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    Amara

    4.9 (11 reviews)

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    AMARA ATMOSPHERE

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    R H.

    Had a wonderful first meal on the patio at Amara. The service was fantastic starting with the valet. Everything we tried was delicious but the wagyu beef skewers and branzino were standouts.

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    Darlene R.

    Excellent opening night at Amara! 10/10 This must-try new addition to Downtown Columbus was the perfect way to celebrate my sister's birthday. Entering Amara I was immediately reminded of my visit to Marrakesh Morocco. The space looks both inviting and mysterious with boho chic hanging lamps, candlelit lanterns, vibrant sounds and jade green tagines lining the serving counter. The team welcomed us into the space for our late evening reservation. While we sat inside, the patio space looked like the perfect date night atmosphere. We ordered an assortment of hummus and spreads. The lamb hummus and muhammara were my favorite. Paired with the piping hot pita they set our expectations high for the meal to come. I had the smoked cauliflower which was a flavor sensation. My brother and sister shared the ribeye. They were initially taken aback my the chefs recommendation for medium rare but soon learned that his recommendation was on point. They raved about the flavor! I've never seen a steak devoured so quickly. We also had the lamb chops which were so tender. The desert menu was so foreign sounding it didn't seem particularly tempting. But the restaurant gifted a couple of desserts for my sister's birthday. Since it was also the restaurants birthday. They were light and luscious. Definitely don't skip dessert. My family described the dining experience as communal and familial. Like a visit to a family dinner. We left raving about the food, the attentive service and the vibe. We can't wait for our next visit.

    Hummus with roasted radish and shallot and garlic in brown butter
    Heithem E.

    Went for the soft open. Upscale creative Mediterranean-inspired food. Beautiful decor - clean lines and warm colors. Creative cocktails - we tried several and they were all creative and iterating (see pic of the cocktail menu). My daughter especially liked the Bellini. We had the Agora (market) hummus with roasted radish (!) and garlic and shallot in brown butter. Top 5 hummus, easily. Main dishes were the dorade and lamb chops with a side of mujadarra. The mujadarra was beautifully spiced. The dorade was beautiful and the lamb chops were large and delicious. Could have maybe used a little more grill but honestly delicious! Dessert was rice pudding with cherries. The rice pudding has tahini and rose water ... I couldn't pick those flavors out individually - they were subtle and blended well together. Everything was beautifully presented and well prepared. I want to go back and try more dishes and I can't wait for that beautiful patio to open! Service was terrific - the atmosphere was positive and upbeat. The staff was so excited for the future. This is a gorgeous spot - great addition to downtown dining!

    Alexander R.

    Excellent, attentive service. Beautiful atmosphere. The standout is the food. Everything we tried had amazing flavor like nothing else we have tried before. This is sure to be a downtown staple for years to come. Can't wait to return!

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    Review Highlights - Amara

    Incredible new addition to the Columbus food scene.

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    Brassica

    Brassica

    4.7
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    We stopped by Brassica while we were in town reviewing a few spots, and as usual, this place…read morecompletely knocked our socks off. We arrived fairly close to closing, which can sometimes be risky--some restaurants start cutting corners as the night winds down. Not here. Everything was incredibly fresh, and each bite took our palates on a culinary adventure that had us feeling like champions for choosing Brassica for dinner. The ingredients, flavors, and execution were all outstanding. If you haven't been here yet, do yourself a favor and go. Brassica continues to prove why it's one of our favorite places to eat whenever we're in town.

    Since the Italian Market was packed, we decided to grab lunch at Brassica, a fast-casual…read moreMediterranean spot serving customizable sandwiches, salads, hummus plates, soups, sides, and refreshing drinks. I started with the Cauliflower Tahini Soup, followed by a build-your-own salad bowl, a Chocolate Chip Cookie, and a Minty Pink Lemonade. The soup had a rich, creamy texture, though I found it a little too salty for my taste. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I loaded up my salad bowl with lentils and rice, mixed greens, hummus, baba ghanoush, crispy onions, pita bread, chicken shawarma, brisket, sweet beets, pickled cucumbers, pickled radish, pickled cabbage, cauliflower tabbouleh, marinated eggplant, and finished it with Brassica's roasted garlic sauce and tahini. Every bite was fresh, flavorful, and full of contrasting textures. The combination of crisp vegetables, savory proteins, and creamy spreads made for a hearty, satisfying meal that kept me full long after lunch. The Chocolate Chip Cookie was exactly how I like it--crispy around the edges with a slightly well-done finish and plenty of chocolate in every bite. To wash it all down, the Minty Pink Lemonade was the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and refreshing, complementing the bold Mediterranean flavors beautifully. Overall, Brassica is a great option for a quick, customizable meal made with fresh ingredients. While the soup wasn't my favorite, I'd happily return to build another salad and try more items from the menu.

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    Brassica
    Salad and photobomb Brassica Fries
    Salad and photobomb Brassica Fries
    Brassica

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    Cafe Istanbul

    Cafe Istanbul

    4.2
    (391 reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $$

    Cafe Istanbul used to be in our regular dining out rotation, but somehow it slipped aside. However,…read morethe location at Easton worked for us on a recent Saturday and were we ever glad it did! We went for lunch and the cool, welcoming interior on a hot summer day set the stage for a delicious meal. We started with the combination appetizer and their wonderful bread. Every item on the plate looked as good as it tasted. I particularly loved the cold eggplant and tomato dish. I had the blackened tilapia with rice and salad. Delicious! I would certainly order this again. My fellow diners had the shrimp and the lamb shank, a weekend special. I tasted both and loved both! I took half of my meal home because the appetizer was so substantial and my tilapia was a very generous serving. The wait staff were warm and friendly, but not intrusive, making Cafe Istanbul a very comfortable place. So glad we circled back to an old favorite! Menu last weekend,

    Heard rave reviews about this place so I was excited to go. Busy dinner as many of the tables were…read morefilled. Our server seemed in a rush to take our order but in a polite way. I got the Baba Ganoush and the Chicken Kabab. I thought it was strange the Baba Ganoush did not come with pita bread or chips. It also was a tad on the watery side. The Chicken Kebab entree I enjoyed the kebab but not the rice. I wish I would have gotten more veggies than the rice. Baklava was okay more dry than I would have liked. Maybe I'm a hard critic but I thought this wasn't the best representation of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisine.

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    Beautiful Interior of Cafe Istanbul
    Beautiful Interior of Cafe Istanbul
    Babaganoush
    Babaganoush
    Wine and bread

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    Wine and bread

    Amara - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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