Bridge Park in Dublin has changed so much over the past few years. The expansion has brought so much to the area, including new restaurants! This past week, we were invited to check out Valentina’s, a new Cameron Mitchell concept that opened last year. Cameron Mitchell is now a well-known name in the Columbus food industry after starting his company in 1993. He started it all with his famous quote, “The answer is yes, now what’s the question?”. He is so highly regarded in hospitality that many Ohio State hospitality major classes teach his philosophies.

Valentina’s is his fourth restaurant in the Bridge Park area and upholds many qualities of a Cameron Mitchell establishment. The interior of the restaurant transports you to another place. The concept was based on a winery in Northern Italy. We have never been, but I’ll book my ticket soon if this is what it’s like. The leather seats, partially open kitchen, and chandeliers make the space elegant yet cozy. Through the glass window to the left, you can watch as the chefs prepare pizzas and make fresh pasta dough. We went early on a Tuesday afternoon, so reservations were not needed, but it filled up as the evening went on. Our waitress was incredibly thorough and knowledgeable about the menu. She answered our every question and guided us through the recommendations with ease.

While in Italy, or the Cameron Mitchell equivalent, we had to try the curated cocktails. I chose their take on an Amaretto Sour and fell in love. The cherry foam was a fun way to flavor a drink while not overpowering it. Josh went for the Truffle Old Fashioned. The truffle comes into play with a black truffle honey. The honey paired with the Luxardo made it sweeter than a typical Old Fashioned, but it was a drink I was almost jealous of, even as a non-bourbon drinker. The meal started with excellent focaccia bread—the best I’ve had in a long while. Fresh sea salt adorned the top of the fluffy dough, and dipping it in the oil was the icing on the cake. They offer all kinds of appetizers, but we knew the pasta would fill us up, so we saved that for next time.

We both had to partake in pasta at an Italian spot; how could we not? Josh asked the server’s favorite and went for it, as is his style. She suggested the Cacio E Pepe, and Josh added grilled chicken. If you like pepper, this is the dish for you. It is super flavorful but definitely pepper-dominant. I chose the Veal Paperadelle, with mushrooms and a chianti reduction topped with whipped Ricotta. Decadent is the only way to describe this dish. It’s not overly flavorful but not lacking either, and it’s sure to fill you up. The prices weren’t cheap, but they weren’t Ocean Club high prices either. We both enjoyed it enough to return, maybe on a date night rather than a random Tuesday dinner.

Check out Bridge Park this winter, as they are hosting winter scavenger hunts, putting up an ice skating rink, and so much more!