Cap City Fine Diner and Bar

this place has a reputation in columbus for having some of THE best eats in the city. and yet i've never been! so when date night came around, i was thrilled to have a chance to finally check it out.

first off: get reservations ahead of time. this place is BUSY. hour waits aren't uncommon. but we didn't have to wait very long since we reserved a table. i'd definitely say that's the way to go.

the menu is chef curated, and there are definitely some interesting combinations on the menu (with, from what i could tell, no substitutions). but there's absolutely something for everyone. i got the meatloaf melt because i have heard GREAT things about the meatloaf here, and my date got the spicy chicken rigatoni. both of us were absolutely satisfied with our selections; the rigatoni is a HUGE portion size packed with meat, pasta, mushrooms, and veggies, while the meatloaf melt is so thick that posting pictures of it could be qualified as a thirst trap.

service was excellent and attentive too. it felt like every phase of dining we had multiple people helping us out. and that's despite it being a packed house at 8pm on a weekday. they nailed the 50s americana aesthetic, and you feel like you're in a classic traincar diner despite the building being far bigger and nowhere near as cramped.

overall, this is a place where the reputation precedes itself, and with good reason. be ready for a busy restaurant that doesn't feel busy, a time capsule from another era, and a delicious food experience, all at once. A++ work, absolutely deserves the glowing reviews it gets.