Five stars, easily. Pat E made reservations and I showed up after parking next door in the garage. I got a happy hour cocktail at the bar and when our Chef's Table seating was ready we were led downstairs. We were in view of the open kitchen and had an amazing server. He answered questions, accepted compliments and was very personable. We started with the Sourdough Focaccia (the whipped ricotta was perfect with the bread) and roasted peppers (again, perfect). Red wine went nicely with our entrees. I chose the Ricotta Cavatelli. They had me at pea pesto. Amazing. I would get it again, but want to try more from the menu. The owner/manager wanted to know why we didn't order dessert. No room! The Almond Cake sounds fantastic and is a good reason to return. This is a must-try. So pretty and all the staff were wonderful. read more

Metsi’s - Sangue e Sabbia - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've been missing out! What a great Italian focused restaurant. (Too bad it's in the oversaturatedShortNorth) Food, service and vibe were all on point. So many interesting and delicious sounding menu choices. I decided to opt for what I knew & loved...eggplant parmesan. I absolutely enjoyed it and ended up with leftovers. Believe it or not, both myself & fellow Yelper Anna agreed the roasted peppers, drizzled in balsamic, were amazing!!!!! Next time, and there will be a next time, i will try something different. Tips: *sit at the chefs table for a unique experience *Reservations require credit card and $25 cancellation fee (if not done timely) per person *if you cant park with app, parking garage right next door. $5 per hour. read more

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YE Gurl Says: A Comeback Story Worth Spending On at Metsi's Wood-Fired Italian Place: Metsi's Wood-Fired Italian Date: April 5 Let me say this first--heartland chef came back and did what needed to be done. For those who know, this space has history. Formerly home to Hiraeth and before that the owner had also Eat at Chapman's--both loved, both missed--this location has now evolved into something new with Metsi's Wood-Fired Italian. Same bones, same wood-fired foundation, but now with an Italian-forward identity that feels a little more accessible without losing its edge. And here's the thing: I've never had a bad meal here--across *any* version of this restaurant. This visit leaned into their Easter menu (finally a lineup we could enjoy without playing substitution gymnastics ). What we ordered: * Glass of Vermentino (for me) * Easter Shrimp & polenta * Lamb chops * Water + a few shared sips (because the beau is in his teetotaling era) Total damage: ~$203 after tax & fees Now let's talk experience. The food? Consistently strong. That shrimp and polenta--rich, balanced, and exactly what you want from a wood-fired Italian concept. The lamb? Cooked like someone in that kitchen actually respects the ingredient. Service from Aidan R. was smooth and present without hovering--exactly what this kind of dining experience needs. YE Gurl Insight: This isn't your everyday Columbus casual spot--and it's not trying to be. There's a certain "city dining energy" here that reminds me of nights out in Chicago, Las Vegas, or New York City--chef-driven menus, intentional pricing, and a crowd that's here for an experience, not just a meal. You'll notice it in the room: * Special occasions * Date nights that matter * Travelers who were told to come here * And the occasional regular (hi, it's me) getting side-eyed like "wait... you've been here before?" And that's part of the tension. Because let's be real--this pricing model can scare off the local crowd. But if you actually break it down? A full dinner + drinks elsewhere can land you in the same range, just without the intention or quality. Final Take: Metsi's Wood-Fired Italian is where you go when you want to remind yourself (or someone else) what a *real* dining experience feels like. Is it an everyday spot? No. Is it worth tapping into your "special piggy bank fund"? Absolutely. YE Gurl Says: Keep this one in your rotation--for dates that matter, visitors you want to impress, or nights when fast-casual just isn't going to cut it. read more

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Finally made it to Metsi's! Great meal beginning to end. I love the vibe of a chef's counter and this is a great one. Favorite bites were from the seasonal menu. Melon and prosciutto salad and the mushroom ragu. Cocktails and service were great as well. read more

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Enjoyed a night out with girlfriends at Metsi's. We chose to sit upstairs in the bar dining area (as opposed to the downstairs room near the wood fired oven). Upstairs is beautiful: gorgeous colors and wall art / paint colors / lights etc. The menu was enticing with a range of choices (and prices -- the pastas, for instance, are quite reasonable). Portions are large enough that you could comfortably share dishes with friends (and then get to try the variety of options!). We especially liked the pasta with the spring pea pesto-- very refreshing. The cocktails were also all excellent (great espresso martini, great Hugo spritz). I was also thrilled to see the budino on the dessert menu (an old favorite from Chapman's, a former sister restaurant of this place). Service was just OK; our server seemed a little checked out and also forgot to put our Caesar salads in. We reminded him when the entrées came out without them, and he was apologetic, brought them out, and didn't charge us for it, so that was OK. He was friendly, and it was probably just an off night. I definitely plan to go back and would recommend others do the same. read more

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Metsi's is a solid dinner choice, tucked away in short north! We sat at the chef's counter and it was a pleasantly delightful experience. It was a bit cold in general but overall a fun experience. Things I didn't love: the tiramisu lacked the sharp coffee taste, the squash wasn't great and came out cold. Things I loved: Ratatouille was AMAZING, genuinely could eat this everyday. Crunchy cedar salad was delicious, focaccia is a classic. overall a great experience and will be back to try more! read more

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Wonderful atmosphere. The food is always fresh and there is always something new and tasty on the menu. Their happy hour is excellent and the staff is always extremely accommodating and kind read more

The food was delicious. The sourdough focaccia was light and savory. The pesto pasta was al dente and flavorful. Their menu changes regularly with the seasons. I wish the drinks were larger for the price. Our waiter was kind and talked through recommendations since it was our first time visiting. read more

Very impressed by Metsi's! My friend invited me for her birthday dinner, and I can't believe I hadn't been before. The restaurant is super cute with plenty of seating. There's a downstairs area I didn't see, but I heard it's a bit darker--so I'd recommend sitting upstairs if you prefer more light. We had a reservation and were seated right away. I wasn't as hungry as usual, but I still got to sample several appetizers, a salad, and a side. We ordered the Sourdough Focaccia (whipped fresh ricotta, EVOO, black pepper), Fried Calamari (grilled lemon, pomodoro sauce, chile flake), and Mushroom Arancini (rice, wood-fired mushrooms, fontina, pomodoro sauce, parmesan). Everything was delicious, but the calamari was my favorite--perfectly crisp and flavorful. For my main, I had Metsi's Grilled Caesar (romaine, calamansi, parmesan, anchovy, bread crumbs), and it was fantastic. I also got a side of Angel Hair Pasta with pomodoro and parmesan--simple but perfectly done. Overall, a great dining experience from start to finish. I can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Metsi's is a vibe! This new restaurant in the Short North is a fantastic addition and delivers a great dining experience! I love that the upstairs dining space is casual and light and perfect for a wine or spritz and an app; and the downstairs main dining room is more intimate/romantic and perfect for a dinner date! The service is top class and the food is delicious! Metsi's might have the best Calamari I've had in the city to date & the Shrimp Oreganata is another great starter. The Osso Buco is fall off the bone tender; the risotto is a must, & I'm not normally a pea fan, but the Green Pea Pesto might have just changed my mind! The Budino was rich and delectable, & I can't say enough about how good the Almond cake is! read more

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Had a great dinner expereince downstairs at Metsi's. We were seated at the Chefs table and our server Aiden provided great service and made some fantastic suggestions. We started with an Old Fashioned and the Smoke Before Fire cocktai, which were both great. Food was Wood fired artichokes and Italian street corn as starters. The artichokes were phenomenal and the street corn had a unique flavor, almost like pizza. Our mains were the Ossu Bucco and the Mushroom Rabbit Ragu. Each was seasoned beautifully with layers of grreat flavor. The overall experience was top-notch and we plan to return. read more

Visited Metsi's for the first time Valentine's day weekend. For a busy weekend, service was very quick, and the pasta was amazing. We sat upstairs, so the ambiance maybe wasn't as great as if we were sitting downstairs. Wish there was an option to choose seating while making the reservation. But, definitely would visit again, hopefully securing a spot downstairs! read more

Metsi’s - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The following review is only what my daughter wrote to me after a visit there with her friend. they said the kitchen opens in 20 mins, more than 30 mins go by and my friend notices everyone getting the main meal menu and getting their pasta but the server never came back to our table until like 40 mins and i had to ask umm is the main menu available?? and he was like oh sorry and went to grab them after everyone but us was getting food brought out, wasn't busy in there at all. yes we were the only black people and the place was small so he could have easily seen if we were looking at a menu or if we were ready to order. obviously they won't be going back. read more

First of all, loved the service here. Honestly, that was my favorite part. Our server was so friendly and caring. I have a no pork food restriction, and they took my menu and hand wrote what was good for me to eat and what wasn't. Thankfully, most of the menu was fair game. As far as the food goes, it was a little varied for me in terms of taste and quality. I really enjoyed the arancini and the lobster ravioli was unique. My friend got the cannellini one which I didn't try. The Cacio e Pepe was fairly standard, but better than the average I would say. The lobster, as mentioned, was unique because the sauce wasn't a creamy sauce, which I feel is more common in lobster ravioli dishes, but rather a buttery and spicy dish (there's some chili in it). It really offset the sweetness that comes from the lobster quite brilliantly. Finally, the focaccia was a let down for me, as it seemed like the bread was slightly burnt and over baked. The ambiance would have been better for me if the volume was a little quieter- it was pretty loud where we were sitting and I often had a hard time hearing the rest of my party. This is probably the biggest factor in me dropping a star. Otherwise, Metsi's was a fantastic place for dinner! read more

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I think if I was going to go back to Metsi's it would be for drinks and apps only! The place is darling and intimate and our waiter Asher was so sweet and fun. We got a free arancini on the house which was a kind surprise. Their rendition of the espresso martini is delicious, however $17 for it felt a bit pricey. The apps overall were delicious, however my pasta fell short. It was not bad by any means, just sort of underwhelming. read more

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Great experience at this sheek new restaurant. The main dining area is located downstairs and it was a pleasant surprising walking down and seeing a whole new area. We tried a handful of apps, pastas and entrees and they were all absolutely delicious. The lamb and pork shank were cooked perfectly and so tender. The pasta was delicious and fresh. The only item that was a little underwhelming were the cottage fries. It felt like something was missing. The service was impeccable, our server Shannon was amazing. read more

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Wow perfect experience here! So excited to try this place and it delivered. Their downstairs dining room is continuous with the kitchen, so you get to enjoy the smell of all the food being prepared as well as watching all the chef cook. Strongly recommend sitting downstairs if you can. Their old-fashioned is one of the best ones I've had in a long time. Our food was exquisite, let me say. Their menu is divided into a pasta section and a woodfired section. I had the red snapper which was off of the wood fired menu, and my girlfriend had the pasta Bolognese. Both were perfect. Our server Nigel was very knowledgeable and friendly. Overall amazing experience, I cannot wait to come back here. The hype is real for Metsi's! read more

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Holy smokes, not really sure why it took so long for me to come to this restaurant! As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by a nice wood laden bar and nice seating that has an outdoor type feel. I ended up booking a reservation downstairs in the speakeasy type area and it was awesome due to the open fire type cooking area. They smell of the natural wood burning, brought you right back to a campfire type cooking event. The staff downstairs was super friendly and was able to explain the menu and my few questions that I had about it. I really liked that the pasta dishes were handmade and the sauces were amazing. The menu was small, but mighty and the drink selection was killer. I would highly recommend any of their homemade pastas and all of their appetizers were amazing, try the whipped ricotta for sure. We will definitely be back many times to sample all of their menu. Keep up the great work and we look forward to the next visit. read more

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Now that I have time, I'm going to leave a proper review of Meti's. Metsi's is a new Italian restaurant from chef and restauranteur BJ Lieberman - known in Columbus for Ginger Rabbit and Chapman's Eat Market, and previously Hiraeth which occupied the same location that Metsi's does now. We've been around a bit and while we have yet to make it to Ginger Rabbit (shameful I know) we have eaten at Chapman's a number of times and had visited Hiraeth on opening weekend as we did Metsi's at the time of this review. So I think we've had some time to get acquainted with Mr. Lieberman and his style of food, and as a couple lucky enough to venture to a lot of great restaurants, we have a frame of reference for comparison. Now, the first thing I want to say is that I am by no means an expert, or even an amateur when it comes to good Italian food. I don't have a grandma's home cooking to compare cacio e pepe recipes, and often times when thinking "where should we grab dinner" the first thing that comes to mind isn't a Olive Garden, but I do appreciate classic cuisine, great attempts at nailing down the essence of a dish, and authenticity as far as it one can convincingly pull the wool over my eyes. Caveat aside here, I want to comment on three specific areas of Metsi's and leave it to you to make the venture yourself - which I would highly recommend. The first area to discuss is the food. It's pretty great. We ordered the sourdough focaccia and wood-fired artichoke for appetizers. Both were supremely tasty, though the sourdough focaccia I think hits the mark better than the artichoke. I am not sure if I have much experience with artichoke, but my impression was - this is great, but the story our waitress told us, which was a good one, left me wanting something more artichoke flavored? Maybe I was expecting to take a bit and close my eyes and imagine myself in an artichoke field in sunny Italy? If so, I don't think the dish hit that mark, but I see potential. A bit of pleasant pepper heat, though. We skipped salad and went straight to the cacio e pepe and eggplant parmesan for our pasta and entree. For me, the cacio e pepe was fantastic. It, and I mean this in a good way, tasted a bit like the heavily fresh peppered boxed macaroni and cheese I make at home, which is one of my most guilty pleasures. I can imagine Italian grandmas and grandkids eating this. A+ The eggplant parmesan was great as well. Nicely crusted, fantastic tomato sauce, and the angel hair pasta was cooked perfectly. We really enjoyed this dish. For desert we enjoyed the almond and blueberry cake and the strawberry panna cotta. Well, my wife enjoyed the panna cotta. I don't care for strawberries. But the texture and flavor were top notch. The cake was slightly dryer than I had hoped but maybe that's more authentic? Someone can enlighten me. The second main area I want to talk about, and this is partially for Mr. Lieberman if he is a masochist and read Yelp reviews, is the physical space of the restaurant. To me, the top floor of the restaurant just kind of doesn't exist. I don't know what it is about the different styles, but I had the same concern with Hiraeth. When you book at the chef's counter, and you should, you're in London or New York or Argentina or something. Mr. Lieberman is right there running the kitchen, the ambiance is oozing with sophistication. The wood fired stove, "heard chef!", the glassware, all of it top notch and what I would expect out of a good Michelin restaurant. I think that the food tastes much better downstairs. I wouldn't consider eating the same food upstairs. That's kind of a problem, I think, long term. Especially given that the location of the restaurant is a little weird anyway. Perhaps the upstairs could be remodeled to be a bottle shop for Italian wine? What's the vision here? The last area I want to comment on is the drink menu. I just think that all of the wines, red, white, pink, or sparkling should be Italian. I'm a bit surprised there wasn't a wine list, actually. Though there were plenty of bottles to choose from. Given the ambiance of the chef's counter it just seems like that should be true. I'm not sure. Maybe my expectations are just wrong here. For the aperitif's that are offered, I can't off the top of my head recall the term used, but in the menu there are a number of cordials, like compari. Since I don't know what those are, it would have been nice to have a short description. Maybe even a pairing/recommendation. I do like the wine by the glass menu layout - it's just "white" or "red", or 3 different types of sparkling wines. That takes away from decision fatigue when trying to decide on an aperitif. Overall - I'm really excited to see where this goes, and look forward to swinging by again. There were some delicious looking dishes coming out of the kitchen that we must try (looking at you branzino), and those are best enjoyed at the chef's counter. Cheers! read more

Metsi’s - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

What a beautiful restaurant! The space is cozy, warm, and inviting. The bar area is very nice but the dining area was beautiful. We were not expecting to go downstairs to dine, but it was a fun adventure and cool space. There's garage connected next door and street parking available around the area. There's plenty of seating for small groups or bar seating available. We got a few dishes to try and they were made with quality ingredients and presented beautifully. I really enjoy their fried calamari and roasted peppers. Their grilled Caesar salad was okay, I felt like it was missing a bit of the saltiness from the anchovy of a typical Caesar dressing. The Focaccia was good but the whipped ricotta was the star. Their Cacio E Pepe was not on the menu but our server got it for us and it was my favorite dish of the night. It was fabulous! The Radiatori Alla Roma was also good, it was spicy and made well. I was a bit disappointed with the Osso Buco. The lamb was very tender and made well but there wasn't much flavor on the meat. My favorite part of this dish was the broccolini. The Agnolotti Ai Mare was also good but also missing something in this dish. Both the Tiramisu and Budino were absolutely delicious and I would get again. We also got drinks to try and they were all made very well. The cocktails are strong but also flavorful! I would recommend trying their drinks, they were all good. Overall, I felt like the meal was decent, the ambiance was great, and our server was fabulous. I thought our server was fantastic! He really went out of his way to welcome us, answerr questions, and provide additional dishes so we could try. I mentioned it was someone's birthday and he went out of his way to find a candle for us. Staff alone made the experience great. I would recommend few of the dishes we tried, a fancy night out, a good meal, and good Italian food. Good place for small groups, a date night, or a meal alone. It is a bit expensive for it all but we knew that walking in, so be prepared! read more

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Started off horrible, turned out to be great, ended disappointing. Came in at 5:00 on a Wednesday night for my 5:15 reservation with my daughter. I was running early, so I wanted to be seated and try the calamari and have a cocktail while she was driving in from work. Hostess told me I couldn't be seated until my whole party was there. I'm like "It's a table for 2....you're going to let it sit unoccupied and make me wait when you could be making money off it. Told her I was hungry and thirsty, and if the rule is to not seat the party until everyone is there, I wish to change my reservation to a party of one." She reluctantly seated me. Smiling is not her strength. From there, things got much better until I got the check. Nigel was my server. Very personable, friendly and fast. Ordered my calamari and Manhattan, both were outstanding. Daughter, who wouldn't touch seafood with a 10' pole, arrived after it had been cleared from the table. She asked for the Caesar salad, which was very well prepared and delicious. She also asked for the focaccia bread with whipped ricotta and the pasta in Bolognese sauce. I had the Radiotori and a couple of Cabernets. All the food was off the charts good. As Guy Fieri would say, this is Flavor Town! Yum yum yum yum yum! Even the Cab in a Chianti joint was delicious. Fast forward to the check and disappointment sets in. They include a 3% fee on the check for 'Employee Wellness'. Same crap they pull at their other joint, Ginger Rabbit. I'm all for Employee Wellness, but that's a cost of doing business. It should be above the GP line on an income statement, not an optional cost. They position it as being righteously employee centric, but the cost should be borne by the employer, not the customer. Especially when a dinner for two outside of happy hour costs $170. I tried to reason with the Rabbit, but it went in one ear and out the other. I don't expect this place the change either, especially since they just announce the closing of Chapmans. The deserts looked delicious, but being disgusted with management at this point, we walked the block to Jenni's for some really good ice cream. read more

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Walked in for a late night dinner on a Friday and we were able to snag some seats at the chefs bar. We love being able to watch all the food get prepped and cooked. It's dark and moody downstairs and a completely different feel from upstairs. Service has been great on all our visits and the food has been consistently stellar. I crave the sourdough! I tried the Osso Bucco this time and it just fell of the bone it was so delicious! read more

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Recently had the pleasure of visiting Metsi's. What a treat! Delicious cocktails and that menu...yum! Had an early reservation and was able to be at the chefs table to watch all the action. Every item coming out looked amazing. We started with the artichoke and the focaccia. Didn't even know I liked artichoke, lol. Maybe I've just never had it prepared this way. I could go just for drinks and appetizers. Main course: lobster ravioli and my friend had the osso buco. The presentation, the flavor...all exceptional. Dessert to go because we had eaten so much. Highly recommend the chocolate torte. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I've been to Metsi's twice now and had great experiences both times. The ambiance in the basement dining area is awesome - you can see the chefs cooking and the decor is nice. The wait staff have all been extremely kind. Food and drinks are incredible, you seriously can't go wrong with what you pick. My favorites have been the radiatori, delacata squash, and arancini. One of my new favorite spots, I will definitely be back! read more

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We had a nice experience at Metsi's but were not blown away. Highly recommend the cauliflower and the focaccia. The seasonal spritz menu was also delightful and welcome on a hot summer day. The pea cavatelli was tasty albeit in the salty side. The osso bucco fell apart on the outside but was tough on the inside, making me think the cooking process was rushed. Our server was attentive but not annoying. The atmosphere in the basement was hot (due to the open wood fired kitchen on a 95 degree day and there barely being any air conditioning pumping through to counter it). The acoustics were also poor making it hard to have a conversation with every table full and music pumping in. We also found the chairs to be uncomfortable. So in terms of being at ease for a 2 hour dinner we did not have that experience. Overall we enjoyed the food and service and wouldn't be opposed to eating at Metsi's again. However, I don't know if we would go out of our way to make it happen. read more

We sat at the bar for dinner and our bartender took great care of us. We got the focaccia bread appetizer- HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Something about that whipped ricotta and the garlic olive oil. Yummmm. My friend got the vegan past dish (sorry don't remember what it's called) and she really enjoyed it. I got eggplant Parmesan and it was perfectly cooked. Food was so good, we're going back before leaving town. read more

I had high expectations for this spot and it delivered! The space seems really small when you enter, but there is a downstairs that is really moody and chic. The open kitchen concept provides a really cool detail as well. Our server was really helpful and kind as well as the sommelier who was very helpful leading us to a delicious bottle of wine and giving options at all price points which I appreciate. We started with the arancini and the focaccia, both of which were delicious and the ricotta with the bread was a really nice and tasty touch! We split a Caesar which was good not great (this is the one thing I would skip). For the main course we all had the Radiatori which was perfectly spicy. But the real star of the show was the dessert. We tried the tiramisu and the budino both of which were incredible and I am still having dreams about the tiramisu. I can't wait to come back here and try more in this menu! read more

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One time seating and attentive, informative service. Osso buco was fantastic meat (pork). Our polenta was not hot so the server got a bowl of it, piping hot, for the table (3 of us had the Osso buco). Hot the polenta was divine and perfectly accented the meat. Other food, including apps were quite good. The highlight of the evening thought was the Maple Hazelnut Bodino. OMG it was fantastic. Parking next door is easy and convenient. While the will validate for two hours that doesn't mean "free" when there are special events in the short north. Still, worth a bit for the quick and easy parking. read more

Yes, yes and yesssss!! We were seated at the Chef's Counter for the WIN!! The radiatori was fresh and so flavorful! Along with lovely grilled olives and a Caesar salad (what kind of bread was used for those amazing breadcrumbs?!) Our amazing server Nathan, took excellent care of us. BRAVO!! read more

Another great addition to the Columbus restaurant scene! At street level is the bar and a few tables but the kitchen and dining area are downstairs. It feels like you're walking into a speakeasy - intimate and warm. Excellent atmosphere and waitstaff. You can see the wood fire from anywhere. We had the focaccia bread and the grilled pear and prosciutto appetizer. Both were terrific. The bread came with homemade ricotta and olive oil, which was perfect! The grilled pear and prosciutto had a sweet-ish sauce over it but it complemented the salt well. For mains we had the penne bolognese and the lamb chops. The bolognese was rich and flavorful and so so savory. The lamb was well seasoned and the wood fire treatment came through. For dessert we had some of the best tiramisu ever and the affogato made with a coconut milk ice cream that was citrusy (sorry I forgot the name) - terrific! read more

Service was amazing. Happy Hour 4-6 even on the weekends in the bar area. Nice selection of food and drinks. Something for everyone. Food was good but not great. Portion sizes were good from what we had enough to share for most items. Dessert was by far the best course of the meal. I'll definitely give it another try but it won't be a go to for me like chapman eats was. read more

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The five stars is truly due to the service!! Asher is everything you would want in a server. He provided us with special touches such as extra bread to dip in our pasta sauce and a starter we were torn between picking. He made the experience five stars. Now, for food we had the prosciutto and pear starter, I would say you must love a pear to order it, I would not order again. The focaccia must be ordered every time with the whipped ricotta. A surprise hit was the marinated peppers, a fresh light start. For our pasta we ordered the lobster ricotta tortelloni and radiatori. Lobster dish is lighter but the spicy vodka sauce makes you want to order it every time. The radiatori is a classic home cooked meal of a red sauce but would we choose something different next time. Now we thought it couldn't get better, the hazelnut bundino was the perfect salty light sweet treat after a carb heavy meal. Cannot recommend this ambience and cozy place enough!!! read more

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We were able to get in off the wait list and have loved Chapmans so we were excited to try it out. Our first round of drinks were delicious- Manhattan, Aperol spritz and Sicilian which we got at the bar. We were seated downstairs and initially the service was quick with appetizers coming out almost too quickly but then there was a huge break till the entree came with no explanation from our server. The second Manhattan was watered down and sent back. They forgot my cosmo but then brought it and didn't charge so that was nice. The pasta was delicious but the fish dish was undercooked and cold. They did take it off the bill and brought a new plate which did taste better but not as good as the other dishes. The ambience is gorgeous but the music and sound are way too loud for conversation. read more

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We had a reservation for 5 on a Wednesday at 7:30 PM. They sat us right on time, but that was about the only thing that went smoothly. It took almost 30 minutes to get our order in, and we had to flag for service more than once. Our table was assigned 2 servers but finished plates and glasses piled up pretty quickly without being cleared, which made the experience feel a little disorganized. That said, the menu did have some fun options -- we tried the Mushroom Arancini, Grilled Olives, Metsi's Grilled Caesar, Radiatori Alla Roma, Green Pea Pesto, Smoked Mushroom Risotto, and Involtini. The olives and Caesar salad were the favorites at the table; the Involtini wasn't for me. I'd come back for happy hour when prices feel a little more reasonable. The Sourdough Focaccia with whipped ricotta, Beef Carpaccio, and Signature Tiramisu are on my list to try next time! read more

It's a no for me. I stopped by Metsi's on a Friday during HH and I was not impressed. Unfortunately, my server Nate made the experience very much mehhh. Not sure what was going on but the service was a 4/10 which is annoying when the menu is a bit pricey. The only thing i really enjoyed about Metsis is the calamari app and the layout of the restaurant itself is adorable. read more

Mediocre for what it is. The staff is great but the food left us wanting more.. more flavor... more something... just more. We went the third week they were open and sat in the bar area. It was fairly busy for a rainy Sunday night with tables turning over while we dined. Started out with the focaccia and grilled olives. The bread was honestly the best thing with the ricotta and oil. The olives were in an oil that was overpowering and took away from their flavor. We then received the salad which was covered in the bread crumbs but the dressing hardly came through despite being drenched. Then the mains of skirt steak (not currently on the menu?!) and the bolognese. The meat was well cooked and the potatoes and tomatoes included were okay. The bolognese was not tomato based and lacked flavor aside from "meat". The pasta was good, though it was a 2:1 ratio of the sauce to pasta so there tons of sauce with no pasta to be found. Dessert was overall the best part because they was flavor. The almond cake and lemon/blueberry struck great balance & the panna cotta was refreshing. However, way over priced for what it was. read more

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A cool spot and great menu! Definitely get the artichokes and cauliflower! Also the lamb chops and snapper are delicious! Maple budino is delicious and a great sweet salty flavor, needs to be a bigger portion! Cocktails well done, would like to see better and more reasonable priced bottles of red wine! Andrew our waiter was awesome; friendly and very knowledgeable! read more

Honestly I would probably give this place a 3.5 but Yelp doesn't do half points. Not quite a 4 because to me a 4 is very good. This was just good. We just came in for the Sunday happy hour so we didn't try too much. It was pretty quiet but a few people at the bar. We sat at the bar - it took a second for the bartender to greet us but we got our food and drink orders in quickly. We ordered 2 of their espresso martinis and the calamari appetizer. The calamari came out before our drinks. The calamari looked beautiful but I think we prefer a little more crispy - taste was good. Espresso martinis were also fine. The space itself is cute - great bathrooms. Overall I probably wouldn't be in a rush to come back based on this first impression but I'd give them another shot at some point. read more

TL;DR: You should get a t-shirt and your picture on the wall if you finish the Eggplant Parm. Full Review: Metsi's is a wonderful spot in the Short North. We stopped in on a Saturday night to celebrate our daughter's birthday and the place was bustling. We were sat in a cozy round booth on the first floor were immediately greeted by the amazing Nate. We took Nate's suggestions and for appetizers we had the focaccia, prosciutto and calamari. Nate also killed it on the wine suggestion. We loved our glasses of Susumaniello! We should have stopped here and called it a night. Things took a turn when our meals arrived. My husband and daughter both ordered the eggplant Parmesan. Each plate weighed a solid 10 lbs and you could visibly see the strained the wrists of the servers that delivered their meals as they placed them on the table. Eggplant parm is my husbands favorite dish. He orders it anytime it's offered. There is no restaurant on this planet that serves eggplant parm as a giant deep fried, meaty half eggplant. This thing was massive. This is the kind of meal that restaurants offer as a food competition and you get a t-shirt and your picture hanging on the wall if you finish it. Metsi's is not that kind of restaurant. It's a place where you go to enjoy good company, amazing drinks and a nice variety of interesting Italian food. Their menu is small and seems to be carefully crafted for a nice dining experience. Metsi's - if you're reading this. Please take that eggplant parm off of your amazing menu. I didn't see anyone last night with a bib and sweatpants on. No one coming to Metsi's wants an eggplant as big as your head. We will be back to Metsi's. But that eggplant parm is one and done. read more

I went with my girlfriend for a date night. The dining room is stylish, appropriately lit, and smelled nice. We got sat at a table, and our waiter (Nigel) upon seeing us sit next to each other in chairs offered to move us to a booth. Very thoughtful, made our night. His knowledge of the menu was a bit lacking though. The drinks were tasty and strong. We both got the mule. The food was great. The focaccia was delicious alongside the whipped ricotta, we got two servings. The grilled olives were also yummy. My girlfriend (vegan) got the ziti, great portion size and the artichoke added a delightful crunch. I got the lobster tortellini, it was good. I wish I had more than 4 tortellini though. For dessert we got the semifreddo and budino. Both were well plated, a good consistency, and an appropriate flavor profile. Nothing was too sweet. Overall: Ambience: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Food: 9/10 (I wish the portion sizes on the focaccia and tortellini were a bit bigger) read more

Metsi’s - Sourdough Focaccia, Grilled Olives, Torino Mule, Sicilian 75 - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio