I <3 local products, local produce, local events, the locals themselves & local restaurants – that’s why I’m excited to be a part of Local Matters’ Local Foods Week! My husband Rob & I, when researching for $20Dates, try to stick to what’s special & unique to Columbus which includes locally owned & operated businesses, restaurants & bars.
Supporting local food (fruits, veggies, meat, spices, etc) is also something I like to cheer about. Knowing farmers and gardeners & tasting firsthand the vast difference between an apple picked in their back yard versus an apple shipped from California makes me greatly appreciate local ingredients. So in honor of Local Foods Week, I wanted to find a locally owned & operated restaurant who prided themselves in sourcing local ingredients for their food! I immediately thought of…
Knead!
Where: 505 N. High Street, 43215
Hours: Lunch = Tuesday – Friday 11a-3p, Sat 10a-2p, Sun 10a-5p
Dinner = Tuesday – Thursday 5p-10p, Friday – Sat 5p-11p, Sun closed for dinner
Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday 5p-7p, Sat – 10p-11p
KneadOnHigh.com
Recently Rob & I tried Knead, a delicious, awesome, LOCAL restaurant off High Street in the Downtown area. In support of Local Foods Week, I wanted to share our new found love in Knead with Francine, my best good friend, on a $20BestFriendDate!
Our server Shannon was so nice and very knowledgeable about the menu, from cocktails to desserts. Some really cool things about Knead:
- Almost every ingredient in every menu item is made from locally sourced ingredients & the owners and chefs pride themselves in “food made from scratch.” And it is oh so yummy!
- Spinning dessert case with homemade whoopie pies
- Full bar, showcasing products many local breweries (Elevator, CBC) & distilleries (OYO, Watershed)
- Many veggie/vegan/gluten free options
- Large booths, open kitchen, open atmosphere
- Very affordable kids menu
- Extremely nice, enjoyable staff
- Cool map of Ohio on the wall which shares where their ingredients come from – mushrooms, basil, milk, organic oats, whole wheat, Amish cheese, honey, maple syrup, ground beef, short rib, Bershire pork belly & shoulder, chicken, pickles, eggs, butter, goat cheese, greens and veggies. That’s just a small sample of all the ingredients they get from our lovely state Ohio!
- Happy Hour = All Pizzas ½ off! $5 Cocktails, $4 Wells, $3 Merlot, $2 Hudy Delight beer, $1 Burger Beer <– Perfect time to do a $20Date here!
I tried the Knead A Burger, per Shannon’s suggestion, and it was DEE-LIC-IOUS! Worth every single bite & what makes it even better, Shannon was able to tell me where all the ingredients came from! Pickles (my most favorite thing ever) are directly from Don Hermann in Garretsville, Ohio! $12 + $3 fries with homemade fennel ketchup = $15.
Fran tried the Pep & Pep Pizza and the 10” pizzas are definitely built for sharing! $12
Afterward, we walked around the corner to The North Market and walked around a bit. Enjoyed the smells & sounds that make The North Market feel cozy & exciting at the same time, tried a couple samples and planned our next BestFriendDate this weekend – breakfast & Artisan Sunday {every Sunday until October, 12-5p}! Farmers Festival is this Saturday as well. {Rob & I have made just The North Market into a $20Date by itself – lunch + live music + dessert on the weekend:)}
*Francine & I spent a total of $20 each and thoroughly enjoyed our time at Knead! {But remember, you can easily make this into a $20Date by splitting a Happy Hour pizza + two drinks OR splitting a burger & fries!}
Local food, local restaurants, local bars, local shops – they are all the heart of why Columbus is AWESOME. We <3 local—and you should too! 
Check out Local Matters Event Page for a list of fun things to do next week during Local Foods Week. Ooo, and take the Eat Local Challenge – we will be!
Happy Dating,
Jess {& Francine} & Rob
{Thunderkiss Coffee inspired me to cold-brew coffee & Franklinton Gardens inspired me to cook dinner that night with fresh produce}
