A new Uptown restaurant combination is making the case for Asian food and yogurt as a new dynamic duo.
Ginger Hibachi Kitchen and Yogurt Alley, the newest restaurant venture owned by Columbus businessman Xuegong Chen, opened Monday at 28 S. Court St.
After opening four fine-dining restaurants in Columbus suburbs, T.J. Wellman, general manager and business partner, said the open building Uptown was an attractive location for future growth.
“We are always looking for the best ingredients, the best employees and the best location,” Wellman said. “That’s why we chose Court Street.”
Wellman said he anticipates significant business from Ohio University students.
“The highest price is $8.50 here,” he said. “We want to provide good, healthy and fresh food at a price you won’t find at most stores.”
Yogurt Alley, in particular, orders frozen yogurt from suppliers that don’t use any extracts, Wellman said.
“Our birthday cake flavor has actual birthday cake in it,” Wellman said. “The same goes for our cheesecake flavor. These kind of things you can’t find at very many places.”
Including yogurt with an Asian restaurant was a logical decision, Wellman said.
“When people have fine food that doesn’t leave them too full, it’s good to put something on top,” he said.
The two restaurants will be having a “soft opening” through Thursday, in order to sort out issues with the credit card terminal and generate interest in the city, Chen said, adding that the grand opening will take place Friday.
Yogurt Alley will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Ginger Hibachi Kitchen will be open from Sunday to Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. and from Wednesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.
sh335311@ohiou.edu
