Leaders make case for Amtrak expansion

The Mid-ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Columbus Partnership are throwing their weight behind a proposal to bring Amtrak to Greater Columbus.

The organizations held two briefings in the fall with Amtrak executives and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, and have convened a group of thought leaders that includes officials from Ohio State University, the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the Columbus and Franklin County governments.

“We saw the window of opportunity opening last year,” MORPC Executive Director William Murdock said. “That’s why we engaged with some of these other organizations to begin these conversations.”

Greater Columbus should be attractive to Amtrak as one of the fastest growing regions in the Midwest, Murdock said.

“We’re pretty optimistic that this region has the best business case (for a passenger rail line) based on the population, the potential uses, and the lack of any service right now,” he said.

If Columbus-region residents need to travel to nearby cities such as Cincinnati or Pittsburgh, the interstates are among their only options, Murdock said. A rail line gives them an alternative.

Cleveland has one stop on an Amtrak line. Trains stop there on the way from Chicago to the East Coast and vice versa.

“I don’t know if people are aware we already have strong Amtrak service in Ohio,” Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency Executive Director Grace Gallucci said.

NOACA is lobbying Amtrak to improve the existing service by moving trains through Northeast Ohio more frequently. Currently trains only stop in Cleveland in the middle of the night.

Amtrak trains stop in six Ohio cities besides Cleveland: Elyria, Sandusky, Toledo, Bryan, Alliance and Cincinnati.

Rail supporters have limited time. Ohio has to decide by mid-summer if it

Don Pocha

Korean BBQ restaurant Don Pocha, 4710 Reed Road, is a resident favorite in Upper Arlington.

The menu features starters like Korean chicken wings and savory pancakes, pork and beef combos, bulgogi, beef brisket, shrimp, pork jowl and belly, and sides like soups and stews noodle dishes and seasonal vegetables, in addition to a separate to-go menu.

The restaurant has also now incorporated Poongmei’s menu with the restaurant’s closing in 2021.

Hours are noon to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, closed Tuesdays (visit donpocha.com).

Gogi Korean BBQ

Nearby to Don Pocha is Gogi Korean BBQ, 1138 Bethel Road on the Northwest Side.

The restaurant, which opened in 2016, the extensive menu are small plates like deep fried oysters, calamari and tteokbokki or rice cakes, salads, soups, stews, noodle and rice dishes, and large Korean BBQ combos featuring short ribs, bulgogi, ribeye and NY strip, or individual type of meat like beef tongue and marinated chicken ready to be seared. And if there’s still room, green tea, red bean or chocolate ice cream are for dessert.

Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11:30. a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, closed Mondays (visit gogikbbq.com).

So Gong Dong Tofu & Korean BBQ

Korean BBQ chain So Gong Dong, at 2950 Hayden Rd. on (you guessed it) the Northwest Side, opened in 2017 and has been well received ever since.

At So Gong Dong you aren’t doing the cooking yourself. But the restaurant still has all the dishes you would expect of a Korean BBQ restaurant, including savory pancakes, dumplings, bulgogi, short ribs, bibimbap and kimchi. Plus, there’s a buildyour-own Korean-style silken tofu stew and an alcohol menu with Korean beer, soju and Korean wine offered.

The restaurant is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (sgdrestaurant.com)

Cupzilla food truck

A food truck option for Korean BBQ fans, Cupzilla is less grill-ityourself and more on-the-go. The menu features Korean BBQ chicken, pork or tofu cups served with rice, noodles and veggies. There is also a Korean fried chicken cup or pair your cup with Korean potstickers or spring rolls (visit facebook.com/cupzillakoreanbbq).

Coming soon: K Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

This summer, headed soon to none other than the Northwest Side is K Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, in the former Buffalo Wild Wings location at 5420 Bethel Center Mall.

K-town will have inset grills for guests to cook on, combined with Chinese hot pots for cooking meats, seafood, fresh vegetables and noodles.

The national chain has eight locations in five states, with a massive expansion appearing to be in the works in over 50 locations in 19 states, according to the company’s website (visit thekpot.com). tmoorman@dispatch.com @Taijuannichole