Brimful of Dishes on the Northwest Side

The regional cuisines of India were, through circumstance, not something I explored a lot while living in the Bay Area. That changed for the better when I moved to Central Ohio, where the dishes of the numerous Indian restaurants here have quickly become favorites for me and my spouse.

For the most part, the Indian restaurants here, from basic curry joints to more fancy establishments and most recently Indian-fusion places (Indian-themed bowls, wraps and salads from places like Curry Up in the Sawmill area and Lewis Center's Rollz Rice) aren't chains. The Indian-fusion chain restaurant actually has become a more prevalent sight around the US as noted in this May 2016 Eater.com article, but Columbus's biggest Indian chain arrival decidedly does not follow that fusion route in the Michigan-based Neehee's.

Do Fries Go With That Take: The Funk Master and The Galley Boy

The cover of George Clinton's 1986 album "R&B Skeletons in the Closet"

While driving around a few weeks back, I caught a song on the radio from noted funk/R&B guru George Clinton. While his solo efforts are considered not quite up to his works for super groups Parliament and Funkadelic (his first album, “Computer Games”, comes awfully close though), Clinton’s albums for Capitol Records contained inspired efforts that melded the then modern electro-synth sounds of the 1980s with his traditional instrument compositions of the years prior.

George Clinton’s 1986 album “R&B Skeletons in the Closet” was the fourth and last full-length studio effort for Capitol Records before his dalliance with the late Prince and his Paisley Park record label at the turn of the decade. Perhaps the second best of his solo efforts for Capitol, Clinton balanced old and new instruments well in songs like “Cool Joe”, the title track, and my favorite song from the album in “Do Fries Go With That Shake.”

First Look: Fadó Pub & Kitchen (Dublin, Ohio)

The support tower of the planned pedestrian bridge from Old Dublin
dominates the skyline from Dublin's Bridge Park development.

When we moved away from northwest Columbus to our current house, the city of Dublin and its surroundings became a less frequent and familiar destination as the years have gone. That (lack of) familiarity made itself quite evident in our first ever visit this weekend to the city's Bridge Park.

Announced in 2012 and located on land that had long been in our mind mere grass and hills, the multi-story constructs that comprise this development were a bit of a mental jolt, as we wandered from residential and retail spaces with names we weren't familiar with (Hen Quarter, Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea, and REBoL) and were (Fukuryu Ramen, PINS Mechanical and Cap City Diner, among others.)

One of those names we were also familiar with was Fadó, though on a limited basis: I knew of Fadó Irish Pub in Easton but had never visited prior, while my spouse had a couple visits there before we were officially a thing. Thus, we were pretty excited to get an invite from the restaurant via the kind folks at Drink Up Columbus to sample their new pub and kitchen concept at Bridge Park.

Kahiki Kookaburra: Fukuryu Ramen

For those unfamiliar (or even semi-familiar) with the Columbus ramen restaurant Fukuryu Ramen, the restaurant's name translates to "lucky dragon".

If you look closer at how this restaurant's origins, you might think the name translated to "lucky kookaburra". Most people dropping by for a bowl of ramen these days probably don't realize that Fukuryu originated in the "Land Down Under" in Melbourne, Australia (one of the lands that are home to the previously mentioned kookaburra bird.)  Maybe even fewer realize that it wouldn't even have been a dining option here if it weren't for an individual with strong ties to a fondly-remembered Columbus dining institution.

Ice Cream Chronicles (Yr. 4): Saying Yo to the Froyo

It's International Frozen Yogurt month, you all!

With June being International Frozen Yogurt Month (I guess every food item has to have its day or month in the sun, right?) and our first bonafide heatwave upon us, I figured it was time to take these Chronicles into an area of the frozen confection world previously untouched in this blog.

Not that I've never indulged in this sweet treat prior to moving to Columbus, mind you.  In fact, I probably indulged a bit too much in the froyo back in California (thankfully, a heavy duty running habit I had at the time more than made up for that), and that perhaps is frozen yogurt's "problem", if you want to call it that. Even though yogurt connotes something that is fairly healthy for you, the basic self-serve setup makes it incredibly easy to load up not only on a lot of yogurt but also a Halloween's worth of mix-ins in one setting.

Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that concept, mind you...

Ice Cream Chronicles (Yr. 4): Head North of the Kosciuszko Lands and Hang a Left

Revolutionary War patriot Thaddeus Kosciuszko sports ties to lands
in and around Dublin, Ohio (image from The Kosciuszko Foundation)

Driving northbound on State Route 257 through the northern portions of Dublin, Ohio, one might spot one of those numerous state historical markers along the roadside (according to the Ohio History Connection, 1,500 such plaques dot the state.)  As you're generally driving at a fairly fast rate of speed by the time you reach this marker, the thing the might catch your eye is the lack of anything remarkable as you zip by.

If you do stop and take a look, you will learn that the lands you're traveling through once belonged to a Revolutionary War patriot with Polish roots, General Thaddeus Kosciuszko. As written on the marker, the site you are standing on "marks the northern boundary of the "Kosciuszko Lands"", which was given to him by the government of the United States as payment for his work in constructing the defenses for the Delaware River. Interestingly, what is considered Koscuiszko's most important contributions to the country happened years after the war when he designed the fortifications for West Point.

Of course, many people in the area also this road as one of the main roads leading to one of the top attractions in the area in the Columbus Zoo. Not that I have proof, but I suspect only a select number of folks veer left on Glick Road before the road curves toward the zoo, and even fewer folks veer right onto State Route 745 after Glick crosses the Scioto River to head into the sleepy little village of Shawnee Hills. It is here where the relatively obscure ice cream shop named Dell's resides.

Mother Approved: Amul India

Recently, we had the chance to meet up with a long-time Indian-American friend of ours, who had dropped by town with his wife and two very young children to visit family. With the limited time we had to meet up, we determined it would be easiest to meet up at his parents place to watch some football, eat, and just hang out and enjoy each others company.

As the night went on, the conversation somehow turned to the Indian restaurants around the Columbus metro. Our friend's mother asked us what our favorite places in the area were. When we mentioned Amul India, she nodded and smiled, saying that was one of her favorite places.

It's always good to get confirmation from someone who should know their stuff.

Tried and True: Matt the Miller's Tavern

Matt the Miller's Tavern has ended up to be a tried and true
group-oriented meetup place over our time here

There are many players on the market in the what you might call the "Upscale American Causal" category, with the Columbus metro sporting its fair share. As time has gone on, there seems to be one place that my spouse and I have ended up at that has met the following general broad criteria:

• Initially was suggested by other members of the meetup group (we have suggested it as well as time has gone on)
• Sports a nicer atmosphere than your typical pub and grub
• Able to handle larger groups (with many from far-flung places outside of Columbus) at a moment's notice
• Offers a menu of mostly familiar favorites with a subset of slightly more adventurous as well as gluten-friendly menu options
• Covers a wide range of price points and more casual/formal cuisine depending on your mood and economic considerations
• Proffers a bevy of adult beverage choices, including locally-brewed craft beer options
• Is not one of the major nationwide chain places that we would prefer not to visit save for select circumstances
• Have found our experiences uniformly solid and enjoyable

This detailed criteria list refers to the locally-based mini-chain Matt The Miller's Tavern.

Started in 2008, Matt The Miller's Tavern original location was established by Craig Barnum in the city of Dublin, with subsequent locally-based branches going up in Grandview and Polaris (a fourth location exists out of state in Carmel, Indiana.) Barnum himself has been a visible presence in the local restaurant scene for nearly two decades now, starting with his purchase of Oscar's in Dublin in 1995 and involvement with other familiar eateries like Tucci's (still owned by his CLB Restaurant Group) as well as the Brazenhead Irish Pub locations in Grandview and Dublin.

For us, our experiences have come at both their Dublin and Polaris locations. While there are architectural differences between the two roughly same-sized locations (neither will truly evoke the image of a traditional old-style tavern at first exterior glance for most) the Dublin location definitely gives you more of that cozy tavern feel once inside,  Both locations sport two fairly distinct main areas geared toward a more traditional restaurant seating area and an area centered around a central bar; I imagine much of this is to allow for a more kid-friendly atmosphere for families who don't want to deal with the hubbub that a bar can bring.

Matt The Miller's caters to all ages and types of diners by offering
distinct traditional dining as well as a bar-oriented areas

As previously alluded to above, Matt The Miller's menu items have been generally solid creations, with enough of a "unique twist" (to borrow from the CLB Restaurants website) on some items to make dining a small but pleasant notch above the usual. Almost all of our group outings have involved ordering some combination of their appetizers, sandwiches and flatbreads, and we have found most of them to be fairly tasty. Favorites of ours include the Matt's Sliders (served with bleu cheese and red onion marmalade on brioche buns) and Bavarian-Style Pretzels from the appetizer menu, the various flatbreads (especially the Pear and Gorgonzola and Black and Bleu,) the Peppercorn Burger, and the Fish and Chips (especially with the malt vinegar; just ask your server.)

While Matt The Miller's offers more elegant dinner options such as steak
and fish entrees, we have done perfectly well with their repertoire of
appetizers, sandwiches and flatbreads...and don't forget the local beer

True to the tavern name, Matt the Miller's offers a line of craft beer, cocktails, and a line of top-shelf scotches for the diner.  We've had pints from local Ohio brewers such as Columbus, Four String, Jackie O's and Seventh Son, among others. In addition, the eatery offers fairly special nights (such as Wine Down Wednesday, where wine is offered at state minimum pricing) as well as budget-friendly menu options (such as the $10.99 combo plates, which gives you a 1/2 sandwich or flatbread along with a soup or salad.)

Matt the Miller's Tavern (locations visited)
6725 Avery-Muirfield Dr.
Dublin, OH 43016
(614) 799-9100
- and -
1436 Gemini Place
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 841-4430

Also located at
1400 Grandview Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212
(614) 754-1026
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B&B Accommodations: Brazenhead Irish Pub

The outdoor seating area at Brazenhead Irish Pub in Grandview

Most people have that restaurant or two where you order something by default. In a sense, this was set up very early when it comes to Brazenhead Irish Pub. During our long-distance dating phase, my spouse had decided a perfect meal after one of my earliest visits to Ohio would be the half-price burger at Brazenhead's location in Dublin. Indeed, the burger was a perfectly satisfying meal after the long flight over, and since then Brazenhead has become basically a B&B (burger and brew) spot for us.

Based on the original Brazen Head Pub, built in 1198 in Dublin, Ireland, the locally-based Brazenhead Irish Pubs (part of the Historic Dublin Restaurants Group) got their start in 1998 appropriately enough in Dublin, Ohio. A second location soon followed in the Grandview neighborhood a year later, and despite squabbles by the original three owners about various business matters over the years (the partnership broke up officially in 2011) these pubs have continued to attract diners and bar-goers in large numbers (the cozier Dublin location tends to get more cramped and hectic compared to their more spacious Grandview cousin) since their opening.

Brazenhead's interior tries to evoke its namesake's vibe
across the pond in Ireland, while its menu is burger- and
sandwich-oriented with a nice selection of beer and liquor.

Both locations do their best to evoke what it might be like at the original Brazen Head across the Atlantic within their interiors, but unlike its Irish counterpart, these locally-based pubs mostly stay away from Irish standards, basing their offerings mostly around hamburgers and sandwiches. Being a pub, the back of their main menu is dedicated appropriately to "Liquors and Libations", which includes a good inventory of Irish Whiskey and Scotch selections. A separate menu details a select beer menu, which includes several Ohio-based and Irish beer brands on draft.

While burgers & brews have been our standard order, we were
nicely surprised by other menu items like those featured during
2014's Restaurant Week to benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank

While burgers and brews have been our main go to here, we found that you can go beyond those choices at Brazenhead and find some good eats. While this pub isn't normally the place you'd necessarily go for a three-course dinner, we found they did a pretty credible job with their side salad, pretzel sticks and creme brulee dessert during their special Restaurant Week menu.

However, even on this special menu day, we both ordered a burger off their menu - no sense breaking from tradition, right?

Brazenhead Irish Pub

1027 W 5th Ave (Grandview)

Columbus, OH 43212

(614) 737-3738

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- and -

56 N High St
Dublin, OH 43017
(614) 792-3738
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Happily Stuck on 101: 101 Beer Kitchen

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

Tried and True: Columbus Running Company

CRC's Short North Location

Running is one of those topics where there seems to be very little middle ground. Those who have found running to be their cup of tea are pretty staunch advocates of its various benefits. Those who don't care for it generally can't comprehend what makes this activity pleasurable in the least.

I fell into running as part of what was my final serious (and thankfully successful) attempt to gain control of my slowly but surely ballooning weight issue. Running wasn't even my first choice in cardio-based exercise, but eventually I found running not only beneficial in cutting my weight (through running and diet, I figuratively became half the man I used to be weight-wise) but also a release for the day's tension. On my runs, things that were worrisome faded away and my brain was allowed to roam carefree from one thought to another. As a bonus, running provided the catalyst that allowed me to meet Mrs. 614orty-Niner - she followed a similar path in terms of using running to help her arrive at a more healthy weight, and our involvement with a running forum allowed us to meet for the first time at the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati seven years ago.

Coming from an area of the country with a fairly prominent running culture, I was pleasantly surprised to see how strong the scene is here. I found quite a few cars with those ubiquitous mileage stickers (the 13.1 half-marathon distance seems to be popular) on their back windows, and it's not too hard to find a running event around the metro area on any given weekend. Even during the bone-chilling winter days (weather that would send most Californians to their treadmills indoors,) I still always seem to spot a couple or three runners plowing along the roads during my everyday travels.

All the accessories a runner could ever need

Overall, runners are very encouraging and supportive of other runners, whether it be someone who is trying to run in their first 5-kilometer race, or accomplish  one of the crown jewel achievements a recreational runner can ever hope to obtain such as qualify for the Boston Marathon. While there are many fine groups and organizations around the Columbus metro that support and foster area runners, I wanted to highlight one that both my spouse and I have grown well-acquainted with over the years..

The Columbus Running Company (CRC) got its start in 2004 in Dublin, and has expanded over the years with locations in Pickerington, Westerville and their newest location in the Short North this year. The company has made it a priority to engage and support endeavors in their local communities via their running activities, whether it be through charity events, support of local high school track and field programs, and the hosting of and/or assistance with local race events.

In terms of the running customer, purchasing running apparel and related gear from their stores allows one to earn loyalty program points, which translate to cash discounts on future purchases. In addition, they have a running club, host regularly scheduled run groups for different levels of runners from their various locations, and offer training programs catered to your abilities and goals (my spouse consistently used their programs to successfully train for her half-marathons.)

My results for the "Run a Mile in Our Shoes" test run

Finally, special other events and clinics catered to the running public are offered throughout the year; two recent instances I found truly helpful was the "Run A Mile in Our Shoes" program, where you got to test run a variety of shoes from numerous manufacturers, and a free run clinic that offered film analysis of your stride and a good overall perspective on what runners should be looking at to make their running experience a better one.

Most importantly, my spouse and I have always found CRC to be a very inviting and friendly place, which in many ways is a reflection of the company's owners Eric, Matt and Jim. They are all very down-to-earth people who are easy to chat with about all manner of topics. Moreover, they are truly interested in making all people who come visit their stores, from the rank beginner to the experienced veteran, feel welcome. This welcoming attitude is also reflected with the store staff people we have encountered, and in our minds has provided the main impetus that has allowed Columbus Running Company to celebrate its milestone tenth anniversary this year. It seems to be a safe bet that CRC will be reaching and bypassing many more such milestones as time passes by.

Columbus Running Company
6465 Perimeter Dr (Google Maps)
Dublin, OH 43016
(614) 764-0855

1250 Hill Road N. (Google Maps)
Pickerington, OH 43147
(614) 863-4073

50 N. State Street (Google Maps)
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 523-2377

765 N. High Street, Suite B (Short North - Google Maps)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 947-7717
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