Northstar Cafe Easton

Location: 4015 Townsfair Way, Columbus, Ohio 43219

Website: Northstar Cafe

Design:

Callie: Northstar is very small. I enjoy the set up, the clean lines, the loft area and the outdoor fireplaces. I would enjoy them a lot more if I were not stressed about getting a table. 6/10

Brad: Seating is very limited here. Off hours are a must if you want to be able to comfortably find a table. We've gone more than once and had to stalk around for a table for a solid 10-15 minutes. The inside is nice but it's just a very limited seating setup. It's also very crammed together so getting around in general can be an exercise in frustration. The loft area looks cool but we've never been able to snag a seat up there. Honestly, the design is the biggest drawback to eating there. 4/10

Service:

Callie: You order at a cashier station upon your arrival. You are given an electronic marker that you use to check in at whichever table you choose. Your food is brought to you and cleared for you. While you do have to get your own refills, the entire process works well. We have always received our food quickly and I’ve never had to flag someone down for napkins. 9/10

Brad: You wait in line and order your food. They then give you a marker which you swipe on this stand on the table. The waitress then brings your food. The line moves at a pretty quick pace. We've been 8-10 people back before and made it through in a matter of minutes. The food always seems to arrive pretty quickly. The drinks are self serve so you don't have to rely on the waitress for anything. 10/10

Food:

Callie: Their beverage selections are unique featuring more of the old time soda. I always get the cream soda but there is also black cherry, root beer, and sarsaparilla. Which makes it like an adventure. I’ve never had a meal I did not like here. Brunch is my favorite time to go to Nothstar. Their biscuits are fresh and warm, the yogurt and granola bowl perfectly balanced, and the sweet potato hash to die for. It sounds strange, sweet potatoes, onions, red pepper and sunny side up eggs. But take my word for it, if even one of those ingredients appeal to you it is worth trying. 10/10

Brad: I don't recall the name brand of the soda selection they use. The cream soda, root beer and black cherry soda are all really good. The cola and birchwood one are okay but nothing special. We tend to go for breakfast so I get the Cowboy Breakfast. This is just a simple bacon, egg and biscuit breakfast. The bacon is amazing, the best you could probably find in a restaurant. The eggs are really good as well. The biscuits are really a strength of the meal though. You get a seasonal preserve which was black cherry. Callie usually ends up stealing part of my biscuits because she loves them so much. It's about $10 which is a great price for the quality of the food. When we've gone for dinner I've gotten the hamburger which is really good too. The beef is really juicy and good. If I had to choose though, I would pick going for breakfast. 9/10.

Other Patrons:

Familes and hipsters, Northstar brings out everyone. Be forewarned, people tend to be inconsiderate here. There can be a lack of room and people will gladly ignore you while you have to awkwardly climb over tables to get where you need to go.

Notes: Northstar uses locally grown products as much as possible and everything is organic. So support Ohio and eat here.

Final Thoughts:

Callie: Northstar is my favorite brunch spot. It’s a novel exerperience and fantastic food. I highly recomend it. 8/10

Brad: Northstar is worth fighting the limited seating and bad design. The price isn't too bad either. I think two people could get out for about $30 with the right selections. I would suggest getting there right at 9 am on a Saturday or a Sunday. Beat the rush and this place is a really great experience. 8/10