Northstar Short North

August 25, 2013

Northstar is just one of those go-to places that I find myself back at every few weeks. Partly that's because it's so close, partly because the food is so good, and partly because it's largely locally-sourced and organic. http://www.thenorthstarcafe.com/

My complaints? The cost, which is roughly double for everything on the menu from 8 years ago when they opened. I don't think the cost of inflation can justify that. And I realize this might be controversial, but more and more places now are putting a tip line on the receipt when you order at the counter. This is particulary maddening at Northstar, where since they opened they have crowed that there is no reason to tip--"there just isn't". So, what's changed? Yes, they bring it to your table and yes, they're always pleasant, even downright friendly. But really? Why has this just started at all the order-at-the-counter locales? I have a bigger beef (yes, ironic since I'm a vegetarian) with the tip thing at Jeni's. Don't get me wrong. I love Jeni's. But come on, the size of the scoops has halved in size in the past five years and the cost has increased by about a dollar a scoop. What am I tipping you for? Doing your job, which is serving ice cream? What gives? Okay back to my complaints about Northstar: the crowds, which are good for business, but bad for the diner looking for a seat. I had hoped to snag a patio table, but arriving after noon on a Sunday, I was pretty assured that was not going to happen.

That said, the food rocks. The fresh-squeezed orange juice is amazing. I was in Florida for a week years ago and never did find fresh-squeezed. Ironic. The simple salad is always tasty and satisfying. It's fresh and just enough. Northstar, while not exactly experimental in their variety, at least does what they do well. And the roasted yukon potatoes with rosemary were tasty and filling; just the right start to a beautiful Sunday off in Columbus.