Review - Rusty Bucket Tavern, Upper Arlington

Hello all!  Well the final dinner of the weekend took me to Rusty Bucket Tavern in Upper Arlington.  I have been here once before and I liked the atmosphere so much that I thought I'd come back again.  The place is set up like a cozy sport bar with red brick and wood interior.  It has generous seating in the bar area as well as tables and booths in an elevated restaurant tier.  Every table has a great view to a television for all your sports needs.  I actually went here to watch the rest of the Browns/Bengals game without going to some grease pit bar with just burgers and fries on the menu.

That being said, I still ordered a burger!  I ordered the All Jacked Up burger which is a beef patty topped with lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and Monterrey Jack cheese.  It was delicious and hit the spot!  I ordered the burger well done and it came out perfectly juicy, thick, and without any burnt edges.  The fries that came with it were seasoned with garlic and herbs.  Wash it all down with an IPA and I was in heaven.  My girlfriend ordered the lemon chicken that came with steamed broccoli, white rice, and a mushroom sauce.  I did not try her dish, but she said that she loved it! 

So, just a quick review this time.  I really like this bar for its cozy atmosphere without being a hole-in-the-wall.  Plus, sports fans are everywhere.  It is definitely the place to be for the big game.  Prices were reasonable, just under $10 for a burger and entrees where between $10-15.  The place is not too big so there is always a TV close to your table.  I would definitely come back here any day of the week and I think you should too!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Onions

Review - Columbus Brewing Company

I finally was able to visit the Columbus Brewing Company!  I have heard a lot about this place and was anxious to try it.  The Columbus Brewing Company (CBC) is located just south of downtown Columbus right on the edge of the Brewery District.  Driving through that district is very cool because it has a lot of old red brick buildings that used to be the center of the Columbus microbrew scene many years ago.  The brewery itself is not that big with a small bar area and a cozy restaurant area.  Not too big, not too small.  They do have a patio, but we came on a rainy evening, so we could not enjoy the outdoor seating.  I bet its a blast during the summer.

My girlfriend and I went on a Saturday evening around 6:45pm.  The place was already packed by then and we had a 30 minute wait.  That was actually not bad at all as we went to the bar to taste the microbrews while we waited for a table.  I tried the Columbus 1859 Porter and my date had the Apricot Ale.  I loved the porter, it had a robust toasted malt flavor with hints of chocolate and coffee.  The Apricot Ale was a very light ale with hints of apricot fruit.  I liked the Apricot Ale because the apricot flavoring didn't overpower you and left you thinking you were still drinking a beer (as opposed to fruit juice!).

So, we actually sat down about 20 minutes into our visit and ordered the pecan crusted chicken and the chicken & shrimp stirfry.  The pecan chicken was fabulous and came with a pile of smashed red potatoes and corn.  The pecan crust gave it a crunchy, light bite to it that I thought was so much better than regular breading.  The chicken & shrimp stirfry came with a scoop of steamed white rice and shredded vegetables.  The chicken and shrimp were sliced and sauteed with the vegetables.  The vegetables were topped with an oil based dressing that brought out the flavors of the dish without overpowering it.  With dinner, I also tried the 90 Shilling Scotch Red Ale which was very good.  It had a medium body with a rich amber color and seemed to go well with the pecan chicken.

All in all, it was a good experience with a nice atmosphere, but I have one complaint.  The entrees and beers seemed a little expensive for a brew pub.  Beers were $4.75/12oz. draft and the entrees averaged $16-20.  My beers were very tasty, but the beer lineup seemed limited with only 5 styles on tap.  I understand CBC is in a hip part of town, so I guess we paid for the location.  At any rate, I would definitely come back again because the food was fantastic.  But, just to forewarn you, the tab could be a little pricey.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Onions

Review – Tasi Cafe, Short North

So, breakfast is one of those no brainers.  Eggs, meat (bacon, sausage, ham, etc), maybe pancakes, and coffee.  Just about every city and every neighborhood has its own diner-type grease pit that serves those succulent skillet breakfast platters that would satisfy any empty stomach.  But this morning, I was searching for that hidden breakfast cafe that offered something new and different from the age old breakfast question.  I found that in Tasi Cafe located in the Short North District of Columbus, Ohio.

Tasi is tucked away on a small street just off High St.  When I walked in, I was immediately surprised with the decor and layout of the location.  The cafe interior was a quaint red brick with wood tables and old fashioned iron chairs.  Right when you come in they have gourmet food products for sale like Illy Coffees, handmade Italian pastas, olive oil, jams, and various drinks.  The counter showed an appetizing display of desserts, biscotti, and sandwiches.  The menu was on a chalk board above the counter with daily and local specialties.

So, I ordered the Greek scrambled eggs with tomato, feta, zucchini, olives, and white toast.  My girlfriend ordered the eggs benedict which came with a cup of assorted seasonal and local fruits (apples, grapes, cantaloupe, and oranges).  The Greek scramble was mouthwatering and finished with a tang from the olives and feta.  The eggs benedict was perfectly prepared and presented on top of an English muffin.  When slicing into the eggs, the yolk was runny and ran all over the English muffin and that is just the way I like it!

We sat at a small table right next to the window and watched as the cafe filled up for the Saturday mid morning rush.  The atmosphere there was fantastic!  People relaxing of a gourmet breakfast and coffee and chatting about the upcoming Ohio State Buckeyes game or their plans for the day.  The best part is that breakfast is served all day!  They do serve lunch and loaves of homemade bread to take home as well.
I would highly recommend this cafe for a nice breakfast or a quick sandwich.  It is truly a unique cafe, the likes of which I have not yet seen anywhere else in Ohio.  It has an enticing atmosphere and gratifying plates of food.  Prices were reasonable but slightly more expensive than your neighborhood breakfast diner.  Well worth it, though.  You will not be disappointed!  Fresh, seasonal, local.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Onions

Review – Tai’s Asian Bistro

 

 

So, I guess I haven’t posted in a while, but I have a couple restaurant reviews for you for the Columbus, OH area.  Last night, I was looking for something affordable and close to my apartment.  Lo and behold, right around the corner was Tai’s Asian Bistro on Lane Ave.  I had an inkling for Asian food, so why not?  The menu online offered some nice choices and the prices seemed ok.

The place was set up like a take out Asian grill with some tables and chairs.  You just walk up to the counter, place your order, and they will deliver your food to your at your table.  So, I ordered the Cucumber Salad with Beef and my girlfriend ordered the Honey Shrimp with steamed rice.  The food came out within 10-15 minutes on two HUGE plates.  I must say the portions here are very generous and satisfying.

The Cucumber Salad was a large bowl of mixed greens topped with shredded cucumbers and 6 skewers of Asian marinated beef.  The dressing was light sweet and sour dressing that was very refreshing.  The beef seemed marinated in soy sauce, spices, then grilled.  The Honey Shrimp came with a bed of crunchy rice noodles and a side of steamed white rice.  The shrimp was very deliciously sweet, sticky, and with a little tang!  Mixed in with the rice and noodles, every mouth-full was an explosion of Asian flavors!

I would highly recommend this bistro for a quick, delicious Asian inspired meal.  The food seems very well cooked and presented.  It was much better than any of those greasy Chinese buffets. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 Onions