LOUNGE

Open Tuesday-Sunday!

Reserve your upcoming experience in the Lounge here…

Lounge opens at 5pm Tuesday-Thursday / 3pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday!

The Lounge is a craft cocktail bar - one of three public spaces at Understory - located on the ground floor of the historic Open Air School! Offering beautiful panoramic views of the Olentangy Trail, this intimate space features a lineup of reimagined classic drinks, seasonally rotating creative cocktails and small plates - keep scrolling to see our full menu! We accommodate walk-ins as we’re able on a first come first serve basis, but we recommend table reservations!

Our Menu

Cocktails Wine Beer Food

Understory's Reimagined Classics

up / N+N / $16

Cide Car

apple brandy, rye, amaro nonino, lemon, demerara, fall bitters

up / N+N / $16

up / N+N / $15

Gimlet

Roku gin, Bolivian brandy, pineapple, lemon, palo santo

up / N+N / $15

up / N+N / $16

Perfect Manhattan

Toki whisky, osmathus, amaro, umeshu, pear eau de vie

up / N+N / $16

up / coupe / $15

Martini

Roki gin, blanc + dry vermouth, yuzu, vetiver, kinomme

up / coupe / $15

Understory's Features

up / N+N / $14

El Pandillero

Aged Venezuelan rum, rye, italian amari, french vino amaro, fall spice, sandalwood

up / N+N / $14

up / N+N / $15

Fresh Start

mezcal, fontbonne, ancho reyes verde, chareau, lime

up / N+N / $15

Understory's Golden Hour

*available anytime exclusively in the Lounge and $5 off from 4-6p Tue-Sun.

$9 / $14

El Pandillero

Aged Venezuelan rum, rye, italian amari, french vino amaro, fall spice, sandalwood

$9 / $14

$10 / $15

Last Word

Roku gin, herbal liquor, luxardo, lime

$10 / $15

Japanese Highball

Japanese whiskey, clarified green apple, umeshu, Hinoki, sparkling green tea

$10 / $15

Espresso Martini

Vodka, espresso, branca menta

$10 / $15

Paper Plane

Bourbon, aperol, fernet, lemon, bitters

$10 / $15

Oaxacan Old Fashioned

Hornitos reposado, Los Vecinos mezcal, agave, mole bitters

$10 / $15

Wine

$18 / $72

Domaine Des Baumard

Sparkling White/France

$18 / $72

$15 / $53

Castello Di Tassarolo

Gavi Orsola/Italy

$15 / $53

$17 / $64

Domaine Talmard

Chardonnay/France

$17 / $64

$16 / $56

Mokora

Rosé/Spain

$16 / $56

$17 / $64

Evesham Wood

Pinot Noir/Oregon

$17 / $64

$15 / $53

Kind Stranger

Red Blend/Washington

$15 / $53

$17 / $64

Paitin

Barbera/Italy

$17 / $64

Bonanno

Cabernet Sauvignon/California

$17 / $64

Beer

(614) Lager

Light Midwest Lager, 4.2%

WRB IPA

India Pale Ale, 6.8%

Hazy

Hazy India Pale Ale, 6.8%

Daybreak

Coffee Vanilla Cream Ale, 5%

Walking Taco

Mexican-style Lager, 4.5%

Dire Wolf

Imperial Stout, 10.8%

GF - gluten free, GFR - gluten free upon request, DF - dairy free, DFR - dairy free upon request, NF - nut free, NFR - nut free upon request, V - vegetarian, VE - vegan

Soups

$7 / $13

Tomato Bisque

tomato & basil bisque, cheddar gold fish, parsley | NF, V, GFR

$7 / $13

Chef's Soup of the Week

chef's whim, ask your server for details

$7 / $13

Salads

*add tofu +6, chicken +6, vegan chicken +6, or salmon +9.50

$16

Seasonal Salad

arcadian greens, strawberries, red onion, goat cheese, cranberries, and candied pecans with blueberry vinaigrette | NFR, GF, DFR, V

$16

Kale Yeah! Salad

purple and lacinato local kale, cucumber, carrot, local heirloom tomatoes, pepitas, sunflower seeds, almonds, parmesan. Yuzu Kosho Dressing | GF, NF, VR

$16

$14

Summer Caesar

baby romaine, butternut squash, ciabatta croutons,and fresh cracked black pepper. Miso Caesar dressing I GFR, V | V, VE, NF, GFR, DFR

$14

Shareables

$13

Dill Pickle Cheese Curds

white cheddar served with house-made ranch dressing | V, NF

$13

$15

Pretzel

oven-roasted Bavarian pretzel, clarified butter, pretzel salt, WRB IPA beer cheese & honey mustard | NF, DFR, V

$15

$12

Pimento Cheese Dip

house made pimento cheese, tortilla chips, carrot, celery I GF, V

$12

$14

Brussel Sprouts

pan-fried, balsamic glaze, applewood smoked bacon, goat cheese | GF, DFR, NFR, VR

$14

Seasonal Hummus Trio

our classic hummus accompanied by two rotating seasonal variations showcasing fresh local produce. Served with fresh vegetables and warm pita. | GFR, VE, NF

$14

$15

BBQ Rubbed 12-Hour Ohio Pork Sliders

3 12-hour slow-cooked Ohio pork shoulder, cabbage slaw, dill pickle, and house BBQ sauce. | GFR, DF, NF

$15

Rosemary Garlic Parm Fries

garlic oil, grated parm, fresh rosemary | V *substitute for beer-battered fries for an additional +2*

Handhelds

*all handhelds come with beer battered fries or arcadian greens dressed in our house vinaigrette. Sub side salad or cup of soup +3. Add bacon (+3) or pimento cheese (+3).

$18

Ohio Wagyu Burger

Matija Bakery potato bun, Ohio Wagyu, aged cheddar cheese, crispy onion straws, arugula, house remoulade I NF, GFR, DFR

$18

*substitute impossible patty at no cost*

$18

Olentangy River Hen

Matija Bakery potato bun, house marinated fried NSDO chicken breast, arugula, slaw, pickles, remoulade I NF, DF, VR *substitute vegan chicken at no cost*

$18

$14

Grilled Pimento Cheese

house-made pimento cheese, wheatberry bread, and heirloom tomato.) Optional: add bacon (+3) or pulled pork (+4) I V, GFR, NF

$14

Mains

$27

Lemon Chicken Paillard

crispy panko NSDO chicken breast, garlic whipped potatoes, seasonal vegetable, rosemary lemon cream sauce, and basil-lemon oil | NF

$27

$26

Pesto Gnocchi

house-made pesto, fresh mozzarella, blistered local heirloom tomatoes, basil | V

$26

$22

Udon Story

udon noodles, black garlic shoyu sauce, bok choy, snow peas, carrot, red cabbage, broccoli, radish, and a jammy egg. Finished with cashews, sesame seeds, and local micro pea shoots | V, VER

$22

Desserts

$13

S’mores Brownie

housemade chocolate brownie, graham cracker streusel dust & bruleed marshmallow cream | V, NF

$13

$12

Key Lime Ice Box Pie

graham cracker crust, key lime, whipped cream | VE

$12

Sides

Fries