The Crest Tavern, one of central Ohio’s humblest of pubs, is getting a complete makeover.

Ali Alshahal, who recently purchased the Crest, 397 Crestview Road, closed the tavern Dec. 10 and plans to reopen it in mid-March with a full-service dining room and a wide assortment of craft beers on tap. The name will not change.

Alshahal said he is opening up the interior of the 2,900-square-foot space to include a bigger bar and seating for 100. An affordable menu will include an approachable assortment of popular scratch-made bar fare made with local ingredients.

“It’s going to be a lot different,” he said.

For more on this and other restaurant news, see the Jan. 10 editions of ThisWeek Community News.