The Random Restaurant Tour–LXIV

Last night we walked over to German Village to check out Cento, the new Cameron Mitchell restaurant on Third Street. It was a bit bittersweet, because Cento occupies the location of what used to be G. Michael’s, one of our favorite restaurants. Regrettably, G. Michael’s decided to close up shop several years ago–but there is no point in pining over restaurants gone by, is there?–so we decided to give Cento a try.

The first thing you notice when you arrive at Cento is that the physical layout has changed. A new entranceway has been created that takes you past an outdoor patio eating area directly to the host stand, rather than the old entrance through the bar area. The outdoor dining area has been spiffed up and expanded, too, with the installation of a fireplace, walls, and lighting. We sat outside on a pretty spring evening, and it made for a very nice setting.

Cento promises classic Italian fare with a twist, and it delivers. I started my meal with the octopus antipasto, shown above, with olives and pistachios. It was served in a unique way, with the strips of octopus molded together. The octopus was delectable, and the olives and pistachios were a nice complement from a flavor and textural standpoint. I followed that up with rigatoni alla vodka, which I asked to be served with a meatball. It also was quite good, with a very rich, creamy sauce. I recommend getting it with the meatball.

An important consideration when you are promising classic Italian–with or without a twist–is a strong wine list. Cento hit the target there, too, with a very nice selection of Italian wines. I favor Sicilian reds and was happy to see a number of selections from that sun-kissed island off the toe of the Italian boot. We enjoyed an excellent Etna Rosso with our meal.

We capped off the evening with a Sambuca, served in the traditional manner with three roasted coffee beans, and panna cotta for dessert, shown below. It also was served in an interesting way, and it also was delicious. We chatted with our dining companions, sipped our drinks, and enjoyed the glow of a fine meal in a pretty outdoor venue. Our service–provided, incidentally, by a G. Michael’s veteran–was top notch, too.

We’ll always be dedicated fans of G. Michael’s, but I’m glad to see that its space has been repurposed and is being used for a new restaurant that offers interesting choices and adds a bit more luster to the Columbus restaurant scene.

The Random Restaurant Tour—LXIII

There’s been a lot of buzz about Hank’s, the new restaurant opening at the corner of Gay and High Streets in downtown Columbus. Last night we checked out Hank’s on its official opening night, and I can comfortably say that the buzz is warranted.

Hank’s is a seafood and low country cuisine venue that comes to Columbus from Charleston, South Carolina, where it is one of the finest culinary establishments in that food-loving town. Its arrival is welcome, because our downtown area is noticeably lacking in seafood options. Steakhouses we’ve got, but seafood? Not so much. Hank’s aims to change that.

The restaurant has a casual elegant vibe, with a wraparound bar and oyster bar, leather seats, and white-jacketed waiters. And the food fits in well with the casual elegant atmosphere. At the recommendation of the friendly bartender, we got the scallops crudo appetizer, pictured above. It featured thinly sliced, succulent scallops that you spooned onto crisps. It was, in a word, delicious. Kish got the she crab soup, which also was terrific. It came in a huge bowl, too—big enough for two, which made me happy since I wrestled it away from her so I could enjoy a few spoonfuls of rich she crab goodness.

The bartender also recommended the ahi tuna entree, shown below—and she therefore went 2 for 2. it featured slices of rare, blackened sushi grade tuna served over cheesy grits, with two fried oysters as a complement. After I scraped off the diced vegetables on top (sorry, Hank’s!) I enjoyed the combination of low country flavors and textures in every bite. I second the barkeep in highly recommending this dish.

My doctor is always encouraging me to eat more fish. Thanks to Hank’s, that challenge just got a lot easier. I’m looking forward to the day, coming soon, when Hank’s opens for lunch.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LXII

Yesterday we had some errands to do that took us out of the downtown Columbus footprint. We ended up in the uncharted wilds of Grandview, where we decided to visit a Grandview staple–the DK Diner.

I’d never been there before, but I knew I liked it as soon as we pulled up. There were telltale signs of a good diner immediately apparent–people outside who seemed happy, not surly, about the prospect of waiting for a few minutes for a table, and a decidedly unpretentious air about the place. In fact, part of the seating area (and where we ultimately ended up) is in a tent added on to provide some extra seating. Those kinds of messages tell you something about a neighborhood joint–the locals like it and the food is good enough to justify a wait.

It was a little after noon, so we were still in the Weekend Decision Zone time period, where you could opt for a late breakfast rush headlong into lunch. The DK is known for its pancakes, doughnuts, and other breakfast chow, but I felt my taste buds being pulled to the lunch end of the DK menu spectrum. I settled on an elm burger, which comes with white cheddar cheese, bacon jam, a buttered brioche bun, and “elm sauce.” I’d never heard of “elm sauce” before, and when I asked, our waitress said it was some kind of spicy Asian mayonnaise. When I heard that, I knew I had to try one.

Wow! What a burger! Juicy, messy, and packed with flavor in every bite, the elm burger was fantastic–in fact, one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long while. It was so good I immediately declared that I would go back to the DK just to get another elm burger, and I mean it, too. With a nice serving of very crisp chips, which I promptly dipped in Frank’s hot sauce and the drippings from the burger, the elm burger vastly exceeded my expectations. And after eating it, I’m still not entirely sure what is in that mysterious elm sauce–but I’m pretty sure I’d eat tree bark if I could dip it in elm sauce.

One other consideration about the DK Diner: in an era where food prices and restaurant menu items seem to be increasing every day, the DK Diner menu offers a lot of bargains. Great food, low prices: DK Diner, where have you been all my life?

The Random Restaurant Tour–LXI

Some restaurant spots seem destined to change hands repeatedly, housing one restaurant after another without much of an opportunity to get to know any of them. That’s been true of the restaurant location at 201 S. High St., under the old-fashioned “Restaurant” sign. It was once de Novo, then it was a taco place, then it was Lola’s, then it was a place called the Downtown Tavern–and I’m probably forgetting a few of the places that existed in between.

Yesterday our lunch bunch went to the newest venture to occupy the spot. Called Hydeout Kitchen & Bar, it offers a nice lunch menu. The layout of the place looks pretty much the same as it always has, with a long bar and booths against the opposing wall. We sat at a booth, perused the menu, and were immediately tantalized by the fact that it offered potato pancakes as a side dish.

Potato pancakes, for the uninitiated, are a high-risk option. When poorly made, you are presented with what tastes like lukewarm leftover instant mashed potatoes covered in sawdust. When well made, the coating is crispy and crackling, the potatoes inside are hot and have some texture, and you add dollops or sour cream and applesauce for a true taste treat. Alas, we learned that the potato pancakes weren’t available yesterday, so we’ll have to go back to learn where the Hydeout version places on the potato pancake spectrum.

That was okay, however, because I was able to apply the cheeseburger test–which I’m happy to report was passed with flying colors. Hydeout’s burger, shown above, is very tasty indeed, and combined the essential qualities of good meat, fine patty formation, proper cooking, tangy cheese, and onions, and they add a dab of mustard to give it a special zing. The fries were excellent, too–crunchy on the outside, hot on the inside, and presented in a reasonable, and not excessive, portion size. They make their own hot sauce, too, which was an excellent complement to the fries and the burger.

So we’ll be going back to Hydeout–assuming it sticks around for a while–and I’ll gladly try another of their sandwiches in hopes of sampling an elusive potato pancake. Now that I’ve been tempted, I’ll have to see it through to completion.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LX

Restaurants tend to come and go. It’s nice when you find a place that actually stays open long-term, continuing to reliably provide the good food and friendly service you’ve come to expect . . . and value.

So it is with the Tip Top, located on Gay Street in the heart of downtown. I’ve been there countless times–for lunch, for dinner, for Sunday brunch, for drinks after work, for fantasy sports drafts, and for a wedding after-party. Unlike other downtown spots, it survived the COVID weirdness, and with its comfort food-oriented menu, its long bar, its rotating draft beer list, and its array of high-top tables, it has remained a reasonably priced, dependable-quality, tried-and-true staple of the downtown dining scene for years.

Recently our merry band of Tip Top frequenters learned that the bar and restaurant has been sold to new owners. Columbus Underground says the sale brings an end to the “Liz Lessner Era” in Columbus restaurants. I really didn’t venture to her other spots, but the fact that she was involved in creating the Tip Top was good enough for me.

The new owners evidently have big plans for the Tip Top, including physical renovations. That’s the way of the world in the restaurant business, and as Gay Street itself continues to change, it’s inevitable that the Gay Street businesses will, too. I’m just hoping the new owners keep my favorite lunchtime order–the succulent, melt-in-your-mouth pot roast sandwich with chips, which I got with either malt vinegar or hot sauce–on the menu. But that’s the risk when a long-time favorite moves on to new ownership.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LIX

The Spaghetti Warehouse was a Columbus institution in its original location in an actual old warehouse on West Broad Street in Franklinton, just across the river from downtown. That location closed after a roof collapse, but the restaurant has now reopened at the former de Novo spot on High Street, overlooking the Columbus Commons. When our lunch group was looking for a place to go on Friday, we decided we obviously needed to check it out.

The SW is a classic red sauce Italian joint, with lunch-time staples like a 15-layer lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, and chicken parmesan. I can’t resist spaghetti and meatballs, so my choice was easy. And at the Warehouse, there’s a lot of bang for your noon hour buck. For about $20 I got the spaghetti and meatballs, a big bowl of Italian wedding soup, and some bread fresh from the oven. (I didn’t have any of the bread, frankly, because I figured my carb load was being tested already with the pasta intake, but it looked pretty good.)

The Italian wedding soup was a perfectly good starter, and I especially liked the spaghetti and meatballs. It came with three huge, rugged meatballs, which when chopped up provided plenty of meaty nuggets that allowed me to get a protein intake with every twirled forkful of sauce-covered pasta. I heaped on a lot of parmesan cheese (just shy of the guy in the current TV commercial), and relished a very filling meal. Our group unanimously agreed that the SW was well worth a return visit in the future.

The Spaghetti Warehouse isn’t going to win any haute cuisine awards for its Italian fare, but there’s obviously a market for it–when we visited, the place was packed and the restaurant was able to turn tables during the lunch hour, which is no mean feat. For many of us, red sauce Italian is comfort food, and it’s nice to enjoy it from time to time. I predict the SW is going to have staying power in its new home.

The Random Restaurant Tour-LVIII

I freely admit that I do not like cole slaw. In fact, I find it to be stomach-turning. Typically, it is a cold, wet lump, leaking a gross white fluid that looks like landfill leachate, ready to turn even the most delectable sandwich into a sodden, inedible mess.

So it was with some trepidation that I perused the menu at Del Mar SoCal Kitchen in the Short North last night. I was in the mood for a handheld, and the chicken sandwich looked good–but the description included the dreaded “s” word. And yet, the slaw was said to be “brussels sprout slaw,” and brussels sprouts are one of the few vegetables I will readily try. I decided to accept the significant risk, reasoning that if the slaw topping was of the wet lump variety I could always scrape if off the sandwich and eat the damp remains with knife and fork. (I did, however, ask our server to hold the pickled fresno, because I absolutely draw the line at anything pickled.)

The sandwich above is what I got. To my happy surprise, the slaw was dry and crispy, with a healthy allotment of chopped brussels sprouts as part of the sandwich. It added a welcome crunch and an enjoyable textural element to a very tasty chicken sandwich that I consumed with happy contentment. I would definitely order that sandwich again.

The experience at Del Mar shows that a little culinary inventiveness in the kitchen can pay dividends–and a little adventurousness on the part of the diner can make a difference, too. I’ll have to scratch “slaw” off of my “absolutely do not eat” list, and move it to the “perform careful analysis of the menu and potentially ask a lot of annoying questions of the server before ordering” list. It’s a small step into a brave new world of food consumption.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LVII

On a recent walk, we noticed another new eatery in the Arena District. Yesterday, on a very fine, sunny September day, we decided to check it out. Goodwood Restaurant and Brewery occupies the large space formerly occupied by the Gordon Biersch brewpub, just a short stroll from Nationwide Arena, the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Goodwood’s menu offers your standard array of lunchtime options of starters, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and entrees–with one welcome addition. Rather than fries (or , , , shudder. . . broccoli) you can get seasoned tater tots as a side. After we sat down at our outdoor table, on Goodwood’s fenced-in patio, I put the kitchen to the test by ordering the classic burger and, at the recommendation of our server, the tots–which ended up being a veritable avalanche of golden brown, spud-filled nuggets.

The burger, which had two patties, was very good–fresh beef cooked to juicy perfection, with a nice sauce, cheese, and a well-toasted bun. The tots were quite good as well, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. The first bite of the tots inevitably brought back memories of school lunches back in the day, when I was first introduced to the concept of tots. The only difference was that the school cafeteria version tended to be overcooked and dry. Goodwood offers tots in their highest and best form. The only problem was the amount of tots, which as the photo above indicates was overwhelming. I could only eat about a third of them, which left me guilt-ridden from a Clean Plate Club standpoint. If anyone from Goodwood reads this, I make a heartfelt plea: dial back a bit on tot volume.

But an overabundance of tater tots isn’t a disabling problem, obviously. I give Goodwood a thumb’s up. We didn’t try any of the brewed offerings, but the food options suggest that the beers and ales would be well worth sampling as well. When the Blue Jackets’ season starts, Goodwood would be worth a pre-game and post-victory visit.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LVI

Last night Dr. Science, The GV Jogger, and I ventured far to the east, to the wilds of Bexley, Ohio, in search of sustenance. Our ultimate destination was Cafe Istanbul. There we sat outside on a warm September evening as the Main Street traffic rolled past and enjoyed a very good Turkish meal.

Our dinner started with an appetizer of warm rolls and a platter of tasty hummus, which bought me time as I scrutinized the extensive menu, looking desperately for a dish that did not include eggplant. (With all due respect to that no doubt noble vegetable, it’s as unpalatable for me as cauliflower and broccoli.) Fortunately, the knowledgeable GV Jogger guided me to the doner kabob, which was an eggplant-free offering that consisted of the crucial essentials: cubes of bread, yogurt, and slices of tender, succulent lamb. When you think about it, what more do you need in a meal? It was like a deconstructed sandwich served on a plate, and it definitely hit the spot.

And, equally crucial, there was a lot of it–so much, in fact, that I couldn’t finish my mound of food and had to get a take home container. And that is where I have to give Cafe Istanbul the highest marks. Rather than a flimsy cardboard construct, or a plastic rectangle, they offer a full aluminum dish with a plastic top, so that you can spoon your leftovers into a bright, shining circle glinting in the light and actually have enough room to maintain separation of the components of the meal, rather than glomming them all together into a too-small space. And the crowning glory is that, after you prepare your dish, you get to enjoy the simple, childlike pleasure of fitting the plastic top into place and then squinching down the aluminum over the edges of the plastic top, to lock it down.

Is there a better way to carry leftovers? I don’t think so.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LV

It’s been a while since I’ve tried a new restaurant in Columbus. So yesterday, as the Bus-Riding Conservative and I were headed toward the North Market for lunch, I couldn’t resist the urge to veer to the left, cross the bridge over the railroad tracks, and head to Moran’s Bar and Grill. Located at the far north edge of the Arena District, catty-corner to the North Market, Moran’s was a place I’d seen on previous visits to the North Market and had been wanting to visit.

Moran’s has both a sizeable indoor eating (and drinking–hence the “bar” part of the name) area, plus a very nice patio surrounded by a wrought iron fence. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was wearing my sunglasses, so the BRC and I decided to try to look cool and lunch al fresco. Fortunately, there was a table available on the patio for us.

Moran’s has an interesting menu, with lots of starters, sandwich, and “big bowl” salad options. It also has an intriguing roster of daily specials. Yesterday’s special was General Tso’s chicken, which was tempting me until our friendly server confirm that it did have vegetables in the form of broccoli–the most dreaded of them all. Because broccoli is anathema for me, I opted for the Cajun chicken sandwich, shown above, with a slice of cheddar cheese, slathered with sriracha mayo and served with a nice mound of fries. The BRC, evidently feeling in a military mood, went for the General Tso’s.

My chicken sandwich was quite good. The chicken was moist and tender, and the sriracha mayo sauce was flavorful and plentiful, which made consuming the sandwich a finger-licking exercise and resulted in some sriracha mayo drippings that I could scoop up and enjoy on my fries. The fries, incidentally, were excellent: hot and crispy on the outside. The BRC, incidentally, gave the General Tso’s a thumbs-up and told our server that the broccoli was the best he’d ever eaten. (Given my reflexive avoidance of any broccoli-related dish, I realized that a similar statement from me would mean absolutely nothing.)

I liked Moran’s and would come back again, and I also like the idea of getting back into the habit of trying a new place now and then. Fortunately, Columbus offers a continuing array of new potential lunch spots just waiting to be tried.

The Random Restaurant Tour–LIV

In Texas, for many people at least, Whataburger has a reputation of almost mythical proportions. The zealous dedication of these fans to the brand and its food offerings is so extraordinary that, in extreme cases, Whataburger fans have constructed impressive Christmas trees from the franchise’s discarded fast-food packaging, with its trademark bright orange color.

Any fast-food emporium that can inspire that kind of slavish devotion from American consumers must have something going for it, right? So yesterday, as I paid my first-ever visit to a Whataburger, I felt a surge of high expectations, anticipating an extraordinary burger experience. What I found was a pretty good burger, but an overall dining experience that fell a bit short of the hype.

I ordered a double Whataburger, fries, and a diet Coke. The normal Whataburger comes with mustard, onions, tomato, lettuce, and grilled onions chopped into little squares. Interestingly, cheese isn’t part of the standard order; you have to ask for it specially. I didn’t know that, but I did know that I didn’t want the lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Through this combination of intent and ignorance, I ended up with a cheeseless double Whataburger with onions and mustard.. It’s probably the first cheeseless burger I’ve had in a half century, so that alone made the experience memorable.

The Whataburger was pretty good. The mustard is a nice touch, as are the onions, and the meat was of good quality. Getting a burger without cheese is like getting a cake without icing, in my view, but if you go that route you definitely taste the meat more distinctly–so obviously you want to make sure the meat is tasty. Whataburger offers a nice spicy jalapeno ketchup, part of a tray of topping offerings that they bring to your table, like the waiter at a nice restaurant bringing an array of different tea options to tea drinkers. I tried the spicy ketchup, and it had a decent kick to it. All of these elements were positives for me.

The bun, though, was nothing to write home about, and the burger wasn’t served piping hot. That’s an issue, because heat is a key element of a good burger. The biggest disappointment, though, was the fries. When I saw they were of the shoestring variety I was encouraged, but alas! They were dried out and lukewarm, and tasted like they had spent an an excessive amount of time under one of those blazing food heat lamps. In short, it seemed that the fries part of the meal equation had been sadly neglected.

One of our party said that we had caught Whataburger on an off day, and we should try it for lunch another time at another location. I would do that, and be sure to order cheese on the burger this time. But on this occasion, at least, the experience failed to live up to the advance publicity.

The Random Restaurant Tour—LIII

In my 66 years of enjoying life on this planet, I have never been to an In-n-Out Burger—until today.

In-n-Out Burger is one of those regional restaurant chains that achieve almost mythical status in other parts of the country. Residents of the western states who are fans of In-n-Out rave about its burgers, but those of us who lives east of the Mississippi never get to see what the fuss is about. (I imagine people outside of the Cincinnati and Columbus area have this reaction to enthusiastic descriptions of Skyline Chili.). So, when you go to a place where these regional favorites can be found, you’ve to try them.

I liked In-n-Out from the moment I walked in the door. The restaurant was spotless and bustling, and the staff was friendly and actually seemed happy to be on the job. I liked the white uniforms and old-school caps, and after we ordered we sat and watched the employees hustling to fill the orders. The whole ambiance gave off a decided ‘50s vibe, and it seemed legit—not a forced affectation, like you find at some retro burger joints.

Of course, the key to a burger place is not the setting, but the food. I ordered a double-double cheeseburger combo, with fries and a Diet Coke. The burger was very good. It was a tad on the salty side, but full of flavor with high-quality burger meat, thoroughly melted cheese, and lots of onions. The bun was soft and tasty, and the fries came in a reasonable portion size and were crisp and crunchy, All told, the meal was a winner.

I would definitely go back to In-n-Out, but first I’ve got to try Whataburger and Jack In The Box.

The Random Restaurant Tour —LII

Waiting for Speck to open its restaurant in downtown Columbus was a bit like the setting of Waiting for Godot. It seemed as though the appointed hour would never actually get here. But the moment has arrived, the tremendous buzz has been proven justified, and the wait has been well worth it.

Speck offers Italian fare in the heart of the downtown area, from a bright and welcoming space along High Street, just off Gay Street. We’ll therefore accept it as part of the Gay Street District, the coolest part of downtown and the home to many great eateries. Yesterday the B.A. Jersey Girl, the Origamist, and I checked Speck out for lunch. The lunch menu features starters, handhelds, pastas, and desserts. The choice was deceptively straightforward: on your first visit to an Italian restaurant, do you opt for a sandwich, or pasta? We decided that pasta was the better option, and proceeded to grill our helpful server on the five offerings—because choosing a pasta dish, like any crucial decision, demands careful analysis.

I opted for the sausage ragu, shown above, and it was delectable. The curly edged pasta was perfection, it was chock full of sausage and melted cheese, and the sauce was delicious. You get a heaping bowl for your $19, and some souls with dainty, bird-like appetites would no doubt get a to-go box and save some for dinner. As a long-serving member of the Clean Plate Club, I ate every bit of it, and finished with a happily satisfied sigh. The B.A.J.G. and the Origamist both ordered the Cacio e Pepe, which was pillow-like pasta swimming in a white sauce. We swapped bites, and their dish was every bit as mouth-watering as mine.

So Speck is here, and we’ve added a terrific new Italian eating spot to our downtown Columbus mix. Columbus, and an Italian place with a lunch menu worth exploring: it’s an almost historic match. we’ll be sailing over to a Speck again.

The Random Restaurant Tour — LI

We’ve been waiting patiently for a new restaurant to open in the Gay Street District, in a spot formerly occupied by an Irish pub. The sign has been up for ESCO Restaurant and Tapas for a while now, the interior work has been done, and lately I’ve seen some activity in the place as I’ve walked past, but a look at the restaurant’s website indicated the Grand Opening wouldn’t be until this coming Friday. Yesterday, though, as we were on a stroll to the library to return some books, we saw a sign indicating that ESCO would be serving brunch. On our return trip we decided to stop in to check the place out.

I like it when I get an nice surprise, and this was a pleasant surprise, indeed. The restaurant decided to do a soft opening to work the kinks out before the formal Grand Opening on Friday, so we got an advance look at the restaurant and a chance to taste ESCO’s wares. You can see the menu and other information about ESCO Columbus–the third ESCO restaurant, following two established in the Atlanta, Georgia area–here.

The brunch menu is tantalizing, indeed. Although I engaged in a vigorous internal debate about whether I was hungry enough to try the chops and eggs, I opted for the seafood and grits. ESCO offers the option of shrimp, catfish, or lobster tail, and you can get them either fried or grilled. I chose the traditional form of shrimp and grits served with grilled shrimp. Kish, meanwhile, got the fried chicken and red velvet waffles.

The shrimp and grits were, in a word, fantastic, and looked so delicious that I immediately dug in and started eating before I remembered to take the photo above. The grits were well prepared, the sauce was buttery and included gouda cheese, which gives it a very smooth, delicate flavor, and my plate was loaded with plump, succulent shrimp–so many that you could easily enjoy a piece of shrimp with every bite of grits. This dish was a definite keeper. Kish reported that her chicken and waffles were also excellent, and came in such a heroic portion that there was plenty to take home and enjoy during the rest of our Sunday. As for me, I finished every bit of my shrimp and grits, and found myself wondering whether I would have some fried catfish instead the next time I try that dish.

It’s always a cause for celebration when a new restaurant opens on Gay Street, to help maintain its reputation as the coolest street in downtown Columbus. When the new place serves great food, and offers options like shrimp and grits that aren’t currently available from our other local eateries, the celebration meter goes even higher. I’m happy to welcome ESCO Restaurant and Tapas to the neighborhood, and look forward to continuing my culinary exploration there. I’m sensing a lunch there will be in my immediate future.

The Random Restaurant Tour — L

Yesterday Dr. Science and I decided to brave the fierce winds on a cold, gusty day to head south for lunch. Our destination was the always cool Westin Great Southern Hotel–the oldest hotel in downtown Columbus–and a new restaurant called Bar Cicchetti that has opened in the hotel’s footprint to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Bar Cicchetti is in some reconfigured space at the Great Southern. There always was a bar there–what would be a hotel, really, without a bar?–but now they’ve opened a new room that is located just past the bar area. The room is spacious and bright and looks out over High Street. Dr. Science and I sat at a window table to fully revel in that urban lunch vibe.

The lunch menu has a lot of options that should appeal to just about everyone, from salads and pizza and pastas to handhelds–including a concoction featuring charred broccolini (involuntary shudder). Although the pizza and pasta options were intriguing, I found myself to be in a fried frame of mind, so I opted for the Milanese Chicken sandwich, shown above, and had them hold the lettuce and pickles. My choice was a winner. The chicken breast was so enormous it spilled over the sides of the bun, and it was crunchy outside, with just the right amount of breading, and moist inside. Topped with pickled onions and a nifty aioli, it was delicious. I also give Bar Cicchetti credit for providing a reasonable amount of fries, which were dusted with some freshly grated parmesan and very tasty, too. The fries were so delectably enticing that Dr. Science, always ready for a food experiment, couldn’t resist swiping a few from my plate as he gulped down his salumi sandwich.

I don’t think the word of mouth about Bar Cicchetti has spread yet, because there weren’t many patrons there when we visited. Perhaps this post will help to acquaint people with this fine new food option in the south part of downtown, which is well worth a visit. I’ll be coming back to try one of those pizzas.

By the way, in preparing this post I note that this is the 50th edition of the Random Restaurant Tour series, which began in 2017 and somehow managed to bridge the COVID pandemic and the shutdown period. Thanks to the B.A. Jersey Girl, Dr. Science, the Bus-Riding Conservative, JV, and all of the others who have accompanied me on these culinary adventures, and to everyone who has read them!