Food for Thought, Food for the Soul (which shall hereon be referred to as Food for Thought) is an interesting specimen. For one, it is the most impossible restaurant to find. An awkward, clunky name is the least of its problems. It sits in the basement of a 5/3 Bank at the corner of High St. and Henderson Rd, which is undergoing major, major construction right now. Outside of the 5/3 Bank on the sidewalk is a little sign that advertises Food for Thought, but even when you get inside, you have to follow signs to an elevator, and then a few turns in the basement to get to the actual restaurant. It resembles a converted cafeteria, complete with the rails where one would put their tray. The menu covers a pretty tame work-lunch domain; soups, salads, and sandwiches, but the real thing to look for is the daily special. $8.45 for a big serving of soul food, two sides, and a 12 oz. drink might not be the best deal in the world, but unlike the salad/sandwich offerings, I can guarantee that you won’t leave hungry.
The Thursday special was BBQ Spare Ribs w/ Food for Thought’s homemade sauce. It came with a choice of two sides (Baked Macaroni & Cheese, Mixed Greens, Baked Beans, Green Beans, Cole Slaw), a slice of bread, and a 12 oz drink. Indoor ribs are always a risk, especially when there’s no one in the restaurant ordering them (or, in my case, no one in the restaurant at all), but the risk of a special is always worth taking, in my opinion. Pam is the all-in-one waitress, manager, owner, and cook, and perhaps it was just when I came in, but she was also the only person working at the time. My worries were building, and in fifteen minutes or so, the food appeared, food which couldn’t come soon enough with “As the World Turns” on the TV in the background driving me a little crazy.
The spare ribs had a very nice color to them, showing some signs of well-doneness under the sauce. They were not the usual cut (or rather, how I’m used to having them)—instead of having a rack of five or six, they were individual and cut across two bones, with a little flap of meat under the bones leading me to the meatier rest of the rib. I don’t think this really added or detracted to the rib, seeing that it still had about the same amount of meat I’d expect. The sauce on it is a great complement- slightly sweet, slightly tangy and a little complex, as well. The greens were very flavorful, with most of the bitterness stewed out of them, and given a nice meaty flavor with what looked to be some pulled pork peppered in. The macaroni and cheese was a very nice rendition—cheesy throughout, with a hard crusty top.
Now the rest of the menu is rather ordinary, so I’d recommend going on day where they have soul food specials of note. Wednesdays are Buttermilk Battered Fried Chicken with the sides listed above, and a biscuit. Fridays have fried ocean perch fillets, with the additional side option of pan-fried potatoes and onions. And while I didn’t ask Pam herself about it, apparently her mother comes in on Fridays to help and provide delicious desserts, including sweet potato pie. Based on Pam’s version of barbeque spare ribs, I’m betting that most of the soul food specials and desserts are worth checking out.
Food for Thought, Food for the Soul4400 N High St
Columbus, OH 43214
(614) 784-1600
(614) 784-1648
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