21 E. Fifth Ave.
Columbus, Oh 43201
614.291.4555
website
Built out as a farm-to-table restaurant for the Short North, The Table is one of the more down-to-earth restaurants in the district, focused on local and conscious cuisine. More of a laid back spot where live music wafts through the bar and the kitschy-feeling dining room feels almost more like a coffee shop than a nice restaurant. The food here is a mix of every kind of cuisine, with the focus not being on culture but on prep style: All about the good local ingredients and conscious sourcing.
Some of the things I liked:
- Veggie Pad Thai: Skipping noodles, this bowl instead features butternut squash ribbons, carrots, scallions, mushrooms and bell peppers doused in a sweet and hot sauce. It’s got a ton of peanuts, fresh cilantro, basil and bean sprouts.
- Tandoori Chicken: An Indian specialty, chicken marinated and roasted with curry, spices, cilantro and red onions. The chicken is served with a paratha flat-bread and some yogurt chutney and tomato-cucumber salad for balance.
- Mac & Cheese: Rotini macaroni mixed in with some greens, mushrooms, onion and cilantro. A few peppers and some chorizo for a very light warm touch.
- Ahumada: This mezcal-based cocktail is smokey as it is strong. Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Herradurra Repasado and apricot liqueur cleanly mixed.
- The Breezeway: A very fresh cocktail, this one is mixed with High Bank Vodka, fresh lemon, mint and soda. Probably a neutral one that goes best with dishes that accentuate its mildness.
The restaurant has this feel something like a farmhouse or something much more casual than what you’d find in the hot neighborhood of a major city. The prices are high, but that comes in large part to the ingredients and the sourcing, and of course there’s a strong desire for the food to be fresh and meticulous. Just something to know in advance.
The Table is a different kind of experience than the rest of the food in the city. But its a pleasant one, and it makes for an experience worth trying out. While I think the prices in the Short North are certainly on the rise, that doesn’t preclude a good experience, and here, the ingredients are always fresh and the service is superb. This restaurant grows on you and quickly.
Recommendations
- Reservations highly recommended, and it’s also a good idea to have as few cars as possible. There’s very limited parking in the restaurant’s own lot. There’s otherwise just metered parking around.
- Cocktails here are recommended but they’ll muddle up a few custom drinks if you like. They’re pretty descriptive.
- Many of the dishes here can be vegetarian or vegan, but adding chicken is a pretty common option.
Another Food Critic 