5 restaurants to try this month: May 2023

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

1. Hoagie City

We’ve been hearing about a new Philadelphia-inspired sandwich shop in Hilliard for months, and a random night there finally led us to Hoagie City. And I can tell you that after a visit, we are quite convinced. Owner Bob Farlow will regale you with stories about his old shop in Pottsville, PA while whipping up absolutely massive cheesesteaks and Italian hoagies. Bonus: You can pick up junk, Taylor’s ham, and other East Coast goodies.

Hoagie City
3870 Main St.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Learn more: Hoagie City in Hilliard, Ohio: A taste of Philadelphia with delicious cheesesteaks and Italian hoagies

2. Kirin Noodle Bar

Kirin Noodle Bar is tucked away in an unassuming spot on a strip of Clintonville that includes Hot Chicken Takeover, Northstar Cafe, Gallo’s, Jeni’s. They serve a delicious mix of ramen, sushi and other Japanese dishes. We can attest to the quality of the kimchi, giant bowls of ramen like karaage and miso, plus refreshing drinks like Thai iced coffee.

Kirin Noodle Bar
4227 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43214
Learn more: kirinnoodle.com

3. Fork in Nigeria

Warmer weather brings us more food trucks, and we’ve loved our visits to Fork in Nigeria, a family-owned food truck serving delicious Nigerian dishes. They appear in various parks and festivals throughout the season; we recently caught them at Columbus Commons. We loved the fried plantains, fufu, jollof rice, stewed chicken and goat.

Fork in Nigeria
Multiple locations
Learn more: forkinnigeria.com

4. The Whitney House

The Whitney House just celebrated nine years in business, taking a short hiatus earlier this year to revamp its space and menus. We’ve loved all the updates, from new cocktails to apps like short rib pierogis and loaded fries, to rigatoni with bolognese, pan-seared walleye, tavern burgers, to chocolate chip cookies and pretzel cake ice cream

The Whitney House
666 High St.
Worthington, OH 43085
Learn more: The Whitney House reopens after an upgrade

5. Bakery of three bites

Lately we’ve been reminded that Isabella Bonello’s Three Bites Bakery is perhaps one of the best in town. She makes such a delicious mix of sweet and savory pastries, from bombolini filled with Italian cream to Filipino pandesal made with ube and filled with cheese. Between signatures like these and cakes, morning rolls, cookies, chocolate banana bread, coffee cakes, sandwiches and pizzettas, Three Bites is a winner.

Bakery of three bites
999 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Columbus, OH 43219
Learn more: Filipino and Italian flavors at Three Bites Bakery

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