Borgata Pizza Cafe offers own take on pies, pastas
Borgata Pizza Cafe has made its bones by happily distancing itself from the bedrock of the central Ohio pie scene: the party cut.
“It’s different than the cut-in-squares pizza everyone else has,” said Horacio “Roz” Auddino, who co-founded Borgata with Ed Bisconti. “We try to be different.”
That difference, at least in Columbus pizza parlance, is a New Yorkstyle pie — a thin, yielding crust with a thick outer rim and judiciously appointed toppings.
The latest Borgata store has opened in a new retail center at 2285 W. DublinGranville Road in the Linworth neighborhood.
A follow-up to the original store at 5701 Parkville St. in the Northland area, the new 3,200-squarefoot Borgata has an open floor plan, with seating for 98 inside and another 50 on the patio. The interior features an exhibition kitchen, high ceiling, brick, and tables and a bar top made from Ohio white oak, along with some custom wooden features.
Pizzas are cooked in Cuppone ovens imported from Italy. The electric ovens are set at 730 degrees, cooking the pizzas in four minutes, Bisconti said.
“The truth of the matter is we wanted a second location, a little bigger, and we found this,” Auddino said. “Every part of the puzzle fit.”
But pizza is not the only thing on the menu at Borgata, the owners note. There are homemade pastas, sauces, meatballs and calzones, plus sandwiches, salads and other items.
“It’s a rare thing these days, people making their own stuff,” Auddino said.
The signature dish is a baked cubanelle pepper stuffed with sausage seasoned in-house.
“That’s mine,” said Bisconti, who trained at the Providence, Rhode Island, campus of Johnson & Wales University.
Most entrees cost around $10.
Borgata has a full liquor license, with six beers on draft and additional selections by the bottle and can, plus cocktails and a limited selection of wine.
The restaurant is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday. For more information, call 614-396-8758.
Market strikes oil
Green Olive Company will join the North Market in June.
The store, to be located in the space next to Destination Donuts, specializes in fresh olive oils, which follow the growing seasons of olives in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Green Olive’s balsamic vinegars are from Modena, Italy, and barrel-aged in the traditional method. Source: maps4news.com/©HERE GATEHOUSE MEDIA
The area’s other Green Olive Company, 861 N. High St. in the Short North, remains for the time being but might be shuttered, owner Lisa McCormack said.
Tavern brunch
Quiche, eggs Benedict and prime-rib hash all are options on a new brunch menu at The Avenue Steak Tavern, 1307 Grandview Ave.
Brunch dishes, priced between $8 and $15, are served from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays at the restaurant.
Clintonville Condado
Clintonville is quickly earning its reputation as the new hipster destination.
Condado, part of a locally based taco chain, is expected to open a location in September in the La Patrona space at 2977 N. High St.
La Patrona will remain open through the summer.
Using a vast variety of proteins, vegetables, cheese and sauces, Condado is known for its wide array of combinations, plus a healthy selection of craft beer and margaritas.
Clintonville will become the fifth Condado location.
For the obit file
Closed: Romano’s Macaroni Grill, 6115 Parkcenter Circle near the Mall at Tuttle Crossing.