An ever-growing need for connection troubles our society, but The Nine in Worthington solves it.

Charmingly hidden down a flight of stairs off N. High St, The Nine is a swanky underground cocktail space. It’s not a bar, it’s a space.

When you enter The Nine, you’re greeted with low lighting and a green-tiled bar. There are plenty of comfortable seating options, whether you fancy a quick chat on the couch with cocktails or a sit-down meal at a table with your loved one.

The space is cozy, seating a few dozen guests. Expect jazzy music and a speakeasy feel with a cocktail menu that will knock your socks off.

Editor's Eats

The Nine offers a curated selection of dishes that “capture the flavors of the season.”

We began our meal with two spreads: the spicy feta and the whipped ricotta.

The spicy feta combines Greek yogurt, roasted red peppers, and chilis to pack a tangy, spicy punch, and is served alongside warm naan you won’t be able to get enough of. Pairing the feta with the whipped ricotta was perfect, as the ricotta was topped with citron agave, honey, and spiced nuts, giving it the right level of sweetness to mesh with the spice.

Truly, the portions were delightful, and these dips alone can easily serve a table of four, but we needed to see what else The Nine had cooking.

Thankfully, we had enough room to try the lamb meatballs and nebbiolo braised short ribs.

The lamb meatballs were an herby delight, served with decadent tomato harissa and yogurt. The meatballs themselves were cooked to perfection, and the tomato harissa had us going back for more and more. We saved a bit of naan from the spreads to smear in the tomato sauce, which we highly recommend.

By far, the star dish of the evening was the nebbiolo braised short ribs. Served with a naturally sweet parsnip-celery root puree, these short ribs were salty, sweet, and unbelievably tender. No need for a knife, as our forks were just enough to slice right through the meat.

Everything was impeccable and is highly recommended, but the short ribs were truly a treat. You won’t find a dish like that just anywhere, so you must come out to The Nine to try it.

To pair with our meal, we let our server have free rein to decide what we should sip. She picked out two of the best-selling drinks: Still Waters Run Deep and Whispers of Tomorrow.

I’m still dreaming of the Still Waters Run Deep, which had chilaca, guajillo, falernum, and guava. The flavors were unreal.

The vibes of The Nine don’t feel forced or overwhelming. Sure, you can make an event out of visiting The Nine on the weekend with your friends and get all dressed up, or you can stop by midweek for a cocktail after work.

The Nine is that casual third space everyone has been seeking out, and we can’t sing enough praise for it. Stop in, order a drink, and have something delicious off the menu: you won’t regret it.

Visit The Nine!

5597 N High St, Worthington

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