Jordan EllisIf you’re looking for a real culinary adventure, finding the perfect tasting menu in Columbus is a must. The city is quietly turning into a hotspot for upscale, creative plates that completely blow your mind.
It’s a great option if you want to celebrate a big anniversary, impress a first date, or just live for chef-driven surprises. A multi-course dining experience really is on another level.
I spent some time hunting down the spots in town where the food actually tells a story.
Below are incredible restaurants in Columbus that elevate dining. But if you also need an excellent menu for private events, you can check out these top local catering services.
How much does it cost to book a tasting menu in Columbus?
Tasting menus in Columbus typically cost $80 to $175 per person for food, with optional beverage pairings adding another $75 to $150 to your bill.
| Expense Type | Estimated Cost (Per Person) |
| Base Food Menu | $80 – $175 |
| Wine & Beverage Pairings | $75 – $150 |
1. Agni
Website: http://www.dineatagni.com/
Address: 716 South High Street
Contact: (614) 674-6600
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 5:00 PM-10:30 PM
Walking into Agni instantly sets the stage for a fun, globally inspired multi-course dinner.
The kitchen treats fire and smoke like essential ingredients, which gives every plate intense, layered flavors that keep you guessing. When my partner and I visited last month, the smoky aromas hitting our table made our mouths water before the first plate even arrived.
You can count on tasting a wide range of dishes, from zesty Bengali shrimp to rich Sichuan duck. They also offer multiple tiers of beverage pairings, so you can choose between standard, reserve, or prestige options depending on your mood.
The highly structured menu format, though, might feel a bit restrictive if you usually prefer ordering familiar comfort foods à la carte.
An experience that you definitely need to have
Agni tasting menu is an experience that you definitely need to have when it comes to fine dining. This was my second time here and this time around it was even better. The service remained excellent and food improved even more. We specially enjoyed the tribute to McDonald’s happy meal as well as many of the main courses and the dessert were yummy. Special thanks to entire Agni team for their kind hospitality and extreme attention to detail.
- Amber Aziz | Google Review
Delicious tasting menu
Very satisfying and delicious tasting menu. We loved every dish! Also, personally I’m not a huge shellfish person and they asked up front if we had any preferences. I went in assuming I would just eat around this but they were so accommodating and it truly made my experience. I was very impressed.
- 09yohoho | Google Review
2. The Refectory Restaurant
Website: http://www.refectory.com/
Address: 1092 Bethel Road
Contact: (614) 451-9774
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 5:15 PM-8:30 PM; Friday-Saturday, 4:45 PM-9:00 PM
Stepping through the doors of this beautiful historic building transports you straight to Europe. The Refectory Restaurant showcases classic, elegant French culinary traditions through meticulously crafted seasonal courses in a candlelit setting.
Everything about the presentation feels deeply romantic, so it makes a dream spot for anniversaries or formal celebrations.
You also get to enjoy thoughtful four-course and five-course vegetarian options alongside premium add-ons like high-end caviar and imported cheese boards.
On top of that, they often host engaging special events like a dinner music series featuring live jazz.
Just keep in mind that the formal focus on a quiet French atmosphere with long, leisurely meals might feel a bit too slow if you’re after a quick bite.
Every new plate was an adventure for the taste buds
My partner and I enjoyed the tasting menu the other night. The experience was amazing. The staff were courteous (Thank you Michelle for taking us along for each dish and helping me pick a great gin cocktail to end the night on) and the food… WOW!! Every new plate was an adventure on the tastebuds. While nothing disappointed, the Arctic Char Crêpe Vonaissienne was so good it managed to stand out to me! I am not going to forget that dish any time soon.Thank you Refectory! I hope to make it back to listen to live jazz soon!
- TheMeeshymeesh | Google Review
Great place to try unique food
We loved celebrating an anniversary here. I liked that one of us could order the tasting menu and the other could order a la carte. Great service. I feel like its a great place to try unique food and celebrate a special occasion.
- Scott Childress | Google Review
3. Veritas
Website: http://www.veritasrestaurant.com/
Address: 11 West Gay Street
Contact: (614) 745-3864
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 5:00 PM-10:00 PM
Tucked away inside an old underground bank setting, Veritas delivers a real masterclass in modern, avant-garde gastronomy.
The team takes an innovative approach to fine dining by treating plates as blank canvases for global flavors. It feels chic and artistic from the moment you sit down.
One of the coolest features is the transparent, all-glass kitchen where you can watch the cooks at work right in front of you.
They serve carefully curated global dishes that playfully nod to the natural world, alongside elevated bar bites like caviar and confit wings.
A major downside, though, is that the strict menu design cannot accommodate vegan, dairy-free, or allium-free dietary needs.
Excellently done tasting menu
Excellently done tasting menu from Veritas. We were there for the current Mexican tour. You will definitely taste and be reminded of all the great Mexican flavors. Service was quick, polite and personal. Our server took her time to explain the dishes and chef inspirations. We didn’t do the wine pairing, but next time we will as we were impressed with the flavor of the dishes. Pricey but well worth it. Highly recommended.
- JJ Crisostomo | Google Review
Imaginative compositions, excellent preparations
The tasting menu was superb, with imaginative compositions, excellent preparations, and great flavors. The paired wines were of high quality and matched the food very well. The servers were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. It was a great experience. The room was pretty full, and we were happy that we were easily able to hear each other throughout the evening.
- Matthew Ando | Google Review
4. Isla
Website: https://isla614.com/
Address: 116 East Moler Street
Contact: (614) 557-4644
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 5:00 PM-11:00 PM
If you love meeting new people over incredible food, Isla focuses heavily on building human connection through an intimate, communal dining format.
I chatted with the head chef during my visit, and their passion for community-driven dining was infectious. The vibe is wonderfully interactive and warm, so it never feels stiff or stuffy.
The menu highlights thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients. They keep things fresh with rotating monthly menus, plus a specialized Chef’s Counter for an up-close look at the action.
They gladly accommodate vegetarian and pescatarian diners as long as you give them a 72-hour heads-up.
On the downside, because of the communal setup and limited seating, reservations are strictly required, so spontaneous walk-ins aren’t really an option.
Fun and engaging
Absolutely phenomenal. Every dish at Isla was thoughtful and flavor-packed. The tasting menu was creative without being pretentious, and the service was truly elite. Our reservation said 8 courses but we counted 11. We were a little unsure about the communal dining setup at first, but it turned out to be fun and engaging. Easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Columbus.
- Kyle Davis | Google Review
Complex and flavorful
Another incredible restaurant has opened in Columbus. In addition to Veritas, Agni, Chapman’s, Commune, and a few others, Isla is helping elevate food scene in Columbus.
Per usual, Chef Andrew Smith prepared an incredible tasting menu with zero misses. Everything from the first bite to the dessert was complex and flavorful.
The vibe in the restaurant was contemporary, but cozy…very conducive for a wonderful venting with friend.
If you are in Columbus and in search of a fabulous meal, you need to try this place. It won’t disappoint.
– Athlete-Enhancement | Google Review
5. [‘plas]
Website: https://plasfoodanddrink.com/
Address: 21 East 5th Avenue #101
Contact: (614) 725-5700
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 4:00 PM until close; Saturday, 5:00 PM until close
Located right in the heart of the vibrant Short North Arts District, this trendy spot has a stylish, gallery-like fine dining feel. [‘plas]’s whole vibe leans modern but never sterile.
They blend classic techniques with modern innovation, focusing heavily on sustainability. They’re a fantastic choice if you want to support eco-conscious practices while still enjoying top-tier gastronomy.
They specialize in making their own traditional and vegan house-made charcuterie and cheeses, which pair beautifully with their local ingredients. You can also catch a solid happy hour featuring discounted house-crafted cocktails.
On the flip side, since the kitchen relies so heavily on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, specific dishes change often, so a favorite item might not be around next time you visit.
The food and chef are perfect
My partner and I love plas. We are always treated like family and have been treated to exceptional personal tasting experiences more than once. The wine is fantastic and the food (and chef) are perfect. We are accommodated every time we step in without a ressy and the outside alley is a special treat in the warm months!
- Brooke Stanley | Google Review
Everything exceeded my expectations
Holy moly, I had the tasting menu and everything exceeded my expectations! The Brussel sprouts from this one dish I had alone could easily make this place have a Michelin-star if Michelin reviewed Ohio! Def come to this place, an essential New American restaurant of Columbus and even Ohio!
- Unslender Man | Google Review
