Little urban gem! We LOVED the ambiance, food & drinks were yummy, and the service was phenomenal

Brunch at Understory this summer is a must! They may have one of the best brunch patios in town; the vibes are so peaceful & refreshing; it's the perfect spot to start your day or grab a bite & drink after a morning workout or farmers market! Every dish is made with fresh ingredients, and are prepared excellently. The Understory platter is your classic breakfast dish; the yogurt bowl has tons of flavor and is great if you're looking for a lighter breakfast! Be sure to try a drink as well; a frozen cocktail on a warm day really hits the spot! read more

Understory - Yogurt bowl Understory platter - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

I love this place. The cute vibe of the old school and the paintings on the wall is amazing, I just love sitting in the lounge or the commons, it never misses. The food is always spectacular the chicken was fried and crispy, but still moist underneath. The sauce was amazing, the Brussels sprouts and potatoes were flavorful. My drinks were amazing. If you haven't come by here before you must! read more

Understory - Lemon Chicken - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

I know my work often hosts events here, so I finally had to try visiting. It was quiet on a random Friday morning, so food came out quickly and was quite delicious. I was able to sit outside at the end of patio season, and really enjoyed both the people watching and being able to see the garden area behind the building. I don't think I would come here on a weekend when it's super crowded, but it's an excellent option for those random weekday mornings when you just want a coffee and sit somewhere in the middle of running errands. read more

Understory - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

I was here 2 months ago and really loved the pesto gnocchi but when I came this week it tasted very different-not in a good way. It was like something from a jar in the supermarket which for the price is very disappointing. My husband was hoping to have the same fantastic udon dish he got before and it was not on the menu. The food was okay, we always love the setting in the cute old school, but just stick to drinks now. The cocktail program in the Lounge area was really great. Food took a long time for it being pretty slow and was also not very hot when it arrived. They also only have one dessert, although at least it was the fantastic key lime icebox pie we had last time. Overall the food was very disappointing but the cocktails were great. read more

This place is adorable! We just so happened to show up when they were doing trivia and it was so fun! It sparked a new tradition in our friend group. The girls behind the counter were very cute. Although I can't attest for the food, I can say my drinks were very good and they had great options! Fantastic spot to meet friends and grab drinks. read more

Understory - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I had an unfortunate experience at Understory: half way though my Buffalo Chicken sandwich, I found a long black hair in my food. They apologized and refunded my money but still. That was the end of my meal. I didn't need a doggy bag. I was with a party of 8 or 10 and everyone liked their food. I did, too, until I found the hair and quit eating it. read more

Understory - Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and side salad. - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Absolutely love this place, especially when its nice outside. Their outdoor space is so lovely and serene. We ordered a couple of their frozen cocktails since it was warm when we visited as well as the pancakes and avocado toast. Weve never had bad food here and this visit was no exception. read more

See all

A major part of what makes Understory so successful is it's versatility. The Lounge gives you an upscale cocktail bar experience while the Commons and Patio give you a choice of casual interior with Board games vs. a picturesque sunken al fresco oasis. All are great experiences! I've done nothing but throughly enjoy my two visits to the Lounge. The service is always helpful and positive and the creative cocktails make me want to keep ordering past the point of when I should probably call it a night. Recently I attended a third-party hosted event on the Patio, but the Commons was open for business as usual. Within, along with my Wolf's Ridge beer, I shared the bravas and pierogi shareables. They were beautifully plated and left me with no regrets from a taste standpoint. This is simply an excellent establishment. read more

Understory - Bravas - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Understory is a unique restaurant experience with a lovely patio and indoor eating area. The restaurant can be a bit challenging to find as it is tucked away on the bottom floor of an old school building, so it is not super intuitive and parking, while available, can be a bit challenging to get spaces. Still, with a coffee forward and light restaurant Emmett's upstairs, you can still tell that it is a restaurant building. Understory takes the form of a fast casual restaurant where you order at a window and are given a number stand so a food runner can find your party after selecting a table. The patio is very nice and the advantage of being tucked away is that it is airy but feels removed from the area. I came with a friend and I had the pulled pork grilled cheese with a salad and she had a harvest salad. Both were quite delicious and presented well. Especially given the unique environment, I definitely will be back and look forward to trying a few of the other items on the menu as well as public spaces in this unique concept. read more

Starting with the fantastic architecture and opening up into a cozy and quaint bar, The Understory lounge is a warm and cozy place for a date or a casual meet-up. The Sunflower Old fashioned, Fresh Start and Highball were great cocktails. The Gnocchi, brussel sprouts were cooked and seasoned well and the service was fantastic. We were there when it was cold out, cant wait to go back and sit on the patio. read more

Mediocre for the price! My steak was overcooked. I ordered medium rare but it was medium and not a lot of flavor!

We're visiting from California and came here for brunch/lunch with three friends -- everything was awesome! The food was super good -- we had Brussels sprouts, burgers, chicken salad, and pulled pork sandwiches. We also tried a local beer and two sparkling rosés -- all great picks. Jacob and Jacqueline were amazing! Super friendly and took great care of us. The place has a nice vibe and feels really local. Definitely recommend if you're around downtown Columbus. read more

See all

This place is super cool. From the lockers in the hallway to the cute little hang out spots, loved every bit of it. The drinks were all super different than I'm used to with a bunch of weird ingredients but they were all really tasty. The sliders and Brussels were delish. Our server was really nice and helpful with suggestions. I would like to come back here and try other things. read more

I enjoyed my visit here, the ambience is really nice - warm, inviting, and stylish. Their outdoor patio was my favorite spot as it has plenty of seating and lots of beautiful foliage making it a great spot to enjoy a meal or drinks in the summer and fall. The menu is on the smaller side, but everything we tried was delicious. They also have some really unique craft cocktails that are worth checking out. Food and drinks were solid overall, though I did feel they were pricey for the portion sizes that you get, especially the appetizers, which were on the smaller side and hard to share with more than one person. If you chose to dine on the patio, it's self-serve, so you place your order at the window and they bring it out to you. That said, it's a great spot for cocktail hour, a nice dinner out, or gathering with a larger group. The patio and menu definitely make it a place I'd come back to! read more

This place was a hidden gem for me! We went to a yoga class upstairs and were given a free drink & 15% off coupon at the restaurant afterwards. The workers at the restaurant were very kind (opened 30 minutes early for the yoga class) and served our food quickly. I really enjoyed my grilled cheese and salad. If you are looking for a cute area for brunch, this is your spot. They have a bar, indoor/outdoor seating, games, and trivia nights! read more

Understory - French Toast & Grilled Cheese - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We had the most relaxing evening in The Commons area, seated at a two-person table by the open windows looking out to the patio. This is such a charming establishment, nestled in a wooded, urban area. The outside architecture is stunning, and the building has a rich history. Everyone we encountered who works there was friendly and chill. I like ordering at the window and clearing my own table. Less interference from staff (food delivery only) and no music makes it an ideal place to unwind and connect with your people. Recommend Old Fashioned Espresso martini Frozen Bees Knees (my fave) Garlic Parmesan fries Grilled cheese House-made chips (so good) Cheeseburger Just Okay Side salad: just greens and light dressing - simple but healthy Don't Recommend Chocolate Chip Cookie $3 - was barely warm, and hard halfway through (sorry, no photo) Will go again - great place to unwind. read more

See all

My husband and I stopped in here for a beer and some dinner and loved everything we tried. We shared the bravas, I had the shagrock grits, and he had the fried chicken bowl. It was a great portion size to be satiated, but not bloated. Everything was seasoned to perfection and was so much more flavorful than we had been expecting! I had ordered a lager and he ordered an IPA, but they accidentally gave us 2 lagers. They were the same price, so we didn't want to make a fuss since we were going someplace next for a cocktail anyway. It was a really quiet spot with tasty food and beers and we played Connect 4 while we were down there. They also have a bar upstairs that has a more upscale vibe with cocktails. We went on Friday evening and they also had a private event upstairs for surgeons, so there are a lot of different areas to go to in this building, which was really cool. If you want a lowkey, brewery vibe for dinner, but with excellent food, then this is the spot for you! read more

See all

Went to the upstairs space for a friend's welcome event for their wedding and was pleasantly surprised by how lovely the set up was! We had a gorgeous sunset which paired well with the view from the balcony. The food was yummy and very varied! I would definitely come back to try the restaurant downstairs. read more

The food was good. The service was not. We arrived with a 615 reservation and no one came for our drink order for awhile. The drinks were finally ordered and came. Most of us had finished our drinks by the time the apps came. Our server never came to take our order. We finally saw our server and waved him down. The food arrived at 7:50 pm. We were starving. This was an over 200 dollar bill for a graduation celebration that was completely ruined by the slow service. read more

Enjoyed dinner and drinks in the Lounge area of Understory on a Friday night. The space is attractive and inviting with a variety of seating options, including high top tables, long tables, lounge seats, couches, etc. The space was a little empty, and service was friendly (though a little slow given how few people seem to be in the lounge). There is an extensive and inventive cocktail menu, and our server was able to tell us a lot about the cocktails as we decided what to order. They had a number of interesting Mezcal drinks, including the Oaxaca old fashioned, which was delicious and smoky. The espresso Martini was also a great pick me up. We ordered a number of shareable: wagyu beef sliders, cheese curds, bbq wings, and a wedge salad. The wings were particularly delicious and tender. The food was filling and very decent sized portions. We ended the night with the apple pie. I'm definitely interested in returning and dining on their beautiful outdoor space, which seemed a bit more lively. Would recommend. read more

See all

I love dining at the commons, you get your food brought out to you and can always get more but you don't have a server swiping plates and making you feel rushed, so it's a great place to hang out and catch up. Must tries: cheddar grits, firecracker shrimp, grilled cheese and bacon grilled cheese, tomato soup (it has gold fish on top!!), house salad. I could take it or leave it: brussel sprouts (first time they were great, second time ordering them they were kinda undercooked and hard in the middle), bean salad (it's true to the description, just turned out to be too much beans for me), pierogis, hummus. Wouldn't recommend: s'mores pudding is a bit too rich for me, the peach pie in a jar is the same portion size, a tad cheaper, and satisfies the sweet tooth without being too much. read more

Historic beautiful building Very nice aesthetic Tons of live plants used as decor Fire pits in the Fall/Winter Heaters used in the Fall/Winter Local brewery options Dietary restriction accommodating read more

See all

This is not my first time to Understory... nor will it be my last!.... This place is GREAT! Its an off shoot of Wolf's Ridge. Set in a historic former open air school this place is really unique. You enter and walk down the stairs. There in what seems like the old cafeteria they have transformed it into a lovely dining room that has a large terrace over looking a wooded ravine. Its pretty special. Add they serve most of the Wolf's ridge line and have a decent menu. Its really a nice place for lunch or a light dinner. The salads are incredible. My husband had the Wolfs ridge burger and said it was excellent. High praise as he is quite picky about burgers. On the main floor is a cocktail lounge with lots of comfortable seating. The bartender (Cameron) is fun to talk to and makes a great drink. Upstairs is a private room for parties.... Its always been booked when we have been there so if you are having a party you might need to book it a bit in advance. This is a must go to place. Especially on a nice day where you can eat outside. I give it way more than five stars! read more

See all

Good food, nice bar selections, and several dining areas. There is a bar upstairs, a dining area with counter service downstairs, and a large patio with a view. I was getting bitten by insects while sitting on the patio, but it was nice for awhile. I had the Harvest Panzanella Salad with added grilled chicken. Delicious. I added a freshly baked cookie (I think it was white chocolate blueberry, but it was a while ago). So good. I also had a glass of wine. I would eat here again to try the other menu offerings. read more

Understory - Harvest Panzanella Salad with grilled chicken, and a Blueberry White Chocolate Cookie - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

I just had the best time at this place and the best experience!! I would have just stayed and hung out longer. There is a nice menu of food and nice drinks. The atmosphere is really happy and serene and cool. I'm so glad I came. The staff were so nice and welcoming and sweet. It was trivia night, which was awesome but I didn't play. I just enjoyed my meal on the patio and read a book. Hidden gem. It is down underneath another place. Got a gluten free burger. It was real good. I didn't even add ketchup which is unheard of for me. It checks all of the boxes, and then some. Highly recommend. read more

The good: Thoughtful re-purposing of an old school building Beautiful patio space Tasty food with diverse menu options California-style atmosphere The not-so-good: Limited parking with tight spaces California-style prices read more

See all

I was here for my niece's wedding. The event room was wonderful and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the ravioli a lot. The speak easy room was beautiful. The ceremony outside was lovely.the food was plentiful and the drinks were delicious. read more

I visited the Understory on Saturday, 30 December 2023 with two friends. We went straight to the basement where the restaurant "The Commons" is located. We arrived just as they were getting ready to open for brunch at 11am. On the main level is a bar called "The Lounge". When my friend Veronica and I arrived, we sat outside in their patio where each seating area has a fire pit for warmt. It was a sunny day and it wasn't too cold but eventually after my second friend, Anne, arrived, we moved inside since we started to get a little cold. Be careful with the fire pit outside because the flames had sparks that were landing on my friends and I so that is partly the reason why we moved inside to sit. THE COMMONS (Brunch) -- I will need to come back to try their menu offerings from sandwiches to salads. I didn't want to spend much money so my friend Veronica ordered the sharable mini donuts ($8) and I ordered a cup of hot green tea ($5). The donuts were delicious but slightly too sweet for me. There are 4 different donut flavours - salted caramel, apple compote, whipped cream, and cinnamon sugar. I think I had the salted caramel or the cinnamon sugar but I can't remember. Once you get the donuts, you won't be able to tell what the flavours are because they look the same on the outside. The green tea was a typical green tea which was definitely expensive at $5 because I just got a tea cup with a small cup and a very small jug of hot water. After we left, we took a nice 20-30 minute walk along the Olentangy River trail which is located right behind the Understory building. I'd love to visit again to try actual food instead of just donuts and tea plus it's so warm and inviting inside. **** GOAL of 150 reviews in 2024 - 14/150 total reviews in 2024 - 664 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 16 March 2024 read more

See all

We went to the lounge at Understory on Valentine's Day. The drinks were VERY strong which is sometimes a good thing but they were all very bitter. Overall a nicer atmosphere. They were very busy which is expected on this day, but still got us our drinks in a timely manner. I'd go back to try the food menu! read more

Understory - Japanese High Ball - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Our family got 4 different items from the brunch menu. All were average breakfast fare and nothing stood out. Nothing was bad either, just not anything memorable that I would come back for. This is not a full service restaurant. You order up front and they bring out the food for you. Water is self serve. Also you clean up your dishes yourself and there is no waiter if you want something else other that what is provided. The ambiance is probably the best thing about the restaurant. The outside patio has woods surrounding it. The interior has an old school feel that has been restored with some modern touches. The place looks like they had a designer to help with the remodel. In a nutshell, average food, above-average prices, not full service but they still recommend a regular tip when you pay. I will not be coming back. read more

This spot was beautiful and delicious! I love how they turned an old school building into a relaxing dining experience. At this restaurant you order at the front and then the food is brought to your table, and everyone was really kind. After eating here, my husband and I walked the trail to the OSU stadium and it was beautiful. It is roughly 1 mile, but definitely worth it. This place would be the perfect spot to get a cocktail before a concert or OSU game! read more

See all

Being from Louisville Kentucky and needed a place that is dog friendly. This is the place. People here are really nice here and they also pamper your pet with their own water bowl. Food is good and fresh. Next time I'm in town will stop here again. read more

Understory - Patio area - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Hint- it's under- so farthest stairway, down, and to the left. Frozen drinks, beer, and a tasty menu. Great patio. Games to play. Order at window and they bring food to you. read more

See all

Been wanting to check out Understory since they opened, especially check out their big back patio that opens to the Olentangy river. Anna H. and I met on a Friday afternoon - Memorial Day weekend, in fact - at 3:30, and I was surprised the entire Understory was not busy. Plenty of parking spots (a huge plus if you've gotta drive in). The back patio is fantastic. Plenty of tables of varying shapes and sizes, great for solo/partners or big parties. From the back patio this is how you get to the ground/basement Commons restaurant. This restaurant is open for lunch, brunch & dinner Tuesdays-Sundays. The menu here is definitely skewed toward New American (price point $11-30 category). Heads up, their happy hour only extends to draft beer and wine discounts, no food. Big bummer. We got several of the shareables so we could taste a variety of their offerings: Beat hummus, smoked salmon, goat cheese croquette, and the roasted Brussels sprouts. After letting my thoughts and tastebuds simmer and think for a day, this first experience of Understory is a mixed bag. Love their different spaces, both inside and out. Great attempts at preserving the historical touches of this refurbished open-air tuberculosis hospital; the bar in the second floor Lounge is beautiful. But the food was not doing it for me, especially at the price points. I felt there was a slew of bad choices made in pairing floor profiles together. For instance, the sharp goat cheese was way too big a chunk to serve with the tart curry aioli and not enough of the fig jam to balance the sharp, almost pucker, flavor profiles. Same kind of problem for the sprouts dish: way too much shredded apple and a sweet aioli, it all smothered the savory sprouts. I was also a bit bummed that all of these dishes tasted worse when reheated a day later. Anna got their Hershberger Caprese salad with an extra side of grilled chicken, and THAT was by far the star of the show and is the only thing adding a star back to this review. The burrata, arugula, squash, seeds, that salad was incredible!! Icing on the cake? The grilled chicken is served cut up into very manageable small bite-size chunks. ***Mic drop*** seriously, check out the pictures, because at this point it is the only thing I would spend my $50 gift certificate on at this point in time. read more

See all

I have been to Understory several times for happy hour. And it is beautiful! So we went for Mother's Day brunch, got a patio table, great drinks and apps, then no entrees arrived. Clearly they messed up and comped our food, promised food in 20 min. but still no food. Full bill comped but still quite a disappointment. read more

Understory - Before the mistakes and missed order! - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Ambiance: great. They have a good dog-friendly patio too. Food: underwhelming and overpriced. The chicken on my fried chicken sandwich wasn't good quality, was small, and not worth $18. read more

Understory - Bang bang chicken sandwich - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Loved all the vibes of this place! We were in town for an event, I found this place close to our hotel, Google reviews stated outdoor patio and great cocktails and that was spot on! Enjoyed some brunch and a frozen Aperol spritz which was chefs kiss. Plenty of parking, really wonderful patio, order at the window and they brought everything to us. I would definitely recommend this and return next time I'm in town. read more

See all

Fair warning, this pace has a limited menu, and is a bit pricey for the portions served IMHO. There are two dining options (if you can find a table), inside, as we well as a patio out back. Originally I planned to discuss the poor service I received , I went to the counter 2-3 times to place multiple orders, and each time I went to the counter there were multiple people behind the counter, I was made to wait, by seemingly un busy or otherwise inattentive staff. .... I didn't say a word to anyone, and minutes after closing my tab, the manager came out, apologized, and comped the beers on my tab. Definitely not something you see often, so I will definitely be back now to show my support for the attention to detail and hospitality that was shown to me. read more

See all

This place truly is a whole vibe and has beautiful scenery. They have two sections for the place, one called the Lounge and the other Commons. I hung around the Common area and enjoyed my time. It does get packed during happy hour/dinner time. This place for me will be a place to visit on occasions. I found them to be quite over priced for some of their food and drinks. Especially the Cuban sandwich and to not get a side with it for $18, is a little ridiculous. I had spent $45 on, one drink, appetizer, and entree. And after spending that much, I really was not impressed with all that I got for it. read more

See all