680 N High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
614.867.5885
website
Initially getting its feet on the ground in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood, Brassica faced a tough crowd to get off its feet – this quick-serve lunch spot sits in what is now an upscale neighborhood of young professionals who are health conscious, and it’s just out of easy walking distance from the downtown crowd. So food has to be healthy, and it has to be delicious. Luckily, the restaurant knows its market, and it’s routinely shoulder to shoulder in here. The two brothers who founded this place espouse a love of good food. They succeed in every way.
The menu is focused on customized pita sandwiches and there’s a huge variety of ingredients you can toss in there. Some things to try:
- Chicken: A roasted shawarma with aromatics and very slight spices. Shawarma can be overwhelmed with all the other things in a pita, but don’t worry about that here.
- Glazed bacon: A candied bacon with a wonderful sweetness but still a pleasant smokiness. This one makes your pita much heavier but no less satisfying.
- Vegetables: If you prefer a meat-free but filling dish, these will be wonderful. Eggplant and roasted cauliflower and some other things. Not just filler but delicious.
- Baba Gahnoush: A smokey eggplant puree and a nice evening factor if you prefer it, especially if you’re looking for something less oily than the traditional hummus.
- Falafel: Crunchy balls of spicy chickpeas make for a perfect medium in a wrap filled with roasted veggies and spicy hummus. Make a mess with this one.
- Hummus: Organic chickpeas form the basis of this wonderful smooth hummus. One smear of this just smooths everything out so nicely.
- Fries: Even-handed fried potatoes, topped with a bit of paprika. These fries don’t need any sauce or things to dip.
- Beef Brisket: Smokey, sticky and tender, and a good building block for just about any combination of great sides. Best in a sandwich, I think.
Brassica has this wonderful sense of how to make a healthy meal, and yet one that is healthy and easy to enjoy. The fast casual build-your-own meal concept takes some wonderful and creative choices for healthy food and makes them so approachable and pleasant. But for whatever reason, such creative, veggie-dominated concepts like Brassica have struggled to gain a foothold, and I suspect that’s one of the reasons that this spot has gained so much local affection.
As Brassica begins to expand beyond its original home, the concept will find new audiences in other places, and there’s one thing I can say about this place: believe in it. The delicious food here is memorable for good reason. Brassica is absolutely worth a visit. I hope to see this place grow to something much bigger.
Recommendations
- This would definitely be a healthier option, and one of a very creative few Mediterranean concepts that are so quick and easy.
- If you aren’t partial to the pita wrap, custom-made salads are also good.
- Dining in can be a hassle in the lunch hour, but don’t worry about the packaged food, it’s good to take to walk.
Another Food Critic 