G. Michael's Italian-American Bistro & Bar

10/02/2007 Posted by jrfife

I greatly enjoyed my meal, but the highlight of my visit was most certainly the dessert. The chocolate cake was amazing! My husband enjoyed his dessert as well.

Pros: Dessert

Cons: Parking...but that comes with the area

07/02/2007 Posted by osuraj

Upon arriving to G. Michael's, my husband and I were promptly seated. Our server was excellent (had great recommendations, very efficient, friendly). The bread basket was delicious as were the salads that we ordered...the best part was yet to come. Our fish dishes (recommended by the server)-a light salmon dish and a halibut (which is among the best fish dish I've ever had) were excellent. Both were very fresh, all of the ingredients used were high quality, substantial portions (without going overboard), and overall delicious. We decided to go for dessert since everything else had been so good...our server recommended the german chocolate cake, which was out of this world (very rich, so it's best to share!). Overall, excellent, romantic atmosphere as well-would be great for a special occasion.

Pros: Food, service, atmosphere, location, dessert!

Cons: pricey-but worth it

02/26/2007 Posted by lesanglierrouge

I have been dining at G. Michael's Bistro for years and I have had many memorable meals there. The restaurant has changed its concept since opening and the menu now focuses on Carolina 'low-country' cuisine. The buttermilk-marinated fried chicken and the shrimp and grits are awesome. However the menu is seasonal so it doesn't get boring. I've noticed a number of wrecklessly misinformed reviews and would like to make a couple of notes: 1. Duck breast is supposed to be cooked medium-rare and is perfectly safe to eat this way. If cooked properly it will take at least 20 minutes to render the fat. I happen to know very well that duck breast is cooked the exact same way in Parisian restaurants. 2. The lamb is always of high-quality at G. MIchael's and it is seasoned with salt and pepper only. 3. Parking is bad everywhere in the German Village and that is why they offer a valet service. If you don't want to pay for it, fine, but please don't complain about the parking. 4. G. Michael's is not supposed to be an Italian restaurant. It hasn't been in years despite what the website claims.

Pros: Food, service, ambience

Cons: Parking

11/20/2006 Posted by i5683u

After a long wait, and horrible time with parking, we were rushed through our dining experience and never got a chance to feel comfortable. The food was average, the management didn't have time to listen to our concerns and we had a horrible time overall. we will not be back.

Pros: The bartender and server felt badly for us and noticed our dilemma

Cons: The management was not sympathetic, parking was awful

04/24/2005 Posted by poixpoix

The last time I went is the last time I go for food. I have never had a more flavourless meal since days of eating MRE's in the military. Starting with the Apertifs. Unsalted and weak on breading, the squid was complimented by a flavourless puddle of habanero mayonnaise. As for entrees, the chef needed to have a chart describing meat temperatures. I ordered Duck. I order Duck rare. Medium was to me at best what this described. After a 25 minute wait, I don't expect sweet potatoes that never met a piece of bleu cheese and a lake of reduction that drowned any resemblance of balance. My friend ordered Lamb. It was once again, Medium, and tasted like they used Tide to flavour the meat. Neither of us finished our meals satisfied. The menu is hardly Italian. Since when are Collard Greens, sweet potatoes, grits and dry risotto Italian?

Pros: great service, good wine selection

Cons: sodium free cuisine, long wait for food, parking is scarce

06/11/2004 Posted by kbailey7

I have been dining here for years and I love it. This is my favorite restaurant in Columbus. This is where I bring my out of town clients. This is where I come for my birthday. This is where I go before Ballet Met or performances of the Columbus Symphony. The service is the best in town. The food is alway imaginative and spectacular. If you come often, they greet you by name and they remember details about you. I dine out often and these people NEVER disappoint me.

Pros: service, food, wine

03/04/2004 Posted by lelace

Soft lights, live music, and unobtrusive service combine to make this a delightful dining experience. This kitchen proves that if great ingredients are used in an imaginative and simple preparation, that the product is near perfect.

Pros: Quite, romantic

Cons: , not for kids

07/04/2002 Posted by picklepie

I ordered duck from the menu and was given no warning that the duck was served rare. When I was served the sliced duck breast with a cold red center, I asked the waiter if I could please have it cooked well done. He took it back to the kitchen and returned it medium rare. I asked a third time to have it cooked completely. It was returned, medium, the plate tossed disdainfully in front of me, with a message from the chef that he could not do anything more with the duck without ruining it. Not to mention the obvious customer service issues, don't these people know anything about food safety? I have ordered duck in some of the best Parisian restaurants and had it cooked to perfection, done but not dry, and just as important, done safely.

Cons: Noisy

1 comments

07/03/2002 Posted by alecsmom

This restaurant is very pleasing, and the service was excellent. The bread was good, the mussels good, and dessert. But that's where it ended. The main courses my fiance and I had were not worth the over $100 tab we ended up with. I had the filet and it was tough. My fiance had scallops and he declared them to be boring. Just all around unimaginative food. We had hoped for more with all the hype about this place.

Pros: Service, Atmosphere

Cons: Main dishes, Expensive