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Columbus Business First recently put it simply: this collaboration brings together one of Columbus’ oldest and most revered restaurants with a younger restaurant that’s earned its own devoted following. That contrast — five decades of French tradition meeting a newer voice in Columbus dining — is exactly what makes this pairing worth paying attention to.

This October, Executive Chef Richard Blondin of The Refectory and Chef Yash Kishinchand of ROOH are doing something neither restaurant has done before: trading kitchens for a two-night collaborative dinner series, part of The Refectory’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Two Nights, Two Kitchens

The format is simple, but the execution is anything but. On Tuesday, October 6, Chef Yash brings ROOH’s kitchen to The Refectory, working alongside Chef Richard’s team to build a five-course tasting menu that moves between French technique and Indian spice, course by course. One week later, on Tuesday, October 13, the visit is returned — Chef Richard joins the ROOH team at their Short North kitchen for a second night, with its own distinct menu.

Each evening is $175 per guest, five courses, and the only menu served that night. Guests who want to go further can add one of two optional wine pairings curated by Refectory Sommelier Clayton Young — a Classic tier at $65 per guest, or a Premier Cru tier at $125.

Why It Matters

Both restaurants are members of Columbus Independents, a coalition built around exactly this kind of thing: independently owned restaurants supporting each other rather than competing in isolation. For The Refectory — which has anchored Columbus fine dining from a converted 19th-century church for fifty years — and for ROOH — which has built its own reputation reimagining Indian cuisine through a modern lens — this dinner is less a novelty than a genuine culinary conversation between two kitchens that rarely get to speak to each other directly.

Reserve Your Seat

Seating for both nights is limited, and interest has already been strong since the announcement. Reservations for October 6 at The Refectory can be made by phone at 614-451-9774. Reservations for October 13 at ROOH are available online.