Review The Refectory Restaurant - Columbus

Incredible dining experience! Dom and the bartender in the lounge were super attentive and friendly! Sat by the fireplace. Everything was so cozy and dishes were timed/paced perfectly. We were celebrating our first Christmas as a married couple and they certainly made us feel special!

We recently dined at the Refectory for the second time, and it was an unforgettable experience. This fine dining restaurant truly knows how to impress its guests with its outstanding cuisine and exceptional service. Having traveled all over the world, we can confidently say that The Refectory is one of the better fine dining places we have dined at. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the staff, who made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was elegant and refined, with beautiful holiday decor and soft lighting. The menu was filled with delicious and unique dishes, with something to suit every taste. I decided to try the chef's tasting menu, which was an absolute delight. Each dish was expertly crafted with the finest ingredients and presented beautifully. The flavors were exquisite, and the wine pairings were spot on. We love to explore fine and unique wines and cannot more highly recommend the Grand Cru wine pairing with the sommelier, Taylor. The service was impeccable. Our waiter Dom was exceptional. He was knowledgeable about the menu and great to converse with. The entire staff was attentive and ensured we had everything we needed throughout the evening. Overall, The Refectory is a must-visit restaurant for anyone looking for an outstanding fine dining experience in central Ohio. We highly recommend it and can't wait to go back again.

We’ve traveled quite extensively and the Refectory is without question not only THE BEST dining experience in the state of Ohio, but one of the best we’ve ever had. I’m not sure who second place is but it’s a distant 2nd. From the moment you walk in the door you’re treated like royalty. The ambience is unique. The history of the building is fascinating. The service is impeccable. Last night we had Dom who seemed to have a sixth sense for when we needed anything, but was never intrusive and gave us space to enjoy our special night out. The sommelier always has interesting suggestions. It’s a great place to find rare bottles of wine and his knowledge is impressive. The food…it’s more like an experience than a meal. If this restaurant was in New York or California it would be Michelin starred, and that’s not an exaggeration. The chef brilliantly prepares food that leaves you looking at the person you’re with and saying, “oh wow…did you taste that.” We eat out all the time, and most of the time the food is pretty good and it fills your belly, but at this restaurant you create memories where you say things like, “remember the duck breast at The Refectory?!!” The owner Kamal is a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Dignified but not pretentious. It’s not uncommon to see him greeting people as they walk in the door or leave. He’s got something truly special at The Refectory. If you’re thinking, “wow this review is over the top” it’s because it deserves to be. If you’re looking for an experience you’ll never forget, this is the place to go.

The Refectory's service was above and beyond. Every person who came to our table knew why we were there (anniversary) and congratulated us. It was an incredible experience. The food was unbelievably good. By fat the best dining experience that Columbus has to offer by a long shot. The sommelier was knowledgeable and walked us through the history of our wines and the waiter was an expert at the menu and guided us on the perfect choices. It was just a fantastic experience overall. HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking for a perfect fine dining experience!

Went for our anniversary and it was a 10/10 experience. Service, food and ambiance were impeccable! One of, if not the best restaurants that Columbus has to to offer!

The atmosphere of the venue was fantastic. The cuisine surpassed all expectations, reaching unparalleled heights. The setting was delightful, adorned with impressive internal decor. The staff proved exceptional, consistently available to assist or address any inquiries. The owner exuded down-to-earth charm. Lastly, the considerate gift bestowed upon our visitor left an indelible impression, truly astonishing our guest. Gratitude abounds, and I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment to those seeking a unique dining experience.

Finest restaurant I've had in Columbus! Service was perfect, they explained each dish and the sources. And even asked how long we had to stay so it was perfectly timed. Food was out of this world as well, such amazing flavors!

We had a dinner with one vegetarian tasting menu and a couple of additional preludes. The vegetarian dishes are extremely good. Staff is wonderful. Wine selections with the meal paired very well.

One of the few fine dining places we could find that has a vegetarian 5 course tasting menu. I was not sure what to expect, but I was very pleased with what we got. Everything was very good. The menu supposedly changes daily, so I would be curious to see what other vegetarian options they have. It is expensive fine dining, but the food is worth it.

In a world where restaurant service can often leave you feeling underwhelmed, The Refectory stands out as a shining example of what exceptional customer service looks like. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and sincerity. The ambience was cozy and inviting, and the skillfully crafted menu was a delight to our taste buds. Our meal was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, and the service was exceptional. We were even sent home with desserts for our children, which was a lovely touch. As a business owner, I was particularly impressed by the valuable lesson on customer service that The Refectory provided. They have earned themselves a repeat customer in me. Overall, I would highly recommend The Refectory to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience. They are truly a step above the rest. Thank you for a lovely evening.

As usual Chef Richard's entrees were great in presentation and taste. Our server Steve was very informative and attentive during our meal. The atmosphere inside is very cozy. Highly recommend the Refractory.

My husband and I went to The Refectory last night and had a wonderful experience. Our server Lisa was very personable and did such a wonderful job educating us about the dishes offered and drink selections. The Refectory operates differently than most Ohio/US restaurants. It's recommended to order all courses ahead of time as they are small batch. We ordered 4 courses and even though the plates are smaller than "normal" we were pleasantly stuffed at the end of our meal. To note, courses do come out at a slower, more European pace. Our entire dinner took 2.5 hours. I highly enjoyed the slow pace, it gave us more of a chance to slowly savor our dishes and really connect. The escargot is more in a loaf type form and comes with a garlicky sauce that is just amazing. Not pictured is the soup I had which was the vegetarian, which was deliciously simple but definitely warming. My husband had the shrimp that had a lovely bright vinaigrette followed by the arugula salad. The arugula paired with the pancetta (I think) was delicious as the fat cut the sharpness of the arugula. For my main course I had the sturgeon which I highly recommend. It was meltingly soft and the potatoes/vegetables provided a contrasting crunch. My husband had the duck which he highly enjoyed, the cherry sauce had a tartness he enjoyed but I did not particularly care for. Dessert we both chose the creme brulee. The grand marnier was a nice change from a standard vanilla, it was beautifully silky and paired so well with probably the BEST latte I have ever had. There were a few items I'm going to grumble about but really are minor and not worth detracting any stars: I have celiac and the gluten free bread basket at $5 extra was rather disappointing. It looked like regular sliced sandwich bread that was cut in diagonals. I'll skip the bread next time as Cameron Mitchell restaurants, Cooper's Hawk and others have better to offer. The other grumbly item is the lack of dessert options for someone with celiac. I could choose between the creme brulee or I believe a sorbet. Dessert is my absolute favorite course so this was disappointing. It's the reason we'll come back maybe once or twice a year, but probably not more.

Girlfriend took me here for my birthday and what can I say, 10/10 on everything - food - service - atmosphere. Tremendous wine list, knowledgeable waitstaff, every staff member who saw me said happy birthday. Also the little things like even though it was busy, it wasn’t too loud to have a normal conversation. If the Michelin guide ever comes to Columbus, this should be their first stop.

Update 5/11/23: We dined here again last night and I just had to come back to say my original review still stands, but I also wanted to thank the amazing staff at the Refectory. They are all so accommodating and they truly make you feel so well taken care of and comfortable when dining there. My grandma has a 'smaller' appetite so we asked to split a salad, and they plated it on two different plates for us, no questions asked. So many other high end restaurant would give you a hard time for asking to split a dish, but not the Refectory. Dare I say, this is the best restaurant in Columbus!! Always a treat! Original review: Everything was absolutely fantastic. So tasty! The food is prepared so beautifully and artfully on the plates — there truly is nothing else like it in Columbus. One of my surprise favorites was the beet salad. Go dine here for a superb fine dining experience, you won’t be disappointed!

We went here for our anniversary and it was the first time experiencing this restaurant. The staff was very polite and seemed very organized. We had a small 3-5 min wait to be seated. Upon arriving at our table, we had a lovely card wishing us happy anniversary. The bathroom was clean as well! That in itself is very important to me! We were offered the various menus and started with drinks and we were asked about our food selections. The staff was attentive to keeping our glasses full and offering new drinks should we want them. The staff was very descriptive on the individual plates, where it came from and how it was prepared. The staff described what we would be eating at each course. You could ask questions should you have any at that time. The food was delicious. We selected an Al a carte style but we would be open to trying the five course tasting menu next visit. The overall experience was fantastic. The moscato is what I tried. It was sweet and I could have bought the bottle! It was very tasty! The escargot and duck are highly recommended! The chocolate trio was dark chocolate with a mouse layer. I could eat that every day! The sorbet had three options to try with fresh fruit. You have to experience this restaurant. 10/10!

Wow! The Refectory boast an amazing staff and environment ready to make a great evening for any occasion. Dom took care of us and did a spectacular job making us feel welcome, attending to any needs we had, guaranteeing a new returning customer! Starting with Chilled antelope and grouped with roasted duck cooked to perfection and a trailing cheese dish, I was continuously greeted with flavor and freshness all around. Bravo!

Wonderful birthday dinner @ The Refectory. Titanic dinner - recreated 1st class last dinner. Well executed food, good wine pairing, excellent service, beautiful space and awesome chamber orchestra concert to wind up the evening. A night to remember.

What a wonderful way to celebrate our 25th anniversary. The Chef's tasting menu was so good!!

My first upscale restaurant! I did not have a big reason to go but they kept asking me what I’m celebrating so I told them I just took a huge licensure exam. I was shy about it but they ended up giving me a congratulations card. Besides the amazing, hospitality. They were very knowledgeable in their menu as it is created by the head chef and changes often. The service was very slow (prob 30min -1 hour wait) but the food was worth it! They did give us a complimentary appetizer as we waited as well. The portions I personally thought was perfect with a prelude, course, and finale. I tried the cauliflower appetizer and it was amazing! On the other hand, the popular French Country Terrine I did not like. I then had the filet mignon and it was cooked to perfection. The finale was the best dessert I have ever had. It was the pear tarte. As for drinks, I am not a fan of drinking but I had to try something so I had their cocktail and it was tolerable as I usually cannot tolerate cocktails. Atmosphere was very enjoyable as it was not too loud and the lighting wasn’t too dark. Their were separated rooms which I liked. The parking wasn’t hard to find as they have a parking lot.