Remember these joints from 1969?
In the summer of 1969, Columbus Dispatch columnist Johnny Jones published a list of Downtown restaurants compiled by Helen Goodfleisch of New Albany. At the time, she was secretary to Ohio Attorney General Paul Brown.
Her list contained what she believed to be every dining spot within a two-block radius of the Statehouse, and she had tried all of them.
Here’s the list, with her commentary. Some places were so well known, they needed no address. (And, for context, Dave Thomas had yet to open his first Wendy’s; that milestone was still a few months away.)
Black Angus on Gay Street — Delicious sandwiches.
Bonanza on Lynn St. — Very popular and reasonable.
Buckeye Room (5th floor, Lazarus) — Rates good and includes dessert – relaxing atmosphere.
Chintz Room (5th floor, Lazarus) — Prices slightly higher than Buckeye Room.
Club in the Hartman Building — Love their peanut burgers.
Colonial Room (1st floor, Lazarus) — Good food, reasonable.
Compass Points (Top floor at Sheraton) — Expensive.
Congress on 4th Street — Delicious veal cutlet sandwiches.
Copper Skillet on West State – Tiny place but food good.
Courtyard on East State Street – Cute little place you go down into.
Curley-q on Lynn Street — Always have to wait, they’re that popular.
El Marcado (1st floor on Sheraton) — Their small Sheraton salad is out of this world.
Fountain (Front Street Level, Lazarus) — Inexpensive, fast service.
Green’s Dime Store – Fast service. Hayes on Gay Street — Who doesn’t like Hayes?
Highland Grill (West Basement, Lazarus‚ – Very good.
Hummel’s (Basement in new Huntington Building) — Popular place, good food.
Jack ‘n Benny – Where else can you get such good corned beef sandwiches?
Jose’s at 74 E. Gay St. — Tiny place, I think Jose is Cuban and is trying to make a go of it.
Keg Room at Gay and High streets — Specials every day, reasonable and good food.
Klein’s — Everyone loves Benny, including me.
Kresge at State and High streets — Has a very good manager.
Kuenning’s — One of my favorite spots. Maramor — Another of my favorites. Marzetti — Good but expensive.
Mill’s — If you’re not careful, can be very expensive.
Paoletti — Has the best cheese omelet in town.
Parker Steak House — Similar to Bonanza. Patio (4th floor at The Union) — Lovely, relaxing place.
Pewter Mug — Good but expensive.
Pub on West Gay Street — Most delicious french-fried onion rings.
Red Lion (Neil House) — Another of my favorites for their ham sandwiches.
Ringside – I adore Clem’s man-sized sandwiches.
Sabre Lounge (on South High Street near Town Street) — Has delicious tuna fish sandwiches.
Small Fry (on East State Street near High Street) — Fast service and inexpensive.
Stand (Blind stand in basement of Statehouse) — Efficient service and food good. State-4th — Good service, reasonable prices. Masonic Temple — Another of my favorite spots.
Tick-tock (on East Gay a few doors east of Sheraton) — Fast service, good food.
Top-of-the-center (Top floor of City National Bank) — One of the prettiest places in town.
Town House (on South 4th Street close to Broad Street) — Fast service and good food.
Town & Country Room (Neil House) — Very good food.
Union Store Basement — Delicious food, fast service.
Webster’s (North 3rd Street close to Long Street) — I think they have the cheapest and best hamburger in town.
Woolworth Dime Store — Counter service. YWCA — Relaxing atmosphere, good food. Contributor Linda Deitch was a Dispatch librarian for 25 years.