Columbus can’t sit still when it comes to food, and 2026 is proving it all over again. New concepts seem to be landing in the Short North, Grandview, Downtown, Polaris, Westerville, Hilliard, and Upper Arlington almost every week, and it’s genuinely hard to keep track of what’s actually open versus what’s still under construction with a “coming soon” sign taped to the window.
That’s exactly why we built this. Consider it your running list of every notable restaurant still on its way to Columbus in 2026: what it is, where it’s landing, and when you can realistically expect to walk through the door. We’re keeping this page updated as openings are confirmed, so bookmark it now and check back all year.
Last updated July 15, 2026. Here’s what’s still ahead.
Restaurants Opening in 2026 in Columbus & Central Ohio
SAGE (Downtown)
114 N. Third St, Columbus, OH 43215
The team behind the beloved Rishi Sushi Kitchen & Bar is back with a second act. After Rishi closed this past January, owners Sudhir Dubey and chef David Kim announced SAGE would take over the same space at 114 N. Third St. Details are still under wraps, but the team is already hiring servers, bartenders, and even live musicians, which tells you this one is meant to be an experience, not just a restaurant.
Expected opening: Summer 2026
Ochoa Mexican Grill (Downtown)
113 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215
The owners of Old Towne Tavern are branching out with a Tex-Mex concept called Ochoa Mexican Grill, taking over the former Pecan Penny’s space near the Arena District. Expect classic Mexican dishes with a modern spin, plus two large patios with fire pits built for margaritas on a warm afternoon.
Expected opening: Summer 2026, with an official date promised soon
Let Me Roll It (Downtown)
132 E. Fifth Ave., Columbus, OH 43201
Ace of Cups owner Conor Stratton is trading concert-venue chaos for a laid-back neighborhood bar with Let Me Roll It. The concept leans into a screen-free, conversation-first vibe built around vinyl records and cassette tapes, with a cocktail program led by former Bottle Shop mixologist Jordan Mitchell. It’s a bar rather than a full kitchen, but it’s one of the most talked-about openings on this list.
Expected opening: Soft open mid-July, grand opening late July 2026
Tonchin (Short North)
965 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43201
Tokyo-based ramen brand Tonchin is making its Ohio debut on High Street. Founded in 1992 and already established in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, Tonchin is known for rich pork broths and daily handmade noodles. Signage is up in the Short North, though an opening date hasn’t been announced yet.
Expected opening: TBD, follow along for updates
Serious Dumplings (Grandview)
1717 Northwest Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212
Grandview is getting its first taste of Serious Dumplings, also known as Serious Sanji, a dumpling chain with locations across Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The menu specializes in handmade dim sum, Shanghai-style shengjian, and xiao long bao. This will be the brand’s first Ohio location, moving into the former Crispy Coop space.
Expected opening: TBD, signage confirmed at the site
Bombay House Restaurant & Bar (Westerville)
496 Polaris Parkway, Westerville, OH 43082
Upscale Indian dining is coming to the former Winking Lizard space in Westerville. Bombay House promises regional specialties and a handcrafted cocktail program. The team originally targeted a June opening but pushed the date back to get every detail right, and says an announcement is coming soon.
Expected opening: Delayed from June, new date expected very soon
Medley Kitchen (Hilliard)
4457 Trueman Blvd, Hilliard, OH 43026
From Culinary Collectives comes Medley Kitchen, a communal dining concept inspired by shared food traditions from around the world. Owner Derek Bush describes it as a place where guests can learn about other cuisines while sharing their own, with a menu spanning tapas, dim sum, and mezze-style dishes. It’s the company’s first brick-and-mortar and will anchor the new TruePointe development in Hilliard.
Expected opening: Fall 2026
Harvest Pizzeria (Hilliard and New Albany)
Hilliard: 3987 Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026
New Albany: 24 E. Main St, New Albany, OH 43054
Harvest Pizzeria is doubling its Central Ohio footprint with two new locations announced within days of each other. The Hilliard spot is moving into the former Legacy Smokehouse building, and the New Albany location will open on East Main Street. Both will bring Harvest’s scratch-made, locally sourced approach to pizza that’s built the brand a loyal following since 2011.
Expected opening: Later this fall 2026 for both locations
Roots Natural Kitchen (Polaris)
2137 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240
After Giordano’s abruptly closed its Polaris Parkway location, fast-casual salad and grain bowl chain Roots Natural Kitchen has already filed permits to move in. It’ll be the brand’s fourth Central Ohio location, with a menu built around customizable bowls and plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Expected opening: TBD, permits filed with the city
Brassica (Polaris)
2170 Ikea Way, Columbus, OH 43240
The Short North Mediterranean favorite is heading to Polaris for its first ground-up build. Brassica has grown to eight Ohio locations since opening in 2015, known for organic, locally sourced salads, sandwiches, and sides built around traditional Mediterranean flavors.
Expected opening: TBD, permits filed with the city
Arlington Grille (Upper Arlington)
3150 Tremont Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Lindey’s co-owner Rick Doody is giving the shuttered Houlihan’s space in Kingsdale Shopping Center new life. Doody’s Cleveland-based restaurant group, NCR Ventures, is turning it into Arlington Grille, an upscale neighborhood bar and grille inspired by the group’s Cedar Creek Grille and 17 River Grille concepts back home. Expect a moody, wood-and-leather dining room, a year-round patio with a fireplace, and a menu of sushi rolls, deviled eggs, Caesar and cobb salads, burgers, steak frites, and BBQ ribs.
Expected opening: Before the holidays, 2026
Worth Watching Into 2027
A couple of bigger projects are already generating buzz even though they won’t land until after the new year. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants has confirmed Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink is coming to Bexley’s new Fitzgerald development at 2200 E. Main St., with an opening targeted for spring 2027.
There’s also another spot coming from Chef Josh Dalton (Veritas, Speck, Amara, Rosebud’s) in January of 2027, Rosalita. This will be Chef Dalton’s take on Mexican cooking.
Plus the Short North Mediterranean favorite Brassica is heading to Polaris for its first ground-up build. Brassica has grown to eight Ohio locations since opening in 2015, known for organic, locally sourced salads, sandwiches, and sides built around traditional Mediterranean flavors. We’ll keep an eye on it and update this list as more Columbus openings are confirmed for the rest of 2026 and beyond.
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