Scott Grimsley
52 Victorian Village special-events manager, office of the president, Ohio State University During the week, sometimes I like to leave work early and take advantage of happyhour food.
So where are your favorite spots for that?
The Pearl (641 N. High St.) has a very extensive happy-hour menu, and I’m not sure they want me saying this, but they don’t mind if you order something "to go" off the happy-hour menu. Their house-made tater tots are just amazing, and they also have a smoked salmon that’s incredible.
And all their stuff is half price. I’m a believer in good deals on food.
I also like Cosecha (Cocina, 987 N. 4th St.). They have a wonderful happy-hour drink program, and you can get really nice tacos and vegetarian tamales.
Do you ever grab lunch on campus?
Sure, we go to Pho (Asian Noodle) House (1288 W. Lane Ave.). I don’t do a lot of meat-based pho, but they have an amazing vegetarian one with tofu and then a plate of fresh bean sprouts and mint and stuff.
And if I have a few minutes, Philco (Bar + Diner, 747 N. High St.) is my favorite restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have a $6 double-stack burger that’s the same that you see in other places selling for $12 to $16.
I’m from Austin (Texas), and they have a great friedegg breakfast taco, a great hoisin-glazed meatloaf, and a corn chowder with sausage and potato in it that’s the best I’ve had. It’s really a hidden gem.