Places We Love: Budd Dairy

If you live in Columbus, you’ve likely withstood the anticipation or at least heard the buzz around the Buddy Dairy Food Hall. The novel concept was introduced by central Ohio culinary leader Cameron Mitchell as a “chef-driven incubator that provides opportunities for culinary adventures to refine their concept, grow their business and build a loyal following, all while sharing space with other like-minded entrepreneurs.”

The space certainly blends the spirit of our emerging startup ecosystem with our love for kick ass food as USA’s test market. Budd Dairy also serves as another catalyst for Italian Village’s renaissance and redevelopment, better connecting the rest of Short North and downtown with Weiland Park and the Ohio State campus.

My wife and I, itching to check it out, took the kids with us for our inaugural visit. We shut down a bit early on a Friday and arrived just before 5 p.m., right on time for happy hour. While not a barometer for the quality of the destination in my eyes, Budd Dairy offers a more than serviceable parking lot, especially considering it’s location where parking can be scarce.

The amount of seating at Budd Dairy is incredible, as you traverse through different areas and levels of the once industrial building. We always opt for the patio and settled into one of the last remaining tables on the rooftop overlooking Downtown Columbus. The patio was filled with a mix of young and old, families and singles. 

Bar service is centralized to Budd Dairy. My wife discovered a cocktail that more than fit the vibe and her tastes, while I enjoyed a couple local brews. When it comes to food, variety is not an issue. You order from any of the current businesses from your phone, and you’ll receive a text message when your meal is ready. We sampled a collection of french fries, hamburgers and pizza for the kids, while my wife and I savored a handful of appetizers.
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After our dinner, we played a handful of family rounds of giant Jenga where no one seemed to mind the noise we created. We ended up hanging for a total of three hours, and I can’t wait for our next visit. Hope you and your family can check them out soon. Bonus: they just announced new lunch hours!