Restaurant guide for Columbus, Georgia

Whatever food you’re craving, you can satisfy your hunger at area restaurants. Here’s just a sampling of popular eateries.

Price guide:

$: Most dinner entrees cost less than $10

$: Most dinner entrees cost $10-15

$$: Most dinner entrees cost more than $15

AMERICAN

B Merrell’s: Chicken wings, rotisserie chicken with homemade side dishes, baby back ribs, sandwiches, salads. Outside patio, sometimes with entertainment. Full bar with huge beer list. Don’t miss becoming a Hall of Foam winner by drinking your way through the beer list. Lunch and dinner. 7600 Veterans Parkway. 706-653-9464. $

Black Cow: Burgers, meatloaf, tilapia, pork cutlet, ribeye, steak hash, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato fries, Lobster & Crawfish Quesadilla, salads. Don’t miss the fried green tomatoes and artichoke chicken. Full bar. 115A 12th Street. Lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. 706-321-2020. $

Cannon Brewpub: Sandwiches, salads, soups, steaks, pasta and pizzas. Homemade beer and a full bar available. 1041 Broadway. 706-653-2337. $

Country’s: Barbecue is the specialty here. Pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, chicken, Southern sides and salads. Original location, 3137 Mercury Drive, 706-563-7604. Country’s on Broad: 1328 Broadway, 706-596-8910; Country’s North, 6298 Veterans Parkway, 706-660-1415. $

Fife and Drum: Pasta, meatloaf, ribeye steak sandwich, salads, wings, grilled cheese, tuna wontons, brie grape salad. Full bar with beer, wine, speciality drinks and TVs. Don’t miss the pimento cheese appetizer served with toast points. Lunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Inside the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. 706-685-5801. $

Lynn’s Cafe: Roast chicken, salmon, filet mignon, jumbo crab cakes, lamb chops, fish and pasta. Lunch and dinner. Don’t miss: the pesto aioli and chili sauce served with the crab cake and, when available, the homemade olive tapenade. Wine. Closed on Sunday and Monday. Lunch and dinner. 5300 Sidney Simon Blvd., Unit No. 9. 706-576-5100. $$

Pickle Barrel: Wings, sandwiches, salads, wraps, chili, nachos, burgers, fried pickles, fried okra. Don’t miss watching your team on one of the many TVs in the restaurant and bar, TVs are even viewable from the outside patio. Lunch and dinner. 2538 Airport Thruway. 706-221-0263. $

Uptown Fish House: Fried fish and chip platters, fried shrimp, fried scallops, fried oysters. Don’t miss the giant hush puppies. Beer and wine. Lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. 1208 First Ave. 706-324-7405. $Uptown Wings: Set to open this summer at 1250 Broadway. Specialty will be wings. 706-478-7125.

Wynnton Pit BBQ & Diner: Monday through Saturday, there are different items available on the soul food line. But every day, there’s fried pork chops and fried chicken, baked chicken, rice, candied yams, deviled eggs, coleslaw and potato salad. Lunch and dinner. 2500 Buena Vista Road, 706-322-5676. $

RiverCity Grill: Entrees cost less than $10 including 10-ounce sirloin. Chicken, pasta, sandwiches, seafood. Don’t miss the fried green beans and sweet potato fries. Full bar. 2301 Airport Thruway. 706-221-7903. $The Market: Known as the fresh fish joint, specials change daily but fish is always fresh and expertly prepared. Good wine list. Lunch and dinner. 1039 First Ave. 706-320-9733. $$

Mark’s City Grill: Steak, shrimp and grits, meatloaf, White Cheddar Pimento Cheese burger, Country Captain. Don’t miss the pounded pork cutlet with lemon butter served with mac & cheese. Beer and wine. Lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. 7160 Moon Road. 706-507-3002. $

Rose Hill Seafood: Trout, mackerel, flounder, mullet, snapper and catfish come fried or broiled. Oysters raw on half shell, fried or in stew. Shrimp stuffed, boiled or fried. 2621 Hamilton Road. 706-322-4410. $

Oscar’s Steak & Seafood: Steaks include ribeye, T-bone and prime rib or filet mignon. Seafood entrees include grouper filet, crab. 4776 Nebula Road, Warm Springs. 706-655-2563. $

Ben’s Chophouse Steak & Seafood: Hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, burgers, chops and pasta dishes. Occasional wine tastings and special dinners. Bar often has live music. Don’t miss daily specials and 1/2 priced happy hour from 4-7 on most weekdays. 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd. 706-256-0466. $$

Buckhead Grill: Black Angus steaks and burgers, chicken and fish entrees and lamb. Full bar with boutique wines and special cocktails available. Don’t miss the Kobe beef and speciality appetizers. 5010 Armour Road 706-571-9995. $$

Ezell’s Catfish Cabin: Catfish fried, blackened or grilled and shrimp, chicken strips, hamburger steak, hush puppies and cheese grits. 4001 Warm Springs Road. 706-568-1149. $

Downstairs@theloft: Steak, unstuffed chicken, double-cut pork chops, sandwiches, salads, daily vegetarian and seafood specials. Full bar with cocktail specials and wine list. Open for dinner, 5-10 p.m. Closed Sunday-Monday. 1032 Broadway. 706-596-8141. $$

ASIAN

Chef Lee’s Peking II: Chinese cuisines with roast pork, beef, chicken or seafood. Specialties include Mongolian beef or chicken and Peking duck. Don’t miss dishes that feature a whole fish. An expert will debone it right in front of you. 6100 Bradley Park, 706-653-8888. $$

Old Siam: Serving lunch and dinner entrees and appetizers like spring rolls, dumpings, pot stickers, noodle dishes, fried rice and curries. 14 11th Street. 706-507-0993. $

Chili Thai: Try the national dish of Thailand — Pad-Thai noodles as well as fried rice and curries. 5870 Veterans Parkway, Suite C. 706-494-0850. $$

Mikata: Guests may sit at the sushi bar or at a hibachi table with other guests where entrees are prepared in front of them by chefs with advance knife skills. Most meals include soup, salad, meat, vegetables and rice. Entrees include steak, chicken and seafood on the hibachi and sushi offerings. Full bar. Open for dinner. 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd. (Suite 19). 706-327-5100. $$Osaka: Japanese cuisine, including sushi, sashimi, teriyaki and tempura. Wine, Japanese beers and sake (hot or cold). 5592 Whitesville Road. 706-507-1818. $

Wasabi: Japanese dishes such as chicken teriyaki, assorted sushi and California roll, squid teriyaki. Thai rice and curry dishes. Bento boxes and hibachi entrees. Online and phone take-out ordering systems. Don’t miss beer specials on weekdays. 1639 Bradley Park Drive, No. 800 (near Publix). 706-322-6088. $

Shogun Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar: Chefs prepare steak, chicken and seafood entrees in front of guests seated around hibachi grills. Diners get a show while their meals cook. Most meals include vegetables, meat, rice, soup and salad. Guests may also order off the sushi menu. Open for lunch and dinner. Full bar including tropical specialties in souvenir glasses. 1808 Manchester Expressway, 706-327-4856, and 5520 Columbus Park Crossing, 5520 Whittlesey Blvd. 706-322-0402. $$

CAJUN/CREOLE

Cafe Le Rue: Seafood gumbo, chicken and sausage jambalaya, shrimp and crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and dirty rice are favorites. Steak and chicken dishes and po boys also served. Beer and wine. Don’t miss the chance to sample three New Orleans favorites as one entree and get the warm beignets (doughnuts) for dessert. 2523 Airport Thruway. 706-507-5851. $

CARIBBEAN

Spices from the Caribbean: Beach-party atmosphere with Caribbean creations, from drinks to desserts. including Jerk chicken, curry chicken, stew fish and carnival shrimp. Alcoholic specialties include the fire shot. 4036 University Ave. 706-568-3533. $

Rose Hill Seafood: Trout, mackerel, flounder, mullet, snapper and catfish come fried or broiled. Oysters raw on half shell, fried or in stew. Shrimp stuffed, boiled or fried. 2621 Hamilton Road. 706-322-4410. $

EUROPEAN

Meritage: Three venues offer a variety of dining styles. The Deli Cafe serves sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, quiche and pasta for lunch. The Room at Meritage is a fine-dining destination serving steak and seafood entrees. Tapitinis is an intimate destination serving small plates of dishes including seafood selections. Fine wines and speciality martinis served. Don’t miss special wine dinners. 1350 13th St., 706-327-0707. $$

GERMAN

Bavarian House: A meat-lover’s paradise with various schnitzel and German sausages. Authentic German dishes and homemade German cakes and torts. German beers and wines. 2528 Weems Road, 706-257-1775. 3449 Victory Drive, 706-689-0800.$ INDIAN

TajMahal Restaurant: Lamb, goat and lots of chicken and vegetable dishes. Curry, pancake-type options, rice and meat entrees and Indian breads. Don’t miss the lunch buffet. It’s a great way to taste unfamiliar foods. 2009 Auburn Avenue. 706-568-9992. Closed Monday. $

ITALIAN

Caffe Amici: Northern Italian cuisine, including pasta with sauces, steaks, breaded veal, chicken and seafood. Don’t miss the new bar area where you can enjoy cocktails such as a lemoncello martini. 2301 Airport Thruway. 706-653-6361. $$

Deorio’s Pizza Inn: Pizza and Italian specialties like lasagna, chicken tetrazzini, eggplant parmigiana, manicotti and grinder sandwiches. Family friendly atmosphere. Beer and wine. 2010 Auburn Ave. 706-563-5887. $

Peluso’s Italian Restaurant: Pizza, salads, pasta, Italian favorites. Family friendly atmosphere. Beer and wine. 4529 Woodruff Road, 706-324-5888 $

Wood Stone Restaurant: Italian fare. Steak, chicken, pasta, pizzas and creme brulee, tiramisu and baklava. Don’t miss the wood-fired pizzas, hummus appetizer and homemade salad dressings. Open for dinner Monday-Saturday. 7500 Veterans Parkway. 706-507-3993. $$

MEXICAN

El Carrizo: Enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, sizzling fajitas, tacos, beef and chicken entrees. Beer, wine, margaritas and daiquiris. 5935 Veterans Parkway. 706-653-2120. $

El Vaquero: Enchiladas, chile relleno, tamales, burritos, sizzling fajitas and more. Beer, wine, sangrias, margaritas and daiquiris. 2976 North Lake Parkway, 706-317-5900. $

Vallarta: Authentic Mexican dishes including tortas or sandwiches, tacos using tongue instead of the usual beef or chicken, or machaca. Tamarind and pineapple drinks, full bar. 2151 Fort Benning Road. 706-682-8895. $

VIETNAMESE

Pho Vy Vietnamese Cuisine: Spring rolls, noddle entrees, hot tea. 706-571-0455. 5156 River Road Suite A. Open for lunch and dinner. $

NEIGHBORING RESTAURANTS

Aspen’s Mountain Grill: Comfortable ski lodge feel with a wide range of menu items from steaks and seafood to salads and sandwiches. Don’t miss starting with collard green dip and then getting shrimp and grits. Beer and wine. Closed Sunday-Monday. 5300 Ga Highway 354 Pine Mountain. 706-663-2001. $

Bullock House: The restaurant is known for its Southern buffet with fried chicken and fried green tomatoes. 47 Bulloch St., Warm Springs. 706-655-9068. $

Carriage & Horses: Steaks, seafood, good wine list. Don’t miss monthly wine dinners and special-occasion buffet meals. 607 Butts Mill Road, Pine Mountain. Reservations needed. 706-663-4777. $$

Crickets: Jambalaya, etouffee, seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, chicken, steak, catfish, shrimp, salads and sandwiches. Don’t miss the low-country boil. Beer and wine. 14661 Georgia Highway 18 West. Pine Mountain. 706-663-8136. Open daily 5-9 p.m. $Hunter’s Pub: Great steaks, fresh seafood, nightly specials, Don’t miss the fried lobster tails with homemade sauce and the peanut butter pie. Beer and wine. Closed Sunday-Monday. 706-628-5992. 11269 Ga Highway 219, Hamilton. $

Luke’s Pub & Restaurant: Hand-cut steaks. Seafood includes shrimp, grouper and oysters on the half-shell. Don’t miss the snake bites — steak, chicken or shrimp wrapped in bacon with cheese in the middle. 6080 Ga. 85, Ellerslie. 706-582-2630. $

LAGRANGE

C’Sons: “New American Cuisine” such as shrimp tempura, asparagus risotto, smoked duck breast, steaks, scallops, mahi mahi and grouper. Full bar. Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch and dinner. 120 Main Street. 706-298-0892. $$

OPELIKA

Jimmy’s: Cajun favorites such as crawfish etouffee and jambalaya as well as shrimp and grits, beef tenderloin, frog legs and trout. Good wine list. Monthly wine dinners. 104 South Eighth Street. 334-745-2155. $$The Warehouse Bistro: Coq au vin, pastas, seafood, steaks, pork tenderloin, veal, double beef consomme, crab cakes, oysters. Good wine list. 334-745-6353. $$

This story was originally published May 6, 2011 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Restaurant guide for Columbus, Georgia."