Great meals with philosophical friends (2 of 2)…read more Rarely am I in Midwestern capital cities with beltways around them, but I do have a few friends from years ago who do live in this city's suburbs. I once ate at their famed German restaurant with the lunch buffet and the extra cost cream puffs with an Italian-American friend who is sort of an Archie Bunker with an MBA. He provides the entertainment. The last time I ate lunch in C-bus with that good friend was before the pandemic. I believe that the lunch buffet has returned to that German restaurant, but I can wait to do that on some other trip. On this last go round, I met up for lunch with a different friend with whom you can discuss the human condition ad nauseam, which is somewhat of a good thing. It's a good thing because there aren't many people who are capable of doing that and who will engage in that. However, when you wrap up such involved discussions, you might feel a little overwhelmed for a while! I got to choose the restaurant ... from out of town. I didn't like the choices with which I was presented and the only area of town I really know is the Polaris area around Ikea. I looked up listings and recommendations. Chocolate Cafe' had two things under its belt from the get-go. It's a high scoring bistro-cafe that has a noteworthy breakfast and lunch following and it has the word "chocolate" in its name. It's in that area near the Barnes and Noble west of the big state university with its logo featuring a branch that looks like a marijuana leaf. I have since learned it's not a marijuana leaf. We ordered lunch, with one entree being a Cobb salad and the other being one of their club sandwiches, the latter of which was mine. It was very good and, as is often the case with me, I could have eaten a bigger sandwich. I went through it fairly quickly, even though I did have the small and cheap Swedish breakfast at Ikea that morning. With the entrees, we ordered bowls of their popular tomato basil soup, which really hit the spot on that cold day. To drink, we ordered house coffee and a hot chocolate. The house coffee is refillable while the hot chocolate is not, but that's standard protocol just about anywhere. With a name like Chocolate Cafe,' we did not order dessert. My friend left first and I stayed behind to look at the dessert case. I later caved in for a slice of their moist and rich chocolate fudge cake to take with me. Like I said, it was moist and rich ... and also very tasty and filling. The pricing here is standard and appropriate. The service was folksy and very attentive, despite their being full on a weekend approaching the holidays. The interior is bright because of the floor-to-ceiling windows around the perimeter of the restaurant. That really scores points with me. Lastly, upon pulling in, the parking lot was full and I had to park a short walk away, all the while paying attention to parking signs and rules. This implied that Chocolate Cafe' was most likely a good place ... and that was corroborated. I have never driven down I-71 into this city's center once past its beltway. I have doglegged and taken Highway 315 - the Olentangy River Parkway. At its top end, it winds a little and it's slightly scenic. As you start approaching OSU, all these different medical towers with different specialties loom over you ... from both sides of the road! It's similar to the feeling one gets when they drive past the Texas Medical Center south of downtown Houston, as in, "What a maze ... why so many damn medical buildings?" But that doesn't affect their rating. It's just a personal pet peeve. I'm going to go with 4.5 stars for Chocolate Cafe', which obviously rounds up to 5 stars. It makes for an interesting meal and experience and, while I would not repeat it like clockwork because of how rich it can be, I could definitely see repeating it if I lived in its general area. My friend said he would be coming back with family members. That said, you clearly see two seals of approval.

Chocolate Café is hands-down one of my favorite local spots whenever I'm craving something sweet or…read morea drink. My absolute go-to is their chocolate espresso martini -- and it never disappoints. The chocolate-rimmed glass instantly sets it apart from anywhere else, and every sip is the perfect balance of rich chocolate and bold espresso. It's smooth, indulgent, and honestly feels like dessert in a glass. The price point is great too, which makes it even easier to treat yourself. I also love picking up a few of their smaller desserts like the buckeyes and chocolate peanut butter pretzels. They're decadent, satisfying, and made with love. Their cakes and other items are beautifully made as well. The staff is consistently friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which really adds to the overall experience. They also offer a variety of food entrées that I haven't tried yet, but every dish I see coming out to nearby tables looks fresh, beautifully plated, and incredibly tempting. It's definitely next on my list.

Amazing time at the Mochi Shop the other day!! Love all the flavors and the workers are so so…read morenice!!! Donuts and coffee what could be better???

Service was great ! The owner was super friendly. The make everything fresh! I also spoke to the…read moreowner and he does donuts for weddings is a plus

Red velvet was AMAZING!!!!! So soft with a nice crunch on the edges. Still thinking about this…read morecookie a week later.

Holy moly these cookies are amazing…read more I love the location at The Little Grand Market. This is such a wonderful space, beautifully designed and has plenty of easy parking spots. I tried the Banana Cream Pie and Snickerdoodle cookies and absolutely loved both of them. The fact that these cookies are served warm, gooey and delicious was an absolute home run for me. I was also thrilled to see that you can get delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Thank you Jasmine, Yelp and For The Love of Dough for introducing me to something new. I can't wait to try more of these delicious cookies. Follow @Ohiofoodie614 on IG for places to feast and visit around Columbus.

Upon entering the establishment, I was greeted by Mr. Jawat. I apologize if it's the incorrect…read morespelling. He is the owner, and an extremely kind gentleman! He was very welcoming and made me feel at home from the moment I entered. The restaurant was very clean and had nice decor. I got a pistachio latte that he recommended because he makes his own homemade pistachio syrup. It was very very good! I came in with intentions on trying the chicken Shawarma. It was amazing! Thank you so much for a wonderful experience in your establishment! I will be back thank you! David

Fruit crepe - generous with fruit, yummy Moroccan tea - good…read moregentle flavor Maleki - mild flavor Cake - okay but tasted a little stale Very pretty space and nice staff

Rawr!!! Lion Cub's Cookies has been a welcome addition to the 212 (Grandview Heights to everyone…read moreelse...)! Their specialty cookie creations are delicious and unique. Follow them online using one of the several popular social media platforms and you will learn about new and special limited time creations. It is not unknown to me to dart out of the house when I hear about something special they are cooking up, before they run out. I've actually had people tell me about particular cookies and made a late night grab & delivery to their apartment so we can both enjoy their creations! Yes, it's really THAT GOOD! Such a guilty pleasure - Lion Cub's is located on the main section of Grandview Avenue with parking nearby, and is a must visit if your in the area!

Lion Cub's Cookies is my favorite place to get cookies in all of Columbus! Their cookies are the…read moreabsolute BEST! The cookies are always incredibly fresh, warmed, and perfectly cooked! The classic chocolate chip is my go to staple; it's exactly what you crave when you're looking for a classic cookie! My favorite special cookie is the puppy chow; it's seriously out of this world! Everything they have is seriously unreal & if you haven't tried them out yet, you need to!

**5 stars for the milk bread**…read more FUN FACT -- Tous Les Jous is owned by a South Korean food conglomerate group (same concept as Paris Baguette) and this is a bakery with Asian and European baked goods. I visited Tous Les Jours for the first time on Memorial Day (May 2026) at the Columbus location. I arrived around 2:30pm on a Monday. Surprisingly, they had lots of options available even with my late arrival because most bakeries run out of items quickly. They sell croissants, cakes, milk breads, macarons, drinks, etc. MY ORDER ($18.95 total for 4 items) -- Twist Donut ($2.95), Sweet Frank Roll ($4.50), Almond Croissant ($4.75), and a Whole Milk Loaf bread ($6.75). 1. Twist donut ($2.95) - sweet but not overly sweet. It tasted just like a regular twist donut that you'll find at other donut shops. 2. Sweet Frank Roll ($4.50) - good. Perfect savory option for breakfast or lunch. Soft and buttery bread base. I think $3 would have been a better price but the bread roll was good. I ate this in my car before driving back to Cleveland. It held me over until I got home. 3. Almond Croissant ($4.75) - my favourite item - buttery with some almond cream or paste inside. Topped with almonds. I don't like creamy things at all and I didn't realize that this croissant had a cream inside until I opened it but the cream is very light and it is more of a spread than a cream. 4. Whole Milk Loaf Bread ($6.75) - Fresh and soft. Definitely my other favourite item. This was all gone within a day, that's how good it was. Buttery goodness. The best bread. Overall, I enjoyed visiting Tous Les Jours and I hope to visit their Cleveland location soon. I ordered takeout so I didn't sit in but they have some tables and chairs available. I'll definitely be back if I'm close by the area again. Tous Les Jours means everyday in French and I wish I could visit them everyday...haha. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 101/250 total reviews in 2026 - 942 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 27 May 2026

One year anniversary alert! To add to the celebration this week, make sure to stop by for these…read moregreat deals! Location: 7410 State Rd 161 E, Plain City, OH 43064 Deals: THUR 5/14: BOGO Signature Drinks (Tiramisu Latte or Ube Strawberry Latte) FRI 5/15: First 100 customers get a FREE drink w/ purchase SAT 5/16 Kids Day: Balloon Artist 10-12, Live Music 10-5, FREE waffle for kids 12 & under w/ purchase + FREE TLJ insulated bag on $30+ orders!

We are lucky to have this little gem of a business in Columbus. As always, the shop was clean,…read morepeaceful, and beautifully decorated. This week, the special macaron flavors are peppermint and gingerbread, so I could not pass up a quick stop. The macarons never disappoint. They are not overly sweet and the peppermint flavor is not overpowering. Would make a perfect gift for some holiday cheer!

My daughter and I visited the coffee shop around 12 before hitting fun city nextdoor. I got the…read moreCreme au Lait. It was a cold coffee, that was perfectly sweet and heavenly creamy. It was a 12 oz coffee with sweetened milk, coffee and soft whipped cream. My daughter tried a vanilla rose macaron. She let me have a bite but it is what I call a mini macaron. The cream was pretty sweet but I would rather try a different flavor. There was a nice rush of customers as we enjoyed sitting outside and trying our things. Mjomii has Esthetics of a Beautiful coffee shop with modern vibes. I'll have to try more macarons!

Service: staff is friendly and work quickly…read more Ambiance/Atmosphere: inside is very well decorated with a modern look. The pastries and cakes are displayed beautiful front and center. Food: Almond croissant is delicious. Crispy, flaky, soft interiors with a beautiful almond filling. This is the best almond pastry I've had in Columbus. I'd highly recommend. Maple pecan twist is delicious. Soft with a sweet maple glaze and crunchy pecans to top. This was beautiful down and tasted fantastic. If you're a pecan lover this is for you. I'd highly recommend. Pumpkin morning bun was phenomenal. This is one of the best pumpkin pastries I've ever had. A true pumpkin flavor with a soft buttery pastry. I'd insist on this item. Crème Brûlée Eclair was good. Butter pastry with a crunchy caramel topping and a sweet very well made cream filling. This was my first eclair and I'm not disappointed. I'd recommend. Plum cranberry Almond Tart was delicious. The plums and cranberries were fresh and added a nice freshness to the almond base tart. I'd highly recommend. Chocolate bombe was great. Cold ganache filling with dark chocolate chunks and a beautiful ganache and cocoa powder over the top. I'd recommend for chocolate lovers. Chocolate Caramel Pecan Feuilletine was great. It genuinely tasted like an upscale turtle. If turtles are something you'd enjoy. I'd highly recommend.

Overpriced and overhyped! Visited with a few friends when it was still chilly out and waited in…read moreline to order a mocha, a ham and cheese croissant and a chocolate macaron. I think the issue is with the chocolate they use for the mocha but it had such an odd flavor that I couldn't bring myself to finish it. The croissant was fine and not memorable and I won't say too much on the macaron because I think I just realized I'm not really a macaron person so I can't fairly judge them there. The cafe is itty bitty and there is absolutely no seating inside so it's more of a grab and go situation. There are a few seats outside so hopefully you can snag a seat when the weather is nicer. Overall, I think there are a lot of other good coffee shops in Columbus that I don't see myself going out of my way to come back.

If you're looking for a fun new dining experience I highly recommend you check out Cambridge Tea…read moreHouse for the Afternoon Tea experience ($33). The food is amazing, the service is amazing and the prices are unbeatable! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThMUmN6U/

This is a fun experience for tea! I've been twice, most recently for lunch on a weekday. This time…read morethe inside was decorated for Christmas and the dishes were Christmas themed as well, which made it feel special. I have not ordered tea service (as I don't actually like tea) but their scones are delightful. I also appreciate being able to sub the side of fruit for all berries due to my pineapple allergy. Reservations are required, there aren't many tables and they don't turn over very quickly. Our lunch took over 90 minutes, with just drinks and lunch ordered. The table next to us had a young girl celebrating her birthday with the kid's tea selection which looked very fun and she was thoroughly enjoying it. They have have a cocktail menu which looked great.

The woman helping us was knowledgeable and patient with us since it was our first time. My husband…read morewanted a super thick shake that's almost like blizzard, and she was able to make it for him. Everything was delicious! We will definitely be back some time

Brought my nephews as we're doing a tour of ice cream places in Columbus. Small interior but…read morefriendly staff who let us have samples. One got a strawberry shake, another got the cotton candy and some other kid flavor ice cream and I got a flurry (like a blizzard- vanilla ice cream with Reese peanut butter cup pieces). I wish there was more than one size because it was huge but it was really tasty. We all enjoyed what we had, they didn't haven't bottles of water when we visited but they did give us cups.