All photos by Ayana Wilson.

Restaurant rankings matter. Whether wittingly or not, a big part of how a customer deems a restaurant is tied to how its labeled: casual or formal, white cloth or paper napkin, one-star or four.

In Columbus, we are fortunate to have a couple of restaurants that are currently Four-Diamond rated by AAA. An achievement, no doubt, and one that ranks our city among the best for elevated and inspired dining experiences.

This year, we get to add another feather in our cap as Forbes Travel Guide, the trusted source for the novice and experienced traveler, has awarded Final Cut Steak & Seafood Restaurant a Four-Star designation.

Forbes Travel Guide is the originator of the prestigious Five-Star Rating system, its legacy and influence stretching back to 1958. There are up to 800 rigorous standards and regulations to be met to be considered one of Forbes’ best, which is why a ranking from them is substantial and praise-worthy.

Over the course of several weeks, anonymous inspectors evaluated Final Cut on several criteria, including presentation of the restaurant, personnel, and plates served, the quality of service proffered (high emphasis here), and, of course, the taste of the food.

Final Cut Steak & Seafood is the only Columbus restaurant to earn this ranking, and is one of only a handful to receive it this year out of the 150 establishments that submitted. They have reached the gold standard in hospitality ratings worldwide, an accomplishment few restaurants reach.

Under the direction of Chef Eric Jones, an Akron boy who started at Hoggy’s Restaurant and honed his fine-dining skills with the Cameron Mitchell family of restaurants, Final Cut has been recognized for their attention to detail, simplicity of flavor and presentation, and customer appreciation.

Consumers depend on Forbes’ rankings to make the best-informed decisions when they travel, vacation, and eat out. A Four-Star designation means a restaurant is at the top of its game, worthy of diners’ time, money, and effort.

“Our approach from day one has always been to let the food do the talking, don’t overcomplicate it,” shares Chef Jones. “I take great satisfaction in having the opportunity to create and present dishes that make a big impact on our guests.”

Final Cut Steak & Seafood is located inside the Hollywood Casino, 200 Georgesville Road. Their hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 5pm – 10pm, Friday-Saturday, 5pm – midnight, and Sunday, 5pm – 9pm.

For a look at Final Cut’s menu, or to make reservations, visit www.hollywoodcolumbus.com/Dining.

Photos by Ayana Wilson.