An Evening at the Goetchius House

By Columbus Georgia Eats

My wife and I finally had the pleasure of celebrating Valentine’s Day at the beautiful Goetchius House, an experience which not only met, but exceeded our expectations —and completely changed my perception of dining forever.

In case you have never heard of this historic wonder, the Goetchius House is located in the Historic District at 405 Broadway, and is a landmark of our city’s rich heritage.

Dating back to 1839, this historic home was built by Richard Rose Goetchius and served various purposes throughout history – family residence, restaurant, and popular hub for community events.
Following a closure spanning nearly ten years, the house found a fresh start with the new owners, Renata Martoni and Matthew Lapides, who have once again turned this home into a restaurant strongly focused on community and providing an incredible culinary experience.

When my wife and I arrived for our special evening, we were both awe-struck at how beautiful the house and property really are. Pictures just don’t do it justice, and It was really hard to believe that a popular restaurant was nestled inside this amazing home.

However, the Goetchius House actually consists of multiple, smaller establishments, not just one main restaurant. Some of these spaces are open now, while others will be coming online soon.

Terre e Mare Sapori: This is their fine dining experience, the name of which means “Tastes of Land and Sea,” and it’s located in their upper level. This is where we had our dinner experience.

Bardot: A bar and lounge area offering beverages and tapas located in the upper level next to the dining room.

Sunny Café: An espresso bar serving favorites like espresso, coffee, juices and fresh baked goods all made on-site. This is in the lower level.

Studio 405: This is their new casual dining option for “every day” meals and it will be in the lower level.
Leopold’s Ice Cream: Yes, you read that right. This is the popular ice cream from Savannah. And it’s only available at the Goetchius House.

Rosemary: A charcuterie and market offering in-house dining with a selection of food and beverage items. This should be opening soon as well.

While we didn’t get the chance to explore every aspect the Goetchius House has to offer with this visit, if our first taste is any indication, we’ll be back as soon as possible to try everything we can.

Once we got upstairs to the main dining room, we were promptly greeted by a wonderful host who quickly led us to our table. The chandelier cast a soft, ambient glow that warmed the entire space. The walls are a soft, neutral color which makes the dark wood floors stand out, while the crown molding and large mirror add depth and a real sense of grandeur.

A few minutes later, a tray of warm, fresh artisan bread arrived. The bread was thin and crispy while the interior was soft and airy with a slight chewy texture perfect for soaking up the delicious dipping oil. After finishing the bread, we moved on to the charcuterie board featuring a beautiful assortment of quality cured meats, hard and soft cheeses, fruits, veggies and slices of toasted artisan bread along with a delicious spread.

The Pear Salad was next in line for a position in my stomach, and out of everything we had, this was easily the most unique in terms of flavors and textures. Mixed greens, fresh thinly sliced pears, pomegranate seeds, crumbled cheese, and candied pecans lent this dish a combination of sweet, tangy and crunchy notes. Pair this with their flavorful citrus dressing, and you have a masterpiece of a salad.

Next up, the main courses, which were simply phenomenal and some of the best meals I’ve ever had.
My wife ordered the salmon with herbs and pistachio crust with roasted potatoes. The moment the waitress laid it down, the aroma had my mouth watering. The salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The pistachio-based crust gave it a nutty, rich flavor which paired well with the roasted potatoes and zucchini.

For my meal, I ended up going with the classic beef Wellington, which honestly may be one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Period.

The 6 oz. steak had a beautiful pink temperature inside, and was coated with a delicious layer of duxelles (a finely chopped mixture of mushrooms, onions, shallots, herbs, and garlic) which is then wrapped in golden, buttery baked puff pastry. This is a perfect union of flavor.

Beef Wellington is typically served with a red wine reduction or a béarnaise. Tonight it was served with sautéed mushrooms and broccolini, providing a contrast to the rich, savory flavors of the steak and pastry. If you visit in the future, you must try this dish. Perfection on a plate.

Of course, we couldn’t end our evening without trying dessert, but we couldn’t decide on which –so in typical Columbus Georgia Eats fashion, I just ordered them all!

First up was tiramisu, a classic Italian dessert. Unlike traditional Tiramisu, which tends to be layered, this version was more integrated and didn’t really have distinct layers in my opinion. But it hit all the right spots when it came to flavor and texture. Oh yes! It wasn’t overly sweet, light and creamy with hints of espresso, and they creatively used cocoa powder to create a chocolate heart on the top of the dish. If you love tiramisu, you’ll love their take on it.

The second dessert, chocolate mousse, was easily our favorite. Rich, creamy and smooth chocolate mousse, garnished beautifully with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a single tart raspberry on top, made for an indulgent treat.

The final dessert was their apple cake with vanilla ice cream, decadently served with a moist apple cake, topped with a caramelized glaze and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. The warm spices of the cake, the cool sweetness of the ice cream created a satisfying and tasty balance of flavors.

Overall, Goetchius House was not just an extraordinary meal, but a story told through flavors, textures, presentation and colors, making the dining experience unforgettable.

Just when the evening couldn’t get any more remarkable, we had the pleasure of meeting Renata Martoni, one of the owners. Her story is as captivating as the house itself. Renata, originally from Brazil, found herself drawn to Columbus for its unique blend of historical richness and community warmth.

Her vision for the space went far beyond the conventional objectives of a restaurant. For her, the Goetchius House was a sort of “healing house” – a concept grounded in the tangible impact of community, comfort, and the shared human experience. Renata believes that the act of coming together to share a meal can be transformative, offering solace, joy, and a respite from the trials of everyday life. She saw the strong desire among locals to keep the house’s legacy alive, reflecting a shared need for spaces where people can genuinely connect and find comfort. Renata’s approach to the Goetchius House involves creating an environment that encourages guests to be present, to engage with one another, and to find a sense of belonging within its walls.

Her passion for creating a space where people could come together and find a moment of peace and joy in their busy lives resonated deeply with us, highlighting the unique role that places like the Goetchius House play in our community.

As we left the Goetchius House that evening, we carried with us not just the memory of an exquisite meal, but a renewed appreciation for the power of dining to bring people together, to create moments of joy and connection in our increasingly hectic world.

The Goetchius House is more than a restaurant; it’s a beacon of hospitality, a place where food heals, and every visit promises to enrich the soul.

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