IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE
RUMBA IN THE JUNGLE
October 19 , 2006
G.A. BENTON — COLUMBUS ALIVE :: NIGHTLIFE

Finding an un-divey watering hole that features live jazzy music nightly is pretty great. It might even qualify as a revelation when you consider its location. Which is why the Rumba Café, just south of Hudson Street on Summit, is like a dream come true for many Clintonvillians. It's certainly the culmination of a long dreamy ambition for Rumba's owner, Mark Henderson.

Henderson and bar manager Todd Dugan have been pals for about 13 years, going back to when Dugan was running Oldfield's on High, and Henderson—a percussionist with the Hoo Doo Soul Band—was a regular player there. Dugan explained that the two music lovers often discussed opening up a serious music club and "doing it the right way." Now, after years and years of brainstorming and a six-month renovation of the former Blondie's spot, plus "a lot of money," they've got it.

Unlike anything else in the neighborhood, the clean and attractive Rumba Café has a bright tropical tilt to it. Some colorful Diego Rivera prints hang behind an intricately wood-inlaid bar and there's sunset orange and lemon yellow lighting perking up the largely wooden interior.

Decorative lizardy critters scale Rumba's walls and live musician hepcats lounge around the rest of the place. Outside, there's a pretty patio with thatched umbrellas, mosaic tables and a bitchin' beachy-styled bar—it'll expand in the warm weather months. Another plus: There's sanctioned parking right across the street behind Young's Carryout.

The Booze

Befitting its Caribbean leanings, Rumba Café makes good caipirinhas and mojitos ($4)—those are popular on "Latin" Thursday nights. Otherwise, there's a few decent wines but beer generally reigns supreme here. Rumba features plenty of the bottled stuff, but also 11 brews on tap (soon to be 13) like Stella, Newcastle, Blue Moon and Columbus Pale Ale ($3.50 per pint, $4.50 for 22 ounces). Happy hour is from 5 to 9 p.m., when there are $1 domestics and $1 well drinks.

The Food

Henderson met his wife in Costa Rica, and that's where Rumba's chef comes from, too. Dugan says homemade pizzas sell well (his favorite: shrimp and scallops with pesto) and he also loves the Latin tapas and black bean soup. Freeloaders should note that gratis snacks are often laid out during happy hour—like plantains on Thursdays and bowls of gumbo on Tuesdays.

Entertainment

Dugan said "everything we do is geared to our commitment to great music," and therefore you won't "find frat boys looking for cheap beer." Neither will you find a jukebox. What you will discover is live tunes six nights a week (Rumba's still working on a Sunday liquor license). Mondays (Kevin Oliver and friends), Tuesdays (New Basics Brass Band) and Wednesdays (Tony McClung) are currently prescheduled, and Thursdays bring in various local Latin bands while weekends lean towards blues and funk. Covers are $3 to $5.