Best Restaurants for Swimmers in Columbus, OH
If you’re competing at The Ohio State, here are some great restaurants where swimmers can enjoy a meal that’s both tasty and beneficial for recovery.
Northstar Café
- Address: 951 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
- Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles from 1847 Neil Ave
- Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Online Ordering: Available
- Menu: Northstar Café Menu
- Why It’s Great for Swimmers: Northstar Café offers a variety of healthy options, including fresh salads, hearty grain bowls, and smoothies. Their commitment to organic and locally sourced ingredients makes it a perfect spot for health-conscious athletes.
- Meal Recommendation:
- Northstar Burger: A house-made veggie burger with brown rice, black beans, and beets, served with simple salad and tahini dressing.
- Village Salad: A refreshing mix of romaine, radicchio, avocado, radishes, blue cheese, and walnuts, tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. Add chicken on for extra protein.
Brassica
- Address: 680 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
- Distance: About 1.3 miles away
- Hours:
- Daily: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Online Ordering: Available
- Menu: Brassica Menu
- Why It’s Great for Swimmers: Brassica specializes in Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. Swimmers can enjoy flavorful dishes like falafel, hummus, and a variety of roasted vegetables, which are excellent sources of protein and essential nutrients.
- Meal Recommendation:
- Brassica Bowl: Includes your choice of protein (like falafel or brisket), hummus, baba ghanoush, pickled cabbage, roasted carrots, and more, served over a bed of greens or grains.
- Pita Sandwich: Stuffed with your choice of protein and a variety of fresh and pickled vegetables, along with a tangy sauce.
Condado Tacos
- Address: 132 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
- Distance: Around 2 miles from the swimming location
- Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM
- Online Ordering: Available
- Menu: Condado Tacos Menu
- Why It’s Great for Swimmers: After a swim session, Condado Tacos offers a fun and casual atmosphere with customizable tacos that can cater to a swimmer’s specific dietary needs. They provide plenty of protein options and fresh toppings.
- Meal Recommendation:
- Goody Goody Taco: Features ground beef, queso blanco, lettuce, tomatoes, and Condado secret sauce.
- El Tradicional: A traditional taco with your choice of protein, cilantro, onions, and salsa verde.
Bibibop Asian Grill
- Address: 1778 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
- Distance: Less than a mile away
- Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Online Ordering: Available
- Menu: Bibibop Asian Grill Menu
- Why It’s Great for Swimmers: Bibibop Asian Grill offers build-your-own bowls with a base of rice or salad, topped with a variety of proteins and vegetables. It’s a great option for a balanced meal rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.
- Meal Recommendation:
- Bibibop Bowl: Choose purple rice, Japchae noodles, or salad as your base, add chicken, beef, or tofu, and top with a variety of fresh veggies like kale, carrots, and cucumbers.
- Chicken Bowl: Featuring chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and a mix of fresh vegetables.
Native Cold Pressed
- Address: 771-A N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
- Distance: About 1.5 miles away
- Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Online Ordering: Available
- Menu: Native Cold Pressed Menu
- Why It’s Great for Swimmers: For those looking for a quick, nutritious pick-me-up, Native Cold Pressed offers cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and acai bowls. These options are perfect for hydrating and replenishing electrolytes after swimming.
- Meal Recommendation:
- Acai Bowl: A blend of acai with granola, banana, strawberries, blueberries, and a drizzle of honey.
- Green Glow Juice: Packed with kale, spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger, this juice is perfect for hydration and a vitamin boost.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal or a quick, healthy snack, Columbus, OH, has a variety of restaurants near The Ohio State pool, for the dietary needs of swimmers. These spots offer delicious and nutritious options to help you recover and fuel up for your next workout.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Fried Food (too heavy for racing and not good for your recovery)
Heavy Meats (stick with lean options like chicken, turkey, and fish for easy to digest protein)
Desserts (not swim fast food, save it for a treat when you are done competing)
Sauces, though they taste great, most are based with vegetable or soybean oil which is not great swim meet fuel.
Hot/Spicy Items (your digestive system will thank you later – hot may be good going down but it’s not great coming back up during a 200fly).
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)