Best Casual Restaurants in Upper Arlington

Enjoyed Valentine’s Day dinner with my wife at Cap City. We had a 5:30 reservation ( allow extra time to get to this restaurant as Olentangy River Road is ALWAYS backed up!! The restaurant was packed but we got our table on time. Very dense sitting but our table mates on both sides were delightful. We each had a cocktail, the walleye special, and split coconut cream pie. Absolutely delicious and the service was excellent . We love Cap City and usually have a wonderful meal and service, tonight was no exception!

Our dinner was delicious! We both chose the filet and shrimp. Everything was cooked perfectly. My sister's dessert was a flourless chocolate cake that was incredibly rich. I ordered the banana chia seed pudding, which was flavorful. The service was flawless!

Hudson 29 is a standout in Columbus’s dining scene, offering a refined yet approachable atmosphere with an emphasis on high-quality ingredients and expert preparation. From the moment you step in, the warm lighting, modern decor, and welcoming staff set the stage for a memorable meal. While the menu offers a well-curated selection of steaks, salads, and fresh seafood, the pan-seared blackened scallops steal the show. These scallops are absolute perfection—expertly seared to create a crisp, caramelized crust that locks in their natural sweetness while the blackening spices add just the right amount of smoky heat. Each bite is rich, buttery, and melts in your mouth, balanced beautifully with a velvety smooth sauce that enhances the dish without overpowering it. Beyond the scallops, Hudson 29 offers a strong selection of wines and cocktails to pair with your meal, along with consistently excellent service. Whether you’re looking for a date night spot, a business dinner, or just a place to treat yourself, this Cameron Mitchell gem delivers every time. If you’re a seafood lover, do yourself a favor and order the blackened scallops—you won’t regret it.

If you’re gluten free - this is a great restaurant to visit!! Basically everything on the menu (with some exceptions) could be made gluten free, and they even offered a GF bread which was delicious. And the nice part about this also was the fact that they didn’t up charge for GF options like many other places I’ve gone to do!! It’s the little things that make the experience so much better.

Our waitress was amazing! She was very attentive, made great suggestions, & went above & beyond for our birthday celebration. We recommend the eggplant parmesan, margherita pizza, arancini, and the Berry Blast cocktail. The birthday girl got a free dessert & a spiked strawberry with a huge “sparkler” lit up to commemorate the evening. This was our first time here & we will be back!