Taco concept taking over former home of Columbus “sober bar”

A Columbus taco restaurant is moving from State House to former sober bar.

According to owner Zachary Martin, House Taco–a taco concept that launched its first brick and mortar location inside the Ohio Statehouse in late 2021–will relocate to the former home of The Dry Mill.

Serving as the city’s only alcohol-free bar during its tenure, The Dry Mill was located at 79 S. 4th St. before it announced its closure late last year.

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House Taco’s last day at the Ohio Statehouse will be Aug. 30, and the concept will move into the 4th Street space on Sept. 4.

The new location will roll out in “phases,” with House Taco opening on Sept. 4, serving breakfast and lunch offerings as it does at its current location. The next phase, which will go into effect in October, will see the spot add a dinner menu, although Martin said the concept’s menu will be tweaked to best utilize its new location.

“The building is already pretty well-equipped. It has a sports bar feel, and we’re going to play into that,” he said. “We’ll still be called House Taco; we’ll still offer Mexican-inspired, coastal-inspired food, but we plan to lean more into finger foods, into something you have with a beer while watching the game.”

Once House Taco acquires its liquor license, which Martin believes will happen sometime this winter, the eatery will hold an official grand opening (although it will be open for food starting Sept. 4). Once the license is acquired, Martin hopes to incorporate an on-theme cocktail list–featuring a variety of drinks with culinary infusions–and even a house liqueur, a riff on limoncello made with lime peel and tequila.

Throughout the summer, House Taco will also be offering catering. Those interested can email Martin at Housetacoeats@gmail.com.

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