The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro

Very good food and service. Prefer the main dining room rather than the bar pub area.

We had a fabulous dinner! Thank you so much. The food and service were impeccable and we look forward to returning. Highly recommended.

The food was amazing and I could not be any happier with the service.

This review isn't meant for our March reservation but a reservation we had in November 2020 (I'm not sure why it's not showing up here on my account). Refectory is one of our favorite restaurants in Columbus. We always have exceptional service (we usually have Joseph who we love!) and the overall atmosphere is one of a kind. We usually always come for special events, bring our family to enjoy what the Refectory has to offer and usually come for the outstanding food. During our November experience, we were pretty disappointed in the new menu. They were more tapas-like plates which is fine but definitely priced higher for the portion size. Not that that is a bad thing, but for us we always loved the original menu: the duo filets, the dover sole, the pistachio dessert. These were items we always looked forward to and the reason we made the reservation in November for my birthday. I understand if certain ingredients are hard to come by due to COVID relations; however, we didn't care for the new menu at all. Everything else was top notch as always; however, we will likely not be back until the original menu and original classics come back. Looking forward to that day!

One of the nicest meals that I’ve had there over many years.

Easily the best restaurant in Columbus. This visit was excellent in every way.

THE BEST restaurant in Columbus! We love it for annual big events like special birthdays. Thank you for your kindness, great food, help with wine selection, and always making us feel welcomed and like we belong.

Wonderful dining experience from start to finish.

Our first disappointing experience.
The service was awkwardly slow. We are fine with a slower paced dining experience but we sat for 1/2 hour after we finished our salad for anyone to stop by and clear the table . No one ever asked if we would like a 2nd drink. The food was unremarkable (antelope for my husband and the red snapper for me) . Rather bland. Dessert was the pear tart and it was wonderful, but sad to spend $200 on dinner and walk away thinking it was disappointing.

The food and service were outstanding. It was a perfect celebration of my mother's 104th birthday. She specifically chose the Refectory because Dover Sole is always on the menu. She was not disappointed! The tableside preparation was perfect. Dessert was also a lovely surpise from the restaurant.

Went for dinner on a desire from a friend. I wasn't impressed. Drinks were good but food was way overpriced for what you get. Nice history and ambience but yikes. It was costly.

Food wine and service were excellent as always. I wonder if there was an issue with the fireplace as there was a very smokey atmosphere which did detract somewhat from the wine and food experience and I am having to send my suit to the dry cleaners as it smells very strongly of smoke like I have been on a camping trip. Normally I love the fireplace, but this night it was not set well.

Everything was very nice. Michelle did an excellent job. My wife and I found it relaxing and enjoyable. I ordered the pheasant but I didn't care for the sauce

Once again, the Refectory proved that is is a first class dining experience. Service was impeccable and included kind comments to my son who was celebrating a birthday. Menu and wine suggestions from our waitstaff were very helpful. Our duck, sea bass and Dover sole entrees were meticulously prepared and plated. The night we were there, the Refectory was hopping with a bourbon tasting and another event. I appreciate the creative scheduling and collaboration with the Columbus music scene!

I celebrated my birthday at the refectory. My mother is French so when she visits we make sure we have reservations. This restaurant is all the things I love about a great dining experience. Quiet, professional and well dressed staff, attention without disrupting conversation, and most importantly beautiful food exceptionally prepared with a fantastic wine list.
They printed a personalized birthday card for my table and offered a lovely opera cake with a candle. These little details make for a great experience!

Best French restaurant in the Columbus area. Actually the best I’ve been too in the US!! Highly recommend, great food, ambiance, service, and wine!

Make sure you join them for one of their Dinner Music Series events. They are great for special occasions or a fancy night out!

I cannot say enough good things about the Refectory, which is far and away the best restaurant in the Columbus/Central Ohio area and one of the best in the Midwest. Wonderful French food in a variety of formats and price points; the best wine list in the area, again with selections at many price points; a retail wine shop; a charming interior and exterior; a nice patio for warm weather dining; and probably the best and friendliest service that a guest could find anywhere. The also have terrific dinner music events with some of the top acts in many different genres, and wine tasting events ranging from $15 everyday wine tastings to elaborate sommelier and winemaker dinners.

I had so many great things about this place from friends and family over the past 10-15 years and had high hopes. It wasn’t bad at all, but we were not impressed. And for a nearly $400 dinner (125x2 set menu, wine pairings 55x2, coffee x2) you don’t want to walk away feeling lackluster. Our waiter was super awkward and would come to our table but have nothing to say, we had listed that it was my wife’s birthday, but they didn’t say or do anything. We’ve been to Michelin Star restaurants all over the world and paid less for better. I don’t want to say it was “good for Columbus” because Columbus is a fabulous place with so much to offer and deserves more than that. I suppose I see what they’re trying to do here and it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t an impressive food or service experience.

An exceptional place to eat! Just the perfect amount of food for each course.

The entire experience at The Refectory is one to be savored and not rushed. It is an oasis that allows you shed the outside world for a little while and get treated like royalty for a few hours. I couldn't help but think that I was transported to Downton Abbey, and dining with The Crowley's...except better because we weren't stuck in the Victorian traditions...just the exceptional personal service. The Choir Loft music is a Columbus treasure that welcomes national acts and regional talent, and this was the perfect setting for our Valentine's celebration. As we worked our way through the courses on the menu, I just didn't want it to end, each course being a stand-alone experience. We can't wait to find another night on our schedule to retreat to Kamal's little haven from the real world and experience the best atmosphere, service and dining in region!

Was fantastic! Wine was a bit pricey but overall experience was amazing

Celebrated our Valentine’s Day and the pre set menu was delicious!

Wonderful evening and ambience. Chris, the sommelier provided an exemplary wine pairing. It felt as if we were back in Napa

Simply outstanding. The best. Period.

As always the Refectory lives up to its reputation for excellent cuisine and fine dining with an impressive wine list

Best food we have had in a long time, well worth the price. The bistro menu is especially worth it since we left full at half the price of what would have been the main menu. Great friendly service as well, would recommend and will be returning.

Overall it is a pretty good restaurant and I had good experience with my girlfriend there to celebrate her birthday! The preparation of birthday is good and the Mr. Steve is pretty gentleman.

Celebrating my 80th birthday at the Refectory was the end to a perfect day in Columbus!

Oh my what service(thank you Justin our server and James the wonderful bartender). Food was tremendous. Ambiance wonderful. I have resisted dining here because I thought it would be awesome and would have to come back often...I was right.

Exceptional stood and service, our waiter nick and his team went above and beyond. I can't wait to come back!

Excellent service. Food is prepared well and very delicious. I would definitely be back with my friends. Love the restaurant week menu.

Everything was perfect! Thank you so much for an amazing evening!

Absolutely incredible! The food was immaculate and the staff were impressively attentive! We loved the history and ambiance and can not wait to go back!

Another fantastic experience at my favorite restaurant! A group of friends and I attended for restaurant week. There were 10 of us on a busy Sat night. We felt pampered the entire time. From the greeting we received as we entered the front door to food restrictions that were accommodated, I would highly recommend. Misa took care of our every need and was personable, knowledgeable, and attentive to detail. The cauliflower soup of the day was creamy and flavorful. The salmon and beef entrees were some of our favorites. Each bite melted in our mouths. Looking forward to joining again soon!

Wonderful meal!! The staff were very professional and attentive. Truly a fine dining experience. Owner was so nice and greeted us at the front of the house. A+++

Great experience as usual. Service great. Ambiance great. Noise level perfect. Food absolutely perfect. Kamal and his team do everything humanly possible to make your experience perfect. They nail it each and every time

What an amazing evening!

Everything was perfect!

It was great. The server was a bit of a quiet talker though.

Our server (Eden I believe) was amazing. She made the experience so memorable with her kindness. We loved the history of the building. We can’t wait to return.