Look for the long-awaited arrival and a few surprises on the Columbus restaurant scene in the New Year.
Fans have been waiting for Bojangles to arrive in the Columbus area since longtime franchisee Jeff Rigsby announced in March 2021 that he would be bringing 15 new locations to the Columbus area over the next few years.
Other highly anticipated dining options, including two Italian concepts at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, a Boston winery chain, the beloved Columbus Cafe and another Central Ohio Food Hall, are on our list of restaurants to expect in 2023.
Food and drink in Columbus:Click here for opening and closing times in December
Check out the list of new restaurants scheduled to open in 2023:
bubbly hall
Originally scheduled to open this month, New Albany’s Bubbly Hall is scheduled to open in early 2023.
As of last month, the food hall at 6031 Central College Road includes Fay’s Crepes, Hoyo’s Kitchen, Mr. Hummus Mediterranean, Just Chicken, The Pit BBQ Grill, Soul Food on the Go, Kiku Sushi, and Cheesecake Musume. The food hall also features his three own spaces with a bar, wine bar, bubbly boutique, flower shop and art his gallery in partnership with Sunbear Studios.
slamies on high
The Slammers spin-off, Slammie’s on High, is set to open on campus at 1607 N. High St. in January and will feature the bar’s acclaimed pizzas and the same inclusive and safe spaces as its predecessor. Offers a similar but simplified menu. Slammie’s offers a seasonal menu and a wide variety of spirits on his drinks menu.
Smith & Wollenski
Smith & Wollensky will close 20 years later on January 14th at 4145 The Strand West in Easton Town Center, but the Boston-based upscale steakhouse chain shouldn’t be away for long. The company said in his December email that it was committed to a presence in the Columbus marketplace and was currently in advanced negotiations for a new downtown location.
City Winery
New York-based winery and concert venue City Winery plans to open its first location in Ohio on the South Side of Columbus later this winter. The restaurant, winery and concert venue will be housed in a 130-year-old former fire engine factory at The Fort at 2108 S. High St.
The restaurant includes indoor and outdoor dining spaces, multiple bars, fire pits, and an outdoor concert stage built on site. The menu is “wine-inspired” and locally sourced, with global influences from Europe and the Mediterranean, including flatbreads, risotto balls and branzino fish.
Esco restaurant and tapas
Esco Restaurant and Tapas will open on January 13 at 31 E. Gay St., the former location of the Irish-themed pub Mahone. This restaurant and lounge is co-founded and owned by Rapper 2 Chainz and Mychel “Snoop” Dillard. Akron native Jessica Kay serves tapas, seafood dishes, and Southern classics like shrimp and grits, lamb chops, Cajun salmon, and black catfish, along with mac and cheese, collard greens, and fried okra. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily, brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, and offers hookah and bottle his service.
winnie wonder
Winnie Wonder will open its second store at 4117 Worth Avenue in Easton Town Center in February, after opening in Bridge Park, Dublin in 2022. The concept is a nearby Pins Mechanical Co. and his 16-bit bar + arcade.
Specializing in unique hot dogs with over 35 toppings and sauces, the restaurant also offers sides such as milkshakes, veggie dogs, mac n’ cheese, and seasoned potato wedges.
Columbus Brewing Company
Columbus Brewing Co. will open across from the East Market at 200 Kelton Ave. The brewery plans to open a restaurant and event space earlier this year. Housed in an old trolley mechanic’s shop in Franklin Park, the beer hall features multiple bars, 24 taps, a globally inspired menu and a patio.
bojangles
Bojangles will be entering the Ohio market for the first time, according to a March 2021 announcement, and the company has been tight-lipped about when the first of its 15 Columbus stores is expected to open. , this fast food chain is known for its fried chicken and Southern comfort food.
together
Scheduled to open in April, The Junto is an independent lifestyle hotel in Franklinton located at 77 Belle St. across from COSI. The hotel will feature a number of new concepts, including a rooftop bar Brass Eye, restaurant and bar Little West Tavern, coffee shop Maudine’s and walk-up restaurant Little West Poutine.
North High Brewing
North High Brewing will likely open a new location in Westerville sometime in the spring or summer. The new location will open in a renovated historic armory at 240 S. State St. in partnership with co-working firm COhatch.
The new brewery, which closed the original Short North Taproom in December, includes a restaurant and brewpub with indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The brewery’s menu consists of upscale bar food such as burgers, tacos, wings, and brunch, as well as a drinks menu of wines, cocktails, seltzer, cider, and, of course, beer.
Fox in the Snow Cafe
Fox in the Snow will open a new store at 38 W. Bridge St., Dublin, in a converted one-story building that was originally a post office. Known for its coffee, breakfast sandwiches and pastries, this café opened in 2014 in an old garage on North 4th Avenue in the Italian Village. Following the café’s success, he opened his second and third locations in German Village and New Albany, as well as a sister sandwich shop, Icarus, in Italian Village late last year.
Valentina and Cento
The highly anticipated Italian dining concept at Cameron Mitchell Restaurant in Bridge Park, Dublin. Valentina’s was originally scheduled to open this spring, but he’s now slated to open in 2023.
The ‘sophisticated casual’ restaurant offers Northern Italian-influenced cuisine with an extensive wine selection and specialty cocktails, and the space includes a patio overlooking Bridge Park’s Dublin Link pedestrian bridge.
Cento, another Cameron Mitchell restaurant Italian concept, will open at 595 S. Third St. in German Village. The Italian restaurant takes over the house where G. Michaels once lived and offers a more intimate experience serving traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist.
Butcher & Grocer
The Butcher & Grocer will open a new store at 160 West Main Street in the Market Square district of New Albany. Originally he was scheduled to open in the fall of 2022, but due to problems with supply his chain, etc., the opening he postponed to 2023.
The restaurant and butcher will offer Ohio beef, chicken, lamb, pork, fish, charcuterie products, beer and wine takeout, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, and a full bar.
tmoorman@dispatch.com
@TaijuanNichole