Chapman's Eat Market is a German Village gem
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This burger and fries draws a happy hour crowd at Chapman's Eat Market in German Village, 739 S. Third St. Photos: Courtesy of Brandon Neese
One of Columbus' most revered restaurants has somehow eluded me, but I've finally tried Chapman's Eat Market.
Why it matters: The German Village gem survived a pandemic debut, attracted the New York Times' attention and helped owner BJ Lieberman earn a James Beard nod (though he was sadly snubbed).
In summary: It was definitely worth the wait.
Best bites: The menu rotates and is full of what the Times calls "deft, globally inspired comfort food."
- Staples include the crispy General Tso's cauliflower ($16) and a crowd-pleasing burger and fries ($24) currently only available during happy hour.
- I paired the cauliflower with pork and shrimp khao soi ($40), an Asian noodle dish full of zest, peanuts and lemongrass.
Yes, but: Then I got FOMO and ordered a second appetizer after seeing several tables pouring pink a substance on their plates.
- Aguachile is typically made with seafood. But this strawberry aguachile ($14) placed a cold watermelon filet with a tuna-like texture under pickled vegetables. It was unlike anything I've tried before.
- My only regret: I had no room for dessert.
The vibe: The dishes are a bit fancy, but the atmosphere isn't — in a good way.
- It felt like I stepped into a cozy, slightly eccentric house filled with millennial pink and teal decor and a solid playlist of '90s alternative music. Perfect.
- The food, flavors and friendly service were all exceptional.
- Diners are encouraged to doodle in a novel that serves as a "guest book" at the end.
Bonus: It's inside the original Max & Erma's building, so you can enjoy being inside a part of local history while enjoying your meal.
Stop by: 5-9pm Sunday-Thursday and 5-10pm Friday-Saturday. 739 S. Third St. Reservations are encouraged.
