Happy Hour at Milestone 229

Written by on June 25, 2012 in Bars - 4 Comments

Fountain view from Milestone 229.

I like being happy as much as the next person, which is why I jumped at the chance to write about Happy Hours 4, 5 and 6 at Milestone 229.

Everything there is happy–happy beer, happy martinis and wines, and happy food.

Milestone 229 is the year-old restaurant run by Columbus Brewing Co Restaurant that anchors the Scioto Mile, facing the river, Bicentennial Park and the celebrated fountains that keep Columbus kids entertained all summer long.

We pulled up to the valet parking in front of the restaurant on a scorching summer day, and opened our doors to a cacophony of kids’ screams in the cascading fountains. Although a blast of air conditioning met us when we walked in the door, we opted to sit outside and were quickly informed that to get the happy hour pricing we had to sit at either the restaurant or patio bar top.

The menu offers four beers, five wine and spirit drinks and six dining items during happy hour. One benefit of the 4-6 pm timing of the happy hour is that the sun is blocked almost completely by the awning over those hours (it drops to a blinding level around 7:30 pm), and the breeze blowing off the river gives the patio a resort feel (and wafts of faint chlorine didn’t hurt the ambiance either.)

Although I would have loved to give a taste to the Blueberry Hill or 229 Cosmo, the wine fanatic in me brought a glass of Argentine Trapiche Malbec to the table in a generous pour from our bartender Ryan, while Brian opted for the Columbus Brewing IPA.

I soon followed up with the more refreshing Pinot Grigio Tolloy from Italy, and Brian followed up with the popular Columbus Brewing Summer Teeth, both of which proved refreshing options.

Our “happy” food and drink: (from left) wings, calamari and hummus.

For our dining pleasure, we opted for the 229 Wings, delectably crispy with CaJohn’s chipotle sauce and spicy ranch, complimented by the Judith Pointe Calamari and hummus.

Adorably presented spilling out of a Chinese takeout carton, the mandarin orange-accented calamari was lightly breaded and complimented by jalapeños, with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. The hummus was creamy and tangy, topped with a smattering of marinated olives and vegetables, with a sidecar of pita bread far more plentiful than required.

Milestone 229 provided a happy time indeed during the hours of 4, 5 and 6 p.m., and a most relaxing oasis amid Columbus’ summer swoon.

About the Author

Nicole may have left her Napa Valley roots behind when she came to east and became an Ohio State journalism professor, but she manages to keep her glass full in Columbus' terrific wine bar scene. She writes for Columbus Monthly, (614), the Ohio State Alumni Magazine among many other publications across North America, and can open bottles of sparkling wine with barely a whisper to make sure those fabulous bubbles go in the glass. She also blogs at www.kraftofwriting.com

4 Comments on "Happy Hour at Milestone 229"

  1. Tony Corder June 25, 2012 at 8:54 AM · Reply

    Milestone 229 is run by the operators of “Columbus Brewing Co Restaurant.” The brewery itself is owned and operated by the brewmaster and has nothing to do with either restaurant.

    • Cheryl Harrison June 25, 2012 at 9:08 AM · Reply

      “Restaurant run by… Restaurant” sounds odd, but I changed it.

      • Tony Corder June 25, 2012 at 9:54 AM · Reply

        I’d gladly sacrifice what “sounds odd” for accuracy. Thank you.

  2. Natalie Walston July 11, 2012 at 9:58 AM · Reply

    I want to go there now! Sounds lovely!

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