The 614orty-Niner: 101 Beer Kitchen

The Rainbow Trout dish courtesy of Graze Restaurant in Madison, WI,
at their November 2013 beer dinner featuring Tyranena Brewing.

Our first experiences with the beer dinner actually happened outside of the Buckeye State: my spouse enjoyed her very first one back in the late 2000s in Grand Rapids with the popular brewpub HopCat and New Holland Brewing. And as a couple, we took the lovely evening backdrop of the Capital Building in Madison, WI, while indulging in the sublime preparations of Graze Restaurant matched up with the brews of Tyranena Beer.

However, it wasn't until recently that we were able to experience this format here, with the incredibly fun Columbus Craft Beer Week "Weird Science" dinner, which mixed food from CBC Restaurant, beer from Actual Brewing, and a dose of science from COSI.

Our second encounter came this week with, a nice celebratory splurge to celebrate a months' worth of special days for us both. And in this case, we were particularly excited as this dinner paired one of our favorite brunch spots in Gahanna's 101 Beer Kitchen (originally opened up in Dublin in 2012 and now also sporting a Westerville location) as well as one of our favorite Ohio breweries in Jackie O's.

Dublin's 101 Beer Kitchen has been one of our favorite places
to be "stuck" at for some good food and brew

Back in the Bay Area, it was a common experience for me and other automobile drivers to be stuck on US Highway 101. The combination of tourist destinations along this highway's breadth along with its city street status through most of the San Francisco city limits leads to some of the worse backups within the region. My spouse and I were rudely reminded of this fact on our last return trip to California, as it took more than an hour from the airport to San Francisco itself (on a good day, one can make the trip from the airport to my parents place on the outskirts of the Napa Valley in an hour-and-a-quarter.)

In the Buckeye State, however, I've found that there's nothing wrong with being stuck on 101 for an hour or two, just as long as that 101 is Dublin-based 101 Beer Kitchen, just outside the I-270 Outerbelt near the intersection of Hard and Sawmill Roads.

101 Beer Kitchen is unique for me in that this is the first reviewed restaurant in Central Ohio where I really can't think of a close Bay Area equivalent off hand; such a place may be out there, but as of this date I have not found it. Their combination of seasonally-oriented, higher-quality, yet very accessible menu items and adult beverages (both cocktails and quality craft beer) has made this restaurant a go-to spot for my spouse and I shortly after its opening in October 2012.

The interior of 101 Beer Kitchen alternates rustic and modern, with a central
bar area and plenty of seating both inside and out. Despite the large space,
waits can be long during busy times, but most people don't seem to mind.

The interior of 101 Beer Kitchen meshes rustic touches (chalkboard menus, a fireplace and a wooden mail drop at the entrance) inside what is essentially an expansive modern strip mall space. Despite the relatively large space both inside and outside with their patio area, this eatery can be swamped during the usual busy periods, which I imagine can be a turn off for some. Generally speaking, however, we have found the service pretty good no matter how busy the restaurant is, and personally we don't mind waiting (we usually grab ourselves a beer from the bar during these times.) Our last visit was actually during a rare slow time on a particularly snowy day, and the staff proved to be quite highly appreciative of our business.

From top left: Blackened Shrimp and Corn Cakes with Watermelon Salad; the
Beef Stroganoff with caramelized onions, the Salmon Burger with beet chips;
Pigs in a Blanket (with Kielbasa) appetizer, and the Crab Cake Skillet
with poached egg, potatoes, artichokes, onions and Hollandaise sauce.

Perhaps the best thing about their seasonally-adjusted menus is that you more than likely can find a delicious and well-prepared item that fits your mood at a pretty fair price. Perhaps that is why I've never found a true "favorite" here and am just willing to keep exploring the menu. My spouse feels similarly, though she has shown a tendency to choose any crab-oriented offerings when they are available.

Draft beer is the tip of the iceberg for 101 Beer Kitchen's beverage offerings

Similar to the food menu, you can usually find something to sate your beer cravings from their 18 taps; a selection of bottled and canned beers is also available if somehow the drafts aren't to your liking. A selection of seasonal and brunch-oriented cocktails is also available to diners, as well as a select collection of premium spirits, including that of locally-based distiller Middle West Spirits.

Since their opening, 101 Beer Kitchen has succeeded in expanding their business, including the addition of weekend brunch as well as special beer dinner events that focus on either various beer styles or the offerings of well-known local and national craft brewers.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this restaurant has got a good thing going on, so perhaps it's not too surprising that a second location is scheduled to open across the metro in the city of Gahanna on March 16. I suspect that if 101 Beer Kitchen merely repeats the formula it has had two years to perfect at their Dublin location at their new venue, Gahanna residents will also find themselves quite happy to be stuck on 101 on a regular basis.

101 Beer Kitchen
7509 Sawmill Rd
Dublin, OH 43016
(614) 210-1010
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New location in Gahanna (scheduled opening: March 16th)
397 Stoneridge Ln
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 934-5501

The 614orty-Niner

Cincy Travels Part 1: Lechon with a Double Shot of History

Time to Splurge: 101 Beer Kitchen Beer Dinner feat. Jackie O's Brewery

Happily Stuck on 101: 101 Beer Kitchen