🍔 13 Columbus Restaurants Where You Can Step Back In Time

Plus: 📚 The Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl Is Back

Author

Chelsea Wiley
March 20, 2025

Sponsored by Decorative Arts Center of Ohio 🎸
Discover Ohio's rich artistic history at The Nearest Faraway Place: Ohio's Painters, Makers & Their Mentors, on view through April 27, 2025. Explore how local and global influences shaped Ohio's creative scene through works by artists like Emerson Burkhart, William Hawkins, and more. Visit decorativeartscenter.org for more info.

Hello, Thursday! Chelsea here.

Columbus may be a city that’s always evolving, but some restaurants have a way of transporting you to another era the moment you step inside. Whether it’s a classic diner that feels straight out of the 1950s or a historic tavern with roots stretching back over a century, these spots serve up more than just great food, they’re a taste of the past. From vintage decor to time-honored recipes, here are 13 Columbus restaurants where you can do a little time traveling!

🏡 The Brief, Brilliant Life of Lustron Homes
Once seen as the future of American housing, Lustron homes were stylish, all-metal houses built here in Columbus in the late 1940s. Though they didn’t last long in production, these unique homes remain a fascinating piece of mid-century history.

📚 The Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl Is Back And It’s Bigger Than Ever
The Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl returns on Independent Bookstore Day with 14 participating shops, exclusive deals, and a chance to win swag just for exploring your local literary scene.

Headlines 📰 

🍟 Did you know that McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish was invented here in Ohio? It came about in order to keep Catholic customers buying food during lent in the 1960s and it’s been on the menu ever since. (Ohio Magazine)

🏀 LeBron James might have been chilling at the Lakers game last night, but he was repping the Columbus Blue Jackets in what appeared to be a custom Blue Jackets jersey. (Reddit)

🍴 Pop-up dinners in Columbus offer exclusive, chef-led dining experiences in unique settings, from the North Market to hidden event spaces. These one-night-only meals highlight creativity, collaboration, and unexpected culinary pairings. (Columbus Monthly)

🌧️ Weather: 46 with rain showers in the morning, mixing with snow by afternoon, and temps dropping to 38°F

Sponsored by A Journey of Iceland 🖼️
A Journey of Iceland – From Darkness to Light is coming to Dublin Arts Council! Experience the powerful combination of Icelandic art, poetry, and music by Einar Orn, Erin Boggs, and Kaktus Einarsson from March 8-April 25. Admission and parking are free! For more info, please click here.

Coming Up 📆

Today's Photo 🤳

🦋 Every day is a good day to go to Franklin Park Conservatory and visit some butterflies.

Want your photo to be featured? Use #columbusnavigator or tag us!

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- Chelsea