Chef Josh Dalton on Rosalita, Downtown Dining & the Future of Columbus Food

Central Ohio culinary heavyweight Chef Josh Dalton sits down with the crew to talk about everything happening in his world (there's a lot). From closing two restaurants in Delaware to reopening Rosebud’s, and then taking over the iconic Milestone 229 space to transform it into a Mediterranean-inspired concept called Rosalita, Josh opens up about the challenges, the excitement, and the quirks of running restaurants in Downtown Columbus. He digs into:• Why the 229 Civic Center space spoke to him• What “Mediterranean” really means for the new concept• DORA drinks, walk-up windows, and menu experimentation• The future of downtown dining• Why he stopped reading cookbooks and started reading leadership books• His path from line cook to running a small restaurant group• Columbus' unique chef community — and how they support each other Plus: memories, mentorship, New Orleans influence, travel, staff culture, Yelp reviews, and how he still refuses to cook in a home kitchen. It's one of the most candid looks yet at what it takes to run some of Columbus' most exciting restaurants — and where the city’s food scene is headed next. 📍 Guest: Chef Josh Dalton📍 Restaurants: Veritas, Speck Italian Eatery, Citizens Trust, Rosebud’s (reopening), and upcoming Rosalita (2026)