Not to take anything away from Brioso, the Tip Top, El Arepazo, or Dirty Franks but there are a couple of newer spots downtown that I can’t seem to stop going to almost everytime I’m down there for lunch.

The Plantain Café, on Gay east of the Tip Top, is serving up some fantastic Cuban dishes. Their Cuban sandwich, served w/fried plantain chips, may be the perfect sandwich.

The traditional al pastor burrito at Mexica, 199 E. Broad St., is the closest thing to an actual Mission District burrito that I’ve found in Columbus, though admittedly my search has probably been a lot less exhaustive than some others on here. I’m totally open to suggestion, but if yr downtown I recommend it.

is good stuff. Everything I have had there has been good. Same with , I love their Monte Cristo with sweet potato fries. Same with (although I would love to see them come up with a creative salad of some sort using their current ingredients. Which is blasphemous probably, I know.).

These aren't new, but:

I am a big fan of the Inn Between, one block off Broad & 4th. It is typical sandwiches, salads, etc., but it is family owned, has some character, and is good food.

on the corner of 4th & State - they have good deli sandwiches. Also have many pre-made sandwiches to go, and it is a convenience store so lots of drinks, chips, other food.

(basically next door to C-Town Market on 4th) is typical cafe food, but pretty good. The salad bar is good. It is run by a foundation and its employees are recovering addicts, and they keep the prices low.

- good breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Closes at 2:00 though I think.

Looks like the city is temporarily rescinding the parking meter increase.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/lo ... ml?sid=101

Does downtown really need another hotel and why do we need to pay for it?

I think the city should keep the increased meter rates in effect in front of any restaurant or store that supported the City of Columbus income tax hike.

Maybe this belongs under politics, but...

1. Columbus DOES NOT need another hotel right now, unless they turn the Jackson next to Skully's into one. That would actually be kind of neat.
2. I supported the tax hike. That had been in the works for quite some time now, and people actually got to vote on that issue.
3. The meter increase was enacted upon what seemed to be a harebrained proposal, without examining stats and the negative impact it would have on area businesses that are largely responsible for revitalizing downtown Columbus. A smaller increase is reasonable, but that was one hell of a hasty hike they had in mind. Hopefully, the several months set aside for reconsideration will work in the favor of our independent business community.

Airing of grievances. Northstar Cafe, $11.00+ for a freaking burrito? You must be out of your mind.

the best place for lunch downtown is in my kitchen at skylab

p.s. no inflated downtown prices

plantain cafe ---$8 for a cuban sandwich

come on now, a cuban sandwich is FIVE BUCKS at the most

i will pay $8 for a cuban if they get the bread right.

no one ever gets the bread right.

Went to El Arepazo today, and it remains super awesome.