Get a taste of Scotland at this new restaurant and store now open in Columbus

A new Scottish cafe and import shop has opened in Columbus, bringing fish and chips, sausage rolls, bangers and mash, imported sweets and a bit of British culture to the city.

Mother-daughter duo Cathie and Nikki O’Hara opened the Caledonia Cafe after moving to Columbus from Scotland in November 2024. The business is having its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony June 24 at 5 p.m. It is at 2218 Wynnton Road.

Caledonia Cafe combines a restaurant serving traditional Scottish comfort foods with a retail store stocked with imported candy, chips, sodas, tea, baked beans and other British staples.

The concept is not new for the O’Haras. Before moving to Georgia, the family operated a similar cafe and shop in Arkansas after starting with catering orders and a food trailer.

“It worked well, and then when we decided we were moving here, we decided to try again,” Nikki told the Ledger-Enquirer.

The O’Haras said they chose Columbus after researching Georgia cities and realizing the area had few options for people looking for British or Scottish foods without driving to Atlanta, Warner Robins or Savannah.

“There’s a lot of Irish everything really in this area,” Cathie told the L-E. “There are three British shops, but they’re all in Atlanta. Who wants to drive to Atlanta to get a piece of candy?”

The cafe’s menu includes Scotch broth, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, sausage rolls, Scotch pies, Cornish pasties, chips with curry sauce, potato fritters and desserts such as peanut butter pie, apple crumble, berry crumble and strawberry tarts.

Cathie said most of the food is made from scratch, including the potatoes used for chips and mashed potatoes.

“I want people to have a wee bit of patience with us,” she said. “Everything takes time, and it’s made to order.”

The cafe has already seen a strong response among Columbus foodies since its soft opening, the owners said. Some menu items sold out during the first week, including mashed potatoes and fish.

Nikki said their opening week has been “chaos.”

“Every day it’s just been busy, busy, busy,” she said.

The shop also carries imported snacks and drinks, including Irn-Bru, Scottish sweets, biscuits, potato chips and tea. Nikki said the retail side is especially meaningful for British, Scottish, Irish and Welsh residents who may miss familiar foods from home.

“You don’t realize what you miss,” she said. “If you can’t get your favorite things, you just don’t realize it.”

The owners said they hope the cafe becomes more than a place to eat. They want it to serve as a gathering place for people interested in Scottish culture, British foods or simply something different in Columbus.

The O’Haras were drawn to the ongoing redevelopment along Wynnton Road in midtown Columbus, and they want to be part of the growth.

“I hope it becomes a community cafe, not just a Scottish cafe,” Cathie said. “We want to be part of the neighborhood,” Cathie said. “We want to be involved in everything.”

For now, the owners are focused on keeping up with demand, restocking imported goods and giving Columbus residents a taste of the food they grew up with.

“This is something completely different that they may never get to try any other way,” Nikki said.

Parking for the cafe is around the back of the building. The cafe can be accessed by entering the blue door.