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Hero For Christ | Kitoba's Columbus: Restaurants and Moviesupdated 6/20/08 ContentsGreat Ethnic Meals on a BudgetChinese Food:With a heavy heart, I'm forced to report that the Siu Mai is the only surviving remnant of a Columbus Dim Sum menu that once rivaled the best of San Francisco.Nevertheless, highly awarded Hong Kong chef Frank Louie and his equally accomplished wife Helena continue to cook Columbus' best Chinese food at Sun Tong Luck, a gourmet's delight cleverly disguised as a typical hole-in-the-wall. The menu, prices and decor here are similar to every cheap Chinese joint in town, but the food is heavenly. Produced entirely without MSG and saturated fats, the STL menu is the best value for money in the city. Sun Tong Luck Asian Cuisine (Carriage Place) (614) 442-3375 2500 Bethel Rd Columbus, OH 43220Those of you who remember the old Joy's Village on campus may do so with a queasy feeling in your stomach. But under the new owners, JV has transformed into an all-hours vendor of tasty and surprisingly authentic Asian specialties. Make sure you check out their large Dim Sum menu, complete with many unusual offerings. Joy's Village (Campus, under Buckeye Books) (614)297-7723 2060 N High St Columbus, OH 43201If you want the authentic big-city Dim Sum experience with the carts, try Fortune Chinese, in the Ackerman Plaza: Fortune Chinese Restaurant (614) 263-1991 2869 Olentangy River Rd Columbus, Ohio 43202I still miss their old chef, but the Fifth Avenue Peking Dynasty remains one of the best places to find ultra-authentic Chinese food in Columbus on a budget. Make sure you ask for the "Chinese" menu if you want to get away from standard Americanized fare. Peking Dynasty 1773 W 5th Ave Columbus, OH 43212 (614) 488-8128 ![]() Top Other Asian FoodGet an authentic Indonsian multi-course meal at Taste of BaliTaste of Bali (Carriage Place) (614) 459-7230 2548 Bethel Rd Columbus, OH 43220For the best Thai food in the city at a great price, try Bankok on Refugee Road, just east of Route 33 (College Avenue). Bangkok Grocery & Restaurant Carryout Orders (South) (614) 231-8787 3277 Refugee Rd Columbus, OH 43232Given the overabundance of mediocre Japanese and mock-Japanese restaurants in Columbus, I can't skip mentioning Restaurant Japan, the only truly authentic and high-quality Japanese restaurant I know of in the city. However, it definitely does NOT fit the category of "budget restaurant" --more like a "break the budget" restaurant. For a poor student like me, it's a once-a-year indulgence --but I definitely dream about it for the other eleven months! Restaurant Japan / Seafood Japan (North/West) (614) 451-6002 1167 Old Henderson Rd Columbus, OH 43220For cheaply priced Vietnamese treats, check out the North Market's Lac Viet. The "Goi-cuon" summer roll is particularly good. Be aware, however, that the stand closes when North Market does. Lac Viet (North Market) (614) 221-0777 59 Spruce Street Columbus, OH 43215 ![]() Top Greek Food:There used to be one great Greek restaurant in Columbus. Then, these three partners split up and each started their own version. The Happy Greek on Campus and the Short North, The Mad Greek on East Broad and My Big Fat Greek Cusina up North all feature the same fantastic appetizer menu. Try the spanakopita (greek spinach pie) the chicken lemon soup, the calamari (fried squid --delicious!) and the kopanisti (spicy feta dip). I guarentee you won't miss the entrée.Happy Greek (Short North) (614) 463-1111 660 N High St Columbus, OH 43215 Mad Greek (East) (614) 338-0000 4210 E Broad St Columbus, OH 43213 My Big Fat Greek Cusina (North) US 33 at Fishinger Road ![]() Top Other Ethnic Food:Darbo Restaurant on Cleveland serves a variety of delicious Somali and Italian entrées at the low price of $7 for a more-than-generous plateful. Each entrée comes with a choice of rice, pasta or chapati, and a bottomless cup of a delicious pineapple beverage is free with each meal.Darbo Restaurant (North) 3764 Cleveland Ave Columbus, OH 43224 (614) 475-8004 ![]() Top Tuesday Night SpecialsFirst-Run Movies are $5.00 per person at the Drexel Gateway, Drexel Grandview and Drexel East, as well as at the Arena Grand. Second-Run Movies are $1.50 per person at Carriage Place Cinemark.The Old Bag of Nails Pub (various locations) offers their justly famous Fish & Chips dinner at two for the price of one and a half on Tuesdays. ![]() Top TeaZen Cha:Columbus's most unique locale, a combination gallery and teahouse serving over a hundred different specialty teas from all around the world.ZenCha Tea Salon (Short North) 982 North High Street, Columbus Ohio 43201 Phone 614.421.2140 Fax 614.421.2141Momo2 TeaZone: The new expanded Momo features a full range of Bubble Teas, a snacks menu, a live DJ, a bowling alley, karaoke rooms and a "Hello Kitty" emporium. What more could you ask for? Momo KTV and Teazone (North) 2895 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202 Map to location Phone: (614) 784-0888 ![]() Top VegetarianBenevolenceFor the hippie in you: Vegan organic food served in a communal atmosphere, with profits supporting a local farm/nature preserve.Benevolence (Short North) (614) 221-9330 41 W Swan St Columbus, OH 43215 Dragonfly Neo-VFor a more upscale experience, check out the organic cuisine at this nationally acclaimed vegan restaurant:Dragonfly (Victorian Village) 247 King Ave Columbus, Ohio 43201 (614) 294-8287 ![]() Top Fine DiningThe Refectory has long been acknowledged as Columbus' premiere fine-dining experience for those with deep pockets. Few people, however, know about their prix fixe Bistro Menu, which is a real steal at $21 per person.Even the Refectory Bistro still ranks as a rare special-event destination for anyone on a budget, but it places true elegance within the realm of possibility for those willing to place their choice of entree in the capable hands of the chef. Refectory Restaurant & Bistro 1092 Bethel Rd Columbus, OH 43220 (614) 451-9774 Basi ItaliaThe cramped seating and impeccable menu make Basi Italia the closest thing Columbus has to a New York City dining experience. Like the Refectory, Basi also features a prix fixe menu for food affectionados with smaller budgets (although here the price differential is not as large).basi italia 811 Highland St Columbus OH 43215 (614) 294-7383 ![]() Top NightlifeColumbus hits the big time with BoMA: The Bar of Modern Art. This is the place to go to impress your out-of-town friends, even if home for them is New York or LA. Located in a lovingly reconstructed antique church, BoMA is equal parts top-drawer art gallery and trendy modern club.BoMA: The Bar of Modern Art 583 E Broad St Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 233-3000 |