161 N. High Street
Columbus, OH
Miller-Stein Ranking
Our food experience | 3.8 Buckeyes
Quality | 3.5 Buckeyes
Cost | 3.0 Buckeyes
Character | 4.5 Buckeyes
Beverages | 4.5 Buckeyes
Service | 3.5 Buckeyes
Our Dinner
Cajun Chicken Penne | 18.00
Blackened chicken, bell peppers, shallots, tomato, scallion, Parmesan, Cajun cream
Pulled Pork Sandwich | 9.00
Chipotle BBQ, topped with slaw, sesame brioche
Glass of White Zinfandel
Mogabi American Wheat | An American ale, brewed with white wheat and abundant amount of Amarillo hops to give it a citrusy finish.
Our Experience
Stein and I were invited to join his brother and a couple of friends at the Elevator restaurant in downtown Columbus this week for an early dinner and drinks. We arrived and were greeted by a swarm of bar guests enjoying the many options of beer, wine and mixed drinks. We were seated right away in the back section of the restaurant where we awaited our party. The server was attentive and more than willing to share her knowledge of the wide variety of beers.
The Elevator is widely known for its beer, and there sure was a lot to choose from. Stein’s brother and friends enjoyed the beer and Stein had water (DD). I, however, thought I would try my luck with a glass of wine: a white zinfandel. The wine was served in a large glass with a generous portion and was sweet and refreshing. The food menu had several options that struck my interest so I waited until the last moment to make my decision. I arrived at the Cajun chicken penne; if a restaurant can satisfy my Italian pallet it is usually a good sign. Stein selected the pulled pork sandwich with fresh hand-cut fries.
The food arrived within 20 minutes of our order and arrived nice and warm. I dug right into the pasta and was surprised at how flavorful the dish was. The cream sauce was perfect and the heat in the Cajun was not too hot, but just the right spice level. The chicken was tender and not overcooked – small manageable pieces. Stein also wasted no time admiring the presentation and dug right in. The pulled pork sandwich had a sweet barbeque flavor and was prepared nicely sitting inside a lightly toasted bun. Stein and I glanced at one another several times throughout the meal with the “I’m enjoying this” expression.
Our waitress checked back several times to make sure we were enjoying our dinner and refilled our drinks. We toyed with the idea of dessert but we were both so full from our generously large meals, so we passed. The thought of us passing on dessert is a shock, I know, especially since the Elevator’s dessert menu highlighted a crème brulee, one of Stein’s all time favorite desserts since he visited Tahiti and had specially made crème brulee with vanilla beans grown in Tahiti.
When the bill arrived we weren’t too shocked because the prices were very clear on the menu. I think when one dines at the Elevator, you pay more for the brew house in a big city ambiance than the food, but the prices weren’t too unreasonable. We escaped for under $40 and were both full and satisfied.
What is the story behind the name of the restaurant? is there elevator access?
ReplyDelete