Northstar Cafe in Columbus (Coming to Cincinnati Soon)

Because I’m such an evangelist, always sharing what I love, it makes me happy when others tell me about their favorite places to eat or visit. This is part of why I write about my experiences.  Either I know about a place someone loves and can share in their enthusiasm, or I add it to my list of places to try.  This is how I learned about Northstar Cafe in Columbus.  My physical therapist, knowing I spend time in Columbus visiting family, recommended Northstar Cafe as one of her favorite restaurants.  I love having an arsenal of places to visit when I’m traveling.  Discovering a city through its food and coffee shops- the perfect way to travel!

Northstar now has multiple locations in Columbus- our visit took us to The Short North location; if you haven’t spent time in The Short North, it’s a must.  To me, it’s reminiscent of the heart of OTR in Cincinnati.  We arrived at Northstar Cafe as the breakfast crowd was weening and the lunch crowd was expanding.  I was a little concerned because the line was out the door.  However, we perused a menu and before we knew it, we were ordering and had a seat.  Northstar is bright and bustling.  The menu focuses on fresh breakfast, brunch, and baked goods.  The drink menu is extensive- from tea to coffee, beer to wine, smoothies to cocktails.  I was drooling over the Mint Iced Coffee!

The line moves pretty quickly.

Order at the counter; food is delivered to the table.

I went to Northstar Cafe specifically for their burger!  This farm-to-table, mostly organic restaurant features a Classic Cheeseburger made of brisket and ground chuck  (ground in-house daily). This burger is topped with cheddar cheese, onion, tomato, pickle, and lettuce.   My husband ordered The Northstar Burger, recommended by my therapist, which is a veggie burger made of organic black beans, rice, and beets topped with white cheddar, kale, tomato, onion, and pickle.  Both are served with a simple salad comprised of fresh chopped greens and cabbage, tossed in a light vinaigrette.  This light side is a great addition to the rich burger.  My brother got his burger with a side of Rosemary Roasted Yukon Potatoes– perfectly seasoned and the skins were crispy.  The burgers?  Delicious.   I never order veggie burgers, but had to taste this one.  I found it surprisingly good and tender- like a beef burger. My husband said this was the best veggie burger he’s had!  High praise!  The bun, soft and made in-house, is the perfect compliment to both burgers.

Burger

Veggie Burger

I’ve never seen a restaurant with a section of lounge-esque seating surrounded by shelves of magazines to read.  Fun touch.  It’s restaurant meets bookstore.  People were sipping smoothies, coffee, and mimosas while flipping through magazines or chatting with a friend.

To read or buy.

Coffee from Counter Culture Coffee (direct sourcing).

Complimentary meal. Great customer service!

I don’t have a picture, but if you go for breakfast, my sister had eggs with  biscuits and blackberry jam; this could easily become my jam.  These biscuits are special . . . made in-house, fresh, fluffy, slightly sweet, and warm.  Another shout out is the nitrate free bacon– as a headache sufferer, I try to shy away from nitrates so I appreciate restaurants with this option.  I was also impressed with their service; initially, my brother’s hamburger was medium, but he asked for it well-done.  We got a free meal without asking for anything!  That alone makes me want to return- the customer is valued here for sure!

Looking for a good solid burger in Columbus, check out Northstar Cafe.  Soon we will have one in Cincinnati as well!

GO THERE (Northstar Cafe)!  TRY THAT (cheeseburger, veggie burger)!