Columbus Monthly’s Best New Restaurants: Cleaver
A meat-centric newcomer features a greatest hits of Ohio fare.
Nicholas Dekker
The First Avenue space that Cleaver inhabits has turned over a few times in recent years, going from a long-running Old Bag of Nails location to a short-lived Harvest Pizzeria and then The Old Spot. But the new concept is here to carve out its own place on the Columbus dining scene.
Cleaver is the creation of Tony Tanner and Matt Evans, owners of neighboring The Butcher & Grocer. And with its promising, meat-centric offerings, Cleaver seems almost like a direct pipeline from the butcher shop to customers’ plates. The businesses feature Ohio-grown products almost exclusively, so dining at Cleaver is an opportunity to welcome a wide range of Buckeye State meats, cheeses and spreads, from RL Valley Ranch beef to Six Buckets Farm pork and Swainway mushrooms to Black Radish Creamery cheeses.
Openings & Announcements
Lola’s Kitchen + Bar is expected to open soon at 201 S. High St., a Downtown restaurant space that has been empty since short-lived Tio’s Tacos and Tequila left the picture. Lola’s owners are restaurant veterans whose past businesses include Cinco, Café Lola and Burgers Dogs and Fries.
Martha’s Fusion Kitchen, a North Linden spot for Mexican food and more, recently opened at 3331 Maize Road, formerly Bella’s Pizza. The eclectic menu includes salads, barbacoa and birria tacos, gyros and pizzas.
The Jimmy V’s space at 912 S. High St. is under new ownership and now has a new name:
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The latest updates from the bar and restaurant scenes
By Erin Edwards
Locally owned
Harvest Pizzeria is now the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium’s official pizza provider. Zoo visitors can now find the pizza at the Congo River Market Food Court and Mapori Restaurant in Heart of Africa, as well as at Harbor Pizza when Zoombezi Bay opens. No word yet on whether the animals like Spicy Yuma.
Martha’s Fusion Kitchen, a new spot for Mexican food and more, recently opened at 3331 Maize Rd., formerly Bella’s Pizza. The eclectic menu includes salads, barbacoa and birria tacos, gyros and pizzas.