Gus W.
Yelp
Hey, look, it's the third restaurant here in the past three years, and it hasn't folded yet! Granted, the first two before it (Cray and it's bastard son, Factory on 4th) were owned by the same person that drove them into the ground, City Tavern is already leagues ahead in that regard. This spot is run by the same folks that own Park Street Tavern and Ledo's, and whether you like those spots or not, they've managed to become mainstays in the Columbus bar scene.
One thing about this spot that will never be great is its location. It's in an awkward spot to get to by car being right at the 670 off ramp, and nowhere really close to any other businesses. However, there's now a parking lot right next to it that's never full, so don't be afraid to drive over there.
The inside hasn't changed all that much minus them taking out the weird swing set looking decor that Factory on 4th had. The service was friendly and attentive, but we were the only people in there on a Sunday at lunch, so I'd hope so. One of the owner/cook/managers was there and was really cool and asked us to try some of the different dressings she had been working on for the wings. She seemed to really care about how the customers felt, so I can already tell they'll do better than the previous owner.
As far as the food, everyone in my group had wings, so I don't have a very diverse knowledge of the menu. I tried the Original City sauce, which is kind of like a BBQ and buffalo mixture, and the Cajun dry rub, and they were both very tasty. The ranch that came with it was a little flavorless though, so they could definitely work on that. The wings themselves were tender on the inside and nice and crunchy on the outside, but they are a little pricey at $13 for 10. I didn't see if they had a wing night, but if they do wing deals, I'd hop all over it.
We also tried the City Shrooms, and they were deliciously creamy with great earthy mushroom flavor that you can spread over the toasted crostinis. They were great, but if you're just getting it for yourself, it'll fill you up if you plan on getting more food.
I'd definitely come back again, especially with all the Ray Ray's BBQ on the menu, and the good looking burger pictures on here. It's your standard bar fare taken up a notch. I can see this definitely being more of a neighborhood spot, and I hope they do well enough that they're still around when Jeffrey Park blows up across the street. It's a bit hidden for passersby and maybe a bit out of the way for many people, but I'd say it's definitely worth giving it a go.