Lupo

Mediterranean restaurant · West Olentangy

Lupo

Mediterranean restaurant · West Olentangy

1

2124 Arlington Ave, Columbus, OH 43221

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Highlights

At Lupo, we craft seasonally inspired tapas, paired with our thoughtfully curated wine and cocktail list. We pride ourselves on sourcing high-quality ingredients both from Ohio and around the globe. Join us for a culinary experience unlike any other in Columbus.  

Featured in Eater
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2124 Arlington Ave, Columbus, OH 43221 Get directions

lupoonarlington.com
@lupo_on_arlington

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

2124 Arlington Ave, Columbus, OH 43221 Get directions

+1 614 914 6134
lupoonarlington.com
@lupo_on_arlington

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

Features

wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"A Spanish-influenced restaurant from chef Rick Lopez (La Tavola), Lupo brings smart tapas to the sleepy suburb of Upper Arlington. Lopez’s protege, Todd Elder, curates the rotating menu, which celebrates seafood and roasted meats with a spirits list heavy on sherry, vermouth, and amari you won’t find anywhere else. The maroon-walled former bank space can be loud at times, but that just adds to its buzzy charm. Don’t forget an order of house-made bread to soak up all the sauces." - Beth Stallings

The 12 Hottest New Restaurants in Columbus, Ohio
View Postcard for Lupo

Ryan Henderson

Google
This place knows flavor! We went with another couple, got 3 appetizers and 4 different entrees, and we were ALL raving about our food. Every single dish we had was great! If you are meat eaters, I recommend getting the burger and birria tacos. For the burger, get the queso on the side - put the queso on the tacos and dip the burger in the birria ju. (chefs kiss) For dessert we got an oatmeal cream pie and Tres leches cake. The OCP was out of this world!!! Don't miss this place. It's incredible!!

Grant Donnelly

Google
This was our first time to this place. The restaurant is located in an old bank. The decor inside isn’t very interesting and the bathrooms were honestly pretty disgusting, but the outside patio where we ate was actually pretty nice. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they had fans and the area was blocked from direct sun and they have an overhead cover. The service was a little off. The host was quite young and a little awkward with communication and setting expectations. We arrived 2 minutes late to our reservation and told us someone was still sitting at our table and they had 10 more minutes until they would ask them to vacate. We stood around for awhile waiting. Not a great start. Nas was our server and actually did a great job. Very professional and set expectations that the kitchen was running behind. And it was.. took awhile to get our food but the meal was paced out well despite taking a long time. The food was good. We started with a salad and the burrata both were very good. My partner had the steak and I had the chicken. I thought the chicken was well prepared, the steak had a sweet corn sauce that was very sweet. We didn’t get dessert. Overall I don’t think we will return unless we found ourselves in the area for some reason. It was about $75/person.

Michael Royer

Google
One of my new favorite restaurants in Columbus. Great place for those who can never decide on one thing to eat. Tapas style allows you to try a bunch of different things. Each small plate is perfect for 2-3 people to have a taste of the dish. Service was excellent as well.

William Leibensperger

Google
Easily one of the least satisfactory dining experiences I have had in a while. The two of us showed up at 6:30 to a lightly populated restaurant without a reservation, which we were graciously told was no problem, and were seated on the patio by request. It went downhill from there. We sat for nearly 10 minutes before we were even acknowledged. People who arrived after us not only had water,but drinks served as well. Finally, the man who brought us to our table stopped and said he would bring water, which he did several minutes later. Then he said that he guessed he would be taking care of us and took our drink orders. Meanwhile, the singularly joyless server of the other tables continued to pass by without ever making eye contact and muttering expletives under his breath. After some time our drinks arrived, and they were good. A little bit later we were introduced to the server-in-training and our food orders were taken. The soup and starter were brought out at a leisurely pace, which was ok. A short time after they were consumed, my partner’s dinner selection was delivered. After a few minutes I told her to go ahead and eat while it was hot. At least 15 minutes later…after her dish was finished with my help, our server noticed that my dish had not been brought out and said he would be right back. During all of this time everyone on the patio had been served and when our server walked by us again without serving us, I grabbed his attention and asked him to cancel my order and bring us the check. In the lengthy time it took for someone who appeared to be the manager to bring it, there were no apologies or expressions of concern. Even the mgr merely grumbled, sorry about your tacos, and that was it. I do not know what was going on at Lupos tonight, but in a city with lots of fabulous restaurants, we won’t be hurrying back. Although we want to like and support this restaurant in the heart of UA, we do not recommend this place.

SharBear R

Google
Absolutely must not miss this restaurant. Tapas style dining. Portions were generous and shareable. Top notch wine selections. Great date night or for special occasions.

Laura Harter

Google
One of the best dinners out we’ve had in years! We are big supporters of the wonderful locally owned restaurants in Columbus and were so delighted to finally try Lupo. We loved everything we ordered from food to drinks and dessert. The food was full of layers of flavor without being overwhelming. The eggplant stuffed with chorizo, potatoes & vegetables was perfect. Bistec from Blue’s Creek farms delicious, fried cod, oysters were also top notch. We enjoyed a few glasses of wine along with mixed drinks. Oatmeal cream pie for dessert was so tasty…light cream filling with chewy oatmeal cookies. We look forward to returning soon with family. Hannah was a wonderful server and the rest of the staff very accommodating, educated and helpful. Thank You!!!

Brandi I

Google
The atmosphere is relaxing and has a good vibe. We sat in the vault (the building used to be an old bank). It was fun like having our own private dining room. The food and drinks were amazing. The service was superb. Great place to eat, drink and celebrate.

May Hoang

Google
Decided to try Lupo for our date night. Ambience was nice, yet casual. They have a rotating menu and we weren’t too hungry so we shared a few tapas and scallop fra diavolo. Misto fritto was our favorite. This dish was reminiscent bonefish’s bang bang shrimp but with veggies and fish. Octopus was grilled nicely, wasn’t slimey or over cooked. The scallops were cooked to perfection but I didn’t care for the spicy marinara pasta. The pasta tasted homemade, but texturally it wasn’t great. The sauce was mildly spicy so that was a plus however it was bland and just tart. The star of the show was definitely the gelato. They have unique flavors and olive sea salt was my favorite. We tried horchata gelato too and it was a cinnamon-esque ice cream. Service was wonderfully. He was thorough and attentive and it seemed every table around us were served well.

Susie M.

Yelp
Food was superb, service was great and it was so nice to sit on their outdoor patio! Highly recommend the tapas. We also ordered the paella, which was good but not outstanding. The shrimp and scallops were absolutely amazing - but the rest was just meh.

Matt L.

Yelp
Overall, we had a top notch experience. Food offered great variety and very tasty. Menu highlights were setas, octopus a la plancha, bulgogi cheesesteak, halibut, the pork shank, and the horchata and cinnamon gelato. The ravioli and tres leches were good, but underwhelming compared to the rest of the food. Our server and she offered many strong recommendations on the menu and everyone of her recommendations was a hit with the group. There were 6 of us and they gave us a private room in the back that was perfect and quiet for the group. Will be back again for sure!

Marcia M.

Yelp
Lupo exceeded any of our expectations! The paella is probably the best I've had in Columbus! The service was excellent and I truly appreciated that our server made us aware that certain fishes would take a while to come out. I will definitely be returning!

Katie O.

Yelp
We had a great time at Lupo. My husband and I went for our anniversary on Saturday. The cocktails were great and the meal didn't disappoint. We got the shrimp and chorizo pintxos, burrata, wedge salad and the paella. I loved the shrimp and chorizo, I felt it was very flavorful and was surprised by the size of the chorizo. The burrata was so so for me. I typically love burrata but the tomato was not enough to cut the richness of the avocado, burrata and oil. I wish it has pickled onions or Radish. Maybe even if they tomato was marinated and there was more of it it would be better. The wedge was very good I loved the spicy peppers. The paella was amazing. I don't love Lima beans so I just didn't eat them but overall would order again. I loved the texture of the rice and the large pieces of meat. It was very good I would return

Michael I.

Yelp
Such a wonderful space with a great vibe. Still keeping up a great menu where I always over order. Lots of standouts, I just miss having an option for dry sherry with my tapas, and the chance to splurge on some iberico! Great service too, I just wish they would have left a big cold carafe of water on the table when its so hot and humid.

Anita S.

Yelp
We went here pre-pandemic and had a terrible experience. But I'm glad we gave it a second chance. The service and food were excellent. We sat outside and it was lovely. Had their version of an old fashioned and Aperol spritz and both were delicious. I love the tapas style dishes which are great for sharing. The shrimp was spicy so beware if you don't like a little kick.

Jeff R.

Yelp
Lupo is located in a cute little strip of shops in Upper Arlington. It has a nice patio outside and a midsized dining room inside. My friends and I visited on a beautiful Tuesday evening so we were slightly saddened to learn the happy hour was not available on the patio. To take advantage of the happy hour inside I ordered a New Carre. It was pretty good. At this point you might wonder why I gave Lupo 5 stars. Well I went on the right day. Every Tuesday they have a 4 course rotating tasting menu. On the Tuesday I visited they offered course 1. Piquillos Rellenos, 2. Frito Misto, 3 Gambas Al Ajillo and Chicken Bocadillo (I'll include a screenshot with more details.) Every course was delicious! All the ingredients tasted fresh and worked fantastic together. By the 4th course I was stuffed but I couldn't top eating. I'll definitely return as many Tuesdays as I can!

Adam L.

Yelp
This menu is thoughtful from top to bottom. I went with a group and we tasted a handful of apps, entrees, and drinks and three different desserts. Everything was delicious! Can't go wrong!

Fred B.

Yelp
WE'RE RAVING FANS OF LUPO. Todd Elder, Lupo's chef, is brilliant. His creativity, innovation and instinctive flavor combinations are a gift - either a chef is born with it or they're not - you can't teach this. The best part - I sincerely don't think he knows how good he really is. He is - in my opinion - among the very best chefs in Columbus. That's high praise, and I mean every word. Mary in front and Patrick at the bar are also awesome. We've never had anything short of an amazing meal at Lupo.

Olivia C.

Yelp
Maybe I went here on a bad day, after seeing all the reviews and having lived down the street for many years. I've heard good things. But my mom and I went here for my birthday. The server hardly checked on us and was cold. We ordered a bottle of wine (52$) and it tasted like something cheap you'd buy from Target. The food was ok, we got 3 plates of tapas. Nothing to remember. The total from these 4 things was 100$. The patio was nice, though. Good vibes. If I could do it again, I'd probably skip. But, oh well.

Ness S.

Yelp
Is it possible that my favorite restaurant in Columbus got even better? Lupo delivers in all respects -- food and service are spectacular and the ambience is pretty good as well. We hadn't been back since the pandemic :( and we were fortunate that it was a lovely evening so we could sit on their outdoor patio. They've changed up their menu a bit, but we were not disappointed with anything. We shared three tapas among the two of us. There was a fantastic eggplant dish on the specials menu which was stuffed with chorizo -- truly exceptional. We also got the foie gras and chicken liver pate which came with cherry compote and marcona almonds with a side of buttered crostini -- delicious. Their burrata was served on locally farmed tomato. It was so good, it literally transported me back to Naples, Italy , the last place we had comparable quality burrata. The coup de gras though was our main dish -- the Arroz Con Pollo 25, which is a divine half-chicken, with cilantro garlic rice and chorizo. I am not a big fan of chicken when dining outside, but trust me this is exceptional. The only problem was that we were so stuffed from the tapas by the time the main dish arrived that we had to take most of it back home. Oh, yes, and the cocktails are worth every penny!

Jennifer R.

Yelp
How did it take me this long to find this little gem tucked away in a pretty little corner of UA? One of the best overall dining experiences locally. Atmosphere, service, and food were all amazing. The restaurant is in an old converted bank and the private dining room is in what used to be the vault. Very cool. Everything from the music to the food makes you feel like you are somewhere far away and relaxing. Sort of like a mini trip to Europe! They have a beautiful front patio, and a bar with big windows that open up to the patio to let the summer breezes in. Our server was delightful and made helpful recommendations from the menu (ie the paella takes about 30 minutes so put in order first). We loved the bacon wrapped dates appetizer so much, we ordered it twice. I left full and happy.

Jenny Z.

Yelp
Came here last night for the first time. It was a Friday night. Booked a reservation through Instagram DM which was very convenient. We were a table of 4 and sat outside. Awesome (though hot) summer evening. Service was very friendly but on the slow side. I had a couple glasses of Prosecco. Loved that it came in a couple glass...my favorite. My husband ordered a couple glasses Tempranillo. I tried a sip and it was delicious - on the dry side just as the server said. For food we started with the seared eggplant and tomato salad. This was my favorite eggplant salad of all time. Perfectly roasted eggplant, fresh tomatoes, awesome dressing with a touch of sweetness. Couscous was cooked well. I would eat this every summer day if I could! For mains, I ordered the arroz con pollo which was well cooked and seasoned and HUGE! I took half home. My husband got the burger which came on a homemade bun topped with sesame seeds. Delicious burger with good toppings. The side of grilled zucchini was great as well. They had a succinct menu but with good variety (pasta, paella, chicken, pork, etc). Lovely patio right in downtown upper Arlington. Easy parking is also a bonus. Great place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.

Michael W.

Yelp
Great food, great drinks, friendly service. If the pork shank isn't in your top ten dishes of all time, I don't know what would be.

Amber S.

Yelp
I really should get here more than once every two years but I usually end up at La Tavola, which has the same owners, so I'm still spending money there, at least. Sunday night my friends and I had reservations for the patio. The service for the 6 of us was excellent as was the food! We had some modified cocktails in our drink order (hold the alcohol please) and they were prepared perfectly. Water refills happened frequently. We were given updates on our upcoming dishes regularly as well. We ordered several rounds of tapas to share. Our server let us know when they were running low or out of items. Our tapas and dessert orders included Cod Fritters, Octopus a la Plancha (so tender!), Heirloom Tomato and Peach Salad, Croquetas (I want a bottle of the Lupo Sauce), Oatmeal Cream Pie with blueberry ice cream, Blueberry and Peaches Cake, and Churros with Horchata ice cream. Split 5 ways it was about $45 per person (someone had a birthday!) before gratuity. The umbrellas on the patio are plentiful and street noise was very low. We also couldn't hear the other dinners so while we could smell and see delicious food delivered to other tables, it felt very private.

Kevin P.

Yelp
On a cold, windy (TGI) Friday evening, my wife, two friends, and I headed over to Lupo for dinner. The possibility of tapas and/or entrees was appealing to everyone, and the drink menu also seemed appetizing to those who like a variety of cocktails or wines to choose from. The atmosphere: Lupo is located in what used to be a bank, and the vault at the back is actually a dining room. Since there were only four of us, we were seated at a booth in the main dining room. It was stylish and comfortable, not overly fancy, and not loud at all. This last characteristic is very important to me -- background noise often inhibits my ability to hear conversations, so loud restaurants or bars can be problematic at times. The noise level in Lupo was perfect, and the high backs of the booths prevented us from overhearing conversations in the next booths over. Additionally, our server was a really nice guy who made good recommendations. We ordered albondigas (Spanish meatballs), croquetas, bacon-wrapped dates, and the charcuterie board to share. Two of us ordered lasagna as entrees, another ordered gnocchi, and the other ordered lamb fideos. All of the food was delicious! The albondigas were absolutely exquisite! The entrees came out piping hot (as in, burn-your-tongue hot), so it was obvious that they had not been taken out of a fridge and microwaved as is the practice at some restaurants. And the portions were incredibly large. We could have had the entrees without the tapas beforehand and still been filled. In fact, we all took part of the entrees home with us. I had my usual martini, and I must say that it was delicious. I had to get the brand of vermouth that the bartender uses so that I could try to imitate it at home. The others commented that their drinks were very good as well. So, the verdict: will I be back? Yes! We all agreed that Lupo might be one of our new favorite restaurants. For a meal or simply for a tapa and drink as a snack on the way somewhere else, it is well worth it. If you haven't been to Lupo yet, just go already!

Laura H.

Yelp
One of the best dinners out we've had in years! We are big supporters of the wonderful locally owned restaurants in Columbus and were so delighted to finally try Lupo. We loved everything we ordered from food to drinks and dessert. The food was full of layers of flavor without being overwhelming. The eggplant stuffed with chorizo, potatoes & vegetables was perfect. Bistec from Blue's Creek farms delicious, fried cod, oysters were also top notch. We enjoyed a few glasses of wine along with mixed drinks. Oatmeal cream pie for dessert was so tasty...light cream filling with chewy oatmeal cookies. We look forward to returning soon with family. Hannah was a wonderful server and the rest of the staff very accommodating, educated and helpful. Thank You!!!

Sarah N.

Yelp
I've eaten here 3 times and it's been great, good & fantastic. Everything is delicious, abet a little over priced (food wise - drinks are normal). I've always had nice service and enjoyed my experience. Cocktails and wine were spot on my last visit, as was the food, abet the mushroom dish being too peppery. It's great that UA has this little local gem! Will be back (w/friends)!

Katie G.

Yelp
This was a hidden gem. I don't go to UA often but this was a great find! Food and cocktails were great, nice patio as well

Misty B.

Yelp
This place is incredible. I feel like it is Columbus area's best kept secret. Everyone at our table had one of the best dining experiences ever or for a long time :)!

Alex S.

Yelp
Excellent food and service. The server informed us they're known for their Spanish and Italian dishes. We got two pasta dishes, and they were both great. There's outdoor and indoor seating with plenty of parking around. I'd probably recommend making a reservation as they barely had a table available for us as a walk-in.

Ebenezer's Anni L.

Yelp
This place reminds me of of the upscale restaurants that EBS enjoyed and introduced me to. Mediterranean dishes that are careful prepared. Located in an old bank building with on street parking that was plentiful on the mid week night I visited. Parking could be a problem on weekends. Started with Aperitivos of fresh baked bread and butter with lemon and other flavors. At $1, it was worth the price. After I had the tapas that they have pictured on their website - Frito Misto. It had lightly breaded fried shrimp, squid, scallops and mixed vegetables with ramp vinegar. Never had something like this before and would order it again. Finished with one of their in house made dessert - cheesecake made with saffron and topped with blueberries. Great end of a good meal with portions that filled me up without ruining my diet. I don't drink so all had was water since there seemed to be nothing else for non drinkers. I took a star off for that. My dining group did order mixed drinks and enjoyed them. My food came to just over $20. Well worth the price for the quality of the ingredients. I like my food with lighter spices so they don't overprower the meat. Those who like spicy it might be not to your taste, but just wait until you join the growing number of acid reflux suffers. Your time will come.

Emily B.

Yelp
I've wanted to try Lupo, so who better to try out a new tapas restaurant than a gathering of Yelpers! Right off the bat from looking at their website, I knew we'd have some good bites -AND- good photo ops. The staff was awesome about accommodating our reservation of 12--with 9 of us total the evening we dined. I started off with their newest drink, Boogie Nights--gin with cantaloupe puree, topped with bubbly. Very delicious and served in a substantial wine glass. Our server Ashley was wonderful. She kept all of our water glasses full during the evening and did a great job describing what was on the menu, as well as relaying the details of their daily specials and desserts. I started off with a "snack"-- a slice of goat cheese, topped with a fig, speck (prosciutto) & drizzled with honey. It was a very delicious salty, sweet, and umami-ish creamy delight! It was on their daily special chalkboard and for $4 was totally worth it. Then from their regular menu I sought out a salad and chose the Charred Romaine which came with a stalk of grilled romaine lettuce, a grilled asparagus & zucchini plank, curls of parmesan, topped with marcona almonds and a light vinaigrette dressing. There was a puree as well on the plate, but unsure what it was although it tasted great. Overall, I was not thrilled with the salad. The grilled romaine and zucchini were very "wet" tasting and in my opinion, not worth the $13 price tag. For my third plate, I went back to the daily special board and chose Shrimp Wrapped in Prosciutto. These were delicious--and man, oh man, were these shrimp big. It came with three BIG shrimps in a fennel citrus butter sauce, garnished with delicate pea shoots. This was the most beautiful and most delicious plate of the evening for me. Cue dessert. Our options were cheesecake, flan and a flourless chocolate cake. I definitely was diving in for a piece of cheesecake! I received a slice of an orange saffron cheesecake with blueberry compote. It was delicious and just the right size to end my meal. The presentation was pretty lackluster though as everything else that was served had great attention to aesthetics. I enjoyed my evening at Lupo and will definitely be back. I can say that it was a great experience with a group--but also a great atmosphere I suspect to come back on a date night. And there are Happy Hour specials in the bar & high tops that would be a good time too. This refurbished bank was well decorated and had a really good energy throughout the bar & restaurant.

Megan K.

Yelp
This food is to die for and will leave you with a creeping anticipation of wanting to visit again. We tried their tasting menu and many of the tapas. Everything is elevated to what you would expect. Example, the oysters came with a delicious minuet and the cocktail sauce came with an added spice element. Top notch!!!!

Patrick R.

Yelp
Excellent spot for dinner! The ONLY reason Lupo did not receive a 5th star, is because they were out of fresh oysters. Our server said that they only get them once a week and if you call ahead to check, they can hold some for you. I do not like this policy. Otherwise, the food was great. Ingredients were fresh, perfectly paired for the entree served, and expertly cooked. Try the octopus if it is on the menu, you won't be disappointed! EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE OCTOPUS...trust me on this one. Not even the least bit chewy. The chef really seems to impart specific flavor profiles for each dish that really elevate the experience. The ambience is a little cold, but really pretty casual. Feel free to wear shorts!

Ellen M.

Yelp
I stumbled upon this place by way of a recommendation from Yelp. My husband and I decided to go and enjoyed the quiet and casual atmosphere. It is built in an old bank. We loved the vast selection of small plates and shared 4 selections - charcuterie and cheese, Fritto Misto (lightly fried shrimp, scallops, and veggies), pork and clams, and lamb meatball. The charcuterie and cheese plate came with warm soft toast which was perfect with the meat and cheese selections. We enjoyed the Fritto Misto; it wasn't too salty and had wonderful sauces. My husband loved the unusual pairing of clams and pork, which had a light saffron sauce. He also said the lamb meatball was amazing. There is outdoor seating and a nice bar with lots of drink options. They kept the old bank's walk in safe, which is cool. Overall, a great experience and we'll be back!

Anna M.

Yelp
Great food and wine!! The waiter was really helpful with suggestions. Will definitely be back!

Gail H.

Yelp
Just super goody, good, goodness. The octopus is a must. Can't wait to try some of the new dishes next time.

Madeline B.

Yelp
Merideth ,our server was amazing!!! Her suggestions were on point! My first time to graze at this fine establishment! Sorry the appetizers were devoured! Pulpo, shrimp, bacon wrapped dates, roasted cauliflower, & of course raw oysters!!! Spirits were amazing!

Keith D.

Yelp
This is a hidden gem of a restaurant and worth trying again and again. Parking is at a premium since this a neighborhood establishment. Being an old bank leaves a bit of wonderment on how things use to be. They even have servings inside the old vault.

Doug A.

Yelp
Had to leave a $0.00 tip, and not just because of the waiter. I am known to leave $100-300 tips, so this was extra special. On an average busy WED night, it took over 20min to get a drink, and the bartender had to read instructions on how to make the drinks. It took over 4 hours to dine because the order ticket was lost but, after 2 table turnovers immediately next to us, and a few inquiries, the waiter finally decided to check with the kitchen on the status of our order... duh. It is a poorly run establishment. Kids in high school could run a better operation. On top of that, there was so much salt and butter in the dishes that those in poor health may die if they eat here. If you're a typical fat lump of American society that has no palate, you may love it. What is good... the wine selection and the patio dining. That's it. What a cluster. Should have picked option #2. Proceed at your own risk and prepare to be disappointed.

Pat E.

Yelp
It costs $$$ to eat here. It's worth it. It's THE BEST meal I've had in CBUS in awhile. The small plates are small. But BIG in flavor & taste. Fresh, as claimed. Hard to decide which dish is the best. We were a a party of five. Started with the $1 oysters. What made them standout were the two dipping sauces. The horseradish was better. The burrata & jam was easy not to scarf down as there were only a few tasty toasted chips provided. Seemed a little stingy. We did order several other plates including: lamb meatballs, scallops, pork & eggplant and beef slider. Every single dish was flawless. Memorable. I have to confess, memorable in part because I wanted more. Whatever your party orders, there will be this awkward part where a decision will have to be made, who wants (really GETS) the last scrumptious bite, literally bite. I can see how some folks can still feel hungry after having already spent what would have gotten them one or two, three course meals at most other places. Quality v. Quantity. That's the decision. High five to the Bartender. He didn't skimp or cut corners. These drinks are for grown folks with matching tastes. Also, the service was attentive without being intrusive and without any "attitude" one might expect at a money place. The cozy and relaxed atmosphere adds to the overall BEST experience. If you go to their website, you won't find much. Our waiter told us the menu changes frequently which may explain why. Interested in going back. When I get some extra $$$.

Emily B.

Yelp
Lupo is one of those restaurants that I couldn't be more thankful for - since moving away from Columbus, I think about places that have changed my life in some way. Lupo is definitely one of them! It had been on my list since it first opened and I finally got there one month before graduation for a blind date. It's been almost a year, and we recently revisited for Valentine's Day and tapas. The beauty and nostalgia is still there - the dishes are well-composed and beautifully plated, the servers are nice and genial, and the cocktails are to die for! I recommend making reservations - we didn't the first time and sat at the bar, but the bar is nice and it is full service! I love that the menu changes so often because I like to try new things! It's easy to do when you trust the chef and kitchen to make everything taste delicious! Recently, we had the octopus, scallops, and b sprouts. All so GOOD! I think I owe my relationship to Lupo. A lot of first dates are done over drinks or tapas, and the fact that the food and drinks were so good really helps the vibe and the mood! Pros: great date spot, small plates are perfect portions for sharing, rotating menu, cocktails, seafood is delicious Cons: you sit kinda close to your neighbor, gets loud sometimes, far from a lot of things since it is in Upper Arlington

Isla H.

Yelp
Me and my friend came in tonight, this has to be the best place either of us have ever had. Our server was so nice and the restaurant has a great atmosphere. While this place is nice me and my friend went in highly underdressed (we had came from devon) I highly recommend to non drinkers the sparkling lemonade and highly recommend the smash burger and bread.

Dee M.

Yelp
Lupo has quickly become my go-to brunch and dinner spot. They recently decided to try out a $1 oyster special on Sunday nights-- definitely check that out. Their oysters are some of the best I've had in Columbus. If you're going for dinner, order one of the Charred Octopus tapas-- or order three (yes, it's that good). The Ceviche here is also killer. I believe the brunch specials vary on the weekends... if they happen to have Shrimp and Eggs, GET IT. The scrambled eggs are so fluffy and creamy and the large shrimp are perfectly cooked. It's light, yet decadent, and I order it every time it's on the menu. You will not be disappointed. For cocktails, try the Apple of My Eye (with egg white-- so good) or sipping vermouth. Many people don't know that good vermouth can be drunk by itself. Lupo serves it on the rocks with a lemon slice for just $5. It isn't too sweet and the lemon balances it out perfectly. You'll love it. If Alec happens to be working, ask for him. He's the best. Ask him about his hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. He's the coolest.

Jayme H.

Yelp
I attend yoga classes next door to Lupo and I grew excited to try it as I noticed them renovating the space. This little area of Upper Arlington makes my heart smile and a hip new restaurant fits perfectly here. A few friends and I made reservations and were finally able to make it out for dinner last week. Parking was a breeze and they have a nice little patio out front. We walked in to be greeted by a hostess and our table was ready and waiting for us. The space had tons of light and the décor was modern yet rustic. We sat at a large table with one side of the table having an old church pew for seating. It was cozy and fun! We started with drinks and I ordered a drink called Boogie Nights. It had gin, cantaloupe puree, mint, and a few other ingredients. It was $12 and a rather large glass full of cocktail. It was also delicious and refreshing. I would definitely get one again. I would suggest a mint leaf garnish along with the lemon wedge though. After drinks we all ordered food. The menu on their website does not match the menu that was available when we arrived so I assume they are still working kinks out or it rotates seasonally. I got a grilled romaine salad with grilled zucchini and asparagus. I really did enjoy it. It was all laid upon a puree of something. It was really flavorful and gave the "salad" a sort of dressing. I also got the Papas tapa, which is smashed and fried fingerling potatoes with a sauce poured over top and sprinkled herbs. These were fantastic and fried just the way I like. They were super crispy and I love a good crunch. For dessert I ordered their cheesecake for the day. They make all of their dessert from scratch in house and cheesecake is my absolute favorite. That day it was orange saffron and had blueberry compote on top with a graham cracker crust. This dessert was not too sweet but very smooth and silky. The flavor was mild and I enjoyed it very, very much! If you're lookin' for a fun new restaurant then definitely give Lupo a try. I'm interested in seeing how their menu changes and what cool tapas they come up with. Pro tip - they have a happy hour in the bar area during the week. It ends at 7PM. Great way to try some new things at a new, up and coming restaurant.

Luke B.

Yelp
The menu at Lupo is very creative; however, the quality was subpar and the options were limited. The acoustics in the restaurant could be improved, it gets very loud with the hustle and bustle. The bar staff kept dropping glass bottles into the garbage and the noise would echo through the entire restaurant, they could improve on professionalism. The wait staff is very knowledgeable on the menu items; however, the cocktails weren't authentic. The decoration and ambiance were nice, but did not resemble that of a traditional Tapas restaurant, but tidy nonetheless. The location in Upper Arlington is perfect.

Arya A.

Yelp
Delicious meal. We did order ahead. Super convenient with curb side pick up. Food was warm and perfectly cooked. Really enjoyed all the flavors. Portions were generous for tapas. Will definitely be back in the future!

Doug O.

Yelp
I've been to Lupo twice now, once for dinner and once for brunch, and it is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood and to the Columbus food scene in general. My first trip to Lupo was for brunch, I believe the first day they were open for brunch. We were among the only people there and the servers were just happy to have customers. The fried chicken sandwich I ate was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Juicy, rich, and flavorful, just brimming with spices. The rum-based Diplomatic Relations drink I had -- basically a rum Manhattan -- was well made. Great experience. Then I went again for dinner last night and it could not have been a different experience. We got there at 6 pm on a Tuesday night and the place was PACKED! What a difference a week and a half makes! We got the last table in the restaurant, so I would advise making a reservation. The dinner food exceeded my wonderful brunch experience. We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we got five tapas plates and two smaller appetizers. First (obviously): the appetizers. The ham and cheese croquetas were delicious. Salty, rich nuggets of deep-fried heaven. The stuffed eggs were good too, but were probably my least favorite dish, as they were basically just deviled eggs. Good deviled eggs though! Now, the tapas plates. The charred Maitake mushrooms were buttery and had a great flavor and they came with a crunchy toast that gave the plate a nice diversity of texture. The charred octopus was perfectly prepared and had almost a lobster-like flavor and texture. It came with potatoes, some peas, and I'm pretty sure a little chorizo. Fantastic. The papas were good. Nothing special to report, just potatoes, but they were very good potatoes with a wonderful crunch and a nice saltiness. They were topped with ramp pesto, which didn't blow me away, but it was fine. The lamb meatball was topped with a thick tomato sauce that was both sweet and a little salty and the whole thing rested on a falafel. It was my wife's favorite. Finally, there was a shredded pork empanada with juicy, slightly spicy meat that I loved. Drinks were good. I had a fantastic negroni. There is also an extensive wine list and there are a few solid beer choices. Our server was friendly and attentive. The drinks took a long time to come out, but since the place was packed and the restaurant is still so new, I assume this will improve in time. Overall, this was one of the better dining experiences I've had in a long time, and my brunch experience was also quite nice. Go check out Lupo (but get a reservation first) and you will eat and drink well.

Erin D.

Yelp
Fellow yelper Cecilia C & I did a spin class, then were super hungry and wanted a little food adventure. We decided it would be worth at least a small plate and drink, we knew when we walked in & seeing the menu we were going to settle in. Saw oysters and immediately went there, our lovely server redirected to a different wine that would compliment the oysters. He was right, glad he suggested. Next came the egg, deviled up with manchego, chorizo & piquillo pepper. So good. Then the ham & cheese croquette was great side companion. Then arrived mushrooms. I have to say they were a shining star and the surprise. Perfectly seasoned, so much flavor. I liked the ice toasted bread w it. I like a good carb, never go wrong w a good crusty bread. Then the cauliflower. It had a nice carmelization and the cashews added a nice nutty-ness. This is how I'll eat cauliflower. Lastly, empanada. This was our least fav, but it is not a diss. The pastry was flaky, the pork tender, flavorful. It was delish, just didn't steal the show. But I'd still order it again. I don't understand why the restaurant is a red-ish color and the bar is light & airy w subway tile and a lovely gray green color. That is my only most minor of criticism. We were happy we were in the bar. The patio area also looks super cute, was just full when we arrived. Looking forward to seeing this place in other seasons. My new fav.

Zcahary B.

Yelp
I was very excited to try Lupo out after first hearing about the restaurant and my excitement was mostly justified after trying some of their tapas. So first off, as with any tapas, you are going to need to order a few items as the dishes are small. Just order what sounds tasty and then order some more if you are still hungry. The first tapa we tried was the Fritto Miso which was lightly fried calamari and scallops, with a few asparagus thrown in for good measure. The seafood was fresh tasting but was missing a salt element, so it ended up a little more bland than I cared for. Our next tapa was the Cod and Potato Fritter... by taste alone it was hard to taste anything but the potato and not much to it. The saving grace for this dish was the piquillo pepper sauce at the bottom which was delicious. Our third tapa was the Pork and Clams. This was a pretty solid dish with good flavor. Lots of pieces of pork. If you order bread save it for this dish to sop up the sauce which is plentiful. The last tapa we tried was phenomenal! The lamb meatball! The yogurt sauce, the meatball and the falafel all come together and create a very unique flavor profile that works perfectly! If you are sharing tapas, don't share this! Get your own and thank me later! To finish off this monumental meal we tried the chocolate and orange cheesecake which was delicious and tasted homemade. All in all Lupo is a nice restaurant with plenty of options for all tastes. Although some of the dishes were short of being as good as they should be (Fritto Misto and Cod Fritters), theiwere some that were unbelievably delicious (Lamb Meatball, Pork and Clams).

Michelle M.

Yelp
Solid 3.5 star place for sure. The atmosphere is nice and the place has good energy. I just wish I enjoyed all of the food! For starters, the Nice and Sloe drink is pretty refreshing. The charred romaine dish is very flavorful and leads you to wanting to try more. While the lamb meatball is a staple item here, it was not my favorite. The presentation is beautiful and the texture is perfect. It's just that the curry flavoring seemed overpowering and out of place, and the falafel base was too cake like for me. I finished the night with the flourless chocolate almond cake. The presentation was underwhelming and I wish I knew about the orange drizzle ahead of time so I could omit it since I'm not a fan of orange and chocolate together. Honestly, the cake reminded me of a Lara bar and overall was not something I would order again based off of the texture. The dining area is very nice and would make for a nice date spot. There's a nice sized bar area that offers half price drinks and plates during happy hour. You can also dine on the patio out front. This building used to be a bank so there is a small vault in the back that is in the process of being repurposed for a private dining space. Overall, I had a great night and conversation. The atmosphere is great. I would be sure to try some of the other dishes and drinks as well as take advantage of happy hour pricing if I returned again.

Libby D.

Yelp
Awful management. Local is no longer an excuse to support. Made friends more than uncomfortable in an empty restaurant.

R H.

Yelp
Really want to love this place but I think we made a mistake sitting at the bar. Bartender did not greet us or offer any information about the menu. I question why a person is in hospitality if he is unable to be hospitable (After reading other reviews, I see we are not the first to notice this so shame on them for continuing to let it happen). Food was decent, particularly the lamb meatball, but the portion sizes are very small for the price. No happy hour food specials but cocktail selection for $5 was great. Nice decor and patio but I would really think about the service we received before going back when there are so many places in this city who do great food.

Uri R.

Yelp
Upper Arlington Good Food Friendly Staff Former Bank with Vault Access To say that my experience at Lupo was good would be an understatement because it was nothing short of Amazing! The friendly staff and upbeat atmosphere left me feeling like I NEED to come back for more. Oh! Did I mention that there's a Vault inside of the restaurant? If you live in the upper Arlington area you have to stop by and give them a try. P.S. Don't forget to tell them Robb sent you, and then wait for the awkward stare because they have no idea who I am hahaha. Happy Eating!!

Cristine M.

Yelp
Gazpacho and veggie paella were my only 4/5 here but the hubs loved both. I'm a harsher critic than some. The eggplant special was my jam. Loved the manager turned bartender's attention to detail and service; drinks on point. They were understaffed but you didn't notice. It's great ambience, lots of natural light but not pretentious. Cozy in fact. Thank goodness it isn't another Cameron Mitchell cut out. Get a drink & some apps for sure here. It's my new recommendation that covers both the adventurous & not-so-adventurous.

Teri S.

Yelp
The BEST beet salad I have ever had. The other women at my table agreed. We decided we would come back just for it. The roasted Brussels were also good. For the main course, we had the chicken over rice. Please see the picture. It was excellent. We enjoyed a reasonably priced bottle of wine with our meal. For dessert we had a flourless chocolate torte. Everything was outstanding. I'm looking forward to returning this summer when they have the outside tables set up.

Ann E.

Yelp
I'm so grateful for this addition to UA and my neighborhood. Excellent unique food and cocktails. Bartender rocks! Servers are excellent and very knowledgeable. I have been numerous times and don't understand the comments about noise. Don't think it's overly noisy at all. Yes, it is pricey but it's excellent. Yes, it's a tapas /small plates place which I think is great since Soooooo many places give you way too much food. It's great sharing the plates and sampling different dishes. One reviewer said parking is a challenge. Don't get that at all. Tons of parking available.

Shawnette B.

Yelp
I was in Columbus for work so I came here on a whim. Was slightly under dressed for this place but that's besides the point. I would suggest reservations so you can secure a table. I went on a Thursday during happy hour so I sat at the bar. I ordered their rum drink, I can't think of the name of it now. But it was delicious. The bartenders were knowledgeable and polite. I had the half dozen of the Connecticut oysters that were on special that day and a charcuterie plate. The oysters were perfect. They suggested to get the chili paste with it and I'm so glad I did. The charcuterie was delicious and had a great selection. I also ordered the flourless chocolate torte which was rich and flavorful. I had a couple of old fashioneds as well which were phenomenal. I would definitely recommend going here and I will be back.

Judy J.

Yelp
O.M.G. Please don't be sad because they don't use an online reservation app. Just get in here and eat and drink everything. The ambience, the service are all exemplary. But then the food! Burratta appetizer; a must. Everything else, same. A gem in UA.