Vegging Out at Whole World
Posted by CMH Gourmand on January 13, 2008
Whole World Bakery and Pizzeria
3269 North High Street
Clintonville – Corner of Longview and High
268.5751
Whole World will observe its’ thirtieth anniversary in February 2008. For many years, it was the only vegetarian restaurant in Columbus. In 1998 they updated their menu and deleted the few meat items that had been offered up to that point (offered for the sake of tolerance and diversity). Whole World has continued to prove that Cowlumbus can handle an all vegetarian restaurant (Neo V does the same).
For breakfast/brunch (Sunday only from 10 AM to 3 PM), go with an omelet (you have ten ingredients to choose from); add a whole grain English muffin to this and you may find peace. In addition to the standard Sunday brunch menu, two or three breakfast specials are offered. The Big Breakfast – two eggs, vegetarian sausage patties, vegetarian hash or over roasted potatoes (very good redskin potatoes) with choice of bread is another good option. They also whip up a nice vegetarian (mock) sausage gravy. A trademark of Whole World is a small side of fruit served with each main course (all meals), I think this is a nice touch.
The specials can be a good choice for lunch or dinner but they can be either hit or miss. The pizzas are good with some very daring combinations of ingredients such as the Oregon Apple (apple sauce, sliced apples, raisins, provolone, and sunflower seeds, and seasonings) try any of the pizzas and to live on the edge for a moment, however be prepared to wait over thirty minutes or more for your pie.
The soups are exceptional and served with your choice of (toasted) homemade bread. If you plan on eating anything else, order a cup of soup because a bowl is a meal in itself. There are typically 4-6 soup choices per day. The Broccoli Burger is a long standing favorite at most Columbus festivals.
The desserts are displayed in the service counter. There are many vegan friendly cookie choices as well as some brownies, cookie bars and whatnot. My favorite – which is not often available, is the Chocolate Peppermint Brownie. This rich, dense, blend of rich chocolate and peppermint filling takes my breath away each time and I gladly pay $2.50 without reservation.
If you are getting take out, add at least five minutes to the time stated for your order to be ready. You are dealing with a largely modern, urban hippy workforce so time is kind of relative. Those who are in the know go to pay their bill at the counter when finished to save time. The bathrooms are downstairs in the basement.
Whole World is a hang out for people who were hip before 1985. I find it to be a mecca of multicultural/alternative lifestyle types (kind of a mini Yellow Springs) which leads to good people watching with your meal. The recycled bowling lane tables are worth looking at. Local artists display their works on the walls for sale. There is no dress code for patrons but employees must be pierced or tattooed. Please seat yourself when you enter.
Occasionally, I feel Whole World is overpriced. Sometimes, I find the specials a bit disappointing. Recently I noticed that they are charging for tap water… quite a bit, without advance notification. However, the whole has always been greater than the sum of the parts at Whole World and they serve some of the most unique soups in town.
CMH Gourmand - Eating in Columbus & Ohio 
Dave said
You are dealing with a largely modern, urban hippy workforce so time is kind of relative. Absolutely.
Aside from this one problem (which is tricky with a little one in tow) I like this place more and more every time we go in. As soon as I get home I feel inspired to take out anything by Molly Katzen and reread it. The only veggie burgers that are excellent, varied and stay together.
mac said
Man, I probably haven’t been there in twenty-five years, I’m glad to hear it hasn’t changed (you know except for the meat thing). We got a lot of pizzas from there I remember my dad bringing home a pizza with a whole wheat crust(I can taste it in my mind right now), what an exotic thing. Now when I make pizza it is always with the whole wheat crust. My other strong memory from twenty some odd years ago was a response my dad got when he asked what they did with pizzas that did not get picked up. “Oh we throw a lot of them out because they usually have something gross on them like meat.”
Power to the C-Ville
Cheers.
columbusite said
Tried this place out for the first time earlier this week and thought it was good. I’m going to have to try more of the dessert bars. The chocolate pecan one was big enough that I should have saved half instead of devouring the whole thing. The vibe is also a plus.