By Kimberly Stolz

For years, Columbus has been unfairly pegged as a test market for super-sized drive-thru slop. Lucky for us, a few local establishments have finally cracked the fast food façade. The capital city is now making a name for itself as a leader in the hip new fast-casual restaurant concept. As our palates are expanding and demanding better, healthier food without the white tablecloth prices, Piada Italian Street Food has stepped up to the plate and hit a homerun with their flavorful dishes.

The latest leaf on the Doody family restaurant tree (Lindey’s, Bravo, Bon Vie, Brio) opened its first location a little more than a year ago in Upper Arlington and has since branched out across Central Ohio. Spots in Bexley, Gahanna, Easton and soon-to-be Dublin have joined the flagship in providing patrons with quick-and-quality meals. Dubbed the “Italian Chipotle,” Piada is becoming the foodie’s drug of choice.

Piada takes its moniker from a thin Italian flatbread wrap sold on the streets of the Romagna region. The C-bus version of a piadinerie has offerings galore. Meats include steak, salmon, crispy chicken fritte and Italian sausage, and a vegetarian option is also available. Toppings run the gamut from zucchini and artichoke hearts to eggplant caponata and pancetta. The fresh menu items tempt the taste buds with an array of vibrant colors. Pastas and piadas are served piping hot alongside impeccably crisp chopped salad bowls.

Prices vary depending on your choice of grill item, from $6.85 for sausage to $8.95 for the salmon. Topping choices are included with no hidden extra charges. The portions are split-worthy, making a dinner date at Piada one of the best deals in town.

If the piada is not your thing, pasta bowls are also available. A favorite combination is the Pomodoro-sauced angel hair pasta topped with a dollop of cool basil pesto. The Pomodoro tastes of tomatoes warming in the sun, while the pesto adds an herbaceous kick. Toss in fennel-livened sausage, peppers and onions, shaved Parm and healthy spinach and you’ve got a bowl full of flavor. Or, if you’re in the mood for cucumbers, they’ve got those, too. That’s the point; it’s all about you, baby.

Piada also serves up a number of “street sides” to round out the experience. The Piada sticks ($1.85) – flatbread rolled and stuffed with pepperoni, artichokes or Parmesan, served with a creamy Parm sauce – already have a ravenous following. The big surprise is the head-smackingly delicious calamari. Cooked to order, the delicate rings are expertly breaded, airy and light without a hint of oiliness. Tossed with hot peppers, it’s a side that turns sharers into hoarders.

Piada adheres to a sleekly modern Euro vibe. The cool whiteness of the dining space is anchored by the warm tones of woodblock tables. Pick a four top, or sit down at a communal table and strike up a conversation with your neighbor. Service is solicitous and eager.

With food this good and fans this fanatical, Columbus may soon be known to the world as the birthplace of Piada Italian Street Food. Sorry Wendy.

Check out www.mypiada.com for locations and online ordering.

Piada Italian Street Food
1315 W Lane Ave.
2585 E Main St., Bexley
4025 Easton Station St.
4697 Morse Rd
www.mypiada.com