The reader who emailed me earlier this year had a good point — as readers often do.
"I think you have an unparalleled insight into the food scene here, which I care deeply about," he told me. Wait, wait, that wasn't the part of his email I meant to share. How the heck did that line get in here?
No, the point I want to address is the question he raised about USA TODAY best-of lists, which often include Columbus restaurant and bars.
"This story is framed as if USA TODAY is a third party, picking the best restaurants around the country," he said about our coverage in February of Veritas making the national newspaper's 2026 Restaurants of the Year list. "When I read closer, it’s just the company asking local food writers like yourself to pick winners."
On July 29, USA TODAY and The Dispatch posted stories about Land-Grant Brewing Co.'s selection as one of 38 places around the country recognized as 2026 Bars of the Year, so I imagine he'd have the same question.
Liz Johnson, director of entertainment, food and dining for the USA TODAY Network, explained in a recent column how she and other editors make the lists. Although she was writing about the 2026 Bars of the Year coverage in particular, it applies to much of national best-of food and drink content you see in The Dispatch.
"We realize other 'best bars' lists exist," Liz wrote. "What makes our list different? Our writers are not flying into a city for a weekend to check out what others have already reported or posted on Instagram. They work for our newspapers and websites across the country. They live in these communities. And the bars they recommend are spots where they have spent more than a few late nights."
At the start of these efforts, I and other writers at more than 200 newsrooms in 42 states share our recommendations with Liz and other editors. They make the choices based on quality, as well as a desire for places that represent a diversity of styles and locations.
Since I've been covering Columbus dining — I'll start my fourth year in mid-September — I've recommended three restaurants for Restaurants of the Year and three bars for Bars of the Year. FYR made the restaurants list in 2024, Agni was on the list in 2025, and Veritas was recognized in February for 2026. Bars of the Year has included Law Bird in 2024, Threes Above High in 2025 and Land-Grant in July.
Part of my job is writing what in today's business is known as "listicles." They're those top-places-to-get-a-burger/ best-steakhouses/most-romantic-restaurants compilations that share dining options in all kinds of categories. I enjoy creating them, but I've seen some really bad ones online, especially from sites seeking a national audience. One travel site's recent piece on "hidden Ohio restaurants that deserve way more attention" included Schmidt's Sausage Haus — you know, that 140-year-old business that takes up an entire block of German Village, operates seven food trucks and hosts a three-day Oktoberfest celebration every year.
Best-of lists are subjective, to be sure. And you'll probably disagree with a lot of my recommendations. (I mean, hopefully not a lot lot). But you'll always see my email address at the end of everything I write. I welcome the feedback and your suggestions of places around central Ohio that deserve recognition.
Follow Dispatch dining reporter Bob Vitale on Instagram at @dispatchdining. You can reach him directly at rvitale@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bob Vitale explains how we compile our best-of food and drink lists
