UPDATE July 2024: Hadley’s Bar + Kitchen has CLOSED.
Hadley’s Bar & Kitchen | Facebook | T: @therealhadleys | IG: @hadleysbarandkitchen
260 S. Fourth St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 222-3022
Open Mon, 4p-12a; Tues-Wed, 11a-12a; Thurs, 11a-1a; Fri, 11a-2a; Sat, 11a-2a; Sun, 10a-12a (brunch served Sat, 11a-3p; Sun, 10a-3p)
Vegetarian/vegan/gluten free? Y/Y/N
Last month my Columbus Dispatch assignment took us to Hadley’s for the very first time. The downtown eatery, brought to you by the same crew behind Bodega, Balboa, and the Grandview Cafe, was just celebrating its one-year anniversary. Check out my review here in the Dispatch!
Hadley’s fits nicely into the busy stretch of South Fourth Street. I remember when Dirty Frank’s was the only dining spot in that strip; now it’s filled in with El Camino Inn, Little Palace, Red Velvet Cafe, 16-Bit, and Mikey’s first brick and mortar location.
In some ways it’s hard to pin down Hadley’s design. It’s a hip spot that still manages to be comfortable. Plenty of seating throughout, a big bar in the center.
There are some funky touches, too, like the chandelier made out of old brass instruments.
Or the redecorated Big Boy standing in the front corner.
Their full bar is available during weekend brunch, but the brunch menu features a couple specialty cocktails like a Bloody Mary and a mimosa. I sipped the Wake Up Call, made with Watershed vodka that’s been infused with espresso beans, vanilla liqueur, and Crimson Cup nitro cold brew (you can order that all on its own). It packs a two-fold punch of both caffeine and alcohol. I liked it.
The sweeter Raspberry Beret mixes champagne, vanilla vodka, and a scoop of raspberry sorbet.
The champagne and sorbet add a tart flair to the drink, so it’s not too sweet.
Speaking of sweet, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll probably gravitate toward the Doughnut French toast.
The dish is exactly what it sounds like: a couple cake donuts given the French toast treatment, then stacked with a slice of bacon standing in the center, surrounded by fruit and dusted with powdered sugar. As far as French toast goes, it’s a hit.
There’s a nice little menu of a la carte items, too, like sides of avocado toast, hash browns, eggs, meat, fruit, and biscuits.
The avocado toast with smoked salmon is pretty straightforward but easy to like. Our server recommended adding the poached egg and hollandaise, and we’re glad we did. It all works together well, and the egg + hollandaise makes it a little more substantial.
I feasted on the shrimp and grits.
The dish gets a little tomato-y at times, but otherwise it’s well-executed. It features a big portion of cheddar grits with shrimp and andouille sausage.
Finally, the biscuits and gravy. The gravy is made with chorizo, so it packs a nice zing. They helped off-set the biscuits, which were a little overdone. It comes with eggs on top; our boys ordered them scrambled, although an over easy egg might be a better mix.
There’s more worth exploring, too! They have chilaquiles, a cheeseburger, a vegan burger, salads, omelets, eggs benedict, and more. It certainly makes way for another visit sometime.
Hadley’s has a couple vegan touches on their brunch menu, although they’re also known for their Monday night vegan menu. We haven’t tried it, but it’s gotten great reviews, so if that’s your style – check them out!
Disclaimer: this meal was paid for as part of a Columbus Dispatch review. Thoughts and photos are my own.
