Basi Italia - Revisited

Basi Italia
811 Highland Street
(Victorian Village / Short North)
614.294.7383
http://basi-italia.com

Basi Italia offers much more than basic Italian cuisine. Nestled in the heart Victorian Village, Basi is a secret spot that you don’t want to share with a mere casual acquaintance. The building Basi is based in began as a carriage house long ago. Over the years it fed the neighborhood as a carry out and a pizza shop. As a restaurant, Basi reflects the spirit, tastes and vision of husband and wife duo John Dornback and Trish Gentile.

The atmosphere at Basi mirrors the experience of dining in a friend’s home.
Instead of feeling cramped or crowded, all of Basi’s elements of ambiance come together to create a comfy and comfortable eating environment. Creative chair placement creates a cozy setting that seats thirty-eight souls; some patrons enter as strangers and leave as friends due to close proximity and an occasional impromptu shared bottle (or two) of vino. More than a few tables are intimately spaced and tightly tucked together. Seating is at a premium, on the weekends if you need to wait – it may be outside. The music is muted, the lights are low and the conversation is often subdued. Most tables offer a play-by-play view of the action in the kitchen as well as the banter back and forth between the servers and the chefs. The staff often sport Basi T-shirts and know many customers by name. A sharp eyed diner can often read the labels on the spices packed on the spice shelf while spying an entrée’s trip from stove top to plate.

The style and presentation of a meal is simple and innovative; relaxed and refined; and casual and elegant, all at the same time. The primo and secundo offerings infuse the standard Italian fare of pastas, pizzas and salads with a few culinary twists and turns plus a no holds barred use of the finest authentic ingredients. Goat cheese, Gorgonzola, fresh herbs and spices combine with imported meats and more to create memorable menus and enjoyable evenings.

Recent examples of meals to remember include: roasted beet carpaccio
(spiced walnuts, goat cheese and shallot vinaigrette), grilled ostrich fillet (butternut squash purée in fig-balsamic reduction), and frutti del mare (black tagliatelle, mixed seafood with saffron).

Have a fine dine at Basi.

A version of this review appeared in C-Bus Magazine - January/February 2008

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Insider Tip - Basi is busy during the work week but not so busy that you would have to wait very long for a table - drop in on a Tuesday or Wednesday and you can probably get a spot as you stroll through the door.

A bit of history - Trish Gentile sent me a couple photos of the building that houses Basi - here is a blast from the buildings past, (circa 1947) as a grocery store.

Vegging Out at Whole World

Whole World Bakery and Pizzeria
3269 North High Street
Clintonville - Corner of Longview and High

268.5751

Whole World will observe its’ thirtieth anniversary in February 2008. For many years, it was the only vegetarian restaurant in Columbus. In 1998 they updated their menu and deleted the few meat items that had been offered up to that point (offered for the sake of tolerance and diversity). Whole World has continued to prove that Cowlumbus can handle an all vegetarian restaurant (Neo V does the same).

For breakfast/brunch (Sunday only from 10 AM to 3 PM), go with an omelet (you have ten ingredients to choose from); add a whole grain English muffin to this and you may find peace. In addition to the standard Sunday brunch menu, two or three breakfast specials are offered. The Big Breakfast – two eggs, vegetarian sausage patties, vegetarian hash or over roasted potatoes (very good redskin potatoes) with choice of bread is another good option. They also whip up a nice vegetarian (mock) sausage gravy. A trademark of Whole World is a small side of fruit served with each main course (all meals), I think this is a nice touch.

The specials can be a good choice for lunch or dinner but they can be either hit or miss. The pizzas are good with some very daring combinations of ingredients such as the Oregon Apple (apple sauce, sliced apples, raisins, provolone, and sunflower seeds, and seasonings) try any of the pizzas and to live on the edge for a moment, however be prepared to wait over thirty minutes or more for your pie.

The soups are exceptional and served with your choice of (toasted) homemade bread. If you plan on eating anything else, order a cup of soup because a bowl is a meal in itself. There are typically 4-6 soup choices per day. The Broccoli Burger is a long standing favorite at most Columbus festivals.

The desserts are displayed in the service counter. There are many vegan friendly cookie choices as well as some brownies, cookie bars and whatnot. My favorite – which is not often available, is the Chocolate Peppermint Brownie. This rich, dense, blend of rich chocolate and peppermint filling takes my breath away each time and I gladly pay $2.50 without reservation.

If you are getting take out, add at least five minutes to the time stated for your order to be ready. You are dealing with a largely modern, urban hippy workforce so time is kind of relative. Those who are in the know go to pay their bill at the counter when finished to save time. The bathrooms are downstairs in the basement.

Whole World is a hang out for people who were hip before 1985. I find it to be a mecca of multicultural/alternative lifestyle types (kind of a mini Yellow Springs) which leads to good people watching with your meal. The recycled bowling lane tables are worth looking at. Local artists display their works on the walls for sale. There is no dress code for patrons but employees must be pierced or tattooed. Please seat yourself when you enter.

Occasionally, I feel Whole World is overpriced. Sometimes, I find the specials a bit disappointing. Recently I noticed that they are charging for tap water… quite a bit, without advance notification. However, the whole has always been greater than the sum of the parts at Whole World and they serve some of the most unique soups in town.

Banana Bean Brunch Buzz

This review is long overdue.

Banana Bean Cafe
410 E. Whittier Street
German Village / Schumacher Place
614.443.2262

Banana Bean Cafe

 

Closed Monday
Tuesday - Friday
Lunch 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday
Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch 9 am - 3 pm

(Reservations strongly suggested)

 

 

This cozy, low-key café has quickly became a favorite destination for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner in spite of a slightly off the beaten path location and scaled down hours of service. Banana Bean’s menu is a funky fusion of Floribbean flavors combining the cuisines of Cuba, Jamaica, the Caribbean and Key West. Peachy terra cotta style walls, a Conch Republic flag and a live TV feed from the Hogs Breath Tavern, an infamous Key West fixture, fuse with other fun elements to establish an atmosphere that transports diners far south of Interstate 70.

Different tastes blend together to create many memorable menu items. The Arnold Palmer is a mix of iced tea and lemonade, the perfect beverage for the undecided. The #1 Little Havana Cubano is among the number one best sellers for lunch. This sandwich stacks citrus kissed pork tenderloin and sweet bolo ham with Emmenthaler Swiss cheese, dill pickle slices and Dijon in between two crunchy slices of Cuban bread.

Since the majority of the menu is available all day, it is agonizing to decide among the eclectic choices but one “Bruncher” item is a must any time, even as a default desert. Bananas Foster French Toast features thick slices of Cuban style bread perfectly transformed into French Toast with fresh berries; Captain Morgan spiced rum sauce, bananas, and a dollop of whipped cream.

 

 

The crepes can be a meal or a dessert, or whatever - again the is the perfect place for the undecided - since many elements of the menu are interchangable.

 

 

The hours and the size of the cafe can sometimes be a challenge - but it is worth the wait if there is one. The service is top notch and friendly. The Bean is a must visit and probably one of the best Columbus has to offer for casual cuisine.

Funky Fact: The Patina of Key West??

Patina, that’s what the sign says, I looked up patina and googled it but could not get a precise answer, so I e-mailed the owners.

what the owners say -
“patina” in the literal sense is brought on by exposure to certain atmospheric elements; we feel that our patrons, therefore, are exposed to the elements and atmosphere of establishments that one would find in South Florida/Key West, i.e., our menu, etc…

What you need to know….

You won’t get wasted away in Margaritaville here – there is no alcohol available on the menu.

Vegetarian Monte Cristo

A version of this appears in C-Bus Magazine.

Columbus Brewing Company - Something old, something new, something bottled, something brewed

Columbus Brewing Company (CBC)
525 Short Street
Brewery District
614.464.2739 (Brew)

Web site

Lunch:
Monday - Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Dinner:
Monday - Thursday
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

CBC (Columbus Brewing Company) used to be a CMR (Cameron Mitchell Restaurant) until manager Doug Griggs and brewmaster Mike Campbell bought the restaurant from their boss early in 2007. Both owners remain actively involved in daily operations, Doug minds the menu and Mike tends the taps.

The establishment has a ten-year history and a loyal following but ongoing creative changes should only encourage more people to flock to his hard to find nugget in the Brewery District. CBC did some recipe spring cleaning, keeping and tweaking some old favorites while adding sixteen new specialties. One hot new entrée is Fresh Saffron Linguini, a combination of jumbo shrimp, crawfish, spinach, diced tomato, white clam sauce and parmesan draped over a bed of linguini from local specialty shop, Pasta Ditoni’s (?).

Other mouth-watering features include Pecan Crusted Sea Scallops and Cuban Roasted Chicken - not what you would expect from a brewing house.

A perfect finish to a fine meal is the Baby Key Lime Pie – a small but tall tower of thick graham cracker crust, key lime filling, raspberry coulis and raspberry whipped cream with a shaving of lime on top – a bargain at $4.75.

Jaime, the head bartender, mixed things up at the bar with new drink recipes such as the Espresso Martini (Van Gogh double espresso vodka, Kahlua Especial, and Baileys) and The CBC Cosmo (Pineapple Finlandia vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and hand squeezed lime juice). These concoctions serve as tempting competition for the in house brews.

There are some subtle changes in the décor as well. A few new colors and some wrought iron wrestled away from the original design create an atmosphere of rustic lodge lounge meets retro swanky chic.

The hand crafted house ales have not changed. This taster’s choice for the total brewhouse experience is the CBC Tasting Flight, a serving of the six house beers and the seasonal special in three ounce glasses. (The selections are Columbus Ohio Honey Wheat, Columbus Apricot Ale, Columbus Pale Ale, Columbus 90 Schilling, Columbus 1859 Porter and Columbus IPA. Until late October, the seasonal selection is Keller beer, (an unfiltered German Lager). The price is still right for this sampling, at $4.75

This fresh and original version of CBC is well on track to be a dining destination for customers old and new. There are at least two more reasons to be at CBC. Pizza and a Pint Nights (for $10) are Monday through Thursday. If you can be on call for something on tap, sign up at the CBC website, you will receive a few days notice for the tapping of the first keg of seasonal beer. Freshly brewed beer and free samples of food from 6 to 7 PM create a more convivial and classy atmosphere than a college keger.

Side Notes

Strange coincidence or cool quirk of fate?
Doug Griggs and Mike Campbell worked together for some time before buying CBC. When they were closing on the purchase, they learned something new about each other – they both have the same birthday – October 30th. Hmm, might be a good night to drop by CBC.

Blast from the culinary past
Sous Chef Brian Cook is a now a vegetarian – but that does not stop him from cooking up some excellent carnivorous and fishatarian dishes. Columbus gastronauts often lament the demise of Ricky Barnes’s Galaxy Café from the 1990’s. Brian was a Galaxy veteran so the Cuban, Tex-Mex fusion flavors and over the top technique from the Galaxy era do show up in some of the new CBC creations, expect more additions with the change of each season.

A version of this appears in C-Bus Magazine

Tommy’s Diner - Not All Greek to Me

Tommy’s Diner
914 West Broad Street
614.242.2422

Tommy’s is a downtown destination filled with a continuous flow of steady customers. The décor is quintessential of the 50’s and 60’s with lots of likenesses of James Dean, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando and other hallowed Hollywood stars hanging out (on the wall) mixed in with other nostalgic items and neon signs. This is a classic American diner with bouncy booths, a U shaped counter with stools, black and white checked floors and a retro sign outside.

Tommy Pappas, is the owner, he knows his many regular customers by name. Tommy is more likely to be at the front register– greeting people as they arrive and checking on them as they leave but he still slides behind the grill when he can if he is not mingling around to mediate the banter between servers and patrons at the counter. The servers are very friendly and some can be a little sassy.

Tommy and company behind the grill

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are served from 6 AM to 3 PM each day. In addition to a large menu of typical diner fare, there are several varieties of gyros as well as lamb and feta enhanced entrees – reflecting Tommy’s Greek heritage. Best bets can often be found among the 5 – 6 daily specials that can vary from corned beef and cabbage to Grecian chicken. Other favorites include old-fashioned milkshakes and house made rice pudding.

The food gets you to the door and the fun and friendly staff that treat you like family keep you coming back.

Diner of the stars?.. Kathy Pappas, Tommy, Marilyn, and the King

Tommy minding the till…

Corned Beef and Cabbage - a daily special

Tuna Melt with Curly Fries

Anatolia Cafe - Terrific Turkish Lunch Buffet

1097 Worthington Woods Blvd.

Worthington (about 1 mile east of Crosswoods)

614.781.0700

 

This very cozy Cafe has had the same name for close to a decade and several different owners while maintaining a constant tradition of excellent food. The original proprietor went on to start Cafe Istanbul at Easton. The current owners are a very nice Lebanese couple. The husband cooks and the wife serves as hostess. The quality is as good as or better than the previous versions of the Anatolia Cafe. A new addition is a great lunch buffet at a reasonable price. The Cafe is hidden in a declining strip mall nook in suburban sprawl, but if you are close to the area. the trip is well worth the effort.

 

The buffet consists of soup (often a delectable lentil), salad, six buffet items which include rice, gyro meat, and a varied selection of four entrees from the menu as well as a couple sauces, pide (bread) and dessert (usually rice pudding). The staff is always friendly and quick to keep your water glass full. The rice pudding is the best that I have had locally and their custard may be perfect. All of this for $6.99.

 

Here is a sample of a very full plate

 

A picture of pide above, it is a dense pita bread - very good

After trying out the buffet a couple times, I suggest heading back for the lunch or dinner menu. The best item to get is the appetizer sampler (small - $10.95, medium - $14.95, large - $23.95) consists of babagannush, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tabouli, ezme salad, eggplant with sauce and lebni (yogurt with walnuts, garlic, and dill). The small feeds two people very easily. This nugget in a nook is worth the trip.

A few more bytes on Northstar (Clintonville) - The S factor, breakfast and a sandwich for skeptics

Surprise - much more ado about Northstar

I have been paying attention to how Northstar operates in my weekly visits. I was eating there just before closing tonight.The owners do everything right. I noticed they were eating together, talking about the day and very clearly enjoying what they have created. It is inspiring when two people can find a passion, follow through on it and see it be wildly successful. Awesome!

So this is what I have noticed about Northstar - the S Factor.

Subtle: No big sign - just a name painted on the door. The prices are all off kilter with the rest of the restaurant world - $1.88, 7.96, 6.79 - these guys think out of the box.

Simple: The menu is small. The ingredients are basic. The decor is cool but not over the top - it reminds me of IKEA or the kind of functional efficiency I expect to find in Switzerland.

Service: Everyone is NICE! You order at the counter, take a number and your food is brought to you. I have yet to encounter a Northstar employee that was not fully focused on making the dining experience anything other than great.

Saving the Planet: Local suppliers when possible. Recycled paper napkins. Northstar is a member of 1% for The Planet - so 1% of their profits goes to good things.

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BREAKFAST IS SERVED

The Clintonville Northstar is now serving breakfast - Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM and Saturday and Sunday 7:30 AM to 3 PM.

Here is the menu:

Granola with Vanilla Yogurt

Sweet Potato Hash

Turkey
Red Peppers
Sweet Onions
Sunny side up egg
Sweet potatoes

Big Burrito
Eggs
Black beans
Red peppers
Onions
Sweet potatoes
White cheddar

add bacon or sausage - 1.88

Cloud 9 Pancakes
Riccota cheee pancakes with maple syrup

Egg Sandwich
Egg with white cheddar cheese on a biscuit

Add bacon or sausage - 1.88

Other Items:

Praline Scone (the best I have ever had)

Ham and Cheese Scone

Morning Glory Muffin

Peanut Butter cookie

Chocolate Truffle cookie

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A simple sandwich for Northstar skeptics

I sometimes have to lure people into Northstar because of concerns that the restaurant might be some kind of “vegetarian, hippy, tree hugger, granola munching place”. My best weapon for that kind of mindset is pictured above.

House Smoked Turkey Breast Sandwich

marinated peppers

greens

rosemary aloli

turkey

add bacon

served on hefty house made bread bound with a thick toothpick

served with roasted peanut slaw

Ok - the peanut slaw might throw someone off - but it can be replaced with a side of torilla chips if the slaw is too freaky.

Final note - my Northstar wish list is growing. I still want to see soup - soup really is good food. Also - if two items from my departed and beloved Galaxy Cafe could be added (Ricky Barnes are you reading?) - I would be in heaven. I crave black bean hummus with garlic sauce and Adobo eggs with jalepeno cornbread. A Gourmand can dream - (an when he does - it is about food.)

I like Alana’s A Lot

Alana’s (Food and Wine)
2333 North High Street
614 294 6783

Alana’s website

When the local media list the best restaurants in Columbus we always see Handke’s, The Refectory, M and the most recent flavor of the week. A name often falling off the radar is a restaurant that has equal pedigree – Alana’s. Since opening in 1999 it has built a great reputation with local gourmets, gourmands, gastronauts, foodies, and others that have a passion for food.

Alana Shock seems to be an artist at heart and this is reflected in the creativity of the cuisine and in the décor of her restaurant. While her background does include art – it also includes experience as a chef for Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans.

Alana’s is housed in an old house just north of the University District. The outdoor patio is busy in the summertime although the view of COTA buses passing by may be less than ideal. The inside is brightly colored and features art from local artists on display for sale. A small, comfortable wine bar is located in the back. The servers are professionals who care about the food and the service they provide. The atmosphere is informal but you can expect the extras you would find in a fine dining establishment. Diners can usually expect to see Alana popping out of the kitchen to check on guests and she will sometimes offer a small taste of what she is working on.

I wish I could list some suggested dishes however the menu changes constantly since the focus is on fresh seasonal ingredients that are locally obtained when possible. These are the things you can expect everytime: a choice of exceptional soups; new and innovative cocktails; an impressive wine list; an array of tempting selections on the cheese plate (from Curds and Whey) and several entrees that will make it hard to choose just one. Desserts are always exceptional and when paired with ice cream – expect it from Jeni’s. There are always plenty of vegetarian and vegan offerings as well as mouth watering meats for carnivores.

For the sake of example here are a couple selections from a recent menu:

Roasted Ruby Beets and Watercress with a Baklava of Feta, Pistachios and Cashew Drizzled with Fig Balsamic

 

Duck Breast with Kabocha Pumpkin Polenta, Collard Greens and a Bing Cherry Demi Glase

For fun and education – Alana’s offers Degustation Dining . Before you freak out – this is just a fancy term for a sampling menu. Typically, this is presented as several small presentations of favorite dishes paired with specific wines. If this sounds interesting call ahead and see what Alana has in mind.

Alana’s is not cheap, two people can expect to pay about $80 to $100 or more if you pick an expensive wine but it is worth it.

Wholly Joe’s - a True Taste of Chicago

Wholly Joes
1182 E. Powell Rd.
Lewis Center, OH
(614)-430-9441

Wholly Joe’s

What really separates Columbus from the big league cities like Chicago? The void is not in sports teams, accents, sitcom settings, or cool city nicknames. The true difference is food. Ever hear of a Columbus style hot dog, pizza, or anything – neither have I. You can taste the differences between the food from the “big cities” and our homogenized fare. Expand your palette. You don’t have to take a road trip to visit Chicago – just head toward Polaris for a bite at Wholly Joes.

Wholly Joes has the authentic tastes of all the hot spots in the Windy City – hot dogs, Italian Beef sandwiches, Deep Dish Pizza, tamales, etc. Let’s lead off with the Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza. First thing you need to know is that its is only available evenings and weekends. Second, plan on waiting at least 30 minutes when placing your order. Third – it is the best Deep Dish Pizza you can get in Columbus. Wholly Joes uses dough made from scratch, an authentic 1951 oven (made specifically for Deep Dish Pizzas) and ingredients shipped in from Chicago to get everything just right – and – it is.

The hot dogs come from a famous Chicago hot hog maker and are served Chicago style with mustard, relish, chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, cucumber slices, a sliver of pickle, and sport peppers on a steamed poppy seed bun.

The bread comes from the famous Turano Bakery in Chicago and is showcased in the buns used for the Italian Beef Sandwiches.

If you want to go all out get the Wholly Joe – which is 1 1/2 times the size of the regular sandwich. An Italian beef sandwich is made with thinly sliced beef, cooked in natural juices, served in a bun with a choice of extras including extra gravy, cheese, peppers, hot giardinera mix, grilled onions, and if you want, the whole sandwich can be dipped in the beef juice.

There are many other choices at Wholly Joes but one more that I must mention is the chocolate cake – moist, dense, and a customer favorite.

This eatery is located on Polaris Parkway. in the Oak Creek Shopping Center.
one mile East of U.S. Rt. 23. or two miles West of I-71.

Spain Restaurant

Spain Restaurant
888 E Dublin Granville Rd
Columbus, (161 and Huntley – hidden in the Best Western Hotel)
(614) 840-9100

Spain Restaurant link

Lunch: Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 2 pm

Dinner -
Monday - Thursday
5:00pm - 10:00pm

Friday - Saturday
5:00pm - 11:00pm

When I am at Spain, I am afraid it will be my last time. It is rarely busy even on some weekend evenings. The location – inside a Best Western Hotel, within a suburban strip that is tricky to navigate, which is in a part of town, that is no longer “hot”. The restaurant business is usually about location and such is not the case here.

Basically, patrons fall into two categories –loyal regulars who love the place and mildly surprised hotel guests that are shocked to find a restaurant like this next to the reception desk (and once they walk through the door are a bit disoriented when they were expecting a cafeteria style meal or lukewarm hamburger).

The same 3-4 servers are there every time I am. These guys are true professionals – dressed in tuxedos and maintaining playful formality. The restaurant is semi upscale in décor and adornments but the atmosphere is very informal – patrons are often in jean or shorts and you can see hotel patrons flocking to the pool as you look out the interior windows of Spain. Service is top notch – you will see some theatrics when your sangria is served and never expect an empty water glass. The server may practically taunt you into getting dessert. For a touch of Spanish character – there is a mural of a matador on the wall.

The menu features the flavors of Spain – several types of Paellas as well as steaks, seafood, veal and chicken dishes with Spanish flavors and aromas. The paellas are an exceptional value and for most people one dish can easily feed a party of two (which Spain will do for a slight surcharge). The menu also includes authentic Tapas, homemade Sangria and exceptional desserts, including one of the best flans, I have ever had. The extensive wine list features many Spanish wines (which are now coming into style). All meals (lunch and diner) are served with fresh rolls with whipped butter and the soup of the day. Dinners are also served with a side of vegetables and thinly sliced potatoes. For your first visit – order a paella. I also suggest the Salmon Relleno – a filet of salmon stuffed with crab, scallops, and shrimp. Lunch is an incredible deal. The menu is more limited but the prices are great – nothing over $10.95, including the paella.

Paella 101

Paella is a typical Spanish dish. It is named for the paellera - a round flat pan with two handles – that the meal is cooked in. At Spain the dish is 13 inches wide and 5 inches deep.

At Spain the Paella includes a bed of saffron rice cooked with onions, bell peppers, olive oil, garlic, sea salt and a few peas. Added to this are mussels, shrimp, clams, scallops and langostinos (Spanish for prawns). This version is called Paella Marinera. Spain then adds Spanish Chorizo (spicy sausage) and chicken for the combination known as Paella Valenciana.

 

Churrascaria – Brazillian Stye Grill (No Chupacapra here)

If we eat there more often and ask frequently – maybe this will come back!

Churrascaria is a Brazilian style of cooking and serving skewered meat. Spain did this on Friday and Saturday evenings for quite a while but stopped in October 2006 due to low turn out. The meats included - pork sausage, roast pork loin, both breast and boneless leg of chicken, lamb, NY strip and top sirloin. Cost was $21.95. It was fun. I would love to see this come back. Let’s make this happen.

Another Surprise - Spain Night Club?

Spain also has a separate, enclosed bar that offers salsa, bachata and merenge for local latin dance lovers.

Sad postscript - Owner Jorge Michalowski passed away in January 2007.