Has anyone else noticed that downtown Columbus, Ohio is booming? I mean B-O-O-M-I-N-G!!! There literally isn’t a corner in this city that isn’t being developed. Everywhere I look, I see something else going up- new restaurants, gyms, apartment buildings, bars!! The list is endless. This is absolutely something I LOVE. Not only am I excited because I recently moved to downtown, but also, I’ve fallen for this city and want to see it thrive.
One street in particular that is growing exponentially is 4th street, right through the heart of downtown. At the bottom end, closer to the German Village, you have some real gems including Little Palace, Dirty Franks, El Camino, Red Velvet Cafe, 16 Bit and Hadley’s. Several blocks north, you have the new (and amazing) Pins Mechanical Bar, Elevator brewing and Wolf’s Ridge Brewing.
A few weekends ago, Jeff and I literally made a weekend out of hanging out on 4th street. On Friday night, we met up with our German friends on 4th to check out Pins for the first time. Let me just say that this place blew me away. Every room I walked into, I caught myself saying, “WOW! This is awesome!” And, it really was. Pins boasts multiple bars, food trucks, duck bowling, a fire pit, an arcade and a lounge. Needless to say, it has something for everyone. It was also packed by the end of the night. AKA, if you don’t trust my judgment, then at least you can rely on the crowds. Unfortunately, we didn’t realize how long the wait would be for duck bowling. We made the mistake of eating first. If we had anticipated the wait, we would have put our names on the list upon arriving. By the time we were ready to play, the wait was 3 hours, which meant we wouldn’t be bowling until nearly 1 am. In the end, we didn’t end up bowling because we are old and couldn’t cut it. So, when you go to Pins, put your name on the list for duck pin bowling F.I.R.S.T., and then go grab a bite while you wait!
On Saturday, Jeff and I went over to Wolf’s Ridge Brewing Company for beer flights, a late lunch, and board games. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing company is literally one of the only places I can order a flight of beer and like everything in the sample. Not only is their beer on point, but their food is freaking delicious. When you have a chef and team thinking of every detail, down to the “curried onions” on your burger, you know you’ve stepped into foodie heaven. I’ve never had a bad meal out of this place, and I’ve dined there a lot. It’s all perfection! Beyond the incredible beer and food, Wolf’s Ridge offers a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Jeff and I watched the sun set, the lights dim, the wait staff light candles and the evening calm take over the tap room space, as we enjoyably played connect four and scrabble. I WON. In case you were wondering. To see photos from my time at Wolf’s Ridge Brewing Company, visit my instagram page pandulce1918
We had a blast and can’t say enough good things. So, just go! Will you?
That same evening, as our beers started to dwindle and our bellies started to rumble once again, we found ourselves craving another meal. So, we came up with the idea of walking back down forth to try out the new Hadley’s Kitchen and Bar. We watched the OSU game (GO BUCKS!), grabbed a quick bite to eat, and enjoyed a couple beers. Jeff loved his burger while I thought my meal (Pork Belly Cuban with a side salad) was just okay. I honestly really want to give this place a second chance, but on a Monday when they host Whole Living Lauren for Vegan Monday night. I love Lauren’s blog and I think it is so cool to see local bloggers getting such amazing opportunities in this community. Needless to say, I’ll be back Hadley’s, and I know Vegan Mondays won’t disappoint.
The weekend before all of this my sister and her husband were in town. We showed off 4th street that weekend too, eating at Little Palace. Because, let’s face it, their happy hour is freaking amazing! An absolute steal. Can’t miss it! And, they are located right next to 16 Bit, which is so much fun. Pac Man, Mortal Combat ??? Yes, please.
(P.S. Order the “Loco Moco” at little palace. And, sub lettuce for the rice if you want a slightly healthier version)
Within just a few blocks, you can come up with an entire weekend’s plan. All the while, supporting development downtown. So if you’re a Cbus addict & you want to see this place grow, then jump on the bandwagon by heading downtown! Once you are done exploring 4th street let me know, and then I’ll tell you about even more downtown gems!
Downtown Columbus, Ohio Has anyone else noticed that downtown Columbus, Ohio is booming? I mean B-O-O-M-I-N-G!!! There literally isn't a corner in this city that isn't being developed.
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