I love that every central Ohio neighborhood and suburb has its own identity, taking pride in their walkable districts, annual events, restaurants, and parks. We always enjoy our time in Worthington, from dining out to community events to a quiet night of drinks to exploring Old Worthington. We know many families have made the neighborhood home with the help of realtors like HER Realtors. Here are some of our favorite spots in and around Worthington:
OLD WORTHINGTON
Old Worthington is the central core of Worthington, a lovely walkable historic district along High Street. (Fun fact: I JUST figured out that the bordering streets of Old Worthington are North and South on well, the north and south, and Morning Street on the east and Evening Street on the west). The district features shops like Igloo Letterpress, Swoonful Gifts, Sew To Speak, Grid Furnishings, Fritzy Jacobs, Vernacular, Birch, the Candle Lab, and many more.
There are dining spots like the historic Worthington Inn (with an unsung happy hour in their bar), the Whitney House (go for brunch!), French classics at La Chatelaine (get the almond croissant!), pub classics at Old Bag of Nails and Harold’s American Grille, coffee from Highline and Ride Home, pints at The Pub Out Back, craft beer and wine by the glass at House Wine. Who can resist all the cookies and sandwiches and pie from Sassafras Bakery? We can always stop for a scoop of black raspberry chip at Graeter’s. And coming soon are donuts from Peace, Love, and Little Donuts.
And you can’t miss the Old Worthington Farmer’s Market every Saturday. It’s one of our favorites in the city.
PIZZA GALORE
For some reason, Worthington has a high concentration of pizza, from old local favorites to chains. Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza uses the region’s only coal-fired oven to create crispy pizzas. They also feature a great selection of live music, and have a basement speakeasy called The Light of Seven Matchsticks. Down the street is classic Villa Nova, serving pizza and cold beer to multiple generations of area families. In Old Worthington there’s Dewey’s, featuring a variety of great pizzas (the Ryan’s Inferno is my favorite), plus a solid selection of craft beer. Our kids love watching them make pizzas through the windows. There’s also Jet’s thick, square pizzas, Pies & Pints marrying craft beer and creative pies, a new Borgata Pizza in Linworth, and the build-your-own pizza chain Blaze recently opened a location. Off the beaten path is Pizza House, serving up pizzas for over 50 years, and the excellent Leone’s, a tiny operation slinging some really interesting pizzas.
DINING TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT
But it’s not just about pizza in Worthington! You can find a variety of cuisines from local and national spots. Cameron Mitchell’s first restaurant, Cameron’s American Bistro, has been going strong for over 20 years. Over The Counter opened recently, serving burgers, sandwiches, and weekend brunch. Cookie Dough Creamery creates special house cookie doughs to mix with ice cream. J. Liu caters to large parties, Sunday brunches, and more. Regional chain First Watch offers up their breakfast and lunch classics, while Wurst und Bier features hearty German favorites. Chains like J. Gilbert’s steakhouse, Bruegger’s Bagels, and Buca di Beppo are represented. Winking Lizard Tavern offers up a huge selection of beer to go with pub favorites. Zaftig Brewing is located along Huntley Road in a light industrial area, making it a hidden gem with high-ABV beers, a new patio space, and food trucks that park out front.
PLENTY TO DO
And there’s of course plenty to do around Worthington, from all the programs at the Worthington Library‘s three branches, to the much-loved Worthington Pool (a popular hangout during the summer). Our kids love the pool at the Worthington Community Center. The Ohio Railway Museum is run by volunteers and showcases old trains and equipment. The Worthington parks system features a variety of large and small spaces, from the little Selby Park with its great playground, to the Olentangy River Parks. You can also recline in style while you catch movies at the Marcus Cinema up at Crosswoods.
And that’s just scratching the surface! Do you live in Worthington, or just love the neighborhood a lot? What’s your favorite place there? Comment on the post with your favorite spot in Worthington, and be entered to win $25 to Igloo Letterpress! Comment on the post by midnight, Monday, July 10 to enter. UPDATE: the giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who commented!
Disclosure: this giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal. Opinions and photos are my own.
