By: Dan Eaton – Staff Reporter, Columbus Business First

Aug 22, 2022 4:11 PM

Cameron Mitchell’s new German Village restaurant won’t rival the restaurateur’s Las Vegas outpost in size, but it may in personal affinity.

The Columbus-based restaurant group has long wanted a site in German Village. With work on Cento at 595 S. 3 St.underway, the group’s founder shared his thoughts on what guests will experience when it opens next year.

“I’d put this in Manhattan without batting an eye,” Mitchell said. “It’s a true passion project.”

Among the factors that have Mitchell excited are the upscale menu and the atmosphere both in the fully remodeled inside and the expanded patio that will rival some of the city’s best outdoor dining.

Mitchell is careful when discussing the menu, both because details are yet to be released and because he doesn’t want to be seen as criticizing other Italian offerings around town, including his own.

The Cameron Mitchell Restaurants portfolio includesMarcella’s and Martini Modern Italian as well as Valentina’s, another coming-soon concept that will open at Bridge Parkin Dublin next year.

What Mitchell is willing tease are high-quality food options and interesting presentations. Cento is an idea he’s had for several years while he’s searched for the right space to put it.

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants always has maintained a balance between expanding its handful of growth concepts— Ocean Prime and sister company Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern — with new creations here in the home market.

Central Ohio is home to 20 Cameron Mitchell restaurants(and counting) spread across 15 nameplates. Rusty Bucket has 10 of its 22 locations here as well.

The company expects to have opened five new restaurants from 2021 to 2022, with as many as seven new openings next year.

Mitchell said he’s already begun planning for 2024.

In addition to Cento and Valentina’s, The Pearl is expanding to Tampa, Florida. As announced last week, the 18 OceanPrime will open in Las Vegas. Other openings and new concepts have to be announced.

Ocean Prime still has big potential as well. Mitchell said recent focus has been on “trophy locations” in major markets, such as Las Vegas. Houston is next up on the wishlist.

But the broad goal is two or three new locations a year.

Though not a traditional steakhouse, Mitchell drew a parallel to brands like Ruth’s Chris, Morton’s and TheCapital Grille, each of which has more than 60 locations across the country at least.

Where Ocean Prime winds up — 25, 30, 60, more — will be determined by what makes sense, but the company sees clear potential beyond 18.

While Ocean Prime isn’t the local headline grabber (it’sColumbus location is billed s Mitchell’s Ocean Club), it’s the big business for the company overall. The brand generates annual average unit sales of $12 million each, among the restaurant industry’s top performers.

 

Original post: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/08/22/cameron-mitchell-on-upcoming-columbus-resturant.html