Friday Food Bites: Wario’s opens in Clintonville, Random Precision closing, chefs earn James Beard nods

There’s always a lot happening in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• It’s time, folks! The second location of Wario’s Beef & Pork opens at 4219 N. High St. in Clintonville at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27. They’re taking their place in the plaza that includes Northstar Cafe, Hot Chicken Takeover, Jeni’s, and more.
• This week Columbus chefs Avishar Barua (of Joya’s Cafe and Agni) and B.J. Lieberman (of Chapman’s Eat Market, Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge, and Hiraeth) were named as semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Awards in the category of Best Chef: Great Lakes.
• Random Precision Brewing Company in Linworth announced this week that they’re closing after this Sunday, Jan. 28. Guests are invited to help drain the kegs of their barrel-aged sours. Random Precision opened on St. Patrick’s day in 2018.
• Sahara Lux Restaurant & Lounge has opened at 5901 N. High St. in the former Natalie’s space in Worthington. Sahara operates as an Afro-Caribbean restaurant in the afternoon and evening hours, transitioning to a luxury lounge from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Winans Coffee & Chocolate announced that its newest store at 611 N. High St. in the Short North will appropriately open on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
• Multiple sources have reported that Akron-based La Loma taqueria will take over the former Barra Tacos space at 3051 Northwest Blvd. in Upper Arlington.
• Bear’s Bagels announced that they’re working toward their own storefront, and they’ve launched an Indiegogo campaign to help fund it.
• Last week Experience Columbus launched the latest version of its Columbus Coffee Trail, a digital trail that lets you check in at local coffee shops and earn rewards. New shops on the trail this year include Mission Coffee, Maudine’s Coffee, and One Line Coffee Franklinton.
• 614 Now reported this week that S’wich Social in Italian Village has closed and that Johnson’s Real Ice Cream will open a shop in its place. S’wich Social opened in early 2021 and specialized in build-your-own ice cream sandwiches. The shop was closed for a few months after a car ran into it in November of 2022.
• Tickets are now on sale for The Daily Growler’s annual Girl Scout Cookie and beer pairings on Saturday, Feb. 10.
• Monika Arora of Maani’s Food is set to appear on Fox’s Next Level Chef next Thursday, Feb. 1.
• Charmy’s Persian Food will host a hot bar featuring Persian food at the Hills Downtown this Saturday, Jan. 27 from noon to 3 p.m.

This week I’m also writing:

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