Discover the Best New Restaurants in Columbus

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The 94th Aero Squadron stands out among the best restaurants in Columbus for its unique setting as much as its great food and drinks. The restaurant occupies a brick farmhouse between the runways at Port Columbus International Airport, giving diners unmatched views of planes taking off and landing. Vintage aviation memorabilia augments the rustic décor inside. Also fitting are big portions of home-style cooking, with substantial options like prime rib, weighty steaks and seafood pasta dishes. Starters and sides such as beer cheese soup, spinach artichoke dip and white cheddar mashed potatoes lean toward comfort food as well.

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.

Live fire cooking and shareables are the signatures of SeeSaw, a chic and shiny 200-plus-seat newcomer to Short North. With award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer behind the scenes, SeeSaw quickly made its mark among the best new restaurants in Columbus upon its mid-2019 opening. Sawyer oversees a kitchen fitted with custom grill suites fired by wood and charcoal, tools put to good use adding smoke and sear to meats, seafood and vegetables alike. Wood-fired items are highlighted on the dinner menu, among them a shared plate of grilled broccoli rabe and broccolini, an Ohio grass fed burger and brick chicken, half a boneless bird with mashed potato. Before or after a meal, be sure to spend some time on SeeSaw’s rooftop bar.

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.

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.

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.