Whole World Natural Restaurant

Getting Viggy - I mean Veggie: Whole World Natural Restaurant & Bakery

I am not a vegetarian. I did try once in high school, and I succeeded for a few months. In the end though, chicken and fish (sushi, really) proved too tempting and I decided to just go with my carnivorous ways. That said, I can appreciate and enjoy a vegetarian meal - especially when it's well prepared!

Location: 3269 North High Street

Columbus, OH 43202

Service: Pretty spot on. You go in and seat yourself and pay at the front when you're done. There was one waitress for the restaurant, but it's not a huge place so she managed it well. My water was always full, she came at exactly the right time to take our order, and the food was brought out hot and timely. It wasn't super busy when we went, but it was over half full. I was a little bit surprised that they didn't give me a discount when my pizza "fell apart" in the oven (so I had to wait a little longer) but they were very apologetic.

Environment: It's a very homey environment. Don't come with a big group, because there are few booths that could realistically (much less comfortably) seat more than four. Everything is wooden and comfortable enough. There is a pretty epic mural painted above the kitchen...you'll know when you see it. Whole World very much has the "small cafe" feel to it, perfect for dates and catch up sessions with a friend.

This is the mural. Epic, right?

Menu and Food: They offer daily specials, which would be great if you're a regular. The menu itself is pretty extensive, and there were a couple things that really caught my eye! I eventually narrowed it down to the Eggplant Meatball Sub, the Broccoli Burger (one of the sandwiches they're known for) and the Southwest Pizza. I ordered the Southwest Pizza, and was very glad I did. I will say however, that the table next to me ordered the Eggplant Meatball Sub and I had to make a conscious effort not to drool. That's what I'll be ordering next time around. My sister ordered the Foccacia Melt, which looked good.

The whole wheat crust on my pizza was delicious. It was filling, soft, and didn't have too much of a wheat flavor that overpowered the rest of the pizza. They put just a dab of sauce on, and I really appreciated that. There was just enough to notice without confusing my mouth when combined with the avocado, black beans, and corn that topped the pizza. And of course, the cheese tied everything together. The pie was served with salsa, and I gladly topped a few slices with a spoonful.


The menu also has soups, salads, and a plethora of other sandwiches and pizzas. You can create your own pizza, selecting toppings from their roughly 15 item list. In terms of beverages, your standard soda, coffee, and teas are available. As you would expect from a vegetarian restaurant, there are plenty of fruit juices to choose from. Prices for all menu items are very reasonable as well, ranging from $6 for some sandwiches to $12 for a specialty personal pizza.

Decisions....

It is called Whole World Natural Restaurant and Bakery, so let's talk baked goods. The glass display cases were well stocked with everything from fruit bars to brownies to cookies, some of which are vegan. They serve traditional tastes with just plain chocolate chip, but serve those more daring - for example, the hot chocolate earthquake cookie, which has cayenne pepper in it! I was drawn to the peppermint brownie, but was far too full from my pizza to get one. I instead chose a chocolate white chocolate chip cookie. To be honest, I wasn't impressed. The cookie was dry and a little harder than I would have expected. The cocoa flavor I had been expecting was a little bit weak, and it could have used a few more white chocolate chips. Now, it was a pretty decent sized cookie (3" maybe?) and was only $1, so I feel I got what I paid for.

Do you SEE those brownies??

Final Verdict: The next time you're in the mood for a meatless meal (Meatless Monday, anyone?), go to Whole World Natural Restaurant and Bakery. The menu is diverse enough to satisfy all tastes and you'll pay a price you love. The restaurant portion was way better than the bakery, but for how cheap the baked goods are I'm willing to give a few other items a try. Happy eating!

The First (Pizza) Post - Adriatico's Pizza

Pizza is definitely one of my all-time favorite foods. Each pie has a different crust, texture, and sauce that really creates a unique experience every time. What's not to love about that?

I'm so lucky to live in Columbus, too. You may be skeptical, but there really is a distinct Columbus pizza. Columbus pizza has a thin, often slightly chewy crust, a sweeter sauce that's packed with oregano, and cheese cheese cheese! I'll definitely have some posts featuring traditional Columbus pies in the future, but for now let's talk about Adriatico's.

This bad boy is called the "Inflation Fighter"

Location: 265 West 11th Avenue

Columbus, OH 43201

Adriatico's is an Ohio State student tradition. You'd be hard pressed to find some students not in favor of this pie and it's definitely one of my favorites! Adriatico's serves what they call New York style pizza, as well as subs, salads, and even a few pasta dishes. I can speak for the subs and pizza - yum yum yum.

Service: This place can get SLAMMED on game days, but I have never had bad service. Whether they're incredibly busy or you're one of the few in the shop, you're going to get timely refills and attention to detail. They once made an error on our pizza, so gave us a second pizza for free and took $5 off our order!

The Adriatico's Menu

Environment: Definitely decorated to fit into campus, including the tiles on the ground. They've got a big screen tv in the middle and two other tv's located around the area to view some games while enjoying your pie too! Authentic pizza place silverware (plastic plates and glasses, always a sign of true peetz!) were provided with our pizza. The bathroom, however, was questionable. The toilet and urinal were awkwardly placed and it had a unique, sketchy kind of smell to it. You'd never know unless you go in the bathroom though!

Crust: Adriatico's offers three crusts; extra thin, regular or Sicilian (thick). They are known for their thick crust though, so that's what I typically order and would recommend to you. The crust was a nice thickness (I'd say 3/8"-1/2") with a crisp and crunchy edge, yet a soft, almost chewy center. It had a very nice flavor to it, being very fresh and obviously a unique recipe. A sprinkle of garlic tops the crust before baking, which really brings complimentary flavors to the cheese and sauce on the finished product.

Sauce: This is the real deal. Adriatico's sauce is slightly sweet, but the tomato flavor is evident in every bite. I enjoy my pizza sauce, and would not have complained if there was a little bit more of the good stuff on the pizza.

Cheese: Adriatico's got the cheese the way we like it. I believe when you eat some peetz cheese, it should stretch with you, not just glob off the pie. My hopes were fulfilled with this salty and "real" tasting cheese...grabbing a slice becomes a battle as the cheese tries to decide if it will come with your piece to your plate or if it will remain on the pizza stone. And there is plenty of cheese to enjoy!

Peps: These King Kong sized peps wreaked havoc over the entire pie!!! Seriously, at least

Is your mouth watering yet?

twice as big as your average pep and lightly glazed with grease, creating a mouthful of flavor. In terms of spiciness, I would say the pepperonis are mild. This is great, as it can create that little fire in your mouth, but still allows Adriatico's blend of spices to shine through. If you order extra-cheese, your pepperonis will even be buried under a mountain of cheese...how awesome is that? There is typically one giant pep per slice of pizza.

Value: Adriatico's has some excellent specials on various days, so make sure to ask when you order to see what deals are available! Even without the specials, the pies are reasonably priced. This pie will really fill you up, too. A medium Sicilian crust can easily feed two adults. And the ingredients are fresh and fantastic.




Final Verdict:  Check this place out.  If you're a pizza lover, this is a "must-eat" for you.  Adriatico's consistently serves great pizza at a fair price.  It's a fun place to hang out, but they do offer pick-up and delivery too.  Let me know what you think when you get the chance to eat there.  Happy eating!