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| - I've been coming to the West Side Market as long as I can remember. Even though I've been living in Columbus for the last ten years, I would still make my way here when I visited the family. Columbus has a smaller more trendy version of this, but it can't come close on the variety they have here, and the same can be said for the history and diversity here.
Most of the fruit and veg stands sell more or less the same stuff, but you can always find little gems, at great prices, and very fresh, but not good for storing for any length of time, unless we are talking onions or potatoes. The meat, seafood, and bread inside is what really does it for me at this place. Not only have two stores been on the food network, but they are surrounded by other truly amazing places. You can get almost any part of any animal, and then find the spices to perfectly compliment it, whether they are Indian, Mexican, Chinese or Italian. You can also find great fresh pastas, pierogies, and other semi-prepared foods that you can buy the accompaniments to there, or the raw ingredients to make your own creations.
There's also the vendors that sell ready to eat foods, all that I have tried are delicious. Every time I go, the line for gyros at Steve's is too long now that they've been on the food network, but luckily, there's great crepe's, sausages, and basic dog's, as well as one of my favorites, the Mexican stall that has food you can take home, or they will heat it up for you right there (I choose taking it home usually so I can crisp up their fried items).
All in all, I can't complain about anything at this market except for the people who frequent it. Its not that its too crowded, it that there are people who bring little cart on wheels, some of whom are ignorant or just plain mean, as they will use them to clear a path by bumping into you with it, or leave it in the middle of the aisle and block traffic. That little bit will never keep me from going there however, and its more a side rant from my last visit than anything. If you are looking for something to do near the market, just stop in and people watch, that's really fun too.
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