5 restaurants to try this month: March 2023

Want to support local restaurants? Curious about new openings or unknown finds? Here are five restaurants I suggest you try this month!

1. Speck Italian Restaurant

Speck is a wonderful new addition to downtown Columbus. Like its nearby partner restaurant Veritas, Speck got its start in Delaware before owner Josh Dalton moved it south. The new space is open for both lunch and dinner, with cocktails, an expert wine list and carefully executed modern Italian cuisine, from focaccia to burrata to pastas, tiramisu and more.

Speck Italian food
89 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Learn more: Discover the modern flavors of Italy at New Speck Italian Eatery

2. Jack & Benny’s

We recently reconnected with Jack & Benny’s at Hudson and High Streets and were reminded why this family restaurant is so beloved. It’s a campus classic, an old-school joint that serves hearty breakfasts like omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and my personal weakness: the all-inclusive Gutbuster.

Jack & Benny’s
2563 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43202
More info: Gutbusters and More Glorious Diner Fare at Jack & Benny’s

3. Creole2Geaux

Creole2Geaux started as a stand in the Mercat de l’Est and just this week opened its first independent restaurant in the Arena neighborhood. This gives us a new place to have lunch or dinner before the game. They offer a flavorful menu with po’ boys, bowls, jambalaya mac and cheese, bourbon chicken and more.

Creole2Geaux
401 N. Front St. (Arena District) and 212 Kelton Ave. (East Market)
Learn more: creole2geaux.com

4. 92 Chicken

Our obsession with CM Chicken’s crispy Korean fried chicken is well documented, and now the people of Delaware are enjoying it too! A couple of months ago, the owners of CM opened a sister restaurant called 92 Chicken downtown. It’s more of a casual bar than CM, but features the same delicious fried chicken. We love the spicy seasonings of garlic, curry and hot paprika.

92 Chicken
12 S. Sandusky St.
Delaware, OH 43015
Learn more: 92chickenoh.com

5. Lexicon in Tercera

When you regularly work downtown, you quickly develop favorite lunch stops. One of my favorites is Lexis on Third, located on the ground floor of the Chase Tower. They have a classic delicatessen menu of very high standards with corned beef or pastrami, BLT, gyros, pastries. My personal favorite is the turkey reuben with a side of their Cajun fries. (Bonus: They serve corned beef hash and other weekday breakfasts until 10:30 a.m.)

Lexicon in third
100 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Learn more: Check out breakfast at Lexis on Third

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