101 Beer Kitchen Review

101 Beer Kitchen is a unique Columbus-based gastropub featuring local fare on a seasonally rotating schedule.  There are three locations - Dublin, Gahanna, Westerville - and they are open daily with a brunch offering on Sundays from Noon to 3pm.

Beth and I ventured to the Dublin location last Friday night and apparently so did most of northwest Columbus!  The bar was packed, the drinks were flowing, and conversation and laughter abound.  Once we got seated (after about an hour) our waitress informed us that the winter menu was just introduced the previous week.  We started our evening with drinks.  I chose an organic chocolate stout and Beth had a beerita which is just as it sounds.  A margarita that had some kind of a sweeter beer infused.  It was unique.

Short Rib Nachos

We put in our appetizer order while we perused the entrees.  Today we had nachos with short rib meat, house made cheese sauce, corn, tomatoes, sour cream, and Fresno peppers.  The short rib meat was AMAZINGLY tender and delicious (hint...the short ribs also make an appearance in the stroganoff).  We also shared the fried cheddar cheese curds which were a throwback to a business trip I took last summer to Wisconsin.  These beer battered nuggets of deliciousness were served with a side of honey mustard sauce.

Cheddar Cheese Curds

For our entrees Beth went with the wedge salad served with tomatoes, fresh bacon bits, and blue cheese crumbles with a side of blue cheese dressing and balsamic vinaigrette. This is a standard we've both had before and it is a very good offering. She added a bowl of cream of mushroom soup consisting of pureed crimini and domestic mushrooms, fresh cream, and parsley.  If you are a mushroom connoisseur, unlike me, Beth recommends the soup before it disappears.  I selected the French dip sandwich which was supposed to come with cream of mushroom soup but I opted to swap that for the ale & cheddar cheese soup.  Unlike a normal French dip this was served on a brioche bun.  It consisted of shaved roast beef, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and a horseradish mayo with au jus and a side of house made salt and vinegar potato chips.  This sandwich was outstanding.  The caramelized onions were present but not overpowering and the horseradish mayo, which I would assume to be strong as well, was subtle.  The ale & cheddar cheese soup was smooth and creamy but a bit rich.  It was garnished with a sourdough crostini and pork croutons.

Wedge Salad with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Feeling on the verge of being full, but not wanting to skirt past the most important portion of the meal, we perused the dessert options with the intent of taking it with us to enjoy in the comfort of our own home.  There were four offerings and a 'pie of the day'.  Sounds delicious...I'll have that (random Dumb & Dumber reference).  Today's 'pie of the day' was an oatmeal stout pie that our waitress informed me was very popular as I was trying to decide between that and the apple crisp.  Hindsight is 20/20 but I'll get to that.  Beth selected the butterscotch pot de creme which consisted of a butterscotch custard, fresh whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a homemade sugar cookie.  While it didn't travel too well she said it was good; almost like a butterscotch pudding.  I opted for the popular oatmeal stout pie which came garnished with a chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream.  I was cautiously optimistic as I opened the container and caught the aroma.  However, my first bite unfortunately was also my last bite.  I cannot put into words the actual flavor but it was not for me.  I broke off a piece of the crust to try and somehow cleanse my pallet which didn't quite work out the best.

French Dip Sandwich with Ale & Cheddar Cheese Soup

Fortunately Beth had that sugar cookie which and graciously shared it with me!


Overall, we were both pleased with our meals.  While the wait was a little longer than we would normally sit through on a Friday evening the atmosphere helped make the time go by faster.  Also, our service was top notch.  We were very well taken care of and our server did her best to accommodate our questions and make recommendations.  The only downturn for me was my dessert choice.  As I previously said...hindsight.  Based on all of this I give 101 Beer Kitchen 4 stars and highly recommend checking it out.  Their website provides a great overview of all their menu offerings, locations, hours, and special events.  They also provide details of current beers on draft.


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