My goodness, it’s been another busy year in Columbus restaurants. The hospitality industry can always be volatile, and this has been anything but a normal year, but still a lot happened. We welcomed plenty of excellent new restaurants, we said goodbye to some longtime favorites, and many eateries moved or expanded.
So here it is, the good, the bad, and the ugly: what opened, what closed, and what moved or expanded in 2025!
(Also, if you’re looking for coffee-specific news, check out 14 New Coffee Shops That Opened in 2025!)
The good news first…
Let’s start with donuts! The big news this year was that Rose Dough Donuts finally opened their own storefront, going from a shared kitchen space to a cute little shop in Clintonville. I love their crullers.
In addition to Rose Dough Donuts’ shop, we welcomed a first location of the Parlor Doughnuts chain in Powell (another is coming to Lewis Center already), Resch’s Bakery closed its longtime Livingston Avenue location and moved to Gahanna, a former baker from Resch’s opened KKP Bakery in Grove City, and Monster Baby Donuts set up inside 700 Bryden.
The Mochinut chain also opened a Columbus location in Grandview, while The Mochi Shop joined forces with Coffee Coin to open a storefront on Bethel Road.
A series of Columbus culinary heavy-hitters opened new eateries this year! B.J. Lieberman opened an excellent Italian spot called Metsi’s, in his former Hiraeth space in the Short North. I should post a picture of his pastas, but his tiramisu is the best we’ve ever had. Long in the making, Andrew Smith and Devoney Mills transformed their home-based supper club into Isla in Merion Village. Chef Garrett Talmadge brought modern Mexican in the form of Mezcla, taking the former Market Italian Village space. Justin Wotring ran a series of pop-ups before opening Caroline’s sandwich shop inside North Market.
Other eateries of note include Bristol Republic transforming into Black Sheep Kitchen & Spirits, Osteria Pizzeria bringing Italian to Olde Towne East, VHS Social Club offering retro fun in the Brewery District, and Cleveland transplant House of Creole joining the Short North.
A series of new breweries came online this year, too: Campfire Brewing in Westerville, Bridge’s End Brewing in Shawnee Hills, a location of the chain Voodoo Brewing in the Short North, and Honest Friend Brewing on the South Side. Somewhere in Particular Brewing also renovated and rebranded as Counterbalance Brewing.
It’s been a year for other beverages, too! Perfectly Posh Tearoom opened an elegant tearoom in Franklinton, while the woman-owned Archer Eland debuted its rye whiskeys through Middle West Spirits.
A couple steakhouse chains set up shop in Columbus, from the excellent Mastro’s to Fogo de Chao Brazilian steakhouse. One of the owners of Lindy’s also brought Bar Italia to the former Smith & Wollensky space at Easton.
It’s been a good year for bar food, too! Bobby Jo’s Pizza was such a hit that they found a permanent home inside Donerick’s Pub. A former Chapman’s chef opened Fat Arnie’s Sandwich Shop inside Rafter’s Pub. Justin Boehme, owner of the bygone Dalevee, brought it back his gumbo, etouffee, and other dishes as the JamJam truck, parked at Ace of Cups. And the Cheffy Dawg cart started serving classic and creative dogs at spots like Seventh Son Brewing.
This year a handful of longstanding Columbus restaurants reopened or were reborn under new ownership. Marino’s Seafood Fish & Chips closed after the owners intended to sell it to Arthur Treacher’s, but the deal fell through and they reopened. Longtime Chef-O-Nette owner Harlan Howard retired and sold the Upper Arlington institution to the folks behind Old Bag of Nails, who updated it before reopening. After more than 60 years, Vick’s Gourmet Pizza in Reynoldsburg closed when one of the owners passed away, but they brought the pizzeria back within a month.
The Boat House went from an events-only space to a restaurant. After years of silence, new owners reopened the Blue Danube near campus (now I wish they’d bring back the mural!). Block’s Bagels closed its last location on the east side (not long after founder Hal Block passed away), and Cincinnati-based Marx Bagels brought back the space. Milo’s Deli finally found a new home in the former Strongwater Food & Spirits space in Franklinton.
It’s been a great year of international eats, too. We welcomed more hot pot restaurants with Meetpot at Crosswoods and ER-GE replacing PJ Hot Pot on Sawmill Road. The family-owned Orale Guey Mexican Cafe Grill & Bar became a bit of an internet star earlier in the year; they’ve already announced a second location coming to Worthington. The owner of the former Mashita Noodles started running Jinjja, a Monday night pop-up at Harvest Pizzeria in Clintonville. Bibi’s Patties went from market pop-up to storefront, serving her delightful patties and other Haitian dishes.
Fukuryu Ramen transformed their original UA space to the casual and easy-to-love Izakaya Ryu, while Mizu No Kaori started dishing out ramen in German Village. AJ’s Tacos opened their first brick and mortar in the Hilltop, the Zaki owners opened Linworth Grill, and the Ty Ginger team expanded with Dim Sum Asian Bistro in Grandview. Hokkaido Revolving Sushi Bar offered another conveyor belt sushi experience, while Si Senor welcomed the Arepas Craft Sunday pop-up.
This year we’ve seen a huge influx of smaller Mediterranean and Middle Eastern chains putting down roots in Columbus, from Al Manakeesh bringing Palestinian dishes, Farooj Abo Al Abed with grilled meats, Portuguese grilled chicken from Port of Peri Peri, halal barbecue from Meat Moot, Noori Chicken with Korean fried chicken, another location of CM Chicken, coffee and desserts at Yaffa Cafe in Hilliard.
Now the bad news…
This year we lost some big names in upscale dining. The award-winning Chapman’s Eat Market ended its five-year run in German Village, while Watershed Kitchen & Bar closed this fall, becoming an event space instead. (The distillery and bottle shop are still going!) Josh Dalton closed down 1808 American Bistro in Delaware, while Ghostwriter Public House in Johnstown closed for renovations, reopened, and then closed for good.
A lot of long-time places ended their run, too. Owner Danny Chung from Sunflower Chinese Restaurant retired and closed his Dublin restaurant, while the family-run Diaspora Korean spot near campus shuttered. After the passing of founder Hal Block, Block’s Bagels closed its final location on the east side. Golden China in Reynoldsburg closed after more than 30 years, while this fall the Pearl Market ended its run after three decades.
We lost some other big names, too. After slowly closing up its shops, Hot Chicken Takeover finally shut down for good. It had gone through a couple different owners, expansions, and changes over the intervening years. Wizard of Za, which started as a popular pop-up during the pandemic, closed its Clintonville shop. Ray Ray’s Hog Pit scaled back by closing its Marion and Johnstown restaurants as well as its Linworth truck (and it was just announced they filed for bankruptcy, so we’ll see what happens). Cincinnati-based Nada in the Arena District abruptly closed this spring, and Happy Greek closed up in the Short North (we have fond memories of many dinners there!). After failing to find new owners, the Bexley Coffee Shop ended its run, too.
Hilliard lost its excellent Hoagie City sandwich shop, while the Grill & Skillet diner closed up on the east side. Rodos European Grill in Linworth suffered a catastrophic fire and closed, the NYC sandwich pop-up Big Apple Breakfast Co. closed up inside Worthington Pizza Primo.
Downtown Columbus lost a handful of places. The Kee went from bar and restaurant to an events-only space in the Warehouse District. Pecan Penny’s barbecue closed for a potential retool. Way Down Yonder Beignets & Coffee closed up (with potential for a new location that combines it with Way Down Yonder New Orleans Restaurant). And 16-Bit Bar + Arcade left another blank storefront on South Fourth Street.
In other closures, The Purple Door coffee shop in Zora’s House sadly closed, Loco Social on Grandview Avenue ended its run, Cafe Istanbul closed its Bexley outpost, Zacatecas Mexican Grill exited Worthington, and Mecha Noodle Bar suddenly closed last week in the Short North. Granville Brewing ended its run after more than a decade, and 451 Spirits in Clintonville closed its space but will keep distilling through Echo Spirits.
But it hasn’t been all closures. A lot of places have made moves this year!
First off: who moved? As I mentioned at the top, Resch’s Bakery moved from its longtime Livingston Avenue shop to a new one in Gahanna. Vegan outpost Happy Little Treats exited its Short North home for a new bakery and coffee shop in Grandview. Bottoms Up Coffee closed its original Hilltop space but moved into the former Stauf’s storefront in the View on Grant. Tomatillos Mexican Restaurant left Linworth and went to the Worthington Hills shopping center. The Bearded Baker closed up its East Market stall to open its own storefront on East Main Street.
It’s not exactly a move, but Ampersand Asian Supper Club closed its Short North shop while opening one in Uptown Westerville. And after a long process, chef Henry Butcher’s Creole Kitchen has opened in its new home on East Long Street in King-Lincoln Bronzeville.
Now, who expanded? Tulip Cafe completed a beautiful expansion of their Dublin cafe, offering a broader menu of coffee, Turkish breakfast, and sweets. Noble Cut Distillery has grown into their Gahanna space. The Original Goodie Shop in Upper Arlington expanded their bakery. The owners of Charmy’s Persian Taste took over the Hills Market downtown, renovating it and renaming it Charmy’s Market. And two spots added cocktail bars! The Twisted Vine in Grandview expanded to add more libations, while Forno in the Short North added a basement speakeasy.
And there were plenty of places that added second, third, fourth locations!
Fox in the Snow added its fifth location, this one in Uptown Westerville. Dirty Frank’s joined Ace of Cups in Old North, Si Senor added its third shop at Easton, and Delaware’s Ciao Cafe expanded to German Village. Modern Southern Table added a Clintonville storefront, 3 Brothers Diner added a Powell branch, Frenchi’s Deli joined the Short North, and Preston’s Burgers added a stall at The Little Grand Market.
CM Chicken added a fourth Columbus-area location (this one in Grandview), Kyushu Ramen Bar added a third spot on Bethel Road, Pho Chef joined the Kenny Centre Mall. Meanwhile, Johnson’s Real Ice Cream is on a run with new shops, joining Pickerington and adding TWO shops in Powell. (They’re headed to Lewis Center next year.) Yogi’s Bar & Grill added their fourth location, this one in Grandview, while Dulce Vida Ice Cream Factory added a fifth store. Sexton’s Pizza also added a fourth spot, this one in Lewis Center’s Evans Farm.
Whew! What a year!
Curious about what happened in coffee this year, check out 14 New Coffee Shops That Opened in 2025!
You can also me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, read my guide to Columbus, or search for travel inspiration.