Columnist Leah Keiter encourages students to make their way to Nelsonville for a little atmosphere and a lot of great food.
Though this week’s place of interest might not technically be what first comes to mind when thinking about Athens, the inspiration behind this column is encouraging Bobcats to step out of their comfort zones. This week I’m going to ask you to take a couple steps further with a trip to Nelsonville, which is still in Athens County. Nelsonville used to be an unavoidable stepping-stone between Athens and Columbus, but the creation of the bypass has cut it out of the trip, and off of most students’ radars.
First, some quick history on Nelsonville: Settled in 1814, it quickly fell in with cities around the area as reliant on coal and other types of mining to keep the economy afloat. Now, the sprawling Rocky Shoes & Boots Factory Outlet, historic spots of interest and artistic charm of the small city keep it on the map. Because of its historic significance to the Athens community, Nelsonville has been named a Preserve America community, a federally funded program that recognizes communities in an effort to “… stir interest in learning about our Nation’s heritage, recognize and support ongoing local preservation efforts, and encourage people to take advantage of the great cultural and natural assets of our country to improve economic health and the quality of life in our communities.”
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Athens has some classic restaurants like Casa and Jackie O’s, but after a couple of months bouncing between eateries on Court Street, the selections can start to seem pretty slim. Enter Rhapsody Music & Dining, a “casual fine dining restaurant featuring local Appalachian (farm to table) cuisine.” Rhapsody is located in the heart of Nelsonville’s Public Square alongside a number of shops featuring art from local community artists.
In addition to the appeal of being a new restaurant to check out to break routine, Rhapsody is so cool because the chefs are students of Hocking College’s culinary program, who work alongside certified master chef Alfonso Contrisciani. Contrisciani is one of 67 chefs in the United States to hold the certification and it shows in his food — Trip Advisor ranks Rhapsody the No. 1 restaurant in Nelsonville. Its menu features everything from short rib sliders and polenta fries to vegetable paella and king salmon. Casual fine dining comes with casual prices – none of the entrees at Rhapsody are more than $20. For anyone in Athens who enjoys good food (aka all of us) this spot is a must-visit, and it doesn’t hurt that Rhapsody is so close to Stuart’s Opera House, one of Nelsonville’s most popular historic landmarks and a great place to see a show.
Visiting Rhapsody not only supports fellow college students at Hocking College but helps to support the growing revitalization of Nelsonville as a center for culture, art and creativity. Rhapsody’s kitchens open back up on Jan. 28 after briefly closing in the wake of a Nelsonville fire this April. It is located at 18 Public Square in Nelsonville, and is open for dinner Thursday from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 740-753-5740.
Leah Keiter is a junior studying journalism. Have you been to Rhapsody? Email her at lk969912@ohio.edu.
