Brunchin’ It Up: Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
215 N. 4th Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-429-3936
http://www.wolfsridgebrewing.com/
Top Tastes:
1. Bacon French Toast
2. Toad in the Hole
3. Sugared Dougnuts
4. Howlin’ Tail
5. Driftwood Session IPA
When a brewery-restaurant can fully master both the beer and the kitchen sides of the equation, there’s not too much more that I am looking for in a dining experience. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing certainly fits the bill here. But then, the downtown spot went above and beyond, developing a brunch menu with beautifully plated and innovative cuisine. It’s a combo of elegant brunch dishes and well-made beers that is impossible to find anywhere else in Columbus.
Let me go ahead and let you know ahead of time: you will struggle to select your meal. My husband and I had to go the “divide-and-conquer” route on our most recent visit so that we could sample as many items as possible, and still wanted to try more entrees. The poutine special they had that day really threw off our game, but who can say no to peppers + onions, sausage gravy, and an egg over shoestring fries? So we had that too. The regular menu though, is packed with delectable choices. Take the sugared doughnuts, for instance: large doughnut holes that arrive at your table warm and puffy, with eggnog anglaise for dipping. Or try the Bacon French Toast, any bacon lover’s dream: Brioche bread, bourbon bacon ice cream, applewood smoked bacon, anglaise, and syrup. It’s ok to get ice cream for breakfast if it’s a dish someone else created, right? I am so glad I decided the answer is a resounding “yes!” The Toad in the Hole, or “hens in a nest/eggs in a basket,” depending where you’re from, had the best porter cheese sauce, and was served with fingerling potatoes and bacon. It looked way better than any egg I’d fried up at home, that’s for sure. And there’s more too: Oysters Rockefeller frittatas, Cuban-style eggs benedicts, or a Kentucky Fried Chicken sandwich.
The drink possibilities are worthy complements to the fabulous fare. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing has some excellent beers to quench your late-morning thirst, all of which are brewed in-house. Flights are available to taste them all, but my favorites for brunch are the Driftwood Session IPA, to ease into the day with a low ABV brew, or the creamy N2 the Night Stout. On the cocktail side of things, sip on the Beermosa: House Hefeweizen, Lillet, and fresh-squeezed orange juice, or my favorite, the Howlin’ Tail: Howling Moon beer, Watershed gin, lime, orange, St. Germain, and grapefruit bitters. Beer cocktails should really be more popular.
Culinary Clue: If you are looking for a lighter snack or post-brunch beverage, check out the tap room at the back of the restaurant. It is a separate space with munchies, a full draft list, and sometimes even live music. Take a peek at the menu here: http://www.wolfsridgebrewing.com/menu-1/
Keep Connected,
Caroline