Came here for a friend's birthday and was initially excited because I had heard good things about this place. We parked around the corner at a meter and it was Sunday so free parking! The back half of the restaurant had large tables, perfect for group sitting and the lighting was dim. We had a reservation around 4:45 PM so it wasn't crowded yet. I had started with the Primitivo Red Sangria, which tasted delicious. I didn't really enjoy the glass cup it came in though because I would rather have a wine glass. Most of us had ordered the Chicken Parmesan. There wasn't much linguine on the plate and the amount of Alfredo sauce on it was scare. Most of us had parts of our chicken burnt so that wasn't too pleasing. So overall the food was okay for the price. I've heard things about Happy Hour here so might have to come back and try something else. read more

Marcella's - Chicken parmesan - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

One of my absolute favorite spots in Columbus! Go to drink: Strawberry Balsamic Martini Go to app: Burrata or Cheese Board Go to meal: Fettuccine & Meatball OR Spaghetti alla Carbonara The ambiance is cozy and warm however, it can be a tad on the loud side on the weekends. The staff is always incredibly professional and courteous. Never had a bad meal or experience here! read more

Marcella's - Strawberry Balsamic Martini - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Staff was very friendly and accomdating. First table we sat at was by the kitchen, in front of a refrigerated case, heavy foot traffic to restroom. Hated it. Asked for a change and was promptly moved. Our waitress Claire was a gem. She answered all our questions and kept my refills coming. I was a little underwhelmed with the fettucine alfredo and veal meatball. It was good but in the past its bern excellent. The pecorino app was decent but my apple slices tasted odd so I stuck to the bread. I did not like the caesar salad at all. The tomato basil soup was lovely. I wish they had flavored teas but I made good use of my sweet and low packets. My real drawback is that the placement of the hardtops felt very confining bc the next table over or behind you was bumping chairs. Will def stick to my prior year tradition and go later in the evening when its a little quiet. read more

See all

Two words: happy hour. From 4-6 basically all (okay, maybe 40%) of the menu is half price. I got a $15 pizza (I know, fancy restaurant just work with me here) for $7.50. It was delicious! Love that the wine comes in its own pour so you can refill your glass as needed until you're ready for round two! The veal meatball is also worth trying. As an Italian myself the first rule of life is never order anything related to spaghetti and meatballs at a restaurant, but it's unique enough to give it a chance. That said, I would definitely go pizza route, if you can't decide. I have yet to sit down and order a meal here. I'm always stopping by for a couple drinks and some half price bites. With all the short north has to offer, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. read more

Marcella's - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

To find a place to eat, I checked out YELP and it lead me here. With my boss beside me we sat down and discussed our options. Both of us have the same habit of ordering one specific dish to find out if it's good food... From the moment we entered, listening to the 80's tunes playing on the over head, to the wines lining the walls and being seated next to a bottle of Luna di Luna (my nick name is Luna) we knew we were going to enjoy this place.. and we did. The service was amazing, and the food.. YES!!! So good. From the aparatif of a Lemoncello drink to the caprese salad we split. To our entrees, both of us gave this restaurant thumbs up. read more

See all

If you recall, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to Italian food, having lived in Italy for 4-years. I'm happy to report that Marcella's did not disappoint. Admittedly, I did stay away from ordering pasta or pizza (I'm most judge-y about those two) and stuck with apps. I had the melted pecorino and prosciutto & melon. The cheese dish was delicious! Warm and melty, served with bread, apples and truffle honey -- it was a great sweet and savory combo! The prosciutto and melon, while admittedly hard to screw up, was also yummy... A nice, light treat on a hot summer day. The real delight came at desert though, when I noticed they had afogato on their after dinner drinks menu! One of my favorite treats in Italy, this is a scoop of gelato smothered with espresso. The perfect combination of sweet dessert and after-dinner pick me up shot of caffeine. Service was attentive and quick. I appreciated the care they took of our large group of 10 teenagers and 5 adults. It would have been easy for them to tack on an 18% gratuity and phone it in all night. They did neither! read more

See all

Overall their food is good. If you go on the weekend around happy hour even with a reservation you still may have to wait a while for a table. read more

Weve been to Marcellas about 10 times. Definately enjoy their happy hour. Great value on pizza, appetizers and selected cocktails. However, I find their service to be hit or miss And last night was a real miss! Our table really tried to be patient with the server especially during these unusual times. Our table of 4 had reservations at 7pm Saturday, no issue with the reservation. But once seated it took about 20 minutes for our server to initially recognize us and take our drink order. It then took atleast another 20 minutes for our server to come back. Forgot my water and still no bottle of prosecco. No house bread brought during that time, just waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting.... The prosecco was finally brought. Slighly chilled. No ice bucket because the server said the ice was funky and wouldn't fit in the ice bucket. Really!? We drank prosecco out of short drink glasses because no clean flutes available. Just really disappointed with Marcellas service especially when you drop $200. Wont be back for awhile with that type of service! read more

Amazing burgers! With great fries, and this menu comes in variety, they are pretty quick with the orders too. The inside is wonderful it has several places for reservations. Wonderful place overall. read more

Service was pretty slow, and the food was not worth the price. Did not meet our expectations.

This restaurant has the best food and great service. They have great happy hour prices in the bar area with a very good wine selection.

This place is worth it during happy hour where most drinks, salad/soups, apps, and antipastas, pizzas, cheeses, etc. are half off - pretty much everything besides their main course dishes like pasta. I went for happy hour and sat near the window (great for people watching), so the vibes were very casual for a nicer restaurant. However I can see how the vibes may shift at night to cater to a fancier experience. The food was delicious - I highly recommend the fried calamari and burrata! For drinks, you have to try the grapefruit basil fizz. read more

See all

Last night I came to Marcella's for Happy Hour (M-F 4-6 half off cocktails, wines under $9, apps, and pizzas) with two friends and was very pleased once again. It was actually my second time here this week because I love it so much. We were promptly seated and a manager came by with waters and bread because our server was a little busy at the moment; Cameron Mitchell restaurants always have fantastic service. We started with a round of red Sangria. It was sweet, had fresh fruit, and was appropriately strong. We ordered the Veal Meatball and Melted Pecorino Cheese. The meatball is quite possibly one of the best I've had in my life. It is SO soft and covered in a delicious red sauce. The pecorino cheese was absolutely spectacular. The crostini were perfectly toasted, the cheese was hot and gooey, the apple slices were fresh, and the truffle honey was unique and sweet. We got another round of drinks, the Tuscan Limonata, Strawberry Balsamic, and the Grapefruit Basil Fizz. All were strong and great. All in all, great experience as always and will be back many more times. read more

Marcella's - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

First time in Columbus and this was the first restaurant we made reservations at. The restaurant itself was adorable. All the food was delicious - and we appreciated all the gluten free options! And the service! Carson was 10/10! Seriously a great experience thanks to him and we look forward to being back! read more

I came here for dinner with three of my girl friends at 7:30 on a Friday night. We were really excited, since we had all been here previously and had good experiences. When arriving, the place was extremely busy which was exciting. When we sat, we ordered wine and arancini to start. It took an absurd amount of time to get our wine, and then two of the wines we ordered were out. That was fine, but then it took another really long time to replace those two, leaving half of us with wine for about 15 minutes. The wine was also not served in wine glasses but instead water cups, which were given to us with a sticky film on the outside. When we asked for clean glasses, our server seems very annoying even though she acknowledged the dirt. We got bread after about 45 minutes, which was the most plain white bread (subpar). Our food came out, and we still had never received the arancini we ordered, so we gave up on trying to get that. I can only speak for my dish, which was the chef's daily special risotto with chicken and mushroom. The chicken was so white and had absolutely no flavoring. The risotto was the most disappointing risotto I have ever had in my life. It had almost no flavor and didn't even have the right texture of a "risotto". No one at my table enjoyed their meals, since the quality was so poor compared to the price. I used to love Marcella's, but after this experience I will not be returning. read more

Marcella's - Chef's Special Risotto - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Hyper place, great service, good bar, limited menu but well presented and eventhough packed everything was out promptly! Great spot Columbus read more

See all

Food was great! Service was good but definitely lacking in some areas. The carbonera was authentic and had lots of great flavor. We had the calamari for an appetizer which was really great too! For dessert, I ordered an affogato (espresso with vanilla gelato) but the server brought out the espresso about 10 mins before the ice cream so that was a bit of a disappointment. I liked the environment and ambiance, with the exception of the pop music playlist. Don't get me wrong, I like Katy Perry and Maroon 5 but I feel like classical or instrumental background music would have fit the space better. Overall a pretty good experience! read more

Marcella's - Spaghetti Alla Carbonera - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Excellent past, noodles perfectly done plenty of cheese and good wine selection. Service was polite and very professional.

Fantastic food & great service! We especially loved the atmosphere, and the location was spot on.

Family in town from California and wanted to stop by a favorite of mom's. The atmosphere was classy and cozy. The food is AMAZING. Real authentic Italian food. The margarita pizza is perfect, the spaghetti and meatball is delicious the meatball is so tender! Every dish order exceeded expectations. They were very accommodating to my family for seating. Though they were very busy on a Mother's Day for dinner, our waiter and waitress had very kind attitudes. Certain requests weren't fulfilled when promised but the apologetic and kind attitude from our waitress made up for it. read more

See all

Came here visiting from out of town and thought the food was pretty sub par. Got the gnocchi with lamb bolognese and the veggie pizza. The gnocchi was rubbery and the sauce didn't have much flavor. The pizza used canned tomatoes on top and the crust was like a grocery store quality pita bread heated up. Also got the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and have had many better Trader Joe's wines. Definitely not worth the cost. read more

Amazing service and food!!! I'd recommend to anyone wanting to try Italian!! I loved it and will be going back!!

This place was amazing!!!!!! From the service to the food everything was perfect! We got the Arancini which was perfect, espresso martinis, and chicken Parmesan which was amazing! The chicken had red sauce and the pasta had Alfredo sauce which was a great combination. Our waiter was amazing - I wish I could remember his name. He was super friendly and prompt. Definitely visit here!!!! read more

Marcella's - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Upscale but also welcoming to semi casual guests. Waiter was very kind and informative of meal options and wine options -- Our party of 4 is very unfamiliar with both. Noodle portions weren't large amounts. The meatball was literally the size of a softball. Great ambiance. We never felt rushed! We were looking for a place to relax, take our time to eat, and chat... not once did we feel rushed, but also had great service. The pasta sauce didn't leave me feel bloated either!! Very lite but flavorful. read more

I haven't had much luck finding good Italian food in Columbus. I just don't think it's really their specialty. However, Marcella's is by far the best of the ones I've tried. I went here for my birthday and really enjoyed it. read more

The restaurant is incredibly noisy. I ordered a name brand alcohol but it was watered down. The arugula salad was tiny. The spaghetti and meatballs had a huge mostly bread meatball, overcooked spaghetti and a tasteless sauce. read more

I'm so glad I found Marcella's on my last evening in Columbus. It's located on High street, not too far from the end of the convention center and near a few bars and other restaurants, but skip the other places and go to Marcella's. I didn't have time to sit and eat so I called ahead and my food was ready for pickup as soon as I got there. It was super busy and a lot of ppl were waiting for tables so either go early or make a reservation if they allow for it. I ordered the pesto shrimp pizza after seeing some delicious pics on yelp and reading some very convincing reviews. The pizza was a thin crusted pizza, and the dough was soft and amazing. The pizza has pesto sauce topped with tomato, red onions, and shrimp. The pesto wasn't heavily added am it gave just the right amount of flavor to the pizza. The tomatoes were amazing, similar to how they'd be on a margherita pizza and perfectly spread out. I love that they were not stingy with the shrimp and there was at least one piece of shrimp on each rectangle slice. I will say that if you aren't a huge fan of red onions, order it without. I had half of it without red onions and that side tasted so much better. I'm also biased because I'm not a big fan of onions but it definitely can be enjoyed without. I promise you that the next time I come to Columbus, I will be visiting Marcella's as soon as I land! read more

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

Pasta was dry! This is not vodka sauce I know. To the girl that threw my food on shelf when you knew I was waiting to go. You deserve the tip I didn't leave. Maybe do your job and stop talking to your friends. Your bartenders are awesome but so disappointed in togo. No plasticware except for when I asked. Also didn't get balsamic for bread as asked. Love your tomato soup but that's all. Try someplace else!!! read more

Marcella's - Extremely dry pasta! it sat there so long. This is not the vodka sauce I know! But girl front who threw my food on shelf so sad! - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We go here at least once a month. This is the perfect Italian restaurant - great location, reliable and delicious food, and it's always busy but not to the point where you can't be seated. read more

Nice, cozy warm atmosphere. Food very good, nothing stands out just a pleasant place to eat.

"JAPAN... why you giving me heart attacks every time you shoot a goal and miss?!?!" *sips on my Tuscan Limonata* ahh... much better. Marcella was my prime spot in watching Japan take on Greece in World Cup fashion. I was meeting a friend here for supper in what I know call Italian Chic. The bougie restaurant bar has everything going for it and I couldn't have had a better dining experience here as I watch my team play football (soccer kids) compete and sippin' on some drinks to quell the stress. The must-drinks (Happy Hour is before 6PM on weekdays it seems- nearly half off most items!) - Tuscan Limonata - Fantastic, citrus vodka drink! - Red Sangria - OMG one of the best sangria I've ever had! Real raspberries at the bottom. Order a liter! As for the bites, I must say I am in love with both items of consumption that we ordered. The calamari was BOMB! I've never had calamari be fried so lightly that it masked any unhealthyness that came with it. On top of that, the dish had a helping of other fried veggies to compliment the squid. I was in love with this and wish we had gotten another dish! Finally, the Sicilian Pizza was to die for! Plenty of meat for the carnivores, and the crust wasn't too thin nor thick. It was just the right amount for the ingredients on top! The drinks and food weren't the quickest to come out, but our lovely waitress made sure that our waters were filled and our bread basket was replenished. Considering how busy it got in the early evening (and the overall quality of the food and drinks), I'll let that slide. Loved my experience here at Marcella's. The only thing that would (and should) have made it better was Japan finally scoring a goal. Ahh... zannen. I'll be back for more game watching and calamari eating for sure. read more

See all

very good food, but quite noisy inside the restaurant. The chef could cut back on the salt shaker as well.

My friend & I met up in Columbus recently and we made reservations because we LOVE pasta. Right off the bat, I liked the atmosphere & enjoyed looking over the menu. Drinks were really good & the meatball appetizer was awesome! We liked that the calamari had some fried zucchini on the plate as well! The pastas were flavorful & fresh but it wasn't...impressive, I guess you could say. Would definitely return though--I still have more to try!! read more

Marcella's is always great! On this visit, I tried something new, the meatball and fettuccini, and a Caesar salad to go. Everything was packaged nicely and included all requested items. The meatball and fettuccini was hands down the BEST!!! I've heard people say how good it was - but their meatball is damn good!!!! Marcella's is officially crowned the ruler of all things meatball! read more

Easy, great-tasting Italian food served by seasoned wait staff in a lively setting. We walked across the street from our hotel and enjoyed our meal from prosciutto and melon appetizer to lamb gnocchi entree. Drinks during happy hour are a steal! read more

A must try restaurant in the area! Classic Italian food that was especially delicious. I had a side salad (which fantastic) and a spaghetti and meatball (more like meatloaf), which I ate every bite. A wonderful environment, experience, service, and meal! Also reasonably priced for the amount of food and the quality. read more

Marcella's - Spaghetti and meatball meal(s) - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Used to be one of my favorites. I moved away 2 years ago and made sure to stop by when I came back to visit. The burrata was delicious but VERY salty. More than normal. The calamari was unfortunately very overcooked and the beginning of my disappointment. Very rubbery, but there was some fried zucchini mixed in that was a better texture I had the special of the day which was a chicken and broccolini risotto. The texture of the chicken was dry and stringy and under seasoned. As far as the rest, it was about on par with Rice a Roni or a knorr pasta side. Edible, mediocre at best, but not restaurant quality. The levels of flavor just weren't there and left a lot to be desired for the price and living up to my previous experience. Our server was incredible and the environment was pleasant. I was catching up with old friends so we still had a nice time. In general, it was just okay. Only you can decide if it's worth the cost for you. It wasn't for me this time. read more

We've lived in the Short North for a year now, and went to Marcella's on Saturday night only because we were sick and tired of the exclamations of surprise and wonder when people asked if we had eaten there yet and we said no. So we went. And now I will eat here every month for the rest of my life. Our server, Alex, was super kind and speedy and knowledgeable. We loved the ambience of the place, very trendy, and a great place to be on a Saturday night. We only had appetizers, as it was late, but they were superb. The meatball comes in a little crock that it's cooked in, and it is the most tender meat I've ever had in my life. Delicious. We also had the crostini/apple/pecorino/honey app, and I scarfed that down like a fat kid in a donut shop. The wine was great (Honey Bubbles Moscato). Hands down, best restaurant I've eaten at in a long time. I cannot wait to go and have an entire meal. read more

Marcella's - Most amazing meatball ever! - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

The meatball is hands down one of THE best! Wait service was great and the place was hopping on a Tuesday night. Look forward to returning!

food is OK. The manager does not have managerial skills at all. We had some issues and she was asking me what to do. There's lots of amazing restaurants around there. read more