SHORT NORTH. In the artsy Short North district, this vegetarian café offers a peaceful sanctuary from the bustle of city life. The premise is simple-healthy food made from scratch daily and served on rustic community tables. But the hearty soups such as Gypsy vegetable, dense homemade breads such as Grains of the Goddess, and heaping salad plates ensure that simplicity won't leave you hungry for flavor. Top it all off with some of the best cookies, cakes and cinnamon rolls in the city.

Not a lot has changed at "the Dube" since it made its debut on the Columbus restaurant scene back in the 1940s. But the draw for a mixed crowd from professor-types and students from Ohio State University, to families is the food. Reasonable prices and well-portioned sandwiches, pizza, burgers and salads, plus plenty of Greek specialties keep them coming back. The bonus: it stays open late, and the jukebox is great!

A steady stream of downtown and Statehouse workers file in to this establishment that serves bagels of every type, from cranberry orange to spinach. To compete with the chains, the independent owner offers wonderfully priced bagels and charges just a little more to add toppings such as peanut butter, hummus, or various cream cheeses. Eat on the run or sit at the bar and people watch. Come back for lunch and you can choose your salad ingredients from an extensive salad case ­ a server will then toss your selections for you in a big silver bowl.

GRANDVIEW. Cap City Diner is primarily a lunch and dinner spot, but on Sundays, the extensive brunch selection draws big crowds. From eggs Benedict and oatmeal Brûlée to salads, meats, and Cap City's gourmet sandwiches, this brunch will satisfy any palate. But make sure you don't fill up before you have a chance to sample the 24K carrot cake or the Big Cup O' Chocolate - a mug of warm, double chocolate lava cake topped#13;#10;with triple vanilla bean ice cream.

DOWNTOWN. Whether you like your beer light or dark or somewhere between, the brew masters at the Columbus Brewing Company serve up pale, golden, nut brown and apricot ales, a wheat beer and a porter based on an 1859 recipe, in short, a drink to compliment any meal. A great Happy Hour stop that can spill over into dinner and late night.