🍽️ The Best Restaurants In Columbus Suburbs

Plus: 🏓 Hilliard’s New Pickleball Kingdom Is Almost Ready To Serve

Author

Chelsea Wiley
August 18, 2026

🤝 TOGETHER WITH GREATER COLUMBUS ARTS COUNCIL

Explore Columbus through a new lens with the Pride & Power Public Art Tour, curated by Black and Queer Columbus artist Lisa McLymont. The self-guided tour highlights nine public art pieces across the city that celebrate resilience, identity, and communities whose stories deserve to be seen. Grab your car, bike, or favorite mode of transportation and spend the day discovering some of Columbus’ most powerful murals and installations. For more info, head over to columbusmakesart.com.

Hello, Tuesday! Chelsea, here.

After what feels like weeks of gray skies, rain, tornadoes, flooding, and generally questionable weather, we finally have a sunny day in Columbus. I don't know about you, but that feels like a pretty good reason to get out of the house and find something good to eat. So today, we're talking about the best restaurants in the Columbus suburbs. From old-school pizza joints and cozy diners to Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean and everything in between, we've rounded up some of the suburban spots that are absolutely worth the drive.

Navigator Feature Story: 🍽️ The Best Restaurants In Columbus Suburbs

🏓 Hilliard’s New Pickleball Kingdom Is Almost Ready To Serve
Hilliard is getting a massive new indoor pickleball facility with 15 courts, free beginner lessons, leagues, tournaments and more. Pickleball Kingdom is getting close, though construction delays mean we're still waiting on a firm opening date.

🦉 The Ohio Wildlife Center Has Taken In More Than 150 Storm-Displaced Animals
The Ohio Wildlife Center took in more than 150 storm-displaced animals in a single day, most of them baby animals separated from their parents during last week’s storms. Now the center is asking for a little help keeping up with the unexpected influx of tiny patients.

Headlines 📰 

🥕 COTA is hosting another free produce stand this week at Great Southern Shopping Center, with fresh fruit and produce boxes available to families in need. The transit agency’s BELIEVE employee group has distributed more than 20 tons of food since 2022, working with Mid-Ohio Food Collective to keep the produce coming. (Spectrum News 1)

🍼 Nearly half of Ohio counties now lack a hospital with labor and delivery services, and Delaware County just joined the list after Grady Memorial stopped delivering babies this month. The closures are being driven by declining birth rates, staffing shortages and financial pressures, but longer drives for care can make a big difference for families without reliable transportation or child care. (Axios)

🏗️ Grove City Council has postponed a vote on a proposed charter amendment that would give residents a say over certain large-scale developments, including potential data centers. The measure is drawing support from residents who want more control over future development and pushback from those who worry it could sweep up hospitals, manufacturers, and other major projects. (NBC4)

🌤️ Weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81

Coming Up This Week 📆

The Kicker 🤳

@samanthaspangler62

An eventful evening at Cento in German Village, now with Waterfront dining. #columbus #germanvillage

☀️ Cento in German Village became a waterfront destination after torrential downpours flooded 3rd Street over the weekend. Raise your hand if you’re so ready for a break from the rain today! Seriously, though, universe, that’s enough rain.

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