Friday Food Bites: Little Grand Market, Chouette, High Bank Westerville open

There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• The Little Grand Market celebrates its grand opening tonight – Friday, Aug. 16 – at 6 p.m. Built as part of Thrive Companies’ Grandview Crossing development, the market features 10 local vendors, a full bar, and indoor/outdoor spaces. Also included in the facilities is a third location of Thrive’s coffee shop/cocktail bar concept, Bada Bean Bada Booze. Hit the link above for a full preview of it!
• This week the new French restaurant Chouette opened at 66 N. High St. downtown, on the northeast corner of Gay and High streets. Drawing its name from the French word for “owl,” the eatery is owned by Makeready, which operates Hank’s Low Country Seafood across the street and The Junto hotel. Chouette features a full bar, a menu of French classics, a second floor mezzanine, and a large, covered patio along Gay Street.
• High Bank Distillery opens its third restaurant next week Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 28 S. State St. in Uptown Westerville. The full restaurant and bar takes over the old post office building in Westerville.
• A new restaurant called The Rivington is coming soon to 584 N. High St., in the former Bar 23 space on the 670 cap in the Short North. It’s a new cocktail, food, and live music concept from restaurateurs Corey and Kyle Jenkins, and Matthew Silva. It’s slated to open in early 2025.
• Soul 2 Go, a soul food restaurant that’s been operating as a ghost kitchen, is close to opening its first brick and mortar at 72 E. Lynn St. downtown.
• The Columbus Dispatch reported this week that El Vaquero will take over the former Short North Local Cantina at 700 N. High St.
• Next Tuesday, Aug. 20, Panda Express opens another new store with its updated design, this one at 492 Colemans Crossing Blvd. in Marysville.
• Just a reminder that this Sunday, Aug. 18 is the last call for Little Rock Bar in Italian Village. It’s closing after that, and new owners will take over operations and turn into a second location of Thirsty’s Pub.

There are also several fun events this weekend, including:

• The next edition of the Columbus Food Truck Festival is this Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard.
• The Columbus Metropolitan Library hosts Beats & Brews on Saturday from 1-5 p.m. on the plaza behind the main library. It will include a food truck, live music, panel discussions, and beers from Nocterra Brewing.
• The North Market Wine Fest is this Friday and Saturday at the Bridge Park location.
• The seventh edition of Prints & Pints is this Saturday, Aug. 17 at The Daily Growler in the Brewery District. It features prints from 12 different local artists and beers from 12 different local breweries.

This week I’m also writing:

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