Page 10 - Patrick Cooley News Today

Delivery-only restaurants rose in prominence during the coronavirus pandemic as patrons became increasingly wary of in-person dining and ate more meals at home. But these so-called cloud kitchens or ghost kitchens predate the pandemic by several years, and industry experts and restaurateurs think they have the potential to outlast it. Cloud kitchens appeal to prospective restaurant owners thanks to low overhead costs, and they provide the freedom to experiment with new concepts. “People have ...

London, the small city at the center of Madison County, will have an upscale seafood restaurant and steakhouse later this year. The eatery is part of plans for an independent senior living community with more than 55 housing units. Entrepreneur Paul Gross, who owns property near the Bluebird Retirement Community on Route 56, plans to open Farm Table this fall.  The groundbreaking for the planned senior community, which will include the 8,600-square-foot restaurant, is scheduled for Friday...

The Grainery in Plain City needs more staff as customers return to in-person dining in greater numbers. But job openings at the bar and restaurant had few takers, even after manager Andrew Dawson offered sign-on bonuses. “I personally have scheduled 23 interviews in the past two and a half weeks and have had three people show up, only one of which accepted the position,” Dawson said. The lack of response was somewhat shocking. “Being in the industry for 15 years, I’m used to having peo...

Fast on the heels of the new North Market in Dublin and Budd Dairy Hall in Italian Village, New Albany soon will be home to a food hall of its own. Bubbly Hall is scheduled to open in the fall at the corner of Central College and New Albany roads. It will feature 10 local food companies offering a variety of cuisines. Crepes, vegan soul food, Americanized Mediterranean and Mexican street food will be among the offerings. Bubbly will feature eight permanent vendors and two spots for pop-up ven...

The state lets cities create designated outdoor refreshment areas (DORAs) that exempt pedestrians from open container laws. Demand for outdoor dining during the pandemic is intense, and communities throughout Ohio have allowed restaurants to expand patios and set up seating in parking lots and on sidewalks. A group of Columbus restaurants even lobbied the city to let them put more tables outside. As peak outdoor dining season approaches, some of those same communities are embracing DORAs. Pow...

The four historic buildings at the corner of South Main and Mill streets in Utica retain much of the look and feel of the structures that once housed and processed grain.  “On the outside, it looks like an old grist mill,” said Doug Morgan, the Campbell Mill property’s owner with his wife, Beth Morgan. But venture inside what is now known as Mill Street, and one might find a quaint reception hall, upscale overnight accommodations, or the equipment for distilling bourbon and brandy. A lo...

The R Bar lives and dies with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and over the past few weeks, it’s finally starting to live again. On the nights of several recent Blue Jackets games, the bar was filled to capacity, owner Michael Darr said. Or at least it was filled to its limited capacity under Ohio’s coronavirus restrictions, which require tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart. “All seats are taken on all game days,” he said. “People are getting here early, and they are getting up and mo...

Minor fire reported at Buckeye Middle School on South Side of Columbus Columbus Firefighters responded to a minor fire at Buckeye Middle School on Parson Avenue on the South Side of Columbus Sunday morning. A shed outside of the building caught fire shortly before 10 a.m. The extent of the damage to the building is unclear, but at least one classroom appeared to have suffered smoke damage. The building was empty when the fire started. Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said the cause is...

Jasmine Fusion Grill opened at the end of October at 560 S. High St. in German Village, offering diners Indian food with elements of Mexican, Italian and American cuisine. The menu, for example, features a samosa filled with macaroni and cheese. The restaurant offers fast casual meals with an eye toward convenience, co-owner Meredith Spano said. Spano’s husband, Zulfiqar Ali, previously worked as a chef for the Tandoori Grill, a classic Indian restaurant on Bethel Road just north of the Olen...

Twin 4-year-old boys were taken to the hospital following a Columbus house fire. One twin later died.