Former Urban Meyer steakhouse gets new Miami vibe

After slow-rolling out his new concept for several months, Shawn Shahnazi is ready for the bright neon lights of the Short North.

It's a sort of grand opening for Chophouse 614, which replaced Urban Chophouse inside the Luxe 23 building at 1079 N. High St. in the Short North.

Shahnazi said he acquired the property in February, quietly renamed it in March, spent a few weeks on a modest remodeling effort that put upscale touches in the dining room, and rebuilt the menu from the hoof up.

"We kept the foundation," he said, which was laid by the previous owner, Chris Corso, a restaurateur and real-estate investor in Columbus.

With the tagline "contemporary steakhouse and cocktail bar," Chophouse 614 is where the sophistication of Miami meets Midwest sensibilities, said Shahnazi, who's from Miami.

The steaks, previously premium Black Angus select, are all prime cuts now. Shahnazai said he decided on the upgrade despite the rising cost of beef.

"There's not much you can do right now," he said. "You have to take it on the chin."

Yet, he added more than a dozen new entrees that have should have a more digestible price: Garlic shrimp and rigatoni, seared scallops, Faroe Island salmon and grilled lamb chops are all under $50.

Still, steaks are still the thing at Chophouse 614, which offers such cuts as wagyu filet ($98), filet Oscar ($68) and 16-ounce Delmonico ribeye ($66).

Classic steakhouse sides, such as asparagus, creamed corn with bacon, and Brussels sprouts, are $12 each, and sauces, including béarnaise, chimichurri and a crust of blue cheese, are $5 apiece.

Among the shareables' portion of the menu, customers have several choices of sushi, items from the raw bar and starters. Recent additions include French onion soup, shrimp ceviche, seared octopus and truffled lobster mac and cheese.

The 157-seat interior is highlighted by colorful plush fabrics, low-top seating, two private-dining areas and a stylish bar, Shahnazi said.

Urban Chophouse gained a bit of notoriety when its namesake, former Ohio State University football coach Urban Meyer, was seen on a video partying with young woman at the restaurant in September 2021, while he was coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyer apologized but was fired before the season ended.

Even so, a large vertical Urban Chophouse sign remains on the side of the building, and Shahnazi said he has two items - a sushi roll and cocktail - named after Meyer.

"We wanted some connection to him," Shahnazi said.

Urban Meyer's Pint House, another restaurant venture between Corso and the former coach located at Bridge Park in Dublin, appears unaffected by last year's events.

Shahnazi is a partner in Atlas Marketing & Management Group, which owns several restaurants in Miami.

He said he has an Amazon delivery business in Columbus and became acquainted with Corso over the years. When he had the opportunity to snatch up the Short North spot, he did.

The deal also included Terrace Bar, a rooftop lounge, and a former whiskey room across the lobby. It has been rebranded as Prive Lounge, a members-only club that will open Saturday (Oct. 1).

Kitchen hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and closed Sundays.

onrestaurants@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Urban Chophouse is reinvented as Chophouse 614