Summer date-night picks – cheap or fancy

Want to plan a special night with your significant other but your mind is drawing a blank? Sick of stopping by the same old restaurant for a celebratory occasion? Our five – that’s right, FIVE -- panelists came up with dozens of options to keep you entertained and well-fed all summer long. In addition to finding an option for your next date night, we also debated which Cameron Mitchell restaurant is best. This is "The Great Food Debate," a podcast about the best food, drinks and specialties found in central Ohio. This episode's panelists are: • Erin Edwards, dining editor for Columbus Monthly magazine • Neil Thompson, assignment editor for ThisWeek Community News • Suzy Situ, manager of digital channel marketing for Gatehouse Media and founder of @BecauseIEat on Instagram • Katy Nye, co-founder of Columbus Foodie on Instagram and Facebook (@Columbus_Foodie) • Reanna Hickman, co-founder of Columbus Foodie on Instagram and Facebook (@Columbus_Foodie) Where can the best date night spot be found in central Ohio? Erin's pick: Cheap option: North Market (59 Spruce St., Columbus), Cosecha Cocina (987 N. Fourth St., Columbus). Expensive option: Watershed Distillery (1145 Chesapeake Ave., Columbus) Neil's pick: Cheap option: Harvest Pizzeria (locations in Dublin, German Village and Clintonville) Medium option: The Pearl (641 N. High St., Short North), Expensive option: The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro (1092 Bethel Road, Columbus) Suzy's pick: Cheap option: Wolf's Ridge Brewing, 215 N. Fourth St., Columbus. Expensive option: The Market Italian Village, 1022 Summit St., Columbus. Katy's pick: Cheap option: 16-Bit Bar (254 S. 4th St., downtown Columbus), Rockmill Brewery (5705 Lithopolis Road NW, Lancaster), Expensive option: Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse (89 E. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus), M at Miranova (2 Miranova Place, Suite 100, Columbus) Reanna's pick: Cheap option: Columbus Clippers game (330 Huntington Park Lane, Columbus), Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (1777 E. Broad St., Columbus), and Nightlight 614 (on Thursdays in the summer, at Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St.). Expensive: Anywhere in the Brewery District (especially Rockmill Tavern, 503 S. Front St., Columbus). Other date-night spots mentioned: • Fried pork rinds at Wolf's Ridge Brewing (on Taproom menu) • Cheese biscuit at Rockmill Tavern • The Eagle in Short North • Tucci's (35 N. High St., Dublin) • Mezzo (12 W. Bridge St., Dublin) • Columbus Food Truck Festival (happening every August) • Pins (locations in Dublin and downtown Columbus) • BrewDog DogTap (locations in Canal Winchester and Franklinton) • Juniper (580 N. 4th St., Columbus) • Vaso (6540 Riverside Drive, Dublin) • Soul at the Joseph (Inside La Meridien, 620 N. High St., Columbus) • The Guild House (624 N. High St., Short North) • Short North Food Hall (1112 N. High St., Short North) • Brown butter pie, coconut cream pie or any fruit pie at The Pearl • The Top Steak House (2891 E. Main St., Columbus) • The Avenue Steak Tavern (locations in Dublin and Grandview) • Cap City Fine Diner and Bar (locations in Columbus and Dublin) • Fusian (locations in Grandview, Clintonville and Easton) • Brassica (680 N. High St., Short North) • Veritas (11 W. Gay St., Columbus) • Basi Italia (911 Highland St., Victorian Village) New episodes are released every Friday. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher. Have any suggestions on what we should talk about? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @ThisWeekNews. After you subscribe, the latest episodes will be downloaded automatically to your phone or tablet so you can listen during your commute while working out or making dinner. This podcast was produced by Scott Hummel, ThisWeek assistant managing editor, digital.