GRAFFITI BURGER

 

Graffiti burgers is yet another in the burger up shoots popping up all over Columbus.  They have a great premise and the insides keep you feeling like you are supporting local business but overall Graffiti Burger just bites.

Here is some of the ‘art’ that covers the walls.  It is excellently done graffiti by local taggers that represents Columbus as a whole and a few things that set each store apart from one another with things such as local high school mascots and landmarks.

 

The burgers look and smell fantastic yet take a while to prepare no matter how busy they are.  As with most of these ‘gourmet’ burger joints, the fries are sold separate.  Once I received my burger I saw that it was a good sized thick burger.  The toppings were plentiful and I know why.  That was all that I tasted.  The burger is so low fat that all of the fat..I mean flavor is cooked out on the grill so I ended up with a hot thick chewy sandwich that tasted like mustard, pickles, onions and pepper jack with something in the middle that was just missing. 

There is a great menu with loads of ‘free’ toppings.  The price is similar to the other competitors in this market but the flavor lacks.  Fantastic fries and shakes however.  If you are in the mood for some fresh cut french fries this would be at the top of the list.

There is outdoor dining for Grandview people watching.

Overall I think I might have got too excited for Graffiti Burger.  All of my friends had been drooling over it for weeks and I may have set the bar too high.  I will give them another chance (just because the fries were sooo good).  I think I finally found a burger joint that is afraid of having fatty burgers without realizing that is what makes a burger delicious…more to follow when I return.

 

Graffiti Burger

Multiple Locations

We chose Grandview on 5th.

1505 West 5th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212-2403
(614) 488-3665

www.graffitiburger.com

T.A.T.

TAT is one of the only true family owned Italian restaurants on the East side of Columbus. Established in 1929, TAT started on Goodale Ave but over time moved Livingston and James. TAT was named after the Transcontinental Air Transport which had a hub in Columbus.

You are greeted by some 'ancien't Roman art when you first walk in the door. The walls are covered (Buca-esque) with family pictures and photos of local clergy. TAT is a neighborhood Italian restaurant similar to those found in Youngstown and Cleveland. The crowd is a bit older but that's only because they have been coming since they were in their 20's. There is plenty of room and banquet space available. Dinner comes with salad and your choice of wedding or minestrone soup. All of which is wonderful and home made. The salad comes on a chilled plate...old school. The linguine and clams is a healthy amount of pasta piled high with minced clams. Pricy but delicious. The chicken marsala was so good that Jim couldn't wait for me to get a pic before he dug in. This is the lemon chicken with a side of french fried potatoes. The chicken was perfectly fried...crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a lemon sauce poured over top.

Overall, TAT is a great place to feed your craving for Italian food without driving to NE Ohio. The food is delicious but a bit pricy for the serving size. The owners are onsite and greet you at the door (by name if you're a regualr). I loved the old school feel that you get from the time you walk in the door to the starched linen all the way until you receive the chilled plate and silverware with your salad. Everything that we tried passed the true Italian taste test and that is pretty difficult with me. T.A.T 1210 S James Rd Columbus Ohio 43209 614 236 1392 http://www.tatitalian.com/

Peking Dynasty

The Peking Dynasty is a Chinese Restaurant and Sushi Bar located on the East side of Columbus. It is in a stand alone building off of Livingston Avenue and doesn't quite seem to fit in to the local neighborhood. Walking inside you can see why.

When you first walk in you notice the full wrap around bar with the flat screen television. There is a full liquor assortment. Looking a bit closer (not in this picture) there is a full custom sushi bar at the head of the bar. Every piece of sushi served is made to order.

The dining room is large and filled with Chinese 'relics'. There are many overhead fixtures and murals. The large Buddha greets you at the front door. While the egg rolls and Wonton soup are nothing to write home about, the Sushi and the main dishes are spectacular.

The pork chow mein is a bit different than I was used to as the noodles are home made and not the normal crispy sticks. The pork is plentiful and cooked perfectly. The scallions try to give the otherwise boring vegetable combo some color.

I've never had so much chicken in my General Tso before. Lightly breaded with a nice heat. Served over white rice, this meal sticks to the ribs.

The Dragon and Phoenix is what it's all about. Lightly sauteed broccoli, carrots, peapods, and water chestnuts bed down succulent pieces of chicken and giant shrimp that absolutly POP. All served with a light chicken stock. Even the take out is fantastic!.

I called in my order off of the giant menu and had to ask what was what over the phone. I was at least skeptical until I arrived to pick up my food. I saw the interior and met 'John' the owner and knew I was about to enjoy some fine Chinese dining. I got home and we turned all of our dinners into a sampler platter of sorts. As we bit into the egg rolls we looked at each other with disappointment as they tasted like deep fried sawdust. Our disappointment was forgotten as soon as we tasted the entrees. Every bite was better than the last. Within seconds we had completely forgotten about the egg rolls and were forcing food on each other with chopsticks filled with tender pork, juicy chicken and some of the best shrimp I've had inland. I highly recommend Peking unless you are in the mood for some egg rolls.

Peking Dynasty is located at:

2210 E Livingston Ave

Bexley, Ohio 43209

614 238 9288

http://www.pekingdynasty.com/

Schmidt's Sausage Haus

Schmidt's Sausage Haus, a German-American eatery is a National Historic Site located in Columbus' German Village. Estabished in 1886, Schmidt's has been perfecting their recipes from generation to generation for the last 112 years. Schmidt's makes their own sausages and bahama mamas and sells them raw to go. Schmidt's was recently featured on Man Vs Food.

Just inside the lobby is the bar with six traditional German draughts on tap. There is a full bar but the beers would go great with the menu.













While Schmidt's is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner and has a full menu, the buffet (known as the Autobahn) is the way to go. There seems to be staff hired just to refill the endless chaffers of sausage, bahama mamas, bratworst, mac and cheese, sauerkraut, etc... There is salad and soup...yeah right!!! I chose the Autobahn and the following is the best I could do.








Plate 1: I started off (against my better judgement) with a touch of salad and German pasta salad. Yes, I had to put some brats and bahama mamas on the 'salad plate'.

Plate 2: Here we go! This has more bahama mamas and brats but I added some corned beef and cabbage, sauerkraut, and peppery sausage stew.









Plate 3: Some more sausages alongside some boiled red cabbage with apples, home made mac and cheese, and green beans with chunks of bacon and spaetzle. It just keeps getting better!!

Plate 4: This one is going to hurt but I called Adam a nansy pansy for not refilling his plate. I had my five year old son come back from the buffet and tell Adam that his friend Jenny Craig said 'hi'. I have to eat plate 4. I go for a few more brats, some more stew and some mac n' cheese and green beans. For the record, I left a bit of the stew. Time to undo the belt!!!

Before leaving you have to wander over to the dessert showcase where all of the in house, home made, from scratch delicassies are kept. Mostly cream puffs and pies, this is a beautiful sight even after consuming four plates of sausage!!! Adam's turn to rub my nose in it as he orders a peanut butter chocolate cream puff. The waitress looks in my direction (as she has heard all of my ribbing of Adam)...........

........of course I did!!! This was delicious!!! Very rich, very creamy, very puffy. I'm not a big fan of pastry and wish this was served open faced but anyhow...it was a wonderful trip to German Village and Schmidt's.

Wow Schmidts Sausage Haus!!! You've got to get there to get the Autobahn! I can't tell you much about the rest of the menu (I've heard the reuben is delicious, but who gets a reuben at a sausage haus?). The neverending trips to overflowing pans of homemade sausage, and bratwurst and kraut and everything else deliciously German. It's in a great neighborhood where you can park your car and stroll to numerous shops before or after dinner or inbetween dinner and dessert. Schmidts has room for private parties and caters.

Schmidt's Sausage Haus and Restaurant
240 E Kossuth St
Columbus, Ohio 43206
614 444 6808

http://www.schmidthaus.com/

Five Guys

Five Guys is a burger joint that is springing up in multiple locations here in Columbus. They are known for their fresh cooked multiple topping burgers and their cut to order fries.

Five Guys has an open kitchen just behind the register. You can watch as they prepare your sandwich and shout out to add items that you might have forgot.

Here is the full Five Guy meal. Double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onions, grilled onions, jalapenos, and hot sauce with a small fry and a drink (get the small on both, the fries are huge and the drink is refillable)

Here is the standard double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and onion.

Or the double bacon cheeseburger with tomato and hot sauce.

They also have a grilled all beef hot dog split and grilled. (The fries are the leftover from my small order)

My brother-in-law says "I just can't go a single day without cramming Five Guys in my mouth!" I think the sign speaks for itself!!!

My first impression of Five Guys was nothing special. First, it's a burger chain, second, it's in the middle of a mall and third, it's so clean and shiny. Wow was I surprised! The burgers taste fresh and you can actually watch them cut the fries they use. Speaking of fries...get the regular even if you are sharing there are a ton of them!!! The grill cooks are pretty handy with their spatulas as well...the guy I watched should get a job at a Japanese steak house. The only complaint I might have is that even though I got a double bacon burger I went away a bit hungry (maybe I should have got those fries). Overall I am quite happy to welcome this burger chain to Columbus.

Five Guys Burgers

Multiple Columbus Locations

Photos are at Easton Towne Center

http://www.fiveguys.com/

La Michoacana

Welcome Amigos!!!

La Michoacana is a chain of Mexican Markets with locations all over the Columbus area. They don't look like much but they have a great meat and produce department and many spices and name brands that you are not going to find in your traditional supermarkets.

The wonderful find at La Michoacana is the little deli-bistro-indoor taco cart that each location has. They have a full menu ranging from tacos and burritos to soups and full dinner items. The service is quicker if you have some skills in Spanish but it is easy to order in English.
There are a few tables so you can eat in or dine out. I like to order and then do a bit of shopping.









This sandwich was how La Michoacana got my attention in the first place...The Torta Cubana!!! This might just be one of the greatest sandwiches on the planet (or at least in Columbus).












The Torta Cubana runs a hefty $13.95 (at post) but it is worth every penny!!! Unless you are hungry (or a pig), this sandwich is splittable (or two meals). This monster is "fresh baked mexican bread layered with refried beans, ham, breaded chicken, breaded steak, chorizo, bacon, bologna, egg, cheese, pineapple, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, mayonaisse, and avocado". That's the menu description. This sandwich is bites of south of the border Heaven!!!








Here is a sample of the three pack of beef tacos. These are delicious. Perfectly juicy.











This is the burrito. You can't beat the size of this monster (notice the hand in the background) at $6.95. This burrito is with carnitas which you have to ask for because it is not a selection.












Another nice meal is the Carne Al Carbon. This is the grilled flank steak served over rice and beans with avacado, grilled onions and pico de gallo. With soft shells to be eaten in burrito form.











At a buck a piece it's nice to take a half dozen tacos home. These are the chorizo. The roasted onion garnish adds a nice flavor but watch out the roasted pepper is HOT!










All I can say is "What a find!!!" I would like to thank Mikey T for turning us on to this location and all of the wonderful food. The language barrier is NOT a problem and you should just go and enjoy! This is some fantastic Mexican 'fast food'. If I didn't mind being 300 lbs I would eat here twice a week. It is great to be able to place your order and then shop at the wonderful butcher (homemade chorizo) and get produce not found at the local grocery...mmm, I think I just might have to go back for dinner!



La Michoacana has eight locations in Columbus, Ohio
This is #6
3160 S Hamilton Rd
Columbus Ohio 43213
614 864 4700