Archive for the ‘restaurants’ Category

Ann and Tony’s, West Jefferson Italian

Posted by CMH Gourmand on November 30, 2009

Ann and Tony’s
211 East Main Street
West Jefferson
614.879.8897
Closed on Mondays
annandtonys.com

Two discussions on Columbus Underground (Great Italian Restaurants and cheap but good Italian food) reminded me I had one restaurant on my to do list for ten years – Ann and Tony’s. Why did I wait?

West Jefferson is not too far away. From the west side of Columbus (where 270 and 70 meet), it is just 10 minutes to “West Jeff” or one could take the long road on West Broad / Route 40 along the old National Road.

The term old school Italian definitely applies here. Ann and Tony’s permeates the feel of a traditional Italian family style restaurant. I knew I would love this place when I walked through the door and there were no reasons to feel otherwise during my meal. I do not get smitten easily, but when I do, I go down hard for the long count.

Many of the items are house made including small things that few choose to do any longer such as salad dressing and croutons. The pasta is made in house and tastes fresh. The sauce is made daily and simmered for a minimum of 6 hours before serving. Ann and Tony have passed on but their son Tom and his wife Judy have preserved the family traditions and recipes which make this a timeless dining destination.

The main menu is on the smaller side but there is an additional side menu of daily and seasonal specials. Even with a limited number of choices, it is still hard to decide so I suggest trying one of the combination samplers. You will have leftovers for the next day and I can attest that the lasagna is good hot or cold.

Spaghetti with meatball, lasagna and penna pasta

Fettucine alfredo, lasagna and Chicken Parmigiana

Posted in kid friendly dining, restaurants, Road Trip | Tagged: Ann and Tonys | 8 Comments »

O’Betty’s Red Hot Dogs and Sausages, Athens

Posted by CMH Gourmand on November 11, 2009

Brat, Dog and Fries

O’Betty’s Red Hot Dogs and Sausages
15 West State Street
Athens, OH
740 589 6111

O’Betty’s Red Hot Web Site

This is somewhat recycled content but I just returned from two days in the Athens area and I wanted to make sure I gave O’Betty’s its due. So here we go. Of the many things that connect my soul to Athens county, the strongest is a hot dog shop. Well, not just any hot dog shop – the best ever, anywhere. O’Betty’s won the dining hearts of Athens since it opened in 2003. It has been voted best Hot Dog most years since 2004. The hots dogs names, decor and vibe are inspired by burlesque babes from the first half of the 20th century.

The hot dogs are 5 Star all beef dogs with a natural casing (one of the best commercially available hot dogs in the country). There are twelve “varietease” of dogs including a create your own style and tofu dog for vegetarians. If you want a Chicago style dog – go with the Salome – “Dance of the 7 Veils” – sport peppers, sweet relish, pickle spear, diced tomatoes, diced onion, Stadium Mustard, and celery seed. Many kinds of toppings are available as well as salsas from Casa Nueva, baked beans, mushrooms, and on occasion, homemade corn relish and pepperjack cheese. When possible all topping are locally produced and sourced.

Fries

The dine in area accommodates about 16 people. On a Friday or Saturday night expect long lines of college students outside O’Betty’s waiting for their chance to get the perfect hangover food.

Another bonus of O’Betty’s – the in-house Hot Dog History Museum / Weiner Hall of Fame. The items in the collection were amassed by Bob Satmary and are continually added to by customers.

Owners Bob Satmary and Ryan Stolz enjoy what they do and clearly put service and fun first for the business. They are always chatting it up with their friends/customers. And they like to mix things up as well. In the winter – expect some tasty soups to keep warm and all year long expect special hot dog combos to keep things hopping (last one I experienced was a Mango BBQ sauce dog with bacon – yum!). And in August of each year, Bob and Ryan celebrate all things hot dog culminating in a hot dog eating contest which I wrote about earlier this year. If you are very lucky, during Christmas week, you may have an opportunity to see the display of 3D Jesus items from the 50’s in the back room.

Posted in Athens, hot dogs, restaurants, Road Trip | Tagged: O'Betty's, O'Betty's Red Hot Dogs and Sausages | 2 Comments »

Udipi Cafe: Vegetarian Buffet

Posted by CMH Gourmand on November 6, 2009

2001 East Dublin Granville Road (161) * Columbus * 614.885.7446

I love Indian food yet I know nothing about it. I can’t recall the name of the dishes I like. I could not begin to describe the subtle and not so subtle flavors of Northern, Southern, and the other regional cuisines of India. Each meal is an exploration of spices, tongue pleasing tastes and tongue tying names. OK, honestly my lack of knowledge is due to sloth because I am a sucker for an Indian buffet. A buffet is like a parade for my stomach – there is so much to see and eat that I lose track of the names and all of the flavors start to blend together.

The 161 / East Dubin Granville Road strip was known as restaurant row in the 1980’s, it consisted of miles of the best Columbus has to offer: Flakey Jake’s Hamburgers, Chi Chi’s, Olive Garden, The Elephant Bar and every chain restaurant that could find space to build. The area is still overrun with eateries but the glory days have gone. Udipi Cafe is very much an outlier in the seemingly endless array of fried food and cheese covered cuisine. The Beechcroft area is not exactly known for it’s large Asian Indian community however 80% of the buffet customers seem to be natives of India and make the trek to this part of town for the buffet. I think that is quite an endorsement.

I am certain the term vegetarian strikes fear into the minds and stomachs of many meat eating, Applebees lovin’ central Ohioans. I imagine the concept of Indian cuisine does the same to the people in a venn diagram overlapping with carnivores afraid of people that eat vegetables by choice. If you have one of these people in your life, might I suggest you take them to Udipi Cafe – as their gateway meal to the “dark side” of culinary choice.

The way to lure people in is through the value of Udipi’s lunch buffet. This all you can eat buffet will knock you back a whooping $7.46, including tax. In exchange for what would be a tip at many places you have access to fourteen plus entrees as well as soups, salad, sauces and dessert. A pitcher of water is brought to your table so you can stay hydrated during your feast.

At some point during your meal this will be delivered to your table….I could have asked what it was but I was too busy stuffing my face.

If you don’t have time to dine in, you can drop in to fill up a large carry out container for the same price.

The Udipi Cafe Buffet is a great way to explore the vegetarian cuisine of Southern India. The experience does not make you bother with having to remember or pronounce what you are eating. Once you get hooked in by the buffet you can always come back for dinner and discover the menu in depth.

The buffet is offered from 11:30 AM to 3 PM Monday to Friday.

Posted in Gastronomic Stimulus, restaurants | Tagged: Udipi Cafe | 2 Comments »

The Art of / at Alana’s

Posted by CMH Gourmand on October 27, 2009

Gateway to Alana's

When asked why Alana’s is one of my favorite dining destinations I have sometimes struggled to articulate the intangibles that add to the mojo of the space. I opine that the art at Alana’s creates a sense of comfort and connection to the house of cuisine. Some people are can be put off by perceived high brow culture that can come with high quality cuisine. At Alana’s the art selection pairs well with the menu creations to give a sense of style and reflect the philosophy of the place. The food is local so is the art.

I have written about the art at Alana’s before, a majority of it crafted by Paul Volker. His simple style adds an element of ease to the fine dining experience. Much of the art is food themed with a pinch of humor and/or a dash of whimsical.

I was inspired to add artwork to my order so I bought some art to go after my meal (most of the works on the wall can be purchased at Alana’s). There is no surprise that my choices reflect my avocation. While any restaurant sends a message with a menu, the whole is greater that the sum of the parts. This applies to cooking as well – it is not individual ingredients that take something from good to great, it is the mix and ratios of all of the flavors. Such is the case for a great restaurant, food, service, ambiance and so many little things add to the experience. At Alana’s I add in art as that extra ingredient that adds to my meal and the mojo.

A few of my selections are below.

Blog

Searching for Salsa

For a serving of art and artisan cooking:

Alana’s
2333 N High St
North Campus / SoHud
614.294.6783
www.alanas.com

Posted in restaurants | Tagged: Alana's, art in restaurants | 3 Comments »

Deal 1: Dine Originals 25% off Oct 9 to 12, Deal 2: 50% off

Posted by CMH Gourmand on September 30, 2009

Hmm – 25% off food on Dine Originals Restaurants during Columbus Day Weekend. If you have never been to Alana’s, Basi, G. Micheals, Cafe Corner, Betty’s, Rigsby’s, etc. – this is the time to do it.

Columbus Days with Dine Originals and Experience Columbus

Ok, deal number two – not many choices left – but as I write 50% certificates are available for L’Antibes (great lunch destination), Milo’s Deli (also a good lunch spot and related to Tommy’s Diner) and Maca (tapas in Powell).

Dine Originals 50% off certificates for the 3rd Quarter of 2009

Posted in restaurants | Leave a Comment »

Crabill’s Hamburgers, Urbana

Posted by CMH Gourmand on September 13, 2009

Crabill’s Hamburgers
727 Miami Street
Urbana
937.653.5133

There are several different routes you could choose to head to Crabill’s in Urbana, each will take you through small towns, past farmers stands and involve at least one major freeway. The one way trip will cost you an hour and a quarter or slightly more of your time. The journey is worth the effort for a taste of hamburger history.

burger balls become small hamburgers

Three generations of Crabill’s have used a special spatula to smash small hamburger balls into mini hamburgers since 1927. The first burgers were cooked in a hamburger buggy. As business grew a small six seater stand became Crabills. This hamburger hangout took a brief respite for a few years but was brought back in the tradition of the original. The third generation of Crabill’s opened as Crabill’s on Wheels and used the momentum to rebuild the business to open the new stand. The location today is not the original but it does have the six stools from the much smaller 1929 edition of Crabills.

sit on history

The menu is as small as the building. Choices include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, double burgers (suggested), chili dogs, a few other items and homemade pies. There is a drive through window which does a brisk business all day. The true Crabill’s experience involves finding an open stool inside and watching the hamburgers grilled in front of you from the counter.

There is an old school approach to hamburger toppings that goes back to the 1920’s: mustard, relish and/or onions. In 1990, ketchup was added as an option. Burgers are ordered, grilled quickly and dressed right in front of you. A typical experience is to order a few, love them, observe that they seem to disappear quickly and then order a few more. There are several regular customers that just walk in and are served without ordering because their tastes are so well known to the staff.

Chili Dog

For the sake of diversity, I also sampled a chili dog. Homemade chili is served (Ohio style) on a slightly toasted bun with a bit of sear to the hot dog. In my opinion, that is the proper approach to hot dog creation, not bad for a place with an eighty plus year history of “hamburgering”.

There are also other traditions here. Large scale consumption of hamburgers as in 33 hamburgers in 45 minutes in 2007. The owners and staff are friendly and clearly have fun doing what they do and interacting with their customers, neighbors and friends.

classic combo: cheeseburger and bottle of coke

Posted in hamburgers, pies, restaurants, Road Trip | Tagged: Crabills | 5 Comments »

Nelsonville: The Flying Dog with a side of Snowfork Cafe

Posted by CMH Gourmand on September 7, 2009

(Sorry both of these places are closed)

Flying Dog
99 Watkins Street
(on SR 33)
Nelsonville, OH
740.753.3647 (DOGS)

I have driven by the Flying Dog for at least two years on my various trips to Athens for fun and for work. I figured it was a just a local bar in a spot that has been a string of short lived restaurants. While Nelsonville is small, it is prone to traffic jams at certain points in the day such as evening rush hour heading north out of Athens or when an old junker with a maximum speed of 36 miles per hour decides to lurch along on SR 33. On one of these days I decided to pop in to the Flying Dog to use their restroom. I spied Elevator Beer on tap as I walked in which inspired me to sit myself down on a stool and sniff around to see what this place was about.

I noticed friendly staff that seemed to know their customers well. I also noticed an assortment of hot dogs on the menu including a fried dog, Boston (BBQ sauce and baked beans), Texas (BBQ sauce, Cole Slaw and pickle), West Virginia (chili sauce, cole slaw, mustard and onions) and a Chicago dog.

The fare also includes wings, chicken, sandwiches and an assortment of sides. The eclectic menu borders on the exotic with items including Poutine and a Caprese Panini.

Sitting at the bar I struck up a conversation with a loquacious gentleman. We talked food, travel, traveling for food and the food scene in Nelsonville. As it turned out I was speaking with the owner Steve Holtel (whose business card lists him as an “economic slave”).

I asked him about the menu and the restaurant since both had turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me. Steve has owned the site for years and watched several restaurants fail. He finally decided that he would own and operate the restaurant and offer the things that he liked to eat and hope that others did to. So far his choices are paying off. He is active in his community and the dollar dog days/daze on Tuesdays help build a following for the rest of the week.

It is hard to pull myself away from my Athens choices but the Flying Dog is with a drop in instead of a drive by.

Snowfork Cafe
161 East Canal Street
Nelsonville, OH
740.753.9990

Just a block down on SR 33 a new restaurant opened in August at a site that had been empty for years. The place serves up typical Midwestern diner fare such as Country Fried Steak, a Fishtail sandwich, and Open Faced Roast Beef. What caught my eye was the pie. Some beautiful pies are on display in the pie case. I was told the three generations of women that work in the cafe make pie using old family recipes passed down for years. They make good pie.

Even on the way to my culinary heaven of Athens, I still have to stop and look around..... I never know what I might find.

Posted in CLOSED, hot dogs, restaurants, Road Trip | Tagged: Flying Dog Nelsonville | 4 Comments »

The Bloggers@The Inn at Cedar Falls

Posted by CMH Gourmand on August 17, 2009

In early August, several Columbus area food writers and bloggers were invited to The Inn at Cedar Falls for a day and night of hospitality. Considering that blogging is largely a pro-bono enterprise, having a night on the house with great food and fine lodging was a treat I could not refuse. Also, the Inn was one of the last checks on my list of Dine Originals Restaurants where I have not dined.

I enjoyed the company of my companions, all are friends or colleagues made since I started blogging. Spending an evening with people that are as passionate about food and drink as I am is a special treat. Each of us documented our experience in one form or another. I gathered podcast content for – Columbus Foodcast – Episode 46. Becke aka Columbus Foodie beat us all onto the web with a great post and photos of our trip. There was also a Woolf in the southeast Ohio woods – Hungry Woolf documented our dine and added in a contest to win dinner for two (sign up before August 31st). Walker and Anne from Columbus Underground, Kristine Eley (on Ratebeer.com) and Jill Moorhead, 1/2 of Itinerant Foodies as well as the magician of marketing at Hills Market, rounded out our party of eleven.

We all spent the afternoon in the spa for massages or in my case, an ionic foot bath. Afterward Ellen, our gracious host, gave us a tour of the Inn and the grounds

A very relaxed Jill on the tour

We segued to dinner. Anthony Schultz, chef of the Inn, greeted us with wine. The bar features Kinkead Ridge wines from Ripley, Ohio (which is the Ohio wine favorite of many in our party) as well as Jackie O’s beers from Athens, Ohio – a favorite of mine as well as Kristine.

Full service from Chef Anthony

Dining with a pack of food writers can be intimidating for a chef or restaurant owner – in constant fear of being thrown to the hungry wolves. However, my heart goes out to the spouses, significant others and friends who joined us because the first rule of dining with a writer is – wait. As soon as any plate hits the table it is photography time. Cameras appear for multiple shots as we try to get the light right, juxtapose ourselves for good angles, and consider a host of other elements for the food photos. This can take awhile, especially when your dining companions are hungry.

Kristine....likes beer

Jill getting the perfect shot

An unwritten rule, which serves as a litmus test for all who enter our lives, is sharing. We order different menu items on autopilot, afraid that we might miss out on the best entree or appetizer. Forks fly across the table for samples, beverage glasses are communally-sipped and desserts are dissected. This is how we roll but it is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

We wrapped up the night around a fire talking about food, travel and traveling for food while imbibing our favorite wines and drinking some hard to find beers courtesy of Kristine (thanks for the New Glarus). These are people I often cross paths with in the course of my avocation. However, on this night I had a chance to stop, sit down and enjoy the company of my Columbus online food community friends in person before, during and after dinner.

In the garden

Posted in food, Ohio, restaurants, Road Trip | Tagged: Hocking Hills, The Inn at Cedar Falls | 3 Comments »

Lola’s Baci: Going to Gahanna

Posted by CMH Gourmand on August 2, 2009

100 Granville Street

614.473.9931

Tuesday to Thursday 11 – 9

Friday 11 – 10

Saturday 5 – 10

www.lolas-italian.com

I find new restaurants by word of mouth, suggestions and a inquisitiveness that is sometimes the bane of friends. (There is a restaurant 45 minutes east of town that will never be mentioned by the usual suspects and it was my fault).

Sometimes discovery is just plain luck – it happened to Columbus and it happens…well, outside of Columbus. One night at the Gahanna Grill, I decided I needed a new carry out menu from Gahanna Pizza Plus. While strolling across the parking lot, I thought I spied a little bakery in the anonymous retail strip. Then I saw the sign.

There are several signs to look for when casing out a new place. The sign above was a good sign – daily specials, with some items crossed out before 9 PM. What does that mean? If a restaurant runs out of something, often it was made fresh and was so good so everyone ate it. Such was / is the case at Lola.

I had been hankering for a good Italian restaurant for months. We have a few in the metro area – Scali, TAT, and Moretti’s. Basi Italia as well for nuevo Italian. However, I have been wanting something that feels small town Italian, in particular like a small cafe I found in the Cinque Terre region.

There were more good signs – inside and outside.

Lola’s is located in a suburban retail strip but the owners have gone to great lengths to make the place feel residential Italian. The exterior features a small picket fence and a few patio tables with Italian food themed umbrellas. On the inside, the already cozy space is divided into small rooms, each with walls painted in a different color and infused with rustic and homey decor. The table coverings are indestructible black vinyl with cloth borders that appear sewn in by hand.

Salads are served on apple shaped plates; there is a matronly woman in the kitchen; and aromas of garlic, oregano and basil permeate the air and space.

There are two schools of service at Lola. There are two veteran servers working here on the side that know the menu and the cuisine very well. One is from New York City and started working a few shifts after wandering in for a meal. The other school seems to be a cadre of first-job-ever-servers that are enthusiastic and eager to learn more.

The basics of an Italian restaurant involve bread and salad – both of these baselines are of good quality. There are several salads to choose from with house made dressing served on the side.

My standard salad selection is Lolas House Salad: mix of greens served with Port wine dressing tossed in among pears, sun dried cranberries, Gorgonzola, and spicy walnuts. All of the flavors fare well together with the spicy walnuts taking the whole package to the next level.

There are a few canaries in the coal mine for (American) Italian cuisine. (FACT:) If a restaurant can not execute meatballs or wedding soup well, my meal will be abysmal and the restaurant will be doomed to mediocrity or financial failure. Lola’s passed both of these litmus tests. Lola and Joe’s Wedding Soup: chicken and tiny meatballs with pastina, carrots and a changing variety of greens in homemade chicken broth sprinkled with Pecorino Romano cheese. The first time I sampled the wedding soup it was the best version I have ever had. Afterwards, while I liked it each time, I could not reestablish the magic for my taste buds of the first time. The wedding soup has now received scores of A+ to B- (on the Gourmand Scale), the spoon to belly experience seems dependent on the height in the soup pot my bowl is ladled from.

Meandering to the main menu now. The daily specials vary widely and frequently sell out quickly. My first meal was from the list on the chalkboard – a risotto which was as good as the best in town. I am saying Alana’s level of quality. On that particular night it may have been .0179% better.

Lobster Ravioli - a special

mussels

Sweet Corn Risotto with scallops... a special...Please text me if you see it on the menu!

Available on the regular menu is an exceptional dish that blends flavors together perfectly and is rich enough to satisfy a meat eaters palate or vegetarians conscience. Vegetable Tortellini is served with walnut Gorganzola cream sauce – oh my.

Moving right along, desserts, I have tried the bread pudding – it was wonderful. I have not tried anything else.

The menu makes several references to Joe and Nonna Nunziata. Joe is Lola’s husband. Nonna was his mother. As I was walking to the Gourmandmobile after my first meal at Lola, I started chatting with a gentleman at a patio table. He asked if I enjoyed my meal as he was still enjoying his. I thought he was a loyal patron but as we continued talking it turned out it was Joe.

Joe is in his late 70’s with a thick Italian accent. We sat while he told me the story of how he came here as a 19 year old (or 20 or 21… the math seemed a little fuzzy at times), sailed by the Statue of Liberty and soon found himself in Nebraska rejoining other family members in the middle of nowhere. After several years to grow his cooking skills and help his Nonna, he followed a brother to Columbus and met “The French Woman”. As it turns out the French woman is Lola who grew up in small town Ohio. Lola has blended her cooking expertise with Joe’s treasure trove of recipes. After many years and a few restaurants (Lola’s Creekside Café and Lola’s Heart’s Desire Cafe) Lola now recreates the meals of the Iacobone’s kitchen with some help from Joe.

For Italian food, take a trip to Gahanna and see what the French Woman might create for you.

Posted in restaurant reviews, restaurants, Vegetarian Friendly | Tagged: Lola Gahanna, Lolas Baci | 3 Comments »

Ten for $10 at the Refectory and a side of Moretti’s

Posted by CMH Gourmand on July 19, 2009

Refectory Restaurant and Bistro
1092 Bethel Road
Northwest Columbus
451.9774

The Refectory

The Refectory has long been known as the go to fine dining destination in Columbus. The setting in an old church, the welled dressed and heeled servers and the French themed cuisine may give some people the perception of stuffiness or exclusivity. This is perception only. The Refectory is very accessible to people with deep pockets as well as those with frugal sensibilities. The restaurant goes to great lengths to create events that appeal to all tastes and budgets.

One Saturday per month, the restaurant hosts a 10 for $10 wine tasting. I have been trying to get to one of these for over a year. I finally made it to a special weekday tasting last Tuesday.

The concept is straight forward. Ten wines can be sampled for Ten dollars. When weather permits, the tastings are held outside. The Refectory has an award wining wine cellar and long relationships with many wine makers and distributors so there is no slacking in the selections.

I spoke with one of the servers as I paid for admission, he told me the previous Saturday tasting had over 80 people. The evening I attended seemed to have 35 to 40. There were also several baskets of exceptional breads to munch on between pours. I am a bread snob so being able to nibble away on a variety of superior slices between sips is worth at least a couple dollars to me…which makes 10 for 10 an even better deal.

For those that have never been the the Refectory, the 10 for $10 tasting is a no effort, low cost introduction to the restaurant and what it has to offer. Sign up at their web site to get e-mails on the tastings and other events.

Speaking of deals, last week was also restaurantweekcolumbus.com. Well, to clarify, this was a Restaurant Week sponsored by 614 Magazine (as well as others). There is also a Dine Originals Restaurant Week (which this year will be presented twice – you may have already missed one in March and the next is in September).

The purpose of a Restaurant Week is to promote local restaurants with special deals and prix fixe menus to encourage people to try places they have never sampled before. I opted to try a place that had fallen off my radar for two years.

Moretti’s of Arlington
2124 Tremont Ctr
Arlington
486.2333

There were three choices for the first and second courses. This is what I sampled with my dining assistant.

Round One

Eggplant Caponata with grilled toast paired with a Mediterranean Chopped Salad.

Fried Calamari with lemon herb aioli paired with a Caesar Salad

Round Two

Chicken Francaise with asparagus, mushrooms and lemon cream

Veal Meatballs with spinach linguini in tomato sauce

Round Three

Chocolate Dipped Cannoli

Everything sampled was incredibly good. I also had an opportunity to study the regular menu which listed menu items I had forgotten about. The pasta is homemade, the sauces are fresh and rich and I am now hooked in for a return visit. The price for the three course meal was $21. Prices for the other meals during restaurant week varied from $15 to $35.

At $10 plus $21, it was a value evening out. As I was seated at Moretti’s, I saw a large group of people come in that I had seen at the Refectory wine tasting ten minutes before, either I was being followed or other people were looking for a good deal as well.

Posted in restaurants, wine | Leave a Comment »

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