These Columbus restaurants opened or closed in August
In August, over a dozen restaurants opened or reopened in the Columbus area, including a second location of a popular vegan cafe and a Korean fried chicken restaurant among the chains making their first stop in Ohio via Columbus. And the month saw a few closings, though two are expected to return.
From Delaware to Pickerington, Westerville and Columbus proper, new restaurants to open include Jamaican and Somali eateries, plus a pizzeria and the reopening of some Greater Columbus favorites.
Here's how the Columbus restaurant and bar landscape changed in August:
Koshi Korean
Koshi Korean opened in early August inside Saraga International Grocery's Northland location at 1265 Morse Rd. The Korean restaurant's menu features bulgogi, kimbap, bibimbap, mandu, sushi and more.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wild Ginger
Asian fusion sushi restaurant Wild Ginger opened in Polaris earlier this month. At 8591 Sancus Blvd., the space was previous another Asian fusion restaurant, Royal Ginger, and before that, Hooters. The restaurant known for its long list of sushi rolls also has locations in Hilliard and Jerome Township, near Dublin.
The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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Woodhouse Vegan Cafe
Woodhouse Vegan Cafe returned to the Short North early this month, at 19 W. Russell St., after starting out as a pop-up at Oddfellows Liquor Bar. The new Short North location is currently only serving coffee and fresh-baked goods during its soft opening. A grand opening to feature a full menu has not been announced.
Woodhouse's Short North location is currently open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bravo Italian Kitchen
Bravo Italian Kitchen reopened at 3000 Hayden Rd. on the Northwest Side earlier this month after several months of remodeling. The Italian restaurant closed after a kitchen fire in April. The Italian eatery chain, founded in Columbus as Bravo Cucina Italiana, opened its first location on Hayden Road in 1992.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Combustion Brewing
Combustion Brewing opened its second location Aug. 13 at 2971 N. High St. in Clintonville, in the former home of Lineage Brewing. The new taproom features 22 craft beers and ciders on tap and specialty beers available to-go and made on-site, and light snacks available at the bar.
Hours for the taproom are Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
More openings:Over 20 new Columbus-area restaurants have opened this summer
Sally's Halal Grill
Sally’s Halal Grill on the city's Northeast Side opened on Aug. 14. The restaurant, at 2649 Northland Plaza Dr., offers modern Somali cuisine and replaces Salvadoran restaurant El Sabor de mi Tierra.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Pit BBQ Grille
The Pit BBQ Grille returned to the "Hatch" rotating kitchen at Budd Dairy Food Hall this month. The BBQ restaurant, which also has locations in Clintonville and North Market Bridge Park, first appeared at the food hall in December 2021.
Budd Dairy's hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 to 11 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
King's Grand Central
Pizzeria King's Grand Central opened in a former gas station at 2610 N. Columbus St. in Lancaster on Aug. 16. The restaurant, started in 1995 in Junction City, also has locations in Rushville and Crooksville. The Lancaster menu includes specialty and create-your-own pizzas, calzones, subs, garlic knots and salads.
Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Twinado Jerk Shack
Twinado Jerk Shack, 1763 Hill Rd. in Pickerington, opened on Aug. 19. The Jamaican restaurant features a menu of jerk chicken, beef and shrimp, "rasta pasta," pita and stir fry with meat and vegetarian options.
Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fattey Beer Co.
Bottle shop and taproom Fattey Beer Co., at 79 S. State St. in Westerville, opened on Aug. 20. Based out of Buffalo, New York, Fattey Beer features a large variety of beer, wine, seltzer and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as food and snacks. The Westerville location is the first in Ohio.
Hours are daily, noon to 10:30 p.m.
Simply Honest Cafe
Simply Honest Cafe, a new breakfast and brunch restaurant, is open for delivery and pick-up in Schumacher Place, at a former location of Scrambler Marie's. The restaurant, at 567 E. Livingston Ave., held a soft opening earlier this month and plans to open for dine-in in the near future. The cafe serves breakfast all day, featuring avocado toast, egg sandwiches, bagels, yogurt and granola, and for brunch, wraps, soups and bowls.
Hours are Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ben's Vegan Frisbees
Ben's Vegan Frisbees reopened for weekend orders on Aug. 26 after nearly a year out of operation. Working out of 1819 Brentnell Ave., the eatery serves 12-inch and 16-inch vegan pizzas and a tofurkey Italian sub. Hours are varied and can be found on the restaurant's social media.
Sweet CLE-bus
Sweet CLE-bus has also reopened for pre-orders and walk-ins. The pierogi eatery, which operates out of 447 Lazelle Rd. in Westerville, is now available for pre-order on Thursdays and walk-ins on some Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are varied and can be found on the restaurant's social media pages.
92Chicken
Korean fried-chicken chain 92Chicken, at 12 S. Sandusky St. in Delaware, opened a few days ago. The menu features seasoned, spring onion, sweet onion and other varieties of fried chicken, as well as dumplings, calamari and sides, including fries, coleslaw, onion rings and rice. To drink, the restaurant has bottled, soju, baekseju and myong jak, teas and sodas.
Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Korean fried chicken restaurants:CM Chicken planning locations in Pickerington, Westerville
A few closures, two temporarily
City Barbeque's Reynoldsburg location, at 5979 E. Main St., and Smokehouse Brewing Company, at 1130 Dublin Rd., closed in early August, both temporarily. In a Facebook post, Smokehouse cited staffing concerns as the reason for the pause. City Barbeque has demolished its location to make way for a new building, which could open by the end of the year.
The final week of August also saw the closure of Kintsugi Sushi Bar at North Market Bridge Park and Franks Fish and Seafood Carryout, at 5249 Trabue Rd. on the Far West Side.
And in Powell, the owners of the long-time spot Lazy Chameleon, at 4028 Presidential Parkway, announced that they are selling to new owners, who plan to reopen the spot on Thursday.
tmoorman@dispatch.com
@TaijuanNichole
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Columbus area restaurants open in August
