Dreary Day Destinations in Columbus, Ohio
Let’s be honest with ourselves here: we’re entering that time of year where Ohio weather is in its least desirable state. Come mid-November, the temperatures start to drop and the sunlight goes into hibernation (along with any social life I might have had previously).
“If you can’t handle me at my worst then you don’t deserve me at my best” – Ohio weather, probably
Ohio, I sure do love your 80° summers and crisp fall football weather, but these dreary AF cloudy winters have got. to. go. Seasonal depression is real, so let’s all cope with it the best way we know how.. food. While the number of times you leave the house during the winter may decrease significantly, that’s no reason to miss out on some of the best “crappy weather” foodie locations Columbus has to offer. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed a few of these places in the past, but i promise you- your bleak winter Friday nights or cold and wet Sunday mornings will be just a little brighter by spending it at one of my favorite dreary destinations.
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters:
Put on your fuzziest socks and warmest blanket scarf before you head over to Two Dollar Radio on the next cloudy Sunday morning. Whether you have to make a quick stop (get the breakfast burrito no matter what!!) or have time to spare, the friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere will start your day in the best way.
The cool part about Two Dollar Radio is that it’s also a full service bookstore, bar, coffee shop, and vegan restaurant. So what I’m really saying is if you get here on a snowy February weekend morning, 2DR has the appropriate provisions to last you ALL DAY. Park it and enjoy it. Buy a book and read it from cover to cover. Do what you want, but I guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself and come back again just to have another cup of that lavender latte.
Cookie Dough Creamery
Can we all mutually agree to not even entertain the idea of going out to bars on a Friday night when the temperature is below freezing?? There’s absolutely nothing that sounds pleasant about putting on booties and trudging through the sleet and snow to stand in a crowded bar for a few hours in the middle of January.
No. Thank. You.
oh.. did someone say cookie dough creamery? I’m listening…
Sure, ice cream might seem like a silly idea when it’s already cold outside, but who said you have to get ice cream when you go to Cookie Dough Creamery? Throw on your comfiest sweats, make the quick drive to Worthington, and skip the ice cream portion of the DIY ice cream bar. Load up your bowl with an overflowing scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough and enjoy. (They charge by bowl size, not weight- so when I say load it up, I mean it!)
Swenson’s Drive-Ins
While we’re driving around Columbus in our long johns, let’s talk about comfort food. I’m not usually a “fast food” type of girl, but sometimes I just need a greasy burger and something crunchy to make me forget about the gray clouds in the sky. Enter: Swenson’s. If you’ve never been before, welcome to the club! I’d never even heard of Swenson’s until they opened up a about a month ago on Sawmill Road. An Akron staple, this “old school” fast dining experience is my favorite kind. When you pull in, an attendant comes straight to your window to take your order. No need to dress up for this dining occasion, heck, you don’t even need to wear pants if you don’t want to! (Would still highly suggest wearing pants) Shortly after you place your order, your food is ran straight to your window and you’re welcome to take off and eat it on the go, or you can request a tray table for your car to enjoy the Galley Boy right then and there. Mmmmm.
Valters at the Maennerchor
According to kids these days, wintertime is “cuffing season” and apparently that means you still go on dates every once in awhile, despite the freezing temps and unpleasant precipitation patterns. If you’re looking for something a little more classy than Swenson’s but still cozy, check out Valters at the Maennerchor for dinner. This hidden gem is a small little restaurant operating out of a renovated home in the heart of German Village. Order some schnitzel and watch the snow fall outside while you sip on your second glass of Pinot Noir. Bonus? They serve comfort food brunch too.
Fox in the Snow
One of the most popular coffee shops in Columbus (or Ohio? Or the Midwest??) is popular for a reason. Jeff and Lauren, the owners of FITS, sure knew what they were doing when they opened up this cozy little cafe 6years ago. They wanted the atmosphere to be warm and inviting so that anyone could enter and immediately feel welcome. And they me tell you, they did it right. Heck, even the name of the coffee shop has “snow” in it! If you somehow still haven’t been, here are my suggestions:
- Go (duh)
- If it’s wintertime, order the seasonal fruit galette and a hot latte. If it’s summer, the New Orleans iced coffee.
- I don’t care what time of year it is, you get the dang egg sandwich. You eat the whole thing.
- Don’t plan on going to get some work done, there’s no WiFi for a reason. Leave the laptop at home and catch up on life with an old friend while sipping on a hot cup of the best coffee in town.
Figlio
Are you looking for a similar experience but don’t want to leave the Grandview area? FIGLIO! I promise that you’ll enjoy the experience and people more than you enjoy the food (which is saying something because the food is top-notch) in this family-like atmosphere.
I had the chance to meet the owner a few weeks ago on our Cbusfoodbloggers Tour of Grandview. Link coming SOON! And the man exuded nothing but passion for his award winning restaurant. Pizza, pasta, wine, you name it. All at a reasonable price in an upscale atmosphere.
