The culinary scene on West College Avenue is set to welcome "Ampersand Asian Supper Club" early next year as a "sister" establishment to the existing "Asterisk Supper Club" situated at 14 N. State St. This addition marks a new venture for owners Megan Ada and her husband Joshua Cook, also the culinary director of their current spot.
To diversify their gastronomic footprint, the couple has decided to open Ampersand at 32 W. College Ave., within the new West College Avenue development. As per Ada, the second location will maintain the quality and creativity that patrons have come to expect from the pair’s existing ventures. According to the City of Westerville's official website, We've told so many people about it in Westerville who don't go to the Short North very often, so now everyone can try it since we're a lot closer.
The restaurant's concept was seeded from Ada's personal experiences, enriched by the Japanese cultural influence in Guam, where she spent part of her childhood. Under Ada's guidance and over a year of menu development, Chef Cook plans to serve innovative takes on classic Asian dishes such as ramen, miso, rice bowls, and more. "My dad's side of the family is from Guam where we lived for a few years when I was younger. Guam has a large Japanese influence so I ate a lot of ramen. When we had the opportunity to open a restaurant in the Short North, my husband, Chef Joshua, said we should do ramen. He worked on the menu for over a year before we opened and he has mastered it," Ada shared in a statement from the City of Westerville's news release.
Ampersand aims to differentiate itself from its sibling, Asterisk, by focusing on unique Asian fare and providing a chic, modern atmosphere. Ada emphasized the distinct experience at Ampersand, telling Westerville's communications, according to the City of Westerville, "Ampersand will weave in Asian inspiration and flare through food and will provide a chic, modern feel to the atmosphere and decor." Moreover, Ada expressed her excitement for Westerville locals to soon experience, "how delicious our food is" along with the promise of excellent Asian-inspired cocktails that will bring a unique twist to Westerville.
