Clintonville Gem: The Crest Gastropub

My husband and I have always had a strong love for Clintonville. Our first home together was located in the Beechwold area and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t miss the charm of this quaint, friendly neighborhood. One of our first hang-out spots was a tiny, hole-in-the-wall bar called The Crest Tavern — which ended up transforming into the now popular restaurant, The Crest Gastropub, shortly after we moved to the area. 

I’ll admit that we were resistant to the change at first as we had really enjoyed the ‘old Crest’. It was a Clintonville staple that could have easily claimed the title of ‘best dive bar’ in the city. However, it didn’t take long for us to realize that this new establishment would be another one of our favorites for years to come. 

Fast forward a few years and a few kids later. We’ve since moved to Worthington, and heading back to Clintonville is a rarity these days. When it happens, though, we certainly try to hit up our old favorites. So, when we decided to take a family outing to The Crest Gastropub, I was excited but curious to see how this experience would now play out with kiddos. 

We headed there for dinner on a weeknight which was ideal as there was no wait for a table. They do take reservations, though, so be sure to check this out if you’re planning a weekend excursion as I’ve heard that it can get quite busy. 

While they don’t offer a kids menu anymore, our server quickly rounded up some paper and crayons for the kids — and suggested the Mac & Cheese side for our kiddos (a smaller portion that’s the perfect size for little ones). The dish is served with broccoli, but she offered to put this on the side for us as my kids would likely lose their minds if they saw broccoli mixed in with their mac & cheese. We went with that — and the kids gobbled it up. 

My husband and I shared a few dishes, all of which were fantastic. The Fried Mushrooms were delicious. Served with korean chili and garlic-dill aioli, this was the perfect appetizer to share, and the kids even had a few bites. (Pictured above.)

The Delicata Squash was also top-notch. Served in slices along with stracciatella cheese (yum!) along with fig syrup, sliced kumquats and hazelnuts, this dish had us eating every last bite. 

The Roasted Brussels were the perfect a la carte option for us. I love brussels sprouts and this dish, sprinkled with golden raisins and pecans, did not disappoint.

And finally, to end our string of meatless plates (we were doing SO well!), we couldn’t leave without trying the The Burger, served with cheddar, lettuce, tomato chutney, onion, a dijon pickle and koji mayo. It was awesome — and will definitely be a reason to head back there soon. 

Overall, we had a delightful evening and can’t wait to venture back to our old stomping ground again soon.