We've been to a lot of college campuses. On most, the food is formulaic - there's the Italian restaurant, the steakhouse, the pizza place, the pizza place you only go after 10 PM- you know the drill.
Columbus stands out from the crowd thanks to an awesome selection of ethnic restaurants - the area has a much more diverse background than most outsiders expect, and it shows in the kick-ass variety of delicious dining spots. Whether you're in Columbus to start school, see the Buckeyes, or see your team play the Buckeyes, these are the seven restaurants you need to check out:
Ray Ray's Hog Pit
Address: 2619 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202
Phone: (614) 753-1191
Online: Facebook
Barbecue fan? This is your spot.
Ray Ray's Hog Pit is only open Friday through Sunday from noon to 8 PM, but you should absolutely find a way to work it into your schedule. The food is all homemade from scratch, and the only real problem you'll run into here is deciding what to order.
The brisket is out of this world, but don't let that stop you from trying the pulled pork, chopped pork or jerk chicken sandwiches (all three are absolutely phenomenal). It's also important to remember that sides are a mandatory part of the Ray Ray's experience - we're partial to the baked beans and collard greens, but you can't really go wrong here.
Buckeye Donuts
Address: 1998 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: (614) 291-3923
Online: Official Website
We went to the Buckeye Donuts website to reacquaint ourselves with the menu, and gained about 25 pounds just from looking at the pictures.
This place does not play around when it comes to donuts - they're as good as advertised - but when you're stopping in after hitting the High Street bars at two in the morning, you'll probably be tempted to try the gyros too.
In most scenarios, that would be a bad idea...but not here.
Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace
Address: 248 S. 4th Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 824-4673
Online: Official Website
The original Dirty Frank's is tiny, cramped, and is nearly always sporting a long line down the street. The Columbus staple has opened a new location over on West Broad Street, but you can't beat the downtown location for cheap, greasy, wonderful meat products from day 'til night. Open until 1:45 in the morning every day, you'll never be without one of their 32 original dogs for long.
Also, if going with the crowd isn't your thing, feel free to pile up anything and everything they've got in stock to make your own wiener monstrosity.
Last time we made the trip, we picked up six dogs and three sides (including the mouth-searing Sriracha Slaw) for under $40. If you're looking to fill yourself up without spending your extra drinking dollars, Dirty Frank's is always the way to go.
Akai Hana Restaurant
Address: 1173 Old Henderson Road, Columbus, OH 43220
Phone: (614) 451-5411
Online: Official Website
No question...this is the best sushi in Columbus.
The Korean food selection is insane (we regularly have dreams about the Bulgogi and Sauteed Spicy Squid with Vegetables), but you'll be cheating yourself if you don't at least try one of the tens of food coma-inducing sushi rolls they have to offer.
We personally recommend the Harvest roll (sweet potato & shrimp tempura, onions, spicy mayo, & radish sprouts in a soy wrapper with miso dressing) for a taste sensation that will ruin other sushi joints for you forever.
Bodega
Address: 1044 High Street, Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: (614) 299-9399
Online: Official Website
They've been a part of the Short North for just ten years, but Bodega is a community staple when it comes to adding on your "freshman fifteen" with the best beer and bar food Columbus has to offer.
Well, actually 'bar food' doesn't do them justice. Their farm-to-plate mentality when it comes to preparing their dishes launches The Bodega out of the realm of normal food-and-drink spots.
We're a big fan of the chicken sandwich (double bacon, light on the romaine). Add a steaming helping of the Spicy Tomato Gazpacho Soup, and you have the perfect combo to get you through a freezing Buckeyes gameday without a single complaint.
Oh yeah, did we mention they're open till 2am, and sport one of the best local craft beer selections we've ever seen? Best late-night meetup spot ever.
The Press Grill
Address: 741 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 298-1014
Online: Official Website
One of the most chill places to hang out and grab some eats in the entire Short North, The Press Grill serves food till 1am and drinks till 2:30, making it the perfect place to pretend to review your class notes for the morning ahead.
Want to stay full until nighttime the next day? Grab a couple Press Burgers (a top-of-the-line cheeseburger with a freaking fried egg on top of it), down them with one of the many beers on tap, and waddle your way around campus with a giant grin on your face.
If burgers aren't your thing, they've got all kinds of other options including 2/$4 Nathan's Hot Dogs on Monday and the Meatloaf Dinner (with homemade BBQ sauce!) to get you set up right.
Tasi Cafe
Address: 680 N. Pearl St., Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 222-0788
Online: Official Website
It's was a long night and you're regretting the fifth and sixth drinks at one of the awesome bars listed above. How do you get through the morning? Without any hesitation, Tasi Cafe is the place in the Short North to wake up right with some of the best breakfast food around.
Aside from their awesome selection of pastries, we recommend a helping of biscuits and gravy or some cinnamon french toast with bananas (!) and pure maple syrup. If that doesn't shake some of the cobwebs loose, nothing will.
Open at 7am, this is a good place to remember you're alive (and get rid of that nasty headache) while getting ready for the long day ahead. Be sure to grab a glass of wine on the way out, though...you know, just in case.