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    Understory

    4.2 (138 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Services - Understory

    Bartending services

    On-site management services

    Post-event cleaning services

    1 More Service

    Venue rental

    Understory Photos

    Business Info

    UNDERSTORY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Understory

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    Reviews With Photos - Understory

    Christina D.

    I know my work often hosts events here, so I finally had to try visiting. It was quiet on a random Friday morning, so food came out quickly and was quite delicious. I was able to sit outside at the end of patio season, and really enjoyed both the people watching and being able to see the garden area behind the building. I don't think I would come here on a weekend when it's super crowded, but it's an excellent option for those random weekday mornings when you just want a coffee and sit somewhere in the middle of running errands.

    Maggie C.

    This place is adorable! We just so happened to show up when they were doing trivia and it was so fun! It sparked a new tradition in our friend group. The girls behind the counter were very cute. Although I can't attest for the food, I can say my drinks were very good and they had great options! Fantastic spot to meet friends and grab drinks.

    Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and side salad.
    Barb H.

    I had an unfortunate experience at Understory: half way though my Buffalo Chicken sandwich, I found a long black hair in my food. They apologized and refunded my money but still. That was the end of my meal. I didn't need a doggy bag. I was with a party of 8 or 10 and everyone liked their food. I did, too, until I found the hair and quit eating it.

    Cocktails
    Aubrie H.

    Absolutely love this place, especially when its nice outside. Their outdoor space is so lovely and serene. We ordered a couple of their frozen cocktails since it was warm when we visited as well as the pancakes and avocado toast. Weve never had bad food here and this visit was no exception.

    Bravas
    Demetrius B.

    A major part of what makes Understory so successful is it's versatility. The Lounge gives you an upscale cocktail bar experience while the Commons and Patio give you a choice of casual interior with Board games vs. a picturesque sunken al fresco oasis. All are great experiences! I've done nothing but throughly enjoy my two visits to the Lounge. The service is always helpful and positive and the creative cocktails make me want to keep ordering past the point of when I should probably call it a night. Recently I attended a third-party hosted event on the Patio, but the Commons was open for business as usual. Within, along with my Wolf's Ridge beer, I shared the bravas and pierogi shareables. They were beautifully plated and left me with no regrets from a taste standpoint. This is simply an excellent establishment.

    Nat A.

    We're visiting from California and came here for brunch/lunch with three friends -- everything was awesome! The food was super good -- we had Brussels sprouts, burgers, chicken salad, and pulled pork sandwiches. We also tried a local beer and two sparkling rosés -- all great picks. Jacob and Jacqueline were amazing! Super friendly and took great care of us. The place has a nice vibe and feels really local. Definitely recommend if you're around downtown Columbus.

    French Toast & Grilled Cheese
    Allison K.

    This place was a hidden gem for me! We went to a yoga class upstairs and were given a free drink & 15% off coupon at the restaurant afterwards. The workers at the restaurant were very kind (opened 30 minutes early for the yoga class) and served our food quickly. I really enjoyed my grilled cheese and salad. If you are looking for a cute area for brunch, this is your spot. They have a bar, indoor/outdoor seating, games, and trivia nights!

    Espresso martini & an Old Fashioned
    Carrie P.

    We had the most relaxing evening in The Commons area, seated at a two-person table by the open windows looking out to the patio. This is such a charming establishment, nestled in a wooded, urban area. The outside architecture is stunning, and the building has a rich history. Everyone we encountered who works there was friendly and chill. I like ordering at the window and clearing my own table. Less interference from staff (food delivery only) and no music makes it an ideal place to unwind and connect with your people. Recommend Old Fashioned Espresso martini Frozen Bees Knees (my fave) Garlic Parmesan fries Grilled cheese House-made chips (so good) Cheeseburger Just Okay Side salad: just greens and light dressing - simple but healthy Don't Recommend Chocolate Chip Cookie $3 - was barely warm, and hard halfway through (sorry, no photo) Will go again - great place to unwind.

    Sarah M.

    My husband and I stopped in here for a beer and some dinner and loved everything we tried. We shared the bravas, I had the shagrock grits, and he had the fried chicken bowl. It was a great portion size to be satiated, but not bloated. Everything was seasoned to perfection and was so much more flavorful than we had been expecting! I had ordered a lager and he ordered an IPA, but they accidentally gave us 2 lagers. They were the same price, so we didn't want to make a fuss since we were going someplace next for a cocktail anyway. It was a really quiet spot with tasty food and beers and we played Connect 4 while we were down there. They also have a bar upstairs that has a more upscale vibe with cocktails. We went on Friday evening and they also had a private event upstairs for surgeons, so there are a lot of different areas to go to in this building, which was really cool. If you want a lowkey, brewery vibe for dinner, but with excellent food, then this is the spot for you!

    Outdoor space
    Meg H.

    Enjoyed dinner and drinks in the Lounge area of Understory on a Friday night. The space is attractive and inviting with a variety of seating options, including high top tables, long tables, lounge seats, couches, etc. The space was a little empty, and service was friendly (though a little slow given how few people seem to be in the lounge). There is an extensive and inventive cocktail menu, and our server was able to tell us a lot about the cocktails as we decided what to order. They had a number of interesting Mezcal drinks, including the Oaxaca old fashioned, which was delicious and smoky. The espresso Martini was also a great pick me up. We ordered a number of shareable: wagyu beef sliders, cheese curds, bbq wings, and a wedge salad. The wings were particularly delicious and tender. The food was filling and very decent sized portions. We ended the night with the apple pie. I'm definitely interested in returning and dining on their beautiful outdoor space, which seemed a bit more lively. Would recommend.

    Harvest Panzanella Salad with grilled chicken, and a Blueberry White Chocolate Cookie
    Anna H.

    Good food, nice bar selections, and several dining areas. There is a bar upstairs, a dining area with counter service downstairs, and a large patio with a view. I was getting bitten by insects while sitting on the patio, but it was nice for awhile. I had the Harvest Panzanella Salad with added grilled chicken. Delicious. I added a freshly baked cookie (I think it was white chocolate blueberry, but it was a while ago). So good. I also had a glass of wine. I would eat here again to try the other menu offerings.

    Exterior

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    4 years ago

    Really cozy place to hang out with friends for a drink or food. Will come back to try their coffee too another day

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    2 years ago

    Food was really weird - after having wanted to go there for so long, strange menu selections

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The vibe of this place is super cute! Space is limited though, so definitely make a reservation beforehand.

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Understory

    Do you have free wifi?

    Yes! There is an open network for the building. You may ask staff onsite for the password.

    Do you offer mocktails? I tried two different ones at a special event upstairs and they were amazing,

    Good day, Erin. Thank you for reaching out. Yes, we offer zero-proof cocktails (aka mocktails) in… Read more

    Are you wheelchair accessible to all of the various spaces inside?

    Yes! All spaces are accessible via an elevator.

    Do you have a Happy Hour?

    Hi! Currently, we do not offer happy hour.

    Is there a time when reservations & walk-ins will both be available? My partner & I have driven across the city twice now only to find there's an incredibly long wait. We'd be happy to schedule a time for later, if not I don't think we can return.

    Hi Arianna! Thank you for your interest in Understory. As of now, we aren't planning to move to reservations in the Lounge. In the near future, we will have an additional space (Commons) open inside Open Air as well as service for guests waiting in… Read more

    View All 6 Questions

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    Antiques On High - Inside

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    Antiques on High was one of our favorite brewery stops during this trip…read more When I first suggested stopping at Antiques on High, my significant other kept saying he didn't want to go antique shopping. Once he realized it was actually a brewery, he was all in! The brewery has a great atmosphere, and the bartender was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Since we've been visiting several breweries during our getaway, they even gave us a Seventh Son passport, which was a nice surprise and a fun way to continue exploring the local brewery scene. I ordered the Wild & Sour flight and really enjoyed it. It was a great way to sample a variety of unique flavors, and each pour showcased the creativity and quality that Antiques on High is known for. Between the excellent beer selection, friendly service, and welcoming atmosphere, this is definitely a brewery I'd recommend to anyone visiting the area. Looking forward to stopping back again!

    This is a really cool bar. I went for a Book Bar event held by Thurber House. We got drink…read moretickets so I got a glass of wine at the bar, then went upstairs to the event space. Really cozy with table seating. The door to the balcony was open to let in fresh air. I would def. come back to have a drink in the downstairs area as well. Nice bartender, good wine. I was also happy to grab a parking spot on the street right out front. Lucky girl.

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    6.0 miEaston
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    Fries Kids Popcorn Chicken

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    North High Brewing - Pet friendly staff and patio!!

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    4.0(135 reviews)
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    I visit Columbus/Dublin a couple of times a year for work. I walked in from the rain with a…read moreco-worker on a Wednesday night a little after 9:00pm - after trying to visit "No Soliciting". "No Soliciting " is a bar we found online - but didn't realize is a private club for members only. We tried The Pearl next door. They were closing in minutes. So we found that North High was the next closest place that closed at 10:00pm. We were also desperate for a restroom. We walked in - the place was devoid of customers - and the bar tender was NOT happy to see us. She had a very long day - and was yearning to "Just. Go. Home." We've all been there. She agreed to let us have one drink in plastic cups - completely understandable. But she messed up by letting us stay - completely underestimating the level of style & charm (not to mention handsomeness) my colleague and I possess *wink* . "One drink" turned into a handful. A good time was had by all. We hated that we had an early morning the next day - and had to return to our hotel well before we would have liked. I will make North High a "mandatory stop" on future visits (alongside my other "mandatory stop" - The Rusty Bucket for their buffalo chicken sandwich - with an extra side of buffalo). Side note - she gave me a taste of their Bloody Mary mix. *VERY* good. I used some of my dashing character and disarming baby blues to swindle them out of a bottle for only $15. It was worth $50. But this was a one-off deal. Don't walk in there expecting the same courtesy - unless you too possess unmatched panache & flair *finger guns*.

    Last time we ate here it was the same day as a local event. The restaurant ran out of chicken and…read moreit took an hour for our food to come out (our child's meal as well). We went today for Father's Day, about six months after the last sub par experience, hoping it would be better. Somehow they ran out of chicken again?! AND lemonade, and they had no kids menus left. Food took forever. I ordered a glass of wine that never arrived - and when we got our check it's just a tablet with a price. We wanted to leave so I didn't even check to see if the wine was still on there. Food was cold, salad was soggy, burger was very meh. For $150 it was overall a bad experience for the second time in a row. Definitely spend your money at any of the other local restaurants in town.

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    North High Brewing - North high chicken sandwich

    North high chicken sandwich

    North High Brewing - They do have a great patio

    They do have a great patio

    North High Brewing - Bavarian pretzels

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    I stopped at 4:30(Happy Hour!) and was excited to try this place. I ate at the one in Pittsburgh…read moreyears and years ago for Octoberfest and remembered liking it. Happy Hour specials: $4 Hefe Weizen(wheat beer), $5 Fries with Bier Gravy, Lager battered Chicken Tenders and Garlic pretzel bites. I'm in! Everything came out in reasonable time and I'm not going to describe every bite, but I was in heaven. The Bier gravy fries were special. Garlic Pretzel bites were crazy good. Chicken tenders were seasoned perfectly and the sauces (honey mustard and some sorta bourbon bbq) had me cross dippin and dunkin. I basically ordered dive bar food items, but it was the best I've had especially for $5 each. Washing it down with a wheat beer just kicked it over the fence. I even left room for dessert which I never do. Boston Cream Puff. OMG. The custard was lighter than most but I'm glad it was. It didn't last 2 minutes. I love to find places that make me genuinely happy after I'm finished eating. I'm coming back for sure! So happy I stopped

    I had the Hofbrauhaus hot brown. It was really good and filling. The Hefeweisen was great too. It…read morewas like a visit to Bavaria. The service was quick. So, overall a good experience. They also had a stage for a live band. I would've liked to hear some music while I was there, but I guess I was there a little too early in the day. Having a live music and a lively atmosphere would've made it a perfect Bavarian experience. I'll probably come back during the summer to see if it's more lively.

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