Right Now Downtown

THIS FLEUR SMELLS SO SWEET

It’s hot and urban and oozes culture. Fleur is the new dessert, champagne and vodka lounge at the corner of Third and Long Streets – right downtown.

When you walk through the doors, the European influence flows, or you might feel like you’ve stepped into a trendy lounge in the Big Apple or Chicago or L.A. with the high-back white leather booths, simply stated, yet so electric.

Fleur has one of the largest selections of champagne in central Ohio, beginning with their super chic Personal Bubbles right up through bottles that will entice even the biggest champagne aficionado. If you aren’t in the mood for a glass of bubbly, Fleur also specializes in cocktails that incorporate vodka and champagne, and whatever you do, don’t forget the dessert.

Whether you want to stop by for happy hour after work to unwind with a Lemon Lix, opt for Bubbles by the Glass or maybe even one of the simply elegant and delicious desserts, there’s something for everyone. Clear your schedule because Fleur is open six days a week – Monday to Wednesday 4-11 p.m. and until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

SHOW YOUR LOVE!

It’s time for the third annual Show Your Love contest!  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time for you downtown-ites to show some love to your favorite downtown eatery. 

That’s right, the downtown hot spot that gets the most votes wins the coveted Show Your Love plaque!  Who will join 2009 winner Jack’s Diner  and 2010 winner Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace?  Old favorites like Cafe Napolitana?  New hits like Jimmy John’s?  Or maybe a new twist on an old fav like Little Palace?

We don’t want you to feel left out, though.  So to show you some love, when you vote here for your favorite you will be entered to win free lunches from each of our five featured restaurants, each of which marked its downtown debut in 2010:  Lynnally’s, Michael O’Toole’s, The Pickle, Si Senor Sandwiches and More and Spinelli’s Deli . 

They are begging for your vote.  Don’t believe us?  Check out these videos!

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK ROCKS!

Winter is here, but Spinelli’s Deli has a way to keep you toasty warm – for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  No excuses – they’re even open seven days a week.  The selection is hot and flavorful.  You’ll find everything from bagels to pancakes to salads, sammies, soups and pastas. 

Don’t take our word for it, take a peek for yourself.  Now, if only we had a little smell-o-vision!

TAKE A TOUR AND ENJOY A COCKTAIL

It’s hot and humid, and while Columbus may not offer up salty ocean breezes to lower the mercury on the thermometer, downtown antes up plenty of ways to cool off with frosty mugs and chilled cocktails all over town, all times of day.  Besides, it’s gotta be 5 p.m. somewhere in the world, right?  So, take a tour via one of these local hang outs.  But it’s not all-inclusive so let us know your favorite get-away.

Bartenders at Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails get the party started within minutes of arrival, and if you have any doubts, try one of their signature drinks like Commit to be Lit.  After a little bit of this concoction made with orange, vanilla and raspberry vodkas mixed with cranberry juice and a splash of 7-Up, you may never need to sit seaside again.

Sans the Manolo Blahnik’s and the four sassy chicks of Sex in the City, the Caucus Cosmo at the Double Tree Caucus Room provides a perfect way to relax after a long day at the office.

Travel on down to Barrio and pitchers of house-made white and red sangria, half off during happy hour from 4 – 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Grab a few tapas to share and you have created a vacation celebration without leaving the city.

Take the Elevator to kick the party into full swing with their $2.50 handcrafted pints from 3 – 7 p.m. every Monday through Friday, but don’t watch your clock in this historical building – their menu of beer and cocktails will make you forget the time, which is the point of resting seaside.

If you are still in need of a history lesson while you toss back a cold one, visit the Jury Room.  This neighborhood tavern has been serving up food and spirits since 1831.  You don’t even need to crack open a book to take advantage of the free appetizer buffet on Wednesdays and Fridays during happy hour, but you might want to grab a napkin.

Get Uncorked with half-price bottles and champagne at Due Amici on Monday nights and be-bop to live jazz beginning at 6 p.m.

Michael O’Toole’s continues the family tradition of the first O’Toole immigrant who settled in Southeastern Ohio serving up frothy cold ones to the miners who labored long days in the foothills of the Appalachians.  But you just need to head down to Nationwide Boulevard to take advantage of this Irish-style pub, or walk on ever to The Flatiron for a Chocolate Martini.  Heck, the night is young so check ‘em all out.

Wrap up your summer cocktail tour with the high-spirited Drunken Chunky Blonde from Sugardaddy’s, but don’t worry – you can even drive home after munching on this one.  The dense, chewy blonde is like a chocolate chip cookie on steroids with its premium chocolate chunks and toasted pecans.  A splash of bourbon essence mixed into the batter will have you jonesing for more.

Let us know your favorite place to kick back, take a break and cool off.  Cheers!

DOES A SUB BY ANY OTHER NAME TASTE AS SAVORY?

Gimme a hoagie and fries, po’boy and dirty rice, sub and kettle chips, burrito and salsa or a sandwich with a side salad.  Does it really matter what you call it?  Aren’t you just cravin’ to fill the hungry spot deep down in your gut so you can get on with your day?

Call them what you want, Downtown Columbus has some tasty sandwich options for the lunchtime crowd.  Perhaps you are searching for a gut buster in an effort to erase the mood from that three-hour meeting that you managed to escape without cramming your pen through your co-worker’s ear.  OK, that may be drastic, and you probably work in a fabulous office and simply need to refuel to keep going the rest of the day.  Regardless, a myriad of two-fisted sandwiches wait right around the corner for you, and here are just a few that bring a smile around the noon-time crowd.

Hop on down to W.G. Grinders in the basement of 250 E. Broad Street and rustle up some buffalo chicken on a bun.  No need to mess with the bones here, ’cause you’re just gonna skip right to the good stuff, rounded out with spicy wing sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, red onion, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing.

Try Cafe’ Brioso’s fresh mozzarella sandwich with garden-ripe tomatoes, Brioso’s own lettuce mix, house basil aioli on their made-from-scratch foccacia.  It is kick-you-in-the-head good, but carnivores don’t despair because there are plenty of meaty options to choose from too.  Round it out with an iced coffee, and you will fly through the rest of your day. 

Just down the street J. Gumbo’s spices things up with some Cajun fare.  Their mouth-pleasing stick-to-your-ribs Voodoo Chicken Po’Boy will scare away the hunger and keep the 3 p.m. vending machine call at bay while you bang through the rest of your to-do list.

Plan on a feast if you want to head to Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails for their specialty slow-roasted beef and Swiss cheese sandwich on a toasted pretzel roll, and make room for the sweet-potato fries.  They’re totally worth the extra half-hour on the elliptical machine once you get home.

Yum is what is on the menu at Plantain Cafe’, and did you know that they are now open seven days a week?  Try their classic Cuban sandwich – it’s loaded with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles – enough to share if you are so inclined.  And the plantain chips might just send you to the moon. 

Three locally-owned restaurants anchor down Pearl Alley and offer up great sandwich options.  Ringside Cafe’ puts forward heavyweight Oscar De La Hoya – a half-pound patty with roasted red peppers, provolone and roasted garlic aioli.  The sub takes on a Latin flare at El Arepazo with the fish burrito.  Baked tilapia, rice, black beans and more fill up this 12-inch wrap, and don’t forget the famous cilantro sauce.  Just walk into Cafe’ Napolitana and your nose will lead you to all kinds of delectable Italian possibilities.  Depending on the day and your mood, the chicken parmesan or meatball sub will hit the bull’s eye.

Got a hankerin’ for a New York-style deli?  Broad Street Bagels and Deli makes it easy for busy schedules and takes orders online.  Lots of options abound so you can get something made to order, pick it up and still make that 12:30 p.m. meeting.

Get the Skinny at Potbelly Sandwich Shop where you can find a lighter sampling of ham, turkey or portabella mushrooms or maybe you want to head right to the Wreck that will load you up with salami, roast beef, turkey and ham with Swiss cheese.

The more restaurants offering great sandwich options listed, the more that come to mind.  So don’t let this roll hold you back.  If we tried to list them all, you’d be here reading until the next edition of Right Now Downtown appeared in your inbox.  So, venture out, try a few and let us know your favorite.

THERE’S A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

For years European cities have utilized urban alleys as an extension of city living, but Yankees stateside were slow to learn until recent urban revitalization efforts.  We’re on the ball now and boast our own jewel right in the center of downtown in Pearl and Lynn alleys.

It’s no secret that shoppers find lots of great deals and treasures in the alley during the twice weekly Pearl Market, but these alleys are home to some great eats all week long.

We’ve got a Mecca of restaurants that pull hungry stomachs in for ethnic treats and home-style favorites in Lynn and Pearl alleys.  There’s Ringside Café that makes a burger that will stave off the hungriest construction worker; Café Napolitana tempts the Italian in all of us with their freshly made pizza pie; Pickles Deli on the corner of Lynn and Third makes a mean hoagie; Jack’s has old-time diner written all over it – grab the grits and eggs if you have any doubts; J. Gumbo’s spices things up with their Cajun fare; and don’t forget the cilantro sauce at El Arepazo (Did you know you can buy the stuff by the bottle?).

Tempting as it all is, the alleys welcome a new kid on the block – Lynnally’s.  Man, are you in for a treat.  Their goal is to use high quality, local ingredients to make the best meals possible – fast.

“Just because your time is limited doesn’t mean you have to sacrafice taste and wholsomeness,” say co-owners Matt Nickel and Shawn Korn, who also own Barrel 44 in the Short North.

They stand behind their mantra with made-to-order salads with more than 40 toppings to choose from and loaded baked potatoes the size of your head!  Everyday customers also enjoy freshly roasted pork, beef, chicken and turkey on sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes.  Top it off with made-from-scratch dressings and sauces and you are in for a feast.

Is your stomach rumblin’ yet?  Stop in and see for yourself.  They are even offering a little enticement for you in this week’s Blue Plate Special in our weekly newsletter Right Now Downtown, so read on and don’t wait.  (And if you aren’t a Right Now Downtown subscriber, sign up now!)

Lynn and Pearl alleys bring a lot to the city, but there’s plenty more to come.  What kind of business would you like to see pop up here next?  Tell us what you think.

Last week Chef Derek from Due Amici stopped by the Market for a wonderful cooking demonstration at the Ohio Proud Mobile Kitchen using Ohio-grown produce.  You’ll want to try these out for yourself!

LEAVE THE LUGGAGE AT HOME

Close your eyes, lean back and imagine yourself at an outdoor cafe’ along the side streets of Paris.  Can you hear the French accordion music waft out the doors of the restaurant along with the smell of freshly baked bread?

No need to cash in your greenbacks for Euros just yet.  Alfresco dining is offered all around Downtown Columbus, and Gay Street is a great place to kick off an international expedition.

Leave the passport at home and head to Due Amici.  The European feel of this outdoor dining experience may leave you wanting to study Italian.  Sit down and relax with a superb glass of wine, and you don’t even need to worry about the exchange rate.

Is Cuban fare your thing?  Check out Plantain Cafe’, but make sure to save room for the plantain chips.  You will never look at another bag of Lay’s the same way again.

The coffee is roasting at Cafe’ Brioso, and you’ll have a hard time choosing among all the freshly prepared sandwiches and salads.  Those crunchy little handmade croutons are about as close to heaven as you need to be.

Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails celebrated their three-year anniversary last week.  Honor the milestone with a cold one and big plate of sweet potato fries.  Go ahead, throw in a pot roast sandwich if you dare.

Is your stomach growling yet?  We haven’t even hit J. Gumbo’s for jambalaya, and Latitude 41 builds delicious meals around fresh ingredients purchased right here from local merchants to create a meal that you won’t soon forget.  Rendezvous Cafe’ is nestled across the street and offers a wide assortment of delicious stews, sandwiches and salads.

If that’s not enough, just around the corner Pearl Alley plays host to burgers at Ringside, pizza at Cafe’ Napolitana and Latin cuisine at El Arepazo.  Wrap it all up with a Drunken Chunky Blondie at Sugardaddy’s or loosen your belt and head on down High Street for even more options.  Let us know your favorites.

WHO’S YOUR DADDY?

Sugardaddy’s is open and ready to tempt you.  Wow, where to begin?  Who would ever guess that brownies and blondies could offer so many possibilities?

Co-founders/creators Tom Finney, self-taught baking genius, and Mark Ballard, marketer extraordinaire, created a business like no other that began as a labor of love.

The venture launched online at sugardaddys.com and the two experienced profound success after appearing on Food Network.  Did you know InStyle and Ellen DeGeneres rave about Sugaraddy’s?

Mark and Tom discovered along the way that customers want to touch, feel and, don’t forget, taste their products, so they opened their first retail store in the Polaris-area last year.  They had a hunch that downtown was the place to be and Pearl Market offered the perfect opportunity to test their hypothesis.  Now you can find them on the corner of Gay and High streets serving up their Sumptuous Sweeties in a beautiful store you won’t want to leave.

These two Sugardaddy’s hook you with the first bite – Brownie Biscotti, Brownie Cheesecakes, Brownie Truffles, Brownie Pocket Change, Brownie Ice Cream and Brownie Bark envelope you as soon as you hear the baby grand piano playing in the background.

Plan on regular visits – each taste will find you with a new favorite, and you must try the newest creation, Sugardaddy’s Drunken Chunky Blondie, or if you only have eyes for chocolate, get the Sugardaddy’s Fiery Brunette or Auburn Original.

Sugardaddy’s is open at 11 E. Gay Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and you won’t want to miss the month-long grand opening specials.

Sugardaddy’s from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.

Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties
11 E. Gay Street
614.888.4491

 God bless Orin and Lili Hemminger and Josh Baca.  On April 13, The Columbus Dispatch ran a feature story on a start-up business called Yellow Brick Pizza at 892 Oak Street started by Orin, Lili and Josh.

Yellow Brick is a first retail venture for the three partners.  Lili and Josh have worked together in restaurants, but have never owned one.  Brother Orin has no restaurant experience and is a graduate student at The Ohio State University.

The article caught my eye because Orin and company decided to open a restaurant rather than wait for someone else to do it for them.  Orin lives in Olde Towne East near a number of abandoned storefronts and in a neighborhood that lacks retail services.  Rather than complain or leave Olde Towne East, the trio decided to help fix the problem.  They have an attitude that can make Columbus a great city.

Yellow Brick is a fabulous place to eat and drink, an attractive storefront and a community gathering place in Olde Towne.  It is one of a number of great new businesses in the area, including Urban Spirit Coffee Shop and Zanzibar.