Rachel S.

This may be one of the best restaurants in Columbus! The food and service are wonderful! I had the focaccia bread, romaine salad, pomodoro pasta, and lemon cookies! Everything was super tasty and delicious! I ate every bite! You cannot go wrong with going here. Yummy!

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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is such a cute spot, it was perfect for a birthday dinner![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

Jessica C.

The service was top notch and all of the dishes were delicious and flavorful. Had the Sausage Ragu, side of potatoes and started with the Crudo and Focaccia with oil. Truly loved every dish!

Yolanda G.

Stopped into have a dinner for myself before leaving town. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Upon entering, I heard run the jewels playing on the stereo.I knew with this kind of vibe, this was my kind of place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

Kim N.

I ate here while traveling for work. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is a beautiful industrial chic vibe that is very pretty![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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!

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 [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is undeniably beautiful -- warm lighting, tall ceilings, a soft open-kitchen hum. Modern in a curated way. Cozy, but not casual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The kind of room where you feel like you should sit straighter and use words like "notes" when describing your drink. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I'll give them this: the floral aprons are a standout. Genuinely stylish and a refreshing break from the typical all-black server uniform.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]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."[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] From where I sat, I could see someone in a Buckeyes hat sipping a drink at the bar -- illusion broken. [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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 ‍ [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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

Katie O.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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

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.

Samantha K.

I had my first experience at Speck last night and absolutely loved it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe was great[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], 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!

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 !

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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I would love to go back and sit at the table that is almost inside the kitchen.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

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.