Delicious dining is making a return to the Scioto Mile.
Chef and restaurateur Josh Dalton, the mind behind spots like Veritas and Speck Italian Eatery, has announced plans for a new Mediterranean restaurant at 229 Civic Center Drive, right next to the Scioto Mile Fountain. The restaurant is expected to open in spring 2026, just in time for the fountain’s much-anticipated summer reopening.
The new spot will lean into the flavors of the Mediterranean, connecting the dots from Barcelona to Beirut. Guests can snack on small plates inspired by coastal kitchens, dig into dips and spreads made for sharing, and explore entrees that reimagine classics from across the region.
There will also be handhelds for casual riverfront lunches, desserts to linger over, and Dalton’s signature wine and cocktail list. Drinks designed for the Center City DORA will make it easy to take a glass in hand and keep wandering along the Scioto Mile.
Inside, the restaurant will seat nearly 100, with a lounge-style atmosphere and a patio for summer nights by the river. It is a prime location, the kind of space that begs for a concept with both style and staying power, and Dalton is betting that Mediterranean food can strike that balance.
For anyone who has followed Dalton’s career, this new project feels like a natural next step.
Veritas, his downtown fine-dining restaurant, is known for inventive tasting menus and precise technique, while Speck has made handmade pasta approachable and fun for a wider audience. Rosalita’s, 1808 American Bistro, and Rosebud’s show the same willingness to try something different and find the right fit for each neighborhood. Dalton rarely repeats himself, which is part of why his projects draw so much attention.
When the doors open in 2026, the Scioto Mile will once again have an incredible dining anchor, and Columbus food lovers will have a new reason to spend a little more time by the water.
