Epic Restaurant in Columbus receives four-diamond rating from AAA
It’s an epic honor of sorts for a Columbus restaurant named Epic.
The upscale eatery located at 1201 Front Ave., on the ground floor of downtown’s Eagle & Phenix complex, has earned a four-diamond rating from the travel club AAA.
Epic Restaurant made the 2016 list of four-diamond culinary spots in Georgia, with the list expected to be posted online by the end of January, said AAA's Georgia public affairs director Garrett Townsend. AAA has a rating system from one diamond to five diamonds. Just over 1,500 hotels and 689 restaurants — out of more than 58,000 across the U.S. — are in the four-diamond category. (Here's the list for 2015)
Sasha Marcinczyk, regional president of AAA in Georgia, called Epic’s food and service “exceptional” while also noting its prominence near the city’s waterfront. The Eagle & Phenix is a renovated textile mill overlooking the Chattahoochee River, transformed primarily into loft condos and apartments, with commercial space on the bottom of one building.
Epic’s main courses with sides range from “Sous Vide Breast of Chicken” for $31 to “Bison Ribeye” with sides for $50. It also has three- and four-course menus.
Jamie Keating, Epic’s founder and chef, said the AAA rating reflects the “hard work and dedication” of his staff, who is “committed to exceeding guest expectations and providing a premier dining experience.”
Epic also happens to rank at the top of TripAdvisor’s list of Columbus restaurants, with that online culinary tool relying on customer feedback and their ratings of 1 to 5. “This was our third visit and another terrific dining experience. Forget being good ‘for Columbus,’ Epic would be exceptional in any city,” said an online TripAdvisor poster Tuesday identified as “Stephklo” from Atlanta.
Aside from Epic, the top 10 Columbus-area eateries on TripAdvisor include Trevioli Artisan Pasta, Buckhead Grill, Zombie Pig BBQ, Minnie’s Uptown, 11th and Bay Southern Table, The Loft, Gus’s Drive In, Hunter’s Pub & Steakhouse and Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits.
The other four-diamond Georgia restaurants on AAA’s 2015 list are Grand Dining Room on Jekyl Island and Georgia’s Bistro in Greensboro, along with 11 Atlanta-area establishments — Aria, Atlanta Grill, Bacchanalia, BLT Steak, Canoe, La Grotta Ravinia Ristorante Italiano, La Grotta Ristorante Italiano, Nan Thai Fine Dining, Nikolai’s Roof, Park 75 and Restaurant Eugene.
AAA’s restaurant ratings, according to its website, include one diamond (basic, good food), two diamonds (relaxed family fare), three diamonds (entry-level fine dining), four diamonds (fine dining) and five diamonds (world-class dining).
Addressing four diamonds specifically, it says that level “is geared to individuals in search of a distinctive fine-dining experience. Often orchestrated by an executive chef and an accomplished staff, menus reflect a high degree of creativity and complexity, using imaginative presentations to enhance high quality, market-fresh ingredients. The equally proficient service staff demonstrates a strong desire to meet or exceed guest expectations. A wine steward is typically available to provide menu-specific knowledge on wine selection. The ambiance is highly refined, comfortable and well-coordinated, incorporating quality materials and a variety of upscale design enhancements to give a first-class impression.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 1:23 PM with the headline "Epic Restaurant in Columbus receives four-diamond rating from AAA."