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    Northstar Café

    4.3 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 10:30 pm

    Northstar Café Photos

    Business Info

    NORTHSTAR CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Northstar Café

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    Pancakes!
    Celina C. N.

    Solid choice for fresh and sustainably and locally sourced food. I have been to both the Easton and Short North locations. Both are very nicely appointed with plenty of space to enjoy a good meal and conversation with friends or other dining companions. The food is cooked well with nice presentation. Flavor is good but subtle and can be enhanced to your personal taste with condiments per your preference. The menu has plenty of options for everyone which makes it ideal for groups. It's not full service since it is a cafe. And therefore you order at the register and seat yourselves, and they bring your food out to you. So it is also very efficient. Servers do come by your table. So if you need anything, they are there to help.

    Ze table
    Lillia K.

    Ate here in pain, and by pain I mean I was very very full of carrot juice. I completely housed their shooting star and peanut brittle cookie. It is a very nice restaurant, this one. The servants always make sure to stare deeply into your soul when they interact with you.

    Carrot cake
    Charlie L.

    Went here with some coworkers after a long day. I started out with an aviation cocktail which was well made - not a lot of places can get this one right. Had the simple salad with the cafe vinaigrette which was well balanced and delicious. The brisket/ground beef burger was juicy and perfectly cooked, fries were crunchy but I would have appreciated a tad more flavor. The carrot cake that arrived warm in a small canning jar and was the absolute star of the show. It was warm, delicious, and comforting. It was just the right amount of sweet. My portion didn't have any raisin for which I was grateful (I'm not a raisins in food person). Overall, had a wonderful experience here and plan on going back next time I'm in town for work.

    Kayla A.

    Nice Brunch spot in the central part of Columbus. It was really busy so we were able to snag a spot at their booth. Food was good. I ordered the deluxe egg sandwich which was a big challenging to bite out of and my hubby ordered the Country Breakfast which was just a plain muffin sandwich. Neither of our came with any sides which was strange and disappointing. Service was satisfactory. Loved the Jade Tea though!

    Buddha Bowl
    Tylee W.

    The buddha bowl with tofu was delicious!! I love all of the components in the dish and each one was cooked perfectly, the peanut sauce was the perfect pairing! Great light and tasty dish! Everyone enjoyed their food and the staff is friendly!

    Heather K.

    Really cool place with a nice vibe. Vegetarian options are excellent with multiple options. I had the carrot juice and the burrito. Both were delicious and the salsa verde on the side had just the right spice. There wasn't as much potato in the burrito as I would've like but still good. It's an order at the counter and seat yourself place and then they find you by the buzzer locator they give you at checkout.

    Julie F.

    North Star is an Ohio classic. If you're looking for a nicer fast restaurant to visit on your lunch break this is the place! Even though there isn't any waiter service most of the time, the ambiance is still elevated since the food is so good and the decor is classy. My go-to is the Thai peanut burrito, but they have your classic burgers and breakfast sandwiches too! Overall one of my favorite spots in the city.

    Brunch Chopped Salad
    Anvaya N.

    Overall, Northstar Café is one of my favorite places. It has a great atmosphere and is always a fun, upbeat place to dine. The staff and energy are consistently positive, and their kitchen runs impressively well stations are well staffed, things move efficiently, and they genuinely make an effort to get food out quickly without sacrificing quality. Everything is consistently delicious, and in all the years the Beechwold location has been open, I've never had a bad meal. On the rare occasions when something hasn't gone quite right, the manager has immediately offered a complimentary meal card without any prompting. That's been my experience across multiple Northstar locations over the last 10 years, and it really says a lot about how they value their customers. They're also very accommodating. Once, I tried to place an online order right during the transition from brunch to dinner. The manager told me to come in and said they'd still make the brunch item I was craving and they also made me a dinner item (the mushroom frittata ). That kind of flexibility and care is exactly why people keep coming back Over the years, and especially post-pandemic, prices have definitely gone up. I'll admit I had a bit of sticker shock the first time I visited after reopening. That said, the quality and portion sizes haven't been compromised, which matters a lot to me. They also removed Beechwood salad from their menu is was one their bestselling. You can lose customers by cutting corners or using cheaper ingredients or you can adapt to the times while maintaining standards. Northstar has clearly chosen the latter.

    Tania M.

    The restaurant is absolutely charming, with a mix of tables and cozy booths. There's outdoor seating, an upstairs area, and a lovely decor. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the food was magnificent. We stopped in for a late breakfast--my friends ordered a wrap and a deluxe egg sandwich, and I had the ham and cheese scone. I never thought I could love a scone so much! I was hoping for a larger coffee selection, as there were only three drip options at a self-serve station, but everything else more than made up for it. When we left, they even had a fireplace going outside, which was such a warm and welcoming touch.

    Northstar Burger
    Nick S.

    Northstar is a Columbus Staple! This is another spot that if you have a guest coming in from out of town that wants a taste of Columbus; you have to come here; their brunch is undefeated! The service is always quick & incredibly friendly, & the food is delicious! My absolute favorite item is the smoothie bowl; it's blueberry heaven. The hash and ham and cheese scone are great breakfast picks if you're craving something a little more savory! The Northstar Burger is a hit as well, and the Earth Day freebie for this item is just another reason why Northstar is so fantastic!

    Front
    Art D.

    Overall ok but not impressed. Parking is on the street at a meter. I can see parking being an issue if and when the area gets busy. Service is okay you pay at the counter and they bring you the food so difficult to have bad service. The food is expensive bowel of chili, burrito, juice, beer, soda and cider with a 15% tip $80! Overall I would not visit again however I would not not suggest it. I would say good atmosphere, friendly people but that is it.

    Ordering counter
    Adriana T.

    Went here which a group of 9 ladies and we lucked out with two booths next to each other. It's an order and then seat yourself kind of place. The waitstaff was wonderful - super efficient. I ordered the sweet potato hash and it was delicious! There's street parking and self serve coffee!

    Omelette with mushrooms and cheese.
    John D.

    Wow!! This is a great place for breakfast/brunch. We were on our way out of town after the 2025 CrossFit Age Group Games and needed breakfast for the road. This place was perfect because you order at the counter and then have a seat, so it can be a somewhat quick stop if that's what you need. They serve Counter Culture coffee. So, needless to say the regular brew here is delish!!! After a short wait, our food arrived at the table. The presentation was top notch, the dishes were beautiful, so first impressions were good. The quality of ingredients and seasoning was outstanding. The sweet potatoes and smoked turkey was dressed with roasted red peppers that added just a hint of "heat" to the flavor profile. The eggs were cooked just right with the runny yolks spreading over the dish. WONDERFUL. The only other item I tasted was a bite of my son's biscuit. It was fantastic, buttery, flaky, and melt in your mouth good. This is THE PLACE if you're in the Short North area or nearby at the Conventon Center.

    Classic Cheeseburger, Deluxe Sandwich, Hot Apple Cider, Green Smoothie

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    1 month ago

    Great food. Service can be a bit slow. Love the menu. Something for everyone. Nice quality and large portions.

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    4 months ago

    Everything is great! Never disappoints. I highly recommend. It's a bit on the pricey side but totally worth it . The food is high quality

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    6 months ago

    Such a good casual place to come eat, prices are affordable and food is spectacular!!

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    Page 1 of 36

    Ask the Community - Northstar Café

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    I do believe so -- as long as they are leashed. Sorry for the delay in getting back in touch -- have a great weekend!

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    I went here for my birthday and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was worth it…read more I ordered the steak, my boyfriend got the lobster ravioli, and we added salmon to the mix because why not go all in on a birthday dinner. Every single plate was hitting. The steak was cooked exactly how I asked, seasoned well, and actually had flavor all the way through. The lobster ravioli was rich but not heavy, and the salmon was flaky and done right, not dry at all. What really made it though was the service. They were attentive without hovering, kept the drinks coming, and made it feel like a special night without being extra about it. For a birthday dinner, that matters. If you're going, don't go playing small. Order what you actually want. It's one of those places where you lean into the experience and enjoy it. Solid food, great service, and a good spot for something worth celebrating.

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    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

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    (366 reviews)
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    Man, we were fresh into Columbus on a very hot and sticky day and needed a covered outdoor patio…read morefor us - and Puppy . We saw this spot and decided to hit them up for a din-din and beer on this auspicious late afternoon. We were seated and they quickly brought out a menu - including one for our pup! How cool was that? I ordered their house lager- hubby ordered chicken Caesar salad- I got chicken tenders and waffles for me with fried okra for the table- puppy got a whole chicken breast- nice! Ok the taste - I'm not a huge okra fan. But these fried little morsels were spiced up and hit the spot- hubby loved his salad while I munched down my chicken and waffles like - you know - stat! And the service was great- definitely was awesome. If you want a little taste of the south? Check this place out?

    This was my first time to this location of Tupelo Honey. I had been to the original in Asheville,…read moreNC, but even then, it had been quite some time. The atmosphere was modern with a southern twist. I'm not going to lie, I chuckled a bit when I noticed my water glass said "Bless Your Heart". In Appalachian culture, this is actually an insult. We had a large group, but the service was excellent. Very friendly, attentive, and everything was brought out timely and correctly. My food was really good! It was brunch time so I had coffee, the "Mimosa of the Moment" which was an apple cinnamon, a biscuit with blueberry preserves, and the Southern Shakshouka. All were fantastic and I would definitely get again. I also thought the price was affordable for the quantity.

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    For me, Agni was a completely new and unique experience that I will recommend to anyone who likes a…read morefood adventure. The experience wasn't completely flawless, but I don't really care. My wife and I started dinner at 5:45 and didn't leave until 8:45 and it was a lovely evening. We chatted for hours, sampled some absolutely delicious food, and just generally relaxed. We had a lovely server, but to say it was just a single person would do the staff injustice. I feel like every single employee in the place waited on us. All of the staff were knowledgable and gave off pretty cool, chill vibes. Three hours is a long meal, but the pacing was superb. Courses didn't come out like beats on a metronome. Rather, the pacing was changed to meet the waxing and waning excitement for the next plate of an absolutely enormous amount of food. The appetizers came in at a measured pace, the mains slowed, and then deserts were served rapid fire. Between courses, staff might stop by for a quit chat before moving on to the next pressing matter. Lots of staff offered their thoughts on their favorite dishes or suggestions on how a plate my be best enjoyed. The whole experience lacked any pressure or pretense. There were fine dining touches such as replacement of my wife's napkin after she stepped away for a break, but it felt more like eating at a cool friends house than it did eating in the ballroom of a palace. Do you know what I mean? You aren't going to Agni for opulence. You are going for a cool exciting food adventure that you aren't going to get many places and certainly very few in Columbus. We had the Midwest Tasting Menu. 11 courses? Something like that. It was expensive, but I don't even mind it. We loved the "Health Sodas" that were curated by the bartenders. My wife had a coconut, lime, and guava concoction and I had some else that was sweet and fruity and tart. The first few bites of pani puri with spiced ginger and then the "happy meal" and salad course really set the tone of a kitchen that puts out excellent dishes with balanced flavors. For me, the best bite of the night was the Thai noodle salad. It was just a perfect amount of spicy with lots of textures. Mine was served with tofu since I'm not a seafood lover and it was the best tofu preparation I've ever had. My wife's favorite was the "soup and salad" course which is hard to describe, but I agree that it was delicious. The low point of the evening's food for me was in the seafood course. My wife loved her actual seafood, but my vegetarian replacement was a miss. They served it with a piece of baby eggplant that was nearly raw; crunchy and practically inedible. I will forgive them, but I think that one needs to be rethought. The end of the meal had lots of little fun touches. The bill comes in a giant lego minifigure head. The restaurant provides a souvenir menu that lists all the dishes that were tried. There were some curated, store-bought candies for take away. All-in-all, it was just an excellent experience. Do yourself a favor and try it, but go hungry and maybe don't try to eat every bite of every dish so that you aren't hurting by the end of the night.

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    Som Tam Margarita, Astral Plane (saffron whiskey drink)

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    Northstar Café - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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