Death in the Columbus Chow Restaurant Family - Breakfast Barn

The Breakfast Barn and Skill Games Restaurant was called to it's heavenly home to be with all those other great C-bus restaurants that are no more; Marzetti's, Clarmont, Court of Small Clams, Jai Lai and yes, even Elby's. The Barn passed sometime in the last few months and the building now has begun it's second 'coming' as a Mexican Restaurant...it won't be, can't be, the same.


Note: Masking tape on lower portion of sign.

My high school Spanish helps with the translation; Abierto means Welcome!

For those of us who knew the joys and delights one could find inside The Barn then at least we still have the memories. To those of you who had never visited this very unique and slightly quirky breakfast joint....Oh, well, so sad, too bad. The Barn not only had your basic American Grub BUT it also allowed you to play four (4) different skill games at the same time. What greasy spoon have you been at where you could also play skill games? The Breakfast Barn enjoyed serving anyone and everyone, it loved decorating itself with 'trailer park kirsch' items and Woody Hayes Posters. The Barn is survived by it's owners; Kay Crane and Ruth Mulford. It will be especially missed by it's Mistress of Ceremonies Joell Wilson.

 

This passing is especially hurtful to your Columbus Chow Crew. The Breakfast Barn was our first restaurant we reviewed on May 8th, 2011. Our first, our baby, the one we learned to take baby steps with and now, it's no more. We'll miss the grease! Enjoy your well earned rest. R.I.P.

 

The Breakfast Barn and Skill Game Restaurant

1275 Brown Road

Columbus, OH.

(just south of Greenlawn Cemetary)

 

 





South of Lane Restaurant and Boutique

1927 Guilford in Upper Arlington.

Outside dining with the kitchen's herb garden on the left.
 

It's known by it's acronym, SOL, which the owner, Catherine V. proudly announces stands for South of Lane. But after spending a delightful hour with her today your Columbus Chow Hounds have determined stands for "Story Of my Life!" You see this petite, 'Audrey Hepburn-ish' woman as a really interesting story, but more on that later.

The Staff is friendly and professional.

 

This unique and compact restaurant is located on a quiet street in Upper Arlington. It's features a very tastefully designed interior with a sophisticated color palette and an eclectic array of furnishings. Any woman from Arlington, Bexley, New Albany or German Village would immediately feel at home. This is the type of place where J.K. Rowling could spend a morning conjuring up an interesting character or two. Yet, all she would have to do is interview Catherine.

Poor Meleah Moore got stuck with Jersey Boy.
She can't wait to get back to Scotland!

 

 

This restaurant features a limited breakfast and lunch menu that is packed with wonderful selections. The breakfast is heavy on Omelets and Waffles. Lunch is still a unknown to us but the Rueben is highly touted by the staff. Jersey Boy and I both went for the Omelets. He had the Capri while I dug into the namesake SOL. Both of the omelets where excellent and prepared properly. Cooking an egg is one of the most mundane cooking tasks we all face. Yet, it really is challenge that a lot of professionals cannot master. You want your eggs to be cooked, yet moist. Not watery or cooked into something from the geology lab. These pros got it right. And the ingredients; onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and cheeses where all prepped correctly so that not one of them was stronger than the other but worked together to deliver a great taste profile. The coffee is a good 'wake-up' coffee; flavorful and robust without being too strong. This Southsider doesn't like the fact that there is no Sweet-n-Low provided, just Splenda and natural sugar.

Capril Omelet.....BEFORE

Capri and SOL Omelets ....... AFTER!

 

 

Jersey Boy was intrigued  by another menu item titled 'Hungry Boy Browns' which got his substantial taste buds watering. Hash browns, Chili, Eggs and Cheese...what else could one crave in this life? Next time. And, perhaps next time, they'll get his toast right. Normal people just don't understand why Jersey Boy would want to put a piece of dried up charcoal like toast in his body. But unless it's as black as your-mother-in-laws-heart he's not happy.

 

Our hostess/owner/operator is a very unique woman. Elfin in stature yet with a spirit that makes her a giant amongst her peers Catherine V. is the creative force behind this very unique endeavor. She's conquered an horrendous encounter with a dog, stood tall against the ravages of cancer, and dealt with a failed relationship all to lead her to a point where opening her own creative boutique restaurant was her way of shouting back at the world....I'm still here! And with her inherent taste and sense of style she's really back....in a big way.

 

SOL serves Breakfast and Lunch and is available for Private Parties.

 

South of Lane (SOL)

1927 Guilford

Upper Arlington, OH 43221

614/586-2233

 

Your Columbus Chow proudly awards this Restaurant

3 1/2 Bellies!

 

Note: There is an un-substantiated rumor that Catherine is eyeing a spot in Bexley that will go by the name of SOB (south of Broad!)

Super - Super - Super - Super - Super Chef!

199 E. Broad Street and the old Spook Beckman rocked Columbus from next door! He was the man!

Be careful, restaurateur with what you name your endeavor. Super anything is setting yourself up for rough going. Talk about raising expectations. The Super Chef diner does just that. That's the name and that's what it delivers! This downtown eatery is located next door to Spook Beckman's world famous open studio and man, if you remember it you're old! Bless you. Your Columbus Chow team recently visited this very special restaurant for the second time...this time to show off the culinary delights to The Southsiders daughter, who is  a VERY adventurous eater and her children. We descended on Super Chef one recent Saturday morning and had a great time.

First, the name. The owner was part of the Olympic Culinary games and, due to his energy, skill, creativity and expertise, was nicknamed "Super Chef" and it stuck. He opened his Columbus storefront with that name and brother, whoever came up with that name hit the nail on the head!

Second, the menu offerings. Like nothing you've ever seen. Eggs are actually fighting to get delivered to this place! I've seen bottles of Cream actually elbowing each other to get delivered first to this place.

Barbara, ordered the Pancake Platter. Red Velvet Pancake, Baked Alaskan Banana Pudding Pancake, Reese Cup Pancake, Reese Cup Pancake and the Apple Caramel Pancake. Now if you're mortal, you'll drop whatever you are doing and head out to 199 E. Broad Street. Case closed. Any chef that can put this together on one plate earns attention of your taste buds! Samantha and Sean went crazy over this selection.

 

I had the Smoked Salmon and Cheese Omelet with roasted red peppers sauce and hash browns. Delicious. STOP. Imagine, Columbus Ohio, cow town, Smoked Salmon, get down daddy and screw you Food Network!

 

Jersey Boy went crazy over the Super Chef's Breakfast Platter. Three eggs, hash browns, pretzel croissant, and bacon all for $9.99. Super breakfast.

 

We actually got Mrs. Southsider to accompany us and she was blown away by everything. The menu, the size of the portions and the creativity of the selections. The Super Chef isn't your daily stop-off for a hot cup of joe and a cigarette to shake off the booze of the night before. This is a place for special occasions. Just like you take your out-of-towners to German Village you need to add Super Chef to the itinerary.

 

 

Breakfast Buddy's .... Samantha Smole and Jersey Boy Share the same B'day!

 

Super Chef lives up to it's name. Run, don't walk to this Columbus gem. Hold your breath that it doesn't disappear before you get there. They are planning a second location in Gahanna (Morse Road at Cherry Bottom for all you Columbus Academy alums.)

Mrs. Southsider, Barbara and Jersey Boy lord it over Samatha, Sydney and Sean. Notice bellies protruding.

 

 

Super Chef

199 East Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43215

 

Columbus Chow easily awards this the highest designation possible....

5 bellies

 

Cafe Creekside - It's The Real Deal !



Erected in 1823 this two story structure features a second floor meeting room and outside dining.

Have you ever been accused of 'listening without hearing, or looking without really seeing?' More than once if you've been married longer than 3 months; at least in my case. That's exactly what happened to your Columbus Chow Team! We've been visiting this Gahanna institution for years; often when other duties require Jersey Boy to 'eat and go!' This morning we had planned on visiting Super Chef's new Gahanna digs but, alas, they weren't ready for customers. We'll save that one for another day, but, as always we quickly headed to The Creekside. Located in old Gahanna along the creek this full service restaurant is always ready to welcome a new face or old timer.

 

Located at the end of Route 62 at the bridge, this traditional American hometown restaurant features a menu that can only be described as 'comfort food.' Jersey Boy observed that it had a Hispanic influence and as such he ordered the Mexican Scramble. With his Burnt Toast, of course! Our waitress, a delightful young mother named Anna Katanyuta, just rolled her eyes and went off to place the order. We've been coming here for years and finally took a look around to really see the décor....quite an eclectic collection. Booths repaired with red duct tape, Christmas tree that never comes down, Jimmy Buffet type of string banners across the restaurant, red and white checkerboard square floor tiles, framed pictures of old time Gahannians hanging off the walls along with a brass plaque announcing that the structure was erected in 1823 as a tavern.

No wonder Jersey Boy's smiling!

My order was inspired by my desire to return to the fun-filled, action-packed, days with the United States Navy. I ordered SOS aka Chipped Beef On Toast Points with potatoes. If you don't know what 'SOS' stands for go ask somebody born before 1960. The serving was large and the presentation nice, but it didn't have much flavor. I don't use salt so I was stuck, but I did get a clean plate award from Anna.

 

I asked her what was the most popular breakfast item she served. Her immediate response was the Eggs Benedict. I agreed because I had ordered this in the past. Real farm fresh eggs, real Canadian bacon, real hollandaise sauce equals a killer breakfast entrée. I'll order it again. (ie: I try to order something new off the menu so I can provide you, our culinary groupies, with new information....I sacrifice my taste buds so you don't have too!)

S__t  On A Shingle

 

We wandered back to the kitchen to meet the owner; Chris Katanyuta. Yep, Mother and Daughter. One the front of the house and the other the back. Seems that seven years ago Chris was the lead kitchen person and the boss indicated he wanted to be done with all the 'administrative BS' so she bought the place and switched places with the owner. He's now, and has been, the lead grill guy and Chris handles all the daily details. (Note: To any of our dedicated followers. If you ever even think about going in the restaurant business you need to talk to Chris and her lead grillmaster first.)

 

Proud owner Chris with former owner!

 

 

Chris runs a tight 'submarine' type galley that is well organized, clean and efficient. You should be very comfortable with anything that comes out of this kitchen. She also explained that the basket of complimentary muffins on each table are homemade, the soups are made from scratch, all the sauces and gravies are made by hand with real ingredients. Butter, vegetables, cream, etc. FYI: All of the above items can be purchased already made from GFS or Sysco and a lot of the chains do so...not here.

 

Your Columbus Chow crew really likes this place. Oh, yeah, the décor is rather strange, but we'd rather see the local owner/operator spend her money on fresh ingredients, better help and more money in her pocket than spend on some 'corporate-inspired' décor with ferns and brass railings.  The food is good, the service is good and this place is worthy of your attention.

 

Here's the real kicker! The local cops eat here. They order a dish that not on the printed menu; The Big Nasty. Are you man-enough? This Southsider isn't sure.

 

The Café Creekside

53 Granville Street

Gahanna, OH 43230

 

Your Columbus Chow Team proudly award this

 Americana Restaurant 4 Bellies!