#patandgracies

Currently listening to “Shade” by Trash Boat.

If you would have told me a year ago that I would eventually visit four major cities in Ohio, I would have slapped you in the jaw and called you a liar. But, here we are today and all the prophecies came true. To be completely honest, I’m not even mad about it. In my latest trip, I visited the town of Columbus and I was pleasantly surprised. Since this is the 14th most populous city in the United States, it only makes sense that there are a ton of things to do to keep you occupied. I filled my time by doing what I do best. Eating and drinking. Okay, I did a few other things too, so stop looking at me Swan! One of the first pit stops on this cool Saturday morning was the infamous North Market. If I didn’t have burgers on my brain, this is definitely where I would be stuffing my face. It’s a plethora of local businesses ranging from coffee shops to bakeries, butcheries, craft beer fridges, ice cream counters, and every nationality of food, single served and ready for consumption. A true foodie’s paradise. Naturally, I had to show my dominance at the hot sauce counter by eating the spiciest one they had offer. The crowd ooh’ed and ahh’ed as I easily chomped through a heavily doused tortilla chip. As I walked away, I turned around, put my sunglasses on, and told the crowd “be cool, baby”. That’s when I heard a slow-clap starting, and I knew I had made a great impact on these people’s lives. 

Now as a celebrity, a quick getaway Uber to the happening part of High Street was in order. I needed to wet my pallet with an alcoholic beverage to wrap my head around this new fame, and North High Brewing led me to the promise land. From there, a stroll to Magnolia Thunderpussy seemed like an obvious choice. This super cool record store sells old movie/band posters, shirts/hoodies, and a ton of new and used vinyls. If none of that tickles your tater tots, just go because their name is awesome. Out of the 4 or so breweries that just happened to be in the same direction I was headed in, Hoof Hearted Brewery & Kitchen stole the show. The beers were fantastic, the ambiance was clean and hip, and the merchandise designs were hilariously on point. After all this urban exploring, nothing sounded sexier than a Tiffani ‘Amberger Thiessen. That’s why I headed straight to highly rated, critically acclaimed Pat & Gracie’s. Check it out! 

Pat & Gracie’s is a medium sized restaurant that can crank out some serious grub. The modern combination of stained wood planks and exposed brick on the walls, along with the chalk board beer menu, and no frills vibe could keep me snacking and drinking here for hours. The taps behind the full service bar offer many local options, as well as a few bigger out of state options. P&G’s also has a killer patio for those late morning hangovers when you don’t want to take your sunnies off, but you do want to be sassy and drink 4 to 9 mimosas. There was also a steady flow of patrons leaving and entering, which means the word-bird has flown the coop and successfully delivered the message on how special this place is. I loved how big and open the kitchen was because you can actually see the cooks hustling to make sure all the food comes out hot and in a timely manor. Our waitress, as well as the rest of the staff, seemed very attentive which made our stay all the better. I had a good feeling this meal would be epic, and after a quick glance at the menu I knew that in just a few moments I would be the happiest guy around. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Chimi Burger.

The Chimi Burger is piled with two smash-cooked all beef patties, Monterrey jack cheese, avocado mousse, caramelized onions, smoked bacon, fried egg, and house made chimichurri sauce. It’s no wonder R.L. Stine is from Columbus, because this burger was scary good. The two smash-cooked patties had the perfect balance of char and spice on the outside and a warm medium cooked inside. The melted Monterrey jack cheese combined with the chimichurri sauce was like my tongue was doing the backstroke in a sea of zesty, tangy gooeyness. For those with a question mark above your head, chimichurri sauce is traditionally made from finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and a dash of vinegar. This version seemed a little creamier which I did not mind at all. The resonating flavor of the smokey bacon made sure that each bite had that salty, savory finish. A fried egg always adds that extra push of golden, earthy tones, which I think rounds a burger out. The real star of this sangwich was the avocado mousse. It had the taste of an avocado, but the texture was smooth and velvety and clung to every corner of my mouth. Now, this was a 10-12 napkin burg, but unlike Bill Clinton, I inhaled this burger in record time. It also paired up perfectly with fresh cut golden crispy fries and a Brass Knuckle Pale Ale from Four String Brewing Co. All in all, this ranks at a solid 4 of 5 burgz and I would definitely chomp on this again.

If you ever find yourself Christopher Columbus’ing in Columbus, Ohio, and you’re Christopher Walken around town, do yourself a flavor your way over to Pat & Gracie’s Kitchen & Tavern for a meal at any time, day or Christopher Knight. I promise you here and now, it’s a million times better than Christopher McDonald’s.

Pat & Gracie’s Kitchen & Tavern

340 E. Gay Street

Columbus, OH 43215