Photo via www.marketsixtyfive.com
Frequent patrons of Chipotle Mexican Grill or Columbus-owned Piada Italian Street Food will recognize the value of embracing the fast-casual dining style. Their products are distinct from the fast food-style environment of Subway, and the model has established certain expectations for the classier side of fast-casual dining.
On the Table: Grow Your Own Way
Customers will recognize the loft-style design principles in its dining room, for example. Dim lighting gives the abundant stainless steel surfaces and plywood details a welcoming glow. Diners look for this quality in atmosphere and food from local restaurants as well, and central Ohio proprietors have found success in emulating Chipotle and Piada while establishing their own creative eateries. Scroll through the gallery for some great instances of local ingenuity delivered with low prices.
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www.bibibop.com
BiBiBop Asian Grill Grandview, Upper Arlington, Polaris, and Easton
BiBiBop is a small, local chain which is rapidly growing in popularity as its locations expand. BiBiBop is still a small enough network of establishments to be less widely known than Piada, its popular Italian counterpart. Unlike Piada, BiBiBop’s menu is oriented toward more exotic fare, from its purple wild rice to its broad range of sauces and toppings.
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www.marketsixtyfive.com
Market 65 65 E. State St.
Like Chipotle, Market 65 prides itself on its organically and locally sourced ingredients, a list of which can be found on their website. Market 65 deviates from the fast-food atmosphere and the underground vibes of its competitors, featuring a sophisticated base of customers and a small bar area for a treat during happy hour.
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www.perafreshfood.com
Pera 1980 N. High St.
Pera’s Mediterranean-inspired wraps and bowls are great for customers seeking sizable portions and memorable taste. It will take some coaxing to drive through the campus-area traffic just to get there, but any commute around High Street is worth a stop here. A suggestion when you go: order the hummus addition to your order. It’s only a dollar, but the amount they add is comparable to a $3 tub at the grocery store.
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www.phatttaco.com
Phatt Taco 50 N. High St.
In addition to its downtown location, Phatt Taco has a second incarnation of its attractive and modern dining space at 10 E. 12th Ave. in the campus district. Like Chipotle, Phatt Taco’s chefs prepare your dish right in front of you, but this local secret offers an infusion of menu creativity while keeping prices low. Its most expensive featured dish is the fish tostada with Atlantic cod seared in coconut oil, a menu entry which sounds like it belongs in a much more upscale restaurant, but which can be bought for only $8.
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www.tortillastreetfood.com
Tortilla Street Food Downtown Area
Food trucks in the digital age are unlike your parents’ food trucks. With Tortilla Street Food’s website you can track where it is moving around the city every week and plan to visit accordingly. All the same, if you happen to pass it by on the street, it’s worth a visit. A permanent location is also entering the space left by Mikey’s Late Night Slice at Columbus Commons.
