Soul at the Joseph
620 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-227-0100
http://www.lemeridiencolumbus.com/soul-at-the-joseph
Top Tastes:
1. The Soul Burger
2. Hamachi
3. Rye & Thai
4. Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
5. Toast
I’m totally sold on Soul! The new hotel hot spot at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph offers exquisite small plates and innovative cocktails (plus one bold burger) in an impeccable atmosphere. Whether you’re waiting to nosh on a full meal at The Guild House, dining in with friends, or craving a late-night bite as a hotel guest, you won’t be disappointed.
The menu is the brainchild of neighboring The Guild House Chef John Paul Iaccobucci and Roger Vivas; almost every dish is meant for sharing and for devouring. If you follow this blog at all, you know I have a serious obsession with appetizers because I love to try a little of everything. Mission accomplished, Soul! Honestly though, it was hard to narrow down the Top Tastes list here, because I scraped the plate on every single dish that I sampled.
The setting seems too posh to get a burger but please do! The Soul Burger is a bite you won’t want to miss, consisting of bacon, Manchego cheese, greens, pickled zucchini, and a tender brioche bun enveloping a juicy patty. The Toast is a much classier version of your mom’s Sunday pot roast on bread, with mustard-braised beef, tomato jam, and Ohio-based Blue Jacket cheese. I am down with fried Brussels anytime, anywhere, and the Sautéed Brussels Sprouts are sheer bliss, perfectly charred with caramelized onions and pecans for crunch. Further, I am never the person who orders sashimi at sushi restaurants, but the Hamachi was lovely, with yuzu vinaigrette and radish slivers. So many other choices sounded delectable too, from ribeye to gnocchi to flatbreads.
This isn’t your average hotel bar, either. Bump up your expectations with drinks like the Down By Law (including double chocolate bourbon + chocolate and black walnut bitters). Bubbles are always a good option, so try the Champagne Cocktail: Hennessy VSOP, bubbly, bitters, and a sugar cube. A fun option is the Rye & Thai, a concoction of chili-infused rye, mezcal, bitters, and more. It has a slow-burning heat that will surprise you. The wine list is upscale, with half-glass options available, so that you can taste an expensive wine before investing in a pricey bottle you don’t love. There are also local craft beer options on tap for us hopheads! The whole staff was incredibly attentive without suffocating us, and the entire experience was truly memorable.
Culinary Clue: Le Méridien would be the perfect place for a Columbus staycation or a bachelorette party. The rooms are gorgeous, and there are tons of great places to sight-see within walking distance of the hotel, and you can cap off the evening dining right at Soul. I spy a long weekend lounging at The Joseph in the works!
Keep Connected,
Caroline
Disclosure: The kind folks at Soul contacted me to try and review their menu. Any opinions expressed within this review are my own unbiased views.