New Grandview restaurant puts the pig front and center
The Old Spot is a new restaurant in Grandview Heights. This might lead you to believe the establishment is misnamed, but it’s not. That’s because “old spot” refers to a speckled hog, and The Old Spot is a pig-happy restaurant.
A very welcome joint venture from illustrious industry veterans — Rick and Krista Lopez of La Tavola and Lupo, plus Tony Tanner and Matt Evans of The Butcher & Grocer (which is just a few doors away) — The Old Spot displays its porcine love on a blue-gray wall with porkerfaced illustrations.
In addition to this exhibition of swine art, the casual modern place features plenty of wood, a pressed-metal ceiling, roomy booths and framed segments of tapestry that echo a colorful rug on the concrete floor. A popular bar area and a pleasant patio opposite a small park are offered, too.
Before pigging out on dishes elevated by carefully sourced ingredients — many are local and from The Butcher & Grocer — you can unwind with some wine from a nice little list that eschews commonplace labels. If a cocktail is calling, the Rose Spritz ($8) — fizzy spritzes are an emerging Columbus trend — is refreshingly light and floral. The King ($10), an interesting drink with tequila, mezcal and rhubarb liqueur, is smoky and spicy. Cynar, amontillado and rye endow The Count ($11) — a rich, dark and potent libation — with fruity notes and a bitter finish.
High-quality pork enriches numerous dishes, including The Old Spot Salad ($9), graced with smoky bacon. The lively, entree-sized ensemble also includes crushed hazelnuts, creamy goat cheese, lightly pickled grapes, good lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette.
The ground-pork filling in the Sichuan gyoza ($9)
The Bowl entree and an oatmeal pie at The Old Spot