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New Columns appear each Tuesday. 24JAN06 Doral Chenoweth writes about the business of restaurants and the food industry in the Columbus, Ohio, Metro area. Reader comments are welcome by telephone. 614-538-1822. Email the Grump: thegrumpygourmet@wowway.com Send food stuff here: iPLATE@grumpygourmetusa.com Send weird stuff here: alferd_e_packer@wowway.com E-mail messages must include name and telephone for a reply. |
  
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24JAN06 Quiet La Tavola Opening Nets 296 Covers; Praise for Dinner House The new, glittery, enlarged La Tavola opened casually at 5 p.m. Saturday and guess what happened? Krista and Rick Lopez had 296 for dinner. Their original La Tavola had to close in December in Powell when their landlord decided he had other uses for the property. This new, improved Italian brand, 6125 Riverside Dr., is the location once housing Gibby's Riverview and more recently, The Riverview. The building was built for restaurant use by Jeff Edwards and the Lopez couple just happened to be the solution. Bet the spatula La Tavola is the landlord's dream and will have a long life. Stats: La Tavola seats 126; serves dinner only Tuesday through Sunday; opens at 4 p.m.; reservations call 614-760-8700. Lunches may come later once the shakedown is over and patron-demand appears. Community Table: Part of La Tavola's jump start may be credited to something new to the area - a community table seating 18 at the slightly curved serving surface. "People seemed to love it… it was full all night," Rick Lopez said. Opening woes: The restaurant has one huge, costly piece of equipment - new to a Lopez operation - a true wood -burning oven and grill. It is custom built, not some pile of bricks with a vent through the roof. The place will be smoking as soon as building inspectors find out just what it is to be. First night sellers: The most popular item was not on the printed menu - sous chef Matt Langstaff's mixed grill of homemade boar sausage served over mixed greens, $17. Regulars from previous Lopez operations will be pleased to know his lamb osso buco will never be tossed. He uses lamb shanks seasoned with rosemary and juniper berries slow roasted in a Chianti-tomato sauce, all served over a lentil and tomato puree, $24 for a full serving, no half orders. Stats to Deli Boys The Deli Boys, Chad Johnson and Chris Fisher, have taken over Stats, a long popular lunch stop in the busy Downtown. They opened casually last week and served 150-plus patrons. Deli Boys is open at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday. Their menu is loaded with deli-style sandwiches and 11 hot sandwiches. Salads are there; plus daily chili and a soup. For information on carry out: 614-621-1444. by Doral Chenoweth 614-538-1822 |
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