Columbus, Ohio has so much to see and do. It is known for many things, including its arts scene and cultural history. However, one thing this city is not known for is its Michelin Stars. There are no Michelin Star restaurants in Columbus, Ohio because the Michelin Guide doesn’t cover the Midwest. You may have heard of the Michelin Guide before, which started in Clermont Ferrand, France during the early 1900s. These iconic culinary awards are called the Michelin Guide because they were originally created by Michelin Tires to encourage motorists to explore the fine dining opportunities available all over France. It eventually expanded its awards reach to America, but only to certain states. Therefore, Michelin is not the culinary bar for Columbus, Ohio because it simply doesn’t cover here. There are other awards and honors that showcase the talent of this Midwestern city.
Columbus Monthly, a local publication, releases an annual “best restaurants of the year” list, which showcases community and culinary favorites. The James Beard Foundation also awards within the city of Columbus. This culinary award has multiple categories, including regional best chef, and outstanding baker. There are a couple of eateries in Columbus that have garnered the attention of the James Beard Foundation. There are two rounds of judging for these categories, and even making it to semifinalist status is a big deal in the culinary world. Keep on reading as we delve into some of the close-to-a-Michelin Star restaurants in Columbus, Ohio.
Chapman’s Eat Market
739 S 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43206
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
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Chapman's Eat Market has made it on the James Beard shortlist a few times now. In 2023, Chapman's chef BJ Lieberman received a regional “Best Chef” nomination. Chapman's also has made it onto the Columbus Monthly‘s “best restaurants” list. The menu blends Southern classics with creative recipe variations. Take your pick from shareable options, larger plates, and dessert offerings.
Fan favorites include a number of roasted vegetable dishes featuring smashed cucumbers, General Tso's cauliflower, and some mushroom nuggets. Heartier menu items include duck and gnocchi, Kola lamb rack, and a charred cabbage and squash salad. Save room for desserts like corn pound cake and a small flight of ice cream flavors.
Pistacia Vera
541 South 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43215
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This Columbus-based bakery is quite the staple in the city's food scene. In 2020, its head baker Spencer Budros was nominated for the Outstanding Baker category of the James Beard Awards (via Experience Columbus). Pistacia Vera has two locations in Columbus, one in the historical German Village and one in North Market. Their delicious pastries, breakfast and lunch items, and café offerings are a valued part of the Columbus community. Brunch and lunch items include granola and yogurt, a mushroom quiche, and a smoked salmon sandwich.
Some of the delicious pastry options at Pistacia Vera include croissants, orange brioche, stollen, and a cocoa buttermilk loaf. For dessert, enjoy a classic éclair, lemon tart, or chocolate bombe, among other options.
Try their elote croissant, tomato galette, lemon brioche, palmier, crème brûlée eclairs, and a number of other fruit based French pastries that are simply divine. Check out their online menu for more treats that make it clear why Pistacia Vera would be one of the restaurants in Columbus close to getting a Michelin star.
Ray Ray’s Hog Pit
2619 North High St., Columbus, OH 43202
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
©Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com
Ray Ray's Hog Pit serves top-notch barbecue, with their Columbus location now one of six locations all over the state of Ohio. Ray Ray's specializes in slow-smoked dry-rubbed meats and a line of their own sauces, alongside the classic barbecue offerings. In 2020, Ray Ray's chef James Anderson was nominated for the James Beard Best Chef category (abc6). They offer bulk pre-orders for their meats, and catering orders as well.
As for their online menu, enjoy classic BBQ dishes like burnt ends, smoked wings, jerk chicken, beef brisket, and pulled pork. On the side, have some mac and cheese, coleslaw, baked beans, or collard greens. Of course, you can't have a complete meal without a dessert! Ray Ray's offers locally-made stout brownies.
FYR, Spark, And Stories On High
404 North High St., Columbus, OH 43215
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This is a grouping of restaurants run through the Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel. The head chef happens to be Michelin-recognized chef Sebastian La Rocca. Chef La Rocca's Argentinian and Italian background has inspired these new restaurants in Columbus (via FSR Magazine). Lets start off with FYR, the main restaurant of the Hilton Tower. Get a taste of their menu, which is cooked on a wood-burning grill and features Latin American cuisine in the form of both à la carte ordering and a chef's tasting menu. Enjoy items like skirt steak, gnocchi soufflé, roasted salmon, and Ohio dry-aged tomahawk.
Next up is Spark, located in the lobby, with smaller bites and a large cocktail menu. And straight to the top of the building, we have La Rocca's Stories On High, a rooftop bar and eatery. Enjoy a dazzling view of the city of Columbus, a Hilton signature cocktail program, bar snacks, small plates, and a Japanese-inspired dinner menu. Enjoy shiitake skewers, Wagyu skirt steak, rock shrimp tempura, and a variety of sashimi options, among other dishes.
Comune
677 Parsons Ave., Columbus, OH 43206
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Comune is a plant-based high-dining experience. The team at Comune uses locally and organically sourced ingredients to create a nuanced and worldly menu in the German Village of Columbus, Ohio. Comune made it on Columbus Monthly‘s Best Restaurants list at number one. Let's take a closer look at what makes this plant-based menu so top-tier.
Starters include bread with a selection of seasonal spreads, stuffed piquillo peppers, and confit sweet potatoes. A large bean stew and pan-roasted oyster mushrooms make up part of the entrees available on the current menu. Once you've finished your dinner, enjoy some warm chocolate cake, spiced apple cider sorbet, or pumpkin cheesecake.
Many of these items are seasonal, so be sure to check back and see what's new in a few months. You'll always have something fresh and exciting to try at Comune!
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Veritas
11 W Gay St., Columbus, OH 43215
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Veritas is also a restaurant on Columbus Monthly's Best Restaurants list. Opened in 2012 by Chef Joshua Dalton, Veritas is located in a historic building in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The goal of the restaurant is to inspire restaurant-goers. This innovative menu is inspired by cuisine from all over. Chef Dalton imagines food centered around his own travel experiences. The tasting menu costs $115 per person, plus an additional $75 for the wine pairing.
Pick your appetizer from three options: tuna tartare, a shrimp cocktail, or French onion soup. For your entrée, you can't go wrong with their steak, fish, or pasta options. Dessert is either a chocolate lava cake or key lime pie. Their menu does change frequently, so be prepared for some of these dishes to no longer be available.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/Sean Pavone.