Tried and True: Smokehouse Brewing Company

My first introduction to Columbus-area brewing lay with what I ended up naming "The Barleys." Whether it was the Ale House next to the North Market or the Smokehouse on Dublin Road, I soon realized I could get some good pub-style food or barbecue depending on the location, and a great brew at either destination.

I came to learn that I wasn't alone in the struggle to distinguish between the two locations. However, the owner of Smokehouse Brewing Lenny Kolada (who had sold his stake in the original Barley's) made that a lot easier for many by removing the Barley's name from the Dublin Road eatery. Indeed, on this first visit for me since the re-branding (my spouse had a previous visit under her belt), the only thing I saw that referenced the Barley's name was the sign above the main entrance.

However, people should not be worried about the beer; these still remain the same great Barley's beers that have always been served here as originally conceived by head brewer Angelo Signorino. On this visit, my spouse was slightly disappointed that the Centennial IPA had just tapped out, but the pint of Pale Ale she ordered in its stead proved to be satisfying on its own.

The interior of the restaurant itself pretty much maintains the same overall feel and atmosphere I had experienced in the past, with perhaps maybe some minor enhancements and rearranging of the seating.

Top: Smoked Bahn Mi
Bottom: Spent Grain Pretzel Bites
and White Chicken Chili

Smokehouse's traditional and quite enjoyable barbecue items from their days under the Barley's banner still provide the main focus for the restaurant-goer, but we've found their new menu items a definite asset. On this later-night, last-minute decision visit, I didn't arrive here with a completely empty stomach and decided to take the opportunity to sample the appetizer menu. Their Spent Grain Pretzel Bites ($8), a collaboration with a local favorite of mine Dan The Baker, were of a softer, lighter texture than the typical bar-style snack. The spent grain lent them a very unique flavor profile that went well with both the accompanying dipping sauces as well as the bowl of White Chicken Chili ($5) I had ordered to supplement my meal.

On a previous visit, my spouse had already sampled and very much enjoyed their Smoked Pork Barbacoa Three Way (pork shank on Asian slaw, pork belly in BBQ sauce and pulled pork on lettuce) from their original new menu. Alas, this item was not on the new Fall/Winter menu, but that allowed her to order their Smoked Bahn Mi ($11) on this trip. This is by no means any thing close to traditional, but Smokehouse's take on this Vietnamese standard offered a blend of tastes that made this another winning offering for both of us. Also, while this sandwich is not über-gigantic like, say, a Thurmanator Burger from Thurman's Cafe, the size of this tasty Smokehouse sandwich makes it a fork-and-knife affair for all but the widest mouths.

Smokehouse Brewing
1130 Dublin Road (Grandview Heights)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 485-0BBQ (0227)
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Perched by the Lake: Brennan's Fish House (Grand River, OH)

Other than our trip to Niagara Falls, my parents were very non-committal on places they wanted to visit, leaving the role of tour guide to my spouse and I. In terms of food, one definite was a Filipino restaurant, which we were happy to find in Niagara Falls itself (our experience at Manila Flavours can be found at this prior post.)

The second definite food item was a taste of Great Lakes fish, specifically walleye and perch. While my parents have had plenty of experience with ocean fish and crustaceans, fresh water lake fish has never been much of an option on their dining plates. On our way back from Buffalo, we sussed out Brennan's Fish House, perched out near the Lake Erie shoreline in the village of Grand River.

When one drives into Grand River to the area where Brennan's is located, one can sense that this is a place that had once seen both better and worse days. Adjacent to Brennan's, a fairly large lot with a closed restaurant and parking lot as well as a funky barn building with an advertisement for Mail Pouch Chew Tobacco are quite prominent. Off in the distance, one can trace the Grand River, the town's namesake, downstream to where its mouth meets Lake Erie. On this sunny day, we spotted a boat slowly chugging down the river, further enhancing the lazy vibe of this fairly hidden area of Ohio.

Some of the paraphernalia (mostly nautical) found around Brennan's

The interior of Brennan's has more than its share of nautical and fish-related paraphernalia scattered about the premises; we ended up sitting next to a mini-display devoted to the most ubiquitous of Great Lakes shipping events: the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the ore freighter which sank in a violent storm November of 1975 on Lake Superior.

The menu is also pretty typical of a seafood place, with plenty of options to get your fish and seafood jones taken care of. While most items (generally in the $10 to $20 range) are aimed for some big-time chowing down, a few items are sold in portion-sizes geared toward smaller appetites in either sandwich form or sans the bread and are friendlier to the budget. Other non-seafood basics like steak and chicken (listed on the menu as "Shore Picks") and a unique item or two (e.g. Frog Legs) are also available for restaurant-goers.

Brennan's menu and the Fried Walleye small appetite platter

Basically, we all ordered some form of the fried perch and walleye geared toward smaller appetites. Still, the portions we received still pretty substantial. Our food was prepared well, the fish was quite tasty, and we all felt quite stuffed and satisfied by the end of our lunch here. In addition, our servers couldn't be more friendly, assisting us with our menu choices and checking up on us to make sure things were going well.

Brennan's is a bit of a detour off the main Interstate between Buffalo and Cleveland (lying halfway between Ashtabula and Cleveland), but would not be too out of the way for those cruising closer to the shore (on State Route 2 or U.S. Highway 20) or for those who might have a little time to drop by an area with that has seen a nearly 180-year boom-and-bust history. If you and the residents of Grand River are lucky, you might be visiting during what the owners of the restaurant describe on the history section of their website as a "new era of growth and prosperity."

Brennan's Fish House
102 River St
Grand River, OH 44045
(440) 354-9785
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Devonian Devotion: The Orton Geological Museum at The Ohio State University

There are doormen, and there are bouncers acting as doormen. And then there's Jeff.

Jeff is the seven-foot-tall skeleton of Megaloynx Jeffersonii, a giant ground sloth that once roamed North American lands. Despite being believed to be a plant-eater in real life, Jeff's menacing pose will smack you to attention as you enter this somewhat hidden destination spot smack dab in the middle of The Ohio State University campus.

Unlike other recently touted refurbished OSU facilities such as the Billy Irelamd Cartoon Museum (see my post about the Cartoon Museum here) and the OSU Planetarium, the Orton Geological Museum remains firmly ensconced in the old-school. While funds for a bigger and better facility are being raised (admission is free, but a donation box can be found near the entrance,) these displays, despite showing some age, couple with the tiny dimensions (the room barely creaks out over 1,000 sq. feet, if that) to lend this place a certain charm and intimacy. 

Despite these tight quarters, the Museum squeezes a goodly amount of artifacts and information into their exhibits, and even sports a little gift shop with a selection of fossils, minerals and other items that will make the geology-loving person in your life happy.



Some of the exhibits found at the Geological Museum

The building where the museum is located itself also has a fascinating history. Established in 1893, Orton Hall is currently the second oldest building on the OSU Campus and home (naturally) to the School of Earth Sciences. A unique feature of this building,which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, include the Bell Tower (added in 1915): its 25,000 lbs of bells can be heard tolling across campus on a regular basis and gargoyle-like figures (in reality, restorations of fossil animals) that encircle the tower top. Another feature (there are several; their website lists them all) lies in the foyer just outside the museum entrance: along with some very stylish stained-glass and interior design work, numbered columns indicative of the Ohio-based sandstone of which they were constructed can be found.

The Orton Geological Museum is open to the public on weekdays from 9 AM - 5 PM; tours and visits on weekends and evenings are available through prior special arrangement.

Orton Geological Museum
Orton Hall
155 S. Oval Mall
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-6896
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Sandwiches Around The Statehouse: Milo's Capital Cafe

With my recent post on our visit to Ohio's Statehouse, it only seemed appropriate to add another post to this mini-series of blogposts. However, this is a case where the more appropriate preposition is probably an "in" rather than "around."

Entrance to the Capitol Cafe at the Ohio Statehouse

Milo's Capital Cafe is probably one of the more unusual settings in the downtown area where you could chow your lunch down.  The original Franklinton-based Milo's was built to handle the overflow from nearby Tommy's Diner, with both businesses established by the Pappas Family in the late 1990s. Early in 2014, the original Milo's space was converted to handle all catering operations; meanwhile, restaurant operations focused not only on their Capitol Square space but also on their two recently opened spaces on the north side of town along the I-270 beltway on either side of I-71.

The dining space intermixed with views of the menu shot and coffee dispensers

Nestled on the lower level of the Statehouse, diners who eat in are surrounded by the substantial walls of limestone quarried back in the mid-1800s to provide the building's foundation. Some may feel a little claustrophobic with the tight ordering area and the formidable walls that surround them; however, the sense of being surrounded by history as well as modern touches such as TV sets and wi-fi access makes this atmosphere a uniquely winning one.

Cajun Chicken and Pork Belly Asian Wraps

The food menu for Milo's Capital Cafe consists of diner-styled breakfast and lunch items; with most of the regular lunch items are very reasonably priced, falling in the $6 to $7.50 range. Daily specials are also available at a slightly higher price range as well. Dessert lovers also have reason to stop by, as local favorite Jeni's Ice Cream is available for purchase for cafe-goers. 

Perhaps my expectations were somewhat lower than they should have been, but I've been really happy with my lunches here. The Cajun Chicken Wrap ($6.25) had a good savory flavor profile with a tender piece of chicken. On another occasion, I was slightly worried that my Pork Belly Asian Wrap ($7.95) might be too sweet, but it turned out to be well-balanced, with a nice salty-sweet mix and good balance of rice, pork belly and and crispy slaw.

Milo's has a few things that work against it. Not only is it located in a somewhat difficult to reach location, but it is also nearly impossible to figure out it exists on a casual walk-by of the Statehouse. In addition, its operating hours are definitely geared to the the downtown/Statehouse working crowd (7 AM to 3 PM Mondays thru Fridays.) Despite all this, Milo's is definitely worth a visit or two by anyone working in or visiting the Downtown area; this consideration level jumps up a few notches if your business takes you to the Statehouse itself.

2017 Update: Milo's Capitol Cafe has rebranded itself as the farm-to-table concept Graze Columbus, and its catering services have been consolidated into one location on West Broad Street.  The social links below have been updated to link to the current eatery and catering operation.

Milo's Capitol Cafe
1 Capitol Square (Downtown - Google Maps)
(Lower level of Statehouse nearby the Map Room/Gift Shop/Museum)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 728-9231
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Catering Services:
980 West Broad St
Columbus, OH 43222
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Capitol Corridors: The Ohio Statehouse

In my first ever drive through downtown Columbus back in 2007, one of the more eye-catching features I noticed was the Ohio Statehouse, or more specifically, the flattop dome on top of the building. I figured that, similar to Ohio's uniquely shaped state flag (a burgee, for those who did not know,) there would be a story behind it.

The Ohio Statehouse is probably a place people see or pass by thousands of times, but generally only visit on very select occasions. As a young student in Ohio, you may have made a field trip or two over to visit this seat of state government. Anyone interested in a particular state bill or political issue may have dropped by here to hear the chambers in session. And in our case, as a person hosting visitors from out-of-state (like my parents), you might pay a visit to it as a tourist attraction.

Visitors to the Statehouse have the option of two different self-guided tours (via cell phone or podcast; just bring the appropriate device) at their own pace, or a free guided tour of approximately 45-50 minutes. These tours are offered on weekdays tours offered on the hour from 10 AM - 3 PM when the Statehouse is open to the public. There's even an option for those who cannot make the trip out to the grounds in person via a virtual tour, which is available via a visit to the Statehouse's website. After-hours tours of the Statehouse can also be arranged in advanced for a fee.

We opted for the regular daily guided tour and we found out it's just not possible to cover all 10 acres of the Statehouse building grounds and cover every little nook and cranny. However, we did get a good sampling of both the highlights and lesser-known aspects of this building, such as its modern (for the time) heating system and its use of windows to maximize the use of sunlight for natural illumination. In addition, as a California resident for so long, I found it interesting that the road to determining Ohio's eventual capital city was pretty similar to California's path in terms of various cities holding that distinction before a final decision was made.

Other interesting factoids learned here included the use of prison labor to construct most of the building, as well as details on the stop made in Columbus by Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession (with this city being one of the last stops prior to arriving in Lincoln's hometown of Springfield, Illinois for burial, the body was not in terribly good shape as it was laid in state in the Rotunda area for mourners.

The following photos document some of the other more interesting details we encountered on our tour:

Looking up from inside at the cupola from the Rotunda. Our tour guide stated that the designers
wanted to keep true to the building's Greek Revival architecture and determined that
a cupola was the appropriate structure to top the Statehouse, not a dome (which is Roman in origin.)

The Statehouse Rotunda floor from afar; one does not get the pronounced rounded
convergence effect when you're standing on the surface itself

The George Washington Williams Memorial Room detailed the life of this multi-faceted
individual. Along with being the first African-American Ohio legislator, he served as
a soldier, author, minister, journalist and lawyer in his relatively short life (Williams
died at the age of 41.)

The Statehouse, which took over 20 years to build due to various delays, has a foundation
consisting mainly of limestone mined from a quarry on the west side of the Scioto River

Some of the elegance that flows through the Nathan B. Kelley-designed House
Chamber. Our tour guide said many thought these touches were over the top, but
they ended up remaining. A six-year restoration project started in 1990 brought
the chamber back to its glory, including installation of reproduction
chandeliers based on period sketches and modernized electronic capabilities.

A closer view of one of the Statehouse's limestone walls. Numerous fossils
such as this trilobite can easily be found.

The iconic "Perry's Victory" painting by artist William Powell, which hangs
in the Rotunda. Ohio Legislators balked originally when Powell asked for much
more than the agreed upon commission. However, after Powell put the painting
on tour and received a U.S. Government commission to paint a second version,
Ohio officials relented and bought the original.

Pete the Pigeon stands guard on the Senate side of the Atrium. Pete is a nod
to this area's former informal designation as"Pigeon Run."\ According to our
tour guide, people rushed between the House and Senate building
in this formerly outdoor area to avoid being unceremoniously dumped
upon by these feathered fiends. The Atrium was finally enclosed from the
outside for safer human passage in 1993.

Plaque that commemorates President Abraham Lincoln's first speech to
Ohio citizens in 1859. As he was not well-known at the time to state
residents at the time, his speech was heard by only a few-dozen people

Some of the graceful touches that populate the Grand Staircase in the
Senate Building. Our tour guide informed us the Senate was built several
decades after the original Statehouse, and was meant to be much more
elegant than its more simple, functional neighbor.

The Ohio Statehouse tour proved to be an informative and engaging look at what is obviously a prominent part of Ohio history. Having taken the same-style tour at California's house of government (as a tourist with my spouse,) I can safely say any Ohio visitors to the Golden State will get an equally intriguing look at the statehouse located in Sacramento.

And if you do pop over to visit California's capitol building, be sure to view all the paintings of past state governors. It is then when you can contemplate what it would be like to have, say, former Governor James Rhodes or current Governor John Kasich painted up in the same style as former (and current) Governor Jerry Brown did after his first terms in California's highest seat.

The Ohio Statehouse

1 Capitol Square (Downtown - Google Maps)

Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 752-9777

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