Mine and Kirsten’s explore Columbus included not only one, but two new things that Kirsten had never done. First, we met up to go to Northstar Cafe in the Short North. I let her know that we would just take the bus down there because it is free and the cafe is located on High Street. She then told me that she had never taken the bus before! This was an adventure in itself! I was glad that I could be with her for her first time on the bus because I know it can seem scary or intimidating, especially if you are not sure of the bus routes or which bus to get on. We were both glad to get on the bus when it came to getting out of the chilly weather and it was smooth sailing from there.
I have heard a lot of good things about Northstar Cafe and thought it would be a great place for us to try. Both me and Kirsten are vegetarians which I discovered that day but was a wonderful coincidence because Northstar is known for its extensive amount of vegetarian and vegan options. We looked at the menu and both decided to get the Thai burrito with tofu. They also have humongous cookies which were really hard to pass up one. We both thought the burrito was delicious and said that we would go back again. The place had a nice ambiance and it was quite cozy. The staff was very friendly too. It was fun to take Kirsten somewhere that she had never been and have her really enjoy it.
I think this was a really good way to get to know Kirsten. We are both so busy with school, work, and extracurriculars it can be hard to find time to dedicate to just hanging out. This time we set aside allowed us to put down all the craziness of Ohio State for an hour and enjoy each other’s company– which was awesome because we have a lot in common! We have a similar sense of humor so the time passed quickly and we talked about school, friends, and a bunch of things in between. I think this experience allowed us to become closer friends and will make ACES events more relaxed and fun with her.
I would definitely recommend Northstar to anyone looking for a bite to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They have a great breakfast menu that is just as good as the dinner one. You can really make the experience what you want it to be because you order at the counter and then find a seat. You could be quick and take it to go, find a seat for a short lunch, or there are cozy tables in the back where you could hang out and relax without all the busyness of up front. Honestly, the menu is not super cheap, however, all the produce is local and organically sourced so you get what you pay for! I personally do not have a problem with splurging a little when I go out to eat to get high quality, nutritious food. Plus, if you take the COTA, it is free for students so you skip having to pay for parking or gas. This restaurant also makes transitioning to vegetarianism easy and fun because of its diverse and flavorful options.
I often think that there are not enough options and messaging out there for people to consider eating less meat. However, I learned that if you look for them, Columbus has options for people trying to avoid meat. I think that there is a long way to go with that sort of thing but places like Northstar are setting a positive trend. For someone looking to explore Columbus, I would recommend doing a bit of research first! While it can be really fun to just go out and figure out the plan as you go, that can be a little overwhelming or nerve-racking for some people. For instance, I looked at bus routes before we left and made sure it was close enough that the bus ride wouldn’t be dragged on. I also checked the hours of Northstar to make sure we would not have to rush or they would not be in the process of closing when we arrived. Looking at reviews is also good. I use an app to look up the menu of a place and reviews before I go. While I don’t do this everywhere I go if I have time I like to do it. I think this is an easy way to determine if the food is something that you like or will be able to eat, especially if you have dietary restrictions or are vegan/vegetarian. It can also help you decide if it is a place you want to give money to. If the service or quality of food is bad, then why would you want to support that restaurant? I like supporting local businesses or places with good quality food and great service and reviews can help you figure that out. I would also mention not to let one bad review deter you from going. I’ve worked in food service for a couple of years and sometimes customers come in grumpy and leave mad, or the kitchen might have had an off day and that’s why the food came out slow. We are all human and we should not expect perfection every day. So while reviews are super helpful and I love to utilize them, I try not to let a few bad ones ruin the restaurant– just make sure most of them are positive!
