Ohio State Football - Central Ohio News

Ohio State football games are central Ohio's favorite fall pastime but the festivities associated with the games are a close second. But take heart. Even if you're not tailgating you have many options to satisfy your achin' for celebratin' on Saturdays in Columbus. So if you're heading to a Buckeye game, here's a sampling of some of the pre- and post-game hangouts that are just a football's throw away from Ohio Stadium.

VARSITY CLUB, 278 W. Lane Ave.: Any list of Ohio State hot spots must start here. This bastion of OSU students and alumni has been host to countless fans looking for a beer to cry in or one to celebrate. The Varsity Club is so popular that its owners rented out a bar adjacent to Sun Devil Stadium, and renamed it the Varsity Club in the days leading up to the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. The night after the national championship victory there was a two-hour wait to even get into the place. Expect a similar wait at the real McCoy on Lane Ave., as the hardcore fans beginning filling the room early in the morning. This is a popular spot.

HINEY GATE, 328 W. Lane Ave.: Based on the theory that if you're going to drink all day, you may as well start in the morning, Hiney Gate is located in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn on Lane Ave. Hiney Gate is part concert, part beer garden and all fun. Bands keep fans entertained both before and after the game, and liquid refreshment is readily available from beer trailers parked in the lot. If you can't get into the stadium, Hiney Gate features an enormous big-screen and rowdy fans. The bathroom situation is a little dicey with long lines and less-than-stellar sanitation, but I've never known anyone to actually get sick. Hiney Gate can get a little crowded, particularly after the game, but it has great popularity and is a must-see for anyone attending their first Buckeye game. Plus, if you really like the song 'Hang On Sloopy' — and what self-respecting Buckeyes fan doesn't — you can expect to hear it here, repeatedly. Hiney Gate is a blast for OSU fans, but because of the drunken debauchery and big crowds, it's probably not the best place to bring young kids.

TOMMY'S, 1350 W. Lane Ave.: Tommy's sponsors a popular pre-game tailgate that attracts its share of Ohio State students. The tailgate features bands, and the food at Tommy's is pretty good too, with a variety of subs and pizza available. The more sophisticated tailgater can sample a pitcher of Tommy's famous sangria. Regular folk will like the cheap beer — the only brews on draft are Icehouse and Miller Genuine Draft. This is also a good place to spot some players and coaches after the game.

BUCKEYE DONUTS, 1998 N. High St.: This is a place to stop and pick up some delicious pastries before a game, or after when you can sample a late-night donut or the gyros that were recently added to the menu. On a cold morning in November, the fresh-brewed coffee really hits the spot. And although the regular clientele there tends to be of the tragically-hip variety, everyone is friendly and willing to point lost (or over-inebriated) OSU fans in the right direction. As a side note, it's one of 195 businesses listed in the Columbus Yellow Pages that have 'Buckeye' in its name.

LA BAMBA BURRITOS, 1956 N. High St.: This Mexican food joint features affordable and delicious burritos that are promoted as being 'as big as your head.' In fitting with the theme the restaurants walls are adorned with people with burritos as heads. It's a strange sight to see at the end of a long day watching football and partying. You can usually expect a long post-game line at La Bamba, but you can kill time watching their workers put together burritos that were voted best in Columbus by Columbus Alive magazine last year. This is a great place to soak up some of that 'liquid refreshment' from Hiney Gate.

THE BIER STUBE, 1479 N. High St. : I don't know what a Stube is, but I do know I like going there. The Stube is one of High Streets hidden gems. Literally. This tiny bar is about a half-block off of High Street and can only be reached by following a driveway next to a carry-out restaurant that leads to the well-concealed bunker of a bar. The Stube is not for your highfalutin' classy folk, its more for those looking to get down and dirty after a Buckeye win. Or a loss. Whatever. The Stube is a little out of the way from most of the game day hoopla, but the coldest beer and the best jukebox in town make it a worthwhile trek. Oh, one last thing, the Stube has really good pizza, unexpected for a place with a distinctly German name.

ADRIATICO'S, 265 W. 11th Ave.: Adriatico's attracts a diverse clientele. You can expect to see plenty of freshman in the place, because this pizza joint is right down the block from OSU's freshmen dorms. The place also attracts many OSU alumni who've learned that this place has some of the best Sicilian- and New York-style pizza around. The alumni also like the fact Adriatico's has inexpensive pitchers of beer, which is key for people attempting to pay off their student loans.

THE LENNOX TOWN CENTER, 777 Kinnear Road: The Lennox can satisfy about any need you have before or after a Buckeye game. Ready to fill your belly before venturing over to Ohio Stadium? Restaurants like Champps, Johnny Rockets and Don Pablo's can satisfy just about any food hankering you have. Feel like soothing your soul after a tough loss? Try checking out a comedy movie on one of the AMC Lennox's 24 movie screens. There's also ample shopping opportunities here, with stores like World Market and Old Navy providing a wide range of shopping options. This is key for those football widows or widowers who aren't interested in the game.

THE LIBRARY, 2169 N. High St.: If you want a small bar with a small crowd and no big screens, this is the place for you. It's about the only bar near OSU that can be called 'off the beaten path' even though it's smack-dab in the middle of the beaten path. If getting together with friends and having a few drinks is more important to you than the game itself, check out The Library, and don't forget to carve your name into a table.

THE THIRSTY SCHOLAR, 2201 Neil Ave.: Just a little up the road from The Varsity Club, The Thirsty Scholar offers a smaller crowd packed into a much smaller building. They make up for the lack of floor space by offering thirsty patrons — or scholars as the case may be — ice cold cans of beer immediately inside the door. This is a great place to kill time while waiting for a table at neighboring Tommy's.

TAXI CABS: OK, you're probably wondering what taxis are doing on this list. Well assuming you hit all the venues listed above, you might not want to get behind the wheel of a car. Fear not, just call Yellow Cab Columbus at 614-444-4444 and leave the driving to them. Or maybe just try to get a room at the Holiday Inn. You can always get a beer at Hiney Gate on the way.