The Refectory Restaurant

We celebrated my boyfriend’s birthday with the most beautiful five-course dinner at The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro, and it was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, the ambiance was intimate, elegant, and perfectly boujie — romantic lighting, refined décor, and an atmosphere that made the entire evening feel incredibly special. It struck the perfect balance between upscale and cozy, ideal for a birthday celebration. The chef absolutely outdid himself with this five-course experience. The mushroom veal was rich, tender, and layered with deep, earthy flavor — comforting yet elevated. The Wagyu was melt-in-your-mouth perfection, beautifully marbled and buttery with an impeccable sear. The seafood crepe was delicate and decadent, filled with fresh seafood and wrapped in a light, flawlessly prepared crepe that complemented the richness of the dish. To finish, the mousse cake was pure artistry — silky, smooth, and indulgent without being too heavy. The perfect sweet ending to such a thoughtfully curated meal. Every course felt intentional, beautifully plated, and expertly executed. Compliments to the chef for creating such a memorable birthday experience. Between the impeccable service, refined atmosphere, and exceptional cuisine, The Refectory made the night feel truly special. We left feeling celebrated and can’t wait to return for another intimate evening.

My partner and I enjoyed the tasting menu the other night. The experience was amazing. The staff were courteous (Thank you Michelle for taking us along for each dish and helping me pick a great gin cocktail to end the night on) and the food... WOW!! Every new plate was an adventure on the tastebuds. While nothing disappointed, the Arctic Char Crêpe Vonaissienne was so good it managed to stand out to me! I am not going to forget that dish any time soon. Thank you Refectory! I hope to make it back to listen to live jazz soon!

We were seated promptly when we arrived on time for our dinner reservation. The purpose of the dinner was to celebrate my wife's birthday. A birthday card for my wife waiting for us at the table was a warm, personable touch. Juan, our server, was fantastic - warm, personable, highly knowledgeable, attentive, caring, and professional. The epitome of a 5-star waiter. The food was incredible! The best flavors and combinations my wife and I have ever experienced. As a gluten free diner, the French bread was delicious with the best texture of any GF bread I have enjoyed. The chef not only accommodated our request for dishes served without pork or shellfish, but excelled at delicious, intriguing, and inspired creations. Bravo! On our way out, the owner, Kamal, graciously greeted us and shared a personal connection with my wife. Congratulations to nearly 50 years of culinary & service excellence.My wife and I eagerly look forward to dining at The Refectory again in the near future.

The Refectory continues to set the bar for fine dining. The kitchen has a mastery over balanced flavors; nothing is too heavy or too muted, just pure culinary harmony. From the appetizers to the final course, the execution was flawless. The staff is professional, knowledgeable, and makes you feel truly special from the moment you walk in. A must-visit for any occasion.

The Refectory is truly a culinary experience and a must visit for anyone who loves or wants to experience a fine dining. The combination and depth of flavors were unlike anything I have had previously taking my breath away at the first bite of the entree. The entire staff was exceptional from the coat check to the hostes to the waiter all providing a wonderful dining experience. We had ordered 2 drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts plus the bread basket and our bill was under $200 which for the quality of food and service was outstanding value. Look forward to making another return journey to try the chefs 5 course tasting menu

We immensely enjoyed our time here! Days later, our party of five is still talking about the wonderful meal we each had and how wonderful the evening was at the Refractory. Just look: Each course was beautifully displayed and delicious! I’m now a fan of French cuisine! Our waitstaff, Dom, could not have been more excellent and we would request him next time!

We celebrated our first date anniversary here last year, and it was phenomenal! Dining at Four- and Five-Diamond restaurants is our tradition to mark this occasion, and we've been many places in OH and NC. I've learned Four Diamonds are variable; I'd call the Refectory a high Four Diamond. I loved the setting, food, and service. The prices are reasonable for the quality (about $200 for the two of us to get three courses each, two mocktails, and tax and tip). The authentic French food was something new for us—we're very used to French-American. My husband and I enjoyed the terrine. We didn't recognize a lot of the dishes, which was fun for us! And there was a rosemary ice cream with our dessert that was to die for! Three courses was also the perfect amount of food. We will definitely return.

I came here to celebrate my birthday, and The Refectory did not disappoint. Every plate was beautifully presented and full of flavor—elegant without being fussy. The bisque was rich, the ratatouille vibrant, and the sea bass absolutely perfect. They even brought out a personalized dessert with a candle—small gesture, big impact. Service was thoughtful, the ambiance felt special, and the night was unforgettable. Definitely recommend for a celebration or a quiet, elevated night out.

Hi I stopped in not too long ago, with a friend. We noticed this place driving by one day, and we had to try it out. The service was super friendly, always smiling and went above and beyond. The atmosphere was amazing and such cute fun drinks. The FOOD.. amazing. 100% recommend. Ambiance was great as well.

Best fine dining in Columbus, hands down! Had large group and tried chef courses plus off the menu selections. We had wine and hand made cocktails as well. Service, food and drinks were all exceptional. No hurrying to turn the table either. 5 stars all around! Only negative was charge back to customer for using credit card. Really guys??!!! Absorb this in your profit margin...this place is not inexpensive and I find this practice bush league frankly.

This is our 3rd time here. Servers: 2/5 After we sat down, we had to wait forever for our server to bring the wine menu, and then had to wait awhile for him to take our food order. After that, he didn't show up until we had finished our dessert and placed our card on the table. The other server (who didn't take our order) took really good care of us. I guess that how they work ‍ Food: 3/5 * Escargot: good. * Seafood trio: 2.5/5. Cold and lacking flavor. * Duck with rabbit dish: 3.5/5. To be honest the duck breast was the best thing we have, but the reason why I gave 3.5 because the other components didn't seem to complement the duck. The rabbit... was okay. * Ostrich dish: 3.5/5. The flavor was okay, but it tasted like regular beef stew. Same thing with the duck dish, the other components didn't seem to complement the ostrich, especially the ratatouille.

Such an amazing place! We came here to celebrate my books being available on audio. It's been a long time coming and wouldn't you know the staff had a congratulations card written up for me. Then to top it off they presented us with a one year anniversary card. The staff here is first class and attentive. They take the time to explain the menu and how everything is prepared. To many places rush you in and out but the staff here welcomes you in to relax and enjoy all that they offer. For me this time around I was instinctively drawn to the escargot. It's always fascinated me how each place has their own interpretation, but Refactory does it to perfection. I ordered the duck and as always no one comes close to what they do here. If you're looking for a special place to escape with a loved one or to come and celebrate with a group you must come here. They will never disappoint oh and don't forget dessert. A true YUM factor at the Refactory. Can't wait to return and if you're interested in the history they have even shown items from the Titanic this past April. Talk about being in the know! Great job guys and gals. Keep doing what you do best! See you soon.

A truly special dining experience! Service like you've never experienced! This will be the most expensive meal you have ever had, but the quality of the food is one of a kind!! Small portions. Bread is not complimentary. The restaurant is what was an old schoolhouse, which is very neat! We got the cheese plate, one alcoholic drink, two entrées, and two desserts and it was $150, without tip. Also you have to pay with a debit card here. No credit card. The quality is unmatched, I didn't want the meal to end!! I did not leave very full, but comfortably full.

A very high end restaurant set in an old church with a tasteful French menu. It is a very romantic restaurant and perfect for an anniversary or special celebration. Their tasting menu was delicious and filling. The proportions were just perfect. The fried salmon mousse with scallops was delicious, and the duck and rabbit dish was perfection. A sommolier is available to help with wine pairings. The creme brulee was the perfect end to the meal. The tasting menu allows you to replace any meal with meals from the a la carte menu, which allows for some personalization.

My husband and I visited on 12/14 for our wedding anniversary dinner. My husband had chosen this restaurant as he had seen great reviews and we had never tried Parisian-style food. We were both very excited for an upscale date night that would hopefully turn into our new go-to for high end food. The interior was very nice and cozy and we were greeted promptly. Even though we were early for our reservation we were sat within just a few minutes. We were a little cramped in a corner booth, but that wasn't much of a complaint by the end of the night. Our waiter came over and explained the wine menu and the unique, limited food options for the night. We were very excited to try something from the limited selection but needed a few minutes to figure out our wine since we decided to choose a bottle for the table. It took our waiter 15+ minutes to return. Within this time frame, the 8-top next to us was seated, served by the same waiter, had their wine and their bread basket before we were served again. At this point, we let our waiter know the type of wine we wanted and had him explain the "your choice" menu. We wanted to do things as they would "in Paris", and decided to order our appetizer, fish, and meat - then decide if we wanted to do a cheese tray or just desert. However, when we went to order from the limited menu we were told we were too late and only one meat item was still available. This was a little upsetting, as we would have gone ahead and put down our choices beforehand if we knew it was going to be so long to get our order in, but we switched course, no big deal. When our waiter came back with our wine, he informed us the selection he had chosen for us was no longer available and he had gone with a different blend "that was a little cheaper". That was fine, it was a type of wine I had tasted before and knew I liked, but I had my hopes on tasting the French style wine that was new to me and wasn't too worried about the price. The appetizer was phenomenal. Unfortunately, this is where the good review ends. When our second course came out, my husband had fish plated in front of him, but I had definitely-not-fish plated in front of me. The young gentleman who plated us didn't know what we had ordered, but our waiter was standing behind him and he simply slipped away once the young man explained our sides (not even the main meat on our plate). I surmised they had brought me out my duck instead of my fish. This miffed me, as I was excited to do things "the French way". My husband wanted to ask what happened but we never saw our waiter and I knew the food was what I ordered so I decided to just eat it instead of having them throw it away in the back for no reason. When we did finish and our waiter showed up, he seemed like he wanted to get away quickly but my husband asked him why I was served my meat instead of fish. Our waiter asked if there was a mistake made and then said he would check with the kitchen. When he came back a few minutes later, he told us that they had actually brought out both of MY selected dishes, and that next they would be bringing our both of my husband's. This interaction was ended with "I'm sorry, I hope this is okay.", to which all I could reply is "I guess we'll make it work.". However at this point I was incredibly disappointed and no longer hungry. When paying $30 a dish, I don't want to be forced to eat what my husband was looking forward to eating, or find out that he didn't even get to eat a dish that he ordered. Whike eating the third course we decided we would leave, as I was no longer interested in desert and we both felt really upset with how the interaction was handled. When we told our waiter we would be taking the rest of our wine bottle and would like the check, he seemed shocked and the air completely changed. We got brought a creme brulee "as an apology", but nothing else was comped, no apology by a manager, we paid our bill and left. I do not know why we were treated like this, if it was due to how young we look and our waiter thought he could pull one over on us, or if this place really doesn't care about their customers. Sad to say that we won't be coming back.

I've lost count how many times we have experienced The Refectory. One of our family faves. IMO it is the closest restaurant in Central Ohio that could/should have a Michelin *. They have successfully made the transition from traditional plating to small plates. Chef produces a different menu almost everyday. Check their website. The environment continues to be 5*. We love to sit in the bar area. Service is attentive but a bit amateurish. That's ok, professional servers are a thing of the past. Our server was menu knowledgeable and super personable. We ordered a salad app, bread and two plates. I think we should have gotten a third plate but the selections were minimal. We ended with the pear tart. App. Small plates. Desert. 5*. Our house Cabernet. 5* Our house Old Fashion was a disappointment at $15. We had to send it back to sweeten it up...and it was drowned in ice. I love that I can keep commenting that this is a 5* establishment.

Coming here two years for Christmas is the highlight of my seasonal culinary experiences. The ambience is soothing and inspirational. The waitstaff are exceptional.... And of course, every item we selected delighted the palate. In this occasion we each ordered a different fish offering. They were all delectable. And, as a unique experience from the bar I imbibed a smooth, buttery, spicy concoction of rum and absinthe, mmmmm. Heartwarming to say the least.

A delightful high end French restaurant that specializes in heavenly small plates. It's easy to see why they've been satisfying for over thirty years. The service is impeccable. The remarkable atmosphere is sophisticated, chic....very fancy! Every plate was sensational and service included a detailed description when served. The wine pairings were expert. It's the most satisfying $$$$ experience you'll have. I recommend them for all your special occasion celebrations. 06/24

My wife chose the regular tasting menu and I chose the vegetarian tasting menu, we also got the wine pairing. Brian did such a fantastic job with the wine pairings. My wife and I both thought they were the best wine pairings we have had here. We are excited to come back and try more of his pairings. Our waiter Alex was amazing as well, as is all of the staff here. They always go above and beyond to provide impeccable service. We had a wonderful time celebrating our anniversary with this exceptional culinary experience. I can't recommend The Refectory and tasting menus highly enough.

If anyone ever says they want to get wined and dined, this is the place to do it. It was very elegant and beautiful inside, you could tell that it was a special place. The spotlight is on you the entire time from the moment you enter to the moment you leave. If there is a breadcrumb on the table, the staff will come to scrape it off so you can enjoy a meal with no blemishes. They have fantastic wines and great food as well. As someone who loves to eat, the biggest negative is the small portions, especially with how expensive the menu is. I need to order several plates to be full. But that is the nature of this restaurant so I cannot fault it. I will definitely be coming here again.

We made a reservation at Refectory for 5:15pm on a Saturday. They sent two text messages to confirm the two days leading up to the reservation, despite me confirming the first one. That said, they had a personalized celebration card on our table when we were seated which was a nice touch. We were a bit surprised that the restaurant was already half full by the time of our reservation, especially since they only open at 4:45pm. The inside is pretty cool with a few different seating areas. It used to be a church that has since been renovated and the Refectory took over in 1976. For drinks, I got the 'Bold Fashioned' and my SO got the 'Summer Spritz'. My bold fashioned definitely lived up to it's name and packed a ton of heat, thanks to the fresno peppers, habanero agave and habanero bitters. I enjoy spicy foods, but did not find myself a huge fan of this much heat on top of the warmth from the bourbon. So order with caution, especially if you have acid reflux. We also split an espresso half way through the meal and it was one of the better espressos I've had, served with a lemon peel, which surprisingly went really well with the rich flavor of the espresso. For dinner, we indulged in the chef's tasting menu. It was spread out over five courses and included French Country Terrine, Pan-Seared Kanpachi, Roasted Filet, Double Cream Camembert, and Strawberry and Chocolate Entremet. They also included two surprises, a seafood medallion as the first starter, and a lemon gelato half way through to cleanse the palate. The plates we liked, we really liked (fish and filet). But we didn't enjoy some of the others (seafood medallion, french country terrine, double cream camembert), because of either the texture or taste, which I'm guessing is just a difference of palate preference. For example, neither of us had heard of or eaten Terrine before, but quickly learned it's a mix of various meats and vegetables all mashed together into a loaf and served in slices. I'm sure this is very popular in Europe, but the look of this mystery meat patty jaded both of us before we even tried a bit. That said, the champagne vinaigrette it was paired with was delicious. Our server Michelle was very nice and knowledgable about the history of the restaurant and the menu. However, the service was quite slow even for a chef's tasting menu. We expected it to take around 2 hours, but it ended up being 3 hours for just the two of us, and that's with us eventually just asking for the check to be brought out with the last course. Overall, I'm torn with what to give Refectory, but believe 3 stars fits the bill for our experience. The chef's tasting menu provided a good variety of different plates, and we enjoyed the main courses, but the others just didn't do it for us. If we came back, we would order from the regular menu, selecting single entrees we would surely enjoy. The presentation of the food was top notch, but the 3 hour meal for two people is just not something I have the patience for either. Of note, they add a 3% fee to credit cards.

Another fine dinning experience, excellent service, excellent presentation,food as alway superb. Warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Wow this is my favorite in Columbus and I'm so glad they survived covid. Everything from the service to the food is incredible. The ambiance is so nice and don't get me started on the service. They go above and beyond what they need to do to cater to their guests. Huge thank you from Florida!

Really nice dining experience. We came for the tasting menu and also paired the wine with it. Very pricey and we were underwhelmed with the fourth course which was cheese. Otherwise still fun to try. The regular dinner menu looks delicious and we'll definitely try that out next time. Very old church gives a cozy, antique atmosphere.

We absolutely had a wonderful dinner at The Refectory celebrating my husband's 40th birthday. We loved the ambiance (perfect leveled jazz music, dim lights, candles, and all the small details), the seafood dishes were absolutely the best (fish was cooked perfectly), and everything was seasoned just right - which can sometimes be overwhelming with French food, but not here thankfully! My husband had the five course dinner, and I ordered a la carte. The duck and short rib were not our favorites, but still very good. The desserts were fantastic as well, loved the pear tart! Honestly - the best part and highlight of our night that we were most impressed with was the service - especially our waiter, Juan. He was absolutely one of the best we have ever interacted with in high end restaurants. He was patient, knowledgeable, and very detail oriented. The entire meal was paced correctly, we never felt rushed, and truly felt cared for. Looking forward to returning in the future.

Our waiter Alex was very attentive and knowledgeable. All of the staff were professional and everything flowed flawlessly. Chef Richard and his team ensured everything we ordered was garlic free. It's very nice to know I can eat remarkable food and not have to worry about being ill later. The salmon and butter poached Gambas were exceptional. So was the pear tart. Truly everything was fantastic, those two just stole the show.

the most wonderful eating experience we could have!!! service, taste, experience was all delightful! 5 star!!

Ring the bell in the tower! Can I give more than 5 stars? This French restaurant was exquisite. The food was amazing. We were there for a special live music event while you dine on a four course meal. There was lovely candlelight and a duet of music with Bobby Floyd on the keyboard and Byron Stripling on trumpet and vocals. They were very entertaining. The food was delightfully presented and there were multiple servers bringing the food plates, clearing the dishes, and topping off the drinks. I did not take pictures of my food because no one in the room had their phone out yet alone taking pictures. I did take the menu card home and photographed it at home. The beef filet mignon with mushrooms and gravy was served with Brussel sprouts, carrots, mashed potatoes, and tomato. It was delectable! I most definitely recommend this restaurant especially for a special occasion.

Always a great evening. Had the rabbit and duck combination. Excellent. Linda had a steak for the first time here. Top notch. Great atmosphere and fine service. A great way to spend three hours. Some things should not be rushed. Warm pear tart is the best.

It's been a little while since we have returned to the refectory. I've always been a big fan but the previous couple of visits weren't up to their normally high standards in terms of the food -- the service and ambiance have always been amazing. However, today's visit was wonderful once again. We started off with the beet salad and the arugula salad. The beet salad was exceptional and the arugula salad wasn't bad. The bread was excellent as always -- the service is no longer complimentary but they donate a part of the proceedings to the world food organization for Ukraine. I got the lamb chops and my wife got the duck. Both dishes were divine. The lamb chops and the duck were perfectly cooked medium rare and the duck reduction was amazing. We finished off with their crème brûlée, which was outstanding as always! A wonderful place to indulge!

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner! The food was delicious and so fun to include the wine pairings for each course. Our Sommelier was knowledgeable and made the experience even better. We definitely recommend The Refectory!

This is based off a 460$ bill for 2. We both got the 5 course chefs tasting menu and wine pairing. Food was great, taste and presentation. The service. Not the best, it was a 3 hour dinner with a lot of waiting for our server. We would get our food by the busters and would wait a good 10 minutes before the server would make his way over to describe the dish. We would also wait long enough for drinks the bartender would leave behind the bar to come ask us what we wanted. We also waited 30 minutes just to get our bill. For there only being 6 parties in our side of the restaurant there's no reason to be waiting that long for service. There's also no dress code or anything I guess. For as nice of a place this is. My wife and I went to here to celebrate her birthday and halfway through our dinner this party of 4 came in wearing sweatpants and graphic tees. They ended up starting an argument where they proceeded to yell at each other using vulgar insults and at that point my wife was ready to leave. There was no attempt to make this party leave or anything all employees stood and watched while this happened. Overall the food was great but 450$ great probably not. Service was subpar for the price. And the 3-4 hour process took too long in my opinion. 3/5 stars. I personally wont be returning.

Celebrated my husband's birthday here and it was an absolute delight. The food was delicious and it reminded a lot like the restaurants from Las Vegas. It was a true dining experience. Our waiter gave us a little history about the restaurant since it was our first time there and made so great recommendations. If you are thinking about checking them out, I highly recommend making a reservation in advance!

I brought my family ( at the time, it has since grown ) to The Refectory for the 50th anniversary of the marriage of my mother and father. The service was professional and handled a little problem with skill. The ambience was perfect for this occasion, the menu items of high quality. Not an everyday joint, but a classic dependable for significant meals.

Quite possibly the best restaurant in Ohio. We recommend a visit. The space in beautiful and the service is professional. It is not noisy. They did not serve our food in a "bowl" or on boring white plates. They use beautiful china. I hope they continue this and not succumb to using bowls like some other restaurants. We started with torchon foie gras and French county terrine. Both perfect, but odd that no toast was provided with the cold foie gras. My wife had champagne and I had a mai tai. We then shared a bowl of delicious green asparagus soup. We then moved on to the main portion of the meal, lamb chops and duck breast . Both tasty and properly prepared. We drank a red wine with the meal. I finished with a crème brulee, but my wife's pear tart was the tastiest and most beautiful dessert I had ever tasted. I love crème brulee, but that tart was exquisite. A nice aspect of this restaurant is they do not overload the customer with giant portions of food. The portions are smaller, more than adequate and are perfectly prepared .

We are in Ohio for a conference and found this restaurant. We have eaten at Michelin Star restaurants in Europe and one of our favorite dining experiences EVER...was at this restaurant in Columbus, Ohio...who would have thought!?! Food, Service, Wine Pairing, Ambiance were ALL 5 Stars! Joseph made excellent recommendations and brought special items from the Chef to experience. This restaurant is a must! We have already booked another evening while in town.

Had an excellent meal to celebrate our anniversary. Food was perfect, service excellent and really made us feel special celebrating our anniversary! Thank you!

Very attentive service and great vegetarian tasting menu. Enjoyed the vegetarian tasting menu, which included, in order from my most favorite: dumplings, chilled cucumber soup (color resembled avocado or split pea), berries and sorbets, cheese plate, beet salad with feta cheese and pépitas. Interestingly, the beet salad was my husband's favorite course and my least favorite. Serving sizes were larger than I expected. Lovely restaurant, tables well spaced for quiet relaxing experience.

My husband and I came here after reading all of the reviews and had a lovely experience - the service was on point, food was beautiful and delightful, ambiance was nice - I love that the menu changes daily - I can't wait to come back!

In four years in Columbus, I made a point of trying every "best" restaurant in the area, and nothing else holds a candle to the Refectory. This is where I took all of my out of town visitors and now that I have moved out of Columbus, it is the restaurant that I miss the most. My then boyfriend (now husband) and I often think back fondly on the wonderful dinners we had there, and on the superlative service that we received (even some tips on how to best pair our wine with our meal). We'll be back the next time we're in town, for sure!

Hands down what 5 star should be. From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out, we were taken care of. We got a gift card from a friend who loves this place and knew this was how to get us here. I have lived in Columbus my whole life and have never visited. To be honest, it was never on my list to visit. Mainly for the uncertainty of the menu and if there was going to be something I would enjoy on the menu that day. My husband and I went for the 5 course chef menu today. We didn't do the wine pairings with each dish, but I would highly recommend it if you come and enjoy wine. I had brunch with friends before, and more alcohol was not something I wanted to do. The flavors of every dish woke up every taste bud and kept me thrilled for the next dish. The service is impeccable and timely. Never too much and never too little. It was quiet enough that I could hear a conversation with my husband but also the tables next to us. This is fine dining at its greatest. I am so grateful our friend did this for us, and we got to experience this. I have already told everyone I know to come. Be open-minded but ready to be wowed. The bill isn't for the light-hearted, but our gift card absorbed the shock. Worth every penny nonetheless.

Nick was amazing and the food was delicious! First time here and we'll be back. Eating here was an experience and so enjoyable. From the service to the food, drinks and music. Beautiful, calm and somewhat romantic atmosphere that is also great for friends and family. Even if I tried to come up with one thing that could have been better well I can't. Thank you Nick for excellent service!

Excellent restaurant, the food was great! They really personalized our anniversary and made us feel at home. Ive never been to a Michelin restaurant. The waiter took care of us and was patient and very knowledgeable about the restaurant, chief and the foods. Great experience!

Exceptional service and THE Aromas, Flavors, Presentation and Vibrant Colors were amazing! A group of us (5) planned a nice dinner out and we decided in the Refectory. We have all heard so much about this place for YEARS! Only one of us had been here before but it was an absolutely a delightful experience for all. The building is remarkable in layout and deco, and as it was a former church back in the day there is lots of history. The server told us the history of the building and restaurant and the Chef himself. There is plenty of parking and just to note this place has some really nice clean and comfortable restrooms. Our entire dinner took us about 3 1/2 hours so you will most like need to visit them. I was impressed. Even though it was a long dinner it didn't seem like it at all till the end when we checked the time. I think that is another part of what makes dining here so special. It was a prefect evening. We had such an amazing server and he navigated us through the menu and described each dish perfectly. Each dish came with a story that lead you through the experience of the course you were about to enjoy. I was incredibly pleased with my choices but listening to some of the other dishes and then the inviting smells and the inviting aromas of them as the passed by, you could help but to think of all the possibilities. We all shared a bite amongst friends for those that wanted, so we could enjoy and taste almost everything but it is something else to enjoy the complexities of your dish. When looking at the menu, you can choose what you want, when you want, and in the order you want. It allows for a totally individual customized meal. A design your own dinner option or a preset Chef selected menu. Three of us went with the design your own. One friend started Escargot and Shiitake Marble parsley garlic butter sauce. I had the French Country Terrine pistachio with artichoke vinaigrette. My dish really surprised me, it was a take a chance dish and was so happy I did. The first part of the bite flowed through and ended in a slightly different taste as well as you almost tasted something different in each bite. It was fun for me to try and figure it out as I enjoyed the dish. I also really enjoyed the Beet Salad with goat cheese canelé, almonds, and a champagne vinaigrette. I never liked beets as a kid but so enjoy a good beet salad today and this was delicious. My partner went with the Tomato Velvet Bisque shrimp and blue crab. He said the bisque was an interesting combination of a modern bisque and a provincial tomato soup. His next course included the Escargot and Shiitake with Marble parsley garlic butter sauce as well. Next course, one friend enjoyed the Southern Fluke Fillet lemon caper butter sauces and my partner has Garlic Marinated Duck Breast herbs de provence bordelaise. He said it was good and in more detail added it had a little bit of a smoky flavor that was good and pleasantly surprised him. I went with the Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak in a cardamom bordelaise and it was amazing! It was perfectly prepared and served with the most devine carrot and a couple of potatoes too. I have to highlight the tastes and aromas of the dish. Two people in our party selected the CHEF'S FIVE-COURSE TASTING MENU experience. They loved it and everything is selected in advance by the Chef and there were no substitutions. They both enjoyed in order: ~Mediterranean Sea Bream sun-dried tomato and olive vin blanc ~ Pan-Seared Filet Mignon cardamom sauce ~ Imported Cheese Course ~ Pink Praline Hazelnut Tart vanilla chantilly, caramel sauce For our desserts, I had the best Vanilla Crème Brûlée almond and chocolate tuile. It may just have been the best I have ever had. I totally recommend this dessert and it sounds like a fan favor here. Another friend went with the Mocha Chocolate Terrine Godiva crème anglaise, parisian macaron and my partner had the Chocolate and Hazelnut Bombe crème anglaise. We loved them all and shared a bite of each other each other here too. We didn't feel rushed at all and even with a few different versions of the courses, and some having an additional course than others, it was timed so well with short breaks or slight rests between the big ones. It was really something special to dine here. It's pricy (a least for me) but worth every penny when you think of the complexity of the recipes, the cost, and time to prepare each dish, with the taste, presentation, and the exceptional service. I know I say experience and aroma a lot in the review but just go...and you will see. I would absolutely recommend the experience and can't wait for another opportunity to visit!

I just don't think there is a better dining experience in Columbus. I've been bringing my students here for years, and experiencing fine french dining through them is amazing. The care they take to make the experience for my students is the ultimate. The food is beautiful, it's delicious, and it takes me back to the time I lived in Paris. Everyone should experience this at least once. The service is always spectacular, the ambiance is beautiful, and the food...I always finish my meal because I don't want to miss out on any of the flavors. Especially the chocolate mousse! I'm a vegetarian with gluten intolerance, it's not an issue here, I always feel taken care of. Make sure you get here. Another amazing experience this evening, my students and I thank you!!!

This is the best restaurant in Columbus for a special occasion! Food and service perfect. Pacing of dinner the best I've ever seen. Wonderful waitstaff and top notch sommelier. The custom wine pairings were delicious and very well explained. Kudos to all.

I took my mother out for her birthday here for a 7:15 PM reservation. We came here before for my birthday and it was, again, a magical experience. We had a 9-course meal together and I had wine pairings for everything. It would be too difficult to explain the adventure she and I had for each dish, but I'll note here one particular moment. During our fourth course with the Pan-Seared Atlantic Halibut, for me, when this dish was paired with the white wine from the pairing menu, it was like dancing on the stairs. I would eat the bacon thyme vin blac sauce, that would be a step down the stairs. Then I drink some of the wine and I'm stepping up the stairs. The whole time, the halibut is acting as the platform for the stairs and the dancing. Incredible. Our server, Alex, and our sommelier, Nick, each knew so much about the dishes and wines. They played off each other very well. I love taking my mother here and we're planning to return for a Christmas music night. When you come here, you come for luxury. You come for experience. You come to enjoy your time.

The Refectory is the only fine-dining French restaurant in humble Columbus, Ohio and as such I was eager to try it a second time. The location is stunning - you're in a 200 year old church with charming wood beams and elegant tables. The floors are original and creaky, though some rooms and tables are better than others. You may consider calling ahead and asking for the main dining room. The menu is highly seasonal and changes daily. You can choose from appetizers (appetizers $15 and seafood/meat about $30), seafood and meat or follow the prix-fix menu for $110/person. We started with splitting the autumn salad and it was solid but not spectacular. The greens were a little light on the dressing and even though I split the salad with my boyfriend they served it on one big plate and expected us to serve ourselves (of course, I'm fine with this, but not in a place of the refectory's caliber). We also ordered some bread ($4) and it was really excellent, though I don't see why they need to charge for it. Our second course was the salmon trio. It contained a piece of seared salmon, a salmon cake slider and a salmon moose. The moose and pan-seared salmon were solid, though the slider was really out of place at a fine-dining restaurant. I had the roast duck breast as my main course and it was excellent. The duck was cooked perfectly and the sauce and potato accompaniments were delicious. I finished with some espresso and the chocolate pistachio dessert and it was lovey. My boyfriend raved about the creme brûlée. We paid the bill and saw that the Refectory is charging a 3.5% credit card fee. I've never seen this before in a restaurant, much less a fine-dining restaurant that charges top dollar. There's truly no need to nickel and dime guests, but c'est la vie. Service was excellent and polished.

We tried the 5-course meal. The experience was wonderful. The servers were really nice. The ambience is relaxing and you get to really enjoy and experience the taste of every dish. It's a bit more quiet than Lindy's. A must-try in Columbus

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit! The food was spectacular as was the service. The Refectory is always our choice when it comes to celebrating.

Fantastic food and atmosphere. Service was exceptional. Great for a special occasion.

We had the most amazing experience at Refectory. It starts at the door . The owner personally meets every guest , with something warm to say to each of us. The ambiance is warm and inviting. The background music makes you feel relaxed and comfortable to enjoy every moment. The crevice is excellent all servers were with smile and ready to make our evening just perfect. Food!!!!! It was delicious , fresh. The flavors brought out new tastes to your mouth pallet. Every "foodie " should definitely check it out. Thank you Kamal - if to vote - we would vote your place as the best restaurant in Columbus. The food was

Clayton was the best server ever! He made our first experience at the refectory a 10/10. The ambiance was gorgeous and classy, the food was fantastic and we had a wonderful time. We'll definitely be back!!

I hosted a 30 person event that was executed flawlessly by the chef, wait staff, and the som!! The food was served hot and fresh as if it was prepared for a party of two. The service was fantastic. I'm never disappointed when I leave The Refectory.

Always delicious. We usually save this for special occasions, but have never been let down.

My partner surprised me by taking me here for our one year anniversary. I had never even heard of this place! This restaurant was very fitting for the occasion. We waited a few minutes in the front and took a few pictures before we were seated. When we arrived to our table, there was a note that said happy anniversary with the date on it. Our table was very private and separated from large parties. Although I appreciated that, I almost wished we could have sat next to the stained glass windows in the main body of the church. It is dimly lit and looked so gorgeous to sit under. Our waiter gave us a little background about the chef and also told us that the menus changed daily. He was not too knowledgeable about vegetarian meals outside of the vegetarian 5 course meal so I had to make a judgement call. I decided to get the 5 course meal and my partner decided to order individual dishes. We ordered bread and butter as an app. The bread and butter was pretty typical. I had a half glass of sparkling Moscato which was fantastic, I wanted to buy a bottle at the end of the night but the sommelier had already left by the time we were done. They also served us a free little app before our courses began, which we were surprised by! It was like a prelude of the ingredients that were going to be featured throughout our other dishes. Before every meal, our waiter explained every detail of our dish. Our reservation was for 8 and we were there until at least 10:30. It was nice to take out time eating and to really enjoy the experience. That being said, you should not feel forced to finish your food. Our waiter asked if I wanted to box my main meal -- which I was also surprised by because I didn't think high end restaurants did this. So if you are full, feel free to ask! Last comment on the service, the man who picked up our dishes between every meal was very attentive and really deserved a tip. His job made a world of a difference in our experience. We learned that he scraped bread crumbs off with a crumber! It was a casual and funny moment throughout our night. To get to the food -- a lot of the vegetarian meals I received were cold. The app, the beet salad, and cold cucumber soup all back to back was a little too much for me personally. If the waiter was able to make more recommendations, I would have definitely ordered individual warm dishes. But I really didn't have a choice and went with the 5 course vegetarian meal because it was specially designed. My biggest regret was the cold cucumber soup because I sent most of it back. I wish I asked to substitute it with another item. But hey, this was part of the experience and part of the French cuisine! Also, the tomato tart was to DIE FOR!! If I were to go back, it would be for that and maybe something small. My partner ordered an app, seafood, and meat course. We ended up sharing the cheese plate and the dessert that was included in my vegetarian course. I think the set up we had was very worth it! The waiter was also very kind in the fact that he let me pick a dessert other than what was presented on my 5 course vegetarian meal -- I love chocolate desserts and couldn't resist what was on the other side of the menu!! Overall, this restaurant is a must try especially if you have a very special occasion to celebrate. I am only removing a star because of the lack of warm dishes for a vegetarian.

I've read about the Refectory for several years now either winning an award or being acknowledged for something great. I've always categorized The Refectory is an event-only restaurant; like a special restaurant for special occasions. Our anniversary was the perfect occasion to finally come here and experience what the hype was about. Made reservations well in advance and I suggest anyone who goes does the same! I was a bit confused by their online menu, which our waiter broke it down for me. We weren't quite sure what to expect, so our waiter suggested we try the 5-course dinner to try a bit of everything. You don't really know what you're getting except we had the choice of the protein that we'd prefer, I picked duck. I cannot recommend enough to sign up for their chef-inspired courses. You'll be there for several hours and the experience didn't feel rushed at all, and the food was fantastic. The waiter did present and announce what each dish was; unfortunately the French names were a bit too hard for me to remember... Higher class of restaurants have a stigma of presenting small portions on big plates, but honestly we were extremely full by the end. If the portions were any bigger, I'd expect to be rolled out in a wheelchair. Just take your time (reference the no rush part above) and truly enjoy every bite. The cocktails were phenomenal as well. Truly one of a kind experience offered in Columbus. The hospitality is the friendliest and personal to the point you feel like you've known the staff for years. Every server that walked by our table congratulated us on our anniversary and everyone came off as very sincere.