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    Safina Restaurant

    4.6 (27 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Safina Restaurant Photos

    SAFINA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Safina Restaurant

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    Beef & Grits and KK & Lamb
    Dorothy X.

    This meal was incredible. My brother came across this place on Yelp and hasn't been able to stop going back. It's unassuming from the outside, but the food is amazing. We ordered the KK & Lamb and the Beef & Grits. The beef and grits were yummy--comforting and hot. But the KK & Lamb was really the star, I haven't stopped thinking about it! The flavors and textures were so complementary. I really can't wait to go back for it

    Syed S.

    Attached to a gas station, Safina World Restaurant is as "hole-in-the-wall" as it gets. It is also my find of 2025 - the food here is made-to-order and delicious. On top of that, the portion sizes and price points are pretty great. The restaurant is set up as more of a take-out spot, and after a 35 minute drive home, my food travelled well. The inside is bare-bones - a few tables, a small bar-like area, and not much decor. You order at the counter and you can watch your food being cooked fresh. The menu is pretty extensive, and so far, the plantains, the chicken over rice, the chicken wrap, the beef wrap, the mango juice, and the lemonade have all hit the spot. I can't wait to go back to Safina to keep up with my obsession with this place.

    Cabbage & chicken with a side of rice and a mango smoothie
    James T.

    Nice food and service , jollof rice is good and so is the yellow rice. I'm only mad they stopped selling cabbage :(

    Ryan C.

    Safina did not disappoint. Dropped in for the first time and got the Plantains with chicken. Fast service and food was delicious, and halal! Good portions, decent prices and huge menu! Ordered food to go, next time might have to eat at the counter. Salaams!

    Valerie W.

    Small, unassuming "hole in the wall" spot that you might miss if you're not looking for it, but LOOK FOR IT...!! An add-on at the Shell station on Morse Rd. heading toward Easton (corner of Cleveland Rd., I believe...) I noticed it during a previous drive through the area and had planned for months to give it a try. Take the time to study their EXTENSIVE menu ahead of time; there's A LOT on there and it's ALL tempting. I went with the KK chicken, and while I'm not exactly sure what I got, the mix of chicken, assorted veg and pasta/dough was GOOD!! VERY reasonable prices, friendly service, and definitely something for just about everyone. I love "discovering" places like this and doing my bit to help get the word out for Columbus' vast "hidden gems" in this diverse corner of town... My old "stomping grounds!!" I'll be back to try more, and offer up that fifth star!! YUM...

    Avacado and mango smoothie. $3.00 each. Trying avacado for first time
    April S.

    I absolutely love African food and Columbus is full of hidden gems. I was originally told this food Was from Somalia however, i was educated when i ate there and they have dishes from all over Africa! This is located on the north side of Columbus. I will admit i rolled up and realized it is located on the right hand side of the gas station on the corner of morse road and cleveland ave. Please do not let that deter you...i am Glad i didnt!! The restauant is a separate building with a wall separating from gas station and its own entrance. The inside is bright and colorful, not to mention the amazing aroma that literally made My stomach growl saying "Feed me! Feed me!" Whenever i go to a new restaurant , my go-to is the chicken and rice. Man oh man...this chicken and rice- holy cow!! FINGER-LICKIN GOOD! My friend ordered a salmon wrap and rice with lamb. The lamb was so tender and tasteful. The rice was amazing and tasted different than my rice! The rice, so different than mine complemented the lamb so well. I have no idea what the white sauce on my rice was but OMG- I LOVED IT! The salmon roll- lets just say my friends eyes rolled to the back from the awesome taste. You know when the food is so good, two people dont speak. They eat and smack their lips. I wanted to eat it all but i was so full. My leftovers turned into another two meals for me!! I seriously cannot wait for a return visit and try out more menu items!!

    Chicken and Rice with spicy chutney sauce and an Avocado smoothie
    Muhammad F.

    The gentlemen that work as this fine establishment were down to earth, patient, and cool individuals that helped me navigate their awesome menu. OH and as for the food, Yeah; it was absolutely exquisite. This will be one of those restaurants that starts from the bottom and quickly climbs to the top. I had ordered the fan favorite chicken and rice with their chutney spice sauce on the side and the Avocado smoothie to go along with and for $18 it was money WELL spent. I will definitely be back here again in the near future!!

    KK chicken
    Patricia S.

    I almost passed this place. It shares a building with a gas station, so it's almost easy to miss, but it does have a separate entrance and the inside of the restaurant is separate from the gas station! The employees were friendly. I had never been there and asked for a recommendation.. so I got the KK & chicken meal, which was pretty good. I also got the ginger pineapple juice. The juice was sweet and definitely more pineapple than ginger (so even if you're hesitant about ginger, I think you'd still enjoy). Next time I am looking forward to trying the chicken and rice! Place was pretty steady with business and I wouldn't doubt they have regulars!

    Salmon over Rice
    Clifton S.

    This is one of my favorite places to eat in Columbus. The staff is really friendly and they are always very good. This is one of the best little secrets in Columbus

    Salmon & Rice /w Spinach and Pinto Beans

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    6 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    It's was so good. Very flavorful and tender meats. I def will be back soon. My son enjoyed it as well as and wants to go back.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    I went there with a Somali friend . I got a pate with chicken and plantain it was delicious. I recommend it

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food and staff. I will definitely go back again and try more dishes. They have many different cuisines, not only African.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Everything was sooo good 10/10 goin there today there chicken and rice was soooo good and fresh

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    5 years ago

    Amazing customer service, also very time efficient especially when your on a time crunch. Would definitely recommend:)

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    High Bank Distillery

    High Bank Distillery

    4.2
    (59 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    First time for Brunch at High Bank and was delighted at the variety!!…read more Great quality ingredients, priced appropriately. We loved the peach burrata, so fresh and the arugula was tossed in a rich olive oil with grainy salt. We only wished we had more bread because it was so good! Large seating area, so even though it was noon on a Saturday we were able to be seated. Also got the High Bank House Salad without tomatoes and swapped out the blue cheese for pecorino. They were very accommodating of substitutions which made it easy for us to relax and enjoy. Salmon bowl was well seasoned and the flavors complimented eachother well. Very well cooked salmon, not overdone and a good cut of meat. Tasted as expected.

    Double review for PO Box and High Bank. Started off the night at PO BOX 21 which is downstairs at…read moreHigh Banks. Disappointed on the speakeasy entrance since it wasn't as "secretive" Dark decor but had a great time. Our server was friendly. I got the creme de la creme and my friend got an old fashioned. We also split the pimento cheese dip. It had a kick to it. Went upstairs for dinner. He got the salmon bowl which looked amazing and I got the spicy chicken sandwich. The side of fries were amazing due to the sauce. Got myself another drink which was the popsicle stand which tasted like a 50/50 bar Had a pair of friendly servers with one in training. Ended the night with a butter cake. Large serving but too much compote for my liking. Overall great experience for both! Tip: best to find street parking as the lot behind the restaurant fills up fast.

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    High Bank Distillery
    High Bank Distillery
    High Bank Distillery

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    Miamar Grill

    Miamar Grill

    4.9
    (35 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    I had just come from PT and was hungry. I did a Yelp search and this is the 1st Pl., Yelp directed…read moreme too, so I gave it a try. I'm glad I did I was probably greeted by the hostess. Whom placed me at a very nice table. I looked over the menu, which had a little something for everybody. To be honest I liked that, plus there wasnt an over abundance of items... it was that goldilocks moment... just right. I decided to try the grape leaves. I asked if they had made them themselves and they did -which is what pushed me in the direction. You get two very stuffed grape leaves --that are definitely made in house. I was not really a fan of the lemon sauce that they use. I didnt dislike it, I felt it was a tad too thick and not enough lemon. However, I seemed to eat all of it, which is something I dont do at most places, so despite it needing more lemon I must of liked it more than I initially realized. As far as ambience, it still has the footprint of the former sushi restaurant. the bar is completely unchanged. however, they have these lovely little lilac flowers or Japanese cherry flowers hanging from trellises throughout the entire back dining room. makes it look lovely. This transforms it into its own identity. i liked it. They had soft music playing. I wasn't sure if it was Mediterranean or Spanish, but I enjoyed it. I liked my time there The one thing that needs mentioned is the pricing of the salad proteins. This is confusing. I was going to order a salad but the menu had it listed the price of a salad. Them below protiens. The price listed on menu is not in addition to salad. Its the final price of the salad. I did not realize that and thus didnt order the salad. I also didn't like being quoted 10.80 for my total and then having it changed because I used American Express to 11 something. Personally, I feel businesses should make it a little easier for their customer in the cost of doing business should be at the restaurants expense in that situation. I probably would've tipped more had they not popped up my price Tbo Would I come back? absolutely. However, I will bring cash the next time so my bill doesnt go up. Lol.

    Miamar Grill delivered a truly outstanding experience today…read more We went with two chopped salads, one topped with beef and one with salmon, and both were excellent. The salmon was cooked just right, and the beef was tender and juicy. The salad itself was fresh and flavorful, not an afterthought. The owner, Elena, came out to chat with us at the end of our meal, which was a nice touch and says a lot about the place. She also mentioned their Mother's Day special, 10% off your total bill plus a free dessert for Mom. It's a great balance of fresh and filling, which isn't always easy to find. Definitely a spot worth coming back to. Miamar Grill 732 N State St Westerville, OH 43081 Miamargrill.com

    Photos
    Chopped Salad
    Chopped Salad
    Potato pancakes with grilled chicken and red cabbage
    Potato pancakes with grilled chicken and red cabbage
    Miamar Grill

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    Over the Counter

    Over the Counter

    4.3
    (262 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Feels like a neighborhood bar. Lots of TV sets with closed captions…read more Loved the French onion soup because it has a rich, thick beef broth as the base. The onion rings were more plentiful this evening rather than the last time we were here. The Hugo Spritz depends a lot upon who makes it. The price certainly is better than LA prices. Good service.

    We waited to order. We waited longer for the food. How long for the food....?…read moreWell from the time we "ordered" over 45 minutes and never received food. we left hungry and cold. (It was freezing inside that restaurant) It was relatively empty The server was nice. Not sure what the delay was. kathy the server said there was a huge take out order that delayed our order and ours would be right out. (Which I feel may have been a fib.... Not sure but my gut say probably.... Why? No one had come in for a "big"take out order, I think she forgot to log in our order as she was distracted with the table next to us that had their former cook there. I could see that easily happening under this situation.) After waiting another three minutes and no food, we were "over" Over the Counter and nicely told her were leaving. To cancel our order. She nicely tried to entice us to stay saying the owner was going to give us a gift certificate... but that just further solidified that they "knew" our meals timing had gone sideways and we had been neglected. We chose to leave and we dont really plan on coming back. Why? The inside seemed old. We saw the kitchen from our table. It seemed disorganized. It gave off a bad vibe. Add our wait. Meh. Like I said Im over over the table.

    Photos
    Over the Counter
    Half Cobb salad with blue cheese dressing.
    Half Cobb salad with blue cheese dressing.
    Happy hour menu. It's great to see a happy hour again!

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    Happy hour menu. It's great to see a happy hour again!
    Northstar Café

    Northstar Café

    4.2
    (1k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Love they start you off with a little taste of the chips and Pimiento cheese at the bar. Nice…read moretouch. $12 full price cocktails is a steal coming from Los Angeles. Had to get a Tito's Martini. Really well done. For dinner went with the steak and enchilada. Was a bit worried because they didn't ask for steak temp but wow, wow, wow great dish! Steak was fantastic and what a great combo with that cheesy enchilada. Had to get a cookie from what I over heard from others. Couldn't decide between praline peanut butter or the chocolate chip so got both, why not, I'm here a couple nights. Which one was better? Both were awesome, guess you will have to get both to decide.

    Breakfast time!…read more Stopped by for breakfast on a Wednesday morning for the first time and I had no idea it was a order at the counter type of place. The restaurant was very nice and huge with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I decided on their ricotta banana pancakes with a side of sausage and coffee. The coffee is self serve which was nice and they just give you a mug after you pay. So unlimited refills! Yes! Our food was brought over by our nice waiter which made sure we were taken care of so that was nice. The pancakes were very fluffy and light and were topped off with banana slices. The sausage on a side plate was super tasty. I could taste the pepper and rosemary seasoning and it was very juicy. The coffee was very good and I served myself another hot cup! I would definitely come back!

    Photos
    Live music
    Live music
    The Everyday Egg Sandwich
    The Everyday Egg Sandwich
    Cloud Nine Pancakes

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    Cloud Nine Pancakes
    Stacked Burger

    Stacked Burger

    4.8
    (80 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    We stopped at Stacked Burger on a road trip from PA to OK, and boy were we glad we did! Located in…read morean L-shaped strip mall, about 5- minutes off of I-71, it is an independently owned and operated, one-of-a-kind burger joint with homemade pickles and four different dipping sauces to go along with onion rings and house-seasoned fries. Everything is made fresh to order. The owner, Jordan, greeted us as soon as we walked in the door and gave us a rundown of the menu. We ordered four stacked burgers and one bacon-mushroom burger, onion rings, fries and all four dipping sauces, paid at the counter and sat down to wait for our food. We waited less than 10 minutes for Jordan to tell us our food was ready and dived in to enjoy a nice late lunch. One person thought the BBQ sauce was the best, three people thought the honey mustard was the best and one person thought the ranch was the best. There were two-four person round tops and two-two seaters, and then a diner bar with stools that probably sat 7-8 people. There were probably about eight dine-out pick ups as we sat there and he had a steady stream of people through the door in the thirty minutes we were there. On our way out, Jordan asked us to put a sticker on his wall map of the US to show that Norman, OK had dined at Stacked Burger. We all thought the food was great and appreciated the owner checking up on us and ensuring we had everything we needed. I highly recommend this place.

    Solid 4.4 stars out of 5! It was our first time here, and the owner (or manager) jumped right in to…read moreexplain the menu to us, which was a great touch. We all went with the classic Stack Burger--the garlic aioli and caramelized onions were fantastic. Next time, I'd probably try one of their signature burgers with more toppings. The 1/3 lb patties are generous, so I'm torn on whether to double up next time, but given how generous the fry portions are, splitting a double burger with my wife is probably the way to go! The fries were great, and my daughter loved her extra aioli so much she hasn't stopped talking about it. The onion rings were good, though they seemed like standard food service rings rather than house-made. Overall, a really solid spot--I'd definitely choose Stacked Burger over Five Guys any day

    Photos
    Restaurant
    Restaurant
    Stack Burger and French Fries 4/2026
    Stack Burger and French Fries 4/2026
    Stacked Burger

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    Safina Restaurant - african - Updated August 2026

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