Understory

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    Restaurants, Brewpubs, Venues & Event Spaces
    Closed11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

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    Dogs allowed
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    2571 Neil Ave

    Columbus, OH 43202

    University District

    Mon

    • Closed

    Tue

    • 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

    Wed

    • 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

    Closed now

    Thu

    • 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

    Fri

    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Sat

    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Sun

    • 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

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    Amenities and More

    Ask the Community

    • Q:

      Do you have free wifi?

      A:

      Yes! There is an open network for the building. You may ask staff onsite for the password.

      Bob S., Business Owner 
      2 months ago 1 person found this helpful
    • Q:

      Do you offer mocktails? I tried two different ones at a special event upstairs and they were amazing,

      A:

      Good day, Erin. Thank you for reaching out. Yes, we offer zero-proof cocktails (aka mocktails) in both our Lounge and Commons. You will find more of a variety of… more

      Bob S., Business Owner 
      1 year ago

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    Overall rating

    102 reviews

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    1 star

    • Dec 8, 2024
      1 check-in

      My husband and I stopped in here for a beer and some dinner and loved everything we tried. We shared the bravas, I had the shagrock grits, and he had the fried chicken bowl. It was a great portion size to be satiated, but not bloated. Everything was seasoned to perfection and was so much more flavorful than we had been expecting! I had ordered a lager and he ordered an IPA, but they accidentally gave us 2 lagers. They were the same price, so we didn't want to make a fuss since we were going someplace next for a cocktail anyway.

      It was a really quiet spot with tasty food and beers and we played Connect 4 while we were down there. They also have a bar upstairs that has a more upscale vibe with cocktails. We went on Friday evening and they also had a private event upstairs for surgeons, so there are a lot of different areas to go to in this building, which was really cool. If you want a lowkey, brewery vibe for dinner, but with excellent food, then this is the spot for you!

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    • Aug 11, 2024

      Been wanting to check out Understory since they opened, especially check out their big back patio that opens to the Olentangy river. Anna H. and I met on a Friday afternoon - Memorial Day weekend, in fact - at 3:30, and I was surprised the entire Understory was not busy. Plenty of parking spots (a huge plus if you've gotta drive in).

      The back patio is fantastic. Plenty of tables of varying shapes and sizes, great for solo/partners or big parties. From the back patio this is how you get to the ground/basement Commons restaurant. This restaurant is open for lunch, brunch & dinner Tuesdays-Sundays. The menu here is definitely skewed toward New American (price point $11-30 category). Heads up, their happy hour only extends to draft beer and wine discounts, no food. Big bummer.

      We got several of the shareables so we could taste a variety of their offerings: Beat hummus, smoked salmon, goat cheese croquette, and the roasted Brussels sprouts.

      After letting my thoughts and tastebuds simmer and think for a day, this first experience of Understory is a mixed bag. Love their different spaces, both inside and out. Great attempts at preserving the historical touches of this refurbished open-air tuberculosis hospital; the bar in the second floor Lounge is beautiful. But the food was not doing it for me, especially at the price points.

      I felt there was a slew of bad choices made in pairing floor profiles together. For instance, the sharp goat cheese was way too big a chunk to serve with the tart curry aioli and not enough of the fig jam to balance the sharp, almost pucker, flavor profiles. Same kind of problem for the sprouts dish: way too much shredded apple and a sweet aioli, it all smothered the savory sprouts. I was also a bit bummed that all of these dishes tasted worse when reheated a day later.

      Anna got their Hershberger Caprese salad with an extra side of grilled chicken, and THAT was by far the star of the show and is the only thing adding a star back to this review. The burrata, arugula, squash, seeds, that salad was incredible!! Icing on the cake? The grilled chicken is served cut up into very manageable small bite-size chunks. ***Mic drop*** seriously, check out the pictures, because at this point it is the only thing I would spend my $50 gift certificate on at this point in time.

      Helpful 5
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    • Jul 30, 2024

      Good food, nice bar selections, and several dining areas. There is a bar upstairs, a dining area with counter service downstairs, and a large patio with a view.

      I was getting bitten by insects while sitting on the patio, but it was nice for awhile.

      I had the Harvest Panzanella Salad with added grilled chicken. Delicious. I added a freshly baked cookie (I think it was white chocolate blueberry, but it was a while ago). So good. I also had a glass of wine.

      I would eat here again to try the other menu offerings.

      Harvest Panzanella Salad with grilled chicken, and a Blueberry White Chocolate Cookie
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    • Oct 20, 2024

      Hint- it's under- so farthest stairway, down, and to the left. Frozen drinks, beer, and a tasty menu. Great patio. Games to play. Order at window and they bring food to you.

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    • Jul 14, 2024

      This is not my first time to Understory... nor will it be my last!....

      This place is GREAT!

      Its an off shoot of Wolf's Ridge. Set in a historic former open air school this place is really unique. You enter and walk down the stairs. There in what seems like the old cafeteria they have transformed it into a lovely dining room that has a large terrace over looking a wooded ravine. Its pretty special.

      Add they serve most of the Wolf's ridge line and have a decent menu. Its really a nice place for lunch or a light dinner. The salads are incredible. My husband had the Wolfs ridge burger and said it was excellent. High praise as he is quite picky about burgers.

      On the main floor is a cocktail lounge with lots of comfortable seating. The bartender (Cameron) is fun to talk to and makes a great drink. Upstairs is a private room for parties.... Its always been booked when we have been there so if you are having a party you might need to book it a bit in advance.

      This is a must go to place. Especially on a nice day where you can eat outside.
      I give it way more than five stars!

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    • Photo of Lexi P.
      Lexi P.
      Woodstock, GA
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      Dec 24, 2024

      We went here after a football game, it was the perfect ambiance to unwind and relax! The food was amazing, and the drinks were even better. It was a little tricky to find, but worth it!

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    • Photo of Jennifer R.
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      May 31, 2024

      The good:
      Thoughtful re-purposing of an old school building
      Beautiful patio space
      Tasty food with diverse menu options
      California-style atmosphere

      The not-so-good:
      Limited parking with tight spaces
      California-style prices

      Helpful 4
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    • Oct 17, 2024
      Updated review

      Absolutely love this location. Yummy beers, fun atmosphere and we've never had bad food here. We visited for burger week and were not disappointed. We also ordered the pierogis which were so so good. They have a large food menu and multiple options on draft including some cocktails. Also a cooler with to go beer and a place to make your own six pack to take home.

      Burger, pierogis and beer
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      Jan 9, 2024Previous review
    • Nov 29, 2024

      Delicious grilled cheese and the tomato soup was good. Helpful staff. I liked the iced tea okay.

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    • Photo of Susie O.
      Susie O.
      Margareten, Vienna, Austria
      Jun 25, 2024

      This spot was beautiful and delicious! I love how they turned an old school building into a relaxing dining experience.
      At this restaurant you order at the front and then the food is brought to your table, and everyone was really kind.

      After eating here, my husband and I walked the trail to the OSU stadium and it was beautiful. It is roughly 1 mile, but definitely worth it. This place would be the perfect spot to get a cocktail before a concert or OSU game!

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