Understory Combines Great Food and a Standout Columbus Patio

Midwesterners know how to make use of a good patio, and Understory in Columbus offers one of the best in Ohio’s capital city. Operated by the team behind Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and the reimagined Worthington Inn, Understory sits in the historic Open Air School building in Columbus’ Old North neighborhood. »

Designed a century ago as a school and recovery space for tuberculosis patients, the beautifully preserved structure is now home to a cafe, event space, studios and Understory itself. Diners are sure to experience flashbacks to their school days, with the large hallways, terrazzo floors and wood-trimmed doorways.

Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, Understory features a food menu of reinvented pub classics, from dill pickle cheese curds and pork sliders to Wagyu burgers and udon noodle bowls piled high with veggies. Brunch is offered 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with a menu that includes an Understory Platter of breakfast favorites and a hearty Hangover Burger. Then there’s Understory’s drink menu, which includes classic cocktails and beers from Wolf’s Ridge Brewing. 

Understory is split into an upstairs Lounge and lower floor Commons that opens onto the patio. Centered around a curving bar and filled with plush booths and couches, the Lounge feels like a cozy cocktail bar, even with its tall windows and open layout. The real draw at  Understory is the Commons and its giant patio lined with flagstone and surrounded by trees. Diners order at the window inside, pick up their drinks, snag a number and find their seat at one of the two- and four-top tables. 

“That location of the patio is the reasoning for the name, where it sits in the forest,” says Bob Szuter, who co-owns Understory along with Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and the Worthington Inn. “It isn’t the canopy, it’s the understory. That is the crux of the whole space for us.”

The Olentangy River is down the hill, and a path connects the patio to the Olentangy Trail. 

“It’s an oasis in an urban environment,” Szuter adds. “I love riding my bike down on the trail, popping in, getting a beer, relaxing on the patio.” 

2571 Neil Ave., Columbus 43202, 614/972-6006, understorycbus.com

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