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Discover the Best New Restaurants in Columbus

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by The OpenTable Team
Updated 23 October 2019

As the capital of Ohio and one of the biggest cities in the Midwest, it should come as no surprise that Columbus has a superb dining and drinking scene. At the best new restaurants in Columbus, world-class chefs embrace the region's great agricultural bounty, nod to the Midwest's enduring love of hearty comfort food and make their own marks on the dining scene. But where do the savviest foodies in Columbus go when they want to dine somewhere new? Welcome to the Tastemaker 20. We studied data covering thousands of restaurants to determine the best of them all according to OpenTable's most experienced eaters. The following 20 restaurants, mostly in the cultural hubs of downtown Columbus and the Short North Arts District, represent the newest and most impressive of them all. Why not book a table today at one of the best new restaurants in Columbus?

A photo of Fireproof Restaurant restaurant
Fireproof Restaurant
4.4
4.4 (1548)
$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
Fireproof Restaurant and Lounge opened in the summer of 2019 in a historic Short North Arts District venue. It immediately generated buzz as one of the best new restaurants in Columbus. The concept emphasizes small plates, top-notch cocktails and wines, and a lively, convivial atmosphere. Dozens of shareable plates feature on the dinner menu along with a couple of large-format options: a whole fried chicken and a 33-ounce wagyu tomahawk. Small plates range from snacks like warm marinated olives and spiced, roasted nuts to more substantial fare such as grilled Spanish octopus and guajillo-braised Duroc pork shank. Expect arrays of traditional Spanish tapas along with some Latin and pan-Asian fusion creations.
Top review
Shardae
Dined on 10 Dec 2024
The food was amazing and staff was very attentive!
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A photo of Bananas Foster French Toast of a restaurant
Popular dish
Bananas Foster French Toast
A photo of Wagyu Dumplings of a restaurant
Popular dish
Wagyu Dumplings
A photo of Bang Bang Shrimp of a restaurant
Popular dish
Bang Bang Shrimp
A photo of South Village Grille restaurant
South Village Grille
4.9
4.9 (1045)
$30 and under
American
German Village
About the restaurant
South Village Grille is one of the best new restaurants in Columbus thanks to its straightforward concept of presenting top-notch new American cuisine in a pleasantly chic space. The décor adds pops of greenery, raw wood and brass accents to a background of gray tones. It’s a refined look that complements the restaurant’s upscale-casual atmosphere. Craft cocktails, a lengthy wine list and creative seasonal menus (lunch, dinner and weekend brunch) fit such a vibe. Standout dishes from chef Josh Wiest include the sweet heat pizza with sriracha honey sauce, Korean sausage, kimchi and shishitos, and a tomahawk pork chop with pimento cheese grits, braised collard greens and maple Tabasco gastrique. The restaurant also offers a full sushi menu, plus daily specials such as oyster Mondays and wine Wednesdays.
Top review
Haley
Dined on 9 Dec 2024
Amazing as always :) our favorite date night spot.
A photo of SoCal Kitchen + Bar restaurant
SoCal Kitchen + Bar
4.7
4.7 (2271)
$31 to $50
Californian
Columbus
About the restaurant
Bringing the flavors and sunny vibe of Southern California to Columbus, Del Mar SoCal Kitchen specializes in fresh seafood and has a fitting nautical theme. The bright and lively venue includes an open kitchen and rooftop lounge. Raw bar offerings feature on the dinner and brunch menus, among them a daily selection of oysters, salmon or tuna poke and peeky toe crab. Other options include handhelds and full plates of crispy skate, halibut and swordfish. Non-seafood items including an Angus ribeye and brick chicken feature too, as well as ample salads and light bites.
Top review
Ted
Dined on 5 Dec 2024
Great place, loved the meal. Will go back for sure
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A photo of Fried Oysters of a restaurant
Popular dish
Fried Oysters
A photo of Potato Bread of a restaurant
Popular dish
Potato Bread
A photo of Salmon Poke of a restaurant
Popular dish
Salmon Poke
A photo of SOW Plated restaurant
SOW Plated
4.7
4.7 (1496)
$30 and under
Fusion / Eclectic
Upper Arlington
About the restaurant
As soon as it opened in 2019, SOW Plated was recognized as one of the best new restaurants in Columbus for wellness-minded foodies. Its concept embraces seasonal, sustainable and organic local produce, from-scratch cooking and plant-based cuisine. Select meat and seafood dishes feature on its brunch and dinner menus, while vegetarian and vegan dishes get equal attention. Exemplary items include roasted Brussels sprouts with hazelnuts and gremolata, sustainable fish of the day with asparagus, mushrooms, Swiss chard and a garlic umami sauce, and a Mediterranean bowl with roasted vegetables, olives and pesto over ancient grains. Cocktails made with cold-pressed juices are another SOW signature.
Top review
Winnie
Dined 4 days ago
First time trying their brunch menu. As good as always.
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A photo of Harvest Salad of a restaurant
Popular dish
Harvest Salad
A photo of Wagyu Burger of a restaurant
Popular dish
Wagyu Burger
A photo of Maple Sweet Chili Cauliflower of a restaurant
Popular dish
Maple Sweet Chili Cauliflower
A photo of Bristol Republic restaurant
Bristol Republic
4.5
4.5 (583)
$30 and under
Barbecue
Columbus
About the restaurant
Bristol Republic, which opened in Short North in the spring of 2019, combines a country music venue, whiskey bar and barbecue restaurant. Adding to the honky tonk theme is a venue decked out with cowboy hats, guitars, cowhide upholstery and a few choice taxidermy displays. Visit Thursday through Sunday to catch live music, on weekends for the city’s only live music brunch, or seven days a week for a fantastic barbecue dinner. Bristol Republic smokes all its meats in house, among them 18-hour brisket, hot links from a local butcher, Texas-style spare ribs and hickory-smoked wings with a choice of seasoning and sauce. There’s a “try it all y’all” option with meats to feed two to three plus sides, cornbread muffins, pickles and coleslaw. Sandwiches, burgers, fried chicken and shareables round out the menu.
Top review
Kiara
Dined on 8 Dec 2024
Great experience! Ended up being more people than reserved for but the staff was very accommodating, attentive, and served with a positive attitude. Food was great as well! Loved the fried chicken deviled eggs & the jumbo wings. Received an Apple dump cake for a birthday treat… soooo good!!
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A photo of Live Band Karaoke! of a restaurant
Experience
Live Band Karaoke!
A photo of All You Can Eat BBQ of a restaurant
Experience
All You Can Eat BBQ
A photo of Bourbon, Beer and Cocktails of a restaurant
Experience
Bourbon, Beer and Cocktails
A photo of Z Cucina di Spirito Dublin restaurant
Z Cucina di Spirito Dublin
4.6
4.6 (1711)
$30 and under
Italian
Dublin
About the restaurant
The new Dublin venue of Z Cucina di Spirito joins the original in Grandview in offering locals and visitors remarkable Italian cuisine in an upscale setting. The restaurant’s signature is seasonal, from-scratch small plates, pasta dishes and entrees alongside a thoughtful wine list. All the fresh pastas, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, charcuterie, breads and desserts are hand-made in house. Italian classics and original creations share space on the dinner menu. Some of the most intriguing among them are a starter of house-made burrata with butternut fries, a grilled pizza with prosciutto and roasted grapes, a lobster carbonara with squid ink fettucine, and braised short ribs with smashed gigande beans. Don’t miss the tiramisu (or butterscotch panna cotta, or s’mores cheesecake…) for dessert.
Top review
JeremyVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Excellent service and atmosphere. Meatball appetizer was really good as was the risotto fritter. Scallop dish was tasty too.
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A photo of Stuffed Risotto Fritters of a restaurant
Popular dish
Stuffed Risotto Fritters
A photo of Mushroom Risotto of a restaurant
Popular dish
Mushroom Risotto
A photo of Meatball Monday's of a restaurant
Experience
Meatball Monday's
A photo of Fado Pub & Kitchen restaurant
Fado Pub & Kitchen
4.6
4.6 (711)
$30 and under
European
Dublin
About the restaurant
Fado Pub and Kitchen in Dublin is a contemporary take on an Irish pub with some seriously good food to go with its pints. While the culinary inspiration is from Europe, the kitchen uses local meats and produce from Ohio whenever possible, as well as featuring local beers on draft. The all-day menu is lengthy and intriguing, bringing together casual classics like wings, Bavarian pretzels and a signature Reuben sandwich with original creations and Irish-inspired fare. Among the latter are a shepherd’s pie and lamb shank pie, colcannon among the sides, and for dessert a Guinness brownie sundae.
Top review
McLovinVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Not sure why they don’t have more of a lunch rush V Cap City Diner down the street. Less lunch size choices perhaps but quieter, good food, very good service. Think they just need to publicize lunch!
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A photo of Seafood Risotto of a restaurant
Popular dish
Seafood Risotto
A photo of Fried Goat Cheese of a restaurant
Popular dish
Fried Goat Cheese
A photo of Service Bar restaurant
Service Bar
4.6
4.6 (646)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
A hip eatery and craft distillery in Short North, Service Bar is one of the best new restaurants in Columbus for both drinking and dining. Imaginative, hand-crafted cocktails showcase Middle West Spirits distillery, the parent company of Service Bar. Consider the “Toastyyyy!” with wheat whiskey and chili-infused Swedish punsch, or the “Long Gin Drink” with pineapple liqueur and sparkling sake. The tightly edited dinner menu also embraces complex combinations. Examples include the red cabbage Caesar with tahini, puffed grains and miso, and the Rachel sandwich with kimchi over Montreal-smoked pastrami. Also consider the whole chicken service, a tandoori roasted crown plus Bengali fried chicken with caramelized onion sourdough naan among other sides.
Top review
BillN
Dined on 5 Dec 2024
Food was very good. Pork cheeks were tender, burgers were good & seasonal pizza was interesting in a good way
A photo of Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Columbus restaurant
Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Columbus
4.8
4.8 (5154)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse embraces the characteristic opulence and special occasion vibe of an old-school fine dining establishment. Ruby red velvet booths, white tablecloths and shiny dark wood furnishings under chandeliers lend a timeless feel to the upscale steakhouse, as does its menu focused on prime steaks and seafood. Expect nostalgic menu items such as oyster Rockefeller, steak Diane and lobster thermidor along with 10 exclusive steak cuts. The steakhouse also offers a full sushi menu, raw bar and top-notch wine list. Note that Columbus hosts the newest of five award-winning Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouses nationwide.
Top review
Melissa
Dined 2 days ago
It was a lovely dinner with scrumptious food, excellent service, and attentive wait staff. We thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance with the live piano player entertaining everyone with classic Christmas songs!! Everything was on point!! We were even surprised with a treat for dessert to celebrate our anniversary! So sweet! Can’t wait to return!
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A photo of Porterhouse of a restaurant
Popular dish
Porterhouse
A photo of Boneless Ribeye of a restaurant
Popular dish
Boneless Ribeye
A photo of Cowboy Steak of a restaurant
Popular dish
Cowboy Steak
A photo of Vine + Forge Restaurant & Lounge restaurant
Vine + Forge Restaurant & Lounge
3.3
3.3 (49)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Columbus
About the restaurant
Vine + Forge, which opened in Columbus in the fall of 2019, emphasizes world-class wines and hand-crafted cocktails as much as its also-excellent cuisine. It features Ohio beers on draft as well, making the venue a major draw for visitors and locals who consider great drinks to be a vital part of any dining experience. Chef Angela Allison creates menus to accompany those drinks, taking inspiration from Ohio’s agricultural heritage. Examples include flat breads, charcuterie and hummus boards ideal for sharing. Vine + Forge occupies a stylish, modern space on the ground floor of downtown’s Crowne Plaza hotel.
Top review
ShaunessyVIP
Dined on 9 Oct 2024
Great experience for our group of 10. The service was fantastic and the food was tasty. The atmosphere contributed to a really fun time.
A photo of ROOH Columbus restaurant
ROOH Columbus
4.9
4.9 (935)
$31 to $50
Indian
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
ROOH, a contemporary Indian restaurant with sister venues in San Francisco and Chicago, is a remarkable newcomer to Columbus. Executive chef and founder Sujan Sarkar worked at some of the most acclaimed restaurants in London before launching his own brand. Sarkar’s signature is putting a modern, eclectic spin on ancient Indian culinary traditions. Expect ample small plates showcasing seasonal produce, perhaps beetroot murabba (beatroot and peanut croquettes) with plum chutney and goat cheese, and avocado and edamame papdi chat with green mango and sunchoke crisp. Large plates might include traditional butter chicken, anchari monkfish and lamb shank nihari, along with several vegan and vegetarian options.
Top review
Diya
Dined 5 days ago
Came here for an anniversary dinner. Food was excellent and our server was very enthusiastic upbeat and attentive. Cocktails were excellent and everything tasted fresh and delicious. Definitely adding to our date night rotation.
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A photo of Butter Chicken of a restaurant
Popular dish
Butter Chicken
A photo of Sweet Potato Chaat of a restaurant
Popular dish
Sweet Potato Chaat
A photo of Cauliflower Koliwada of a restaurant
Popular dish
Cauliflower Koliwada
A photo of Ruth's Chris Steak House - Columbus restaurant
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Columbus
4.3
4.3 (1210)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Columbus
About the restaurant
After a hiatus of more than three years, Ruth’s Chris, one of the most popular and largest steakhouse chains in the United States, returned to Columbus in the fall of 2019. The large new location, a historic former hotel in the Short North Arts District, features unique touches including works by local artists in the entryway and Buckeyes memorabilia. The restaurant is open seven days a week for happy hour and dinner. Columbus diners can once again enjoy Ruth’s Chris’ signature prime steaks served sizzling in butter, as well as a comprehensive array of family-style sides, seafood entrees, appetizers, salads and desserts.
Top review
Micah
Dined 6 days ago
We had a fantastic dining experience at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. The food was exceptional – perfectly cooked and flavorful, exactly what you’d expect from such a spot. What truly set the night apart, however, was the service. Our server was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations, but also brought an entertaining and personable touch that elevated the evening. The combination of delicious food and an unforgettable experience made it well worth it. Highly recommend for a special night out!
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A photo of Bone-In New York Strip of a restaurant
Popular dish
Bone-In New York Strip

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