The Crest Gastropub

I keep coming here waiting for the other shoe to drop, but every single time this place just blows me away. Impressive beer list, incredible food, friendly service that is always on point. Might be a little pricey but worth it. Come during happy hour for great specials and delicious small plates and leave a very happy camper.

Super-​impressed with The Crest! We had dinner here Friday with my dad and his wife, who both like good food but need to be coaxed into trying new things. The Crest did all the convincing with their menu, descriptions, specials, and atmosphere.
The atmosphere — large, diffuse lighting, high and low-​top seats, sheer curtains to buffer noise. We were next to a wall that looked like a mossy tree trunk. Super-​cool, classy and elegant, but you could see yourself here wearing jeans without being self-​conscious, too.
The service — EXCELLENT. Our server was well-​timed and able to answer questions, get our drinks, small plates, and entrees to us smoothly. He brought us water and even gave us an extra carafe post-​meal while we were finishing up. (Thank you for letting us stay an extra ten minutes!) We were greeted on the way in and on the way out.
Drinks — the variety was amazing, creative. Something for everyone.
The food — great. Again, the menu descriptors were accurate but not overly «foodie,» and it took me a fair few minutes to figure out which delicious-​sounding item to have. I settled on the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower salad, with blue cheese and almonds, finished with an apple vinaigrette. Excellent all around, flavors and textures balanced — perfect paired with salmon. The spouse had the apple cider pork loin, which came with braised fruit, kale and parsnips. He liked it, aside from the softer texture of the pork. The parentals had the red snapper and the walnut pappardelle and were VERY happy with their adventurous-​for-​them dishes.
Pro tip: I would order an fish dish from these folks any day. I’ve had their fish at Ethyl & Tank, and then the salmon here. They do it right.
I honestly cannot wait to go back here again.

I am lucky enough to have this fine establishment only a couple of blocks from my place, and let me tell you, I take full advantage! Brunch here is the bomb, and the omelet is a must try. The hash browns are served like a hockey puck, which is awesome.
I usually get the falafel burger and cover it in the bad ass hot sauce, and It has yet to let me down. I have brought numerous friends here, and each time they have throughly enjoyed their meal.
There is a wide array of adult beverages to choose from, and I am especially found of the beer selection. I believe you can fill up growlers as well, because there are crest growlers by the bar area.

It is really great there is a place to hang out in the Parsons and Livingston area. It wasn’t long ago this area was totally different. Thank you Children’s Hospital for making the investment.
We wandered in on a busy Thursday night. We had a Rez but it was not necessary. Our very attentive server was bursting to tell us all the good things in store for our four-​top.
The house salad was tasty and a large portion. The hamburger listed many odd items on it. I took most off, like bacon, which turned it in to a basic cheese burger. But the price was $ 14. I wish they had a simple CB, but they don’t. They also have way too many decisions to make overall and with the noise level on high, it’s hard to tell our sever exactly what we wanted.
I think simplifying would help.
Food overall was good, good service, and well tended bathrooms.
I think we’ll be back.

I have dined at this Crest location on two occasions. On my first visit, I sat outside and the patio is small and a little loud because of some nearby construction. I am sure that next summer this will no longer be an issue. On this first trip, I had a burger that was delicious as well as a side of chili that was also quite tasty. I returned to the Crest to dine indoors recently for dinner and had another nice time. This time I tried the salmon burger and it was okay but I didn’t love it — I think it was just a personal preference issue and nothing wrong with the actual sandwich. I’m sure that I will be back again soon!

This place… this location: to die for.
I took my sister and her BFF here for brunch as they were down visiting the city and, selfishly, I had been wanting to the check out The Crest’s sister restaurant for quite some time now.
You walk in and immediately notice the décor. Whoever you are, please come design my house. It’s beautiful. Exposed wood (even wood ceilings), the mix of mid century modern and industrial with a cozy factor = YASSS.
The food was just as good as the décor so the curtains definitely «matched the drapes» on this one.
Our server was nice and attentive. Orders were correct. Food was great. Hash browns were drool-​worthy. What else can I say?
If you haven’t been: go. That’s an order.

This time? Brunch! I was originally going to check out Whitley House for breakfast, but Crest has a bit more to offer on their menu. Besides, the previous time I was here, I fell in love with the atmosphere. Figured why not again!
Our waitress was fantastic! The perfect amount of subtle was mixed with «pleasant knowledge». She never hurried us. In fact, my friend was running about 10 minutes behind, and she was not one bit pushy. Attentive, but not flustered. We were able to take our time ordering, even read the paper some when finished.
The only fish I eat is salmon. So imagine I was delighted to order their Salmon Benedict. Soft, slightly crisp edge, English muffin, salmon patty, over-​hard egg and homemade hollandaise sauce. Also got a side of hash browns. The entrée was a great pick me up! I was amused with the hash pucks: mini hockey pucks, seasoned to taste, made me smile.
Almost forgot! I got a virgin Bloody Mary, and it was the best one I’ve ever tasted. Great tomato flavor. Could taste the hint of heat in the back off my throat. Just the right amount to ice –keep it cold, without watering down the flavor. That drink was the gem of my day!

Great place. If you love the original Crest, you’ll love this one. The décor is different and a little classier than the original but the food continues to be on point.
I got the Taco Trio and had a few beers during happy hour. They have some small plate deals and draft specials during happy hour but I was starving and got a meal. Overall, I still spent under $ 20.
Décor is more minimalist and clean. They also have a patio that surrounds the front of the restaurant and faces Parsons. It seems a little loud during rush hour though so we sat inside.
I’m so glad to see more development on Parsons. I’m excited to see where it goes for the future. Adding another Crest location near where I live doesn’t hurt either.

Just had our first visit here. We live in German Village and it was an easy walk. Great local craft beer selection. We really liked the décor too.
Had the shankleesh as a snack and it was delicious. The soup was a harvest stew and we also really enjoyed it.
My wife had the taco trio and it was a good variety. Tacos are relatively big. I had the banh mi sliders. The sliders were hot, but could have used some additional spices. I added the house made hot sauce on the table and it was delicious. This definitely will be a regular spot for us!

Quite lovely. The inside is a little less shabby and a little more chic than the other location. It kind of feels like a 60’s post-​modern hotel lobby (in the best way possible). There is much more space here than their Clintonville location. Also, I hate to break it to ya, but that moss wall is not alive. It still looks super cool!
I came here with a group for happy hour, and was pleased by the half off draft prices. They have a great selection of drafts, the majority of which are breweries from Ohio. The rest of the happy hour was just okay — 25% off of snacks, bottled beer, and cocktails. What? I can’t do that kind of math. Just make everything $ 1 or $ 2 off and be done with it. The food here is delicious, and the portions are substantial. For around $ 13 you can get a giant sandwich with a massive pile of sweet potato fries. Or regular fries, I guess, but their sweet potato fries are probably the best I’ve ever had! The ‘small plate’ of mac and cheese was more than enough for me to eat as a main course, and at $ 7 is a steal.
I will be back. I will definitely gravitate towards this location, as it’s difficult to get a spot at the one in C-​ville!

My mom and I visited this location last night. Despite it being busy, we were seated right away. Our waitress was very loquacious and charming! We ordered 3 items: sweet potato fries, braised pork sliders, and a roasted butternut squash salad.
I would definitely go back to this location! It is very open and has a clean feel. The only minus is that there is no where to walk around if you are waiting for a table. The children’s hospital is next door.
They have a little garden out front where they grow their own herbs! Such an awesome idea.

I’m between 3 and 4.
5 stars for ambiance, though — everywhere I looked, some interesting bit of décor. The terrarium table, overhanging shelves, a wall full of little tiles on nail posts that becomes an ever-​changing place for signage.
Service is much improved from the Clintonville location. We sat tat the bar, and enjoyed chatting with the staff about their favorite dishes and beverage offerings.
Speaking of beverages, the beer list is quite good! These days good beer lists are everywhere, but… this is a good destination.
My husband and I shared three appetizers for our meal: the General Tso’s vegetables were my favorite. The tempura coating was just barely there (I was expecting huge puffs of batter), which I appreciated. The sauce was sweet but not cloying. The banh mi sliders were a little meh — a bit bland! The house hot sauce on the table helped quite a bit, but not really in that Vietnamese flavor profile. The fish croquettes were good, I just wanted a little more crispness on the exterior.
While we didn’t order entrees, they have what looks to be an imaginative vegetarian option (I’m not a vegetarian, either, but it struck me as being unique and refreshing). Not your usual shroom and pasta — but brick dough asparagus with cauliflower rice, charred onions, and a tomato curry sauce.
With this Crest within walking distance, we’ll be back to try more menu items!

Yay! Delicious food and a huge parking lot! Came in here for lunch on Saturday when the brunch menu was still being served. I tried the avocado and quinoa and my husband had the Crest Breakfast. My lunch was delicious, but his was outstanding. The potato cakes taste 3 times better than they look and they look amazing. It also had this fantastic crunchy bacon that I kept trying to steal while he wasn’t looking and my thieving hand was met with a slap each time. I had the Strawberry Chia Fresca juice from Alchemy with my meal. It was so refreshing and tasted like dessert rather than chock full of fruit and vitamins. Beer selection also awesome and the cocktails on the menu looked really fresh and tasty.

In short I would say this place excels in the beer selection, ambiance, and service, whereas the food could use a little bit of tweaking. I had the lamb burger which I thought was one note and a mushy. I think it needed some sort of acid (there needed to be more pickled turnip!).
Parking is plentiful outback~ And there was no wait on a Saturday night…
Consider coming here during happy hour, when all of their drafts are half off!

I love The Crest. I enjoy the Clintonville location and I figured this would be essentially the same restaurant in a different location. I was wrong.
The space inside is beautiful. Lots of open space, modern décor and comfortable seating. We sat by the moss wall which was gorgeous and made that area of the restaurant feel very special. Our server was extremely attentive and had great appetizer suggestions. This location has happy hour Monday-​Friday from 3 – 7. We went around 4:30 on a Friday and had no problem getting seated right away. Happy hour includes half off drafts and I definitely took advantage of that deal.
I ordered the taco trio and an order of sweet potato fries. Our server brought us garlic aioli and chipotle aioli for the fries. Both complimented the fries really well. The taco trio was pretty good, but I’m not sure if I would order it again. The beef tips on one taco were very dry. The taco with pork belly was okay but nothing special. Surprisingly, the taco with Walleye was my favorite. My boyfriend got the Americana burger and really enjoyed it. I had a bite and it was great. The burger was massive and had two beef patties. $ 16 is a little steep for a burger though.
I’m looking forward to going back and trying some other items on the menu that caught my eye!

It took me awhile, but I’m finally getting around to writing a review for the new Crest, and it’s definitely getting much better praise than my time spent at the original location. As soon as you walk into this place, you get a completely different vibe from the other spot, and you can tell something special is happening here in this neighborhood heading South down Parsons. The live moss wall, the open décor, and bright colors, everything is just very refreshing. The hosts, servers, managers, and everyone were very nice and accommodating, and I hope they’re like this every time.
We started off with the caramelized halloumi, which is a brined mixture of cheeses (looks like a thicker, more gourmet cheesestick) that was covered in honey, honeycomb, and bee pollen. It was hard to stop eating it, and we tried saving some for my girlfriend, but that didn’t happen.
I also had the spicy Thai wings, which are a whole wing with the flap and drumstick, lightly battered served with a cilantro sauce. The wings were good, but I can’t say they were my favorite. The chicken wasn’t as tender as I wanted it to be, and I had a tough time getting some of it off the bone. The flavor was good, however.
Onto my main dish, the Americana burger. This thing is massive, so you better have an appetite. It’s a bit pricey at $ 16, but it’s a double patty burger with fried onions, bacon, and a Watershed bourbon BBQ sauce. I love all those things. Everything there was pretty tasty and messy, and I really loved the fried onions. I think the meat was very good, but I’m not sure if it was my favorite, but the bacon helped make up for it. I’d get this again, but it’s not something I’d want to pay for at the drop of a hat.
Finally, even though I could barely fit much more into me, I had to try the mille-​feuille, because Napoleons are some of my absolute favorite desserts in the world. The puff pastry was thick but very light, and the flavors were fantastic. It came with fresh berries and whipped cream on top, and it’s hard to argue with that. The pastry cream layers were good, but I think I’m a bigger fan of the more custardy fillings when it comes to mille-​feuille.
Overall, I’d highly recommend giving this place a shot, especially if you’ve only been to the one on Indianola, because it’s apples and oranges. Coulmbus is lucky to get such a innovative and fresh restaurant on the East side, and they offer a massive beer selection of local favorites as well as many I’d never seen before. Also, it’s not nearly as busy as the other location (for now), and parking is much easier. I can’t wait to make a return visit.

Just what I needed when I was starving and hungry but needed veggies and something good for me.
They’re known for their burgers so why would I stray and get the falalfel burger? Because it’s beautiful. That’s why.
It was filling and tasty and so pretty. It had a different texture than your typical gyro-​type falalfel. It was crunchy– it had some veggies and a slice of radish (I thought it was cheese at first– but that’s just where my priorities lie). It could’ve used a little more texture– their hummus would’ve been perfect.
I ordered sweet potato fries because that’s another thing they’re known for. But I don’t really like sweet potato fries. These were a little soggy but for someone who doesn’t love ‘em, I liked these.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was pretty cool. There was an open kitchen and the design was spot on but it was quite loud.
They have an excellent beer menu and everything is priced pretty fairly, too.
Service was quick– perfect for a weeknight.
I’ll definitely be coming back (to either location) to try more things on the menu.

Well the space is really spectacular. So much so that we nearly moved inside on a beautiful Sunday morning. Like, probably one of the more forward thinking interiors of any establishment in Columbus. Sleeker than an apple store.
The patio leaves a little to be desired but I do like that it curves with the curved exterior of the building. There is no official brunch menu yet, which was disappointing, especially when our original destination was skillet, which had a line wrapped around the building. One is in the works though, and there were a few items that satisfied the brunch cravings.
We ended up splitting the Mac and cheese and the shrimp and grits. Both were great, but the Mac edged out the shrimp and grits. The shrimp and grits really reminded me of a homemade meal, which was nice, but there are better ones available in town. The Mac and cheese was served in a piping hot skillet and was perfectly gooey. People talk about the Mac at the original up north but this was better. That might have something to do with the fact that the head chef came from the refectory.
The price point is a little high and might price out some thrifty eaters. I certainly wouldn’t come here more than once or twice a month. The beer prices, especially the locals, could definitely be a buck cheaper. But the beer list, my god, it’s more unique than any you’ll find elsewhere in Columbus, that I guarantee. This is absolutely the only place in Columbus that can truly call itself a gastropub. Most others are simply pubs using a buzzword to hopefully grab more business. Even the familiar breweries here are beers you’d have trouble finding elsewhere.
I can’t think of much to say as far as detractors that wouldn’t be nitpicky. You should really go see for yourselves, but be prepared so you don’t have sticker shock. This should be a three dollar sign establishment.

Listen Linda, LIIISSTTTEENNNN. Please get in your car RIGHT NOW and drive on down to Parsons and Livingston, head south, turn into the drive to the right after the CVS, and park. You’ve made it to The Crest! Now, I know the name sounds familiar, but trust me when I say, if you’ve been to the Clintonville location, you’ve never been here. Not only are several menus items exclusive to the new location, the ambience is not the same. The staff is not the same. The seating is not the same. Simply put, the owners remain the same, but the game has changed! The vibe, the music, the moss wall, baby it’s all new and different and I love everything about it!
There no doubt that the A&R Group is creating a culture throughout the city, setting new standards with what I call the urban modern deco movement. When I first heard about The Crest — Parsons (TCP) I didn’t exactly leap for joy. My one and only experience at the Clintonville location was memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. However, after my boy Bryant M. went and RAVED about it on ig, there was no way I couldn’t go. Peer pressure is so real.
Moving right along… The first thing that caught my attention was the curved marquee and all the outdoor seating below it! Al fresco eating is always FTW! Stepping inside I was introduced to an eclectic blend of furniture funk and smiling faces!
I was given the option to choose my seating and selected a seat near the back so that I could face the restaurant. My waiter was Michael and we hit it off immediately! So much so that i let Michael choose my drink — which exemplifies the awesomeness of the wait staff because it’s a short list of people I trust to pick drinks for me! He went with the barrel aged margarita and it was everything! The oakiness provided a unique spin to an old favorite.
For my meal I selected the whole roasted cornish game hen, which comes with root vegetables. Soooo good — but don’t expect the hen to be meaty like a thick piece of chicken. The plating was darn near perfect, and it was seasoned to perfection.
For dessert — wait, so ya’ll know I hardly ever order dessert right? It’s not that I’m against it; I just find more times than not I rather have a drink than dessert and am way too full by dessert time to order anything OR I’m underwhelmed by the blasé options. NOT TODAY! I was instantly intrigued by the mille-​feuille, which is a crispy puff pastry layered with rose water pastry cream accompanied with macerated berries and fresh whipped cream. (yes, I totally copied that from the menu). I first developed a thing for rose water at The Market in Italian Village. When I read the description and saw «rose water pastry cream», I knew I wasn’t leaving without it. Best. Decision. Ever. Flaky crust meets cream that tastes like heaven and is as soft as a cloud. Each bite was like a sweet dream I never want to be without. The berries and whipped cream added an additional element that nearly had me in tears. Pure ecstasy.

Think you know The Crest? Think again.
I was next door at Alchemy (a sister restaurant) working for a couple hours, and suddenly the hangry hit me. And it hit me so hard that not even one of Alexis’s killer smoothies could cure it. As I walked out to my car to drive somewhere, it was like the clouds parted and the sun shined down on The (new) Crest.
It literally opened 2 days ago, so y’all be kind to them. But all things considered with newbie jitters, my experience was absolutely perfect.
So before I tell you how awesome The Crest on Parsons is, I’ll tell you my take on the original location in Clintonville: I think it’s good. 3.5−4 stars. I’ve had hit-​or-​miss experiences there, and I’ve never thought the people were all that friendly.
But this Crest… man… this is my jam.
The interior is a 180 from the C-​ville location. It’s modern, quirky, and cool. There are loads of wood and plush, tufted green cushions. There’s even a live lime-​green moss wall! Speaking of green, I’ve heard this spot is ethically green too: a rooftop garden to grow some of their own veggies; composting excess food; giving any broken glass to local artists to use; etc.
The menu is also brand spanking new. What I was most impressed with was how clearly-​marked the vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-​free options were. And they weren’t shitty, sub-​par choices — they were truly special and unique. My awesome server, Trey, told me that burgers is where this menu shines, so that’s exactly where I started.
I got the house burger on a gluten-​free bun. Yes, a bun. Not a lettuce wrap… not a collard green… not a sad burger-​y salad… A BUN. And it was delicious. The whole burger was mind-​blowing — juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The toppings were also really thoughtful and delicious — cheddar, pickled onions, lettuce, tomato, and ancho aioli. I had a side of fries, which completely held their own weight against that mighty burger. (They even use a dedicated gf fryer!)
The rest of the menu looks equally amazing, and I cannot wait to nom my way through it. Random tidbit: I heard the chef came from The Refectory! That might explain some of these food-​gasms.
I met several of the staff from The Crest, and everyone seemed genuinely friendly and cared about my experience. To be honest, the sometimes-​wonky customer service at the Clintonville Crest is what keeps me from going there often… but not here! It’s definitely one of the ways they shine, and I hope they keep it up.
As I reminisce about my perfect meal, I’m getting a bit sad. I know it won’t be long before there are two-​hour waits and I won’t be able to get in anymore. I guess I’ll have to get in enough visits quick before that happens!