Nada set to bring something to local Mexican cuisine

Tessa DiTirro
Wed, 07 May 2014 12:00:13 +0000
Campus, arena district, cuisine, mexican, nada, new, restaurant

A taste of Cincinnati is set to make its way up north.

Nada, a “high energy, design-forward Mexican-inspired concept,” according to a press release, is set to open in downtown Columbus in late 2014.

David Falk is the owner of Nada and the Boca Restaurant Group. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and introduced Nada to the downtown Cincinnati restaurant scene in 2007.

The restaurant was named Cincinnati’s No. 1 Most Booked Restaurant in 2012 and 2013, according to a press release.

Falk attributes Nada’s success to the diverse and creative menu, which he says has something for every palate.

“The food is hard to pin down, we call it ‘modern Mexican,’ but really it’s an eclectic mix of Mexican street food, playful Americana, Asian taco truck culture and backyard BBQ,” Falk said in an email.

Falk also said there is something for everyone at Nada.

“There are items for the touring ‘foodie,’ the health nut and even some items to indulge in. The food is tied together by great ingredients and a team of kick-a– chefs with pedigree in some of the country’s best restaurants,” Falk said.

Nada is set to take over 240 W. Nationwide Blvd., where the Columbia Gas Headquarters building used to reside. The area is currently under construction.

The restaurant is set to be 6,229 square feet and will accommodate 220 seats, including a 64-seat patio.

Nationwide Realty Investors’ President and COO Brian J. Ellis said he is excited to welcome Nada to the arena district.

“The unique concept, located between Nationwide Arena and Huntington Park, will be a great amenity for the District’s residents and visitors,” Ellis said in a press release.

Second-year in neuroscience Sophia Pilolli is excited to have a different option for Mexican-inspired cuisine choices than the standard campus spots.

“Chipotle is fast Mexican and it would be nice for students to have a new place to sit down with a new twist because Columbus is known for their different food types,” Pilolli said.

Falk said Nada is the type of restaurant that serves as an escape from the daily grind for all different types of people.

“Here is what I love most: Nada is fun. It’s a place you go for lunch, and suddenly, you’re on your third margarita and playing hooky,” Falk said.

The restaurant has become a local favorite in Cincinnati not just because of its delicious cuisine. Falk says the success is in Nada’s personal appeal.

“Nada is a restaurant with heart. You’ll see it in the bartenders who remember your name, your favorite drink and how you like to go alligator hunting in Florida,” Falk said.

Nikki Seletz, a second-year in strategic communication, thinks Nada will find even greater success in Columbus because of the growing “foodie” culture of the city.

“I think Columbus is known for having a great variety of food, and adding another restaurant is really exciting for adults and college students to explore,” Seletz said.

The Columbus location is set to model the Cincinnati location’s hours, which is Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday 10:30 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and serve brunch on the weekends, lunch Monday through Friday and dinner seven nights per week.