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The Keep

3.4 (260 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM - 1:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

The Keep Photos

THE KEEP ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Intimate
Classy
Upscale

Recommended Reviews - The Keep

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Teresa M.

Description in menu: cajun spiced shrimp | chorizo fire roasted red pepper | spinach | creamy vin blanc What I got: plain shrimp, absolutely no Cajun spice. Very very little minuscule chorizo bits. Creamy base with little flavor. Absolutely nothing spiced or Cajun about this dish. Disappointed. Good but not what I was looking forward to. Service was very friendly but very slow. Husband ordered the filet medium. It came out bloody. Service was very slow and we were in a crunch for time for the magic show so by the time server returned it was either eat what you have or not at all. He made do. But not his cup of tea. Great atmosphere!

Scratch Biscuits & Gravy
Katie N.

I came back again so soon after my last review and I should've known better. My friend and I were going to see a matinee show at Ohio Theatre so we decided that we would do brunch at the keep after thinking their menu looked pretty good online I made a reservation, but it wasn't needed because it wasn't busy and nobody asked if I had a reservation. They just kind of waved us over to a table. And then we didn't see any servers for about 10 minutes. Wait that's wrong. We saw them. They just didn't seem to see us. After about 10 minutes I actually started looking around to see if there was someplace else that we should go to have brunch, but that's when someone came over to help us. We ordered bloody Mary's and breakfast (biscuits and gravy and salmon avocado toast on gluten free toast) and while the food was good, the price just didn't match the whole experience. The waitresses never really came back over to us until we waived them over asking for the things that we needed. Just a really disappointing experience and we both decided it would be our last.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Les R.

We were so disappointed in our New Year's Eve dinner. We had a 7:00 PM reservation and were seated early at 6:50 PM, and at the end of the night my card wasn't scanned until 9:17 PM. A total time of 2 1/2 hours for an app, soup, Brussels sprouts, and a main entrée. It seemed like there were issues with the kitchen, as the food took forever at every stage. We were left unattended with dishes on the table for long periods our time. Unfortunately, our server wasn't great either, which only added to the frustration. She couldn't multitask and neglected our table and the two others around us. It was ridiculous. That said, the food itself was good, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. While we were in no hurry and staying in the hotel it was unacceptable. The overall experience fell far short of what we hoped for on NYE. The She Crab Soup, Linguine Dolote, and Butterscotch Crème Brûlée were all good!

The Kitchen
Peter M.

Ambiance!!! We found the Keep while in Columbus for a conference. The Hotel where the restaurant is was right across the street from our hotel. I was tasked with finding a spot for a group dinner and decided to the give The Keep a try. What can I say, we loved the place, and we loved it so much our group ate there more than once and afterwards members of group borught more people there for dinner and drinks. The menu is simple but covers a good array of food that almost anyone can enjoy. The wine list is extensive, and so is their collection of liqueurs, spirits and beer. We had a great time, great meals and of course we all were very happy with our drinks. When we return to the area, I'm sure everyone in our group will come back to The Keep.

Steak Frites
Mallory L.

We were so excited to come here as we got married at the Leveque Tower and were celebrating our anniversary at the restaurant, which did the food for our reception. It wasn't terribly busy when we came but our server was rather distracted. She seemed to be spending more time bussing tables than actually checking in with us on anything. When the appetizer came out we had no plates for it, and we had very long gaps without being checked on. The food was good, if the portions were small. The steak frites has a lot of fries with it, not much steak. I liked the smoked Gouda we ordered for the app as well. Beautiful restaurant and building, it's too bad the service was lacking as it was sort of spoiling the effect on a special day for us.

Menu
Soham K.

Stayed at the hotel, called 6 times over an hour to order food. Restaurant kept hanging up on me and didn't want to take my order for room service.

Menu
Tara S.

Came here for the first time to meet a friend for dinner. Since it was on Labor Day we practically had the restaurant to ourselves which was lovely. We were allowed to pick our own seats and our server was so friendly and welcoming. Started off with a cocktail- the Galaxy Bloom which was delicious! For my meal I went with the Caesar salad with salmon. It was so fresh and delicious. I will say it was pricey but it was a very unique experience in an historic building in Columbus.

Short Rib and Citrus Brined Airline Chicken
Kaitlyn S.

Went for 614 restaurant week and found a new favorite! Our waitress was personable and helpful. Delicious cocktails and wine along with amazing food and ambience to match. Clear view to the well done, clean kitchen with the most amazing chef also. A must try in Columbus!

Mussels
Aubrie H.

The decor and ambiance of this restaurant has so much history and we loved it. Located in the Leveque tower, there are a lot of beautiful small details, especially around the door frames and elevators. We had a reservation, which I would recommend and were seated immediately. We decided on a couple cocktails which were very well made.  We ordered mussels as an appetizer and it was our favorite dish of the night, so much flavor! The short rib with Mac and cheese were good and we also enjoyed the Brussel sprouts. For dessert we had the butterscotch Creme brulee which was delicious. With great decor, service, food and drinks I would recommend trying this location, especially for a date night or special occasion.

Chicken sandwich
Julia G.

The short review is that this place is gorgeous but the food and service was really underwhelming. Drinks- delicious! I loved my French 75 with rosé and the espresso martini was good as well. Appetizers- Brussel sprouts were delicious, smoked gouda mac was good as well. French onion soup was on the salty side for me. I got a chicken caesar salad because they were out of the two things I wanted, the mussels and the ravioli. The chicken, despite being very thin, was still somehow undercooked. I would have mentioned it if our waitress came over to ask (everyone was completely out of water, incorrect utensils, etc.) but she clearly had too many tables to take care of in her section. Steak frites was really, really, REALLY salty. like almost unbearable. Ordered medium rare and honestly don't mind pretty pink but there were sections where the only cooked part was the outside and it was completely raw. Just overall disappointing based on expectations, for the price point this was not at all worth it. Would come back for drinks though!

Briana B.

If you ever watched the menu on Netflix this is how the ambiance gives inside. Yummy food options + drink & desserts. Good service just a few knats but heyy I swatted a few times and tore my food UP lol. A must try great for date night

Birthday dessert

They were so accommodating for my reservation for my mom's birthday! Friendly service and great food. Would definitely return for special occasions!

Brussels Sprouts

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1 month ago

excellent steak dinner. much better than Michell's. service was better as well. great atmosphere. Enjoyed the dining experience

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7 months ago

Ordered room service breakfast from Levque. Generous portions and food was great! Ordered eggs, chicken sausage, danishes, pancakes.

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4 months ago

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8 months ago

I love the food here! Very well prepared and the service are great! The restaurant has a nice environment!

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8 months ago

Very slow service, average food, too expensive for the quality of meals. I personally would not recommend anyone come here.

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9 months ago

My go-to whenever I go to Columbus. Food is great and Sam, our bartender, this evening was fantastic!

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Ask the Community - The Keep

Is there Happy Hour specials here?

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The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge - Wright bros

The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge

(102 reviews)

$$

Short North

I really, really, really love the drink menu of the Alibi. Like, a lot. Their visual chart is a…read moregodsend for cocktail explorers, and all of the drinks came out delicious and exactly as described. It's so creative, and the drinks are really the stellar stand out here. However, the atmosphere of those drinks is what gives me pause when thinking about coming back. The limited table situation, tiny cramped space, and loud music means that it doesn't feel particularly relaxing. People are constantly brushing up against you (even at 5PM), and holding a conversation at a normal distance is nearly impossible. NOTE: This place is covered in dust. No shade to the ownership as it doesn't appear to be anywhere near food prep areas (it's on the decor, on/around shelving, all over the faux plants, etc.), but if you're someone who's sensitive to dust, this is probably not a good fit. PROS: -I loooooooove how they've done their drink menu. As someone who is still exploring the potential of cocktails, their nerdy "chart" that places all of their drinks on a sweet/bitter and alcohol-forward/approachable visual chart is SUCH a help. As such, everything I ordered was absolutely amazing for me. I knew exactly what to expect from a drink because of its position on the chart, and it delivered. -Their drinks are really unique. Aqua faba? Fat washed alcohols? Lollipops or toasted marshmallows as garnishes? Super cool. Don't let some of the weirder descriptions creep you out of trying them. -All of their drinks were delicious. Everything I ordered was exactly as described. I often go places where the taste is barely related to its namesake, but they were entirely on-point here. CONS: -I'm not sure if someone called off that night as other reviewers are in love with the service, but our service was really really slow. No real rapport with the staff; just stating the name of a drink as they rushed past and then they were off to try to clean a table or take someone else's order. The drinks they made were great, but this isn't somewhere we'd go if we were in a hurry. -The pictures do not accurately convey how small this place is. Like, it's small. I'd guess less than 1000 square feet. My apartment is bigger by a lot. This isn't necessarily an issue, but it means people pile up quickly as they wait for seating (there's like 4/5 tables and then bar seating). The human walkways are small enough that the bartenders and other guests will brush against you a lot - even while seated. -I get the vibe they were going for here, but with the smaller space, I think a lot of the potential decor options had to "go" in order to fit more humans. It's giving me hardcore The Hearth Room (in Cincinnati) vibes, and I think it could honestly pull it off if it simply had more space. The "relaxed, sophisticated bourbon bar" doesn't quite come through as well when things are so focused on simply fitting in more bodies. -It's loud AF. Like, really, really loud. Between all the people and the blasting pop music, it required leaning into someone's ear in order to speak at normal volumes. We'd regularly have to pause the conversation if something in the music was building to a drop. This is not a place I'd take someone I wasn't very very comfortable with because it really requires being in someone's space to talk. -There's a single all-gender toilet here for everyone in the establishment. It's basically a revolving door of people in and out of it. The door auto-closes, however, so it's really difficult to figure out if it's open or not. There was usually a queue of people waiting in front of the door.

I never leave Alibi disappointed. They always have such a creative menu with something for…read moreeveryone. It always amazes me how quickly they crank out such creative drinks. I'm sure some of them are batched, but they don't taste like they are. Service was excellent, as always. Endlessly knowledgeable. Small place, but never feels crowded even when full.

Land Grant Brewing Company - Wintertime igloos

Land Grant Brewing Company

(266 reviews)

$$

Franklinton

Very cool Outdoor space all year!…read more They have installed igloos in the winter and winter bumper cars, in the summers they host all kinds of events from fashion shows, to vintage markets, trivia, shows and much more. Ray Rays BBQ truck and 2 others are always on premise. Ly hunk it's a Hawaiian good truck and maybe pizza but they're always closed qhen I go. Ray rays wod thebest. Lots of easy parking around the place, o worries there. When you enter the brewery is on the right and the beer garden is on the left. The bar is open outdoors on busier days. Lots of picnic tables and places tosit. They have a games area with corn hole, basketball and party style seating. Walk through to the other side and there is a cool cocktail linage bar. With different specialty drinks. Dora does work here because you have to cross a street. The other side has basketball courts that convert to pickleball. Seating over here too and a stage. Juat a cool place to meet with friends, reserve cabanas for parties and r ing all your friends here. FUN spot.

Located in a rapidly re-developing area in Columbus on the west side of the side of the river, Land…read moreGrant is a hip, cool craft brewery that promises, fun times for everyone who visits. It has a vibe that is conducive to conversation, and activities that are sure to keep visitors occupied and engaged. The area where it is located is reminiscent of the early days of the Short North area of Columbus before it was fully developed. I visited, for the first time with friends and was not disappointed. There are some food trucks nearby, offering a variety of items, and I would imagine most people would be able to find something that they like. There was not live entertainment present when we visited, but it appeared that The venue was laid out for such possibilities. this might be an OK place for a very casual first date depending upon the likes and personality of the person you are with. If you enjoy craft brewing, this should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Columbus. plenty of street parking is available and there are a few lots nearby. As a tip, many of the street parking areas use a system called Parkmobile, by which parking fees can be paid remotely using a smart app on a mobile phone that is so equipped.

Law Bird - A peek behind the bar (not only does the place always have great menus, but the architectural stylings are on point -- love the tile!).

Law Bird

(74 reviews)

Brewery District

Lawbird is hands-down the best cocktail bar in the city. The themed menus which change at a…read morereasonable pace, great staff, and "good vibes" really make this the go-to destination in Columbus and perhaps the Midwest for a cocktail. Pair a stop either before or after to one of German Village's great restaurants and you're in for a special, albeit pricey night. In addition to fantastic drinks, Lawbird offers cocktail tasting classes from time to time which are a fun way to get sauced early in the day. And you will get sauced. If the owners keep up the good thing they have going - this will become an iconic establishment in the city. I hope they do. I've been more than 20 times so far and never get bored. Cheers!

I love TF out of Law Bird, and I love everything they're doing. I have a few qualms about their…read morereservation time limit (which, I will admit, are almost entirely based on the fact I want to try MORE of what they're offering), but I readily recommend this place to people as one of the coolest cocktail bars in town. Cocktail vibe is more "laid-back friends talking over creative drinks" than sultry, romantic date spot. Tons of natural light means this cocktail bar has had some of my *favorite* cocktail bar photos I've ever taken. It's so pretty in here. NOTES: -During pop-ups, walk-ins are near-impossible on weekends and not likely on weekdays. Make a reservation if you want to make sure you'll have a spot. -No dedicated parking lot. 3-hour-limit free residential parking all around Law Bird, though. We generally have to walk 2 or 3 blocks from parking to Law Bird. Be aware this is German Village, and you're looking at cobblestone sidewalks for high heel and accessibility purposes. -Law Bird mostly has small party seating. If you have a larger group you want to seat during a pop-up, make SURE to get that reservation in early. They have the single 8-person table. -They have snackies and food. Portion sizes are small (despite what the prices may suggest), though, so this is not generally a place to eat a full meal. All of the food is super flavorful, though, so definitely a great snack to add on. PROS: -Keeping things fresh, they regularly host cute seasonal events, new drinks, and pop-up events. In recent memory, I know they've done a Cherry Blossom one, a Spooky Halloween one, and a Christmas one. -They go ALL OUT for their pop-ups. It isn't just a brand new, professionally-printed menu (no pieces of paper with 4 seasonal drinks here). It's also all of their interior decor, bathroom decorations, bartop decorations, and more. Ceiling decor too! They get all up in there. It's really fun to see the space transformed constantly. -Between the new menus and the constantly-new decorations of their space, I love regularly popping into Law Bird. -I LOVE the creativity of the menus, and I LOVE that they offer cocktail classes. (I haven't taken one yet, but I'm excited to!) The menu has unique drinks, served with unique garnishes. They have a few "sugar cocktails", but for the most part, Law Bird drinks tend to be complex and spirit-forward. -Their "themed" bathrooms (even with their own themed music playlists) make me happy. They have two unisex, single room restrooms. CONS: -If you come during a pop-up with a smaller group, they will enforce their reservation time limit of 1.5 hours. This isn't necessarily the end of the world, but the times when they enforce their limits is when they have more customers waiting - and tend to be when the place is at capacity. When they're at-capacity, the bar staff and service staff is a lot busier, with drink service taking longer and servers checking in a lot less. This means we usually only have had the chance to place 2 drink orders during that 1.5 hour time limit before they ask us to leave. This can be rough (to try most of the drinks on a limited time menu) unless you're sharing drinks with your tablemates. If you still want to continue your evening with your friends after that 1.5 hour limit, Antiques on High, Daily Growler, and Cobra are easily walkable from here. -During their pop-ups on weekends, time between placing a drink order and receiving the drink has usually been around 15 to 20 minutes. Not the end of the world as you get to socialize with friends, but again, with the time limit, that can be a bit rough.

Cento - Woman's hand pulling up pasta from her plate

Cento

(166 reviews)

German Village

My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day at Cento this year! We had a 5-star experience - from…read morethe service to the drinks to the food! Everything was wonderful! Drinks - my husband had a CBC IPA and I had a Spritzer. Appetizer - we went with the whipped ricotta. This was absolutely delish! The whipped ricotta was creamy, smooth, had a lemony flavor with celery leaves and parsley. Seriously, all of the flavors blended so well together! It was also topped with black truffle and honey (from a local vendor)! The sourdough bread that the whipped ricotta was served with was super fresh and warm (and from a local vendor as well)! Salad - we ordered a Caesar salad as well. I thought that it was super nice that they plated the salad on two plates for us knowing that we were splitting it! Super thoughtful! The romaine was crispy (not soggy), the croutons were freshly made, the dressing had the anchovy flavor that I appreciate in a good Caesar dressing, and the salad was topped with a little lemon zest! I will definitely return just for the Caesar salad! Meals - I went with the Rigatoni and my husband went with the Lasagna. We were informed by our server that the flour used for the pasta is imported from Italy and that the pasta is made fresh daily - LOVE this! The rigatoni was SO good! I love that the pasta and shrimp were all cut into smaller bites! The sauce was absolutely delicious! The flavor was like a mix between a thick tomato bisque and curry! Yum! My husband really enjoyed the lasagna as well! The lasagna was plated into little roll-ups which my husband really liked! Will definitely be back soon - we want to check out the patio once we have warmer weather too!

I've lived in the neighborhood for 12 years now and was excited when I saw this place being built…read more I have been there a few times now - both times I had the Rigatoni and Shrimp with a glass of red. Approximately $45.00. Last night I went and must say - very surprised at what I paid; glass of red $14, ceaser salad $16, added a side of chicken $15.0!!! Thqt surprised me - thats 3 chicken breast at the store lol Each time I have sat at the bar - both inside and out (even in winter). Great ambiance. I love the bar inside - gives an upscale 50s diner with great design and mood. The outdoor bar in winter is very nice and warm - haven't had trouble grabbing a seat at either. Bartenders are nice, very attentive and knowledgeable. Parking is easy, there is valet offered. Overall - a bit over priced for generally good food, but a pleasant night out for date night or girls night out.

The Keep - bars - Updated May 2026

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