The North Market (or as I like to call it: The Rooster) is one of my favorite places to go for an early or a late lunch. Right up front I want to mention that taking the kids during a traditional lunch hour (11:30a – 12:30p) during the week is brutal, so plan for either 11a or 1p or later to eat. Taking the kids is fun because the place is always bustling with excitement, there are people to watch, and there is variety of foods, cookies and candy to bribe kidlets with if they are good. The upstairs is equipped with tons of seating and high chairs, and in the warmer months picnic tables are provided for outside seating.
North Market is located just north of the Columbus downtown area nestled between Front and High Streets, and has been gracing the streets of Columbus since 1876. When I was in college it was an open air market, and in 1995 was renovated into what it is today: a thriving warehouse full of local butchers, fish mongers, green grocers, and some of the best food vendors in town. Throughout the year North Market hosts special events such as wine tastings, an outside farmers market, musicians, etc, etc. Click here to see their current calendar.
You need to be privy to a few things if you decide to lunch it at The Rooster with children. Take a gander:
• Be prepared for a “cafeteria” style ordering system for lunch. You’ll need hands to carry your food upstairs or outside. I would suggest bringing a paper grocery bag with you to load up with lunch. That way you can still carry baby, lunch and hold your preschooler’s hand.
• Do your homework. Peruse the North Market website to familiarize yourself with the types of food they offer and take your child’s order BEFORE you go in. The vendors are located all over the market, and it could take a while to find a suitable lunch for your child if you aren’t familiar with all the yummy choices.
• It is not a good place for big strollers – not really a great place for a small one either, but our little McLaren umbrella allows us easy access around the tight aisles and in and out of the vendor areas. It may be better to wear your baby and have your other children walk. Be sure to enforce the “no running” rule or you may risk injury to your child or another patron…and probably earn a few award-winning nasty looks.
• Take the elevator. The one we always use is located on the east side of the building across from the cheese counter. Just south of the elevator are the bathrooms. The women’s bathroom has a baby changing station.
• Parking is available behind the market for a small fee. Be sure to take your ticket in and get it validated. Any vendor you buy from can validate your parking to help save on parking cost. There are also meters located on the streets that box the market in.
A few “must take homes” that’ll tickle your child’s palate:
• Cheese popcorn from Pam’s Market Popcorn.
• A few pieces of chocolate from Pure Imagination Chocolatier (the owner is a Master Chocolatier and his chocolate was in the gift bag for the Rockets!).
• A pint from Jeni’s ice cream.
• Honey from a local honey farmer – I generally only see him there in the warm months.
While you are there pick up your groceries for a fresh dinner. There is a nice assortment of fish and seafood, freshly butchered meats, imported wines and beers, home grown veggies and appetizing cheeses. We bought a roaster chicken, some asparagus, a fresh loaf of bread and a block of Havarti for a delicious, nutritious dinner one night. The dinner ended with a scoop of Jeni’s Salty Caramel ice cream. yummy!
North Market
59 Spruce Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-463-9664
