The start of a new year means we’re all doubling down on health goals for the months ahead. Sometimes eating healthy can feel impossible — between sugary snacks at the office, to splitting a pizza with friends, sometimes we need a list of restaurants that support our healthy eating goals.
The restaurants on this list all make it easy to eat healthy, nutritious food without sacrificing flavor. All located in the Short North, these are walking distance to many of our Short North apartments in Columbus.
Brassica
The folks at Brassica are dedicated to nutrition. Their carefully-chosen ingredients feature organic, whole-wheat pita, artisan tahini and organic chickpeas, antibiotic-free meats, and nutritious vegetables from a wide network of local growers.
Choose from a housemade pita or bowl of greens with lentils and rice. Choose from falafel, chicken, brisket, glazed bacon, or simply vegetarian. Or choose their hummus plate, served with warm whole-wheat pita.
Brassica enjoys high ratings from Columbus residents, including one glowing review from a local guide, who says “Where to begin? Best thing I’ve ever tasted! High-quality ingredients, delicious and unique flavors, vegetarian friendly. Great price, clean, cozy ambience. Nice view of High Street, comfy seating, open late. The servers were super friendly! I was really delighted. Thank you!”
The Table
The Table believes in eating local, and makes it easy for Columbus residents to enjoy locally-grown fare. Patrons enjoy their relaxed, bohemian feel, with whimsical mismatched chairs, houseplants, and local art on the walls. On beautiful days, you might choose to sit out on the patio.
For brunch, enjoy classics like an egg sandwich or fruit and granola. You can get creative by ordering the delicious Shakshuka, which features spicy stewed tomatoes, charred peppers and onions, poached egg, feta, and black olives, all on a toasted pita. Or try the Vegetable Akoori, featuring Indian spiced vegetables, onions, garlic, chilies, and cilantro on toast.
For dinner, enjoy the Vegetable Pad Thai, Scallops, Lamb, or Winter Pasta, featuring butternut squash, sage pasta, peanut pumpkin, mushrooms, greens, quinoa, and parmesan.
One local guide says, “Honestly, this has become my favorite restaurant in Columbus. It’s the best, most creative food I’ve ever had in a restaurant, with fun service and amazing ambiance. Not the mention, the olive oil bread was to die for.”
Trust us, after eating at The Table, you’ll have a new sense of what healthy eating can be.
Northstar Cafe
With five locations around Columbus, Northstar Cafe has become quite the Columbus staple. Northstar features a sunny patio and a modern interior, making it a great place to gather with friends and family. (The kids menu at Northstar is large and kids love it!)
Northstar’s lunch and dinner menu is where they truly shine. The Buddha Bowl features your choice of pan seared organic tofu or roasted chicken. The long-grain brown rice with peanut sauce and bright veggies are to die for. The Northstar Burger, made with organic black beans, is a fine option which features a simple salad on the side.
One local suggests bringing your dog and sitting on the patio, “I ate there on a Sunday evening at sunset and it was awesome,” she says, “I sat outside with my mom and my dog and the atmosphere was perfect. I had the chicken avocado sandwich and a Cheetah lager which were both delicious. Highly recommend!”
Del Mar SoCal Kitchen
Inspired by Southern California fare, Del Mar (By Cameron Mitchell) is sure to impress even the most discerning seafood lovers. Choose between an array of starters, including the Lobster Bisque or Guacamole served with warm tortilla and nori chips.
Veggie lovers swoon over the fresh vegetable plates, including their Roasted Shishito Peppers. The delectable plate of Brussels Sprouts includes sweet potatoes, salsa verde, cashews, and feta.
For dinner, choose from a variety of entrees, including Swordfish on sweet potato puree, Angus Ribeye on a bed of warm spinach salad, and more. The Fisherman’s Stew includes mouth-watering lobster, jumbo prawns, mussels, clams, scallops, tomato, and saffron: the ultimate feast for the seafood lover.
One Columbus local says, “Beyond delicious. I can’t say enough about this place. The curry clams were delicious. The octopus and oysters were perfect. The halibut was amazing and had a beautiful sweet and savory taste. As one would expect, the lobster roll was perfect. The service was spectacular, and every worker is kind and very helpful.”
Happy Greek Restaurant and Pub
Happy Greek has been a staple of Columbus for years, and they have a wall of awards to show for it. According to their website, “Locally owned and family operated, the Happy Greek features great Greek food in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere.”
You can’t go wrong with their traditional Avgolemono lemon rice soup with chicken, along with their Greek Village Salad, the Horiatiki Salata, featuring fresh tomato, cucumber, red onion, green pepper, feta, Kalamata olives, and olive oil vinaigrette. If you need an entree to please your appetite, you can choose from the rest of their vast menu, from kebabs, pitas, to vegetarian dishes and seafood entrees, the Happy Greek has something for everyone.
One Columbus local praises the Happy Greek for their delicious fare, “Absolutely amazing food, great portions and a fair price. Ten bucks for a Gyro that me and my wife could easily have split between us. And the Hummus with pita side dish was amazing. I’ll never be able to eat store bought hummus again!”
Hai Poke
If you want to immerse yourself in island time this winter, be sure to hit up Hai Poke, serving up island-inspired street food here in Columbus. If you’ve never had a traditional poke bowl, you’re in for a treat. Their Poke bowls feature your choice of marinated sashimi grade Ahi Yellowfin Tuna or marinated salmon over sticky sushi rice with pickled cucumbers, jalapenos, onions, spicy bean sprouts, and a wedge of lime.
Vegetarians will love their Tofu Bowl or Veggie Bowl, which include marinated tofu or slices of avocado in concert with a fresh load of vegetables.
One Columbus local says, “Hai Poke offers fresh salmon, tuna poke bowls, and tofu bowls. The Short North location is conveniently located near a parking garage. The local business has grown from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar business that employs friendly staff and serves delicious, fairly priced food.”
Lemongrass Fusion Bistro
If you love soups, salads, and asian-inspired seafood, Lemongrass is for you. Start out with their Lemongrass Soup, featuring spicy lemongrass broth, mixed vegetables, shell pasta, and chili paste. Their signature Lemongrass salad features baby field greens, romaine, pineapples, tangerines, crispy noodles, and lemongrass dressing. You’ll leave feeling refreshed.
Lemongrass prides itself on their fun and creative appetizers, where you can order veggie spring rolls, cajun scallops, or a sampler of their most popular items, including two seafood rangoons, two chicken sate, and two spring rolls.
Ultimately, it’s the entrees that will have you coming back to Lemongrass again and again. Their Zucchini Tofu is a favorite among local vegetarians, and seafood lovers will fawn over their Monsoon Shrimp, featuring coconut milk, lemongrass, chili, lime juice, string beans, and rice. Meat lovers can opt for the Korean Kimchi Noodles with Beef, which delivers a spicy kick.
One Columbus local says, “Some of the best Pho I’ve ever had, ordered the beef and shrimp. The cream sauce was to die for!”
Now, a bit about Lykens Companies…
With 20 years (and counting) of experience, Lykens Companies is just getting started on its mission to offer Columbus hundreds of premier apartments, rentals, and renovations. Each day, we are driving toward constantly expanding and improving our business and bettering Columbus, the city we love. For our renters, that means that they are connected to a proven business that strives to be the best. Our success isn’t an accident. We constantly work to improve our quality in the buildings we renovate, reimagine, and rent out. For you, that means the best units and the best service in the best locations.
As we invest our time, money, and energy into the Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, and other parts of Columbus’s urban core, it’s good to step back and see how much we’re able to impact our city. We renovate apartments, houses, or factories like the Wonder Bread Lofts. Most recently, the Budd Dairy project: a full scale reimagining of an old dairy factory into a Cameron Mitchell food hall.
If you’re looking to rent in Columbus, Ohio’s urban core, you’ve come to the right place.
See every availability!
No matter where you’re looking for a Columbus apartment: in the Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, or a loft in Wonder Bread, our Available Rentals page features all these (and more). We’re constantly adding our newest properties and highlighting that month’s leasing specials. Bookmark it and check often! What if you took two minutes to browse it right now? And don’t forget about our awesome Instagram for updates, new leases, and beautiful photos.
Already a resident? Refer a friend!
At Lykens Companies, we offer a simple and easy referral program to our residents. For each referral of yours who signs a lease, we’ll pay you $200! Be sure to learn about this plan and check out our three methods to get your friends to sign a lease.
