The Forge Tavern

My wife and I have gone to the tavern on 3 occasions now for date nights for a few hours. Every visit has been fun and special. Drink menus are creative and have a good selection of options. Food is tasty. The food menu is not extensive, but if you spot something it is worth getting to pair with the experience. Parking is difficult bit we have been able to get a spot. Game selection is great and you can bring games also. Staff is very friendly, approachable, kind and helpful if you have food or game questions.

When you go to a bar, you are normally looking to socialize with friends and watch sports, chat with friends, and have some good food/drink. This place was for board games and it was great fun. I did not know there are a lot of games out there beyond the classics. It was a great time having some craft drinks/beers, very good food, and spending time with friends.

Nice place in a busy area. Be sure to get there ahead of time to get your parking figured out. Inside, the ceiling and walls are dark painted and so it’s not bright inside compared to Tabletop cafe. Variety of games are available but I’m not sure how it compares to Tabletop cafe. I’d definitely go back there again. Service was good too

This is one of my favorite new places. I am currently obsessed with board game bars and given that this one actually has a nerdy ambiance about it, I was bound to enjoy it but I didn't think I would as much as I do. The food is really decent and the drinks are insanely good. They offer a newer selection of board games than some of the places we've visited before. You can really tell they know their board games and what is new and popular right now. They have the option to buy some of the board games they have available to play and you can even grab a t-shirt or some forge tavern soap! This really is a hit! It's beautiful inside, and really well thought out. They offer a custom menu with lots of nerdy potions as drinks and it is one of my favorite geek/nerd locations in Columbus!

This place is amazing! The atmosphere is astounding, great service. SO many games to choose from. I wish I could come at lunch time (but alas, they are only open for dinner). Only thing that could be improved is the food. It was mediocre at best. But since Im used to meh food while playing games with friends, its the lowest priority. (Tho I definitely wouldnt come here FOR the food).

If you recall the Orc's Forge at Tuttle Mall that closed a few years ago, it's owned by the same people. However, this is not a game store nor a community gaming center. It's a bar & grill with board games for its patrons to use, which also allows tabletop gaming when they aren't busy. (tl;dr at the bottom) There is a decent selection of board games for public use, and a small store at the front that sells RPG supplies (including D&D books, minis, and dice). Of the multiple times I've played there before, my complaints (at the tavern) were always limited to getting my drink or food order wrong, or the kitchen closing early because they couldn't keep up with the orders. Annoying, but understandable in a moderately sized, busy establishment. The good: standard pub fare with a few, specialty items. Full service bar with moderately priced drinks. A decent selection of board games and a small, TTRPG store at the front (opposite the dining area, on the other side of the bar). The bad: short hours, small parking lot, bad "camping" policy (will ask you to leave in two or three hours when they are busy, which is not conducive to long games like D&D). The ugly: Out of the 8 times I've been a patron there, the last one was so negative that I won't be back. I showed up about 4:45 to secure a table for the evening. There were two, small tables of patrons, and the place was otherwise empty. I was asked if I had a reservation, and I replied, "No. That's why I came early." I was told that the tables were mostly reserved, but she still had a table suitable for D&D near the window. After we were seated and had started setting up for our campaign, I was told that we would probably be asked to leave in two or three hours, when business picked up. I immediately replied, "We'll probably go someplace else, then, because we're playing D&D, and will probably need four hours." The manager shrugged, said that if she had people waiting to get in, the first to arrive will be the first asked to leave, and she walked away. I went over and asked if I could just pay to rent the table for four hours, and was told, "That's not our business model." Having played at about 4 dozen game stores across the country, most places will allow you to pay to reserve a spot if you're paying (nevermind that food and drinks for a full table of D&D players averages about $350). As I was packing my stuff back up, I stated this, and mentioned this. At this time (while I was still packing up my things and trying to get in contact with our other two players, to tell them we'd go somewhere else) the second owner came over and began telling me that I was wrong about game stores (that game stores don't generally allow table rental), but also stated, "We're a restaurant, not a game store." My reply was, "Then you shouldn't bill yourself as a community gaming center, you should make it clear that you are a restaurant, first, and that you will treat your customers as such." (they stated that they will ask people "camping out, playing games," to leave, starting with those who were first to arrive, regardless of whether they are still spending money).Both owners proceeded to tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about, and the second owner asked me to leave. I stated that I was in the process of packing my things, and would gladly do so. I have no intention of going back. It's a decent restaurant/bar, but this is not a gaming center, it is a restaurant with tabletop gaming, and if they feel they'll make more money off of someone else, they will ask you to cut your game short and leave. I called up another bar & grill instead and asked for a table for D&D. They gladly obliged, gave us the use of their back room, and we had a great time (and 4.5 hours of gameplay). tl;dr Forge Tavern is great for small groups who want to drink and play a board game, but, per the words from the owner's mouth, it's a restaurant above all else, and their business model (also, their words) includes asking gamers to leave if they're busy (regardless of whether they are still spending money).

When you go to a bar, you are normally looking to socialize with friends and watch sports, chat with friends, and have some good food/drink. This place was for board games and it was great fun. I did not know there are a lot of games out there beyond the classics. It was a great time having some craft drinks/beers, very good food, and spending time with friends.

My wife and I have gone to the tavern on 3 occasions now for date nights for a few hours. Every visit has been fun and special. Drink menus are creative and have a good selection of options. Food is tasty. The food menu is not extensive, but if you spot something it is worth getting to pair with the experience. Parking is difficult bit we have been able to get a spot. Game selection is great and you can bring games also. Staff is very friendly, approachable, kind and helpful if you have food or game questions.