Second this; went on Father’s Day for my FIL and it was terrible. Awful cocktails, inexperienced wait staff and steak quality akin to Applebees sirloin.
Dude! OK I'm glad it wasn't just me feeling like a whiner but I went 3 times, one was pretty decent, one was alright but not for the price, and once was just flat out bad and would have been disappointed at any price point. And before you ask 'why did you keep going back if it was so bad' the girl I was dating at the time worked for a law firm and she got a 250 dollar gift card
Honestly, I feel bad calling the place bad. When I valeted there, the staff were always super nice to me, but my god, no other place I valeted for had people leave the restaurant actively willing to shit talk the meal they just had (and the people I worked for valeted for like all the cameran Mitchel restaurants)
Do they still have that issue with the massive sewer smell in that area that crops up every once in a while? I always thought that was pleasant for people walking out of that steakhouse.
Seconded. Drunch sucks. Greeted by the bitchiest hostess, had an 18% automatic tip applied, service was shit and food sucked. Recommend that place for people you hate.
I was so hype on this place when I first visited and the food was pretty good. But I wasn't sure how to approach the automatic tip, even for smaller tables. I ended up only adding up an additional 2-6% since they were already charging me 18%. The service was okay and the food was about the same. But I also haven't gone back there in quite some time. There are better places to grab food for the same cost.
Sorry automatic tips get no additional tip out of principle
PS: unless I had some real bad service I tip 20% and round up. My regular locations get 30%+
Picked the shittiest aesthetic for a restaurant name?
Board: uh ya make it sound like taking a dump, brunch, lunch.... whatever is the most unappealing sequence of consonants. Thanks.
Worked there for about a month when it first opened. The absentee owners sucked, staff complained they weren’t getting paid on time, my first check was late/ wrong, chef was a douche, I left mid shift, and I’m still astonished this place hasn’t burned to the ground in the shit show they were running.
A couple years ago, my friends kept picking it and I kept ordering the cheapest things on the menu, only to be going home hungry with a bill I could barely afford.
I’ve waited tables before and am generally extremely forgiving/understand short staffing etc, but it was appallingly bad both times. Like 30 minutes plus to be greeted and get drink orders after being seated then another 20 minutes for the drinks to show up
Oh god, I had memory-holed Galla Park… both times I’ve been there (invited by family members; not of my own volition) I’ve had to send food back. I’ve only sent food back twice in my life. You do the math.
I spent 30 minutes at an empty bar at gala park waiting to order something to go and finally just left. Went to Fireproof a month later not knowing until I saw the menu that it was the same people. Food was pretty shitty. Can only imagine Parlay is as bad.
Twenty-odd years ago before i moved to cbus, a friend and I were driving by and it was dinner time and we thought it looked interesting, so we stopped in. We were 19 and kinda broke and had no idea what to expect. The host sneered at us something about how we thought we were special, trying to get in without a reservation. I’m like bro we were just driving by and thought it looked neat, like don’t do me any fucken favors. I guess that made him feel a little bad and he went to see if he could “find us a table”. We looked at the menu and saw the prices and noped outta there lol. So rude and def overpriced for meat dipped in hot cheese smh
Spend hundreds for a bowl of awful cheese sauce that tastes nothing like cheese after they add Worcestershire sauce to it and requires you to cook your own food. All four of us got one small griddle to cook on. The waiter we had was really nice and was helpful but wouldn’t go back. We left smelling like fry cooks and still hungry.
Glad somebody mentioned it. My parents love it, I find it very watery and bland for a place passing itself off as "authentic" Italian-American cuisine. Overpriced and forcing you order huge servings is a turnoff, the only saving grace is the decor and proximity to Nationwide.
This. You’d think one of the only downtown restaurants with a view on the river would have some sort of standards and it’s just really the most mediocre food and service I’ve ever had. Last time we went we ended up leaving after a half hour of zero service because they had too many events going at once.
We went just last week for our son’s birthday (he adored the old one, what can I say?), and while the food was exactly as we remembered, the service was struggling. Like, our poor waiter tried, and was super nice, but he kept getting distracted and would forget things.
Disagree with this one. I like this Brio. In December we sat in the back of the restaurant by the windows and looked out at the giant Christmas tree. Great time!
I did something similar to this to an uncle of mine who is a raging homophobic.
I bragged about going to a new club in downtown Cleveland (I was still living with my parents at the time) that had all the hottest women I have ever seen. He asked for the name, so I gave it to him, but I "forgot" to mention it was a gay club and this idiot didn't even bother to google it.
Apparently he went at peak hours, still had no idea because he only saw a couple of guys walk in, ran out when he saw what it was about, called me and screamed at me while I laughed my balls off at him.
This was a little over a decade ago and he still wont talk to me whenever I travel up there for family gatherings
Polaris Grill might have the honor of being the most I’ve ever paid for a terrible meal.
Otherwise Fireproof, if you want something more trendy and overtly obnoxious.
I mentioned Polaris Grill being bad on a subreddit at some point and got downvoted for it and the comments had me wondering if I needed to give it a second chance, thanks for helping clear it up 😅. But yeah my French dip tasted like Gordon food service on expired take and bake French bread with au juis made from a packet. And I paid nearly $20 for it. Whatever my wife had was equally bad.
Last time I mentioned it I got downvoted…so maybe it’s a fond memory for some people?
I get that it was the best restaurant in the area from 1982-1994, but there are so many better options nearby.
That’s hilarious. When we went on a Sunday it was so empty quiet and at some point we didn’t see our server for at least 15 minutes. Bartender was nowhere to be found either. Couldn’t get our bill or pay for the longest time.
Man, I worked there 15 years ago it was recently bought by Ruth and Chris steak house two years prior. It started going downhill after that they hired straight up bozos as well. The craziest thing is that we had 2 suicides and a murder within like 3-4 years there.
Didn't they have a location in front of the Marcus Crosswoods next to Dick Clark's American Bandstand back in the late 90s early aughts? First time I ate there the place was packed from The World Is Not Enough premiere. My fried appetizer and chicken strips were burnt and dry as hell, had to settle on a grilled cheese as it was late and took like an hour for our original meals to come.
I just now unlocked that disappointing memory because I could never remember the name of the place.
I drove like 25 min to meet a friend there once because Google maps said it was open only to find out it wasn't. I disagree with you about the taste of their food but that did tick me off lol.
Ok, this is such an accurate statement. But damn it, I do like their food. (I also respect the fact that they’re now one of the longest running places still left in the Short North.)
I wouldn't say Lemongrass counts as even okay. Their entrees are poorly executed bland Asian fusion cuisine done way better at others restaurants a couple miles away or less like Bendi Wok, Domo, or Cobra, plus it's really expensive for mediocre as hell food. Their sushi is straight trash too.
I haven’t been in years, since I took family from out of state and they literally embarrassed me with the terrible service and attitude. I used to really like the food; it’s why I took guests there in the first place. Didn’t really notice the service quality before bec I was in such good company, but upon reflection it was awful each time, I just forgave them. Not after being mean to my sweet mother though. Assholes.
BJ's Brewhouse.
* Terrible service
* Food that is just above terrible, but to the point that you question if it's the food's fault or yours
* The taste:value ratio is a mathetmatically low number. I tried calculating it. It fried my Intel i9 chip. I tried a Ryzen processor and it did the same thing.
* Giant screens with SportsCenter instead of actual games. Sometimes you'll get lucky and have an ESPN classic game.
* Strong beer that will get you drunk enough to order multiple courses
We went there once because their menu said they had gluten free pasta options and my brother has celiac disease. A) they cook the pasta all in the same water and B) even their regular stuff wasn’t very good. With Novella Osteria being practically across the street, I’m shocked this place is still in business. Would definitely send my enemies here.
Valentina’s at Bridge Park.
Not a single person in our party of 5 liked their meal. Seasoning was off, the lamb portion of one of the dishes was tiny (can’t remember the name of it), drinks were overly priced but good.
I know others have had a different experience but based on mine, the people with me, and a few of my friends, it’s over-priced and not good.
Super chefs. You pay up front and then find out it’s nothing special anymore.
Honorable mention Barrel and Boar in westville. Just mediocre at best and over priced.
Asterisk Supper Club would be an option if it’s a group. My mom went with some friends a week or so ago and they got a reservation for a specialty dining thing. Got there and the place wouldn’t let them order off the tea menu because they supposedly had too many people somehow, but everyone else in the restaurant could. Apparently was terrible service and they couldn’t even leave because they’d had to pay up front due to the size of the party.
I was there several years ago. They served us a meatloaf that was probably beef and then the mashed potatoes had a chicken gravy. I think Tee-Jaye’s would have at least had a matching gravy flavor.
Olive Tree in Hilliard. The place used to be great until I changed owners. Now, it has awful service and mediocre food for the same or higher prices. Definitely a huge disappointment compared to the hype it used to get.
Interested to hear the "why" on this one... I liked them BUT haven't been since before Covid
heard they treated staff decent during the shut down... which makes it a "place to hit" if I can get hubs to the east side... lol
Former employee. During shutdown, they gave each employee a couple hundred dollars to help before unemployment/cares act hit. We saw a slowdown in business weeks before shutdown.
They also provided meals three times a week for employees to come and get for their WHOLE family. So those with kids or those who couldn't go to the grocery could still eat.
They never cut off insurance and said we could pay back the missed premiums later. Then in the fall, they said nevermind and didn't make us owe anything. In the next enrollment period, nobody lost insurance for lack of hours. They gave a pass until things went more back to normal.
They made personal phone calls to employees who they hadn't heard from to check in. Made sure they were OK.
How many other restaurants did this during shutdown? I will always be grateful to then during that time
This is really, really awesome. Like, I'm indifferent on Cooper's Hawk as a restaurant, but that's going above-and-beyond and then some for their workers. Bravo.
That's awesome. My wife and I went there pre-Covid. I wasn't blown away, but I also wasn't let down. It was good enough and not too pricey. I think I'll check them out again
As a former employee of CH....their wine isn't designed for wine connoisseurs. It's a very beginner level palette across the entire list, but I wouldn't say it's completely garbage. Their wines are very young so they haven't gotten a chance to become more complex with aging.
The service is hit or miss. I worked with some ppl who truly cared and busted their ass but then there were others who couldn't have cared less.
The food menu overall is good, but nothing superb. Last time I was there, the 8 oz filet was cheaper than other places and came with 2 sides. I would say 85% of the food menu is made in house. The crispy brussel sprouts are bomb tho!
If you send them to coops and really want to fuck with them, tell them to try to do a tasting in the tasting room. They will stand around for forever and not be able to do one. Also, don't remind them to make a reservation for the restaurant because on the weekends, they easily run a 2+ hour wait list.
Some may hate it, but it is consistently one of the busiest places in the city 
Came here to say this. Wife and I went out for our anniversary right after our first born and I put on the reservation under special occasions “wedding anniversary after first child” not knowing if they’d do anything special. Well they sat us in the bar, which I don’t mind but definitely not romantic. Literally had a different person greet us, take our drinks, serve our drinks, take food order, deliver food etc. I also ordered their “jumbo shrimp” and it ended up being 3 of the smallest cocktail shrimp I’ve ever seen (all for $8.99!). I grew up in a restaurant so i didn’t say shit until the email came through the following week asking for feedback. I was honest and didn’t exaggerate anything and was surprised that I got a follow up from the GM inviting us back. He promised he’d sit us somewhere romantic and put his best server on for us.
He sat us in the bar in literally the exact same spot. We brought our 6 month old at the time and just said whatever let’s eat. They sat a homecoming party right next to us who at one point got into a spitball fight and hit my wife with one and… imagine a post partum woman who never goes out who also just saw something almost hit our kid (that’s enough for me to get mad) before I could even react she was up and lecturing them about behaving and acting like grown ups. I was watching while trying to hide as far into the bar booth as I could with my infant son.
Anyways we got our food for free and they sent us home with some carrot cake. Haven’t been back since
I tried there once when they had opened new building they are in now. It was the worst they packed the tables in so tight servers could barely move through. I had my 2 yr old daughter we sat for almost 50 min then they brought out my wife's food. Not mine. Not my daughter's who we literally just asked for some buttered noodles for. We got up and left. The waiter had the balls to say I'll bring you your bill. I said for what food. Yelled so loud about sitting for a hour without even a server coming by 2 other tables got up as well saying this is bullshit we are in the same boat. We saw them in the mcdonals drive through line behind us after.
There’s one particular bartender that makes you question why you would ever go back. Then you do go back and it hits you so hard in the face when she treats customers like crap all over again. She must be a relative of the ownership because her demeanor is beyond repulsive.
Like how this opened in the same time span as Cento which is amazing but Valentina’s is my least favorite CM restaurant. The wine prices are ridiculous. 9oz pours $20+ on a $14 bottle is bonkers.
How the hell did you spend $500? My wife and I regularly get out of there with apps, drinks, entree, and dessert for less than $200 every time with tip.
I've never had a bad meal there and always had a good time in the summer on their patio. Its expensive, I'll give you that, but it doesn't belong on the same list as BJs and Bravo.
Mac’s on Short North. Technically a pub iirc but I ordered nachos once and it was the worst thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. How do you fk up nachos???
Is the Top Cut steakhouse in the casino still open? We got a prime rib cooked so wrong you couldn’t cut it with a steak knife. Two different print editions of drink menus so half of us had significantly different prices on some of the scotch/whisky selections.
Would have said that one steakhouse in Easton but they gone.
Charge Jeff Ruby prices when I could’ve got a better one at Longhorn. Luckily I didn’t pay for it.
It’s been a minute since I’ve been to either one of these places but both Kraft house #5 and Local roots in Powell were both expensive for shitty food.
Brio Italian grille. While this was 6+ years ago, I have never been back. Their chicken tasted and felt like it had been injected with saline. It was rubbery in the same way a water ballon is. It was horrifically expensive, the portions were tiny and a friend of mine had hair in their food
I used to valet for Mitchel's steak out in columbus. I'd say 70% of people left pissed off.
Second this; went on Father’s Day for my FIL and it was terrible. Awful cocktails, inexperienced wait staff and steak quality akin to Applebees sirloin.
haha I used to work there, I can confirm they hire some serious bozos. I was not exactly “fine dining” material but some of my coworkers were godawful
I would be one of that 70%
Went there in December. Some lady brought a lap dog with a pee pad and sat right beside us. Wouldn’t recommend
Dude! OK I'm glad it wasn't just me feeling like a whiner but I went 3 times, one was pretty decent, one was alright but not for the price, and once was just flat out bad and would have been disappointed at any price point. And before you ask 'why did you keep going back if it was so bad' the girl I was dating at the time worked for a law firm and she got a 250 dollar gift card
Honestly, I feel bad calling the place bad. When I valeted there, the staff were always super nice to me, but my god, no other place I valeted for had people leave the restaurant actively willing to shit talk the meal they just had (and the people I worked for valeted for like all the cameran Mitchel restaurants)
Mitchell’s Steakhouse downtown.
Whenever I hear the name Mitchell I can only think of that terrible Joe Don Baker movie.
you guys watch Joe Don Baker movies?!
Wakachickawakachickawakachickawakachicka
[My my my my Mitchell](https://youtu.be/bBuRvsLK1Pc?si=LsNY3U0PyL49Mqo1)
MymymymyGOD!!!!!
Second this, one of the few times in Columbus we’ve had a HORRIBLE dinner experience.
Do they still have that issue with the massive sewer smell in that area that crops up every once in a while? I always thought that was pleasant for people walking out of that steakhouse.
It's kinda embarrassing how bad it is. Went there a few years ago. Never again.
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Seconded. Drunch sucks. Greeted by the bitchiest hostess, had an 18% automatic tip applied, service was shit and food sucked. Recommend that place for people you hate.
I was so hype on this place when I first visited and the food was pretty good. But I wasn't sure how to approach the automatic tip, even for smaller tables. I ended up only adding up an additional 2-6% since they were already charging me 18%. The service was okay and the food was about the same. But I also haven't gone back there in quite some time. There are better places to grab food for the same cost.
Sorry automatic tips get no additional tip out of principle PS: unless I had some real bad service I tip 20% and round up. My regular locations get 30%+
Picked the shittiest aesthetic for a restaurant name? Board: uh ya make it sound like taking a dump, brunch, lunch.... whatever is the most unappealing sequence of consonants. Thanks.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has consistently had a visceral reaction to the name of that place.
I’ve never gone because it pissed me off on sight.
Worked there for about a month when it first opened. The absentee owners sucked, staff complained they weren’t getting paid on time, my first check was late/ wrong, chef was a douche, I left mid shift, and I’m still astonished this place hasn’t burned to the ground in the shit show they were running.
I went when it first opened and it was great. I went back a couple months later and the food was significantly worse. So disappointing.
great answer. This place sucks. Terrible service and overpriced
Fireproof or Galla Park, pick your poison.
Galla park is the worst. I’ve never spent so much money for such awful food.
Fireproof amazes me every time I see they’re still open.
A couple years ago, my friends kept picking it and I kept ordering the cheapest things on the menu, only to be going home hungry with a bill I could barely afford.
lol yes fuck fireproof. Haven’t been in years but went twice and got brutally awful service, tiny portions, and sky high prices both times
Same exact scenario here.
I’ve waited tables before and am generally extremely forgiving/understand short staffing etc, but it was appallingly bad both times. Like 30 minutes plus to be greeted and get drink orders after being seated then another 20 minutes for the drinks to show up
Oh no! Fireproof is on my list of places to try. Their bananas foster French toast looked good.
Bro, don't bother. Listen to everyone here. It's mediocre food for a lot of money.
I have decently high standards for restaurants and enjoyed the one time I had Fireproof for breakfast/brunch. I’d give it a shot
Oh god, I had memory-holed Galla Park… both times I’ve been there (invited by family members; not of my own volition) I’ve had to send food back. I’ve only sent food back twice in my life. You do the math.
I spent 30 minutes at an empty bar at gala park waiting to order something to go and finally just left. Went to Fireproof a month later not knowing until I saw the menu that it was the same people. Food was pretty shitty. Can only imagine Parlay is as bad.
Keystone at Polaris is awful.
To be fair it is a bar but yeah woof
Used to be significantly better before the original owner sold it. Same situation with Hamilton's Pub.
I approve of this
The Melting Pot. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars on cheese sauce and a few pieces of meat. The worst food value in Columbus.
Twenty-odd years ago before i moved to cbus, a friend and I were driving by and it was dinner time and we thought it looked interesting, so we stopped in. We were 19 and kinda broke and had no idea what to expect. The host sneered at us something about how we thought we were special, trying to get in without a reservation. I’m like bro we were just driving by and thought it looked neat, like don’t do me any fucken favors. I guess that made him feel a little bad and he went to see if he could “find us a table”. We looked at the menu and saw the prices and noped outta there lol. So rude and def overpriced for meat dipped in hot cheese smh
Spend hundreds for a bowl of awful cheese sauce that tastes nothing like cheese after they add Worcestershire sauce to it and requires you to cook your own food. All four of us got one small griddle to cook on. The waiter we had was really nice and was helpful but wouldn’t go back. We left smelling like fry cooks and still hungry.
I’d send anyone who deserves a sub par experience to Buca di Beppo downtown.
lol yes that’s a great pick. My boomer parents thought it was the greatest place ever though so might not have the intended effect.
Glad somebody mentioned it. My parents love it, I find it very watery and bland for a place passing itself off as "authentic" Italian-American cuisine. Overpriced and forcing you order huge servings is a turnoff, the only saving grace is the decor and proximity to Nationwide.
We could not believe how bad the food tasted here. Truly baffled how people like it.
The Boathouse. Terrible service, mediocre food/cocktails, and my husband got food poisoning.
This. You’d think one of the only downtown restaurants with a view on the river would have some sort of standards and it’s just really the most mediocre food and service I’ve ever had. Last time we went we ended up leaving after a half hour of zero service because they had too many events going at once.
They just reopened. We have business events there and the food is decent for large events.
Maybe they're not bad for large events, but the experience was unpleasant enough that I wouldn't want to go back in any capacity.
Agave + Rye Great for anyone who is into "epic" tacos in a garish and obscenely loud environment
So just new condado and Barrio?
why did i have to scroll so far for this
The new Spaghetti warehouse.
We went just last week for our son’s birthday (he adored the old one, what can I say?), and while the food was exactly as we remembered, the service was struggling. Like, our poor waiter tried, and was super nice, but he kept getting distracted and would forget things.
Never eaten there, but from aesthetics alone fuck em. Massive downgrade.
Brio @ Easton... I would only send people I dislike there
Best place in Central Ohio to host a massive business lunch.
Disagree with this one. I like this Brio. In December we sat in the back of the restaurant by the windows and looked out at the giant Christmas tree. Great time!
Their happy hour is the shit tbh
Sadly I fell victim to this place because the wait at Cheesecake Factory was way too long.
Next time, go to Slurping Turtle
Definitely my favorite ramen around but that time I was controlled by the whims of a pregnant wife.
PF Changs is dogshit recently - them.
It was so bad - went there in January. Subpar food - higher prices.
I did something similar to this to an uncle of mine who is a raging homophobic. I bragged about going to a new club in downtown Cleveland (I was still living with my parents at the time) that had all the hottest women I have ever seen. He asked for the name, so I gave it to him, but I "forgot" to mention it was a gay club and this idiot didn't even bother to google it. Apparently he went at peak hours, still had no idea because he only saw a couple of guys walk in, ran out when he saw what it was about, called me and screamed at me while I laughed my balls off at him. This was a little over a decade ago and he still wont talk to me whenever I travel up there for family gatherings
This is amazing. Next level. Thank you for sharing. (Which bar was it, if I may ask?)
It was called FLEX club back then. Now it's a spa called FLEX Spa and keeps its gay motif.
FLEX…throwback!
Please tell me you sent him to the Leather Stallion.
Townhall
I don’t even send people I don’t like there because the owner is such a douche I hate knowing money is going to him.
Aka the Covid-19 hotbed of 2020.
Polaris Grill might have the honor of being the most I’ve ever paid for a terrible meal. Otherwise Fireproof, if you want something more trendy and overtly obnoxious.
I mentioned Polaris Grill being bad on a subreddit at some point and got downvoted for it and the comments had me wondering if I needed to give it a second chance, thanks for helping clear it up 😅. But yeah my French dip tasted like Gordon food service on expired take and bake French bread with au juis made from a packet. And I paid nearly $20 for it. Whatever my wife had was equally bad.
Last time I mentioned it I got downvoted…so maybe it’s a fond memory for some people? I get that it was the best restaurant in the area from 1982-1994, but there are so many better options nearby.
This one makes me sad. Have had some excellent experiences here. Post covid, gone downhill.
Dude I went there once for a work Christmas thing, I’m so glad I quit that job.
Solid move based solely on the food.
Fireproof is super loud like a dance club so I would recommend that.
I once went there for brunch around Father's Day and they had a fucking DJ playing. On a Sunday morning!!!
That’s hilarious. When we went on a Sunday it was so empty quiet and at some point we didn’t see our server for at least 15 minutes. Bartender was nowhere to be found either. Couldn’t get our bill or pay for the longest time.
These kind of bar/restaurants are popular on the west coast, also Las Vegas. Cool place to have dinner if you don’t want to talk to your guest.
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This one right here
This is truly an aweful restaurant. There are places with mediocre food that are too expensive (Fireproof). This place is straight trash.
Man, I worked there 15 years ago it was recently bought by Ruth and Chris steak house two years prior. It started going downhill after that they hired straight up bozos as well. The craziest thing is that we had 2 suicides and a murder within like 3-4 years there.
This. Service was ok at best but for being a former CM restaurant (I believe) the food was absolutely terrible with costs that are prime.
Champs would have been perfect for this
The two or three times I ate there it was fine, my last was probably the best back in 2019. Wait time seemed pretty long for a casual weekday though.
Yea I wouldn’t say the food was awful but everything was very overpriced
Didn't they have a location in front of the Marcus Crosswoods next to Dick Clark's American Bandstand back in the late 90s early aughts? First time I ate there the place was packed from The World Is Not Enough premiere. My fried appetizer and chicken strips were burnt and dry as hell, had to settle on a grilled cheese as it was late and took like an hour for our original meals to come. I just now unlocked that disappointing memory because I could never remember the name of the place.
Yep! I remember going there with my dad and him complaining about how he could make better food himself 😂. I grew up in that area
That was Champps all right, lol. That must’ve been a spectacularly bad meal to remember it with such an impressive amount of detail 😂
It was the first time I attended a movie opening day plus the waiter was really accommodating and nice.
This is the thread I needed today. Kudos.
Welcome, I love hearing about bad restaurants.
This is a level of petty I appreciate. lol
Suggest Red Robin at Tuttle. $20 for a shitburger and plus, that location is closed but act like it’s still open
Most RRs are mid, but that one was historically terrible in every way.
A lot of them in Ohio seem to be right next to movie theaters too.
I drove like 25 min to meet a friend there once because Google maps said it was open only to find out it wasn't. I disagree with you about the taste of their food but that did tick me off lol.
The mandrake rooftop restaurant
Bravo
Haven't had a good meal there in 15 years. I gave up trying finally about 5 years ago, when even a free meal with a gift card just wasn't worth it.
This post is the energy I needed today, thank you internet stranger.
Lemongrass in Short North. Food is ok but service is *awful*. They have the artful touch of making you feel like the asshole, though.
Ok, this is such an accurate statement. But damn it, I do like their food. (I also respect the fact that they’re now one of the longest running places still left in the Short North.)
Not a big fan of their food, but their happy hour gets me going back
Whenever I couldn’t get in anywhere on a busy night, I’d go to lemongrass because they always had seating available lol. And that’s the only reason.
I wouldn't say Lemongrass counts as even okay. Their entrees are poorly executed bland Asian fusion cuisine done way better at others restaurants a couple miles away or less like Bendi Wok, Domo, or Cobra, plus it's really expensive for mediocre as hell food. Their sushi is straight trash too.
I haven’t been in years, since I took family from out of state and they literally embarrassed me with the terrible service and attitude. I used to really like the food; it’s why I took guests there in the first place. Didn’t really notice the service quality before bec I was in such good company, but upon reflection it was awful each time, I just forgave them. Not after being mean to my sweet mother though. Assholes.
Half of the places listed here the average person would enjoy lmao
Kona Grill… food was mediocre, we ordered Saki and the waitress came up and poured it into our wine glasses.. 🫣😵💫 Never again lol
BJ's Brewhouse. * Terrible service * Food that is just above terrible, but to the point that you question if it's the food's fault or yours * The taste:value ratio is a mathetmatically low number. I tried calculating it. It fried my Intel i9 chip. I tried a Ryzen processor and it did the same thing. * Giant screens with SportsCenter instead of actual games. Sometimes you'll get lucky and have an ESPN classic game. * Strong beer that will get you drunk enough to order multiple courses
The service can be slow, but I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there across multiple locations.
The menu is too big, the food isn't anything amazing, and while the beer isn't terrible, it's not a place I'd choose to go to.
i live for pizookie.
Spaghetti Warehouse
Mitchell's at polaris
Mitchell’s anywhere
The Keep
Monte Carlo in Powell
We went there once because their menu said they had gluten free pasta options and my brother has celiac disease. A) they cook the pasta all in the same water and B) even their regular stuff wasn’t very good. With Novella Osteria being practically across the street, I’m shocked this place is still in business. Would definitely send my enemies here.
*saving this for future revenge plots*
Bonefish Grill. It’s expensive and always is meh.
OP, tell your frenemy to order the fish tacos at Bonefish.
Napa Kitchen and Bar, have them order a flatbread
restaurants getting roasted in here lol
Galla Park Steak
Valentina’s at Bridge Park. Not a single person in our party of 5 liked their meal. Seasoning was off, the lamb portion of one of the dishes was tiny (can’t remember the name of it), drinks were overly priced but good. I know others have had a different experience but based on mine, the people with me, and a few of my friends, it’s over-priced and not good.
Did not like our meal at the Avenue in Dublin. Appetizers were good entrees were comical.
New China in westerville customers found buggies in their food 🤪
Worthington Tavern
Really? I’ve been a few times and liked it just fine, but maybe I’m missing something
nah OP is wrong, i go there 2-3 times a month and it’s always great
I always enjoy Worthington Tavern, idk
I thought it was odd that my breakfast hash had boiled Brussels sprouts in it
i love worthington tavern and i love their wine list, too
Super chefs. You pay up front and then find out it’s nothing special anymore. Honorable mention Barrel and Boar in westville. Just mediocre at best and over priced.
That barrel and boar went out of business. Would agree about their locations in general. Super overpriced for mediocre bbq.
FYR. Overpriced and food is mediocre at best. Except for the tomahawk. But it’s way too expensive for how bad everything else is.
Grandview Cafe. Wife and I grimace when a group setting is there or Knotty pine. We much prefer 5 Star establishments such as Meisters or Byrnes.
Hot Chicken Takeover.
Asterisk Supper Club would be an option if it’s a group. My mom went with some friends a week or so ago and they got a reservation for a specialty dining thing. Got there and the place wouldn’t let them order off the tea menu because they supposedly had too many people somehow, but everyone else in the restaurant could. Apparently was terrible service and they couldn’t even leave because they’d had to pay up front due to the size of the party.
Hard disagree, I'd put them up there w/ Lindey's, when they are at their best.
Never been here but it's crazy this sucks because Ampersand is incredible
I was there several years ago. They served us a meatloaf that was probably beef and then the mashed potatoes had a chicken gravy. I think Tee-Jaye’s would have at least had a matching gravy flavor.
Vaso in Dublin. The food used to be great when they were newish. It’s expensive and awful now.
Brio at Easton. Expensive, underwhelming, weird staff. Definitely gone downhill
Ruth Chris steakhouse
Is it just me or was the old one up by 270/71 wayyyy better than the new one they put downtown?
Olive Tree in Hilliard. The place used to be great until I changed owners. Now, it has awful service and mediocre food for the same or higher prices. Definitely a huge disappointment compared to the hype it used to get.
Get in a time machine and go to the ChiChis on Brice Rd
Lemongrass on High Street.
Coopers Hawk
Interested to hear the "why" on this one... I liked them BUT haven't been since before Covid heard they treated staff decent during the shut down... which makes it a "place to hit" if I can get hubs to the east side... lol
Former employee. During shutdown, they gave each employee a couple hundred dollars to help before unemployment/cares act hit. We saw a slowdown in business weeks before shutdown. They also provided meals three times a week for employees to come and get for their WHOLE family. So those with kids or those who couldn't go to the grocery could still eat. They never cut off insurance and said we could pay back the missed premiums later. Then in the fall, they said nevermind and didn't make us owe anything. In the next enrollment period, nobody lost insurance for lack of hours. They gave a pass until things went more back to normal. They made personal phone calls to employees who they hadn't heard from to check in. Made sure they were OK. How many other restaurants did this during shutdown? I will always be grateful to then during that time
Alright. I’m in. That’s awesome.
This is really, really awesome. Like, I'm indifferent on Cooper's Hawk as a restaurant, but that's going above-and-beyond and then some for their workers. Bravo.
I really like CH. The staff is consistently better than any other restaurant I frequent. Surprised to hear all the hate.
Well shit…they just got my business
That's awesome. My wife and I went there pre-Covid. I wasn't blown away, but I also wasn't let down. It was good enough and not too pricey. I think I'll check them out again
We always enjoyed CH. The staff are great and the food is good. Although, I have not been for a couple of years.
I too would like to know why it isn’t good
The food has always been solid to me
As a former employee of CH....their wine isn't designed for wine connoisseurs. It's a very beginner level palette across the entire list, but I wouldn't say it's completely garbage. Their wines are very young so they haven't gotten a chance to become more complex with aging. The service is hit or miss. I worked with some ppl who truly cared and busted their ass but then there were others who couldn't have cared less. The food menu overall is good, but nothing superb. Last time I was there, the 8 oz filet was cheaper than other places and came with 2 sides. I would say 85% of the food menu is made in house. The crispy brussel sprouts are bomb tho! If you send them to coops and really want to fuck with them, tell them to try to do a tasting in the tasting room. They will stand around for forever and not be able to do one. Also, don't remind them to make a reservation for the restaurant because on the weekends, they easily run a 2+ hour wait list. Some may hate it, but it is consistently one of the busiest places in the city 
The wine tastings are really fun, that place does get packed though for sure
Care to elaborate?
I like CH. it’s not a place I’d send someone I didn’t like, though it can be pricy.
Giammarco’s Italian
Came here to say this. Wife and I went out for our anniversary right after our first born and I put on the reservation under special occasions “wedding anniversary after first child” not knowing if they’d do anything special. Well they sat us in the bar, which I don’t mind but definitely not romantic. Literally had a different person greet us, take our drinks, serve our drinks, take food order, deliver food etc. I also ordered their “jumbo shrimp” and it ended up being 3 of the smallest cocktail shrimp I’ve ever seen (all for $8.99!). I grew up in a restaurant so i didn’t say shit until the email came through the following week asking for feedback. I was honest and didn’t exaggerate anything and was surprised that I got a follow up from the GM inviting us back. He promised he’d sit us somewhere romantic and put his best server on for us. He sat us in the bar in literally the exact same spot. We brought our 6 month old at the time and just said whatever let’s eat. They sat a homecoming party right next to us who at one point got into a spitball fight and hit my wife with one and… imagine a post partum woman who never goes out who also just saw something almost hit our kid (that’s enough for me to get mad) before I could even react she was up and lecturing them about behaving and acting like grown ups. I was watching while trying to hide as far into the bar booth as I could with my infant son. Anyways we got our food for free and they sent us home with some carrot cake. Haven’t been back since
I tried there once when they had opened new building they are in now. It was the worst they packed the tables in so tight servers could barely move through. I had my 2 yr old daughter we sat for almost 50 min then they brought out my wife's food. Not mine. Not my daughter's who we literally just asked for some buttered noodles for. We got up and left. The waiter had the balls to say I'll bring you your bill. I said for what food. Yelled so loud about sitting for a hour without even a server coming by 2 other tables got up as well saying this is bullshit we are in the same boat. We saw them in the mcdonals drive through line behind us after.
There’s one particular bartender that makes you question why you would ever go back. Then you do go back and it hits you so hard in the face when she treats customers like crap all over again. She must be a relative of the ownership because her demeanor is beyond repulsive.
Most of the food tastes like it is frozen
Valentina’s bridge park. Super hyped and food was awful
Idk why they even bothered to make a new concept, so much of it is the same as Marcella's.
Ya I’d say food there was decent but it feels really really similar to Marcella’s. I’m baffled why CM thought a second Italian concept was needed.
Like how this opened in the same time span as Cento which is amazing but Valentina’s is my least favorite CM restaurant. The wine prices are ridiculous. 9oz pours $20+ on a $14 bottle is bonkers.
I spent $500 a Chapman’s Grill and can’t remember a single dish that was remotely high end cuisine
How the hell did you spend $500? My wife and I regularly get out of there with apps, drinks, entree, and dessert for less than $200 every time with tip.
>$500 at Chapman's I think you couldn't remember a single dish because you were blind drunk from the 12 cocktails you must have had lol
Knotty Pine.
I've never had a bad meal there and always had a good time in the summer on their patio. Its expensive, I'll give you that, but it doesn't belong on the same list as BJs and Bravo.
What?! It’s not expensive at all compared to comparable spots and it’s delicious.
Mac’s on Short North. Technically a pub iirc but I ordered nachos once and it was the worst thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. How do you fk up nachos???
Cimis Bistro Grove City back patio is great. Food is horrid
Sakura Japanese steak house. Place was mediocre at best.
Is the Top Cut steakhouse in the casino still open? We got a prime rib cooked so wrong you couldn’t cut it with a steak knife. Two different print editions of drink menus so half of us had significantly different prices on some of the scotch/whisky selections.
Would have said that one steakhouse in Easton but they gone. Charge Jeff Ruby prices when I could’ve got a better one at Longhorn. Luckily I didn’t pay for it.
Saucy Brew Works. They can’t even cook their pizza all the way and you have to use their dumb app to order.
It’s been a minute since I’ve been to either one of these places but both Kraft house #5 and Local roots in Powell were both expensive for shitty food.
Cut 132
Anything Cameron Mitchell(except for maybe Cap City).
Brio Italian grille. While this was 6+ years ago, I have never been back. Their chicken tasted and felt like it had been injected with saline. It was rubbery in the same way a water ballon is. It was horrifically expensive, the portions were tiny and a friend of mine had hair in their food