Wednesday, December 27 2017

The 13 best new restaurants and bars of 2017 🍽🍸🍹

December 27, 2017

Columbus Navigator Logo

It's the end of the year which means it's time to reflect on the year that was.

Ok, maybe don't think too hard about 2017 given much of it has been maddening, but we did have some exciting things happen here in Columbus, especially in the local food scene which thankfully continues to thrive. It was tough sledding coming up with our favorite new restaurants and bars, but here's Navigator's look back on our favorite newcomers in 2017.

Navigator full story: 

Wednesday Weather 🌡Break out the parka  ... high of 15, wind chills as low as -9. Mostly sunny. Stay warm! 🌤

Navigator Originals ✏️Rumors Are Swirling That DeNovo Downtown Is Closing…But Not So FastOther news sources reported yesterday morning that downtown restaurant DeNovo would be closing at the end of the month, but it looks like there is still hope. They have extended their lease one more month, with a new closing date of January 31st, and a possibility of working things out with the building owner and rent. Rents in Columbus are beginning to kill very viable businesses, a trend we are picking up from much larger cities - see this piece in the Guardian about New York City businesses and sky high rents: New York's vanishing shops and storefronts: 'It's not Amazon, it's rent'.This Downtown Penthouse Suite Is For Sale And The View Is IncredibleMiranova is now nearing 20 years old, which means some of the more luxe condos are coming onto the market for the first time since construction, with some of the most amazing views in the city. The view from the patio has to be seen to be believed.

Around Town 🏘Two restaurant reviews to start things off, first we haev Breakfast With Nick visiting Acre in either Clintonville/Old North (it's an edge case). The mini crepes look incredible, and, I'm just going by photos, this has to be one of the best places in Columbus for huevos rancheros. [Breakfast With Nick]Next up is CMH Gourmand visiting a hidden gem near Morse and High called Cakes & More. It turns out the "& More" part of that covers a lot of ground, including some really interesting looking fried chicken, and empanadas that CMH calls "the best I have had in Columbus." A Navigator visit to this place may be in order. [CMH Gourmand]COTA's new rapid bus line - "CMAX" - will be debuting Jan 1st. and will be offering a free week from the 1st through the 7th. This is a rapid transit service that will initially be launching around Cleveland Ave. with the idea of helping people get to work quickly and efficiently via limited stops, dedicated lanes during rush hours, and priority with traffic signals along parts of the route. [COTA]A Somali refugee recently passed the Ohio bar exam, possibly the first Somali born individual to practice law in the state. His next step? Running for the Ohio House of Representatives. [Dispatch/Siegel]

Picture of the DayCan you picture yourself out here on a summer night, drink in hand? Not bad, yeah? (📷: HER Realtors)

Longread 🏈Continuing our rundown of the best things we read in 2017.Zac Easter knew what was happening to him. He knew why. And he knew that it was only going to get worse. So he decided to write it all down—to let the world know what football had done to him, what he'd done to his body and his brain for the game he loved. And then he shot himself.GQ: The Concussion Diaries: One High School Football Player’s Secret Struggle with CTE

Something to say? Hit reply - we read it all.- James