You know how much I love the combination of coffee shops in bars, so it was music to my ear’s when the recently homeless Park Service Coffee announced that they’re teaming up with Metsi’s to open a daytime cafe in Metsi’s ground floor dining room and bar. Perfect, I tell you!
Park Service Coffee started in the summer of 2021 as a trailer, first downtown and then at Seventh Son Brewing, before they took up residence in late 2022 as a partner in Woodhouse Vegan’s cafe on West Russell Street in the Short North. It was a great combo, but the cafe closed up this past summer.
Metsi’s, meanwhile, is one of our favorite new openings from this past year. The two-level Italian eatery from chef BJ Lieberman features a subterranean kitchen, dining room, and event space, plus a bright ground floor bar and dining room.
Park Service is keeping its coffee service straightforward: a full espresso bar, drip coffee, pour overs, cold brew, tea, and matcha. Not pictured on the regular menu are specialties, often inspired by Metsi’s, that include an apple cortado and a maple hazelnut budino latte.
I’ve long been a fan of Park Service for their excellent espresso, and it works wonderfully in the specialty drinks.
To supplement the coffee, Metsi’s has created a small grab-and-go menu with a couple sweet items and a quartet of savory sandwiches or salads. The sweets include slices of almond cake and zeppole ricotta donuts.
Savories include a chicken Caesar wrap, stonefruit and farro salad, and this little pair of wood-fired pepper quiche. The quiche is served cold but it’s nicely constructed.
Big props to the mortadello sandwich on Metsi’s excellent house-made sourdough focaccia. This was our favorite of the eats.
All of the items are geared toward carryout, but there’s space in the dining room if you want to sit and linger with your coffee and breakfast.
Park Service Coffee at Metsi’s is open Wednesday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Park Service Coffee / Metsi’s
36 E. Lincoln St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Web: metsisitalian.com/park-service-coffee-breakfast
IG: @eatmetsis
IG: @parkservicecoffee