Columbus restaurant Vertigo Fusion Kitchen reopens with a new look and fresh menu
After closing for a week to make changes to its menu and decor, Vertigo Fusion Kitchen reopened its doors Monday.
Co-owners Niki Gedroic and Mark Jones bought the downtown Columbus restaurant in January and decided to change the space so it fits their own story and vision. Previously, Vertigo was a Latin-Asian infusion restaurant, but Gedroic felt this concept was too niche.
“Unless you were in the mood for bulgogi,” she said, “you probably weren’t coming here.”
Gedroic hopes to ensure Vertigo stays relevant by bringing in more “heartwarming” and healthy dishes along with the new dining environment.
‘A changing environment’
The new menu includes appetizers such as crunchy dill pickle dip that is served with two pretzels. Customers can also order one of the new burgers: a black bean burger called an Herbivore.
Customers wanted vegan and vegetarian options, Gedroic said, so adding more items to the menu that would accommodate these dietary restrictions was a priority.
“We are in a changing environment in Columbus — and in the world — where people are eating healthier and eating less meat,” she said. “But I’m also aware that during a football game you want a bottle of beer and some chicken wings.”
Along with making the food more inclusive, Gedroic is hoping Vertigo’s customers will enjoy the bar. One of the new cocktails is the Chattahoochee Gentleman, which is made with Old Forester bourbon, grapefruit and mint.
“We have very creative bartenders who have put their touch on our new cocktail menu,” she said. “The drinks are spectacular and unique.”
Although there have been a lot of changes to the menu, not everything has changed. The street corn dip, Vertigo’s top-selling item, continues to be available.
“We kept the corn dip,” Gedroic said. “Everybody was panicked that we were going to get rid of that corn dip. We would never.”
‘We’re not a sports bar’
The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant has also changed.
When people previously came into Vertigo, their first impression was that it was a Mexican restaurant, Gedroic said.
That impression will likely change – they painted over the wall’s hallmark mural.
“I know that some people are very upset about that,” Gedroic said. “But it did not fit what we were trying to do here.”
The paint in the restaurant was freshened up. New tables were brought in. Six televisions, including an 85-inch, were placed around the restaurant that will tune into football games, but Gedroic, who previously co-owned The Hangout Bar and Grill, warns Vertigo is not a sports bar.
Columbus resident Kimberly Vaught ate lunch at Vertigo during its reopening on Monday, and said she liked the changes made to the menu and restaurant.
She tried the Samurai Salmon with grilled zucchini and a salad, Vaught said. Between the fresh additions to the menu and her good experience, Vaught expects to come back to Vertigo more regularly, she said.
And that was the reopening’s goal: Gedroic hopes customers leaving the restaurant are able to say they had a great meal and experience.
“I’m just really excited about what tomorrow brings and what the new Vertigo will bring,” she said.
