Amara
Scioto Mile, Columbus
Restaurant in Columbus, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Business Casual
Why go
Amara is worth booking for a polished downtown Columbus dinner when the riverfront setting is part of the plan. Go for modern Mediterranean sharing, an upscale-casual room, and patio potential; skip it if you want a low-cost meal or a confirmed tasting-menu format.
About Amara
Amara is a Columbus restaurant for diners looking for modern Mediterranean cooking at dinner. The basics are direct: it is led by chef/owner Josh Dalton, sits in the $$$ price tier, and calls for business casual dress.
Because the confirmed public details are limited, the safest way to plan is around what is known rather than assuming a specific room layout, menu format, view, patio setup, or signature dish. Treat Amara as an evening meal in Columbus, and confirm any finer details directly with the venue before building a night around them.
Book for modern Mediterranean dinner, not a confirmed tasting-menu production
The food direction is modern Mediterranean, led by chef/owner Josh Dalton. That gives Amara a clear identity without requiring assumptions about specific dishes, regional substyles, or a fixed menu structure. If you are comparing it with other Columbus dining, the grounded case is cuisine, price tier, chef/owner, hours, and dress code.
At launch, dinner is the service to prioritize. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with lunch planned before the end of summer 2026. Until lunch is active, this is a dinner-first booking. The $$$ price tier also makes it a better fit for a planned evening meal than a casual, last-minute low-cost stop.
Do not assume a chef’s counter, tasting menu, bar-only strategy, patio preference, or specific seating setup unless Amara confirms it for your date. For now, the practical move is to plan for dinner, dress business casual, and check the restaurant’s current information before finalizing expectations.
Who should book, and who should skip
Book if the priority is a Columbus dinner with modern Mediterranean cooking and business-casual dress. Amara should be most relevant for diners who want an evening meal in the $$$ range and are comfortable checking the current menu before they go.
Skip if the goal is a confirmed lunch service right now, a low-cost weeknight meal, or a restaurant where every dish, seating format, and service style is already documented in advance. The information supports a clear dinner plan, but not a dish-by-dish or format-specific itinerary.
For a wider look at local options, use Our full Columbus restaurants guide. Planning can also pair the meal with Our full Columbus hotels guide, Our full Columbus bars guide, Our full Columbus wineries guide, or Our full Columbus experiences guide.
Useful cross-checks before committing
Planning details
- Location
- 229 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH
Venue details
Ambiance
Modern Mediterranean atmosphere with a riverfront setting; the restaurant is positioned as a contemporary dining room overlooking the Scioto Mile/Scioto River area, with both indoor seating and an outdoor patio.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Business Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 229 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH
Planning details
Location
229 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH · Directions
Explore Columbus
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Amara guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Amara?
Amara is a Columbus dinner restaurant in the $$$ range, open Tuesday–Saturday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Book according to how important a specific date and time is to your plans, and confirm availability directly with the venue.
What should a first-timer know about Amara?
Go in expecting modern Mediterranean cooking from chef/owner Josh Dalton. Amara is in Columbus, and dinner is the only service initially, with lunch planned before the end of summer 2026.
Is lunch or dinner better at Amara?
Dinner is the confirmed choice right now, since Amara is open Tuesday–Saturday, 5:00 pm–10:00 pm, with lunch planned before the end of summer 2026. If you want to eat there now, treat it as an evening booking.
What are alternatives to Amara in Columbus?
If you want another Columbus dinner, compare by cuisine, price, hours, and fit for your plans. Amara makes the most sense when you specifically want modern Mediterranean dinner in the $$$ range.
