G.A. Benton| Special to The Columbus Dispatch
I was a hardcore Ohio State football fan way before I began reviewing restaurants. And because I’ve only missed a handful of Buckeyes home games since the Jim Tressel era (often because of cruelly timed weddings), I’ve ingested my share of suspect weenies and shabby hamburgers to get through long game days. Such meals are behind me now.
So as Saturday’s big homecoming match looms against Rutgers, I thought I’d share some logistically smart, park-once food tips for game attendees that culminate in what I call the “lower Clintonville football Saturday dining hack.”
And these destinations are worth a visit even if it's not a game day.
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In and near Ohio Stadium
My lower-Clintonville plan can work great before and after games. But because it doesn’t entail eating at ground zero of exuberant fandom (the “hack” involves visiting restaurants about a 15-minute walk due north from High Street and Lane Avenue), it won’t suit everyone. I’ve got you covered regardless.
If you’re planning to grab a bite that’s fuss-free (or “fuss-lite”) near the stadium along the revel-heavy Lane Avenue gauntlet, two quick best bets park in front of Riverwatch Tower (364 W. Lane Ave.) every home game: Schmidt’s Sausage truck and the Pizza Cottage food truck.
Just want food inside the ‘Shoe? You won’t fare much better than at two locally grown all-stars: Dirty Frank’s hot dog stand (section 19A) and fried chicken specialist Hot Chicken Takeover (near gates 33 and 35).
Take a walk on the less-wild side (the hack)
Only a short distance from the madding crowd, you’ll find a three-block stretch along High Street — north of Lane Avenue, between Duncan Avenue and Kelso Road — packed with good eateries. Among these are several spots that feature delicious, football-fan-compatible grub.
⋅ Hank’s Texas BBQ, 2941 N. High St., 614-972-6020, www.hankstexasstylebbq.com
Brisket is king at Hank’s Texas BBQ, but it reigns over a versatile eatery. Hank’s is a breezy place to hang with a beer — literally so when the garage doors are open to its popular patio — and catch games on enough TVs to nearly qualify as a sports bar. All barbecued meats are skillfully smoked (the pulled pork is runner-up to the succulent brisket), but don’t sleep on the collard greens, pimento cheese or fried jalapeno “bottle caps.”
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⋅ O’Reilly’s Pub, 2822 N. High St, 614-262-6343
O’Reilly’s Pub is an Irish tavern where personable servers pour a fine pint of Guinness, but it’s also a quintessential neighborhood dive bar. Within its cozy, wood-bedecked confines — and on its patio — Bob Seger fans rub and bend elbows with patrons more fond of bands like Superchunk. They all dig the terrific pub grub, such as the duly legendary Pepper Burger, hand-cut fries, righteous chili and fiery “Scott’s style” wings.
⋅ Derive Brewing Co., 2808 N. High St., 614-732-4186, www.derivebeer.com
Derive Brewing Co. might be one of the best-kept secrets in the area. The slyly hip brewpub produces impressive beers in multiple styles and also offers: a fancifully appointed dining room with sports-tuned TVs; one of the more convivial parking lot patios around; an alluring menu of dressed-up fan favorites. The latter includes thin-crust pizzas with trendy toppings (like the spicy “gabagool”), serious smashburgers, crispy fries plus a crunchy-coated — and mammoth — hot chicken sandwich.
⋅ Hounddog's Pizza, 2657 N. High St., 614-261-4686, www.hounddogspizza.com
In one room, this vintage north-of-campus haunt is a classic college pizza parlor with trippy murals and inviting woodwork. A congenial counterculture ambience likewise pervades Hounddog’s larger and darker bar area, where multiple TVs beam sports and I always sit. Both spaces offer lovable pizzeria fare. Pro tips: Choose the crispy, garlicky, herb-kissed, edge-puffed “Smokin’ Joe’s” crust; an unbeatable daily happy hour deal is offered (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) — an enormous pie and pitcher of beer for $24.99.
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⋅ Ray Ray’s Hog Pit, 2619 N. High St. at Ace of Cups, 614-753-1191, rayrayshogpit.com
Call this excellent, long-running mobile barbecue restaurant “The Hogfather” of artisanal Columbus food trucks. Parked outside Ace of Cups music club — don’t expect much televised sports, but expect a great patio and beer selection — Ray Ray’s grills superior ribs, outstanding sausages, addictive jerk chicken, killer pulled pork, veggie delights like cauliflower burnt ends and, well, you get the picture. A whole mess of such lusty delicacies are corralled in an amazing pig-out box dubbed “Meatsweats.”
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