Richard Hyatt: Poll reveals hottest restaurants

Catfish and barbecue came out on top in an unscientific poll of where you like to eat.

Forty-four local establishments were mentioned, including a few outside of Columbus and Phenix City. Chain restaurants were not considered.

Sharing the top spot are Country's and Rose Hill Seafood, two of the most venerable on the list showing that among diners who cast votes you don't need white tablecloths or someone in the kitchen who calls themselves a chef.

It was interesting to see 44 restaurants among the nominees, for our most common complaint has always been that there aren't many places from which to choose. This eclectic list ranges from old pizza joints like Peluso's and Deorio's to trendy new spots like 11th and Bay and Mabella's. It includes a Popsicle place and a hot dog stand.

On that long list are 11 restaurants that turn out Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese or Thai, six barbecue joints, five that feature Mexican food and five kitchens that brag on their Italian dishes.

Here is your Top 10:

Country's Barbecue

Rose Hill Seafood

Ezell's

The Speakeasy

Downstairs at the Loft

Black Cow

Hunter's Pub

Peluso's

El Carrizo's

Dinglewood Pharmacy

Among the Top 10 are two places that fry catfish, two owned by the same chef, two that are next door to one another, two from Uptown and one from Harris County. And if you notice, the majority does not have liquor licenses.

Ben Gocheski has lived here in two eras. He was a resident from 1978 to 1986 and moved back in 2006. On the road with a corporate expense account, he enjoyed many fine meals. He offered interesting insights into the local dining scene.

"A restaurant is a product," he shared in an email. "To be successful it must offer a product that is in synch with the population. I've always viewed Columbus as having a very small number of people wanting fine dining restaurants. Currently, there does seem to be an upswing on better restaurants."

Gocheski has memories of two restaurants from the past: The Goetchius House and Main Street Café.

"At the Goetchius House, the menu never changed, and that's not all that bad. It was like sitting in your favorite chair. I miss the servers: Aaron and Mary. They knew your name. Main Street Café was a gem. It was superb. I've eaten at some of the best -- from San Francisco to New York. Main Street was as good or better. It was way before its time in this city," he wrote.

Newer spots go against his contention that we're a casual dining community and that only 1 percent of us will support good restaurants.

Until we do, we're stuck with hushpuppies and mustard based sauces.

Richard Hyatt is an independent correspondent. Reach him at hyatt31906@knology.net.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Richard Hyatt: Poll reveals hottest restaurants ."