Columbus To-Do List:
I have chosen to explore some of the restaurants of Columbus with a group of HES friends because I enjoy trying new foods in new places. Additionally, I do hope to go to some of the sporting events around Columbus as well, but Ohio State football is consuming much of that time and money on the weekends here in the fall. So, for now, I will have to stick to restaurants for a Sunday evening meal or dessert. For my first experience, a group of us decided to go to a restaurant in the Short North called Stack City Burger Bar. Additionally, we decided to do another item on the list and get dessert, going to Jeni’s Ice Cream.
First Experience: Stack City Burger Bar
After playing flag football in the rain for an hour with some HES friends, we decided to go to the Short North to grab something to eat. Some of us were in the mood for a high-quality burger, so we looked around the map for a bit and found Stack City Burger Bar. The experience was great, and though it was a little pricey, the burger was well worth it. The service we had there was great, and we learned they have a wing night on Wednesdays as well. So, we will definitely be going back in the future for some more delicious burgers and wings.
Second Experience: Jeni’s Ice Cream
After we left Stack City Burger Bar, we were looking for a bus to get back to Drackett, but someone pointed out that there was a Jeni’s really close and that we should definitely go get some ice cream. We had all enjoyed Jeni’s ice cream once before, and we wanted to try it again. So, we spontaneously decided to walk to Jeni’s before we caught the next bus back to Drackett. The experience there was just as good as Stack City. However, finding a place to sit with our large group was somewhat difficult. The building was small and had limited seating. Aside from that, the service was great, the ice cream was delicious, and one of the workers took our picture at the end. I would definitely recommend Jeni’s to a friend, and we will likely go to Jeni’s many more times in the future.
Third Experience: Thurman Cafe
For my third experience, my family took me to Thurman Cafe, located in the German Village, to celebrate my 19th birthday. Here, I conquered the Thurmanator, one of the biggest burgers in Ohio. The long wait that is apparently normal at Thurman’s was not dampening to the experience at all. The extra time allowed me catch up with my family and everything going on in their lives. The service there was excellent, the atmosphere was loud but exciting, the Thurmanator was amazing, and I even made room for cake afterward. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to friends and go there in the future. However, I think I would get a burger of a more reasonable size. For the sake of my health, eating the Thurmanator will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Columbus To-Do List Conclusion:
My favorite experience from this project was definitely going to Thurman’s. The Thurmanator was incredible, and I don’t know if I’ll ever eat anything like it. Columbus is an incredible city with seemingly endless experiences to take part in. I hope to spend a lot of time experiencing different aspects of Columbus, but I doubt I will be able to see it all. I definitely have found a desire to go to various restaurants around Columbus and see what other great tastes the city has to offer. For those trying to explore Columbus as well, don’t be afraid to use the COTA bus system. It can get you anywhere in Columbus. It expands the possible experiences. Also, don’t limit yourself to what you are comfortable with. Try something new.
Semester 2 Columbus To-Do List:
Melt Bar and Grilled:
For our Peer Leader group Columbus To-Do list, our group decided to go to Melt Bar and Grilled. The atmosphere of the restaurant was really exciting and unique, as there were many wall paintings and decorations that would be found at no other place. The options on the menu all looked delicious and nearly every sandwich was a type of grilled cheese. I ordered a Cleveland cheesesteak which was really tasty and I would definitely get it again. However, I would want to try many of the other sandwiches that were offered there as well. The service was really good, and though the food was a bit pricey, it was overall a great experience. We all enjoyed each other’s company and had a good time together as a group. I would definitely go again and recommend it to a friend, but I would go with my parents so they can pay for me.