in a row. Not so fair as Helen of Troy, but powerful and warlike: the Agamemnon of fluffy European tacos. 660 N High St., www. happygreek.com 2 Easy Street Café 17.7% 3 Jimmy V’s 12.61% Happy Greek Also Won:
Best Gyro
23.37% of 3,440 votes 2 Easy Street Café 13.37% 3 Jimmy V’s 11.02% 614columbus.com MAY 2014 (614) Magazine 65
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serving many pure vegetarian dishes
HAPPY
ks n a h T ers d a e )R (614 oting us for V us’ Best mb nt! u a l r o u C esta R n India
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OUR M-Th, 5 -7 PM 1/2 OF F APPET IZERS $3 Wel l Drinks $4 Hou se Wine $4 Mar tinis
- BEER SPECIA LS $3 Draf t $2 Dom s e $3 Impo stics r $5 Lg Im t Bottles port Bot tles
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LUNCH BUFFET 7 DAYS A WEEK
Carry Out & Catering Available | www.aabindiarestaurant.com GRANDVIEW 1470 Grandview Ave 614.486.2800
2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
DUBLIN 6642 Sawmill Rd 614.791.7900
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Best tRaditioNal pizza Mikey’S late niGHt SliCe 18.30% of 4,706 votes • THE MAN IS BUILDING AN EMPIRE! IT’S USELESS TO FIGHT HIM! BOW TO HIS PERFECT CRUST, CHEESY GOODNESS, AND MINDBLOWING SLUT SAUCE! Seriously though, Mikey’s storefronts and food trucks are popping up everywhere, the pizza is ubiquitous, and no one anywhere in the capital city is complaining. Multiple locations, www.late nightslice.com 2 houNddoG’s three deGree pizza 15.58% 3 adriatico’s 11.07%
Mikey’s Also Won:
Best food tRuCk
26.72% of 3,668 votes 2 ray ray’s hoG pit 11.45% 3 schMidt’s sausaGe truck 8.59%
Best plaCe foR late NiGht eats 35.54% of 3,886 votes 2 houNddoG’s three deGree pizza 16.73% 3 Melt Bar & Grilled 12.92%
photos By: aBove, top aNd Middle riGht: MeGaN leiGh BarNard, BottoM riGht: chris casella
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Best Gourmet Pizza Harvest Pizzeria 19.98% of 4,270 votes • Mikey might be the king of late-night pie, but Chris Crader and the Harvest crew are also turning heads with their gourmet offerings – now available in Clintonville. 495 S Fourth St., www.harvestpizzeria.com
2 Mellow Mushroom 18.22% 3 Dewey’s Pizza 13.96%
Best Delicatessen Katzinger’s Delicatessen 46.43% of 3,924 votes • Katzinger’s is a Columbus landmark, and with its massive menu board of traditional, delectable sandwiches, it’s easy to see why. There’s also a barrel of free pickles, if that floats your boat. 475 S Third St., www.katzingers.com
2 Brown Bag Deli 18.88% 3 Jason’s Deli 16.06%
Best Diner Cap City Fine Diner 33.99% of 4,078 votes • Cameron Mitchell may be known for his more upscale titles, like last year’s Best New Restaurant, The Pearl, but his modern take on the classic greasy spoon stacks up honors as high as Cap City’s famous meatloaf. Multiple locations, www.capcityfinediner.com
2 Starliner Diner 16.48% 3 Blue Danube 12.8%
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Best doGs & BRats dirty Frank’S Hot doG PalaCe
52.44% of 4,045 votes • Vegans, freegans, hot dog enthusiasts, artists, musicians, and karaoke hounds all flock to the Palace, the undisputed top dog in this category for five consecutive years. 248 s fourth st., www.dirty frankscolumbus.com 2 schMidt’s sausaGe haus 31.22% 3 phillip’s oriGiNal 5.86% photos By: top: chris casella, BottoM: MeGaN leiGh BarNard, top riGht: Jerry huddlestoN
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Best Wings Roosters 34.09% of
3,922 votes • Roosters added wins for Best Wait Staff and Best Sports Bar to its growing trophy case, but there’s no doubt which menu item makes it the cock of the walk: the wings. Crispy, savory, perfect. Whether you crave tangy Mild or flaming Super Killer, these pieces of breaded bliss can’t be beat. Multiple locations, www.roosterswings.com
Roosters Also Won:
Best Wait Staff
14.02% of 3,011 votes 2 Lindey’s 13.22% 3 Rusty Bucket 9.43%
Best Sports Bar 14.27% of 2,376 votes 2 Eddie George’s Grill 11.03% 3 Winking Lizard 10.69%
2 Buffalo Wild Wings 13.77% 3 Barley’s Brewing Co. 8.75%
Best Fries Five Guys Burgers and Fries
25.71% of 3,991 votes • If you’ve ever had fries from Five Guys, chances are you can already smell the greasy goodness coming out of the fryer as you read this. Order as much as you can afford. Multiple locations, www.fiveguys.com 2 McDonald’s 11.07% 3 Flip Side 7.89%
Best Burrito Chipotle Mexican Grill
36.07% of 4,159 votes • With ample locations across the city, this create-your-own take on the fast-casual dining template has something for nearly everyone, whether vegetarian, carnivore, or paleo. Multiple locations, www.chipotle.com 2 El Vaquero 11.23% 3 Northstar Café 9.18%
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1 photos By: 1 &2: chris casella 3: MeGaN leiGh BarNard
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Best Barbecue City Barbecue
Best Vegetarian Restaurant Northstar Café
Best Burger Thurman Café
45.04% of 3,899 votes • This one’s pretty cut-and-dry (rubbed): two words, City and Barbecue, tell you what they’re focused on. Their brisket, pork, and cornbread have been tempting C-bus tastebuds since 1999. Multiple locations, www.citybbq.com 2 Ray Ray’s Hog Pit 20.9% 3 Montgomery Inn 9.46%
16.33% of 5,224 votes • Like the guiding astral body for which it’s named, the Northstar Café has long been a beacon of elevated casual fare in Columbus. This year Northstar took home the Best prize in four categories, the most of any winner in this year’s poll. Multiple locations, www. thenorthstarcafe.com 2 Whole Foods Market 17.06% 3 Explorer’s Club 9.79%
30.59% of 4,733 votes • By now the stuff of legend, the German Village bar and burger joint is host to the Godzilla of ground beef, the Thurmanator. It’s also a great joint with friendly folk from the neighborhood and beyond, some there for the beer, many there for the beef. 183 Thurman Ave., www. thethurmancafe.com 2 Five Guys 10.69% 3 Northstar Café 10.16% Thurman Café Also Won:
Northstar Café Also Won:
Best Neighborhood Bar (German Village/
24.07% of 4,241 votes
Olde Towne East/Merion Village) 12.49% of 2,218 votes
Best Brunch
2 Cap City Fine Diner 14.08% 3 First Watch 12.05%
2 Gresso’s 11.95% 3 Mohawk 9.02%
Best Place for a Salad 28.29% of
3,627 votes 2 Panera Bread 16.57% 3 Piada 9.68%
Best Breakfast 16.33% of 5,224 votes 2 First Watch 15.22% 3 Katalina’s Cafe Corner 8.48% 614columbus.com MAY 2014 (614) Magazine
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Best haNGoVeR BReakfast tee Jaye’S Country PalaCe 19.66% of 3,835 votes • The website and that big blinking neon arrow tell you all you need to know – come here, get a Barnyard Buster. The sausage gravy should be bottled and sold like Tylenol. Multiple locations, www.barnyardbuster.com
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2 haNG over easy 18.28% 3 Jack & BeNNy’s 14.81%
Best Place to Eat at the Bar Old Bag of Nails
21.19% of 3,762 votes • Old Bag of Nails has turned themselves into a central Ohio cornerstone, with 12 locations in their pub-pyramid, by catering stellar-yet-simple bar food to everyone from the late nighters to the happy hour hoppers to the after-practice crowd. Multiple locations, www.oldbagofnails.com 2 Press Grill 18.26% 3 The Rusty Bucket 16.53%
Best Fast Food Raising Cane’s 30.78% of 4,282 votes • Dedicated reader Emily Siravo writes in of her Cane’s love: “They have the most delicious sauce that’s amazing for dipping anything and everything, and the chicken is served hot and juicy as fast food can be!” Yep. We agree. Multiple locations, www.raisingcanes.com
2 Wendy’s 21.51% 3 Chick-Fil-A 14.48%
Best Quick Lunch Piada Italian Street Food 33.9% of 3,805 votes • Quick,
2 North Market 12.56% 3 Bibibop 12.09%
delicious, and soon to be…everywhere might as well be the slogan of Piada, the burgeoning fast casual operation from The Doodys, Columbus’s first food family is, as the kids say, blowing the hell up. Multiple locations, www.mypiada.com
photos by: opposite top, bottom, and top by chris casella
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Best iCe CReam Jeni’S SPlendid iCe CreaMS
56.74% of 4,755 votes • There are many factors contributing to Jeni Britton Bauer’s now-iconic (and certainly splendid) ice creams, from the amazing dairy products of the Snowville Creamery to her creative and locally-sourced toppings and bits. (We also suspect she’s probably actually a wizard.) Congrats to the reigning Queen of dairy, five years in a row, and look out for her new cookbook, due in May! Multiple locations, www.jenisicecreams.com 2 Graeter’s ice creaM 22.29% 3 whit’s 4.79%
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Best Retail Bakery Koko Tea Salon & Bakery
35.63% of 6,265 votes • Maybe it’s the stonecold winters that drive us in droves toward the sweeter side of Columbus, but this city has always been home to some breathtaking bakeries, including Koko, which wins for a second straight year. 116 Mill St., Gahanna, www.kokoteasalon.com 2 Pistacia Vera 15.74% 3 Resch’s Bakery 10.1%
Best Buffet Schmidt’s Sausage Haus “Autobahn”
37.89% of 3,135 votes • Zooming around this Autobahn isn’t as dangerous as its namesake, but the bounty at this local-famous German Village buffet is so colossally tasty that it should be approached with similar caution. 240 E Kossuth St., www.schmidthaus.com 2 Der Dutchman 31.07% 3 Aab India 15.02% Photos by: ABOVE: Jeremy slagle TOP RIGHT: Chris casella BOTTOM: Megan leigh barnard
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