Basi Italia is one of those places you almost want to gatekeep. It's tucked away in Victorian Village and has the cutest, most charming vibe. The space is super intimate and classy, perfect for a slower, more special dinner. The food was so good, you can tell everything is really high quality and made with care. Everything we ordered felt elevated but still super comforting, which I loved. I got the rigatoni which was some of the best sausage/pasta dishes I've had in a while. The service was also really prompt and attentive without being too much, which made the whole experience even better. Such a good spot for a special dinner or date night if you want something that feels a little more unique and memorable. Next time I'm saving a little more space in my stomach for the Tiramisu! read more

Basi Italia - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Where should I start? Made reservations for 5:30 & promptly arrived a few minutes ahead of time. The Hostess sat us down in the rear of this quaint little spot & she asked if we are celebrating anything or what? I answered Yes,it's my Wife's Birthday She said Great & Wished her a Happy Birthday. Valet parking right up front of establishment for a nominal price of $10* Nice feature. Sat down & met our server/waiter Egan He went over specials & menu briefly. Then we received our miniscule bread/biscuit as an offering while waiting for our salads that we ordered. Very savory and tasty but small. BTW,as soon as we finished,he took the plates. Just one little biscuit each, like we are little gerbels. ? Egan gave us our water glasses & water bottle. *(First & last time he served us any water)* ‍ Then came our cocktails, my wife's drink was super dry & tart, so she asked Egan if they could freshen it up..."What's U" & he brought out some simple syrup. The drink was somewhat better, & I finished my cocktail. He took the empty glass & never asked if I'd like another one? He did ask if my wife's drink was better she answered yes. But, no further engagement or query about the drink? Other than like he was talking a survey in order to make the drink better for the next guest,but NOT my wife⁉ Very odd & pisspoor services. This being our 1st time here,we we're anticipating something Grandeur & Services that matches the overhyped & overpriced selections on this limited variety small menu. The ambiance was flat & no music or anything in the background. Just restaurant noise & people chatter. The lackluster & non-enthusiastic dealings from Egan ,our server was appalling. When my asked him something, his reply was "What's Up"?? Areya Kidding me? Are we in a Gym or Dive,Noooooo. We are supposedly in a Higher Upscale Trendy place?? We both were NOT Impressed at all. The Principle of paying a Higher Price for a Higher or Better Experience is relative to the overall experience. Which was non-impressive,we've had better treatment at a Dairy Queen or Bob Evans Again, this was our first & last time coming here There was 2 ladies that actually were very nice & attentive that brought out the salads & main entrée. They were both very professional & kind. Now let's talk about the food. My wife's eggplant parmesan was delicious & she took home the leftovers. My shrimp linguine was very tasty and yummy,just very small portions & 6 shrimp in my entrée. Hardly any linguine, sauce was delicious but definitely NOT a filling meal. Where's the Meat?? One of the two ladies came back & dropped off desert menu...but we declined anything else. Just the bill please. So here comes Egan & I let my wife handle him as she asked him the following. We've heard such great things about this place & we had high expectations & wanted to make the night memorable & special with it being our first time & my birthday. But you seemed less concerned about us & failed our expectations. Then she asked him why didn't you ask my husband or I if we wanted another cocktail*? Also why did you never refill our water glasses? When asked Egan replied again with "What's Up"? I'm any Restaurant USA a waiter/waitress serves & customarily asks if you like another drink or something else. So before I wrote this review, I asked for my wife's input. She wanted to give this place a One Star But I convinced her that they're was a few bright spots. None of which was our server Egan with his lame uncaring approach to what he thinks is customer service. Unfortunately, NOT a good experience. As a Yelper Elite for 8Yrs now, I've been around the USA & World. I've had countless interactions & quite frankly this place was extremely disappointing. Some places earn their reputation from unsavy or perhaps gullible people that don't know any better. As for Me & My Wife, we are World Travelers & from Coast to Coast have sampled & had numerous festivities & fun....this rates as one of our lowestttttttttt experiences ever read more

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We were able to slide in at 730 on a Saturday night without a Rez. After our Gateway movie ended, we made a call and the very polite hostess said "come on over". We did and sat at the bar with 8 others. It was perfect. Egan was our very able server. We shared two apps and the eggplant parm. Everything was great, as usual. I do think each dish could have been upped by several degrees, they were approaching room temperature. The special super-Tuscan red was excellent. One of our fave places in Columbus. Now I know how possible it is to slide in with a simple phone call. Valet parking at $10 but lots of parking on Neil Ave around the corner. read more

Basi Italia - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Gorgeous restaurant and great service, but the food was less impressive. Beautiful presentation but the flavors are pretty standard, maybe even overly salty. The chicken pasta was very saucy, and the New York strip was very salty. The smoked salmon appetizer was delicious though! read more

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Basi is hands down, my absolute favorite restaurant in Columbus! Everything about it is spectacular! If you're looking for an intimate, perfect date atmosphere, this is the spot for you; their back patio is so cute The service is amazing, everyone takes the time to answer any questions you may have, offer recommendations, and will make any accommodations you may need. Every single dish here is tastes unbelievable The spaghetti pesto that comes with several dishes is the perfect accompaniment and all of their pasta is made fresh from scratch! They have delicious new specials all the time and you will leave completely satisfied and having enjoyed an incredible evening. If you haven't been to Basi before, I highly recommended checking it out! read more

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YE Gurl Says: A Birthday in the Back Alley at Basi Italia Place: Basi Italia - Columbus, OH Date: Birthday Dinner Tucked quietly into a neighborhood corner, Basi Italia is the kind of restaurant that feels like a secret you want to keep--but can't help sharing. With its quaint size and that charming side-alley patio, it gives old-school mobster movie vibes in the best way--dimly lit, cozy, and effortlessly cool. Our server, Aaliyah W., made the night. She walked us through the specials and offered her personal favorites, striking that perfect balance between professional and personable. We decided to snack and share--leaning into the small-plate life since we were fresh off a fitness challenge and not quite ready for full entrees (plus it was late). The Arancini ($16) was a golden, crispy start, and the Roasted Beets ($12) added a nice earthy contrast. The Salmon Bruschetta ($16) was light but satisfying, and the Pistachio Flatbread ($17) hit that savory-sweet mark just right. We wrapped the evening with a fruit cobbler ($11) and a cocktail special ($14)--the kind of sip that pairs perfectly with laughter under patio lights. YE Gurl says: Basi Italia is the neighborhood spot that's quietly been doing it right--great food, warm service, and that back-alley charm that makes you feel like you're part of the in-crowd. Definitely staying on the roster for date nights and special occasions alike. read more

Reservations are a must for this hidden gem. Literally down an alley way, I never knew Basi Italia was tucked away near streets I visit often. We made reservations for a Friday night. We had to book weeks in advance. They have a couple of seats inside but were only seating in their outdoor patio spaces. They have some covered seating outside and some tables that are not covered. We ordered the salmon bruschetta. It was amazing! This is a must try if you like salmon. We also ordered the gnocchi and a special fish dish, called a wolf fish. I have never heard of it, but it was delightful! The fish was cooked to perfection and the flavors all melded together beautifully. The service was great, the weather beautfiul, and the food delicious. After dinner it was nice to walk around the area and let our food settle because we ate so much! read more

Like eating dinner in my living room. This place was a really neat, and really small. On our way in, saw the sign stating reservations required. Fortunately it was a Wednesday night, so we were able to get a table. Had a prix fixe menus that we both ordered from. Everything was really good. Started with an espresso martini and Italian Manhattan. Had a salad a soup, followed by the spaghetti and meatballs as well as the eggplant parm. Finished with the best crem brûlée ever. Somewhere along the line I had a glass of their only cab, which was really really good. Everything was exquisitely presented. Need to keep an eye on the seasonal menu to see if something drops onto the menu I've got to have. read more

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Cute little place. The food was 10/10 . My chicken dinner tasted so fresh and perfectly crafted, as if their veggies and herbs came straight from their own backyard garden. Idk what magic actually made it taste like that, but gosh it was all just so light and fresh and delicious. It is a pricey place, so only a special occasion will bring me back, but I'll be praying for more special occasions in my life haha read more

Basi Italia - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've never gone to basi Italia and left disappointed. The ambiance on the patio is perfect, and great for all weathers. Service is always outstanding. Food is always exceptional. Truly one of my favorite restaurants in Columbus, and mostly because of the baked ricotta gnocchi! Whenever I go with the resolve to try a different dish, I always end up getting the gnocchi (and have recommended it to anyone asking about places to eat in Columbus). The gnocchi is just such a divine and unique dish, I can't describe how much I love it. read more

Basi Italia - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Basi is the loveliest hidden gem and a true five star experience. We visited in nicer weather and were able to sit out on the patio, which is so cute (although the inside also looked very cozy and atmospheric). Angela was our server and could not have been nicer or more attentive. We had the loveliest time speaking with her all night and she made excellent menu recommendations! I've included pictures of the food we had, but the menu changes regularly- you may not be able to order the same things but you can trust that everything you do order will be fresh, seasonal, and absolutely delicious. There are just enough options in each category to give a good range of choices without being overwhelming. We especially loved the parmesan crème brûlée- I've never had a savory one before and it was so unusual and delicious- and the watermelon, feta, and mint salad, which was truly the perfect bite of summer. There was also a fantastic peach cobbler dessert- I'm not usually a fan of pies and cobblers but this almost had a donut-like taste and was so good. This was some of the best food we've had in a while and the excellent service and great atmosphere made it all the more enjoyable. If we hadn't been visiting from out of town, we would gladly come back regularly. read more

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My love for Basi continues. I happened to somehow get sane day reservations last week, and I was able to sit inside during the super steamy weather. There is more outdoor seating in the warmer months, so they can seat more guests. I ended up getting every item on their specials menu, and a week later - I'm still thinking about the watermelon salad. It looks simple, but it was so refreshing and tasty! I will note that it took an extremely long time to get our food on this visit, but the waiter was fantastic, and the food was incredible. I will definitely be back. read more

Wow finally had the chance to eat here, and it was amazing! Very intimate venue which was very refreshing; it made you feel like you were in someone's kitchen and not a restaurant. Our waitress Whitney was very friendly. Split the rigatoni salumeria which was plenty of food for 2. Also had the smoked salmon spread. Both were delicious. Only thing I would have liked was a side of bread with the meal. Cocktails were enjoyable too. Great spot in a great location. Can't wait to come back. read more

Basi Italia - smoked salmon bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Stepping into Basi feels like you were teleported to a quaint family run restaurant in the heart of small town Italy. It appears to be an old house turned restaurant with only a handful of tables, which provides a very intimate setting. The seating is spread between a small indoor dining area, side patio, and back terrace. We made a reservation and our table was ready right when we arrived. We sat on the back terrace which is fully covered overhead but open to the outdoors on the sides which kept things cool. The menu boasts a mix of Italian & Mediterranean inspired entrees, which I'm guessing rotate regularly as there are only a handful of options. That said, there seems to be something for every palate (chicken, fish, beef, vegetarian). I tried the pan seared halibut and my SO got the chianti braised beef short ribs. Both were excellent. The others at the table also really enjoyed their dishes. Lastly, our server Sunny was attentive and friendly. All in all we really enjoyed our experience at Basi. Be warned that street parking in Italian Village can be somewhat hard to come by depending on the time, and it requires you to download an app to use properly. That said, there was a "Valet for $10" sign right outside the restaurant, so that is an option as well. read more

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Wow I cannot say enough great things about Basi! I've been on my list of places to visit for a while, and I'm so glad we had the chance to stop by this week. I knew the smoked salmon bruschetta would be a favorite and it did not disappoint! The zucchini was another great recommendation and a super generous portion. Our entrees were also a very generous portion - my favorite was the rigatoni salumeria but I'm definitely just biased towards any red sauce pasta with sweet sausage. Of course, we had to get dessert even though we were completely stuffed and the tiramisu was so good. Service was super efficient and gave fantastic cocktail recommendations - I'm going to be so sad when this earl grey infused gin comes off the specials menu. The dining space in the back was very cute - even in the middle of a thunderstorm warning they had the window covers down and you couldn't even tell it was raining just outside the patio! Overall, will definitely be back! read more

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Having lived in the Victorian Village area for a while, Basi appears to be quite unassuming. It sits just down an alley in a residential area, so it's easy to pass up. Don't do that!!! It's a wonderful restaurant! Every dish we got was delicious and beautifully presented. Staff were all very kind and helpful. A great stop for a fancy dinner! Just try to get a res ahead of time. They really know how to do their ambient lighting in here too:) read more

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The experience starts when you walk in and see the beautiful patio surrounded by natural beauty of trees and plants. Then the service starts. Wonderful! Friendly and engaging, knowledgeable of the food and wines. The food is incredible. Fresh and full of flavor. The tomato sauce was meaty and rich and best I've ever tasted. The seasonal zucchini and corn side dishes were also amazing. You go here to eat and you won't be disappointed, but you'll leave knowing you've been cared for in the process. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience!!! read more

We have been coming to Columbus for years now and Basi Italia is probably the best restaurant the city has to offer. Whether it's the incredibly charming environment - it is like visiting your Italian grandmother's house, whether on the garden terrace or inside - or the unbelievably well done food, you should definitely make this a priority stop if you're in town. Our server was very friendly and the staff were very accommodating in terms of making an effort to get us in. Highly recommend! read more

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The Lamb Chops are the best I've ever had. The freshness, the chew, the char! Contrasted with the cous cous, the tomatoes and drizzled with, I think marcapone, is exquisite beyond this ordinary realm we call earth. It is heavenly, The Food of the Gods. Cheers and hats off to Chef! The setting (I call it Bohemian!), the staff (deep knowledge, great conversationalists, patient and kind)), and of course the deepest menu will keep you coming back for more! Cheers and in the words of the great Lidia: Tutti a Tavola a Mangiare! read more

Basi Italia - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Hands down the best Italian we've had in Ohio! The atmosphere, the food, and service was impeccable! This is definitely a hidden gem near OSU, and can be missed easily! For food we ordered a stretchy cheese appetizer which was really good! Almost like a build your own bruschetta. For dinner we had the rigatoni and chicken. Both dishes were super flavorful but the pesto they used with the chicken was outstanding! The best part of our dinner was the crème brûlée ! It was delicious! read more

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Great place tucked into Vic Village - we fit the special and was amazing portions, service and food quality - had a bottle of wine suggested by our server that was on point too.. will be back... read more

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Love the ambiance of this place! It was very homey and cozy, the staff was very friendly and attentive. We started off with the mussels, the sauce was delicious. We ordered more bread to eat with the sauce! I wasn't too impressed with the arancini, the sauce was very sweet, and I didn't think the flavors went too well together. For the entree, I ordered the white fish fish (it was seasonal) and it was good, but I wasn't too impressed by it. It was lacking flavor, the Parmesan risotto it came with was good. The mocha crème brûlée was the best part of the meal. It was so delicious! They have so many cocktails, wines and beer to choose from as well. I think in the summer, when they open the patio up, it would be a great place to visit! read more

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The food, the atmosphere, the service.... I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. The special was amazing. We loved our cocktails. The tiramisu was devine. read more

Basi Italia was amazing the staff and overall service was amazing. The restaurant reminded me of a small quaint house. But the lighting and atmosphere was so peaceful at times I thought I was home. I came here to celebrate my birthday and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday dinner. The grilled lamb chops were perfect and deliciously cooked! I almost cried when the waiter took my plate away. The food was amazing. I can bet you 1,000 dollars that you won't be disappointed in visiting Basi Italia read more

Basi Italia - grilled lamb chops $46 chive mash, pepper-mushroom hash + tzatziki - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Amazing food with outdoor dining in Italian village. Craft cocktails and great menu. Zucchini pronto is a hit as is the artichoke!! Great service and back patio is a great dining experience! read more

Basi Italia is hands down the best hidden gem in Victorian Village! The food is excellent and service is great. Whitney, our server, was sweet and took care of my wife and I. Basi is laid back and elegant - a combination that's difficult to find. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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This was our first time here and we will definitely be back. This quaint Italian restaurant is tucked in the neighborhood off of an ally. There is no parking but they do have a valet. It is reservation only and when you see the size you will understand why. They have an awesome covered patio that they use year round which doubles the size. The staff were attentive and the food was delicious. You know the food will be good/fresh when the server lets you know the special is a crab risotto but the chef was still playing with what other ingredients it would include. read more

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Great little place with a European vibe! We really enjoyed the food and perfect service. Our server was lovely as well. Only disappointed in the large and very loud table behind us, which was a distraction and kinda killed the romantic vibe we were looking for. But now we know for future how it's laid out so we can request a more intimate table. Other than that, every course was delicious and we will be back for sure!. read more

Basi Italia - rosemary grilled lamb chops - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Good vibes on their patio. Probably not the best place for big & tall or plus size folks to move or sit comfortably. It's a tiny restaurant that packs an expensive punch. The Baked Ricotta Gnocchi was presentable and tasty, cocktail was on point but there wasn't much service to appreciate although I was greeted with kindness. Basi is one and done for me personally and I probably wouldn't recommend it to the hard-working blue-collar folk. If you happen to have some money to waste and want to play around with Italian food then by all means, go ahead and give it a go. Enjoyed: warm patio, beautiful people, cocktail, location Disliked: Dirty plate, parking, bang for the buck read more

Food average Service very good Ambiance noisy next to bar Difficult to get reservations on line read more

Basi Italia is a small intimate spot tucked away in Victorian Village. The ambiance was lovely - very charming, cozy, and perfect for a date night. The service was excellent - our waitress was attentive & helpful. To start off we ordered a bottle of the Cetamura Chianti and the basi ceasar. The wine was great and the ceasar was fantastic! For my entree, I ordered the rigatoni salumeria. It was good but I wasn't overly impressed. My boyfriend ordered the prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin which we both enjoyed. read more

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It is the most special hidden gem in the city. A very quaint family owned restaurant with a lot of charm. Top 3 best Italian food I've ever had. read more

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I've wanted to dine here ever since randomly driving past many years ago and wondering what was this cute little restaurant tucked away in the alley?! Last night I finally got the chance and it did not disappoint! The place is super small and we made our reservations about a month in advance so definitely plan ahead. Our table was not quite ready when we arrived so they offered us a seat at the bar inside and got us started with drinks. I had the Blood Orange Margarita which was quite tasty! We were then seated on the beautiful back patio. Most of it is covered and looks like they can block it in for bad weather/winer time. There are only a handful of tables inside. We started off with the Fresh Stracchino Cheese which came with the most delicious fresh, warm bread. We ate every last bit. For the main course, I had the Grilled Chicken Scaloppine which was to die for. And was every bit as good when I ate the leftovers for lunch today! My husband had their Halibut special and loved it as well. Service was top notch all the way around and the food was outstanding. This is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a lovely date night! read more

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Excellent food! One of the best pastas. What I didn't love was the ambiance. Very small and cramped and in a weird location. They day I went it was over 80 degrees out and humid and the only table available was outside. Very expensive read more

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Excellent meal and service. Had the artichoke appetizer and the eggplant parmigiana entree .. outstanding.

One of the best in the city located in a quaint Vic Village neighborhood. The food is fresh and original. Perfect drinks. Excellent service. Fun patio. You won't want anything more. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Basi in Victorian Village. This cozy little spot is tucked away in an alley a short walk from the Short North and thusly can be referred to as a hidden gem. When we arrived, we were greeted immediately and promptly shown to our seats. We were offered the choice of a seat in the main dining area or on the (heated) back porch area. We chose the porch area--it was very cozy with quiet conversation and fairy lights strung from the ceiling. Our waitress was very sweet and offered us several selections and was very patient when we had a tough time making up our minds. We got cocktails which were all very good, and we started with the flatbread and the beet salad which were also well appointed. Finally, our main courses came. These were really the stars of the show. I will say... we were only able to eat about 1/3 of them. The food was incredibly rich but also unbelievably delicious. Definitely will be returning in the future! read more

Basi Italia - Chicken carbonara - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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There's so much to like about Basi. Friendly staff, nice patio and great Italian food. With a party of two, I had the opportunity to try multiple dishes and really left with a great impression. I had both the Barrel Aged Old Fashioned which has a rather unique flavor and their seasonal Blueberry Margarita. The Margarita was delightful! Sangria was fine, but the Caesar Salad was 'okayest' thing I had - partially because of the buyer's remorse I had after seeing how good the Roasted Beet salad looked and hearing from other patrons how good it was. The Fresh Stracchino Cheese was a hidden star. Every component was individually excellent and it all blended together wonderfully. Main dish wise, the Eggplant Parmesan was good and it was helped by the side of spaghetti pesto that comes with it. The Rigatoni Salumeria was really good at the restaurant, and the leftovers of it that I had were somehow better! Speaking of leftovers, the portions for most things there are healthy. The prices of their pasta and meat dishes are also 'healthy' (but short of exorbitant), and I think that's a combo that most people will be fine making given the quality. The meals were topped off with tiramisu and vanilla cannolis, the latter of which being the surprising victor. They add a crunchy buckeye to every dessert which is a fun touch. I definitely recommend Basi for a nice night out at a Victorian Village gem. read more

I had a lot of hope in Basi but was left disappointed. The ambience of the patio is lovely and this may be a good place to just go get a drink at their bar. However, the dining experience was subpar. The service was slow even though the restaurant seemed well staffed and there were several waitresses running around. Our waitress was friendly but inattentive. She came fairly quickly to get our order for drinks and our first appetizer, but she then she seemed to forget about our table. After 15 minutes I was able to grab her attention to put our entree orders in. It took a half hour for us to get our first appetizer, and an hour to get the rest of our food. The food did not make up for the slow service. The best item we ordered was the pistachio flat bread, which was delicious and fresh. The Caesar salad is a deconstructed salad, even though the menu doesn't indicate this. They basically give you half of a small head of lettuce with dressing and slices of Parmesan cheese thrown on top, and toasted bread strips on the side. It was awkward to eat because of how hard it was to cut and separate the lettuce, and the dressing only saturated the top layer of lettuce. The salmon bruschetta tasted just ok and was also not what I was expecting from the menu description. It was almost like tuna salad but with salmon. My fiancé ordered the eggplant and he said it was good but not worth the wait. read more

I simply cannot put into words how great of a place this restaurant is. The food was absolutely superb. For a celebration dinner, we ended up getting a six course meal with some drinks strewn in. Let's just say I was so satisfied that I am not sure I will be able to eat for the next couple of days. The service was phenomenal. The patio was just a perfect little backyard spot in the Victorian Village. Quite possibly the best restaurant I have had the pleasure of dining in Columbus. The pictures do not do it justice. read more

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