Food Stop #31 : Columbus #1

Right after the game, I drove about 15 minutes south of the arena in Columbus's German Village on Thurman Ave. to this spot called The Thurman Cafe.  After about 10 minutes finding a parking spot in a not-so-tourist-friendly side street parking, I finally made my way to the restaurant.  There was about a 45 minute wait but it was so well worth it.  This was probably the best burger I've ever had!
I ordered The Johnny Burger which is a burger topped with horseradish cheese, and bacon with a 3/4lb patty infused with a bleu cheese and a splash of tequila.  On the side I had their ThurmaGoldiGarlaLina (isn't that a mouthful?  I just pointed to it on the menu) Fries which are fries topped with garlic wing sauce and bleu cheese.

Let's start with the fries since it was the appetizer after all.  I loved that it was super saucy to a point where you could barely find the bleu cheese in it.  The garlic sauce was great and its a shame I couldn't try them on their wings, but I did come for the burgers.

Now to the main part of the meal: that burger was super juicy, and ENORMOUS.  There's just something about a burger where whenever you bite into it, the meat crumbles and falls onto the plate.  The horseradish cheese was drenched all over the patty and the bacon was thick and plentiful.  By the time I was done with the burger, I still had a bunch of the meat to finish off at the end.  It's like it forces you to save the best for last, which I won't complain about.  This is a must eat if you're ever in Columbus!

Other Sporting Venues #10 : Nationwide Arena

I spent Friday from 8am to 5pm on the road heading from Toronto to Columbus and soon after checking into my hotel I had a hockey game to attend.  This was my first NHL game in about 4 years which coincidentally also involved my Buffalo Sabres.

The first thing I noticed about downtown Columbus was that it felt very modern and clean (at least in the Arena District).  There were several parking garages very near the arena at affordable prices (mine was directly across the arena and for $10), and a bunch of bars and restaurants within walking distance.  I kind of wished I had more time to wander around the area.

Nationwide Arena is also very modern.  Inside was very clean, well lit, a lot of concessions, merchandise stands, a lot of activities for the fans, and what helped me stay sane at the game, free wifi.  The people inside were great as well.  The ushers were really nice, and the fans were super loud and you can tell they care about their team.  Overall, a great experience especially since its a fraction of the cost of a Leaf game at the Air Canada Centre.