Friday Food Bites: Jennings Java Launches Kickstarter, Safia Sweets & Kitchen Opens

There’s always a lot going on in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• Thanks to Columbus Food Adventures, we learned that a new Somali-owned restaurant and bakery called Safia Sweets & Kitchen has opened at 2375 Silver Dr., in the old Big Boy next to Historic Crew Stadium. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a mix of Somali, Italian and American dishes.
• The gang at Jennings Java Coffee Roasters just launched a Kickstarter to fund their new retail store. They’re making the move from their Front Street rotisserie to the former Bake Me Happy space at 116 E. Moler St. in Merion Village.
• In case you missed the news, Bagel Street Deli in Athens opened a cart on the patio of the nearby Jackie O’s on Fourth (which will be fully open next Friday, May 5th). Read all about the cart here!
• The Kee, a giant new downtown entertainment complex, opened last weekend. Located at 225 Neilston Ave., The Kee features recreation rooms, game areas, performance spaces, galleries, and a couple of lounges and restaurants.
• A new eat-in cafe and bakery called Winn Winn Cafe is coming this spring to 1212 E. Third Ave. at Fifth By Northwest.
• The owner of Bodega in the Short North revealed that he is converting an apartment in the back of the space into a cocktail bar called Apt. B.
• Tickets for And Friends’ upcoming pop-up dinner go on sale next week, Wednesday 3rd May. The event is June 3 and will feature chef and restaurateur Sangeeta Lakhani of Service Relief Kitchen and formerly of The Table.
• A pop-up of Australia’s Karen’s Diner, known for its comically rude service, will be making a stop somewhere in Columbus on September 23-24.
• North Country Charcuterie and Black Radish Creamery took home the Good Food awards last weekend, North Country for its waygu beef bacon and Black Radish for its raclette and Bandit red cheddar. Read the full winners here.
• Multiple sources have reported that Shaquille O’Neal’s casual fried chicken chain, Big Chicken, is planning to open franchise locations in Columbus, though it’s not yet known where they will go.
• Aardvark Wine & Beer and Subourbon Southern Kitchen & Spirits are hosting a four-course pairing dinner next week on Tuesday, May 2. Read more here.

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