I had an amazing time here for my birthday party! The manager, TJ, was extremely helpful with organizing everything and so accommodating. The vibe, service, cocktails, and unique energy to this place is truly unbeatable. The lounge is perfect for a date night or intimate celebration and the downstairs "Commons" area is great for friends to kick back and hang out. Such a hidden Columbus gem!!!

Hint- it's under- so farthest stairway, down, and to the left. Frozen drinks, beer, and a tasty menu. Great patio. Games to play. Order at window and they bring food to you.

Absolutely love this location. Yummy beers, fun atmosphere and we've never had bad food here. We visited for burger week and were not disappointed. We also ordered the pierogis which were so so good. They have a large food menu and multiple options on draft including some cocktails. Also a cooler with to go beer and a place to make your own six pack to take home.

Loved all the vibes of this place! We were in town for an event, I found this place close to our hotel, Google reviews stated outdoor patio and great cocktails and that was spot on! Enjoyed some brunch and a frozen Aperol spritz which was chefs kiss. Plenty of parking, really wonderful patio, order at the window and they brought everything to us. I would definitely recommend this and return next time I'm in town.

Good food, nice bar selections, and several dining areas. There is a bar upstairs, a dining area with counter service downstairs, and a large patio with a view. I was getting bitten by insects while sitting on the patio, but it was nice for awhile. I had the Harvest Panzanella Salad with added grilled chicken. Delicious. I added a freshly baked cookie (I think it was white chocolate blueberry, but it was a while ago). So good. I also had a glass of wine. I would eat here again to try the other menu offerings.

This is not my first time to Understory... nor will it be my last!.... This place is GREAT! Its an off shoot of Wolf's Ridge. Set in a historic former open air school this place is really unique. You enter and walk down the stairs. There in what seems like the old cafeteria they have transformed it into a lovely dining room that has a large terrace over looking a wooded ravine. Its pretty special. Add they serve most of the Wolf's ridge line and have a decent menu. Its really a nice place for lunch or a light dinner. The salads are incredible. My husband had the Wolfs ridge burger and said it was excellent. High praise as he is quite picky about burgers. On the main floor is a cocktail lounge with lots of comfortable seating. The bartender (Cameron) is fun to talk to and makes a great drink. Upstairs is a private room for parties.... Its always been booked when we have been there so if you are having a party you might need to book it a bit in advance. This is a must go to place. Especially on a nice day where you can eat outside. I give it way more than five stars!

This spot was beautiful and delicious! I love how they turned an old school building into a relaxing dining experience. At this restaurant you order at the front and then the food is brought to your table, and everyone was really kind. After eating here, my husband and I walked the trail to the OSU stadium and it was beautiful. It is roughly 1 mile, but definitely worth it. This place would be the perfect spot to get a cocktail before a concert or OSU game!

The good: Thoughtful re-purposing of an old school building Beautiful patio space Tasty food with diverse menu options California-style atmosphere The not-so-good: Limited parking with tight spaces California-style prices

I visited the Understory on Saturday, 30 December 2023 with two friends. We went straight to the basement where the restaurant "The Commons" is located. We arrived just as they were getting ready to open for brunch at 11am. On the main level is a bar called "The Lounge". When my friend Veronica and I arrived, we sat outside in their patio where each seating area has a fire pit for warmt. It was a sunny day and it wasn't too cold but eventually after my second friend, Anne, arrived, we moved inside since we started to get a little cold. Be careful with the fire pit outside because the flames had sparks that were landing on my friends and I so that is partly the reason why we moved inside to sit. THE COMMONS (Brunch) -- I will need to come back to try their menu offerings from sandwiches to salads. I didn't want to spend much money so my friend Veronica ordered the sharable mini donuts ($8) and I ordered a cup of hot green tea ($5). The donuts were delicious but slightly too sweet for me. There are 4 different donut flavours - salted caramel, apple compote, whipped cream, and cinnamon sugar. I think I had the salted caramel or the cinnamon sugar but I can't remember. Once you get the donuts, you won't be able to tell what the flavours are because they look the same on the outside. The green tea was a typical green tea which was definitely expensive at $5 because I just got a tea cup with a small cup and a very small jug of hot water. After we left, we took a nice 20-30 minute walk along the Olentangy River trail which is located right behind the Understory building. I'd love to visit again to try actual food instead of just donuts and tea plus it's so warm and inviting inside. **** GOAL of 150 reviews in 2024 - 14/150 total reviews in 2024 - 664 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 16 March 2024