Passport Cafe & Catering

First time to Passport café’
Excellent food and great prices. I had the marinated chicken sandwich, and chips and salsa as a side. Very fresh tasting.
I will definitely be back.

Love, love, love this place. I can go on and on about how awesome this place is. Bottom line is this — fresh, delicious food at very affordable prices!

My wife and I occasionally meet for lunch and this place neither one of us have tried before it and wasn’t far from your work so we gave it a shot and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Jerk Chick Sandwich which was char-​grilled perfectly, served on a brioche bun with pesto aioli, lettuce and tomato and onion, in a word awesome. Since that first time, I go once or several times a week. The food has been thoughtfully paired to add and and enhance. The Johnny burger was one of my favorites, gotta try the Italian Focacca Sub, it’s awesome! My only critique is the side dishes are pretty small portions.
Also, on one of my visits I decided order online using the Unilocal Eat24. It was easy and pretty straight forward once it got my credit card info. It seemed to place my order, send me a email confirmation, but when I arrived they gave me the «Deer in Headlights» look, and I had to show them I paid on my phone, they didn’t get my order. This was very awkward with other customers standing inline and the nice folks behind the counter where very confused. They did make my Johnny Burger and apologized. I recommend using low tech (call in) :)

Great food, every time, all the time! Three lunches so far, and each one has been outstanding. Chef Troy has a passion for good food, and it shines through in his menu. Sandwiches are on the freshest bread possible, with wonderful combinations of fillings. Soups are flavorful and original. Looking forward to working my way through all of the menu! This is my family’s go-​to place for lunch.

I had the Veggie Quesadilla… it was off the hook! I’m glad it was delicious because I originally wanted the Veggie Burger but it wasn’t available.
The side salad was disappointing because it was served with bacon (which I had no idea about) & with no dressing. It wasn’t horrible but I’d pass on this item next time… It’s a cool little spot to check out if you work in the area.

The food was OK, but nothing to write home about. I’d stop again if I was in the area and starving, but I wouldn’t seek it out.
The food took forever to arrive — probably 40 minutes for a burrito and a salad, which is too long, particularly during the lunch hour.
The food flavor was fine, a good amount of spice and the salad dressing was tasty. But again, nothing that I’m dreaming about having again. It was OK. Don’t stay away, necessarily, but don’t make a special trip.

Yummmmm I mean yummmmmm did I say yummm? Wow what a pleasant surprise to finally come here for lunch with my hubby. It wasn’t very hard to find as its a hop skip and a jump from where the other half works. We decided we needed to try something different and this is where we landed. Yup it’s a small place but those are usually the kind I end up loving and yup it happened here. Since we had never been here before we needed to review the menu to see what they had. I’ll agree with some of the others that a Caribbean north star is a pretty good description. I had a hard time trying to decide what I wanted but the Italian sandwich sounded so good being on focaccia which I love so I ordered that with the French fries. My hubby ordered the jerk chicken sandwich with the chips and salsa. We both got the fresh brewed ice tea. We didn’t wait too long for our orders to come out and boy did everything look so fresh with the exception of the fries as they were the battered frozen kind but sure they were still decent but people know I have a fry thing so that’s why I gave four stars not five. My sandwich was huge I could only eat half but oh so fresh and tasty a definite I’d get again with no hesitation. It was a typical Italian sub on an herbed focaccia and all the ingredients were so fresh and tasty. My hubby’s sandwich had a huge breast of chicken and fresh spinach tomato aoili and onion. He couldn’t stop talking about how good it was and how this was going to be his go to place when he wants to eat lunch out of the office. He even took a menu and that never happens. I will be back!

Veggie burger and jerk chicken sandwiches are great. French fries are crispy and tasty too.

Worked beside this place and truly miss the Aztec chicken chowder. Troy is a great owner and knows how to make fantastic food!

Since my first amazing experience I have been back several times and unfortunately I can no longer justify 5 stars. The veggie burger is simply rice and beans placed in a bun. It falls apart as soon as you dig in. The aioli is still amazing as well as the brioche bun. I just returned from a trip to Jamaica and can say that the jerk chicken at passport café tastes mediocre at best. It just lacks the punch.

Absolutely phenomenal. My co-​worker Caleb introduced me to the Jerk Chicken Sandwich and mentioned to add pepper jack cheese and bacon, and I havent found a sandwich that beats it. Except for their Jerk Chicken Club for special on occasion. I’ve found myself introducing my friends to the sandwich, and have been visiting several times a week. Can’t get enough! Great staff, amazing quality food, and always more than satisfied. This is must eat!

I happened to be over in the area, so I figured I’d snag the opportunity to check out Passport Café, since they’re only open for lunch during the week. I talked to the guy at the counter, and he said they weren’t actually open on Saturdays for lunch like it says on here. Good to know. Being my first time, I went with the Jerk Chicken sandwich and some fries and got a pretty good deal using the Unilocal deal for a free combo.
This place was a 5 stars for food but a 3 star for service. The guys working the counter were friendly enough, but it took almost 25 minutes for me to get a meal at lunch time. Looking around the room, everyone there looked like they were on lunch break, so I’m not sure how they can deal with 25 minute wait times. It sounded like they were down a person, so that’s a bummer and maybe I just picked a bad day.
On the other hand, the sandwich was phenomenal. The aioli tasted great, and the chicken was cooked perfectly with an awesome seasoning. The bun was a bit soggy but not bad enough to ruin the meal. I also really enjoyed the fries. They were super crispy and went great with the sandwich.
I wish this place was open at least one day on the weekends, because I’d love to bring people here and trying to organize that for a lunch, especially when I work on the East side, is nearly impossible. Any time I’m out this way around lunch time, I’ll make sure to get in again and explore more of the menu.

I was in town on business and this little gem was a stone’s throw from the office. Blink and you’ll miss it but if you have the chance I’d highly recommend stopping in for lunch. At first glance the menu didn’t strike me as mind blowing but once the food landed on the table I knew what I was iny for. It was a thing of beauty.
For my order I made a layup… something simple that would either end in «meh» or a «hell yes». The Smoked Turkey and Bacon sandwich with a curious side of Tandoori Cucumbers was the perfect choice. Get them both but definitely try the cucs!
The sandwich was nicely piled on toasted multi-​grain with cheddar and plenty of fresh fixins, and quality quality (yup, that’s 2 «quality“s folks) meats but the clincher were the mild peppers that pulled it all together and put it over the top. The cucumbers were fantastic… really light and with the tandoori spice, a perfect side.
Space is limited so come early to get a seat. Service was friendly and courteous and the food came out pretty quickly… prices are definitely reasonable for what you get here, FYI.
I’m counting the days until I get back down to the Columbus so I can try more of the menu. I’ve got my sights set on anything Jerk off their menu. Nicely done!

The name of this restaurant is ironic because I felt like I needed a passport to find this place. Once I got here, the outside felt like I was walking into a bank. Upon entering, I was promptly greeted and given the rundown on the menu.
The employees were super friendly and made great conversation. The menu has a Caribbean feel, and the black bean soup & jerk chicken sandwich were both exceptional. Don’t let the strange location and weird outside façade fool you, Passport Café is a diamond in the rough.

I’m a huge fan or Passport Café.
THE FOOD: House salad with jerk chicken. It’s super simple but oh, so delicious. The tandoori cucumbers with the chicken = amazeballs. The burrito is always pretty damn awesome, and a coworker loves the Zoe’s chicken salad wrap.
THE SERVICE: I’ve only had take out, but each time I’ve been the woman at the counter has been great. I work with some picky eaters and we always have modifications to our orders (extra lettuce, no onions types) and she is always patient as I go thru our laundry list. I’ve had big orders an even though there are only a few people working they have offered to help me carry it to my car.
Don’t expect anything fancy. I mean, the place is in a corporate office strip. But do expect a great lunch with friendly service!

I think Bryant hit it on the head describing this place as a «Caribbean Northstar.» The food is all-​natural, fresh and professionally prepared and presented. The place is VERY small, only seating around 25-​not great for a large lunch crowd but they have an 85-​seat banquet hall somewhere…
Today’s lunch was my first time, but not my last. My photo features the daily special ($ 7) of the Black and Blue Jerk Burger with Jerk BBQ sauce, peppered bacon, grilled onions, blue cheese, pesto aioli, to name a few. Came on a grilled brioche bun with quality lettuce, tomato and onion. I got my $ 2.25 combo upgrade for free with a Unilocal Check In offer and chose the Caribbean Cole Slaw. Shredded in-​house and lightly dressed, with plenty of cilantro. I also grabbed one of Caleigh’s brownie and it definitely tasted from-​scratch.
The fountain drinks left something to be desired. All Pepsi products and the majority were diet. I just stared at them thinking, «Wait, what?» Prob should have gotten tea but it was behind me on another table.
Friend got the made-​in-​house Veggie Burger with Tandoori Cucumbers. Her plate was empty at the end…
There’s a «patio» outside the front of the strip with blue metal tables and chairs (can be seen from Riverside/​33) to seat an additional 12 people when it gets warmer. I didn’t take a photo for it was all covered in snow, even though the entire thing is covered in a maroon canopy. It will be great for summer smoothies and milkshakes that are mentioned on their take-​out menu.
If you’re in Hilliard it’s not that much of a hike for lunch. If in Grandview, shoot down Grandview Ave or 5^th, connect to 33 and you’re there in minutes.
I really do hope they expand into a bigger space.

A hidden gem, I don’t know why I did not hear about Passport café more often. Probably because all the lovers want to keep these good stuff for themselves, and refuse to share them to us. Oh, how I resent people who work around the area and able to get lunch from Passport café.
Everything is mostly around $ 7, so it’s a steal, and a very delicious steal. I tried the jerk chicken sandwich, and they were made of fresh ingredients, nice flavor and just nice portion.

I want to write a 5000 word essay on why I love Passport so much, but I’m pretty sure even that won’t do it justice. So, I’m going to try to express my feelings in much, much fewer words.
Think Caribbean Northstar.
Everything as Passport is light, flavorful, and with a bit of a kick. I eat here every time I’m next door at Dr. Chen’s office, and I try something new each time. I haven’t been disappointed yet! They make everything-​from-​scratch soups, sandwiches, smoothies, and loads of other goodies. Just get something — you won’t be disappointed.
In addition to fantastic food, the owner — Troy — has one of the biggest hearts around. He’s a genuinely nice guy, and he really cares about his food, his customers, and his community.
I know Passport is in an obscure location and may be a bit out of the way, but I promise it’s worth the hunt. You won’t be disappointed!

Such a pleasant surprise!
I was tipped off to Passport Café from all the rave reviews on Unilocal.It IS a tough spot to find, but follow your gps and it will take you right to the front door!
It is a very unassuming office building café type of place with a walk up counter to order and a half a dozen tables or so for dining in (and a few outside, too). We were immediately greeted by the owner/​chef — he was SO friendly! Check out the specials on the dry erase board, grab a paper menu and have a seat because you are going to need about 10 minutes to even begin to decide what to order. Everything sounds delicious! I love food with a Caribbean twist and I think I could have eaten anything on the menu.
I opted for the veggie burger (~$ 6) and a side of the soup of the day, crab corn chowder. Bf got the chicken and chorizo jerk burrito with the tandoori cucumbers on the side. *Yelp tip, a check-​in here gets you a free side & drink!* The veggie burger was really good, made with rice, other grains and beans and served on a yummy brioche (homemade?) bun. The pesto was a great accompaniment. The crab corn chowder had a great flavor but was made with crab substitute. Still really great though and for only $ 2.50, I couldn’t really complain. Bf enjoyed his burrito, it had a slight kick to it and seemed well balanced. The tandoori cucumbers were okay but I think we’ll pass next time. Basically just cold sliced cucumbers with a mix of spices.
We will definitely be back here, I noticed they have Saturday hours and the owner let us know they’ll be opening for dinner soon (with a liquor license!). Also cool, he said they’re only going to offer the things he grew up with in the Caribbean — think rum punches and hand-​squeezed lime margaritas!
Do yourself a favor and try this hidden gem!

Is it too soon to update my review? I have been getting take out from here once or twice a week for a month now and every single thing I’ve tried has been off-​the-​hook good! Seriously delicious! Do yourself a favor and save yourself from spending $ 12 for a Northstar burger and come here and pay $ 6 for the best veggie burger you’ll ever taste. Plus, Troy, the owner/​chef, makes amazing soups and his specials are so so tasty. Sometimes he comes up with combinations I wouldn’t think work, but are drool worthy when you taste them.
So, go to Passport and get the soup of the day and either the daily special or the veggie burger and you and your wallet will thank me!