Stopped by to visit Rosa, the owner at A Twist On Olives in Uptown Westerville today, and also…read morepicked up a bottle of Tuscan Herb Olive Oil. I love this place! What makes this shop especially unique is that it is family owned and inspired by real Italian roots and traditions, including connections to a family olive grove in Italy. You can feel that influence the moment you walk in. It does not feel like a generic retail shop. It feels personal, warm, welcoming, and centered around the love of good food and shared meals. If you enjoy cooking, dipping bread, experimenting with flavors, or just discovering something different, this place is such a fun stop. The variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars is outstanding, and being able to sample before buying makes the experience even better. There is a reason this place maintains such a strong 4.9-star reputation. Rosa is always welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate about what she does, and that personal touch is a big reason why places like this make Uptown Westerville special. A Twist On Olives 44 N. State Street Westerville, OH 43081

Stopped by to pick up some gifts and was blown away by the variety of balsamic vinegars and olive…read moreoils. They also have other gift items as well. It's great how you can sample each flavor so you know exactly how they taste. I really liked the fig balsamic vinegar! You can choose from four different sizes of bottles. Prices are higher since they are premium quality imported from Italy, so it would be good for gifts! Parking is street parking which you can find along the streets.

So we were here for a yelp event at Winston's and get there early and decided to walk around and…read moreI'm so glad we did! Now as this was our first time here and we was so taken back by the throw back feel of the place! It gave me small town vibes! I instantly missed home walking into this grocery store! EVERYTHING WAS CLEAN AND NEAT! nothing was picked over and smelled so fresh! Until u got to the meat section then the seafood section was over whelming! But there is a spirits section and a local pop section and then local bakery! We seen the deli section and tried EVERYTHING! we took home so potato salad and the broccoli salad stuff can't remember what it was but it's good! lol They had a lot of prepared foods to but a bit over priced but available! Cute store! Only 5 lanes and 2 lanes open! They did take apple and Samsung pay! The cashiers don't really talk and the workers in the back were really nice and answered all of outlet questions! And loved their wine section! Also u can get balsamic vinegar fresh! Love that!

I love this place from the bottom of my heart. People say it's pricey, while it's true, it makes up…read morein quality and in its suppliers outreach. Foreign beer, cheese, wine, and high quality dairy options, artisan bread, and fine meats make it well worth it to support a business that goes out of their way to get these products on shelves.

I was browsing my way through the Grandview Center and came upon this cute little oil shop. The…read morestaff person was friendly and helpful, greeting me as I came in and chatted with me about options and flavors. They have nice choices for variety packs of mini bottles in bags or wooden boxes, in addition to standard bottles. They also offer locally made seasoning blends, which was great and very inspiring, as I immediately began thinking about potential combos with different oil flavors. Parking is available in the small shopping center lot, with a 1 hour limit before 9 pm.

I really hate to give this place 3/5 stars because the product is really delicious, but on multiple…read moreoccasions I have driven to this location during their "open hours" and it's not open. The sign on their door says 11-5 It's now noon and no one is here. At minimum, a business is obligated to post on social media if their hours temporarily changed.

I was amazed by the variety and craft that went into each item Mmelo offers! They have everything…read morefrom chocolate bars with creative flavors like blueberry mango, tumeric, and dragon fruit, to teas and olive oils. I got to meet one of the co-founders and she was so sweet! She puts care into making vegan, gluten free, and dairy free options as well so everyone can enjoy something sweet. They also make sure to ethically source their ingredients. They do individual orders or large corporate orders as well, and you can even get gift cards to give to someone special! The black currant bar was creamy and so good, with dried strawberries and edible flowers which gave it a bit of crunch and looked so decadent. It's located at Easton Mall so you can stop by while shopping around!

I was totally in love with this space and the food served inside. We ate around 6 PM and it was…read moregolden hour so the lighting was gorgeous. The space is very bright and airy: loved the floral and plant vibes. Our server was kind but maybe a bit apprehensive because we brought our two daughters. Sometimes I feel bad bringing kids but honestly we deserve to have good food even if there are little mouths involved. We had the focaccia starter and it was as pillowy and sumptuous as it looked. Next was broccolini which our 8 month old devoured. I tried the funghi pasta and my husband had the sausage ragu. Both had generous portions. The kitchen made butter noodles for our daughter and she LOVED them. I was pleased they didn't try to doll them up because she really did just want noodles and butter. Finally, the octopus was sooo tasty. The sauce was super flavorful and I love a good bean addition. Delicious meal all around.

YE Gurl Says: Speck Had the Scene, But Did It Feed the Girl?…read more Place: Speck Italian Eatery Date: June 30 You know a restaurant is popular when you've been trying to get a reservation and keep losing the battle. So when a girlfriend chose Speck Italian Eatery for girls' dinner, I was ready. Italian food is one of my first loves. I was expecting good food, a good atmosphere, and frankly, a little "this is where everybody is trying to be seen" energy. And on that front? Speck delivered. The space is airy and attractive, the atmosphere was lively, and despite the seating being a little tight, our table toward the back had plenty of room. My girlfriend had been raving about the focaccia, so obviously we had to test the theory. Housemade focaccia with olive oil and sea salt? Yes, ma'am. We shared a few things, including the Crudo--hamachi, blood orange, Castelvetrano olives, fennel, and basil--and the Gem, a crunchy vegetable salad with pistachio, Parmesan crumb, and vinaigrette. Our waiter deserves a shoutout because when it came time to settle up, he was gracious enough to split the shared dishes down the middle for both the portions and the bill. That's good service. For my entrée, I ordered the Cacio e Pepe--except this version uses gnudi, peppercorn, and pecorino. It was good enough that I immediately thought about the beau, who loves cacio e pepe, so half went home with me. I also ordered another focaccia to go. And naturally, I had my Peroni while I was there. So here's where my Italian grandmother's spirit entered the chat. The food wasn't bad. The value is what lost me. For a pescatarian dinner, I felt like the portion sizes and prices didn't quite meet in the middle. Maybe I'm spoiled. I've eaten Italian food made by grandmothers and grandfathers in Little Italy, New Orleans, and Italy itself. I'm accustomed to Italian food being generous, comforting, unfussy, and--most importantly--filling. Speck feels more like consumerism Italian to me. Beautiful room. Beautiful plating. Trendy ingredients. Great atmosphere. But I'm still sitting there wondering when dinner is coming. And the bill didn't help. There's a 3% charge toward team member healthcare, and my portion of the dinner came to about $57. My girlfriend also had a basic Pomodoro pasta, around $17, which means the two of us were already north of $100 before drinks on her side, dessert, and my 20% tip. For two people. And we weren't exactly leaving with the kind of leftovers that could feed us tomorrow. That math gave me pause. YE Gurl Insight: There's a difference between expensive food and expensive dining. I'm perfectly willing to pay for an exceptional meal. But when the experience is carrying as much of the price as the food itself, I need the food to make me forget what I paid. Speck didn't quite get me there. And that's unfortunate because the restaurant absolutely has the atmosphere and popularity to become a regular destination. Final Take: Atmosphere: 1/2 Service: Food: 1/2 Portions/value: 1/2 Pescatarian Experience: 1/2 Would I return? Maybe--but the bar is now considerably higher. YE Gurl Says: Speck is a great place to be seen. I'm just not convinced it's the place to get fed--at least not if you're a vegetarian watching your dollars. I was generous with that 20% tip because the service deserved it. Consider that my chef's kiss goodbye... at least for now.

I will say when we pulled up I was surprised to see everyone working in the kitchen through the…read morewindows. Then we asked in the front door and it was so much smaller than I imagined. One single set of shelving down the middle of the store with foods on one side and wine on the other. The perimeter is a deli type counter on one side with the food counter and checkout area in the back. Please believe me when I say be prepared to just look past all that chaos to see the beauty in it. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Yes they do offer suggestions, answer your questions and carry your purchases to your car for you. Who does that nowadays?!? I read a review saying not to skip out on the rosemary sea salt bread so I didn't. I mean the smells and it looked like perfection on the tray so how could I resist!? So glad I didn't. It was warm, soft, flavorful and ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! I would return for the fresh baked bread alone. We were given samples and we made our selections, paid and had our goodies carried out to the car for us. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. We ended up with a couple varieties of olives, a couple of meatballs and the bread. All fabulous. If you're anywhere near this area and you need some mouthwateringly good food do stop in.

Stopped in for some sausage and it was lunch time, so asked what this was and she said the Italian…read morebeef with gardinera. Had to get it. The best Italian beef I've had in years. So good! Always enjoy the service here. No matter who helps you they are wonderful. Come get your supplies and food!

I stopped by Whole Foods to grab a quick meal from their hot foods section, I like the variety of…read moreoptions. This time I chose chicken tenders and mashed potatoes since I see people get them often. The tender was kinda hard, as if it'd been out for a while. The sides were good though, I always appreciated the chance to get in some veggies. I'll likely stick to the other protein options, but it was still a decent visit.

This was a sizable WF with a somewhat confusing parking area with one way streets. I came in late…read more My Amazon code wouldn't scan at the register, which they can scan manually but which always irritates me. I did find some interesting beverages, which is what I came for, though the selection wasn't quite what I'd hoped overall. Still, I'd look here if I needed some niche health food brands.

Bexley Natural Market is a little bit off the beaten path but well worth a visit. This cooperative…read moreoffers a selection of fresh grains. There are also cooler cases which are stocked with a variety of items. In another area, you will find bulk supplements available. Support of cooperatives, such as this one, our integral to bringing fresh healthy choices in foods to urban areas. Well, worth a visit.

Ok, I got hooked on these Too Good Eats artisan Drinks, specifically the Pineapple Hibiscus Ginger…read moredrink. At $7 to $8 for a drink it's an occasional treat but can't find them everywhere. I was not familiar with Bexley Natural Market but saw from the Too Good Eats website that the market carried them so off I went exploring. Parkign lot is limited and that area of Cassady Avenue was a little busy but I was able to get in and out ok and find a spot to park. The staff interaction was ok but REALLY missed an opportunity to sell the market and what they are about. I had asked about the membership and the bland explanations really didn't say much at all and the interaction was not very inviting and kind of dismissive. I would have been happy that some new traffic came in and showed an interest. Anyway, the market offers all kinds of items from produce, vegan options, natural drinks, and grocery items. It appears the main focus is supporting local farmers and vendors in the area. I will come back and take another look around but was super happy they had the drinks I liked. If interested- I found online that the membersip is $30 one-time payment and annual dues of $45 that provides 5% to 8% off and monthly coupons & promotions valued at $100 a year in savings. They also offer member-only events and activities. I found out more about the store from their website, if interested, you can check them out at www.bexleynatrualmarket.org.

Sit at the bar, order lots of natural wine from friendly knowledgable bartenders and enjoy a nutty,…read morerich, giant raviolo that you'll think about for a long time!

Nice place for dinner but I probably wouldn't come back unless for happy hour…read more I had the osso bucco special, which was an enormous portion -- way more than a normal person could eat in a single sitting. It tasted good but not great. My wife and I split a Caeser and were charged an extra $2 for splitting it. That was a bummer. There's definitely better Italian in Columbus for the money.

I like getting the slices of pizza from this location I have tried the sushi as well it was pretty…read moregood.

Great and slightly unique collection of food items and household items. Easy checkout.read more