I came with my sister and cousin, say on the street level dining room and shared 3 of the small plates. Initially, I was concerned this wouldn't be enough food - but we all left satisfied. The cocktails were also very good. It is on the pricier side, but you can tell the food quality meets those expectations. I highly recommend the lamb hummus and the guilded martini. I do recommend reserving a table near the open kitchen. When you make your reservations it'll give you the available dining options, of possible, pick the one near the kitchen.Dietary restrictions: They asked when I made reservations and when we got there about dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Mackenzie Lawrence
Every time I’m in the city I go to Hiraeth and can’t say enough about how incredible the food and drinks are. Not to mention i don’t think there’s anywhere else in Columbus that has a staff like theirs. They always give the best recommendations on which dishes to get and a good drink/wine pairing. I also LOVE how you can be upstairs and then go downstairs and it feels like a completely different place I always love getting dressed up and taking friends there that haven’t been. Oh and if you need parking there is a parking garage attached which is great because short north parking can be a mess
Kerry Yoakum
I am a foodie and heard great things about this place. Drinks, service and atmosphere were great. However, the food was good but not great. The ribs were overcooked and the chef seemed very annoyed when we brought it to his attention. The NY strip was flavorless, especially for a steak cooked over an open wood fired grill. At this price point I expected a much better meal.*****I am editing you down to one star after your response. I also note that this isn't paid or planted review like some of the others in the review section.Nevertheless, thank you for your response. Glad you acknowledge the sub par meal (I definitely agree it was), since your chef didn't and did nothing but glare at us after we brought the ribs to his attention.Please know that all he said was "do you want more?" Not thank you for bring this to my attention or sorry. My response was no thank you and he stormed away. I don't think bringing attention to mis-cooked items is horrifying behavior or being combative and we definitely were not disturbingly loud as he suggests. He was the one with an attitude and should be embarrassed by his behavior.As for being escorted out, it was just another embarrassment for your establishment as it was another mishandling of the situation. Upon engaging in some deep reflection as you suggest, I thank you for covering my meal as I would have very upset at spending so much on a mediocre meal. As another patron indicated, your food is good but not great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Katherine Prince
I saw many people mentioning Hiraeth as a great place to go for a night out, and I decided to make reservations for my sister and I for the chef’s counter this past weekend. Right when we walked in we were greeted with a warm smile and asked if we’d like our coats taken, which I greatly appreciated. We were then taken through the restaurant to the downstairs seating and I was in awe at how beautiful everything was. We sat down and started off ordering some small plates. We ordered the naan, char sui ribs, and were surprised by our waitress when she brought us the roasted cauliflower (which I had asked about)! The naan was incredible. It was warm, buttery, and salty and with the lamb hummus, it was just an explosion of flavors. The char siu ribs were amazing as well. Sadly we weren’t the biggest fans of the cauliflower. It felt like it was lacking flavor, but maybe it just wasn’t for us. From the entrées we ordered the guinea hen with the beef fat potatoes. The hen was great, but I thought the potatoes were a bit bland. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate peanut butter cake, and it was good not incredible but a nice sweet treat. When my sister and I were watching the chefs prepare everything, we saw the lamb barbacoa and are determined to try it when we return. Overall, we had a great time and did not feel rushed at all! The service was great and everyone was so kind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Naan and Mezze Platter, Whole Jerk Guinea Hen
Uli G.
Hiraeth exceeded all expectations! I was prepared for elegance and carefully sourced ingredients, artfully mastered with passion, creativity, and care - in a beautiful space run by a friendly, professional, hard-working team........and still the evening was beyond my wildest imagination! From Napoleon's wizardry and irresistible enthusiasm the moment we entered the street level bar to the dusting of Holy Basil on the shaved ice and cream dessert, my son and I enjoyed a magical evening of amazing food and service! We devoured the three spreads and homemade naan - perfect with a mocktail, after a long drive from Raleigh. It was followed up with a sword of succulent quail, albeit more "gamey" than I prefer. On my daughter, Emma's insistence, we were brought a citrus salad. We experienced flavors of orange I never knew existed, while leaves of dehydrated beet infused with subtle smoky aromas came together like a bright sunrise. Emma works as a server, so we were given a tour of the downstairs dining room with its chefs busy at the fire, and the more intimate bar off to the side. A feeling of relaxation, adventure, and warmth rose up in me. Hiraeth is gorgeous and casual, fine and cozy all at the same time. Back upstairs we ordered liquid art in the form of a rum punch and feasted on my new favorite poultry dish ever; Jerk Guinea Hen. Served with an array of deliciously crafted root vegetables, the hen smelled divine. It was juicy and tender with a seasoning of herbs and spices that delivered just the right amount of heat. Turnip pancake and yucca hashbrowns sound strange, but tasted so good. As much as I loved it, we needed a "to go" box; a welcome paperboard shaped like an ice cream carton, simple and compostable. Full and satisfied, we barely managed room for the perfect desert. Shaved apple ice with cream brought up childhood memories of snow cream. Light and refreshing as a clear winter day, it left us happy and invigorated. As a special occasion destination, I couldn't think of a better place! I'd love to come back and try the fish and the hoppin' john. Congratulations to the team for pulling it all together and for the well deserved James Beard nomination! Thank you all for a memorable evening!
Courtney P.
Wonderful night at Hiraeth in the short north. Unique dishes and small plates that make for a fancy affair. We got 5 small plates and split them - the quail, lamb, naan with hummus, potatoes, and make your own sushi with beef tartare. Everything was delicious and so flavorful! You can tell it's all stone / fire made. Lovely time tonight!! Would love to go back for me!!
Matt E.
We ordered the market fish, which was a fried branzino tonight. Best fish we've ever had! The ambiance was great, especially sitting at the chef's bar. Service was top notch.
M. D.
Hiraeth was pleasantly surprising and absolutely delightful. Having looked at the menu before our visit I was a little nervous- but every dish we tried was phenomenal. Our reservation was in the basement dining room and it was so cozy and beautiful. We ordered several things but the standouts were the char siu ribs and the whole fried Branzino. The cocktails were also delicious and the service was fantastic: friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. Let yourself be adventurous and you won't be disappointed. This may be our new favorite date spot.
Bcho333
Drinks and wine were great.Food was good but not great especially to warrant the price. The meat dishes tasted over cured and salty. You maybe have to sit at a shared table with others. We weren’t told but apparently we had a 2 hour window to eat. Felt rushed the entire time and was told we had to put in our entire food order right away (appetizers and entrees). The wait staff kept hovering to ask if we were done to move us along. The desserts were great.For comparison, you could go to the ocean club and spend ~10-20% less and get as good or likely better food. Don’t feel the need to go back.There’s also a hidden charge for “employee wellness” that’s ~6%.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Joshua P.
Pregnant wife contracted food poisoning. No response from restaurant. Would not recommend.
Great atmosphere, perfect for a friend gathering. Love the open kitchen concept.Food was good, not great but good! They have small tapas size so if you split a dish between 4 people, you will only get 1-2 bites.We liked the eggplant dish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Garrett “Mac” Duncan
Celebrated our anniversary at Hireath. Maddie was our server and she was fantastic! We sat at the Chef’s Counter and really enjoyed watching all of the activity. The Naan and Cauliflower were great starters. We shared the 12oz Strip and Beef Fat Potatoes which were phenomenal. A great experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Naan and Mezze Platter
Grant Donnelly
This was my first time eating at Hiraeth but I did go to their pop up opening at the Lox and sampled their menu before.The restaurant is great. There are four areas to dine: upstairs there is a bar area and a small dining area. This space is clean and nice but I think the real magic is downstairs. The downstairs dining area feels like entering into a speakeasy hideout. There is a bar area with a low ceiling and dark painted walls which adds to the cozy vibe. We ate at the bar and it was nice but I did find the chairs in the bar to be a little uncomfortable after an hour or so. The downstairs dining area is a bit more dynamic with a chefs table a higher ceiling and some tasteful art on the wall. There are four private bathroomsDownstairs which are all really beautiful.The food was fantastic, absolutely no complaints and only praise. I would recommend getting a few mezzes and share a main and definitely DO NOT skip dessert- it is amazing.For mezzes the naan and dips seems like a classic. The whipped feta was very good and the cream cheese fish dip was super flavorful. We also got the build your own nori rolls which were very good.The whole fried fish is amazing and the herb salad that accompanies it was really good. For dessert we got the pans cotta with what seemed like frozen apple flakes that tasted like the lightest most delicious ice cream. It was surprising and a great end to the meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Naan and Mezze Platter, Hand Made Rolls
Ryan Garcia
Still in its infancy (opened Aug 2023), Hiraeth has more to offer than most well established restaurants in Columbus. "Hiraeth" loosely translated from Welch means "a feeling of comfort and familiarity; home-y," and the atmosphere emulates that perfectly.Whether you're sitting in the smaller, intimate section upstairs or the larger dining area downstairs, you are surrounded by beautiful Mediterranean architecture and decor. Downstairs the kitchen is open and in full view of each table, and the wood burning oven is both soothing and enticing.The food: be prepared to share, as the modest sized menu boasts some large dishes that you'll want to try. We ordered three courses and had no notes on any of it, it was perfect.The drinks: don't be intimidated by the extensive wine list, there's something on there for everyone. Have a hand crafted cocktail, or even a low- to no-ABV creation.The service: the staff are all friendly and attentive. On a busy night, our server has the perfect cadence of checking up on us. Each dish delivery came with a description of everything on the plate, and they even added some production value by soaking dehydrated towels at the table with hot water. Maybe a little excessive, but who cares?TL:DR - This is a cozy spot for a date or small group that encourages food sharing and guarantees a wonderful experience. With a rotating seasonal menu, we'll definitely be back!Dietary restrictions: The server asked us right away about any dietary restrictions. We told him, and he brought back a copy of the menu with hand written suggestions of alternatives. A nice touch. Very accommodating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steve V.
Let's start with the strong features. The service is impeccable. Our server Hana was attentive without being cloying and had a terrific personality which was a nice addition to our experience. We sat at the front of the upstairs by the window which was cozy and quiet. The food was hit or miss. The "build your own" hand rolls with beef and shiitake tartare with hand grated wasabi and fermented Ponzu was outstanding. Subtle flavors well integrated. Adding Baika caviar for $40 seems like overkill, which we avoided. Also, the wasabi amount, the tip of your pinky fingernail, was not enough to make six hand rolls, and a surplus of $8 for another 1/4 tsp I found off putting. The lamb merguez with garlic aioli was also very good as was the naan, with the spicy feta dip and smoked fish dip far outstripping the very average hummus. The naan itself was delicious. All of these were with an appropriate price point given portion and quality. The Cavatelli which was house made had very little flavor. I'm a fan of broccoli in pasta but the broccoli seemed bland. Some of the pasta stuck together, and the beef bacon, while somewhat flavorful itself, did not infuse flavor into the pasta. I had hoped to try the lamb Ragu which reviewers raved about but alas, it's no longer on the menu. The fifth appetizer we ordered was the quail. Perfectly cooked and smokey as promised, but not a standout. Finally the branzino which was whole fried, eyes (a delicacy), head and body. It was expertly cooked with a nice crisp skin and tender moist meat inside. It was prepared with a chili sauce, but was not that flavorful from a spice and herb standpoint, in which case I would have liked a little more salt in lieu. I've had more flavorful whole fried fish at good Asian, Latin and Caribbean restaurants sometimes at a third of the price ($60). I think that this restaurant has promise, but in today's competitive market I worry that it won't survive especially given the short menu, inconsistencies, and relatively high prices. The restaurant was not even full on a Friday night. Frankly I was more wowed by Eat Chapman's when it opened.
I came with my sister and cousin, say on the street level dining room and shared 3 of the small plates. Initially, I was concerned this wouldn't be enough food - but we all left satisfied. The cocktails were also very good. It is on the pricier side, but you can tell the food quality meets those expectations. I highly recommend the lamb hummus and the guilded martini. I do recommend reserving a table near the open kitchen. When you make your reservations it'll give you the available dining options, of possible, pick the one near the kitchen.Dietary restrictions: They asked when I made reservations and when we got there about dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Every time I’m in the city I go to Hiraeth and can’t say enough about how incredible the food and drinks are. Not to mention i don’t think there’s anywhere else in Columbus that has a staff like theirs. They always give the best recommendations on which dishes to get and a good drink/wine pairing. I also LOVE how you can be upstairs and then go downstairs and it feels like a completely different place I always love getting dressed up and taking friends there that haven’t been. Oh and if you need parking there is a parking garage attached which is great because short north parking can be a mess
I am a foodie and heard great things about this place. Drinks, service and atmosphere were great. However, the food was good but not great. The ribs were overcooked and the chef seemed very annoyed when we brought it to his attention. The NY strip was flavorless, especially for a steak cooked over an open wood fired grill. At this price point I expected a much better meal.*****I am editing you down to one star after your response. I also note that this isn't paid or planted review like some of the others in the review section.Nevertheless, thank you for your response. Glad you acknowledge the sub par meal (I definitely agree it was), since your chef didn't and did nothing but glare at us after we brought the ribs to his attention.Please know that all he said was "do you want more?" Not thank you for bring this to my attention or sorry. My response was no thank you and he stormed away. I don't think bringing attention to mis-cooked items is horrifying behavior or being combative and we definitely were not disturbingly loud as he suggests. He was the one with an attitude and should be embarrassed by his behavior.As for being escorted out, it was just another embarrassment for your establishment as it was another mishandling of the situation. Upon engaging in some deep reflection as you suggest, I thank you for covering my meal as I would have very upset at spending so much on a mediocre meal. As another patron indicated, your food is good but not great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
I saw many people mentioning Hiraeth as a great place to go for a night out, and I decided to make reservations for my sister and I for the chef’s counter this past weekend. Right when we walked in we were greeted with a warm smile and asked if we’d like our coats taken, which I greatly appreciated. We were then taken through the restaurant to the downstairs seating and I was in awe at how beautiful everything was. We sat down and started off ordering some small plates. We ordered the naan, char sui ribs, and were surprised by our waitress when she brought us the roasted cauliflower (which I had asked about)! The naan was incredible. It was warm, buttery, and salty and with the lamb hummus, it was just an explosion of flavors. The char siu ribs were amazing as well. Sadly we weren’t the biggest fans of the cauliflower. It felt like it was lacking flavor, but maybe it just wasn’t for us. From the entrées we ordered the guinea hen with the beef fat potatoes. The hen was great, but I thought the potatoes were a bit bland. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate peanut butter cake, and it was good not incredible but a nice sweet treat. When my sister and I were watching the chefs prepare everything, we saw the lamb barbacoa and are determined to try it when we return. Overall, we had a great time and did not feel rushed at all! The service was great and everyone was so kind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Naan and Mezze Platter, Whole Jerk Guinea Hen
Hiraeth exceeded all expectations! I was prepared for elegance and carefully sourced ingredients, artfully mastered with passion, creativity, and care - in a beautiful space run by a friendly, professional, hard-working team........and still the evening was beyond my wildest imagination! From Napoleon's wizardry and irresistible enthusiasm the moment we entered the street level bar to the dusting of Holy Basil on the shaved ice and cream dessert, my son and I enjoyed a magical evening of amazing food and service! We devoured the three spreads and homemade naan - perfect with a mocktail, after a long drive from Raleigh. It was followed up with a sword of succulent quail, albeit more "gamey" than I prefer. On my daughter, Emma's insistence, we were brought a citrus salad. We experienced flavors of orange I never knew existed, while leaves of dehydrated beet infused with subtle smoky aromas came together like a bright sunrise. Emma works as a server, so we were given a tour of the downstairs dining room with its chefs busy at the fire, and the more intimate bar off to the side. A feeling of relaxation, adventure, and warmth rose up in me. Hiraeth is gorgeous and casual, fine and cozy all at the same time. Back upstairs we ordered liquid art in the form of a rum punch and feasted on my new favorite poultry dish ever; Jerk Guinea Hen. Served with an array of deliciously crafted root vegetables, the hen smelled divine. It was juicy and tender with a seasoning of herbs and spices that delivered just the right amount of heat. Turnip pancake and yucca hashbrowns sound strange, but tasted so good. As much as I loved it, we needed a "to go" box; a welcome paperboard shaped like an ice cream carton, simple and compostable. Full and satisfied, we barely managed room for the perfect desert. Shaved apple ice with cream brought up childhood memories of snow cream. Light and refreshing as a clear winter day, it left us happy and invigorated. As a special occasion destination, I couldn't think of a better place! I'd love to come back and try the fish and the hoppin' john. Congratulations to the team for pulling it all together and for the well deserved James Beard nomination! Thank you all for a memorable evening!
Wonderful night at Hiraeth in the short north. Unique dishes and small plates that make for a fancy affair. We got 5 small plates and split them - the quail, lamb, naan with hummus, potatoes, and make your own sushi with beef tartare. Everything was delicious and so flavorful! You can tell it's all stone / fire made. Lovely time tonight!! Would love to go back for me!!
We ordered the market fish, which was a fried branzino tonight. Best fish we've ever had! The ambiance was great, especially sitting at the chef's bar. Service was top notch.
Hiraeth was pleasantly surprising and absolutely delightful. Having looked at the menu before our visit I was a little nervous- but every dish we tried was phenomenal. Our reservation was in the basement dining room and it was so cozy and beautiful. We ordered several things but the standouts were the char siu ribs and the whole fried Branzino. The cocktails were also delicious and the service was fantastic: friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. Let yourself be adventurous and you won't be disappointed. This may be our new favorite date spot.
Drinks and wine were great.Food was good but not great especially to warrant the price. The meat dishes tasted over cured and salty. You maybe have to sit at a shared table with others. We weren’t told but apparently we had a 2 hour window to eat. Felt rushed the entire time and was told we had to put in our entire food order right away (appetizers and entrees). The wait staff kept hovering to ask if we were done to move us along. The desserts were great.For comparison, you could go to the ocean club and spend ~10-20% less and get as good or likely better food. Don’t feel the need to go back.There’s also a hidden charge for “employee wellness” that’s ~6%.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Pregnant wife contracted food poisoning. No response from restaurant. Would not recommend.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great atmosphere, perfect for a friend gathering. Love the open kitchen concept.Food was good, not great but good! They have small tapas size so if you split a dish between 4 people, you will only get 1-2 bites.We liked the eggplant dish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Celebrated our anniversary at Hireath. Maddie was our server and she was fantastic! We sat at the Chef’s Counter and really enjoyed watching all of the activity. The Naan and Cauliflower were great starters. We shared the 12oz Strip and Beef Fat Potatoes which were phenomenal. A great experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Naan and Mezze Platter
This was my first time eating at Hiraeth but I did go to their pop up opening at the Lox and sampled their menu before.The restaurant is great. There are four areas to dine: upstairs there is a bar area and a small dining area. This space is clean and nice but I think the real magic is downstairs. The downstairs dining area feels like entering into a speakeasy hideout. There is a bar area with a low ceiling and dark painted walls which adds to the cozy vibe. We ate at the bar and it was nice but I did find the chairs in the bar to be a little uncomfortable after an hour or so. The downstairs dining area is a bit more dynamic with a chefs table a higher ceiling and some tasteful art on the wall. There are four private bathroomsDownstairs which are all really beautiful.The food was fantastic, absolutely no complaints and only praise. I would recommend getting a few mezzes and share a main and definitely DO NOT skip dessert- it is amazing.For mezzes the naan and dips seems like a classic. The whipped feta was very good and the cream cheese fish dip was super flavorful. We also got the build your own nori rolls which were very good.The whole fried fish is amazing and the herb salad that accompanies it was really good. For dessert we got the pans cotta with what seemed like frozen apple flakes that tasted like the lightest most delicious ice cream. It was surprising and a great end to the meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Naan and Mezze Platter, Hand Made Rolls
Still in its infancy (opened Aug 2023), Hiraeth has more to offer than most well established restaurants in Columbus. "Hiraeth" loosely translated from Welch means "a feeling of comfort and familiarity; home-y," and the atmosphere emulates that perfectly.Whether you're sitting in the smaller, intimate section upstairs or the larger dining area downstairs, you are surrounded by beautiful Mediterranean architecture and decor. Downstairs the kitchen is open and in full view of each table, and the wood burning oven is both soothing and enticing.The food: be prepared to share, as the modest sized menu boasts some large dishes that you'll want to try. We ordered three courses and had no notes on any of it, it was perfect.The drinks: don't be intimidated by the extensive wine list, there's something on there for everyone. Have a hand crafted cocktail, or even a low- to no-ABV creation.The service: the staff are all friendly and attentive. On a busy night, our server has the perfect cadence of checking up on us. Each dish delivery came with a description of everything on the plate, and they even added some production value by soaking dehydrated towels at the table with hot water. Maybe a little excessive, but who cares?TL:DR - This is a cozy spot for a date or small group that encourages food sharing and guarantees a wonderful experience. With a rotating seasonal menu, we'll definitely be back!Dietary restrictions: The server asked us right away about any dietary restrictions. We told him, and he brought back a copy of the menu with hand written suggestions of alternatives. A nice touch. Very accommodating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let's start with the strong features. The service is impeccable. Our server Hana was attentive without being cloying and had a terrific personality which was a nice addition to our experience. We sat at the front of the upstairs by the window which was cozy and quiet. The food was hit or miss. The "build your own" hand rolls with beef and shiitake tartare with hand grated wasabi and fermented Ponzu was outstanding. Subtle flavors well integrated. Adding Baika caviar for $40 seems like overkill, which we avoided. Also, the wasabi amount, the tip of your pinky fingernail, was not enough to make six hand rolls, and a surplus of $8 for another 1/4 tsp I found off putting. The lamb merguez with garlic aioli was also very good as was the naan, with the spicy feta dip and smoked fish dip far outstripping the very average hummus. The naan itself was delicious. All of these were with an appropriate price point given portion and quality. The Cavatelli which was house made had very little flavor. I'm a fan of broccoli in pasta but the broccoli seemed bland. Some of the pasta stuck together, and the beef bacon, while somewhat flavorful itself, did not infuse flavor into the pasta. I had hoped to try the lamb Ragu which reviewers raved about but alas, it's no longer on the menu. The fifth appetizer we ordered was the quail. Perfectly cooked and smokey as promised, but not a standout. Finally the branzino which was whole fried, eyes (a delicacy), head and body. It was expertly cooked with a nice crisp skin and tender moist meat inside. It was prepared with a chili sauce, but was not that flavorful from a spice and herb standpoint, in which case I would have liked a little more salt in lieu. I've had more flavorful whole fried fish at good Asian, Latin and Caribbean restaurants sometimes at a third of the price ($60). I think that this restaurant has promise, but in today's competitive market I worry that it won't survive especially given the short menu, inconsistencies, and relatively high prices. The restaurant was not even full on a Friday night. Frankly I was more wowed by Eat Chapman's when it opened.