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Though dubbed the "Fast Food Capital of the World" by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal (Wendy's and Max & Erma's are both headquartered here), Columbus features a lively restaurant scene. Eateries tucked into Downtown, the Short North, German Village, and surrounding suburbs offer everything from down-home barbecue to haute cuisine.
Summer means open-air dining in the courtyard; winter means drinks in front of a blazing fire in the cocktail lounge. The menu, which also changes with the seasons, might include rack of lamb, beef tenderloin medallions, and fresh seafood dishes. The wine list tops out at more than 900 selections. Northwest of Downtown in a restored church dating from the 1850s, the restaurant charms with exposed brick walls, stained-glass windows, and wooden beams.
