Open air food & faire
By Steve Croyle |
|
The cornerstone of Columbus' entertainment district
It's not a metaphor or a play on words, Park Street Patio is basically a patio that is wedged between Interstate 670 and Park Street. A big patio. Co-owner Chris Corso drew his inspiration from the tiki bars he encountered in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi.
Park Street Patio
Photo: Christopher Atwood
The objective from the start was to focus on the outdoors. Park Street Patio features room for 200 seats outside, compared to only 100 indoors. The patio features a large covered bar with ceiling fans, a sound stage and even a pool table. Smokers are welcome to light up anywhere on the patio, and you can even get away with puffing on a stogie if that's your thing. "It's pretty much why we have this set up outside," said one employee.
If you're hungry, you can rustle up some grub from an outdoor grill station (cash only), or wander inside to order from the menu. There's enough shelter outside to keep patrons dry in the event of rain, but according to co-owner Mike Gallichio, really cold weather can chase people inside.
As one would expect, Park Street Patio is a laid back place that features a big list of drink specials. Pitchers of sangria and margaritas are popular and throughout the week you'll also find specials on food. They even have a happy hour (5 p.m. - 8 p.m.) on Saturday. Entertainment is standard on the patio, with a full schedule of live music listed on the web site.
Park Street Patio
533 Park St.
(614) 220-4213
www.parkstreetpatio.us
Outside, old world style
Germans know a thing or two about eating and drinking outside. They like it so much they created the concept of the "biergarten," or beer garden, which is basically a big patio. Since weather in Germany sucks about as much as weather does in Columbus, Germans often bring the patio inside.
Planks Bier Garten
Photo: Christopher Atwood
Plank's Bier Garten offers patrons a genuine German experience, at least from the beer garden perspective. In addition to a number of unsheltered seats, Plank's also has a sheltered seating area with moveable walls that keeps the air and the ambiance flowing. When it gets cold, the walls slide shut, but the big windows facing High Street, as well as those looking out on the exposed portion of the patio, let in plenty of light, lending an outdoorsy feel.
Plank's is old school. The structure has been in place for ages, and even though the Plank family took over the establishment as recently as the early '90s, you'd swear it's been here forever.
Plank's isn't fancy, but it's worth noting that their pizza is legendary in these parts, and it's served until 2 a.m. on the weekends. Outside seating is at picnic tables, and the crowd can range from downtown office stiffs to sweaty softball players on any given night. The attraction to this place lies in its simplicity: Cold beer, cheap food.
Plank's Bier Garten
888 S High St.
(614) 443-4570
Originally Published: August 1, 2009
