Nice Italian spot in the Short North. I sat at a high top in the front section of the bar. Windows we're wide open which was nice. I had a Caesar salad which took about 20 minutes to come. The server apologized. Said someone must have taken mine order. Chicken Giardiniera come shortly after. Nicely done. Giardiniera could have been less chunky but I'm pretty picky when it comes to this dish. Overall very good. read more

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Amazing pasta and exceptional service. This is always a staple to go to and has an amazing set of staff as well.

Back again, got the pesto shrimp pizza (so good, had to order again) as well as the burrata which was delicious! Service was quick and our waiter was friendly, and the happy hour prices made the entire meal even better! read more

Marcella's - Pesto shrimp pizza - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We are from southern CA. Our daughter is a freshman at Ohio State U. I'd read great reviews but we had to try Marcella's out over the summer during move in ourselves. We'll I can officially say we are hooked! We've been back 4 times on different trips going again in Nov to visit my daughter/bday. The food is amazing, feels and tastes like those old Italian restaurants you can't get near home. From the cute open concept, nice comfy decor. You feel at home. The staff are always so friendly and amazing. Everything is great! The giant meatballs are to die for, yummy bread, caprese salad, fantastic cocktails and the tiramisu my favorite! Sun they have half off wine. Try it out, you won't be disappointed!! read more

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The Marcellas in the Short North in my opinion is the best Italian spot I have ever experienced. The food and service is always outstanding but most importantly the atmosphere is top notch. Best Italian spot in Columbus by far. read more

I haven't been here in too long, clearly a mistake on my side. I went with a few friends for a casual dinner and we all enjoyed our drinks, dinner and service. They were super slammed but that didn't effect our experience at all. Our server was very friendly and attentive, he rocked! The food was incredible as well, I ordered the baked rigatoni and it was delicious! The white citrus sangria was great as well, not very sweet or bitter, really tasty. My friends had no complaints about their experience as well. Highly reccomend Marcella's for any occasion. read more

Marcella's - Strawberry Balsamic Cocktail & White Citrus Sangria - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

One of THE best happy hour restaurants in the Columbus area. If you try to go for happy hour(4-6PM) during a Thursday or Friday I would highly recommend you making reservations. Their happy hour only applies to the bar and high top area towards the front of the restaurant. I just found out that if there are no spots in the happy hour area and you have a reservation, the happy hour will apply to the whole restaurant. Their happy hour is half off cocktails, sangria, wines up to $9, pizzas, antipastas, cheeses and meats, appetizers, and soups and salads. I am sure I am missing a category, but that's because they have so many amazing options!! Oh and they have plenty of gluten free options too! They always start you off with fresh bread and you can make your own concoction of olive oil, balsamic, and salt and pepper. I could eat about 5 baskets of bread, buuuut I guess I shouldn't. I could honestly drink any of their cocktails, but if you're a wine lover, you're in the right place. There are so many different wines here it's overwhelming (in a good way.) My favorite is getting the veal meatball and a pecorino cheese board. The veal meatball is so tender that is falls apart and then you can pour the sauce all over it. The pecorino cheese board comes with some bubbling cheese, apples, crostini, and honey. What an amazing combination. This past time I went I also got a tomato soup and a Caesar salad. Their soup is heavy to me so I like to ask for bread to dip with. The dressing for the Caesar salad is probably my favorite. You don't need a lot! I have also tried bruschetta, sweet Italian sausage, calamari, and almost all their pizzas (Margherita, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, and Sicilian). Off of the non happy hour menu, I have tried their fettuccini and meatballs, spaghetti and meatballs, linguine and clams, and spaghetti alla carbonara. I must say my favorite pasta dish is the linguine and clams. It's to die for if you're a seafood lover. I have honestly tried a lot of their food in both locations and I must say it has been consistently AMAZING! I have been going to Marcella's for 3 years now and it's still a personal favorite. The waiters/waitresses give top notch service! read more

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Very good food, and service. The kitchen is one of the last of the world's great glaciers: 45 min to a scrap of food on the table. The calamari was hugely creative, but it was lukewarm. The ravioli were tiny, but tasty. The flatbread was delicious with a wonderful fresh ricotta. The bar has a great bourbon collection. They made a couple of nice virgin drinks for our tea totalers. Star down for the slow kitchen, and being way too tightly packed for Delta days of the Covid virus. They have this beautiful, expensive meat curing cabinet, and they're using it for cheese overflow? Even a bit of bacterial contamination from the cheese wrappers and that will be some very odd tasting stuff. (I'll take it if you don't want it!) Ambiance is great. read more

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We went there for Happy hour and ordered burrata and pecorino sardo as appetizers, sangria and elderflower spritz as drinks. Once happy hour was done we proceeded to order our main dishes. I ordered Ravioli quadratini (which by the way was delicious), while my coworkers ordered Creste arrabbiata and Fettuccine & meatball, which was really just a huge meatball!!! So cool and apparently really delicious too!! Our server was fantastic and treated us extremely well, she really took care of us during happy hour and made sure that our bread was refilled throughout our whole experience. The restaurant is wasn't too busy during happy hour but did get quite a bit crowded during dinner time. The tables are a little too close to one another but the windows that open all the way up onto the street are pretty cool and let in the perfect breeze! read more

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This is one of those restaurants that is just filled with energy, knowledgeable servers and good food. Felt like I was in New York, not Columbus (nothing against Columbus). Definitely needed a reservation on this Friday evening. They were able to set us within 10 minutes of the reservation as we watched a table for us linger for no reason. Anyway, once seated everything flowed perfectly. Our group of 4 started with the Arancini which is a favorite of mine in Italian restaurants. This one was good, but not great. I found them a little small which made the oil to risotto balance a little off for me. From there it was on to the Italian salad which was big enough for two people and very fresh. For a main course, two of us had Salmon Puttanesca. This is a wonderful dish. One of us asked for it with the anchovies on it and the other without. Because they are chopped fairly small we did not notice that they swapped them until each had eaten some. So we kept what we had but it made one dish a bit more fishy than desired and the other a little less than desired. Both very good dishes, but that mistake should not have happened. Another had Chicken Parmesan which interestingly has the chicken in a white sauce and the pasta in a red sauce. A creative take on the tradition that worked very well. The fourth item was the Pesto Shrimp pizza. I tasted some and it was extremely well prepared. We shared a couple bottle of Italian red wine and my wife also had a Tuscan Limonata, which was amazing. Great overall experience. Not getting a 5 star because of the one order switch and the Arancini not quite as good as others I have had. read more

Great vibe, location, service, and food. You're not going to do much better for an Italian dinner than this.

This was exactly what I was looking for! The service was great even with our late arrival, close to closing time. The food *chefs kiss*!! The server suggested half portions because I didn't know what I wanted and I'm so happy she did. I had the two items I was looking at and didn't feel guilty. The drinks were also made well and poured perfectly. I think the venue would be great to host an engagement party or graduation dinner. Five stars well earned. read more

Ahh, Marcella's. This place has been here for some time. I think I came here for the first time with my family after my college graduation. More recently, I came at a later time in the evening with some friends. Service was great and professional, and I like the ambiance of the place. I am Italian and it definitely gives classic fancyish Italian restaurant vibes. Bread and oil, infamous meatballs, pasta dishes, etc. For drinks, I started with a pineapple cooler. It was really good, but it seemed like about two sips of liquid with the amount of ice and the size of the glass. I went with wine next because their craft cocktails obviously seemed a little overpriced for the portion-- the rose was delish, but house wine is probably the best bang/buck option here specifically. The meatball is awesome, gigantic, and served in a hot stone pot. It's the staple dish. Delicious and would definitely order again. The mushroom pizza was also very tasty, with a mix of mushrooms. The clam linguine was ok, but a little bland. The worst part of the meal for me was definitely the veal/mushroom gorgonzola risotto. It was thin and liquidy, the rice wasn't cooked properly, and my Nonna would have turned her nose up at it. I couldn't help but kind of do the same. Probably would stick with tried-and-true appetizers if I went here again, but there are too many other Italian spots that I have yet to try for me to make plans for to do that any time soon. read more

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Holy MOLY!! You really can't go wrong with this place. We were craving a good Sunday night pasta dinner and immediately decided on Marcella's. I had the strawberry balsamic cocktail which is always beyond delicious. We split the fettuccini meatball pasta and truffle ravioli. Both dishes were immaculate. Nothing on the menu disappoints, the ambiance is intimate and classy, and the service is great. Definitely come here! read more

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Marcella's never fails to satisfy! The perfect spot for a carb load dinner before a race, which is just what I did. I get the spicy radiatorre pasta almost every time I go, and it is consistently a good mixture of spice and flavor. This is a favorite spot for my family when they are in town! read more

Marcella's - Spicy Radiatorre Pasta - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Closest thing to outstanding italian cuisine in Columbus, Ohio. I am from Jersey where we know how to eat, breathe and sleep italian food. Our table had an array of food (some not pictured) which included the Veal meatball, calamari, bruschetta which had shaved Brussel sprouts on focaccia, ravioli, parm, marsala, tiramisu, cafe calabrese. If and when I return to Columbus one day, this spot is my #1 place to visit. read more

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Poor service. Really poor. Slow beyond belief. Underwhelming food. Total waste of an evening.

Great food and service. Both locations in the Short North and Polaris are outstanding.

I was over at Marcella's the other day and got their gnocchi. Their gnocchi was pretty good and hit the spot. Portion sizes were acceptable and I liked the flavor- just not life changing good ;) I'll check them out if you want a classic Italian meal :) read more

Marcella's - Good gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I stopped by Marcella's during their busy happy hour (4-6, weekdays). They offer an impressive deal: half priced beer, wine, cocktails, appetizers and pizzas. We went for the burrata and fried arancini. The burrata was fresh and delicious (but served as a slightly too cool temperature, as if it had just come out of the fridge). The arancini was excellent: crisp and cheesy, with a delicious flavor. The pizza was just okay - it didn't taste like it had come out of a wood-burning oven, but wasn't bad either. Overall, Marcella's offers a great value for happy hour. read more

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I've been coming to this Marcella for years and I am a bit disappointed to write this review. I know that things are still settling with transitioning back post restrictions but the experience was sub par. Our table was basically in the bussing station / walk way and after having three different people and an ice bucket bump into our table or chairs, I requested that we be moved. They did accommodate our request to move. The portions used to be quite generous for a semi reasonable price. Now the portion is smaller for an even higher price. We had the fettuccine and meatball, eggplant parmesan (recipe has changed and the old recipe was better) and the arancini. All the food was good but the experience isn't what it used to be. read more

Marcella's - Meatball and fettuccine - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Marcella's was great!!! I came with a reservation for 10 in the middle of a conference during a convention. Everyone from the hostess to the waiter was friendly, professional and organized. Our food was delicious, hot and promptly served. They kept us filled with drinks and very pleased overall. Definitely has some menu items on the high side but even on a budget, one could eat a tasty meal. I'm not a huge dessert fan, but we shared around the table an assortment. Tiramisu and cheesecake were excellent!! (SAVE ROOM) read more

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If you are looking for delicious Italian food and have a lot of time to spare, I would recommend that you try out Marcella's! We were staying in a hotel nearby and decided to order some takeout. They said it would take about an hour to an hour 15 but it actually ended up being an hour and a half, which is a really long time to wait for a pickup order. The food, however, was delicious! We got the Gnocchi Con Bolognese ($20) which was probably the best gnocchi I have ever had. I'm not usually a fan of gnocchi but these handmade ones were amazing. The texture was perfection. The bolognese sauce with braised lamb tasted like it was cooked for hours- the flavor was really rich and deep. It was perfect for dipping our bread in too. We also ordered the Veal Picatta ($24). At first glance, we thought that the portion was tiny, but there were actually 3 thin pieces of Veal stacked on top of each other. Had it just been one it definitely wouldn't be worth it. It came with a side of roasted potatoes and arugula. We really enjoy Veal, and this was well cooked for sure. Overall, a delicious dinner. We wish we could have gotten the food faster, but understand that they are busy! read more

Marcella's - Gnocchi con bolognese ($20) - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Every single time I visit Columbus, I will make it my business to get to Marcella's! I first went here during the pandemic last June. I was in town, and wanted good food (per usual). My family that I was staying with, know that I have fairly high standards in regards to food, so they recommended Marcella's! The experience that I'm typing about today is from my second visit, which was around Christmas time of 2020. I was excited to get back here after tasting their food in June. Luckily, I arrived during happy hour, which I had no idea about. Get this, drinks AND appetizers were half off! And this is Marcella's, so we ain't talkin' no basic, typical starters, these are upscale, quality starters that you can get for HALF.OFF.! So I started off with a glass of half off red wine, and their INCREDIBLE veal meatball. Imma say it one last time. This veal meatball was half.off. Read that again. But I guess to really understand my drama, you'd have to taste this braised meatball. You'd then realize that this is a steal! I got this meatball the first time I went here, and it was all I dreamt about for 6 months smh. This meatball is so tender, so succulent, so juicy, you barely have to chew it! It melts in ya MOUF! You hear me?! It truly is comforting. It's always so well done, and served in this cast iron mini pot thing-y. Something about the entire experience with this meatball that warms my entire soul. One day, I'm gonna go back here and order four of them, and that'll be my meal! Ha! For the entree, I ordered the gnocchi con bolognese. It's made with braised lamb, marinara and Parmesan Reggiano! My God-brother, who lives in Columbus, is the one who recommended this dish to me, and girl, I FULLY understand why. It truly is the lamb for me. That lamb is fall awt da bone tender, hear me?! Another protein at Marcella's in which you barely have to chew. The gnocchi is divine. You can taste that it's homemade. It was made with love, folks! So thick, with almost a creamy-like texture after chewing a bit. I appreciated every bite! Soooo good! This is the dish that I now highly recommend. Lastly, I got dessert (insert devil smile emoji). I saw on the menu that they had tiramisu. I'm extremely skeptical when it comes to tiramisu, as it is NOT always done right. It's one of those desserts that can not be easily pulled off. At Marcella's, I was thoroughly pleased with theirs! It was rich, yet lite, all at the same time. It gave me deep, rich coffee vibes. Lady fingers so nicely soaking up that liquid. I was more than pleased with its freshness and authenticity. Marcella's when in Columbus, is a must-go-to spot! They are consistent! The staff is always great, and the atmosphere is relaxed. They can take all my money whenever I'm in town! read more

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This was the perfect spot for our dinner while we were in Columbus! Everything was delicious, but the bruschetta and white sangria both blew me away!! The bruschetta was made with Brussels sprouts and pistachios... seemed weird, but it was amazing! The white sangria was phenomenal! I ordered one with the intention of ordering wine with my entree, but the sangria was so good that I ordered another one! read more

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10/10. This place was amazing. From their espresso martini containing real espresso. To their BURRATA appetizer which was SO GOOD. i got the carbonara pasta and it was true and authentic. The ambiance was amazing as well. Perfect lighting. The server was also great. I can't remember her name but she has red hair. read more

Marcella's - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Marcella's serves decent food in a manufactured Italian setting. I would come back here again, but price point is a little too much for the portion size. read more

If you've seen my other reviews, forget about them. This is one of my favorite places for Italian food. Amazing pasta, great meatballs, and go to arancini. Service is great and the ambiance is a comfortable fancy. read more

I went here for the first time for a business dinner and was super impressed! Staff was super friendly and helpful and made great recommendations as it was many of our first time at Marcella's. I ordered the gin basil fizz, which is now one of my favorite cocktails in Columbus! All of us really enjoyed our meals, especially the chicken Parmesan. I will definitely be returning to Marcella's soon! read more

Visited about a week ago and glad we tried it! I had the MARGHERITA DOC pizza and my daughter had the Chicken Parmesan. Wow ! My pizza was one of the best I've had! The chicken Parmesan was also fabulous! Service was superb and they were busy. Decor was as expected for an Italian restaurant. Tables are close and it's noisy, also totally typical. Prices are fair, especially for this quality of food. I will definitely be back! read more

The food was delicious! The staff were so accommodating of my 2 young grandchildren. Lovely setting. A little loud, but that was fine with pour crew. Tiramisu was to die for! read more

Love this place. Awesome ambiance, service and food. We used to come here all the time in undergrad for happy hour...probably a dozen times but it had been years since we visited last. Felt really adult coming here and not getting the happy hour menu lol. We've been away from Ohio for about 7 years and growing up I always thought Cameron Mitchell restaurants were really commercial and not that unique. I did not realize marcellas was Cameron Mitchell until this most recent visit. After our dinner here, the pearl earlier that day for brunch, and Lincoln social for cocktails (3 CMRs in one day and all great experiences), I have a whole new appreciation for the company. Started with a bottle of cab to share between 4 of us. Really tasty bottle for only $36. We ended up getting two more of the same bottle and it made for a good night. For food we ordered calamari and veal meatballs to start. I forgot just how amazing the meatballs are. They are tennis ball sized and just the most amazing flavor/consistency topped with a delicious tomato sauce. The calamari is breaded but still feels light. I ordered the clam pasta. My friend loved the veal meatball app so much he ordered it as his entree atop some spaghetti. I also tried the eggplant parm. Everything was delicious! Our server was great. Can't remember his name due to the wine but he really went above and beyond to make us feel taken care of. We recommend this restaurant to all our friends who visit Columbus! read more

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Been here 3 times since it's so good. Will give ratings on all the food below: Veal Meatball: 10/10 Soft and flavorful. Melts in your mouth and combines so well with the sauce and parm on top. Ordered it all 3 times, next time might order an extra just to take home. Chicken Parm: 7.5/10 Pairs well with the linguini Alfredo. Pretty good, but I've had better Chicken Parms in my life. There are also better things on this menu. Crispy Potato Pizza: 10/10 Never had anything like the before and it's addicting. Super thin potato chips on top of a pizza that's already really good. Zucchini with Parmesan: 10:10 Couldn't stop eating it once I got started. They're super crispy and delicious. Would highly recommend. read more

Marcella's - Crispy Potato Pizza - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food and atmosphere were great here! We were able to get a reservation for an early dinner on a Friday. They have happy hour from 3-6pm where basically everything except the pasta dishes were half off so definitely try to go for happy hour. Service was also great - would recommend this place if you're in Columbus! read more

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From the moment you walk in, you are taken aback by the beautiful ambience and relaxing atmosphere. The food is wonderful, and the service spot on. So you may wait a little while for your entrée, it will be worth every bite. My chicken Parmesan was perfectly moist and beautifully flavorful. The portions are perfect. If you have a chance, come step into Italy at Marcella's. read more

Marcellas is fantastic. The meatball is one of my favorite items of any restaurant in the city. I have never had anything that I didn't like. The food quality and service are always consistently great! read more

I went to Marcellas with family on grandsons 21st birthday. the place is very inviting waitress was amazing. This is the first time eating there. The whole family enjoyed their meal except for me. How can you mess up linguini with clams. First off there were about 10 clams in a opened shell and no more with in the pasta. It was supposed to be garlic butter sauce. There was no flavor just tasted watery linguini with no butter. It was terrible even after trying to put a lot of salt on the pasta. I have had linguini with clams in many restaurants all over ohio and different parts of the country and have always loved it. So anyone reading this don't order linguini with clams . TERRIBLE read more

What a find!! Googled 'restaurants near me' during my Sonesta stay and low and behold...Marcella's received a 4.8 and was w/i walking distance! So....5:30 on a Tuesday....made my way. Happy Hour was in full swing, windows wide open, table sidne, and the hostess offered this premium table. Eas immediately greeted by Lauren...'Take your time to browse the menu...I shall return'.. Hard to choose...so many cocktails, charcuterie, cheeses,appetizers, salads, pizzas, and entrees...and quite the wine list...which way shall i go??? Lauren returned...I ordered the vodka grapefruit, basil fizz...yum; and so light and refreshing! Then, an Arugala salad and calamari app...Wow...on portions, presentation, and taste!...i lingered w a glass of Montepucciano and savored the delicious choices...served w a lemon olive oil, and basil aoli...then...I just had to order the Margherita pizza...all Happy Hour prices...and Absolutely Delicious...Lauren was so charming and just great as my server...Can't wait to share my find w All of my American Colleagues...no Marketing, necessary...Word of Mouth, literally!! read more

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Marcella's is one of a number of wonderful dining establishments on Short North in Columbus. It was recommended by our Air BnB host and we were thrilled by our experience. We enjoyed the outdoor seating (even with vehicular traffic whizzing by) and sat and watched the frenzy of activity in the area. What a great place for people watching!!! They were able to accommodate my wife's gluten intolerance with table bread that actually tasted good. Their bruschetta is to die for! It's a small loaf covered in toasted Brussels sprouts, pistachio nuts, cheese and a lemon honey drizzle that was really tasty. We both ordered the risotto with chicken, another excellent choice. Good food, excellent service and great value added up to a really pleasant dining experience. read more

Marcella's - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We were staying close on a trip and decided to try. Amazing food and awesome atmosphere definitely recommend.