I’m here to tell you that we found Columbus’ best happy hour deal of the summer. Nomad, open for two years now on Polaris Parkway, is offering 1/2 off their entire menu from 4-5:30 p.m. every day. This includes cocktails, beers, wines, and the full food menu.
The real kicker, though: it would all be worth it even at full price!
Nomad is built around live fire cooking, meaning they use a specialized grill – in this case a Spanish charcoal-fired Josper oven – to craft their menu.
Also, true to its name, Nomad wanders the world with its menu, bringing in classic American dishes alongside meals from Peru, Vietnam, Spain, Greece, Italy, India, and beyond. Follow our quick walk through some of their menu!
Here’s a look at the drinks: house-made concoctions, classic cocktails, beers, and wines.
And the food menu, broken down into shareables, mains, and sweets.
First, a handful of cocktails, like the All Buttered Up (brown-butter bourbon, pecan, lemon, Amarena cherry) and the Pisco Inferno with pisco, mezcal, ginger, watermelon, and lime.
Or a classic Manhattan!
For starters, we split the aioli flight, which includes a board of truffle fries with a trio of remoulade, lemon garlic aioli, and habanero aioli.
The crab hush puppies are great to split. The crab and cornmeal fritters are served over a house-made remoulade with a hot honey drizzle.
The Anaheim peppers are stuffed with beef, cheese, and a mushroom risotto, then are fired in the oven and served on a bed of red sauce with lemon rosemary and goat cheese.
Don’t miss out on the veggie board as well. It’s a platter of grilled veggies served with naan and bowls of romesco and whipped lemon rosemary goat cheese.
How about another round of cocktails, like the Flying Dutchman with rum, grilled pineapple, grapefruit, lime, and all-spice, decanted table-side?
And now let’s roll out some dinner! The Korean fried chicken is an interesting take on the crave-able dish. It layers crispy fried chicken with a sweet and zesty gochujang sauce on shiitake mac and cheese tossed with a daikon yuzu slaw and topped with fresno chili oil. Unexpected but amazing!
The green goddess salad with chicken blends spring greens, arugula, avocado, sunflower seeds, strawberry, red onion, and ricotta with croutons and a goddess dressing.
The gorgeous, herb-crusted Tuscan lamb spare ribs are covered with a balsamic glaze and dished up with mushroom and parmesan risotto balls, marinara, and roasted root vegetables.
Finally, the black garlic cheesesteak updates the Philly classic with shaved ribeye, cheddar, black
garlic spread, and roasted onions and peppers on a hoagie roll, all served with your choice of fries, side salad, or green beans.
It’s a tasty version of the dish. And the side of green beans was roasted very nicely!
Nomad’s digs are comfortable but lively, with bar seats and a small patio. A ticking board on the wall showcases the latest selections in their playlist, alongside occasional messages about specials.
Like I said, even without the special summer deal, I think the menu is well worth it! Be sure to sneak in there before Labor Day, but keep them in mind for a wonderful night out any time of year. If you’re visiting this summer, I’d recommend a reservation!
Nomad is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 4-9:30 p.m.
Nomad
2050 Polaris Pkwy.
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 505-8466
Web: nomadcolumbus.com
FB: Nomad Columbus
IG: @nomadcolumbus