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Jul 06, 2023

Cheap Eats: $10 (and Under) Finds at Center Street Market

The shiny glass doors of Hilliard’s Center Street Market open up to an expansive promenade of eateries. To be clear on word choice, it’s expansive, but not expensive. The thoroughfare of eateries is

The shiny glass doors of Hilliard’s Center Street Market open up to an expansive promenade of eateries. To be clear on word choice, it’s expansive, but not expensive. The thoroughfare of eateries is wide; the ceilings are tall. There’s room to roam and explore. What you’ll find is a treasure trove of affordable eats.

The Market is not particularly new. Anchored by Crooked Can Brewing, the project debuted at the worst time possible, right at the onset of the pandemic. At the same time, its wide-open layout has been ideal for economic survival. Between the patio, thoroughfare and dining zone, social distancing was-and-is not a problem.

Past visits to the Market have yielded affordable treasures we’ve discussed here on CU. Case in point, Meatball Mafia has some insanely velvety meatballs, sauced up in a sweet clotty sauce and teamed with ricotta that can be mainlined directly ($9 for a bowl of three) or stuffed in a sandwich for around ten bucks.

And if Burgers are your schtick, there’s Hot Mess that makes popular burgers built for excess with toppings galore. Its single-patty versions start around $7. Or fulfill your need for fried things with a side of fries, $4, or load ’em up with cheddar bacon and ranch for $9.

But perhaps your cravings lean more toward plant-based foods. And Asia. I got you. You’ll want to the veggie dumplings from across the way: Dumplings of Fury. The Garlic Mushroom Dumplings ($8) are a mixed-up blend of shitake, crimini and button mushrooms with Chinese broccoli and tofu. The intensely likable result is shockingly sturdy fare that’s teamed with a spiky sauce to keep things interesting.

You can also find terrific options starting right at $10 at Pitabilities. The local favorite in food-truck-land has its very own permanent station at the market. For the price, the options include everything from one of its pitas stuffed with chicken, grilled onions, feta, lettuce, tomato and cumber. Or for something on the heavy side, you can load up the house fries with gyro meat and house Bella sauce.

You need sweets too, right? Well, there’s Cheesecake Girl and Bakes by Lo. Too much thinking leads to analysis paralysis in the dessert department, so it’s best just to careen into the nearest sweet station and grab what calls the loudest. In our case, that would be a cookie from Lo: Chocolate Espresso with Cold Brew Buttercream.

That. Frosting.

You won’t find a bigger thrill for $4. The sweet frosting has that accent that’s made froufrou coffee drinks all the rage for two decades now. Team it with an intense, soft chocolate cookie, and it just doesn’t end better than that.

Center Street Market is open daily, hours vary by vendor.

For more information, visit crookedcanohio.com or follow Center Street Market on Instagram.

Looking for more cheap eats? See what North Market, North Market Bridge Park, Bubbly Hall and Budd Dairy have to offer for $10 and under!

All photos by Miriam Bowers Abbott