This place is great! Saw it on an event Instagram page and thought I'd give it a try! Parking is usually always crowded so be aware of that. Usually during Sunday brunch. Once you park go a little past Emmet's cafe (also really good!) and dwalk down the stairs. Follow the stairs to your right. They have a GREAT patio!! The patio is back in the woods with cute dining tables and little fire pits. All nestled under tree canopies and next to the Olentangy trail. Food is great! I had the toad in a hole (eggs in a basket of you're familiar with Cracker Barrel). Order food from the counter inside and they bring it out to your table. Really, really great spot!! read more

Best patio in Columbus! I love taking out-of-town friends here -- it's just scenic and peaceful with great local beer and delicious food. Highly recommend! It's a great spot to just enjoy your company and relish for a few hours. read more

Fabulous hang out spot! My friend said it's busier in the evenings. We ate at Emmett's then went downstairs to Understory. They've got a beautifully decorated indoor area and a register to order drinks and food. The drinks get placed on the pickup area quickly but they give you a number to place on the table for food. Most people sat outside like we did since the weather was nice. For a Sunday afternoon, it never got overly busy. A few groups here and there. The drinks were good. I got a fruity Paradise beer and ordered a small cup of tomato soup. My friends got the cold cut sandwich, a chocolate chip cookie, the crispy shrimp with slaw, and bread and spread. The shrimp was their own version of tempura with a slaw that tasted like it had a thai dressing. The cold cut had slices of prosciutto, sopressata, and salami. But it was large! It had pickled onions, a large piece of burrata cheese, and fig jam. Kind of messy. The bread and spread came with 7 slices of bread, pimento, apple chutney, and whipped butter. It's $5 to add more bread. The food is a bit pricey. My cup of soup was just right portion-size wise since we had just eaten breakfast. I think the drinks are more popular than the food. Water is self serve. The bathrooms are nice. Clean, 2 stalls, and a farmhouse sink that has 2 faucets but shares the same drain. Great ambiance! read more

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I had an amazing time here for my birthday party! The manager, TJ, was extremely helpful with organizing everything and so accommodating. The vibe, service, cocktails, and unique energy to this place is truly unbeatable. The lounge is perfect for a date night or intimate celebration and the downstairs "Commons" area is great for friends to kick back and hang out. Such a hidden Columbus gem!!! read more

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When dining with Understory, you can choose the Lounge or the Commons. My husband and I made a reservation for the Lounge. We were coming from Indiana and arrived earlier than expected. The staff was nice and allowed us to be seated earlier than our reservation since we were there early. This was wonderful as we were eating before checking into our hotel and going to a concert. The service was great and the staff were nice. The Lounge has a swanky, cocktail lounge vibe which made it feel more upscale without making you feel out of place. For drinks; my husband ordered an espresso martini that he was very happy with. I had the Uncle Boon's cocktail. It wasn't my favorite, but I'm also annoyingly picky There was a carafe of water and two cups on the table which was a nice touch. Food: The goat cheese croquette was wonderful. Excellently breaded. Creamy and delicious. The fruit compote added a great sweetness while the curry aioli cut the sweetness beautifully. I paid extra to have crostini on the side to eat with it. I do wish that there were two croquettes instead of only one. My husband had the Understory burger and seemed pleased with it. I ordered the grilled cheese. The bread was amazing. It was a soft and delicious brioche. However, the bread to cheese ratio was definitely off in my opinion. Even though the bread was great, there needed to be more cheese! Dessert: We shared the banana pudding. It was so good! The pudding definitely seemed homemade. The caramelized bananas were top tier and really added something special to the dish. There was a layer of brûlée marshmallow fluff over top and yum! Overall, we would definitely visit again if we were in the area. read more

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I recommend this place all the time! I love the remodel, I love the menu, my service has always been excellent. Until last week! I went there with a group of 15-20 women during a bachelorette party for drinks and some snacks. We sat at different tables and all had one server. Who INSISTED we all be on 1 check! Even though I saw other tables getting spilt checks. The bar was almost empty, the bartenders weren't busy, it made no sense at all! So up until last week this was a 4 or 4.5 place... now it is downgraded to a 3 because I know I can't go there with a group. read more

Great place! Went there for my friend's 40th bday and everyone had an awesome time. The place is very well decorated and everybody was raving about it. Will definitely be back and can't recommend it enough. read more

Fantastic patio for the season! I only with they showed OSU games outside! Great food and lovely cocktails and service!

Lazy Saturday night on July 3. Both bars were open and quite busy. We opted to sit inside and order cocktails. The lower level is self-serve, beer, and bar food. Beautiful renovation of a classic building. The "understory" of the building is super interesting. Ask your server. My guess Understory is destined to be a classic Columbus venue. Keep it up! Emmett's restaurant is another part of the building and open until 3pm. read more

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Very nice use of the space with a nice patio and good service.The drinks are good but pricey so go with some cash.This place is good for groups and date nights.I will say it's a spot to take a lady of you want to make a lasting impression read more

Understory - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This isn't so much a location as an experience. Wandered in after a bike ride on a Sunday afternoon - and the signs aren't totally clear - but you have to go _downstairs_ to find Understory! (Not just wandering the main floor like I was). You feel like you're sneaking drinks in your school cafeteria. It's a great use of pre-existing space, and I'm hyped that they opted to keep it this way, instead of tearing it down and rebuilding something. The menu is a bit short - it's very eclectic, and I don't know if I'd opt to choose there for a "meal" but more "snacks with friends" - Wolf's Ridge beer is on tap and available in six packs, wine and some cocktails are available, but it's all... hipster I can't recall what a guy I was doing a pub ride with said, but it was along the lines of "their target audience is the college kids nearby, but at prices only the professionals who don't live there can enjoy." And that feels apt. read more

Had an excellent burger, ok ice tea- the fries were sublime! Clean, comfortable and cozy atmosphere. Great place for a relaxing meal.

My friends and I went here for drinks/food on a summer day! I have been a few time before for networking events/holiday parties. It's great a repurpose of an old school, they have a great list of drinks/cocktails and a small food menu. We started with the bread and spread which had a great spreads especially the smoked honey butter. Highly recommend it as a starter, the ambiance was very cozy/chic. Great colors and textures throughout the restaurant - a perfect date night spot. Their burger was pretty solid but would love to try something different next time and it was a bummer the chips were a bit overcooked. The service was spectacular! read more

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A new (as of 2021) event space from the folks at Wolf's Ridge Brewing. I've posted some photos so you can get a feel for the building, which is an old historic school to my understanding. A holiday vendor fair on the weekend I visited. The photos will also give a feel for the event space. read more

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We went here after a football game, it was the perfect ambiance to unwind and relax! The food was amazing, and the drinks were even better. It was a little tricky to find, but worth it! read more

Nice old Historic building. Seems to be more of an event venue that brewery. Good beer from Wolf Ridge! Not a brewery but still worth stopping by read more

Warm half filled beer for $7, awful comically overpriced food ($20 for what amounts to a fast food quarter pounder) and so on BUT they have the only patio in car centric hellscape Clintonville that isn't in a parking lot, so, 3 stars for what would be zero stars anywhere else. read more

The place is loud and if you read my reviews you know if I'm out on a dinner date I don't want loud. I love the romance of looking into her soul while sharing a meal. This isn't the place for that. It has a sports bar atmosphere. Smaller portions than I'm used to. However the flavors are nice. The brussel sprout dish will fill you up and it's tasty. The fried chicken bowl needs more rice and beans. A piece of bread or corn bread would have helped. I left hungry but the people who got the sprouts didn't. The street corn pasta was bright and refreshing. The broccoli soup was ok not memorable and I wouldn't order it again. But... I would get the sprouts. The place is always packed . You can park yourself for free or pay valet $5 to park for you. Is this a place I would bring a friend from out of town? Probably not if they are hungry. But if they like sprouts I would bring them in a heartbeat. read more

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My favorite part about this place is the atmosphere. I think it's a wonderful place to meet up with friends or for a date night and enjoy drinks/appetizers. We are in the lounge area with 6 people and had a reservation. We started off with cocktails/beer and appetizers. Everyone enjoy their beverages. Our favorite appetizers were the pierogis, shrimp, and hot chicken. We enjoyed the brussel sprouts too but wouldn't say they were my personal favorite top three. I didn't love the falafel, it had a strong taste to it that I wasn't used to in other falafel I have tried. The presentation of all the appetizers was great. For meals I got the carnita tacos. They were pretty small for $15 dollars and didn't come with a ton of filling, but aside from being cold I did enjoy them. My boyfriend ordered the mushroom tikka masala and I really enjoyed that. We did wish it had a little more tikka sauce because it had good flavor, and the mushrooms had a nice filling texture that resembled meat. I would definitely come back for drinks and appetizers. I think next time I will order a few different appetizers and split them instead of getting an entree. read more

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Stopped by for brunch. Good food, a bit overpriced but very unique setting. Fun vibe with multiple different "rooms" to choose from.

Good fun ambience. Great friendly service. They have a combination of large and small tapas like plates. We enjoyed their Burrata and hummus. The ahi tuna was pretty good, as was their Yaki soba noodles. The cocktails are excellent here as well. A definite return. read more

This place is genuinely incredible. We've gone in the summer and the winter and have loved the seasonal food, the service, and the environment of the restaurant. I had an amazing and inventive shrimp and grits that I still think about. If you're looking for a great patio and meal, this is the place. read more

Understory - Shrimp and grits - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Amazing spot! Been eyeing to come here for a while. Great decor and vibe, and surprisingly not too crowded on a Saturday for brunch around 11:30. Would definitely come back again! Their spiked coffee brunch drinks were exceptional. read more

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Our wedding here was wonderful! The food, staff and facility were top notch. Our representative, Haley was easy to work with and she kept us informed about all the various moving parts. Our coordinator couldn't have been more helpful. In fact, I don't think the evening would have gone as smoothly without her. Our guests were so impressed by everything and we were delighted with the entire process. read more

Food is always good, ambiance is relaxed and you can't go wrong with Wolf's Ridge on draft! One of our favorites spots when we are in the university area read more

Understory is a cool Wolf's Ridge outpost that serves up cool and unique food and beer in two distinct settings. We opted for the casual Commons experience downstairs. They offer a range of Wolfs Ridge beer, with happy hour from 3-6. I tried the shishito peppers and they were delicious! The setting is trendy and charming, with both indoor and outdoor seating. I look forward to my next trip. read more

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Second time at Understory and had a much better experience out on the patio! Dog friendly and busy, but not too crowded on a hot Friday afternoon. The frozen margarita was very tasty and refreshing! One helpful tip if you are taking the trail after a few drinks, don't follow the signs/steps that lead into the woods right past the patio! The steps end and it's just a steep drop off into overgrown brush that's too thick to get to the paved trail from. Go a few feet further and it opens up to a more well marked path. read more

Understory - Grilled artichokes, pot stickers and chicken noodle bowl - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I've known about this place for a while because it's where our team hosted their holiday happy hour, but this was my first time visiting since the whole place opened. I LOVE that Wolfs Ridge repurposed the space and retained (from what I can tell) a lot of the original architecture. Its situated in an old school building just north of OSU campus. There's a decent sized parking lot but I can see how there could be issues finding a spot during peak hours OR during a game day. There are three different sections -- the lounge which is upstairs and seems a bit more upscale, the commons which is below and features a walk up counter for ordering, and the patio which is outside and serves as an extension of the commons. Service was fast in the commons. We ordered 2 beers and the pot stickers. Beer is all WRB which makes sense. I stuck to a tried and true Daybreak. The potstickers fell short for us. Value wise I think it's worth it -- 6 dumplings for $13 seems a little steep but when you take into account they are handmade I can see it. My problem with them was the level of heat. Nothing on the menu indicated these would be an inferno in your mouth. I can handle sriracha but this was next level. My husband, who loves spicy mind you, said it was too overpowering. A little heat is okay -- but this covered up any other flavors which was disappointing. The space is very aesthetically pleasing. The patio is SO cute but definitely bundle up for this fall weather. I'd be intrigued to come back and try some of their cocktails ! read more

This was the first time I visited here and I loved it! There are 3 floors that are each unique in its own way. I sat outside for a little bit and the scenery was beautiful with all the trees just right there. The second floor was my favorite which is the lounge area and I ordered a bunch of apps which were all phenomenal. The cocktails are amazing as well, I definitely recommend the spritz. This is a such a cute and unique place, a must try in cbus if u want a different scenery and some good cocktails/drinks! read more

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Decided to give this place a try and I usually don't leave reviews but I had to because it really was so good. Rachel took care of us!

Drove by this old school to see the soft opening for Understory and Open air space in the basement. Walking in, it looks like an old school building with lockers still on the walls. Downstairs is the open air space which used to be the cafeteria. The vibes are very airy and hipster perfect for the warm weather! we got the noodles bowl, firecracker chicken bowl, and salmon dip. Everything was delicious and elegant!! Would love to come back to try some other dishes. They also have Wolf Ridge's Beer on tap. They have a big parking lot that is shared with a fitness building. So be weary it may fill up during peak hours, it's also off of Neil near OSU north campus area. read more

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This is our second event held at Understory and definitely won't be our last! Their private chefs for each event are incredible. The selection of foods are thoughtfully made to order with the season's finest ingredients- and if you want a slight variation they are quick to please. The service from start to finish of your event is handled effortlessly and again, they accommodate in every way possible. lastly, whatever the season, Understory's ambiance and space is incredible. read more

I have visited the commons a few times and this is a very cool spot to grab a drink and share a small bite. The inside area has a very chic feel to it, but the real winner is the outdoor patio when the weather is nice! There are also lots of board games to play! My favorite items on the fall menu are the bang bang cauliflower and pierogis (with extra caramelized onions!). The frozen bees knees is a DELICIOUS lavender lemonade cocktail that is perfect for the patio in the summer. Will be frequenting this summer and will have to try some of the larger plates! read more

Understory - Bang Bang Cauliflower - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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My husband and I came here after dinner, and there was a waitlist. So I put my name down, and we just waited in the hallway seating area. The staff were very pilot and friendly. While we were waiting in the hallway, they gave us the water and wine/beer menu for us to order. They don't have the reservation right now. But the wait was fairly fast. We only waited for about 20 minutes, and got seated. I loved space and decorations. We got one highball and one martini. I don't really see highball often in Cbus, so I was very excited to try. It had heavy Japanese whisky flavor. I personally prefer to get more umashu. But it was still pretty good. The lounge also offer some snacks/appetizers. The food all sounded really good, but I was too full to order it. Looking forward to going back to try other drinks and food! read more

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This building used to a school in the 1920's. That's what my bartender told me. It looks the part. Beautiful historic faculty. The restaurant is on the main floor. You have to go downstairs to get the brewery/tap room. Great addition to the Columbus Ale Trail. read more

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One of my favorite places to make a pitstop off of the bike trail! Beautifully decorated, yummy beer, friendly staff and good food (albeit at a price). The last two times I've been there they have a duet singing and it's perfect for the ambiance. I just wish their happy hour prices were a bitttt better because you can easily rack up a hefty bill if you get more than one round and share dishes (...sadly, we visited twice this last week since it is prime biking season and I can attest to the $$). read more

Understory - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I would like to sincerely thank whomever had the vision to renovate this school as opposed to flattening it to build some cookie cutter building. It's old and quirky, but exactly what what we need more of in North campus. The menu is interesting and covers a lot of ground, and it was pretty easy to find something that looked good. You order at a window inside and they give you a number and bring it out. For some strange reason, you order at the right window and pick up drinks at the far left one. Then you have to walk back to the right to get water and a table inside or outside. Not sure why they don't flip these to make the flow better...anyone who has visited a cafeteria should know this is how it should work...anyway, I digress... What dropped this from a 5 star to a 3 star was the prices. I don't know WTF is going on with the Columbus food scene, but the prices have become ridiculous. Rarely does the quality demand the price, and Understory is just another on a long list of new, trendy restaurants where the food is average but the prices are not: Green tea with mint. - $4.50 for a glass 2/3rds full of ice Bang Bang Chicken Sandwich - $18.00 for a small piece of fried chicken on a bun with slaw and pickles - $2.00 extra for 12 potato chips. Maybe you are paying for the ambiance? Maybe because they didn't flatten the building, they are passing the renovation costs on to their customers? For whatever reason, it was a huge disappointment. I have no problem dropping $100 at Dan The Bakers because there is zero pretense. He is just a nice guy who loves baking and it shows in his exceptional products. At places like Understory, I can't help but feel like I am the victim of someone's marketing plan that says "if you use reclaimed materials and local breweries, this demographic will pay top dollar for the experience!" Unfortunately for many of these places, this only works until the next shiny object comes along. read more

Really great vibe! The food was spectacular! I enjoy catching up with friends in their patio! It felt so nice! read more

Understory - fried cauliflower and fried chicken - Restaurants Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Gorgeous place to have drinks and dinner with company. The outdoor patio is perfect! The drinks were strong and good. The plates were good and tasty but a bit pricey. Happy hour is in the commons area from 4-6pm NOT in the lounge area. read more

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Atmosphere was great and the ciders were very tasty. I ordered the bang bang chicken sandwich. It was filling but not very flavorful / could use more sauce. Overall pretty pricey as well. read more