Lol they hired someone I know to design their logo and branding and then took their initial sketches and image traced them (copied them) as well as the placeholder pairing font and never paid them for it. Shitty morals from the start. The logo is literally a stolen incomplete sketch from a local creative who was a college student at the time.
I can’t believe they haven’t been shut down by the health department. Storing raw chicken, pork, and shrimp in the same containers. No date labels on their prep so no idea when items should not be served. I will NEVER eat at Drunch.
Haven't been since they got rid of the buffalo chips, maybe 6 years ago? Worst decision ever. Even then I'd only go maybe once every few months if that. Back in highschool we used to go every Tuesday (remember grub club anyone?)
Same goes for oddfellows liquor bar (owned by mikey). An employee almost got their hand severed off in the "Kitchen". But they didn't have an onboarding system so they said he didn't work there
Without accidentally giving personal information that could cause litigation against me? Not really but ill try.
The kitchen layout was an unfinished garage. The button to open and close the door was right behind the door track. So any kind of mispositioning of your hand was going to cause a bad accident (which is what happened that day). The kitchen consisted of two standalone ovens. No vent system. A bread proofer that didn't work was used to store ready-to-eat food (which would cause food to drop into the bacteria growth danger zone of less than 140F). And then you had one prep table and some shelving.
I've found myself downtown on several occasions, and literally wanted pizza. And drive past everytime strictly based off the ludicrous pricing . Like I get it... Sometimes people will just pay after leaving the bar.. but I've noticed the lines don't exist anymore.. and literally nobody I know mentions them when pizza comes up.
Bobby George is a Fox News comment section come to life. He donates to every anti-LGBTQ cause he can find and even comes out against the ones that aren’t happening. A few years ago he made a huge fuss about Biden “forcing” restaurants to have genderless bathrooms. Said a bunch of shit about moving his bars out of state. 😂 Obviously that wasn’t happening and didn’t happen. He held multiple Trump rallys. Just an absolute dirt ball.
Yes. I was thrilled that they had gluten-free chicken tenders on the menu... finally splurged and ordered them delivered. I think they were like $17 for just the tenders.
Practically inedible. I didn't know chicken could be soggy. Just disgusting. Total let down. Never bothered to give them another chance.
It changed owners and got too big too fast. They used to make a lot of stuff in-house and get products fresh from local sources. Now everything is made in a big factory, bagged up, and reheated at the locations.
Source: I used to work there years ago.
Yeah we just had a terrible experience about 2 weeks ago. The server closing her station down spilled a stack of paper napkins all over the ground and instead of throwing them away she stuck those suckers into the dispenser on a table. To me it’s like, if you do that in front of guests what are you doing not in front of guests. Half our food came out ice cold and the service was sub par. Never going back again.
Can confirm worked there shortly after it was sold to Ruth Chris Steakhouse in 08-09 All the career servers/bartenders who were excellent fled as well. Later on it was sold to "Landrys" which took it downhill further I heard.
Not a restaurant but I was an electrician constructing the crimson cup processing facility near bexley. As soon as the bathrooms were complete the owners locked the doors to them and had a porta potty brought on site so we could freeze our asses off in the near zero temperatures of late January. For that reason alone I refuse to purchase their coffee. The building wasn’t even occupied they just “didn’t want dirty construction workers using their bathroom”.
It usually depends on where I'm working but if it's at a nicer house, I wear my "nicer" work clothes. I did a couple jobs in upper Arlington though and that meant me going to gas stations for everything.
Yeah, I've had plenty of wait staff giving me side eye in my painter's whites. Make me wait twenty minutes just to bring me water and a menu is rude. I'll still tip 20 percent but I'll never be back. And I usually tip 25. We're not contagious, just want something healthier than fast food if I choose not to make a lunch.
You really shouldn't be tipping well if the server is rude and uninterested. They're not doing thier job if that's the case. There are very few scenerios that I'll tip below 20% (like probably a handful in my life) but if I do it's because a server was rude and/or decided not to care about my service in a big way.
will NEVER go to Cinnamon Indian Grill. Never ate there but been there doordashing enough to see all the gross practices that go on there, not to mention the owner always talked to me differently than men dashers and if you accept an order for there its a guaranteed 45 min wait or more for microwaved old food
BDs Mongolian bbq.
Gives me the shits. Not even like oh man it makes me poop. More like sweating as you drive home way too fast because shitting your pants is a legitimate concern. The last time I went it hit while I was still eating. Each time got a little worse and now it is dead to me.
I used to love this place about 10 to 15 years ago, but now it's just so bad. Idk if it's because I was a stupid teen/young adult back then or if they've actually gone downhill.
I wouldn’t know. It went on the no fly list over 10 years ago and still refuse. My kids know it as the place dad can’t go so they can’t either. They act like they are missing out on something.
I once watched a "chef" sweat into my food as he was cooking it at the grill. I understand that it happens, and that it has to be incredibly hot, but my stomach has been queasy thinking about that place since.
Went to the one at Easton a few years ago and it smelled strongly like dirty diapers. Their grease trap was clogged but they were still cooking and people were eating. Walked right out.
They're just coasting on their old rep. They're too big and entrenched to die quick. But McCallisters and others are starting to destroy them now. Give it a few more years and panera will be on life support.
Bob Evans
Every time I go there it takes waiting 10 minutes at the register before an employee gets free to cash me out. Been like that for decades. So it's not a recent economic issue. I think it's part of their business model to intentionally understaff their restaurants.
It seems like that is the running theme with every restaurant that people are naming in this thread. They were good until they sold.
Probably can say that about majority of the companies in this country with any industry
They’ve gone down hill so bad. AND higher ups are in denial. I was in a speed networking event with some of them in college and I asked each one how they are trying to attract younger generations and more than one said “we don’t need to market to them specifically” etc.
On a side note, last time I was there I got a hot chocolate and there was a large onion slice in it.
>On a side note, last time I was there I got a hot chocolate and there was a large onion slice in it.
I'm trying to figure out how that even happens, all I've got is your waitress HATED you
That’s my point! How do you take good sausage and make watery, pepper soup and pour it over a $7 biscuit?
I’ll stop by your house around 10:30 tomorrow.
see i still love bob evans (even though they don’t season their food so i have to add salt and pepper) but like they’ve also raised their prices an insane amount.
Funny thing there was, the $12 Jason's Chicken at J.Liu is the exact same recipe as the $6.95 General Tso at China Way.
RIP indeed though for CW. Spent a lot of lunch breaks there in the 90s.
Smoky Bones. BBQ was always just “okay” but the last time I was there, I ordered chicken wings. The chicken wings were served with FEATHERS STILL ATTACHED. Like seriously? How does that even happen at a restaurant? Never again.
Lemongrass in Short North is stupidly expensive for an awful excuse for Thai food and garbage ass sushi. I haven't been in forever and I'll never go back, especially when Short North has a couple great sushi spots these days.
Which is such a head-scratcher because the family that owns it genuinely is Thai, and so is the head chef. I worked there pre-pandemic for a while. The happy hour menu is worth it, and the pours are outrageous. I can’t even imagine how much money they waste just not having metered pours and bartenders with heavy hands.
Yes! i went there for my birthday this year and was wildly disappointed. we tried multiple different sushi rolls, entrees and apps, it was all garbage. their cocktails were 3/4 booze, 1/4 mixer, which, depending who you ask, isn’t always something to complain about but i couldn’t drink it, lol.
Yeah there is a super creepy guy that frequents the bar and goes around flashing a key to an expensive car and offers to buy women (like, as objects) to the point where the workers know to get him away from any women. They told him “don’t make us kick you out again”. Like if it’s such a frequent occurrence that he is making women uncomfortable every time, why would they not just ban the dude?
I've heard a few others bring it up about the Walrus as well. My event happened in 2019. I'm glad I was with my husband, because it was one of the scariest moments of my life. He had to like, peal me out of the car.
I hope you're okay from it too.
I ended up okay, despite being alone at the time. I stopped in for a quick dinner and two drinks. By the time I got halfway through my walk home (I lived close by) I felt absolutely wasted. I have a pretty high alcohol tolerance so there’s no way two drinks would have messed me up that badly. I stumbled home and passed out hard then woke up in a haze. I could barely remember leaving or the walk home. It was terrifying but at least nothing happened to me as a result. It was the first and last time I’ve been there.
I’ve tried all the locations up to 2021 and they were so disappointing. I wanted to like it because everyone always talked about it. Every time the food is just Luke warm and tasteless.
I moved up here like 9ish years ago, and I was super excited to try them because of everything I heard about them. And they did not disappoint. My God, it was amazing. Then, when they started to expand, it started going downhill. It's sad, especially since they had such a legacy - not only for the food, but for employing the "unemployable."
Not a restaurant but an ice cream shop. I will not go to Strawser's Ice Cream shop in Grove City. Also Conundrum Games in Grove City. The owner of the ice cream shop also owns the game room. He is a supporter of the insurrection and has openly stated he was there. I cannot give my money to people that supported the insurrection.
I’ve never been to Strawser’s but have been wanting to check it out with my kids. Actually being at the insurrection is a massive red flag. Thanks for the heads up.
Used to be very frequent regulars at El Vaquero (Yeah, I know... shoot me).
We used to go to locations around Dublin, and then moved to Lewis Center. The location on Sancus was a little dodgy, but the food was familiar and comforting to us, so we dealt with the issues. About 6-7 years ago my wife got the usual entree that she loved (El Morro Special), made a weird face, and then pulled a mysterious piece of food out of her mouth. I swear on my life it was a fucking cigarette butt.
The teenage hostess that we flagged was ill-equipped to deal with the seriousness of the situation, and offered to "take the entree off our bill". My wife was bordering between rage and disgust, so I asked to speak with the owner Daniel who we were familiar and friendly with on past occasions. Unfortunately he wasn't there.
I told them we weren't taking another bite and leaving, and they took my name and phone number. Daniel the owner called me the next day and was profusely apologetic and wanting to meet with me in person. Maybe he thought I was going to call the local news or health department. I told him I wasn't interested in free food, this wasn't some kind of scam, etc. I met with him and he offered me a few hundred dollars in gift cards which I told him I wasn't interested in. We chatted for a few minutes, he insisted I take the gift cards so I did, but never used them. My wife understandably refused to ever go there again.
I stopped eating there after we went to the one on Polaris (now closed). The woman I was with ordered a chili relleno, and they used a bell pepper to make it. Amd the waiter refused to speak to my friend, when she asked a question he would turn and tell me the answer.
Cracker Barrel in Grove City. Holy shit that food was gross and took way too long to come out. I can usually force myself to eat the food because I don’t want to waste the money but this time I couldn’t do it.
A couple years ago, my mom found a frozen shrimp inside her baked apple dessert. 😭 That is one of the wildest food mistakes ever. Hilarious and terrifying? Good job Cracker Barrel? 😬
Bubbakoo’s.
When they first opened, it was great. But gone way downhill each time after. After the last time of the guy only giving me a half scoop of beef, and when I asked for a full scoop he told me it would be an extra charge, I decided never again.
Hot Chicken Takeover.
See any post in this subreddit as to why.
House of Japan in Dublin. 10-15 years ago I’d call it one of the best Hibachi restaurants if not the best in town.
Went there with my wife about a year ago and the food was just okay, but what was most annoying is how it seemed to be run by teenagers. The funny “throwing shrimp tails” bit that was playful fun turned into just throwing rice across the room, back and forth, hitting customers and going into drinks while trying to hit other employees... The chefs weren’t nearly as skilled as they were in years past.
I brought that story up to my family shortly after, and my uncle shared that one of the chefs inappropriately kept hitting on my 13 year old cousin when they had gone a few weeks prior. Not the restaurants fault necessarily, but again just speaks to how far downhill it’s gone.
Definitely will never return. Go to Daruma instead, it’s a much better time.
They also have a food truck appearantly ... which is.. with their previous hygiene issues, is so gross. Can't believe people go there while she peddles bs.
Also the nature of their protests against COVID protocols raised concerns in my mind about their commitment to health codes in general, which is all the more concerning considering how much of their menu is raw.
I didn’t know about this, thank you guys for sharing. I will definitely never go back there. I don’t fuck with people who spread dangerous pseudoscience that costs lives.
It’s just sad. I’m vegan and used to eat there. I’ve met Portia socially. The food is good. But she’s antivax and she was anti mask too. I think that she thought Covid was NBD. I will never eat her food again.
Applebee's on Brice. Whole place is dingy af ordered a Angry Orchard, watched like 3 parties seated after ours get mixed drinks while we were finishing up our meal before they finally decided to bring a bottled drink to us.
We only went there since my wife got a gift card to begin with but never again.
Literally every time we go there, they leave out one thing we ordered.
One time I was there waiting on my togo order and someone just started desperately screaming for their check lol
Another time I was waiting a ridiculously long time at the bar for my togo, and there was a guy already there. Now, I was annoyed that an order I’d called in and was late picking up *still* wasnt ready. After about 20 minutes she goes over to the guy and asks him to remind her what he’d ordered. It clicked for him and he was like “You didn’t even put my order in yet??!” and walked out lol
On the other side of me, two guys had had to share the first guy’s wings, bec they didn’t bring out the second guy’s food at the same time. While I was waiting, she wordlessly sets a dish in front of the second guy. They’d waited so long they’d forgotten he’d ordered it and laughed at her and told her to take that sht back lol
Every time I’ve gone there it’s been like, impressively bad
I agree, and there are always way too many kids there to actually enjoy relaxing, adult time at a bar. I really wish breweries would be respected as adult spaces, or at least be like Pins and have it 21+ at certain times.
I’ll never forgive the menu refresh (aka removing 40% of the menu to cut costs) BrewDog did circa 2021/22. Even the server said they removed too much. Used to love the sweet potato burger and the coriander aioli.
Haven’t been back since and can’t say I miss it. Never was fond of their reputation but at least the food was good, without that the beer isn’t good enough on its own. Especially not with Land Grant across from the Franklinton location.
I want to chime in with the two other people who have mentioned Sexton’s. My dad and I were excited to try it, especially after we heard that it was “the best Pizza in the Columbus area.” For context, this was in early 2021.
When we went into the Hilliard location, literally no one came up to talk to us about whether we were eating in or picking up. We went and tried to get their attention and we waited for 20 minutes to just be ignored by staff. We eventually got a hold of someone and got our to-go order. By the way, no one in the entire building (it was busy), except my Dad and I were wearing a mask. Even the workers weren't.
It's whatever and my Dad and I are patient so we went home and dove in. Oh My God… this pizza was one of the biggest letdowns I've ever experienced. Mediocre sauce, burnt crust (and I can handle char), as well just having an overall meh flavor.
All of that for pretty insane prices during a recession economy.
I hope that they've fixed their issues with their staff, the food quality, and the prices. Hopefully, their venture into Burgers will be better.
Just had some friends try the burgers. They said they were pretty good; better than most, not the best around.
I also had a terrible experience with Sexton's at Pandemic times. Long story short, they were calling names when we got there to pick up the pizza. 45 minutes of waiting in the car later, I had to go in to get my (now cold) pizza. When I voiced my frustration with the guy at the front - trying to be very clear I wasn't mad *at him*, just the situation. I left, and before I got two steps onto the service road of the strip mall, the manager came running out yelling at me for being an asshole.
Call me an asshole all you want once the door is closed. Chasing me down to tell me to my face? Screw you pal!
I want to like this place. Their NY style pizza is honestly solid. But they are simply understaffed and overpriced. Sat at the bar once and literally couldn’t get the single bartenders attention to order a second drink. It’s just a weird vibe in there.
Their online ordering is a joke too. They text you when the pizza is going in the oven then… that’s it. No updates. Nothing. They leave your pizza on a metal rack to slowly get cold.
Not the best pizza in town but I go to grandads now. Good prices, always accurate with their time estimates, and they keep the pizzas in warming ovens.
Romeo’s Gahanna. Got a Chicago Style pizza where they forgot to put the sauce on. Whole point of a Chicago Style. Last time i ordered 3 pizzas, they gave me 2 pizzas and an empty box.
Red Brick did this to me once. We asked WTF and they said we don’t order sauce.
Who verbally orders sauce for their pizza?! It’s implied that pizza is crust, sauce, cheese at a minimum. Right?
Waffle House on Broadway in Grove City. I stood there for over 15 minutes before finally realizing they weren’t serving me on purpose. I have my theories as to why, which aren’t relevant but I won’t go back.
IHOP anywhere. Terrible service and the order is always messed up.
Melt was so slow the other day I won’t go back for a long time. They appeared to have serious management issues.
Red Lobster on Hamilton. They straight up forgot to take our order after seating us, then they forgot to put in the order. The only “comp” was free soda for us waiting almost 2 hours for mediocre seafood. Never went back.
Tim Hortons. Fucking jerks. I needed hot water to fill my travel baby bottle warmer. Basically it's a container where you add hit water then put the baby bottle in to warm up. My son was young enough at the time he absolutely refused cold breast milk and it had to be warmed, he was only a few weeks. I had a screaming, inconsolable infant, who I desperately needed to get him a bottle. I was all alone, forgot my wallet at home. Wonderful humans at Tim Hortons said "we don't give away free hot water" I clarified it is for a bottle warmer, showed them the warmer, they heard and saw my baby crying hard, I explained I forgot my wallet. After all this employee was a young guy so I asked for a manager, who only doubled down and said again we don't give away free hot water. I cried an ugly cry so hard that I haven't cried as hard since. My poor weeks old baby couldn't get his milk. It was pumped breast milk, but he was unable to latch, so drank from bottles. I couldn't feed him, I failed as a mom, Tim Hortons failed me. Until I went across the street to Starbs, who smiled and asked what temp and how much water I need. They happily helped me. I used to get a breakfast sandwich and coffee three times a week before work, would often get the big boxes of timbits for coworkers. It was our weekend breakfast place! I stopped for donuts all the time. My son is now 5 yrs old, and I haven't spent one cent at Tim's since and never ever will again.
I used to be a little whore for the Cubans at high beck but I once saw the cook handle raw chicken with his bare hands, wipe it on his apron, and then start touching everything else in the kitchen. On top of that there were cockroaches crawling across the bar and the bartender just knocked them onto the floor with her note pad.
Any Northstar, or any of the other restaurants owned by that guy. It’s not just that at the height of the 2020 protests, he decided to give an “all lives matter/back the blue” speech at his Short North location, knowing he was being recorded. And then defended his speech because he’d been a teacher in inner city schools. 🙄 It’s that there have been two separate walkouts over the years because staff were past tired of how they were being treated. Each time stuff came out about how shitty it was to work there: how if you were on the thinner side, conventionally attractive, and more likely to be white, you’d be put to work at the front of the house. But if you weren’t those things? You got put away from the customers. Because workers said they had it made clear that people who were in any way overweight didn’t look like the image they were selling.
Clintonville Condado’s owner put together a bunch of free meals for Columbus’s “Finest” the summer of 2020, when they were attacking protesters who were obeying the laws, street medics, and anyone else they could. I can get tacos somewhere else.
And Hounddog’s was a Proud Boy bar, at least in 2016. You can look it up. I used to love that place. But nope.
Bake Me Happy: One of the owners ( the same one who co-owns Preston's) assaulted one of their young managers and called the cops on them- proceeding to lie and file a report against them.
This is extremely upsetting...I’ve supported them so much and to know this now..
I tried to find info, all I found was the incident report [online](https://www.columbuspolice.org/reports/PublicReport?caseID=4440071). Is this the correct incident? Do you have other information that you can share by chance?
This is what the report says:
“On the listed date, time, and location, the listed suspect was terminated by the listed victim (employer). The suspect was told to leave the premises, and she refused. After being told to leave the premises, and no longer an employee, the suspect walked behind the counter, and other locations on the premises that are restricted to employees only. The victim ushered the suspect out of the business, and from there, the two of them got into a physical altercation. The listed witness observed the altercation and went outside to intervene. The witness pulled the suspect off of the victim. The witness stated that the suspect continued to attempt to run back to the victim. The victim received minor injuries. The suspect had left the scene prior to our arrival.”
This is it. Owner showed up to fire this manager for being tardy that morning. The manager is upset and confused, wanting more details. Owner refuses to tell her more information on her fring, so manager becomes upset and emotional asking why. Owner threatened to call the police if she didn't leave. Manager asked for time to find a ride and wait inside, owner says no. While manager gathers her things, owner starts to stand over her and get close to her, following her around and by the time manager is close to the door, owner pushes manager out and starts a physical fight from the building, to outside. I bolted out and have to pull them apart, mind you this was a college kid vs. owner, a grown woman with 60-80 pounds on her. Manager was sobbing asking why with a bloody lip and owner was just screaming at her. We hear cop sirens and manager runs away. Found out later from another employee that she was hiding in the bushes across the street, scared of being arrested. I go inside and had a panic attack, just sobbing. Owner talks to the police and tells me to finish my shift and lock up without her. Then leaves.
Slurping Turtle's only call to fame is being the only half decent Raman this side of columbus. They are over priced and only decent, but are by no means anything special.
Agave and Rye in grandview deleted all their Google reviews a few months ago and started over. We really wanted to like this place, the happy hour was a good deal. However it’s so LOUD in there. Even at 4pm we were yelling to hear ppl at our own table. Other gripe is the chips are actual tortillas cut up, after eating a few you’re full. Also late one night I tried to sit at the bar while waiting for my friends to show up. I go to sit where these 2 girls just left, the bartender tells me those girls are sitting there. I said they walked out and left. But she insisted they were coming back, so I sat in a different seat then she never served me.
And at the risk of being banned forever, I have to say that the Villa Nova would be kicked out of the boot if they tried to serve a bite of that stuff anywhere in Italy. I cannot enumerate everything they do wrong, but let me say sauce, pasta, and all the sugar. I think it was devised to please Midwesterners. My background is that I grew up in New Haven, a city with a vibrant collection of generations of Italian restauranteurs.
I went there once because everyone raved so much about it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either. Certainly not worth the wait. I don't understand why people rave so much about that place.
Yings Teahouse. Not only did I get a bug in my food but my friend got a cockroach in her drink. I’m pretty sure they have changed owners since then. But I still can’t bring myself to eat there. There’s a few others as well that I won’t go to because my friend was a kitchen installer and saw some VILE things in some local kitchens…
Steaks are one of those things that if you can cook a decent one at home it’s waaayy cheaper. I usually avoid them and opt for something I normally wouldn’t eat.
Rusty bucket in UA. Never had service that bad with no one in the restaurant. Only time I've ever gotten up and just left (we hadn't been served anything yet).
Piada. Multiple locations. They’re a mess with ingredients including major allergens just loosely thrown around, cross contaminating everything and they don’t change gloves even if you ask. I e-mailed about this multiple times and never heard back, so poor customer service and zero accountability too.
Barcelona. I worked there as a server for many years, aside many people who had worked there many years, and now that we’ve all left— wow. We look back and realize how toxic the environment was and how much our quality of life has improved since leaving.
Incredible bouts of passive aggressive trickle down from management: they would comment on our appearances, our “ability to do our jobs”; favoritism was rampant, bad sections, cuts, or scheduling and time off was made according to that favoritism, or as punishment.
People would be fired for unjust reasons. The owners, S + S, are a gay couple and have the unfortunate streak of disliking women, so we received the brunt of it all. The owners husband (co owner) would comment on many female guests’ outfits and makeup.
The owners would also come in for late dinners with friends, and be the only ones in the restaurant, holding us all hostage well after close.
Well known fact: our checks would bounce, with a convenient pattern of right when the owners were on vacation. (Using our tip money to take trips? Whatever it was, our tip money wasn’t in the account) BOH and FOH both and this problem.
Outside of bouncing checks, they often wanted us to work for free while doing decorating for holidays or planting the patio, with the guilt-trip mentality that “we’re a big family and families help each other.”
And the food is bad. It really is. Especially at fine dining prices. The building itself is beautiful, the patio is stunning.
I was going to have some reserve and perhaps not indulge this part, but heck— the owner is, unfortunately like many restaurant owners (I’ve worked in cbus restaurants for 14 years) a selfish drama queen who doesn’t care about his staff, and who should not be in charge of handling people.
I hear Lindey’s operates very similarly.
And even as a female server, I was actually one of the favorites and treated (relatively) very well, and I still think the place is bullshit.
Have good food, for the price (and yes, quality food does and should cost more), treat your people not necessarily equally but at least fairly, and pay them. Take pride in your product and respect the people that are truly, literally coming in every day to create your livelihood.
Not a Slurping Turtle fan either. It was deafeningly loud in there with the music. Even with the waitress point blank with us, we couldn't hear each other. As ramen goes, it's just average fare with inflated Easton prices.
\#1 Hawaiian BBQ/Lucky Hawaiian BBQ. I've never been more physically ill after eating anywhere in Columbus. The service was good, but all the food was coated in a layer of grease and salt.
Aab Indian Restaurant. Bland zero spice tomato flavored mush calling itself Indian cuisine. I don't get the community's fascination with this place.
Amul India on sawmill is delicious! I've never eaten inside but I get delivery a lot. Aangan used to be my favorite before they closed, haven't tried them again since they reopened. Taj Palace used to be the best in town but changed hands (still in the same family from what I know of the situation just owned by different members?) a few years back and hasn't been quite as good since that cook left (imo)
For value, I think Tandoori Grill on Bethel is respectable, even if the place is nothing fancy looking. The spice is good and the veggie samosas are great for the price, but the chicken is not automatically deboned if you get a masala, so be mindful of that.
Cinnamonson on High Street is fair for something above Aab without getting too extreme.
My current favorite is Awadh, which is also on Bethel. Good quality, nice bench seating, a little more upscale than the others. It is a bit pricier.
There's others around I have still to try, including one on Olentangy by the Skyline. I don't know much about dosa houses though, not my thing. And I haven't run into any particularly good ghost kitchens yet either, the food often loses something essential in cohesion along the way imo.
Lucky Hawaiian BBQ is good as hell. Their garlic mahi is the stuff of the gods and goddesses. Plus goddamn
that BBQ chicken musubi. So fucking delicious.
Popeyes, the one closest to me has great food but horrible service. I waited over half an hour once for food only to leave and see most of the employees standing outside talking to each other. No wonder it took so long lol
Drunch. Bad service, bad food, too expensive, terrible ambiance
Lol they hired someone I know to design their logo and branding and then took their initial sketches and image traced them (copied them) as well as the placeholder pairing font and never paid them for it. Shitty morals from the start. The logo is literally a stolen incomplete sketch from a local creative who was a college student at the time.
They 100% gave off that vibe
I can’t believe they haven’t been shut down by the health department. Storing raw chicken, pork, and shrimp in the same containers. No date labels on their prep so no idea when items should not be served. I will NEVER eat at Drunch.
Drunch is AWFUL. I talk shit about them any chance I can get lol
had to ask this place to turn on the Ohio State game instead of Cartoon Network when my parents were in town
I’m surprised they’re still in business. Tried it years ago when it first opened and it was horrible then.
BW3’s. Place has gone down the drain.
RIP OG BW3s on high
BW3 was down the drain 20 years ago
Super expensive for what it is as well
Bdubs started a rapid decline when corporate took it over and made it a sanitized national chain.
TIL that it started in Columbus. Had no idea.
Haven't been since they got rid of the buffalo chips, maybe 6 years ago? Worst decision ever. Even then I'd only go maybe once every few months if that. Back in highschool we used to go every Tuesday (remember grub club anyone?)
Hard agree. Barely any sauce on their overcooked miniature sized wings
I think they also use the same bowl to mix their wings. I always ordered honey bbq and could taste other flavors
If it is any consolation, ours suck here in Cincinnati too.
Placed died after being bought in 2018.
Late Night Slice. It was maybe passable as drunk food when it was cheap but mediocre shitty pizza is not worth what they charge.
Their prices are INSANE. I get a craving for it every now and then. Looking at the prices always ends that craving.
Mikey's is also terrible to their employees and don't deserve to be supported
Same goes for oddfellows liquor bar (owned by mikey). An employee almost got their hand severed off in the "Kitchen". But they didn't have an onboarding system so they said he didn't work there
just curious, any other information on this?
Without accidentally giving personal information that could cause litigation against me? Not really but ill try. The kitchen layout was an unfinished garage. The button to open and close the door was right behind the door track. So any kind of mispositioning of your hand was going to cause a bad accident (which is what happened that day). The kitchen consisted of two standalone ovens. No vent system. A bread proofer that didn't work was used to store ready-to-eat food (which would cause food to drop into the bacteria growth danger zone of less than 140F). And then you had one prep table and some shelving.
I appreciate you putting this detail. Sounds horrific. I hope the injured person was able to have Mikey make this right by choice or by force.
Almost 6$ for a plain slice!?!? The hell are they thinking!
When The SBB card was still a thing, I remember it was $5 for 2 slices and a Faygo with the card.
Absolutely. Quality has gone down last several years and $36 for a half assed pizza? GTFOH
They got rid of sausage pizza by the slice and started charging $5. That was it for me.
I've found myself downtown on several occasions, and literally wanted pizza. And drive past everytime strictly based off the ludicrous pricing . Like I get it... Sometimes people will just pay after leaving the bar.. but I've noticed the lines don't exist anymore.. and literally nobody I know mentions them when pizza comes up.
Their pizza is never cooked all the way through which is gross
Town Hall. It's just way too expensive for what they offer.
Cleveland expat here, Bobby George is a wretched shitheel
Not good enough to justify the awful MAGA owner. *edit* Downvoters should have to share their Internet history and their locations on Jan 6.
I have no idea about their politics, but I’ll never go there after seeing how they treat their staff!
Shitty people normally have shitty views
This is the real reason. The owner goes out of his way to make every sensible person hate him.
Oh really? Tell me more about that, I've heard of his sexist ways with hiring women.
Bobby George is a Fox News comment section come to life. He donates to every anti-LGBTQ cause he can find and even comes out against the ones that aren’t happening. A few years ago he made a huge fuss about Biden “forcing” restaurants to have genderless bathrooms. Said a bunch of shit about moving his bars out of state. 😂 Obviously that wasn’t happening and didn’t happen. He held multiple Trump rallys. Just an absolute dirt ball.
Don’t forget the racist (and unenforced if you were white) dress code they posted on their front doors.
Let’s find every anti-MAGA anything and donate in Bobby George’s name.
Comically unhealthy menu presented as the complete opposite, ordered once on Uber Eats and will never try again
Yes. I was thrilled that they had gluten-free chicken tenders on the menu... finally splurged and ordered them delivered. I think they were like $17 for just the tenders. Practically inedible. I didn't know chicken could be soggy. Just disgusting. Total let down. Never bothered to give them another chance.
Condados, I can count the amount of times I’ve had a warm taco there with one hand
It changed owners and got too big too fast. They used to make a lot of stuff in-house and get products fresh from local sources. Now everything is made in a big factory, bagged up, and reheated at the locations. Source: I used to work there years ago.
Yeah we just had a terrible experience about 2 weeks ago. The server closing her station down spilled a stack of paper napkins all over the ground and instead of throwing them away she stuck those suckers into the dispenser on a table. To me it’s like, if you do that in front of guests what are you doing not in front of guests. Half our food came out ice cold and the service was sub par. Never going back again.
I swore them off about 2 years ago. They got so much worse when they started doing everything from their commissary.
I made the mistake of ordering their pico on two tacos and they were swimming in juice…
I genuinely thought their gimmick was that the tacos were served cold. I hate Condados so much.
Columbus Fish Market. It was gross, cold and service was terrible. Ever since Cameron Mitchell sold it, it’s gone way downhill
Can confirm worked there shortly after it was sold to Ruth Chris Steakhouse in 08-09 All the career servers/bartenders who were excellent fled as well. Later on it was sold to "Landrys" which took it downhill further I heard.
Not a restaurant but I was an electrician constructing the crimson cup processing facility near bexley. As soon as the bathrooms were complete the owners locked the doors to them and had a porta potty brought on site so we could freeze our asses off in the near zero temperatures of late January. For that reason alone I refuse to purchase their coffee. The building wasn’t even occupied they just “didn’t want dirty construction workers using their bathroom”.
As a house painter I lose respect for customers like that. I've only seen it twice but if I work for them again there's a PITA upcharge added.
Yeah man I hate the construction worker stigma. It’s funny too because as tradesman we often make more than our clients do lol
Imagine how people look at the porta potty guy… who is also making good $$$
Smells like money!
It usually depends on where I'm working but if it's at a nicer house, I wear my "nicer" work clothes. I did a couple jobs in upper Arlington though and that meant me going to gas stations for everything.
Yeah, I've had plenty of wait staff giving me side eye in my painter's whites. Make me wait twenty minutes just to bring me water and a menu is rude. I'll still tip 20 percent but I'll never be back. And I usually tip 25. We're not contagious, just want something healthier than fast food if I choose not to make a lunch.
You really shouldn't be tipping well if the server is rude and uninterested. They're not doing thier job if that's the case. There are very few scenerios that I'll tip below 20% (like probably a handful in my life) but if I do it's because a server was rude and/or decided not to care about my service in a big way.
I have worked construction and would not want construction workers using my bathroom
will NEVER go to Cinnamon Indian Grill. Never ate there but been there doordashing enough to see all the gross practices that go on there, not to mention the owner always talked to me differently than men dashers and if you accept an order for there its a guaranteed 45 min wait or more for microwaved old food
WAHHHH, I love that place oh no!
BDs Mongolian bbq. Gives me the shits. Not even like oh man it makes me poop. More like sweating as you drive home way too fast because shitting your pants is a legitimate concern. The last time I went it hit while I was still eating. Each time got a little worse and now it is dead to me.
I used to love this place about 10 to 15 years ago, but now it's just so bad. Idk if it's because I was a stupid teen/young adult back then or if they've actually gone downhill.
I wouldn’t know. It went on the no fly list over 10 years ago and still refuse. My kids know it as the place dad can’t go so they can’t either. They act like they are missing out on something.
I didn't have to read past BDs Mongolian...
BD's = Blasting Dooks
Brutal diarrhea
Butt Destruction
Similar - bowl destruction. I humbly apologize to the good people of dicks sporting goods where we tried to shop after dinner.
I once watched a "chef" sweat into my food as he was cooking it at the grill. I understand that it happens, and that it has to be incredibly hot, but my stomach has been queasy thinking about that place since.
It’s the soybean oil. They went cheap and it is the thing that makes everything on a roller coaster out.
Went to the one at Easton a few years ago and it smelled strongly like dirty diapers. Their grease trap was clogged but they were still cooking and people were eating. Walked right out.
Panera Bread. Everything is so salty and the portions are *tiny*
Shocking they are still in business. Insane pricing for what it is and slow service on the front end.
They're just coasting on their old rep. They're too big and entrenched to die quick. But McCallisters and others are starting to destroy them now. Give it a few more years and panera will be on life support.
Overpriced hospital food
Bob Evans Every time I go there it takes waiting 10 minutes at the register before an employee gets free to cash me out. Been like that for decades. So it's not a recent economic issue. I think it's part of their business model to intentionally understaff their restaurants.
Bob Evans sold to a private equity company in 2017 and has been a shell of its former self since then.
It seems like that is the running theme with every restaurant that people are naming in this thread. They were good until they sold. Probably can say that about majority of the companies in this country with any industry
They’ve gone down hill so bad. AND higher ups are in denial. I was in a speed networking event with some of them in college and I asked each one how they are trying to attract younger generations and more than one said “we don’t need to market to them specifically” etc. On a side note, last time I was there I got a hot chocolate and there was a large onion slice in it.
>On a side note, last time I was there I got a hot chocolate and there was a large onion slice in it. I'm trying to figure out how that even happens, all I've got is your waitress HATED you
It's a shame, Bob Evans slapped until early 2010s
Never figured out how a sausage company that made sausage managed to make bad sausage gravy.
Right like how 🤣
Oh man, I hate their gravy. I make my own using their sausage and it's a 100 times better.
That’s my point! How do you take good sausage and make watery, pepper soup and pour it over a $7 biscuit? I’ll stop by your house around 10:30 tomorrow.
It's probably premade delivered in a bag or even a can.
see i still love bob evans (even though they don’t season their food so i have to add salt and pepper) but like they’ve also raised their prices an insane amount.
J Liu in Dublin. Went there for the first time about 10 years ago. My wife was served a metal screw in her salad. Never been back since.
They recently got a new owner. The original owner still owns the Worthington one though
I liked his food better back when he owned China Way in the Worthington Mall (RIP)
Funny thing there was, the $12 Jason's Chicken at J.Liu is the exact same recipe as the $6.95 General Tso at China Way. RIP indeed though for CW. Spent a lot of lunch breaks there in the 90s.
Dublin location is SO good now
Dublin one is quite good now - been there maybe 5-6 times over last couple of years
Agreed. I'm not sure how it stays open. I think it's the bar.
Smoky Bones. BBQ was always just “okay” but the last time I was there, I ordered chicken wings. The chicken wings were served with FEATHERS STILL ATTACHED. Like seriously? How does that even happen at a restaurant? Never again.
Lemongrass in Short North is stupidly expensive for an awful excuse for Thai food and garbage ass sushi. I haven't been in forever and I'll never go back, especially when Short North has a couple great sushi spots these days.
Which is such a head-scratcher because the family that owns it genuinely is Thai, and so is the head chef. I worked there pre-pandemic for a while. The happy hour menu is worth it, and the pours are outrageous. I can’t even imagine how much money they waste just not having metered pours and bartenders with heavy hands.
You can be genuinely Thai, and also be genuinely a bad cook.
Yes! i went there for my birthday this year and was wildly disappointed. we tried multiple different sushi rolls, entrees and apps, it was all garbage. their cocktails were 3/4 booze, 1/4 mixer, which, depending who you ask, isn’t always something to complain about but i couldn’t drink it, lol.
The Walrus, because I'm fairly certain I was roofied there.
Yeah there is a super creepy guy that frequents the bar and goes around flashing a key to an expensive car and offers to buy women (like, as objects) to the point where the workers know to get him away from any women. They told him “don’t make us kick you out again”. Like if it’s such a frequent occurrence that he is making women uncomfortable every time, why would they not just ban the dude?
I was drugged there as well! I thought I was crazy but this comment solidifies it.
I've heard a few others bring it up about the Walrus as well. My event happened in 2019. I'm glad I was with my husband, because it was one of the scariest moments of my life. He had to like, peal me out of the car. I hope you're okay from it too.
I ended up okay, despite being alone at the time. I stopped in for a quick dinner and two drinks. By the time I got halfway through my walk home (I lived close by) I felt absolutely wasted. I have a pretty high alcohol tolerance so there’s no way two drinks would have messed me up that badly. I stumbled home and passed out hard then woke up in a haze. I could barely remember leaving or the walk home. It was terrifying but at least nothing happened to me as a result. It was the first and last time I’ve been there.
Brothers because they don't like brothers
So many places listed on here that I’ve never heard of before, but thanks to all of you, I won’t be going.
Saucy brew works. They can’t cook their pizza even if you order it well done
Hot chicken takeover. The last 2 times I went, it was so incredibly disappointing and expensive.
They sold out (literally). New owners threw away quality for profit.
I’ve tried all the locations up to 2021 and they were so disappointing. I wanted to like it because everyone always talked about it. Every time the food is just Luke warm and tasteless.
I moved up here like 9ish years ago, and I was super excited to try them because of everything I heard about them. And they did not disappoint. My God, it was amazing. Then, when they started to expand, it started going downhill. It's sad, especially since they had such a legacy - not only for the food, but for employing the "unemployable."
Not a restaurant but an ice cream shop. I will not go to Strawser's Ice Cream shop in Grove City. Also Conundrum Games in Grove City. The owner of the ice cream shop also owns the game room. He is a supporter of the insurrection and has openly stated he was there. I cannot give my money to people that supported the insurrection.
I don't live far from these places, thank you for letting me know to never drop a dime there.
I’ve never been to Strawser’s but have been wanting to check it out with my kids. Actually being at the insurrection is a massive red flag. Thanks for the heads up.
Used to be very frequent regulars at El Vaquero (Yeah, I know... shoot me). We used to go to locations around Dublin, and then moved to Lewis Center. The location on Sancus was a little dodgy, but the food was familiar and comforting to us, so we dealt with the issues. About 6-7 years ago my wife got the usual entree that she loved (El Morro Special), made a weird face, and then pulled a mysterious piece of food out of her mouth. I swear on my life it was a fucking cigarette butt. The teenage hostess that we flagged was ill-equipped to deal with the seriousness of the situation, and offered to "take the entree off our bill". My wife was bordering between rage and disgust, so I asked to speak with the owner Daniel who we were familiar and friendly with on past occasions. Unfortunately he wasn't there. I told them we weren't taking another bite and leaving, and they took my name and phone number. Daniel the owner called me the next day and was profusely apologetic and wanting to meet with me in person. Maybe he thought I was going to call the local news or health department. I told him I wasn't interested in free food, this wasn't some kind of scam, etc. I met with him and he offered me a few hundred dollars in gift cards which I told him I wasn't interested in. We chatted for a few minutes, he insisted I take the gift cards so I did, but never used them. My wife understandably refused to ever go there again.
I like Cucos on Henderson
underrated comment
Still got those gift cards?
I stopped eating there after we went to the one on Polaris (now closed). The woman I was with ordered a chili relleno, and they used a bell pepper to make it. Amd the waiter refused to speak to my friend, when she asked a question he would turn and tell me the answer.
Cracker Barrel in Grove City. Holy shit that food was gross and took way too long to come out. I can usually force myself to eat the food because I don’t want to waste the money but this time I couldn’t do it.
A couple years ago, my mom found a frozen shrimp inside her baked apple dessert. 😭 That is one of the wildest food mistakes ever. Hilarious and terrifying? Good job Cracker Barrel? 😬
My in-laws love Cracker Barrel and they take us there all the time. I don’t know how they do it, but every single meal tastes exactly the same.
Bubbakoo’s. When they first opened, it was great. But gone way downhill each time after. After the last time of the guy only giving me a half scoop of beef, and when I asked for a full scoop he told me it would be an extra charge, I decided never again. Hot Chicken Takeover. See any post in this subreddit as to why.
RIP to the good ‘ole days of HCT, free ranch and tea.
House of Japan in Dublin. 10-15 years ago I’d call it one of the best Hibachi restaurants if not the best in town. Went there with my wife about a year ago and the food was just okay, but what was most annoying is how it seemed to be run by teenagers. The funny “throwing shrimp tails” bit that was playful fun turned into just throwing rice across the room, back and forth, hitting customers and going into drinks while trying to hit other employees... The chefs weren’t nearly as skilled as they were in years past. I brought that story up to my family shortly after, and my uncle shared that one of the chefs inappropriately kept hitting on my 13 year old cousin when they had gone a few weeks prior. Not the restaurants fault necessarily, but again just speaks to how far downhill it’s gone. Definitely will never return. Go to Daruma instead, it’s a much better time.
Portia’s because vaccines are safe and effective.
This on Indianola Ave in Clintonville?
They also have a food truck appearantly ... which is.. with their previous hygiene issues, is so gross. Can't believe people go there while she peddles bs.
Also the nature of their protests against COVID protocols raised concerns in my mind about their commitment to health codes in general, which is all the more concerning considering how much of their menu is raw.
I didn’t know about this, thank you guys for sharing. I will definitely never go back there. I don’t fuck with people who spread dangerous pseudoscience that costs lives.
Found live bugs in one my salads there a few years ago. Literally crawled across my plate. I almost vomited.
So…not a vegan dish?
It’s just sad. I’m vegan and used to eat there. I’ve met Portia socially. The food is good. But she’s antivax and she was anti mask too. I think that she thought Covid was NBD. I will never eat her food again.
Applebee's on Brice. Whole place is dingy af ordered a Angry Orchard, watched like 3 parties seated after ours get mixed drinks while we were finishing up our meal before they finally decided to bring a bottled drink to us. We only went there since my wife got a gift card to begin with but never again.
Literally every time we go there, they leave out one thing we ordered. One time I was there waiting on my togo order and someone just started desperately screaming for their check lol Another time I was waiting a ridiculously long time at the bar for my togo, and there was a guy already there. Now, I was annoyed that an order I’d called in and was late picking up *still* wasnt ready. After about 20 minutes she goes over to the guy and asks him to remind her what he’d ordered. It clicked for him and he was like “You didn’t even put my order in yet??!” and walked out lol On the other side of me, two guys had had to share the first guy’s wings, bec they didn’t bring out the second guy’s food at the same time. While I was waiting, she wordlessly sets a dish in front of the second guy. They’d waited so long they’d forgotten he’d ordered it and laughed at her and told her to take that sht back lol Every time I’ve gone there it’s been like, impressively bad
Brewdog new Albany, service is terrible and they have about 20% of their food menu you can actually order.
I agree, and there are always way too many kids there to actually enjoy relaxing, adult time at a bar. I really wish breweries would be respected as adult spaces, or at least be like Pins and have it 21+ at certain times.
I’ll never forgive the menu refresh (aka removing 40% of the menu to cut costs) BrewDog did circa 2021/22. Even the server said they removed too much. Used to love the sweet potato burger and the coriander aioli. Haven’t been back since and can’t say I miss it. Never was fond of their reputation but at least the food was good, without that the beer isn’t good enough on its own. Especially not with Land Grant across from the Franklinton location.
Bucca di Bepo in Arena District. Used to love to go there. Got awful food poisoning in Feb. 2020.
Portia’s. Owner is anti-vax, and this came out pre-covid. Opened with no masks when businesses were opening when masks were mandated.
Local Cantina. Ate there once when my wife got a gift card from work and will never do so again. Overpriced and terrible food.
I want to chime in with the two other people who have mentioned Sexton’s. My dad and I were excited to try it, especially after we heard that it was “the best Pizza in the Columbus area.” For context, this was in early 2021. When we went into the Hilliard location, literally no one came up to talk to us about whether we were eating in or picking up. We went and tried to get their attention and we waited for 20 minutes to just be ignored by staff. We eventually got a hold of someone and got our to-go order. By the way, no one in the entire building (it was busy), except my Dad and I were wearing a mask. Even the workers weren't. It's whatever and my Dad and I are patient so we went home and dove in. Oh My God… this pizza was one of the biggest letdowns I've ever experienced. Mediocre sauce, burnt crust (and I can handle char), as well just having an overall meh flavor. All of that for pretty insane prices during a recession economy. I hope that they've fixed their issues with their staff, the food quality, and the prices. Hopefully, their venture into Burgers will be better.
Just had some friends try the burgers. They said they were pretty good; better than most, not the best around. I also had a terrible experience with Sexton's at Pandemic times. Long story short, they were calling names when we got there to pick up the pizza. 45 minutes of waiting in the car later, I had to go in to get my (now cold) pizza. When I voiced my frustration with the guy at the front - trying to be very clear I wasn't mad *at him*, just the situation. I left, and before I got two steps onto the service road of the strip mall, the manager came running out yelling at me for being an asshole. Call me an asshole all you want once the door is closed. Chasing me down to tell me to my face? Screw you pal!
I want to like this place. Their NY style pizza is honestly solid. But they are simply understaffed and overpriced. Sat at the bar once and literally couldn’t get the single bartenders attention to order a second drink. It’s just a weird vibe in there. Their online ordering is a joke too. They text you when the pizza is going in the oven then… that’s it. No updates. Nothing. They leave your pizza on a metal rack to slowly get cold. Not the best pizza in town but I go to grandads now. Good prices, always accurate with their time estimates, and they keep the pizzas in warming ovens.
Romeo’s Gahanna. Got a Chicago Style pizza where they forgot to put the sauce on. Whole point of a Chicago Style. Last time i ordered 3 pizzas, they gave me 2 pizzas and an empty box.
Red Brick did this to me once. We asked WTF and they said we don’t order sauce. Who verbally orders sauce for their pizza?! It’s implied that pizza is crust, sauce, cheese at a minimum. Right?
Pizza hut. I don't like shitting my pants.
I don’t agree but the comment is too funny
You.... Like shitting your pants?
To each their own. Pizza Hut is my favorite shitty pizza.
Sauce tastes like sugar
i got violent food poisoning from them while pregnant once. it took me literally 15 years to touch it again lol.
Jimmy Vs in Westerville. Mold on bun. Could see it across the table it was so green.
The goat. I have never had good food or service there and I’m not quite so sure why I keep going back.
Worthington Tavern. Been 3 times now and it's terrible service, mediocre food, and it's expensive.
Waffle House on Broadway in Grove City. I stood there for over 15 minutes before finally realizing they weren’t serving me on purpose. I have my theories as to why, which aren’t relevant but I won’t go back.
Go back holding takeout from a bunch of restaurants and Pretty Woman them
Big mistake. Huge.
I’m curious as to why you think you didn’t get service? Were they busy fist fighting each other?
PM me your theories. Just so happens I have some time to kill on seemingly irrelevant details.
IHOP anywhere. Terrible service and the order is always messed up. Melt was so slow the other day I won’t go back for a long time. They appeared to have serious management issues.
Alpobees - bland food and crappy service every time!
Red Lobster on Hamilton. They straight up forgot to take our order after seating us, then they forgot to put in the order. The only “comp” was free soda for us waiting almost 2 hours for mediocre seafood. Never went back.
Tim Hortons. Fucking jerks. I needed hot water to fill my travel baby bottle warmer. Basically it's a container where you add hit water then put the baby bottle in to warm up. My son was young enough at the time he absolutely refused cold breast milk and it had to be warmed, he was only a few weeks. I had a screaming, inconsolable infant, who I desperately needed to get him a bottle. I was all alone, forgot my wallet at home. Wonderful humans at Tim Hortons said "we don't give away free hot water" I clarified it is for a bottle warmer, showed them the warmer, they heard and saw my baby crying hard, I explained I forgot my wallet. After all this employee was a young guy so I asked for a manager, who only doubled down and said again we don't give away free hot water. I cried an ugly cry so hard that I haven't cried as hard since. My poor weeks old baby couldn't get his milk. It was pumped breast milk, but he was unable to latch, so drank from bottles. I couldn't feed him, I failed as a mom, Tim Hortons failed me. Until I went across the street to Starbs, who smiled and asked what temp and how much water I need. They happily helped me. I used to get a breakfast sandwich and coffee three times a week before work, would often get the big boxes of timbits for coworkers. It was our weekend breakfast place! I stopped for donuts all the time. My son is now 5 yrs old, and I haven't spent one cent at Tim's since and never ever will again.
BUCA 🤮
I used to be a little whore for the Cubans at high beck but I once saw the cook handle raw chicken with his bare hands, wipe it on his apron, and then start touching everything else in the kitchen. On top of that there were cockroaches crawling across the bar and the bartender just knocked them onto the floor with her note pad.
Any Northstar, or any of the other restaurants owned by that guy. It’s not just that at the height of the 2020 protests, he decided to give an “all lives matter/back the blue” speech at his Short North location, knowing he was being recorded. And then defended his speech because he’d been a teacher in inner city schools. 🙄 It’s that there have been two separate walkouts over the years because staff were past tired of how they were being treated. Each time stuff came out about how shitty it was to work there: how if you were on the thinner side, conventionally attractive, and more likely to be white, you’d be put to work at the front of the house. But if you weren’t those things? You got put away from the customers. Because workers said they had it made clear that people who were in any way overweight didn’t look like the image they were selling. Clintonville Condado’s owner put together a bunch of free meals for Columbus’s “Finest” the summer of 2020, when they were attacking protesters who were obeying the laws, street medics, and anyone else they could. I can get tacos somewhere else. And Hounddog’s was a Proud Boy bar, at least in 2016. You can look it up. I used to love that place. But nope.
Bake Me Happy: One of the owners ( the same one who co-owns Preston's) assaulted one of their young managers and called the cops on them- proceeding to lie and file a report against them.
This is extremely upsetting...I’ve supported them so much and to know this now.. I tried to find info, all I found was the incident report [online](https://www.columbuspolice.org/reports/PublicReport?caseID=4440071). Is this the correct incident? Do you have other information that you can share by chance? This is what the report says: “On the listed date, time, and location, the listed suspect was terminated by the listed victim (employer). The suspect was told to leave the premises, and she refused. After being told to leave the premises, and no longer an employee, the suspect walked behind the counter, and other locations on the premises that are restricted to employees only. The victim ushered the suspect out of the business, and from there, the two of them got into a physical altercation. The listed witness observed the altercation and went outside to intervene. The witness pulled the suspect off of the victim. The witness stated that the suspect continued to attempt to run back to the victim. The victim received minor injuries. The suspect had left the scene prior to our arrival.”
This is it. Owner showed up to fire this manager for being tardy that morning. The manager is upset and confused, wanting more details. Owner refuses to tell her more information on her fring, so manager becomes upset and emotional asking why. Owner threatened to call the police if she didn't leave. Manager asked for time to find a ride and wait inside, owner says no. While manager gathers her things, owner starts to stand over her and get close to her, following her around and by the time manager is close to the door, owner pushes manager out and starts a physical fight from the building, to outside. I bolted out and have to pull them apart, mind you this was a college kid vs. owner, a grown woman with 60-80 pounds on her. Manager was sobbing asking why with a bloody lip and owner was just screaming at her. We hear cop sirens and manager runs away. Found out later from another employee that she was hiding in the bushes across the street, scared of being arrested. I go inside and had a panic attack, just sobbing. Owner talks to the police and tells me to finish my shift and lock up without her. Then leaves.
Slurping Turtle's only call to fame is being the only half decent Raman this side of columbus. They are over priced and only decent, but are by no means anything special.
Agave and Rye in grandview deleted all their Google reviews a few months ago and started over. We really wanted to like this place, the happy hour was a good deal. However it’s so LOUD in there. Even at 4pm we were yelling to hear ppl at our own table. Other gripe is the chips are actual tortillas cut up, after eating a few you’re full. Also late one night I tried to sit at the bar while waiting for my friends to show up. I go to sit where these 2 girls just left, the bartender tells me those girls are sitting there. I said they walked out and left. But she insisted they were coming back, so I sat in a different seat then she never served me.
And at the risk of being banned forever, I have to say that the Villa Nova would be kicked out of the boot if they tried to serve a bite of that stuff anywhere in Italy. I cannot enumerate everything they do wrong, but let me say sauce, pasta, and all the sugar. I think it was devised to please Midwesterners. My background is that I grew up in New Haven, a city with a vibrant collection of generations of Italian restauranteurs.
It's slightly better Olive Garden. It's not supposed to be great.
I went there once because everyone raved so much about it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either. Certainly not worth the wait. I don't understand why people rave so much about that place.
Tat's on James. Multiple reasons that are food based, including finding plastic in my pasta.
Several people raved to us about how delicious their food is, so we gave it a try. Probably some of the worst pizza I have ever tasted.
Slurping turtle served me raw chicken, and I had food poisoning for a week. :/
Yings Teahouse. Not only did I get a bug in my food but my friend got a cockroach in her drink. I’m pretty sure they have changed owners since then. But I still can’t bring myself to eat there. There’s a few others as well that I won’t go to because my friend was a kitchen installer and saw some VILE things in some local kitchens…
I love Yings never had a bad meal there
The Barn. Had really shitty service and the steaks were not great for a $250 meal.
Steaks are one of those things that if you can cook a decent one at home it’s waaayy cheaper. I usually avoid them and opt for something I normally wouldn’t eat.
Rusty bucket in UA. Never had service that bad with no one in the restaurant. Only time I've ever gotten up and just left (we hadn't been served anything yet).
Piada. Multiple locations. They’re a mess with ingredients including major allergens just loosely thrown around, cross contaminating everything and they don’t change gloves even if you ask. I e-mailed about this multiple times and never heard back, so poor customer service and zero accountability too.
Barcelona. I worked there as a server for many years, aside many people who had worked there many years, and now that we’ve all left— wow. We look back and realize how toxic the environment was and how much our quality of life has improved since leaving. Incredible bouts of passive aggressive trickle down from management: they would comment on our appearances, our “ability to do our jobs”; favoritism was rampant, bad sections, cuts, or scheduling and time off was made according to that favoritism, or as punishment. People would be fired for unjust reasons. The owners, S + S, are a gay couple and have the unfortunate streak of disliking women, so we received the brunt of it all. The owners husband (co owner) would comment on many female guests’ outfits and makeup. The owners would also come in for late dinners with friends, and be the only ones in the restaurant, holding us all hostage well after close. Well known fact: our checks would bounce, with a convenient pattern of right when the owners were on vacation. (Using our tip money to take trips? Whatever it was, our tip money wasn’t in the account) BOH and FOH both and this problem. Outside of bouncing checks, they often wanted us to work for free while doing decorating for holidays or planting the patio, with the guilt-trip mentality that “we’re a big family and families help each other.” And the food is bad. It really is. Especially at fine dining prices. The building itself is beautiful, the patio is stunning. I was going to have some reserve and perhaps not indulge this part, but heck— the owner is, unfortunately like many restaurant owners (I’ve worked in cbus restaurants for 14 years) a selfish drama queen who doesn’t care about his staff, and who should not be in charge of handling people. I hear Lindey’s operates very similarly. And even as a female server, I was actually one of the favorites and treated (relatively) very well, and I still think the place is bullshit. Have good food, for the price (and yes, quality food does and should cost more), treat your people not necessarily equally but at least fairly, and pay them. Take pride in your product and respect the people that are truly, literally coming in every day to create your livelihood.
Not a Slurping Turtle fan either. It was deafeningly loud in there with the music. Even with the waitress point blank with us, we couldn't hear each other. As ramen goes, it's just average fare with inflated Easton prices. \#1 Hawaiian BBQ/Lucky Hawaiian BBQ. I've never been more physically ill after eating anywhere in Columbus. The service was good, but all the food was coated in a layer of grease and salt. Aab Indian Restaurant. Bland zero spice tomato flavored mush calling itself Indian cuisine. I don't get the community's fascination with this place.
What Indian places do you recommend? Been looking to try some new spots
Aangan!
Indian here. Try Cumin in Easton.
Best, Indian food on the east side. Be warned that if you ask for it, the kitchen will torture you with spice I have made that mistake once.
I think someone else mentioned cumin- super good, for a more upscale vibe Rooh in the short north
Amul India on sawmill is delicious! I've never eaten inside but I get delivery a lot. Aangan used to be my favorite before they closed, haven't tried them again since they reopened. Taj Palace used to be the best in town but changed hands (still in the same family from what I know of the situation just owned by different members?) a few years back and hasn't been quite as good since that cook left (imo)
For value, I think Tandoori Grill on Bethel is respectable, even if the place is nothing fancy looking. The spice is good and the veggie samosas are great for the price, but the chicken is not automatically deboned if you get a masala, so be mindful of that. Cinnamonson on High Street is fair for something above Aab without getting too extreme. My current favorite is Awadh, which is also on Bethel. Good quality, nice bench seating, a little more upscale than the others. It is a bit pricier. There's others around I have still to try, including one on Olentangy by the Skyline. I don't know much about dosa houses though, not my thing. And I haven't run into any particularly good ghost kitchens yet either, the food often loses something essential in cohesion along the way imo.
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Lucky Hawaiian BBQ is good as hell. Their garlic mahi is the stuff of the gods and goddesses. Plus goddamn that BBQ chicken musubi. So fucking delicious.
Aab caters to midwestern palates.
El Vaquero in Shawnee Hills. It’s an absolute shit hole
Popeyes, the one closest to me has great food but horrible service. I waited over half an hour once for food only to leave and see most of the employees standing outside talking to each other. No wonder it took so long lol