Five Best Summer Restaurants in Columbus, Ohio

Summer dining in Columbus, Ohio includes fresh, local ingredients and outdoor dining. Locally owned restaurants feature many local ingredients and the summer growing season in Columbus increases the bounty and available options.

Locally owned restaurants have another advantage over chains: these five Columbus restaurants do accept reservations.

Barcelona Restaurant & Bar - 263 E Whittier Street, Columbus 614-443-3699
Tucked into German Village away from the high traffic areas is Barcelona which was voted Best Patio by Columbus Underground readers in 2009. The fountain in the garden dining area eases away any remaining street noise.

Barcelona Restaurant & Bar features a constantly updated Mediterranean menu, changing with the seasons and best product availability. The tapas menu ($30) and Wednesday Paella night menu ($25/three courses) change weekly. The lunch menu includes many of the dinner items in lunch-size portions along with lunchtime prices. The wine list is extensive with a wide variety available by the glass.

Valet parking is available on Jaeger Street and is complementary during lunch and priced minimally during dinner. On street parking in German Village is tricky - pay attention to the street signs and Barcelona recommends you don't park in the Giant Eagle parking lot.

Lindey's - 169 E Beck Street, Columbus 614-228-4343
Another German Village destination, Lindey's is a white tablecloth bistro featuring an eclectic cuisine. The terrace dining area is a great location to people-watch on Beck Street.

Dinner at Lindey's is priced a la carte, but there aren't many places in Columbus to eat Beef Carpaccio ($10 on the appetizer menu). The lunch menu includes many of the dinner entrees including Sue's Pasta Primavera ($13) featuring seasonal vegetables. For my taste, Lindey's Chopped Salad ($6.50) is one of the best in town because of the lemon vinaigrette.

Complementary valet parking is available on Beck Street.

Black Creek Bistro - 51 Parsons Avenue, Columbus 614-246-9662
Just two blocks south of Broad Street is the greenest restaurant in Columbus. Black Creek Bistro's menu is continually updated as the seasons change and their own farm produce is brought to the kitchen. In turn, the farm receives the benefit of compost from the restaurant and the used cooking oil is recycled to run two of the farm tractors.

Every Monday through Thursday Black Creek Bistro features a special entrée. The entrée alone is priced at $10, but can be upgraded to a three-course meal including an appetizer, soup, salad and/or dessert for just $20. I'm partial to the ever-changing risotto ($13).

Parking is available directly across Parsons Avenue in the Music Hall parking lot.

Basi Italia - 811 Highland Street, Columbus 614-294-7383
In the heart of Victorian Village lies the quiet patio of Basi Italia. This dinner-only Italian-Mediterranean destination offers a small menu in order to concentrate on the freshest ingredients.

Each day brings a new soup, flatbread and flatbread pizza from the kitchen of Basi Italia. The Stuffed Potato Gnocchi ($16) satisfied me while my man enjoyed the Fruitti di Mare ($21) filled with shrimp and bay scallops.
Enjoying the patio peace with a glass (or bottle) of wine from Basi Italia's extensive offering makes a great summer evening. Valet parking is available. If trying to park on your own, keep in mind the Short North and Victorian Village parking restrictions and pay attention to the signs.

Bel Lago Waterfront Bistro - 170 N Sunbury Road, Westerville 614-891-0200
Offering a menu that changes with the seasons and a terrific waterfront view, Bel Lago Waterfront Bistro is worth the short drive to Westerville. The basil used in the restaurant was grown at Westerville North High School and Bel Lago has its own private garden for its vegetables.

Almond-Crusted Walleye ($25 including orzo and vegetable of the day) gets my attention as the sunset glows over Hoover Dam. The specialty pizzas are unique and you can build your own. For lunch, the Blackened Yellow-Fin Tuna Sandwich ($12) is served on focaccia and served with fries.

Parking at Bel Lago Waterfront Bistro is free in its own parking lot.