Fabian’s (not so much) Chicago Style Pizza Place
Posted by CMH Gourmand on October 9, 2006
Fabian’s Chicago Style Pizza Place
691 North High Street
Columbus, (Short North)
614 221 8240
(CLOSED 2019)
Fabian’s opened in the Short North during the fall of 2006. I visited on October 7th. The restaurant was still working out some kinks (beers were not on tap yet and the cash register receipt had a different business name on it). The food is pretty good but a few items are a bit over priced. My server was very nice.
I sampled the Chicago style (?) pizza. Well, it is thick crust pizza with good quality toppings bought from suppliers in Chicago – but it is not Chicago style in any way.
Also sampled was the so called Italian Beef. Any native of the Windy City would smack you in the face for calling this a “beef”. This was an oven roasted pseudo french dip with banana peppers – no giardiniera to be seen. For $7, with a very lame side salad – an OK sandwich – but not an Italian Beef.
Do not go to Fabian’s expecting Chicago style anything. If you want Chicago style – go to Wholly Joe’s in the Polaris area or the Windy city. The Fabian’s food is fine and the staff were very friendly – but the fare is not Chicago style as billed. It is worth the trip – but if you are going for a taste of Chicago – you are bound to feel like you ate in Gary, Indiana.
CMH Gourmand - Eating in Columbus & Ohio 
Vinnie said
Fabians is a sub-par pizza joint and the service is the worst in the Short North. If you want to wait 35 minutes to an hour for a $20 pizza, which more time than not comes out cold, then it is for you. I have been there 4 times and have not left happy yet, besides it is not real Chicago style pizza, it is just deep dish. It is more or less a knock off of pizza hut,
Trish said
I am from the Windy City. I didn’t think that Wholly Joe’s was any good at all. If you DO want Chicago Style food, go to the source. In Chicago, it’s Johnnie’s Beef. There are a few great pizza places in Chi-Town. Just a matter of preference. I still have yet to find great Mexican or Chinese in Columbus. I also tried Schmidts….marginal. The pork tasted like it was some frozen dinner or something. Chicago is a better “melting pot”, and has much better food. And has no one in this town ever heard of liver dumpling soup?
Bear said
Well, I won’t argue with the claim that Chicago’s best pizza places beat Columbus’ Mexican and Chinese restaurants, but I think you’re stacking the deck a bit, Trish. I lived in Chicago for a while, and I certainly loved a lot of what the city had to offer as far as food was concerned: Chicago-style pizza with whole cloves of garlic at Mama Rosa’s, killer Chinese at Hong Min, even very tasty low-end fried chicken at Harold’s Chicken Shack (admittedly, much much better when just slightly drunk). But you can certainly eat well in Columbus. I’ve not discovered earthshattering Chinese, but Sun Tong Luck up on Bethel Road is above the bar, and other Asian cuisines are well represented (try Pad Thai — seriously — or Kihachi). Don’t miss the bistro menu at the Refectory, the everything at Alana’s, the tasting menu at Rosendales. And if, like me, you find yourself going into withdrawal for the unparallelled slaughterhouse cuisine of the Second City, make a beeline for Thurn’s Specialty Meats, just off of 315 on Greenlawn — but be sure to go Th-Fr any time or Saturday morning, because the rest of the time, they’re closed so they can smoke the meat.
jim said
I just recently went to Fabian’s pizzaria in the short north. I sat down and was greeted by a surly waitress and bartender. This was a sunday evening and it wasn’t exactly crawling with customers. I ordered two large (I guess chicago style pizzas). What a joke -45 minutes later the doughy pizza came out. i would much rather enjoy dominos or pizza hut pizza in the comfort of my own home as opposed to the service at this place.
CMHG Comment: I have not been to Fabians in a year. Customer service is critical for any business especially in the current economy. As guests, we owe any restaurant an opportunity to make things right. If you have a bad experience, ask for a manager. If that is uncomfortable, call or write the business the next day and see what happens. A good business will take the opportunity to address your concerns and retain a customer.
patron said
I go to Fabian’s every Sunday and have found that the wait for the pizza is worth it. At least you know ahead of time that you are going to have to wait. Bring a deck of cards or something if you really can’t handle it. The staff there has always treated my friends and I with care, yes, they are sassy, but that gives the place some charm. Columbus doesn’t have very much to offer in terms of good pizza when you’re comparing it to Chicago. But I’d say Fabian’s comes close. It’s beloved fans will keep it going.
CMH G Comment: For Chicago style I will agree there is not really a lot to be excited about in Columbus. However, for pizza in general – there are many good choices. Check out the Slice of CMH page or attend a Pizza Grand Prix (next one is October 18th, 2009.