Tuesday, June 29, 2010

When You Need to Get Away From the Cold (Which ironically was a great title when I started this post in January. However, now that I'm completing it in June, not so much.)

340 Greenlawn Avenue
Columbus, Ohio
January 19, 2010
7:30ish pm 

I had been reading wonderful things about this place for quite some time.  However, it wasn't until this last wave of bitter cold had me craving the Florida sun that we finally decided to give it a try.  The restaurant features "Floribean" cuisine.  What kind of food could possibly sound more vacationy?  That fact plus I learned Banana Bean serves plantains practically had me running there.  When my husband and I were in Key West awhile ago we had one of the best meals of our lives at a homey Cuban restaurant called El Siboney.  That was where I first had plantains and since then I order them whenever I get the chance!  I just love their sweet and sticky goodness.  Actually, we even picked our spring break destination of South Beach almost soley for the reason that we would be able to eat more authentic Cuban food and plantains! 

But I digress...back to Banana Bean.  The restaurant has semi-recently moved from their Geman Village location to outside the German Village on Greenlawn.  It looks like their new building is possibly a converted gas station due to the overhang outside.  The local is definitely not as charming as German Village, but inside the place still gives you a warm vacation feel.  We especially loved the palm tree decorated with Christmas lights and roping!  The restaurant is a pretty good size with a bar area that has a large amount of seating to your left and then a dining room up some stairs to the right.  Overall, the atmosphere is laid back and fun.

We sat down in a comfy booth and immediately began to puruse the drink menu.  Considering we were pretending to be in Florida on vacation I considered it a necessity to have a drink with rum in it.  The only problem was that I loved the idea of the non-alcoholic fancy sodas they described on their menu.  To solve this dilema I politely asked our server if a shot of rum could be added to the Key Lime Cream Soda (cream soda with key lime juice, if I remember correctly).  The bartender and server acted like this was the best idea they had ever heard of and they said they wanted to try one when they got off work!  I really hope they did because this was one of the better drinks I've had in a long time.   It had the frou frou of a vacation drink all wrapped up. 

Overall, our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu.  I got the feeling that he loved good food just as much as we do. 

We, of course, ordered the appetizer of flash fried sweet plantains.  The plantains were served with a ya-ya dipping sauce which was very spicy with red pepper flakes and possibly made of Sriracha sauce.  The plantains were cooked to sweet, yummy perfection.  They were carmelized on the outside and tender on the inside.  The sauce was very spicy and on its own I liked it.  I would probably love it as a chicken marinade or with a host of various other foods.  However, I didn't care for it paired with the plantains.  The extreme sweetness of the plantains and the extreme hotness of the sauce seemed to be competing flavors rather than complimentary.  However, the plantains were so good on their own I didn't feel like they needed a dipping sauce and I was just as happy to eat them plain.   
For dinner I ordered the Calle Ocho which was a wonderfully rich sandwich composed of Cuban roast pork tenderloin, an olive and caper spread, and melted Manchago cheese all pressed on herbed Cuban bread that had been heavily buttered.  The sandwich was sensational.  The pork had a wonderful roasted and salty flavor.  I loved the accent flavors the olives and capers gave the sandwich, and due to the butter, I definitely didn't need chapstick later that evening!  I got the sandwich with sweet potato fries, not because I needed any more food, but simply because I couldn't pass them up.  And boy were they were good! 
Erik attempted to order the Keys Poacher, which was smoked salmon over poached eggs over biscuits with goat cheese grits; but was informed that the kitchen was out of biscuits.  They offered that they could serve the meal over toast as a substitute.  However, toast just didn't sound as appetizing so he went with Kacoo's Yahoo Junction (reuben).  We thought it was odd that the kitchen would be out of biscuits, since the ingredients are common and the recipe is quick to make; but whatever.  We tend to roll with the punches and were saddened by not trying the goat cheese grits, but the reuben definitely did not disappoint. 

The reuben was very good and many have said this is among one of the best ruebens in Columbus (Columbus Monthly, July 2007).  I would have to agree.  The bread was a good marbled loaf, and also nicely buttered.  Then there was plenty of layers of in house cured corned beef, saurkraut, and swiss cheese! 

Because our server felt badly that we missed out on the Keys Poacher, he brought us a complementary tres leches cake to share.  It was rich and delicious  Tres leches (three milks in Spanish) is a light sponge cake made with regular milk and then soaked in a mixture of cream, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk.  This results in a very moist, almost custardy cake.  This one had a wonderful vanilla flavor and even though we were in the middle of winter in the midwest, the strawberries that topped it tasted in season!  We were beyond stuffed from the bounty we had already eaten, yet we managed to get half of this cake down and then save the rest for later (but not much later because I ended up finishing it before I even put it in the fridge) :)
Overall, we were really pleased with the restaurant's hospitality and food.  In fact I was so pleased, that I suggested this restaurant as part of a Christmas gift for a friend who had recently gotten back from Key West and was in the mood to extend her vacation feeling for a bit longer.  

During this second visit I had to order the Key Lime Soda with rum in it again.  However, this time the server looked at me like I was crazy (her loss, for sure), but obliged.  She didn't see how the whipped cream on top could possibly go with rum.  Hello, have you ever had a strawberry daquirri??  But whatever, again.  My friend got the margarita that was on special for the night.  It was a typical good margarita. 
 
For dinner we repeated the plantains for an appetizer and my friend got the Calle Ocho for dinner, upon my recommendation.  Both were as good as the first time around  However, this time I was feeeling the pinch of too much holiday fare and opted to go vegetarian with the sandwich (even though from the ingredient list I was well aware that this sandwich wasn't light) :) 

I went with the Duval Street Vegatarian Monte Cristo which was composed of roasted vegetables, goat cheese, and potato pancake on egg battered sourdough bread.  This was served with tomato-chile jam for dipping.  The tomato-chili jam paired with goat chesse on the sandwich was what really interested me in this sandwich, but I must say I was supremely disappointed.  I had envisioned the potato pancake having a nice fried and battered crisp to it on the sandwich, which would contrast to the velvety goat chesse spread and then the tomato jam and roasted vegetables would add extra flavor and zip to the dish.  But there was none of that.  The potato pancake was limp and bairly had a crust.  There was too much bread in relationship to the fillings.  The roasted vegetables were good, but there was barely a goat cheese layer on the sandwich.  Also, the tomato-chile jam was also lacking in flavor in my opinion.  This is where I could have used the ya-ya sauce to kick it up a notch! 
Overall, I felt the sandwich was pretty bland and I was wishing I had gone for a repeat of the reuben or the calle ocho.  The sandwich I had in my head was a good one, perhaps I'll use this one for inspiration and try to make the sandwich in my head at home.  

Bill Total:  (for the first time) 1 Key Lime soda with rum, 2 beers, plantain appetizer, calle ocho with sweet potato fries, reuben sandwich, complimentary tres leches cake, and a good tip for the great service:  $43 (with a buy one get one free coupon from Prestige Dining Club) 

Overall Rating:  Hmmm....based on the first visit I'd give them 4 buckeyes, but only 3 buckeyes on the second visit.  I guess I'll split the difference and end with 3 1/2. 
Banana Bean Cafe on Urbanspoon

Monday, June 28, 2010

A Piece of Italy in a Westerville Strip Mall

377 West Main Street
Westerville, Ohio
January 11, 2010
8is pm

Let's start out by saying I drive by this restaurant on an almost daily basis.  It had always piqued my curiosity, but I just wasn't sure if I was up to another gamble on a strip mall Italian restaurant.  However, sometime last summer I happened to notice Cardone's had added some outdoor seating and that moved it up a notch on my mental "to try" lineup. 

On a certain summery Friday night my husband and I decided to give it a shot and drove on over.  We were shocked when we saw the amount of cars outside (I generally drive by in the early morning) and as we entered the place the hostess pleasantly inquired if we had a reservation.  We shook our heads no and she looked on at us with pity and she explained that they were generally booked on the weekends and a table generally required a reservation.  So much for your typical strip mall Italian restaurant!  We left with our tail between our legs and went on to try something else out that evening, but this encounter definitely moved the restaurant to a priority placement on the "to try" list.  However, things happen and it wasn't until a very cold and wintry night in January that we actually made it in for dinner (this time we made reservations, but due to weather I don't think they would have been required). 
From the outside the restaurant doesn't look like much, but as they often say looks can be deceiving.  As soon as you walk in you are pleasantly surprised by your surroundings.  The welcome is warm, the place is quaint (probably about 10 tables total in the front), with dim romantic lighting, and a charming black and white checkered floor paired with various tasteful Italian pictures on the walls.  This is the epitome of the "great little Italian place just around the corner" that you've always wanted to know. 
We were immediately seated and our server was friendly and efficient throughout the dinner.  We perused the wine list which was small, but contained many good Italian wines.  We went with a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from 2006 Masciarelli, Abruzzi.  This came out quickly and was a very good glass of wine to go with rich, hearty, Italian foods.  However, I am almost always partial to a Montepulciano.  Warm bread that was doughy on the inside, crusted on the outside, and had a little bit of cheese and pepper baked on top was also quickly brought out.  It came along with rosemary infused oil for dipping that was great.  Definitely a good start to our meal.

Next up were house salads which were a nice spring mix style of greens, red onion, kalamata olives, chopped tomato, chopped cucumber, and topped with freshly grated Parmesan.  The dressing was homemade Italian with a fruity olive oil base and lots of herbs and spices.  This was a very well made Italian salad. 

For entrees Erik ordered the Cinghiale Bologonese which was tagliatelle pasta topped with a rich and meaty tomato based sauce made with wild boar and pancetta.  The noodles were perfectly ad dente.  The sauce was rich and comforting with bigger hunks of boar rather than all ground meat.  However, I wasn't able to differentiate the pancetta taste from the other melody of flavors, but this is in no way a knock on the dish.  In my mind this is exactly what a bologonese sauce should be. 
I ordered the Osso Buco D'Cardone, which was a huge lamb shank braised in a Chianti and tomato based sauce served with slow roasted carrots and celery over a cream risotto.  This dish was meaty heaven!  The lamb shank had this great outer crust and then tender slow roasted flavor inside.  This went wonderfully with the big, rustic hunks of carrots and celery.  Then this was all over a creamy, luscious risotto with just a hint of crisp white wine flavor.  The crispness of the white wine flavor in the risotto contrasted nicely with the heavy flavors of the stew.  The risotto was equally great to taste by itself or with a little lamb shank gravy mixed in.  I liked all the tastes so much that I alternated between a bite of risotto, a bite of lamb and vegetables, a bite of risotto mixed with lamb and then repeated numerous times.  Each bite a true joy, I am salivating now as I write this and remember the meal!
Both dishes had this homey quality, while still retaining some modern and wonderful flavors.  They were just perfect on this cold night.   And to top it all off the server was kind enough to inquire if we wanted to bring the lamb shank bone home for our dogs!  I don't have a single complaint. 

Bill Total:  $40. 96 (2 glasses of wine, 2 house salads, and 2 entrees and a buy one get one free entree coupon from the Prestige Dining Club)

Overall Rating:  4 1/2 buckeyes

Cardone's on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Bob's to End 2009

Bob's Bar
4961 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio
December 31, 2009
10:30ish

Because we obviously hadn't yet had enough fun after our wonderful dinner at Lemongrass (and it wasn't yet midnight), we decided to head over to a favorite haunt.  Bob's bar is within walking distance of our friend's house and is their favorite neighborhood bar.  I only wish everyone could have a neighborhood bar as good as this one!

The place looks just like any other bar in a strip mall.  But, what sets this one apart is the outstanding beer selection paired with friendly guys behind the bar who know what they're doing and know their beer. 

I'm not going to bore you guys with the different beers we sampled throughout the evening.  Just know that if you want a good selection in a laid back, casual atmosphere; this is the place for you.  Bob's features 200 beers with 27 on draft.  Nuff said.    

They also have a really fun bathroom sign.

If this looks like your kind of place and you feel like becoming a regular here, have fun partatking in Bob's Bar World Tour which consists of getting a fun sheet with 88 different beers listed that get punched as you drink each one.  Luckily there is no time frame, but at completion you become the owner of a handy dandy Bob's Bar World Tour t-shirt and eligible for the next leg of the journey.  The second challenge is 44 more beers; which when completed means you have drunk your way through the entire front glass cooler.  After this accomplishment, in addition to a larger beer belly, you earn a Bob's Bar World Tour glass mug! 

I know our friends have been working on this tour for quite some time...I'll have to check in on their progress.  Unfortunately, I won't be taking this challenge.  Beer isn't totally my thing (not that I don't enjoy a good one every once awhile) and Bob's isn't exactly in my backyard.  Now if only there was a Mexican restaurant tour...

Overall rating:  4 Buckeyes

Monday, June 14, 2010

An Asian Style New Year's Eve

Lemongrass Fushion Bistro
641 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio
December 31, 2009

Good friends of ours invited us out for "something Thai like" for New Year's Eve.  We then had a few other friends give us a call looking for something to do, and soon enough our dinner group grew to 6.  We tossed around a few resaurant ideas and Lemongrass ended up being our choice for the evening.   

When walking into Lemongrass you get hit with an amazing smell of Asian food immediately.  I next noticed that the place looked trendy and fun.  It was a little loud, but in a fun rather than obnoxious way.  We had reservations and our table was immediately ready (or so we thought).  There was also a live piano player playing close to the front, which definitely added to the ambience.  We were originally seated close by the piano.  We started to settle in when we realized a hostess kept looking at us nervously.  Eventually she came over and very timidly and apologetically explained that she had seated us in the wrong spot, and wondered if we could move.  We had no problem with that at all and felt badly that she was so worried we would be upset.  We moved to a more private corner in the back that suited us just fine and was a lot less noisy.     

With this being New Years, I was definitely in the mood to try some fun cocktails and Lemongrass's cocktail menu definitely did not disappoint.  Some of the choices that piqued my curiosity were the sake with cucumber, a Pom Pom (sake with pomegranate liqueur), and a classic Mai Tai.  Since champagne was the official drink of the night I went with the Sparkling Pomegranate, (a mix of champagne and pomegranite liquer).  It was definitely a fun spin on a mimosa.  Some of the others in our group tried a Key Lime Martini (great initial coconut flavor and then a refreshing lime finish), Great Lakes Christmas Ale (you already know my take on this one), Sapporo beer, and a 2006 Austrailian Chardonnay (I wish I had more details on this one, because I really enjoyed it.  It was not as oaky as many Chardonnays due to being fermented in steel, rather than oak, barrels.). 

We then put in a few orders of appetizers.  First up was the sampler which consisted of seafood rangoon, chicken sate, and spring rolls.  The seafood rangoon was perfectly fried, but there was a great deal more filler rather than seafood.  The sweet and sour sauce for dipping was really great.  The chicken sate was served with a peanut sauce and it was very average.  The spring rolls had a great crisp on the outside, and the flavors inside were very typical of a spring roll with typical Asian vegetables.  It was very much what was expected. 

We also tried the pan-seared veggie dumplings which were good, but a bit bland tasting for my preference. 

Last up was the Lemongrass soup.  This soup was truly wonderful with a great mix of Thai vegetables and chili paste that added a wonderful spiciness to the dish.  The soup was also served with a biscuit that was very good.  Whenever we make it back to Lemongrass, this soup is a must! 

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective), I was too involved in conversation to get any pictures of the appetizers.  You'll just have to use your imagination! 

Onto the entrees!  Our friends are great sushi lovers, but I must admit that sushi is just not one of my favorite foods.  I have tried it many times (and even tried it again this evening multiple times) and I really want to love it, but for some reason I just haven't been able to get into it.  I know that part of it is that fish is generally not a favorite of mine, but I really don't love the veggie sushi either.  That being said, this sushi was by far the best I have ever tried.  I still didn't love the sushi, but I truly liked and enjoyed each and every bite I had. 

Our friends ordered the catepillar roll, which is avocado over a bbq eel roll.  I was very leery to try this especially knowing my slight aversion to fish, but in the name of blogging I decided to give it a try.  And I'm very glad that I did!  Yes, keep that in mind you readers who are stuck in your food ways!  The sweetness of the BBQ eel went well together with the avocado and just melted in my mouth.  Then I got a nice wasabi kick at the end of the bite.  Really very good (for sushi, that is) :)  Our friends also ordered the spicy almond sushi and spicy shrimp tempura with cucumber.  Overall, I couldn't get over how good the sticky rice was in each and every bite!  The spicy almond was good because of the nice crunch and spice the almonds gave the bite.  The fried shrimp tempura was equally good.  Also, look how great the presentation is!  Totally loved it!
Our other friends went with the vegetable sampler which included avocado, cucumber, spicy almond, and a mixed veggie roll.  Again, I loved the sticky rice!  The avocado, cucumber, and mixed veggie roll were all very good.  
My husband and I went with less interesting entrees.  I went with the spicy zucchini chicken over rice (rather than the angel hair pasta suggested on the menu).  This dish was composed of steamed chicken pieces sauteed with zucchini, Thai basil, green chili paste, and cocnut milk.  Overall, I loved the flavor the Thai basil gave to the dish, but I was really hoping for more spice and flavor.  This dish was good, but not great.  
My husband went with the Phad Thai and it was excellent!  The peanut flavors were perfect, the vegetables of carrots and peas were tender crisp, the spices were not too overpowering or too bland, and the noodles cooked with the right amount of bite.  This was definitely one of the best Phad Thais I had ever tried (and was even better as leftovers the next day).
The service was a little slow overall, but due to the holiday we were in no hurry.  They also more than made up for this with friendliness and attentiveness.  The server also did a great job at answering questions and giving good menu suggestions. 

Bill Total:  Truly I have no idea since each couple paid separately, but our portion of the bill was $95.70.  I know that included 2 entrees, probably an appetizer or two, and a host of drinks.  I'm just not exactly sure of the specifics.  The bill was so high mainly due to drink purchases.  For the quality, I felt the food was a good value and hey, it was New Years!

Overall Rating:  4 buckeyes
Lemongrass Fusion Bistro on Urbanspoon

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Fresh Roasted Coffee in Salem?

Friends Roastery
474 East State Street
Salem, Ohio
December 27, 2010
8ish am

As I was explaining my Christmas plans to a coworker I happened to mention that my husband was from Salem, Ohio.  She remarked that she had just moved to Columbus from Youngstown and had frequented Salem while on her last job.  She shared that there was a lovely coffee house downtown that fresh roasted their own beans.  I'm sure I had a puzzled look on my face, but I tried to hide it.  I thought she surely had to be mistaken on the location.  Downtown Salem just didn't seem to be a likely spot for gourmet coffee.  I mentioned this chat to to my husband and he gave me the same questioning look.  Surely, she must have gotten the wrong town.  We both had visions of Salem's mostly empty downtown strip in our head.

However, after mentioning this in passing to Erik's mother, the shop was confirmed.  We were very surprised.  Maybe this is a hint of a downtown revitalization?  I sure hope so!  Salem has a host of lovely and quaint old homes and it would be great to see a little more life in the downtown area. 


On a blustery December morning, soon after Christmas, but before heading back to Columbus, we decided we needed to see what all the talk was about.  We loved the quaintness of the building and the character of the inside that left memories of the building's past purposes.  The building originally served as a bank and then served as the community newsstand and tobacco store for quite a long time, but under various names, before being turned into a coffee shop in 2007.  The current owners have kept some of the wood display cases along the side and display a collection of memorabilia.  I also enjoyed the old theatre seats in front of the current coffee bar. 

The shop had a great selection of roasted coffees, specialty drinks, and teas.  I especially loved the selection of sodas in glass bottles located in a wooden antique display case.  There was an equally nice selection of homemade pastries. 


We both chose a house blend coffee.  I had mine with milk and Erik took his black.  We shared a cinnamon roll and a ham and cheese pastry.  The coffee was good.  It was your typical gourmet blend from a locally owned and operated coffee house (and much preferable to Starbucks, in my opinion).

The pastries were also good and homemade, but nothing spectacular.  I was left wanting more filling in my hame and cheese pastry and more cinnamon and glaze in my cinnamon roll. 

Overall, I think this is a great addition to the Salem community and will welcome another stop on our next visit to town.  I loved the cozy and warm atmosphere, especially after wandering in from the cold.   

This place isn't quite on par with the coffee at Stauf's in Grandview or the pastries at French Loaf, but for Salem it's a wonderful step away from the chains, a nod to the past, and definitely a step in the right direction. 

Cost:  Unfortunately, since I'm so behind in my writing I've lost my notes and am doing this entirely from memory.  Therefore, no receipt and no idea how much we paid.  However, it was your typical coffee house prices. 

Overall Rating:  3 buckeyes
Friends Roastery on Urbanspoon

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Christmas Diner

Mike's Penn Ave Grille
599 East State Street
Salem, Ohio 44460
December 26, 2009
7ish pm

Since Erik and I have been together we always have a whirlwind Christmas week of traveling from Columbus, to Cincinnati, back to Columbus for a quick pit stop of picking up gifts, and then on to the small town of Salem, Ohio.  While this results in a fairly boring trek across the great state of Ohio, it's so wonderful to get to see each family and have some different experiences in small town America.

Once the whole crew made it to Salem we decided we needed a place to relax and catch up.  Mike's Penn Ave Grille is a long time favorite of my parents-in law, so that's where it was decided to go! 
This place definitely has a home town feel.  You feel like everyone should know one another and greet each other as they walk in the door.  You definitely get the feeling you are walking back in time a bit; but I loved the character and familiar feel of the place.  You also get the impression that this place has a few stories to tell.  I can just imagine families and various sports teams spilling into the place to celebrate a big Salem win.  We all fit into one very large booth and the family was pleased with the personal TV that allowed them to keep at least one eye on the Pittsburgh Panthers. 
Our server was very friendly and shared that she loved the food here so much she just decided to work here!  High praise indeed. 

We were hungry from our drive and immediately put in and order for drinks and appetizers.  We opted for the sauerkraut balls.  A number of family members had never heard of such things, and being a favorite of ours at Barley's, we just had to show everyone what they were missing.  These balls came with a generous 8 to an order, were perfectly fried, and had a very nice spicy kick to them and to the dipping sauce they were served with.  Always enjoying a good spiciness to my food, I was pleased. 
I paired this with a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat for myself.  I enjoyed the strong cherry smell, but then there was just a hint of the cherry flavor in the background of the beer.  I must say I really enjoyed this beer!   The majority of the crew shared pitchers of Great Lakes Christmas Ale, which was a bit too dark and strong for my liking.  However, the family didn't seem to mind (but this could have been partly due to the high 7.5% alcohol content)! 

As for the entrees, most came with a side salad.  For the salad I chose to go with their homemade dressing of a Gorgonzola vinaigrette, which was outstanding. This was a very good salad with big croutons that seemed to be homemade, real bacon bits, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and chopped eggs. Definitely my kind of salad.  I liked the dressing so much that I may have to attempt a version myself at home.
As for my entree choice I opted for chicken and fettuccine in a Gorgonzola cream sauce with asparagus and mushrooms.  The dish sounded quite divine, and overall it was okay, but not great.  The chicken was cooked nicely, but the asparagus was overcooked and bordered on mushy.  The sauce was good in small a doses and the Gorgonzola gave the sauce a nice bit of flavor, but it was just too heavy for my preference overall.  
My mother-in-law has always talked about the good quality of the restaurant's red meats and I'm thinking I should have listened to her!  She chose the 8 oz strip steak with shrimp.  I sampled a bit and I would agree that this was very good (and made me a bit sad about my entree choice).  The seasoning was flavorful, but not overdone and the meat was cooked to medium rare perfection.  She told me they use Chef Paul Prudhohomme's Magic Seasoning Blends which I had never heard of, but now recognize after going to the website!  I just might have to buy some to try out myself. 
My husband chose the sole with caramelized onions and garlic.  It had a nice mild flavor, and was not overly fishy. 

My nephew chose 12 hot wings and in his opinion they were definitely not hot enough.  However, he did inform us that he has had the second hottest sauce at a various wing joint where he had to sign a waiver before trying them!  He thought that may interfere with his preferences :)  However, I would have to agree that the wings were not very hot and were definitely overcooked and I have yet to try anything that required me to sign a waiver!  These were definitely not a favorite for my nephew, the wing connoisseur, or me!  
My father-in-law and brother-in-law both opted for a small steak salad.  They both felt the steak was very good and tender.   They loved the addition of steak fries on top and egg throughout.  It was topped with a great vinaigrette that was also made from scratch. 
And last, but definitely not least, my sister-in-law ordered Mike's mixed greens salad.  This looked like a spring mix of various greens topped with black olives, Swiss cheese, and Gorgonzola.  The dressing seemed to be similar to a mix between a traditional balsamic vinaigrette with touches of Caesar salad flavors .  Overall, my sister-in-law said she wasn't sure that all the flavors were going to work together, but they did end up blending together in a fun and interesting way.
Bill total:  $144.86 (2 pitchers of Great Lakes, 1 Cherry Wheat, 2 appetizers, and 6 entrees)

Overall Rating:  3 buckeyes (I'd say a lot of the food is good, but some of it is definitely hit or miss.  Definitely go with the steaks and salads, but other options seem to be more of a gamble). 
Mike's Penn Ave Grille on Urbanspoon

I'm Back!

Hi Everyone!

I am still alive and eating, but I needed to take some time to dig out from under a mound of paperwork!  Late winter and spring are my busy times at work.  While eating out has not gone on a back burner, writing about restaurants unfortunately has.  However, I'm back and hope to work hard at getting my posts up to date! 

I still have lots of fun to write about including great Columbus haunts and a trip to South Beach!

Stay tuned...

Annabelle