In for the Arnold?
Here are 15 dining options within walking distance
The list of sponsors at the Arnold Sports Festival includes plenty of dining options — if you want to limit your weekend caloric intake to metabolismboosting energy drinks, proteinpacked whey powders and musclebuilding liquid egg whites.
But you could get tacos.
A world of steaks, pasta, burgers, cocktails and other deliciousness awaits within walking distance of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the main hub of activity for the Arnold during its four-day run from Feb. 29 to March 3.
Here are 15 options that don’t even require directions. They’re all located on High Street, within one mile of the convention center in the Short North and Downtown.
Reservations required at these restaurants Fyr and Stories on High
The first-floor restaurant and the top-floor bar at the Hilton Columbus Downtown’s 28-story tower offer Instagrammable views of what’s outside their windows, served on their plates and poured into their cocktail glasses.
Fyr, recently named by USA TODAY as one of the nation’s Restaurants of the Year, is a live-fire restaurant where the food outshines the flames. Chef Sebastian La Rocca uses cooking techniques from his native Argentina on meats and vegetables sourced mostly from within Ohio. It’s also open for breakfast and Sunday brunch.
Up at Stories on High, the menu is decidedly Asian with small plates such as rock shrimp tempura in a gojuchang bloody mary sauce, Japanese-style yakitori, nigiri and sashimi.
Visit fyrshortnorth.com and storiesonhigh.com. Address: Hilton Columbus Downtown, 402 N. High St.
The Pearl
Recognizable pub food isn’t taken to the next level at the Pearl. It’s taken a few levels above the next level.
The Pub Burger isn’t adorned with a lot of extras, but a bit of Cambozola cheese (the best of Camembert and Gorgonzola) and tomato jam are more than enough. Jalapeno corn spoon bread is a must-have starter. Oysters and seafood entrees also bring diners back repeatedly.
The Pearl also opens for brunch at 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Visit thepearlrestaurant.com. Address: 641 N. High St.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Old-school steakhouse staples such as New York strips, T-bones, wedge salads, stuffed mushrooms, fully loaded baked potatoes and creamed spinach are supplemented by modern classics such as sea bass, seared ahi tuna, lobster mac and cheese, and roasted Brussels sprouts.
A four-course prix fixe menu includes a salad or soup, filet and shrimp or lobster tail, side dish and dessert.
Visit ruthschris.com/columbus. Address: 511 N. High St.
Speck Italian Eatery
Creative dishes with house-made pastas in an elegant-yet-casual atmosphere make for a memorable meal. There are a few traditional pasta dishes such as bucatini with pomodoro sauce, mafaldine with sausage ragu, and gnudi cacio e pepe, but give something new a try.
That category includes a spinach pasta with bone marrow, fresh herbs and pecorino cheese’ or linguine with spinach, crispy capers, truffles and crab. And don’t skip the focaccia to start your meal and lemon cookies for dessert.
Speck is open for dinner, as well as lunch on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit speckrestaurant.com. Address: 89 N. High St.
Socal Kitchen and Bar
You might see it listed as Del Mar Socal Kitchen, but the Cameron Mitchell restaurant changed its name in January. The menu is Southern California-inspired and includes a number of seafood entrees, sushi, poke and ceviche.
Socal Kitchen also serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit socalkitchenandbar.com. Address: 705 N. High St.
Sit-down dining Spaghetti Warehouse
The longtime Columbus favorite opened in a new location last fall after a 2022 roof collapse at its original home. It’s now on the edge of the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons in the heart of Downtown.
The restaurant’s crowd-pleasers are still on the menu: 15-layer lasagna, chicken parmigiana, four cheese ravioli and more. But the new Spaghetti Warehouse also offers what it calls “an evolved menu” that includes smaller portions and lighter fare. Its entrees include lemon-roasted salmon, herbgrilled sirloin and zucchini noodles Aglio e Olio.
Spaghetti Warehouse recommends reservations on weekends but doesn’t require them. Visit meatballs.com. Address: 150 S. High St.
Happy Greek
A menu of more than five dozen choices includes all the Greek and Mediterranean favorites — lamb chops, kebabs, spanakopita, grape leaves, moussaka — as well as grilled chicken dishes, pastas, salads and pita sandwiches.
The Happy Greek burger uses ground chuck, brisket and short rib, grilled to order and topped with feta, olives, lettuce, tomato and onion.
Reservations are accepted, but getting a table doesn’t usually require a long wait for walk-ins. Visit happygreek.com. Address: 660 N. High St.
Bakersfield
The tacos are the attraction at Bakersfield; the short rib, achiote-braised pork and crispy fish are recommended both for their main ingredients and the slaws and sauces that complement them so well.
Don’t overlook the salads and tortas, though. The Willie is a mild but satisfying salad of romaine lettuce, roasted chicken, bacon, black beans, tomatoes, corn and a buttermilk dressing. The Milanesa torta is a hearty chicken cutlet sandwich topped with arugula, black beans and an avocado and lemon aioli.
A limited number of reservations are taken nightly, but walk-ins are welcome. Visit bakersfieldtacos.com. Address: 733 N. High St.
The Eagle
You can order a quarter, half or whole fried chicken that’s brined in-house and well-seasoned. And don’t skip the sides: The horseradish mashed potatoes are memorable.
If you’re looking for something a little less filling, the grilled cheese is brightened up by slices of granny smith apple and apricot jam.
Like Bakersfield, the Eagle takes a limited number of reservations but welcomes walk-ins. Visit eaglerestaurant. com. Address: 790 N. High St.
Arch City Tavern
The extensive menu of pub favorites includes stone-baked pizzas (the fig & arugula also features prosciutto, goat cheese and roasted garlic spread), burgers, Parmesan truffle fries and bratwurst corn dogs.
Arch City serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with dishes such as salmon Benedict and Cajun shrimp and grits.
Reservations are only accepted for parties of seven or more on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit archcitytavern.com. Address: 862 N. High St.
Casual and quick bites Mikey’s Late Night Slice
The pizza place born in a Columbus parking lot lives up to its late-night name. Mikey’s is open until 2:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Its New York-style pizza can be ordered by the slice or by the pie. Toppings don’t get too weird (vegan Buffalo chicken, this month’s special, is the most non-traditional right now), but its sweet, spicy, smoky and tangy unicorn sauce adds punch to anything.
Look for an Arnold weekend special called the Meathead; topped with pepperoni, sausage and meatballs, it’s billed as a “protein bomb.”
Visit latenightslice.com. Address: 457 N. High St. Local Cantina
Free chips, check. Queso, check. Margaritas, check. But Local Cantina’s taco menu checks more than a Mexican box. With creations such as the Hong Kong Phooey (teriyaki chicken, pineapple salsa and Sriracha), the Nashville hot chicken (fried chicken, dill pickles, slaw and chipotle lime ranch) and the Mac Attack (macaroni and cheese with Buffalo fried chicken), there’s one for any mood.
Visit localcantina.com. Address: 600 N. High St.
Brassica
Just like at Chipotle, you build your meal as you walk along the line at Brassica. The bases are pita (for a sandwich), greens and grains (for a salad) or hummus (for a plate); and toppings include chicken, falafel, brisket, pickled veggies, marinated eggplant, roasted carrots and cauliflower, and sauces such as tahini dressing and roasted red pepper.
Brassica’s seasoned fries are always a tasty side, although the main dishes are pretty filling on their own.
Visit brassicas.com. Address: 680 N. High St.
Tasty Dawg
Hot dogs aren’t the only thing on the menu, although the 11 signature dogs include Chicago Style (complete with neon-green relish), Philly Style (with roasted mushrooms and peppers) and Cleveland-style Polish Boy (topped with tater tots, coleslaw and barbecue sauce).
Tasty Dawg also serves mac and cheese bowls, Italian beef sandwiches, loaded tots and more. Visit tastydawg.com. Address: 107 S. High St.
Homage Bar
The bar inside the Graduate Hotel was designed by Ryan Vesler to look like the basement where he started his T-shirt company. (There’s an Homage store in the Short North as well, at 783 N. High St.)
The cozy, wood-paneled bar features signature cocktails, a shot-and-a-beer menu, bar snacks such as chips and onion dip, pickled eggs and actual pickles, and Ohio’s classic fried bologna sandwiches. There’s
also a daily breakfast menu from 6 a.m. to noon.
Visit graduatehotels.com/columbus/restaurant/ homage-bar. Address: 750 N. High St. rvitale@dispatch.com
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