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    Speck Italian Eatery

    4.4 (213 reviews)
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    SPECK ITALIAN EATERY ATMOSPHERE

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    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Speck Italian Eatery

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    Sausage Ragu, Focaccia
    Kim N.

    I ate here while traveling for work. The interior is a beautiful industrial chic vibe that is very pretty! The prices are also reasonable. Dishes are definitely shareable size. We got a gem salad and mussels that are not pictured. I ordered the sausage ragu and my colleague ordered the mushroom pasta. We had too much food for the 2 of us, but it was all delicious! The waitress was great in offering suggestions too. I would be open to trying this restaurant again in the future!

    Interior
    Yolanda G.

    Stopped into have a dinner for myself before leaving town. Upon entering, I heard run the jewels playing on the stereo.I knew with this kind of vibe, this was my kind of place. I had a reservation and was seated promptly. My server was quick to get my items in and out. The Cacio E Pepe is probably one of the best I've ever had in my life. It's done untraditionally here and it is fantastic. I ended up having a strawberry ice cream sandwich called a pizzelle. The portion was just right for what I was looking for.

    Cavatelli Sardi
    Kelsie K.

    Love the spring menu they have out now, I'm going to have dreams about the Cavatelli Sardi! The citrus flavor was such a refreshing surprise! Highly recommend their Aperol Spritz, probably my favorite I've had in Columbus. I really enjoyed the Cacio E Pepe too, I ordered that as my main dish and shared the cavatelli with a friend. This is such a cute spot, it was perfect for a birthday dinner! Service was great, our waiter checked in often and food came out quickly despite how busy the restaurant was. Definitely recommend making a reservation, but there were bar seats open on a Thursday evening! If you park in the Nicholas Garage, the door opens right onto High Street, next door to Speck.

    Pesto Rosso
    Samantha K.

    I had my first experience at Speck last night and absolutely loved it. The vibe was great, the servers were so kind, and the food was AMAZING. I got the focaccia and pesto rosso, which were both incredible and flavorful. I can't wait to go back!

    Jessica W.

    Speck Italian Eatery - Columbus, OH I showed up ready. Reservation confirmed, parking handled, outfit chosen with intention. Because when you book a table at a place like Speck, it's framed as an occasion -- the kind that justifies the parking fees, the punctuality reminders, and the hotel-check-in style confirmation emails. They make it clear upfront: time limits based on party size, a $50-per-person no-show fee, valet or "corner parking," and a tone that says, This experience matters. And for a minute, I believed it. Ambiance The space is undeniably beautiful -- warm lighting, tall ceilings, a soft open-kitchen hum. Modern in a curated way. Cozy, but not casual. The kind of room where you feel like you should sit straighter and use words like "notes" when describing your drink. I'll give them this: the floral aprons are a standout. Genuinely stylish and a refreshing break from the typical all-black server uniform. When you book, you can choose main dining, bar seating, or the chef's counter. Sounds luxe... until you realize the chef's counter gives you more "kitchen mechanics" than "culinary theater." From where I sat, I could see someone in a Buckeyes hat sipping a drink at the bar -- illusion broken. Pretty? Yes. Elevated? Yes. But the vibe never fully matched the anticipation the reservation system builds. It felt more like curated efficiency than genuine hospitality. The Food I decided to be bold and order the bone marrow -- a personal "finally trying it" moment. It arrived looking glossy and elegant... but cold. Not warm. Not room temp. Cold. The server gave a little tableside scoop onto my pasta like it was supposed to be a moment. And visually, it was. Taste-wise? Not so much. No richness, no depth -- just a theatrical presentation without the payoff. So yes, I felt grown ordering it... and childish sending it back. I switched to the Sausage Ragu, which was hearty, comforting, and exactly what I needed to reset. My dinner date's Short Rib (with a glass of Moscato) made the most sense that night -- straightforward, flavorful, and satisfying. Service Polished, efficient, and very by-the-book. Nothing rude -- just procedural. You can feel how tightly the operation is run, and while it keeps things smooth, it also keeps things from feeling personal. Final Thoughts ‍ The food wasn't bad, just not memorable. The ambiance was curated, not captivating. It's a restaurant engineered to feel like an event -- the kind of place where the reservation system and policies do more of the heavy lifting than the experience itself. Business-wise? Smart. Experience-wise? It left me hungry for more. Would I go back? Probably not. Would I tell you not to try it? Also no. Some restaurants aren't about being amazing -- they're about finally seeing what the hype is about. Speck is exactly that. Speck Italian Eatery 89 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Price per person: $40-$60 Reservation required: 1.5-2 hour time limit Seating: Bar, main dining room, chef's counter Parking: Valet on the corner of N High & W Gay Additional fee: 3% "Team Wellness" surcharge added to all checks

    Crab
    Katie O.

    I need to start off by saying the ambiance of this place is just incredible. The plants and warm lighting mixed an open kitchen really sets for a nice dinner. I was greeted instantly when I walked in and sat at the bar while I waited for my friend and reservations. The bartender although attentive asked me several times if I had any questions before I had a chance to even really look at the menu. My friend arrived and she asked for a Tito's martini. The bartender did not know they had Tito's which I felt was a lack of detail for cocktails $15+. We got seated and took some time to review the menu. We decided to share crab pasta and sausage ragu. We also shared wings. The wings came out first and were very flavorful and lemony. It did feel like an inappropriate app for the style of restaurant. I tried the crab pasta first. The noodles were tooooo el dente. Like in bad way and hard and crunchy. It was a good dish but I would never order again for the price for what you get. It was very okay. The sausage ragu was definitely the star. Most flavorful and best thing of the night. I doubt I would return but it may be worth a spin

    Ravioli
    Jayme H.

    Big Italian food fan over here, so when a friend wanted to come into town to catch up over a nice meal, picking Speck was an easy choice after reading their reviews. I made a reservation on their website for 8pm on a Saturday and when we arrived our table was ready and waiting for us, and so was our lovely server. We both started with a cocktail and while I can't remember what mine was called, I do remember that it was smooth, refreshing, and I enjoyed it. As for food, we started with the highly raved about housemade focaccia. It's honestly one of my favorite kinds of bread, so I just had to try it. And I'm so glad we did. It was fluffy and chewy and was a great way to start the meal. As for my entree I went with the pesto rosso, which is a ravioli with a sun dried tomato pesto and goat cheese. There weren't many vegetarian friendly dishes on the menu, but this one looked the best to me. It was my first time ever having a pesto that wasn't your typical basil pesto, and it was pretty good. I still think I would have preferred a more traditional basil pesto, but I'm glad I tried something different. I will say that after the focaccia and pasta, I was still hungry, and that's coming from someone that doesn't typically need large portions to get full. Now, had I picked a dish with more protein that may have not been the case. That said, I would definitely order a salad or another appetizer if I were to return. I'll end by saying how beautiful the restaurant itself is. It's very sleek and modern with tall ceilings, plants hanging from the light fixtures, giant windows that face High St., and cool murals on the walls... hopefully that paints a picture for you. You can also see into the kitchen and even into a second floor space where it appears as though they do a lot of their baking. I would definitely return for a special occasion or even a date night. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to come on the weekend.

    menu
    Angie M.

    We stumbled into this restaurant on a busy friday night and were lucky to be seated quickly. The focaccia was really fresh but the stars of the show were definitely the crab pasta and the milanese. We really enjoyed the different take on this dish particularly the savory mustard and prosciutto, and this made a great sharing dish. I will say the drinks here were not my favorite and there aren't many options for beer either, so we didn't go back for seconds on beverages. Overall, would dine again if we're in the area.

    Tortellini en brodo, confit wings, sausage ragu
    Ines D.

    I adore it here ! The cutest vibe, the yummiest food, and great drinks. Great service as well (the staff always has recommendations and are v knowledgeable). The spread- The funghi pasta was one of the best things I've had at speck EVER. I'm so glad i got out of my comfort zone and had this dish, bc it was such a treat. The focaccia was flavorful, warm, and fluffy. I wishhhh bread service was a thing at speck because the experience would be elevated with this detail. However i don't mind paying additional it. The brocollini was good however, it was kind of cold. Being a restaurant that brings all your food at once isn't an issue until the food gets cold. So this is one of my issues with my recent visit. The potatoes were 10/10! Fire! So savory with the yummiest sauce and was a great side for all the other carbs i was eating. Overall 4.7 experience !

    Lindsay M.

    We had Friday night dinner reservations at Speck, and we definitely needed them! We got there, and we were greeted very warmly by hostess...but we did have to wait 15 to 20 minutes to be seated. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly the whole night. She even guided us to our amazing dessert! We got the cacio e Pepe and the sausage ragu for our dinners, and we had a special for dessert. It tasted like a pitzelle cookie, with lemon ice cream, and a dollop of blueberry jam. The dessert was a perfect mix of sweet, crunchy, and savory. I would love to go back and sit at the table that is almost inside the kitchen.

    Entrance
    Stu C.

    Mid sized trendy with easy parking Cute industrial chic with earthy aesthetic vibes Good food Excellent service

    Demetrius B.

    Speck's exterior is nestled in a great downtown location, and its interior is equally gorgeous. We spent the wife's birthday at Speck, starting at happy hour and transitioning into our dinner reservation. With a healthy respect for their dinner service, I have to say that happy hour was the best part. Obviously we saved a few dollars on their gin-forward cocktail menu until 6:00, but it was their small plates that really stood out. A wonderful focaccia, an excellent gem salad, and a sausage ragú and shredded cheese topped bread (I wish I could remember the exact name) were all were big winners. I liked my appetizer so much that I got the Sausage Ragú entree for dinner. It had more components but couldn't quite recapture the magic of the small plate. It's fine enough if meat and red sauce is your preferred style of Italian. The evening was capped by a tiramisu that was unfortunately disappointing. It's served in a tea cup which is unique, but it really foreshadowed how liquidy the consistency was of the dessert. It definitely needed to set more to congeal in the way that the best tiramisus do. Big picture, you'll find a lot to tempt you at Speck from a menu eye candy and/or people watching standpoint. Some temptations are worth it; some are not.

    Nini T.

    Speck was a fantastic spot to try out! Every dish tasted delicious and had that fresh, house-made quality. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. For me, the gnocchi and the bone marrow pasta were the standout dishes; absolutely unforgettable

    Cacio e pepe

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    The Refectory Restaurant - Mousse au chocolat

    The Refectory Restaurant

    4.4(591 reviews)
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    It's been several months since we were at the refectory restaurant and while the menu has changed…read moresignificantly, the quality of the food remains the same. The restaurant is beautiful, and the service is impeccable. The menu today had a list of "smaller dishes". We started with their bread service which is no longer complementary but it's very inexpensive, and the crusty bread is delicious. For starters my wife and I shared the walnut salad and the escargot mushroom mousse. Both were excellent. For dinner, I ordered the snake river sturgeon which was cooked over a light curry sauce -- fantastic. My wife got the lamb chops, which were cooked to perfection. Even though we were pretty stuffed by this time we couldn't not get their famous crème brûlée -- and it did not disappoint! Oh, and both of us really enjoyed our wines! A wonderful evening, which reminded us why this was one of our favorite Columbus restaurants.

    My boyfriend and I came for our anniversary and had the most amazing time!…read more The week we came the tasting menu was Cajun themed. The server did a GREAT job explaining how the menu worked (you can order the chefs tasting menu or DIY your own) and what everything was. I got the tasting menu which was chilled Cajun tuna ragout, Louisiana crayfish etoufee tart, roasted andouille sausage stuffed duck breast, and crepe Suzette. My boyfriend ordered the bread basket with imported cheeses, pan seared wagyu, seaweed crusted baby lamb chops, and creme brûlée. We split everything and this ended up being perfect because we could be adventurous with the chefs tasting menu and also had some amazing staples! The standouts to me were the chilled tuna ragout, pan seared wagyu, and creme brûlée! One of the BEST steaks and creme brûlée I have had... highly recommend! In addition to the amazing food, it is also in a beautiful old church and the staff is very knowledgeable on the history of the building! We had a great time and would highly recommend for a special occasion

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    The Refectory Restaurant - Beat salad

    Beat salad

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    I went to Lindey's for my birthday and it honestly felt like the perfect place to celebrate…read more The service is what stood out to me the most, it's definitely more upscale, but not in a way that feels intimidating. Everyone is super attentive, knowledgeable and just makes the whole experience feel really special, which is exactly what you want for something like a birthday dinner. A lot of people mention how consistent and professional the staff is, and I completely get why. The inside is also so nice. It has that classic, elegant vibe with white tablecloths and really pretty lighting, but still feels warm and not too over-the-top. It's one of those places where you instantly feel like you should be celebrating something. I've also been for brunch and their brunch menu is really good. Definitely not just basic options. They do a great mix of breakfast and lunch-style dishes, so there's something for everyone.

    REVIEW BY Avila.Eats on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube…read more Service: waitress was excellent and incredible friendly. Thank you Linda for a phenomenal dining experience. Waters were always full and the recommendations were like no other. Ambiance/Atmosphere: inside is a stunning old school bar and dimly lit steakhouse. Truly elegant and beautiful. This is a lovely date night and a special occasion is a must here. Food: 1. Tuna tartare is light and fresh. The tuna is soft and delicate. The avacado is creamy and adds a richness. The sauce is tangy but packed full of umami. Rice chips are light and salty I'd recommend. 7.5 2. Burratta is on crispy toast. The burratta is creamy and smooth. The jam adds a sweetness and the hot honey adds a beautiful spice. The pistachios add a crunch and flavor. I'd recommend. 8 3. Truffle tots aren't all that crispy. But soft and well seasoned. The Parmesan adds a salty nutty flavor. The truffle sauce is rich and creamy with a beautiful truffle flavor that isn't overly done. If they were crispy it would be a 10. I'd insist. 9.5 4. Bread service is alright. The sourdough isn't all that strong with flavor. 4 the chip thing is crunchy with an interesting flavor. Not my personally favorite. 3. The butter is very well whipped and smooth. The butter is really good. Butter makes it 5. Wagyu ribeye is incredible tender. Melts like butter and the tallow butter on top adds an extra layer of richness. It's well seasoned and very lightly as it doesn't need a lot. The beef does all the talking. It touches your tongue and melts away. I'd insist. 10. Dipping the ribeye in the truffle sauce from the tater tots adds an even richer flavor and Creaminess. It's very rich but worth awhile if you enjoy strong flavors 6. Onion strings are soft in a well seasoned and flavored onion strings. Best onion strings I've had although I haven't had many. Very good combo adding the sweetness of the batter with the rich buttery Wagyu 7. NY strip is tender but overly salted. You just taste salt. I wouldn't recommend. 3.5 8. The contender was strong with tequila but pushed the chocolatey coffee flavor strong. The bitter sweetness matched pleasantly for a nice sippable drink during drinner. I'd recommend. 9. Chocolate mousse light and refreshing. Decadent and smooth with. Rich chocolate flavor. Chilled like ice cream and not to sweet. I'd highly recommend. 8.5 10. Key lime pie is custardy and smooth. Rich and creamy. The lime flavor is prominent but not over done. The gram cracker crust is crispy but chewy. Buttery and slightly sweet. Best key lime pie I've ever had. I'd insist 10

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    Lindey's - Seating area

    Seating area

    Lindey's - Watershed Vodka Martini with Blue cheese stuffed olives

    Watershed Vodka Martini with Blue cheese stuffed olives

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    Speck Italian Eatery - italian - Updated May 2026

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