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Categories: American (New), Vegetarian, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: Short NorthMon-Sun. 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Ginger ale lovers of the world unite! This place has an awesome fresh mint ginger ale. It took all my willpower not to slurp the whole pint down immediately. If you want something similar with booze, order the ginger mojito. Seriously, these drinks are brilliant.
It's on the merit of the ginger bevs and their amazing veggie burger that I give Northstar a 5-star rating. The veggie patty was among the best I've had in 15 years as a vegetarian. It's got beets! (If you're not a huge fan of beets, don't worry because the taste doesn't overwhelm. If you are a huge fan of beets, though, this will make you go YAY!) I also applaud their presentation of the burger. It's got a thin layer of delicious white cheddar and thinly-sliced dill pickles. Round off the whole thing with a small side salad. This meal must have been created for me. If I lived in Columbus, this would be my comfort food.
OK, I've tried this place for breakfast as well as lunch and I just don't see what everyone is raving about. Personally, I found the place to be overpriced and the menu didn't offer nearly enough choices. I respect the fact that the food is organic, but I'm not one of those people who think that just because it's organic that it will automatically taste better.
Breakfast...
I decided to go with some eggs, bacon, and home fries. This particular favorite of mine is something I would say is virtually impossible for me not to like. However, I could hardly finish my plate. The bacon was undercooked (to the point of raw) and the eggs had a funny taste to them almost as if they were cooked together with something else(that I didn't particularly like the taste of). The home fries were acceptable but by no means were above average. To make matters worse, my friend received their food several minutes before I did so I sat there waiting on what ended up being a disappointing meal which I could hardly finish.
Lunch...
I decided to go with the chicken flat bread. I believe the price for this was around $12 so I fully expected it to be fulfilling. To my dismay, the crust resembled the thickness of parchment paper. The flavor of the flat bread didn't exactly deliver anything robust either as I found the taste to be somewhat bland.
Perhaps I made I made poor choices in menu selection, but there really isn't a whole lot to chose from. My buddy insists that I go back and try the veggie burger or something else. I told him I would...so if anything changes I will update this review.
On the positive, Northstar does offer a great place to hang out. There's plenty of comfortable seating both inside and out as well as a nice selection of magazines to peruse. I feel because of this it would be a better served as a coffee shop or lounge.
You know those mornings where you wake up with a hazy head from last night's bourbon extravaganza, and all you want is some strong coffee and a fulfilling breakfast within a stone's throw of your house?
I do.
While I used to head to Northstar on those mornings, it has steadily lost its place in my brunch restaurant rotation. Depending on the degree of haziness, it's usually Cafe Corner, Tip Top, or Surly Girl. Admittedly, I like that they offer foods made with organic ingredients and have a friendly staff. The menu, on the other hand, isn't really for me. Why in the world does every item have sweet potatoes or carmelized onions on it? WHY? The coffee is fine enough, but then there's the smoothies. When all my friends raved about the "Shooting Star" drink, I gave it a shot. Unfortunately, that drink had more of an identity crisis than the Republican party. Too much carrot, not enough orange, and chunks of ginger that just didn't mesh.
As you're waiting in line during the weekend brunch rush, there's also the Short North young professionals with babies and misbehaving toddlers to contend with. Don't get me wrong, kids are great. But you know what? Momma is hungover and uncaffeinated.
Dark chocolate truffle cookie.
Now that I have your attention, let me list the top 5 reasons why I love Northstar:
5) Sweet Potato and Turkey Hash -- Who doesn't love a good hash? And with turkey and sweet potatoes? A healthy one, to boot. The flavor is awesome.
4) Location -- Most of my friends live in the ShoNo so this place is uber convenient for everyone. I lack a car when I come visit and it's so easy to just walk there on a lazy afternoon.
3) Mushroom Frittata -- The mushrooms taste so good alongside that gruyere. Mmmm. And the rosemary potatoes? Ugh. The best part, though, is the biscuit. It's always so flaky and wonderful.
2) Northstar Burger -- I once ate my cold, leftover burger remnants in an airport at 8am. Best breakfast ever. The patty is made from organic brown rice, black beans and beets, the cheese is white cheddar and the croutons in the side salad are garlicky and delicious. This is not just an amazing vegetarian burger, it's an amazing burger overall -- period.
1) Dark chocolate truffle cookie, duh. Made fresh daily. :)
Do not order the veggie burger unless you want to die of euphoric bliss.
Definitely the best veggie burger I've ever had. Good enough that I ended up going back to have it twice on our relatively short visit to Columbus!
My first visit, I was eating by myself, so I got it to go, Even by the time I made it back to the hotel, it was still warm and delicious, though I felt the side salad it was served with to be a little lacking. I got a peanut butter cookie for desert that was outstanding.
The second time, I ate in, and discovered you could swap the side out, so I went cole slaw (which was really, really good). I also started with a cup of the soup of the day (tomato and bread) which was hearty and satisfying, especially for a cool day.
I don't really know Columbus well enough to know if the prices are reasonable, but at least by DC standards, it was a fair price to pay for the quality of the food.
This review is for the veggie burger only.
While in Columbus visiting family, we always stop by NorthStar for their excellent burger is handmade grains. OMG!!! The best. They are juicy, flavorful and garnished well--also nice bun.
You can add their vegan cheese (which is not waxy). Highly recommend!! Slso, great juice bar and tea selection. Classy joint....free-wifi .There are several locations in Columbus.
Were it not for the great atmosphere, I would agree that the price can be a little high. However, sitting in Northstar makes me feel good, which is worth an extra dollar or two. It atmosphere is something like a cross between Chipotle, Barnes & Noble, and something far more awesome. Lots of windows, outdoor seating available, and a great selection of magazines to browse while you eat.
Speaking of which, the food is good and somewhat unique--I had some sort of wrap with tofu (I'm sorry, but I can't remember the name) which was excellent.
I would recommend Northstar for a "we should get coffee sometime" sort of date.
So I have only been here once, and therefore only had one meal but that experience was enough to be upset with Northstar cafe. I had a number of friends tell me about how much they loved the place and then some tell me that they had no interest in visiting here, so finally I got around to trying the place and I think that it will probably be my last time.
I got a turkey sandwich and a tomato soup to eat and neither of them were particularly good. The sandwich contained a lot of turkey, and itself was decent but my problem with the sandwich is that the bread seemed to be very oily, which wasn't terrible but just annoying mostly.
But the soup was terrible. And by terrible I mean it may have been the worst soup that I have ever eaten. It had bread in it which wasn't bad, but the problem was everything again was way too oily first off. Second off the flavors were terrible, it seems like it was someone botched the recipe and then just tried to throw as much black pepper as they could on top of it to make up for it.
The worst part about that soup is that if you would have just gotten a cup of the soup it would have been 4.50 or 7 dollars for a bowl of soup that should not have been consumed by humans, or canines.
This place is pricey, but if the food had been better it could have been decent enough -- but that was not the case.
Service is always great.
Food comes out fast.
Food is always good.
However, I think it's kind of pricey for what it is, and I wish there were more options.
I'm willing to give it a few more tries though, and maybe then I'll be a raving lunatic about the place like everyone else!
Not more than a week after my last edit containing the info about Kevin contacting me I received a letter from Kevin himself in the mail. It mostly repeated what I already recounted here. Additionally, four cards for a free menu item were included. Just this past week I used my last of the four free item cards.
In none of my last four visits did I have anywhere near the experience I first wrote about, though I am still fairly ambivalent about the place. Kevin unquestionably went above and beyond to turn my bad experience around. There is no denying that. Furthermore, in none of my past four visits did I see the manager who mishandled my initial situation...although I wouldn't read too much into this.
The food is still good, which I never contested. The honey bbq burrito is probably a new favorite. The salsa served with the chips is also very good, although the portion served could stand to be increased slightly.
Kevin's sincerity is appreciated and he successfully insured that I will continue to go back from time to time, but my overall opinion of the restaurant remains the same, by and large.
I try to steer clear of this place because I think it is a little overpriced. There are several… Read more »
Really enjoyed my meal here...Cool decor. Would recommend the outside area if its nice out and seating is available. It does get rather packed on the weekend mornings. Bonus points again for having more of a veg menu. Well I choose the breakfest burrito and was very satisfied w/ my choice and super full at the sametime. Yes I had to conquer the burrito by eating it all! :) You can definitely plan on skipping lunch if you do get it. Very tasty burrito that comes w/ sweet potatoes in it. Never seen it before and was liking it in every bite! Cant remember what everyone else got but they enjoyed it just as much as I did. Short North area in cbus definitely has a # of GREAT restaurants to choose from. A+++
This is a fantastic locally run place... the service is excellent with staff that seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs (where as I find a lot of folks working other places where it's plainly obvious that they don't care about their jobs aside from the paycheck). I find the food to be creative and well executed with them being able to consistantly make a great meal. I also dig their perspective on how to source their ingredients and manage their relationships with their suppliers.
The only thing I'd like is if they had a bit more selection on the menu, and I also could do with a shorter wait for the weekend brunch but it's pretty hard to fault the place for just being sucessful.
I loved it. The decor was cute... simple and modern.
Their food was great, and even though I've only been there once, the girl I was with said she has loved everything she ever got there.
I ended up getting the Honey BBQ Burrito.. which was delicious.
The location was great, very urban and popular. It wasn't crowded at the time we were there, which was pretty nice. It was quiet, and easy to hear the person you were talking to.
All together, a great place. And, I can't wait to go back.
FINALLY!!!
The beer is up to speed with the food at this place. I can only take so much Bell's.
They have 60 minute and aprihop dogfish head IPA!
This is going to be a great summer.
We get it everyone loves Northstar. I do too. I ate here while visiting Columbus for the first time… Read more »
Although I have been going to Northstar for years now, I had such a nice dinner there last night, I felt I needed to write a review. The people working are always extremely friendly, the service is usually quick except at very busy times. They have a great selection of magazines to read while waiting for your food (which is especially nice if you go alone which I sometimes do) and play great music. Recently I have been going for dinner more than breakfast, however breakfast is amazing (ricotta pancakes, sweet potato hash, fresh squeezed orange juice). I have lately been addicted to the Buddha bowl on the dinner/lunch menu. A delicious blend of steamed veggies (I don't even like broccoli and cauliflower but I like it on this) with chicken, brown rice, and sauce. Filing and healthy, especially on a cool evening. As other reviewers have mentioned, the veggie burger is amazing as well. It is definitely the place to go if you are looking for a healthier alternative while eating out. Northstar is also a great place for studying/working during the afternoon. I like getting a hot apple cider (with whipped cream on top) and an oatmeal cookie and enjoying the excellent music however I do wish they had free wireless. All in all, I always leave Northstar satisfied.
I strayed from my norm and went to the 'star for lunch.
Let me just say this. I hate beets. I think they taste like dirt. Yes, they are a pretty color, but they taste like I just licked my parent's garden. So when ordering the Veggie Burger at Northstar, I was a bit apprehensive that the "burger" was made with beet juice. However, after taking a single bite my fear dissipated! The "burger" was delicious! Kudos, Northstar! Another A+ in my book!!
Oh Northstar. I crave you. A lot. I could drink one of your blueberry smoothies everyday. Mmmm. Your… Read more »
VEGGIE BURGER!!!! I lived in columbus for 4 years and went to Northstar at least once a week!
I could eat this veggie burger, each and every day! Actually, I could have their PANCAKES with coffee for breakfast and veggie brger with one of their tasty beers or a glass of wine there EVERY DAY!
Recently, I moved to the SF Bay Area...I have yet to find anything like northstar's veggie burger, it's hard to believe but it's true! I have even tried to duplicate this burger many times...impossible!
I MISS YOU NORTH STAR!!!! Come to California!!
Northstar Cafe is hands down one my favorite restaurants in Columbus! The decor is inviting and outside tables are great on a nice day. Both breakfast and lunch/dinner menus offer a variety of delicious menu options. Everything I have tried I have liked (and I think by now I've tried everything on the menu). My favorites are the Northstar Burger (best veggie burger I've ever eaten), Sweet Basil Burrito (love the sauce), and the Buddha Bowl (seriously can I have the peanut sauce recipe?). Also try a Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookie...ooeygooey chocolate to die for! I love that the owners buy local and organic food and everything is so well prepared. They have many gluten free options and are willing to make something gluten free if possible. You will not go wrong with Northstar Cafe!
This is the first place I ate at when, after seven hours of flying and migraine-inducing ear popping, I landed in Columbus. I had the veggie burger and a shooting star and I really liked it. The place has a distinct bohemian/vegetarian/vegan vibe which is hard to ignore. It's a pretty pricey for me, but the staff working there made me feel very comfortable and at home.
I like this place. The food is really good, if perhaps less varied than I would like. But there are one or two things that I really enjoy so I don't count that against them. The addition of alcohol is nice. The atmosphere and decoration are soothing.
Try the shooting star. It's very refreshing. The vegetarian options are refreshing. I wasn't super thrilled with the breakfast options, but maybe I wasn't in the mood when we tried it.
Yum! The veggie burger is hands down the best I've ever had. The ginger mojitos are to die for, and that breakfast sandwich on the biscuit with the egg...that's what breakfast is all about. Simple dishes prepared well with quality ingredients: that's what every restaurant should provide.
Is the Black Bean Northstar burger as good as everyone says it is? You bet your bottom dollar it is! It tastes like beef, which is weird considering it's all veggies. But, perhaps the strangest part of this little burger is that it has beets in it; it's even slightly tinted pink. Amazing, amazing, amazing, and healthy.
Whether you like guacamole or not, you'll likely enjoy the guac at Northstar. It's the best I've had (other than my own). I usually pass off chunky guacamole as lazy guacamole, but I like the chunks at Northstar.
And the house ginger ale is tops. It has mint in it!
The only thing I have tried and not liked at Northstar is the pulpy carrot, orange smoothie drink. This may be a little biased because I hate citrus fruit and I hate pulp, but thinking about that drink makes me a bit nauseated.
Everything else is delish!
Prices are high.
The crowd is a mixed bag.
When I go, I like to sit at the bar/window seat and watch all the dog walkers. The patio also has a nice feel. It's cute to see all the multi-colored bikes chained to the fence.
Warning: Attempting to eat an entire giant chocolate Northstar cookie may result in rapid heart palpitations.
Dear Northstar Cafe-
Please pick up your little behind and make your way over to New York City. Preferably, somewhere in the Upper West Side. Although we make sure we see each other every time I visit, I just don't know how much longer I'll be able to survive this long distance relationship.
I toss and turn at night with nightmares of dark creatures stealing my Buddha Bowls and throwing them even further out of my reach into Idaho's potato fields. I shed a tear when I fondly remember the way you wrapped me up with a warm burrito. But it's the little things that really count- the chips and guacamole on the side, the Bell's beer from my college town... oh the memories...
Make haste my sweet basil beauty!
Amazing. Found this place on yelp while spending the afternoon in columbus, and the other people in the car were pretty skeptical of a "hip, somewhat vegetarian" restaurant, but they all loved it.
Flatbread chicken pizza was nice, but really spicy. We joked that it was super spicy to discourage people from eating meat.
I listened to the 50 or so other reviews and tried to veggie burger. I also think its the best veggie burger ever.
Also had a bottle of La Fin Du Monde, which is an amazing bear. Very tasty.
If I was back in columbus, I would definitely go.
After hearing so much hype about Northstar Cafe (both from fellow Yelpers and SASarah), I gave into my curiosity. I met up with my three best SAS girls for breakfast, two of whom have become regulars there.
There weren't many breakfast options to choose from, but I was definitely wavering between the Big Burrito and the Cloud Nine Pancakes. I felt hungry and daring so I ended up with the Big Burrito. I mean, when was the last time you had sweet potatoes in your burrito? I also couldn't resist picking up a gigantic Day Old peanut butter cookie for a snack later in the day.
My burrito was quite scrumptious and fattening; I can only blame myself for the latter since I picked it afterall. I could literally just see the fat oozing out of the cheese, as well as from the sweet potatoes and grilled onions. The burrito was a little too hefty for me, and I could only finish half of it. I didn't care too much about the salsa that came with my order. Both SASarah and SASAllie ordered the Cloud Nine Pancakes. Personally, I think they looked a little too healthy (for pancakes, at least.) Both claimed the pancakes savory, and I made a mental note to order it next time I go to Northstar for breakfast. SASKatie ordered the ham and cheese scone which she said was oddly sweet, i.e. far from what a ham and cheese scone should taste like. I later found my PB cookie slightly too salty, and I blame the peanuts scattered on top the cookie for contributing to the taste.
Northstar Cafe definitely provides a different environment and it could very well be a new study place of mine. Great choice of music in the background for my listening pleasure. Great selection of magazines to distract me from my studies. Great folks all around. Prices were quite reasonable, methinks. SASarah insists that the lunch and dinner menu beats the breakfast menu so I'll definitely be back to sample the other offerings (and other Day Old cookies.)
The other 50 or so reviews of Northstar on Yelp indicate that this little restaurant in the Short North is pretty much where it's at in C-Bus. I think it has something to do with the wonderful combination of accessibility and pretension.
The setting and some of the menu -- the fact that it is scant on meat and the multitude of vegan options -- may be intimidating to some. However, the restaurant is for everyone! There is meat on the menu (I get some every time I visit). The Buddha Bowl is as approachable as anything at a mainstream pan-Asian restaurant. The menu also boasts sandwiches, salads and burritos. They also have great cookies. Who doesn't like cookies?!
When you visit the restaurant, though, you can't help but feel like you're somewhere cool. Coolness aside, the prices can seem high. You get what you pay for, though: locally produced veggies and meat and fresh flavors.
What started as a restaurants to agree on with my vegetarian friends has developed into one of my favorite spots in downtown. Northstar is one of those rare places that lives up to the hype.
My boyfriend and I went here, after hearing so many glowing reviews from our friends and acquaintances, and I must say, it was a total let-down. The atmosphere is really nice, sparse, very yuppy. The food was a bit pricey considering the ambiance, but we went with it.
When the food arrived we both were like, "this is it?" I guess I had just expected so much more. I had the pizza, which was ok. I tried my bf's food, which was also ok. It sucks, since we both wanted a good veg/vegan place to go to. We're going to continue looking.
The magazines were a nice distraction. I heard it's a good place to go if you'd like to steal a few on your way out. *Shrug*
Plenty of parking for your bike. Plenty of great magazines to read. Great veggie burger. Friendly service. It gets really busy and can be hard to find seats depending on how many people you have with you. Nice patio. The price includes the tip so it may seem overpriced, but it's definitely not.
At some point in the future I'll have to return to find out if the veggie burger lives up to the hype, but for now I will call Northstar the best bet for a quality breakfast in Columbus. Why 3 stars you ask? Because it is the best bet for breakfast IN COLUMBUS, a city seriously starved for breakfast of any sort. In a bigger city, I rather doubt Northstar would be a blip on the foodie map. Allow me to explain...
On a beautiful April Ohio day (AKA cold and rainy) my sister and I decided to see if Northstar lived up to the hype it has been generating since it opened. While I'm no stranger to pretentious cafes and delis, I find the concept a tad strange considering Northstar's Short North location and emo/artschool crowd. The price is right, the music is right, but something about the 'scene' is wrong considering the bright lights, slick design, and healthful but limited menu.
To begin, "Quick Casual" generally isn't my cup o' tea, so I was a bit taken aback by the order and sit/wait style seen at places like Panera. The free magazine rack definitely helps, though. Additionally, arriving early on a Saturday morning while most college kids are still asleep made the place far less annoyingly crowded than on your average weekend afternoon/evening.
To begin the meal, my sister and I ordered and split a Pecan and Date Morning Glory Muffin. Dense, nutty, and heavy for sure. Worth $4? Not so much. My sister opted to try the delectable Belgian Dark Chocolate Cocoa (actually worth the $4, by far the best cocoa I've had in Cbus) while I fed my 80-hour-workweek-schedule-induced caffeine addiction with multiple refills of the delicious and bold Brazilian Medium Roast coffee.
For our meals, obviously the Cloud Nine Pancakes. Ricotta, Banana, Real Butter, and Ohio Maple syrup? Sign me up! While certainly not on par with offerings in other big cities, these cakes were airy yet filling, flavorful yet healthy, and very well presented. The bananas were cut a bit thick, IMO, and more fruit would have been nice, but overall these cakes definitely top anything else in our anemic local breakfast repetoir. $9 for a stack of 3 is a tad steep when compared to something like Griddle Cafe or Doughboys in Los Angeles, but certainly better than an equally priced belly bomb at IHOP.
On the way out the door, mostly out of curiosity and gluttony, we picked up a "Day Old" cookie for a buck. Carmel, Peanut Butter, and topped with whole salty peanuts......this thing stole the show for sure.
All told, Northstar is a very solid dining option and while I certainly commend them for bringing a healthier option to the land of TeeJays, Bob Evans, and IHOP, the hype is somewhat undeserved.
Northstar is not for everyone, I'll say that upfront.
The first thing you need to know is that you won't be waited on hand and foot. You will stand in line to place your order, find your own table (which can be challenging especially during weekend brunch times), get your own drinks, and someone will bring your food to you. This is why you don't have to tip at Northstar. When you're looking at the prices on the menu and thinking they're a little high, keep that in mind.
Which brings me to the menu itself. It's small, about the size of a standard sheet of notebook paper, one-sided. If you want limitless options, it's not for you. If you don't mind a small selection of meat/vegetarian/vegan options, it might be. Northstar uses a lot of local and organic ingredients, though not exclusively, I don't think. They'll be happy to answer any questions for you, and they will customize almost any item to be vegetarian or vegan; just ask.
It's not health food, or at least not lowfat. It is however real food, minimally processed, made with fresh ingredients, but plenty of cheese and oil, depending what you order. Portions are generous too, and it's kind of hard not to eat the whole thing because it's so darn tasty.
If you can deal with those few caveats, I think you'll love Northstar as much as I do.
Specific recommendations:
Drinks: try the Shooting Star with your breakfast - it's a blend of carrot and orange juice, super good for you, and surprisingly tasty. I have a friend who puts sugar in it, but try it as is, and I think you'll like it. For lunch or dinner, skip the soda and drink iced tea; they do different teas seasonally, but all are tasty. Free refills on them, same as soda and coffee. Beer and wine are offered too, again a small selection but good stuff.
Food: For breakfast, I usually order the burrito with tofu, though I have friends who swear by the sweet potato hash. The yogurt and granola is a lighter option which is also very good. Brunch I get the Northstar burger, with breakfast potatoes instead of salad. Not that there is anything wrong with the salad, but for brunch, the potatoes just seem to go better. The burritos, flatbread pizzas, and rice bowls are all good at lunch or dinner; the Buddha bowl is my favorite, with spicy peanut sauce over veggies, tofu (or chicken - your choice), and brown rice.
Cookies, muffins, scones, etc are all yummy as well, and made with local eggs and butter; get one to take home, or split one with a friend.
I get coffee here just about every day - less than a minute from work. The veggie burger is amazing - the ginger ale is so good. The chocolate cookie is soooo good. I haven't had a bad experience there. Everyone's pretty nice, but one guy is kind of inattentive at the register. Nice atmosphere in there too, and a good amount of space.
I've tried these and recommend them all:
Cheese flatbread, Veggie burger, ginger-ale (made in-house!), chocolate cookie, basil burrito, buddha bowl.
It is a bit pricey, but you're paying a local business that tries to treat their employees well and you're supporting Ohio agriculture. Plus everything tastes great. It's worth the price.
Visiting Columbus and came by Northstar for breakfast. It was mid-morning on a weekday so it was not overly crowded and turned out to be a great place to hang out for an hour and enjoy outdoor patio dining. I had the Big Burrito with a ginger ale. While the burrito was very good, the most memorable part of the meal was that ginger ale - wow that is good stuff.
Too much headwear. Berets, knit wool beanies, babushka shawls. Tofu attracts headwear. But it's ok, because none of these people are annoying, and there is no cross-marketing with the hookah lounge across the street. Northstar's for-sale copy of Utne Reader was well-thumbed, but that's people marking territory.
And, other than the regrettable side effect of attracting beanies and sideburns, the tofu is great. I take Northstar tofu any way I can get it, but usually in the barbeque burrito. I am not an expert on organic and locally grown and whatever, but I feel spectacular after eating here -- ever eat a meal that makes you feel like you'd just slept twelve hours?
Huge pastries for like three or four dollars. Probably worth it, as long as you remember that organic sugary pastries are still sugary pastries. Best of all is homemade ginger ale; it looks a bit like a mint julep?
Pleasant service, semi-DIY, true to the "cafe" name. Music can be too loud for a conversation, but perfect for accompanying solo outings.
As for the headwear, it's more palatable than the John Deere hats at the now-defunct Coffee Table.
I am not a vegetarian but if I were (and even though I'm not), I want to eat their veggie burger EVERYDAY!
In short, I love this place. Great concept and fairly unique in terms of Columbus eateries. Great service as well. I particularly love the layout and design of the place.
The menu options are simple but effective with an easy walk-up-and-order cafeteria style system.
Higher quality food- slightly more expensive than Cosi but worth every dime.
I know it can get really loud and is super crowded on weekend mornings, but I just love how fresh and delicious there food is. If you like chocolate cookies, you MUST try one here. One of the absolute best I've ever had!
Staff:
Courteous and kind. They care about the quality of the food and about experience of the patrons. Great training!
Food:
The use of local produce is inspiring and it shows in the flavor. I'm happy to say that I've eaten here many times (even before it opened). I keep coming back, because of the fantastic attention to detail.
Environment:
Open but not too noisy. It can get crowded at lunch, though the patio helps during the warmer months. Parking is an issue at times but the food is worth the effort. Besides, you probably need to walk anyway. :)
If you should find yourself lost with a hungry group of hard-to-please friends in the Short North, Northstar is always your safest bet. Between a basic yet satisfying menu with many vegan-friendly options and the friendly, just-hip-enough design and layout, you'd be more likely to hear Michael Bolton on the soundsystem than you would a complaint from anyone.
There are so many things to love about Northstar, with the first and most important being the food. For a restaurant that caters to the tastes and ideals of liberal vegetarian/vegan types, the food they offer to soulless philistines such as myself is certainly nothing to scoff at. The basil chicken burrito is put together with great care and craftsmanship, but don't let the fancy presentation fool you: the flavors that burst on to your pallet upon your first bite are indescribably bold and distinct. You can taste everything at once from the first to last bite, which explains why Northstar goes to such lengths to purchase only the highest quality ingredients from local farmers and food suppliers. Like that matters to me; I'd still eat the wraps from Northstar if they sold them next door as White Castle.
The atmosphere of the indoor dining area is always bustling and sometimes feels like a busy night at Barnes and Noble, but with an incredible stream of indie music coming from all directions and a magazine rack that holds no punches, you'll learn to love it after just one visit. I sometimes find myself wishing my food took longer to arrive, just so I could browse the magazines that are free to read for just a moment longer. Obligatory selections like Utne Reader, Paper, Fader, and Adbusters are ever present, as are underground niche magazines about every other topic imaginable. The outdoor patio is also a great place to dine with friends and watch the passing crowds on a warm summer day.
The only downside to a meal at Northstar is the price, which usually costs around $10 for an entree item and a drink. With such incredibly high food standards and stylish dwellings, however, it's easy to forgive them after your first visit. I know I did!
The brunch crowds on weekends are all the testament needed for the quality of Northstar Cafe's brunch. Google it and you'll find several brunch-centered reviews raving about the Cloud Nine pancakes and the three-mushroom frittata. I've had breakfast, lunch, and dinner there, and it has yet to disappoint, and I intend to go back often. Northstar's limited but satisfying lunch/dinner menu is reasonably priced (though not 'cheap') and approximately half vegetarian, with the rest consisting primarily of chicken.
Unusually for Columbus, Northstar uses natural/organic ingredients, and maybe this is why everything tastes so good. Add freshly squeezed juice, fresh-baked items labeled by how long it's been since they came out of the oven, quick, courteous service, and delightful indoor and outdoor seating, and you've got the trendiest casual dining in the Short North.
I've upped my rating from 4 to 5 stars because Northstar is not only appropriate for almost any occasion, but is so reliably excellent as to be worthy of the 5th star.
simply the BEST veggie burger in the entire world! i could eat it for every meal of every day and never ever get sick of it.
all the food is just amazing at northstar. worth the prices.
Neighborhood: Clintonville
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: German Village
Category: Parks
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Category: American (New)
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Category: Farmers Market
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