Looking for a fresh start in the New Year? We’ve rounded up eight locally owned spots serving meals with a wholesome edge.
Portia’s Cafe – Portia’s in Clintonville features a plant-based menu that reimagines many classic dishes. Start with fresh hummus and a walnut pate, then enjoy rich soups and salads. Try a falafel wrap, Portia’s take on pad Thai, or a quesadilla and finish it off with a smoothie.
Alchemy Cafe – with two locations, one in Grandview and one on Parsons Avenue, Alchemy features a full menu of health-conscious eats, from colorful sandwiches to toasts topped with everything from avocado to banana almond butter. The big feature is the smoothies, packed with wholesome ingredients. Try the Green Magic with pineapple, banana, spirulina, lime coconut cream and almond milk, or the simple Morning Glory with strawberry, banana and orange juice.
Zest Juice Co. – the locally owned Zest Juice spans five locations: Short North, Easton, Dublin, Westerville and Grandview. Visit them for cold-pressed juices, smoothies and bowls, or more substantial eats like loaded toasts, wraps and oatmeal. For a healthy kickstart, try one of their concentrated juice shots, or order up a full cleanse.
Mazah Mediterranean Eatery – the family-run Mazah in Grandview focuses on colorful Mediterranean dishes, with many vegan and gluten free options, too. Start with hummus or baba ganoush, try a Greek Salad or Three Bean Salad, then finish with lamb kebab skewers, grape leaves or a spinach-stuffed fatayer.
Native Cold Pressed – Native creates cold-pressed juices from 100% organic ingredients.
Find their stores in Short North, Bexley and German Village. Try juices like the Sweet Carrot with carrot, apple, orange and lime or the Turmeric Tonic with apple, grapefruit, red Hawaiian turmeric, Himalayan salt and black pepper. They also feature custom-blended juices, smoothies, bowls and specialty lattes.
Market 65 – located on Capital Square across from the Ohio Statehouse and next to the Ohio Theatre, the fast casual Market 65 lets you build your own salads and wraps. Ingredients are drawn, whenever possible, from Ohio farms. 
Little Eater – Chef and cookbook author Cara Mangini’s stall in the North Market demonstrates the versatility of vegetables. Sample your way through scoops of prepared veggie salads, or taste quiche, beet and avocado sandwiches, fresh soups, green salads and more.
SOW Plated – SOW stands for “Sustainable. Organic. Wellness.” This is the guiding light of the newer Upper Arlington eatery, which features a brunch and dinner menu catering easily to all dietary concerns. Feast on organic chicken, vegetable lasagna, harvest salads, wagyu burgers, poke bowls – and add to this a full bar plus fresh-squeezed juices.
