Located within a half mile of the Greater Columbus Convention Center and nestled neatly between downtown and The Ohio State University, the Short North Arts District is home to a wide variety of art exhibitis and studios. This thriving district is not only home to the arts, but also the art of food. Nearly every variety of food and style of cuisine is presented here, from Liu Pon Xi's Imperial French-Vietnamese fusion to Hyde Park's no-nonsense cuisine to the Scottish fare and fine drinks to be found at Mac's Scottish Pub.

 Although that seems like a wide variety of foods, that barely scratches the surface of what gets well done and done well in the Short North. If you happen to visit the Short North during the first Saturday of any given month, you'll also be able to enjoy the "Gallery Hop," where the galleries are open as late as 11pm or midnight. During gallery hops, the locals become tourists, and people-watching becomes as entertaining as gallery hopping itself.

Abbracci

The Short North and Arena district have Italian done from every angle. At Abbracci, the influence is haute Italian cusine, with Mediterranean influence. The restaurant is small and intimate and dress is formal. A dozen tables are situated around a half-moon bar, and conversation is light and comfortable. Dinners run approximately $30 per guest and due to location valet parking is required 

Betty's Fine Food and Spirits

Serving food until 1:30 AM nightly, Betty's offers comfort food, served up on large platters with large side dish portions to accompany each meal. Seating is limited and dining usually happens at the bar (Remember, there are spirits, too). The atmosphere is pub/tavern, which allows for free-flowing conversation.  Food ranges from meatloaf to beef briscuit. Dinners cost around $16 per guest.

Bodega

Very casual atmosphere, great for college students.  Serves salads, small plates, panini sandwiches, and desserts.  HUGE drink list - carries about 60 types of bottled beer alone, as well as wine, cocktails, and beers on tap.  Seating is available inside and out.  Meals cost about $10 or less per guest, excluding drinks and gratuity.

Burgundy Room 

A tapas bar, the Burgundy Room specializes in flights of appetizers served with fine imported wines, available either by the glass or the bottle. Tables are evenly spaced, but on the small side. Hopefully, the wait staff will accomodate the fast pace of plate service to help you through it. Dress is formal (see and be-seen crowd) and food costs vary. Each appetizer plate runs from $6 to $18. Drinks priced accordingly.

Haiku

The actual name is " Haiku Poetic Food & Art" which tells you a little bit of what to expect, but not quite everything you need to know. The sushi bar  runs parallel to the eating gallery, where guests dine on quaint tables for two or four. The low ceiling, combined with the small tables and bamboo-inspired interior adds to the air of intimacy. The patio dining area is normally filled through the summer as well. Dress is middling to business-casual and the menu features standard sushi bar fare. Dinners is approximately $26 per guest. 

Happy Greek

At the Happy Greek, the dress ranges from business to casual, and everything between. The atmosphere is light and airy, painted in light browns to emulate a Mediterranean villa. The Happy Greek makes that trick look easy as you feel comfortable from the moment you walk through the door. Dishes are standard Grecian fare: lamb, fish, and pasta, heavy on the starch. Dinners cost about $16 per guest.

Hyde Park

Anchoring the cap, a collection of stores atop i-670, Hyde Park is strictly formal and strictly upper crust. The cuts of beef are thick and the fish is market-fresh.  As the motto goes, "What you pay for is what you get." At Hyde Park that equals atmosphere and cuisine on the luxurious side. Dinners cost around $35 per guest and drinks will run about 50% more expensive than surrounding bars and taverns.

L'Antibes

This quaint, upscale restaurant was once "before it's time" when they served lamb shops with those fancy little hats and had four small tables dressed in fine white linens and crystal. Now though, L'Antibes' time has come. With such delicacies as Pheasant, Duck Breast, Grilled Salmon, Escargots and Alaskan King Crab, the French-inspired menus will inspire intimate conversation among groups as small as two or even a full table. 

Lemongrass Asian Bistro

A mix of traditional Japanese, Chinese wok-frying, and pan-grilling is featured at Lemongrass. Dress runs from casual to formal, depending on the hour and day. The atmosphere is clean, but not overly kept, providing a nice middle ground. Dinners run approximately $23 per guest.

Liu Pon Xi

Liu Pon Xi offers new twists on East Asian food, with Imperial French, Indonesian, and continental Asian influences found in each dish. The bar also offers DJ mixes on weekends, for the hip crowd. The atmosphere is intimate and formal. Dress attire appropriate to that theme. Dinners cost approximately $25 per guest.

Mac's Scottish Pub

Located in the middle of the action in the Short North, Mac's Scottish Pub serves several brands of Imported beers, Scottish and otherwise, as well as several traditional Scottish dishes, like Scotch Egg and Forfrar Bridie (Shepherds Pie in a Sourdough roll - served with Steak Fries and covered in Beef Gravy). They also offer less venturous items: Hamburger, Salad, Grilled Cheese, or French Dip. Still, the Forfrar Bridie is not to be skipped.

MoJoe Lounge

One-half upscale coffee shop with good view of the action on High Street and Deli-type sandwiches, and one-half ultra-hip, ultra-trendy bar and patio where you can order beer and mixed drinks, MoJoe Lounge is owned by the same people who own Cup 'o Joe, Columbus' version of Starbuck's, which actually means that Starbuck's is Seattle's version of Cup 'o Joe. Either side you choose, the drinking is swell and spirits are always high.

Phillip's Coney Island

A no-frills sort of joint, Phillip's Coney Island serves some of the greatest Coneys eaten outside of a ballpark. The menu is simple, including items such as grilled cheese sandwiches, hamburgers, tuna melts, and toasted deli sandwiches. Phillip's also has a good breakfast menu, if you're in the mood for a starter just after daybreak.

Press Grill

RJ Snappers

RJ Snappers prides itself on their "Market Fresh Fish", but the most underrated appeal to RJ Snappers is the atmosphere. You start on High Street, where the horns are honking and you're totally aware of the angry outdoor elements, then with a few steps, you are whisked inside to a "Mediterranean atmosphere" where the tables are dimly lit and the conversation drifts up and away into the vaulted ceiling, keeping the restaurant enjoyably quiet and serene, like the frescoes applied to the walls, featuring the same Mediterranean skylines.

The Rossi

Located at the North end of the Short North, The Rossi includes rotating, seasonal menus. Featuring items such as Pork Medallions, Fettucine Alfredo, and their famous Ham & Gruyere (fancy imported French cheese) Sandwich, the Rossi offers fine dining in a bar atmosphere.

Union Station

Union Station has a view things to cheer for: a great bar and grill for the "alternative crowd" the Short North is famous for, an open and comfy atmosphere that's clean and inviting, and probably the best Sunday morning breakfast buffet in downtown Columbus. The grill serves a good variety of sandwiches and light entrees, including items such as BLT, Fried Fish Sandwiches, Shrimp Pasta, and Chef Salads.