If you make your way to the corner of Powell and Liberty Road in downtown Powell, you’ll find Kraft House No. 5, a charming little tavern that’s made itself known for locally sourced ingredients, crafty cocktails and a fairly hefty bourbon list. What you might not know is that you don’t necessarily have to visit on a date night to enjoy all of this (all though, I would also certainly recommend this place sans kids).
I’ll admit that we were a bit hesitant to check it out with our kids. We knew that the food was good and the atmosphere was fairly casual inside, but it is a bit on the small side – which means that we were more likely to dine in close proximity to someone attempting to enjoy a peaceful night out. Nevertheless, we went for it — worst case meant that we change our order ‘to go’, chug a drink and cart our kids back home with our ‘takeout’ dinner (and believe me, we’ve certainly been there before).
We arrived around 5:15 p.m., which I know sounds incredibly early, but this has become our new norm when dining out. The kids are typically hungry — and we tend to miss the dinner rush. Someday, we vow to be back among the 8 p.m. diners, but for now, we’ll make the best out of our ‘early bird special’ routine.
The restaurant was fairly quiet, and we were greeted right away and led to a cozy, corner booth – the perfect location for our crew. The atmosphere is warm and rustic with a touch of modern elegance. The recently remodeled dining area is full of handcrafted amish tables and is dominated by a large bar that showcases a large selection of spirits, wine and craft beers.
My husband and I each ordered a beverage — Chardonnay for me despite the chilly January temperature and a local IPA for Chaz. We also kicked off the meal with the Roasted Cauliflower which was prepared with pecorino, giardiniera, garlic chips and herbs. The presentation was quite lovely and the flavor did not disappoint. The kids opted out of this course — and we chose not to force it given their current content states.
They both went with the basics for their meal — Grilled Cheese and a Cheeseburger, and the Kids Menu is just that — simple, basic — and realistic. Nothing fancy – which proved to be perfection for my two. Each entree comes with one side (asparagus, fries, orange slices or a salad) for $6.
My husband and I split the KH5 Burger (symmes creek beef, dijonaise, tomato jam, cheddar, red onion and lettuce) and the Caesar Salad. Both were noteworthy — especially the burger — which has received rave reviews from other diners as well. They also offer quite a long list of larger plates including Grilled Salmon, a Lamb T-Bone and Seared Scallops – if you want to step it up a notch.
Overall, our experience was extremely pleasant and I would highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for a quick dinner spot with kids. One final comment — the service was awesome. Kudos to our server, Michael, who went above and beyond to ensure we stop in again.
Restaurant
Grilled Cheese, Chardonnay or both?
Grilled Cheese AND Chardonnay worthy
Dining Tips
Bump up your dinner time to 5 p.m. or earlier (if you can) to beat the crowds and lessen the likelihood of crashing someone’s date night.