COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — April 15, 2025, will mark the 113th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and fans of the fated ship have the opportunity to step back in time and experience the vessel’s romance and history.
The Refectory restaurant has announced it will be holding its annual Titanic event, Lyrata: An Evening Aboard the Titanic, on Monday, April 14. The night will include a four-course dinner, a string quartet concert, and displays of Titanic artifacts and film mementos.
History of the Refectory’s Titanic tribute dinner
According to restaurateur Kamal Boulos, the dining tradition began 13 years ago on the 100th anniversary of the maritime tragedy that shocked the world. That year, the commemorative fête was an “over-the-top event” that launched the yearly tribute.
“At the time, there was a swirl of public interest on this milestone anniversary and the movie had been out for 15 years, which had sparked a serious interest in the story and history,” said Boulos. “This was against the backdrop of actually finding the wreck on the bottom of the ocean a dozen years before that.”
The 2012 event was a full-scale dinner theater experience, with the entire restaurant dedicated to the occasion. Guests — many of whom arrived in formal period attire — received replica Titanic tickets in advance and were welcomed at the door by a sailor. Waitstaff dressed in white bow ties and gloves served a five-course menu based on dishes made on the ocean liner.
The atmosphere included Titanic images and videos, a live string quartet playing period-appropriate music and selections from the movie soundtrack, while Shadowbox Live actors, dressed in historical fashion, mingled and interacted with attendees.
“I dyed my hair and beard white and dressed as the Ship’s Captain, welcoming guests as they arrived to be seated for dinner,” said Boulos.
Since that time, the evening has been held on a smaller scale, usually limited to 40 guests.
Titanic anniversary event for 2025
The 2025 menu, created by Chef Richard Blondin, includes sparkling wine, white asparagus and smoked salmon salad, lobster thermidor marble, roasted filet mignon of beef and chocolate éclair. Diners can also preorder Petrossian caviar in addition to the meal.
Beyond feasting on recipes of the era, patrons are again welcome to outfit themselves in period attire to make the evening even more immersive.
Titanic at Belfast. Date: 1912 (Adobe Stock) 
UK: RMS Titanic, The First Class Dining Room, c. 1912. (Photo by: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) 
UK: RMS Titanic, The Grand Staircase, c. 1912. (Photo by: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) 
UK: RMS Titanic, The Gym, c. 1912. (Photo by: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) 
(Original Caption) 1912-: Twenty-one years ago on 4/14, the greatest disaster in modern maritime history shocked the world when the S.S. Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the Northern Atlantic on her maiden voyage, with 1635 aboard. Over 700 passengers, mostly women and children, were saved. This photo shows the saloon deck aboard the ship, where the children’s playground was located. The photo was made during the short voyage from Southampton to Queenstown, England, by Rev. E.M. Brown who debarked at Queenstown. Filed 4/10/1933. 
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1754: Survivors of the loss of RMS Titanic: Michel and Edmond Navratil (aged 4 and 2), French brothers whose father died in the disaster of 12 April 1912, but who were identified and reunited with their mother. Shipwreck (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images) 
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1754: The loss of SS Titanic, 14 April 1912: The lifeboats. All that was left of the greatest ship in the world – the lifeboats that carried most of the 705 survivors. Operated by the White Star Line, SS Titanic struck an iceberg in thick fog off Newfoundland. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)
The highlight of the evening will be a live concert by ProMusica string quartet, Lyrata. Made up of members from the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, Lyrata was established in 2016 and is the quartet-in-residence at the Refectory. The musicians will play music from the hit movie and historical pieces.
An artifact exhibit of authentic and replica items from the Titanic will be displayed. Enthusiasts of the big screen depiction will also see some of the movie’s memorabilia. Boulos noted that this recent addition is made possible by a collector from the Akron area.
Guests are asked to arrive at 5:15 p.m., and the performance will begin at 6 p.m. The cost is $165 per guest, plus beverages, tax and gratuity. The sharable caviar is an additional $95. The offerings can be modified for any dietary needs.
The Refectory has operated in a former church building, located at 1092 Bethel Rd., since 1976. It is central Ohio’s only AAA 4 Diamond restaurant.
