The entrance to the Buca Di Beppo in Columbus is sunken below the street level.

Looking to get out of town for a change — but not that far out of town? Here are some Columbus restaurants worth the drive.

Buca Di Beppo

• Basics: 343 N. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215. [MAP] (614) 621-3287. www.bucadibeppo.com. Open for dinner Sunday-Thursday, 11 am-10 pm; Friday-Sunday, 11 am-11 pm. Dinner entrees range from $8.99 to $26.99. Reservations accepted. Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Bear left on I-60 East. Take Exit # 3 (Neil Ave.). Turn right on Park St. Park St. turns into Front St. Buca Di Beppo is less than a mile down the street.
• The Deal: Authentic Italian dishes hailing mainly from the southern part of "the Boot," but there are some northern dishes as well. Platters are reportedly mountainous and the restaurant is modeled after the diner joints of the 1940s and 50s.
• Worth the Trip?: Authentic means authentic, which means lots of hollering servers, banging doors, Sinatra on the radio, and Italian language tapes in the bathrooms. This award-winning, acclaimed restaurant comes highly recommended for both romantic dinners and group dining.

Lindey's

• Basics: 169 E. Beck St. Columbus, OH 43206. [MAP] (614) 228-4343. www.lindeys.com. Open for dinner Sunday-Thursday, 11 am-10 pm; Friday-Saturday, 11 am-11 pm. Dinner entrees range from $15 to $30. Reservations accepted. Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Take Exit #100B (US-23 N Livingston to Fourth). Continue on N. Livingston St. Turn right on Mohawk St. Lindey's will be just over a mile away at the corner of Mohawk and Beck.
• The Deal: American cuisine in an Upper East Side, New York-style bistro setting. Features original artwork, brass railings, and a hardwood floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows look onto a picturesque, gas-lit street.
• Worth the Trip?: If it's good enough for the Washington Post, the New York Times, and Gourmet Magazine, then it's good enough for you.

M. Restaurant & Bar

• Basics: 2 Miranova Place Ste. 100. Columbus, OH 43215. [MAP] (614) 629-0000. www.matmiranova.com. Open for dinner Monday-Thursday, 5-10 pm; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 pm. Reservations recommended. Dinner entrees range from $20 to $36. Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Take Exit #100A (US-23 S to Front/High St.). Turn left on S. Front St. Turn left on W. Mount St. M Restaurant & Bar is less than a mile away at the corner of Mound and Miranova.
• The Deal: One of the swankiest joints in town, this serves up a diverse menu from classic French to contemporary Asian to Muscovy Duck. M features impeccable service, a lovely view of the river, and gleams with light wood and state-of-the-art lighting.
• Worth the Trip?: Dressing up is expected and thousands of bottles of wine are in stock, so this is the ideal getaway romantic evening for you and your honey. Plus, as one reviewer put it, it's "world-class cuisine at Columbus prices."

L'Antibes

• Basics: 772 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215. [MAP] (614) 291-1666. www.lantibes.com. Open for dinner Tuesday-Thursday, 5-9 pm; Friday-Saturday, 5-10 pm; Sunday brunch from 11 am- 3 pm. Dinner entrees range from $25 to $36. Reservations highly recommended. Take I-70 East to Columbus, and bear left on I-670 East. Take the US-23 N Exit toward Fourth St. Turn right on E. Goodale St. Turn right at N. High St. L'Antibes is less than a mile away.
• The Deal: Each dish comprised of classic continental cuisine is personally prepared by Chef Dale Gussett. Three courses consist of everything from domestic loin of lamb with Dijon mustard, chardonnay, and demi-glace to pan-seared sea scallops with a tomato-orange coulis.
• Worth the Trip?: Also recommended for romantic outings, but only if you enjoy an authentic European experience (i.e. dining in a severely enclosed space). Tables are nicely spaced but few.

Chile Verde Café

• Basics: 4852 Sawmill Rd. Columbus, OH 43235. [MAP] (614) 442-6630. Open Sunday-Thursday, 11 am-9 pm; Friday-Saturday, noon-10 pm. Entrees range from $9 to $13. Reservations accepted for larger parties; call-aheads accepted otherwise. Take I-70 East to Columbus, and bear right to take Exit#93B (I-270 North to Cleveland). Bear left to stay on I-270 North. Take Exit #15 (Turtle Crossing Blvd.). Turn right on Turtle Crossing Blvd. Turn right on Frantz Rd. Turn left on Hayden Run Rd. Turn left on Sawmill Rd. Chile Verde Café is less than a mile away down the road.
• The Deal: Considered by many to be the best Mexican joint in Columbus, Chile Verde serves humongous portions.
• Worth the Trip?: Admittedly, when you're staggering down the sidewalk at 3:30 am, Taco Bell is the place to go. However, for a quality evening of Mexican cuisine, come on down and have a frozen margarita with your god-sized chimichanga.

Morton's: The Steakhouse

• Basics: 280 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215. [MAP] (614) 464-4442. www.mortons.com. Open Monday-Saturday, 4:45-11 pm; Sunday, 5-10 pm. Average entrée dish per person is $92. Reservations recommended. Take I-70 East to Columbus, and bear left onto I-670 East. Take Exit #3 (Neil Ave.). Turn right on Neil Ave. Turn left on Vine St. Turn right on N. High St. Morton's is less than a mile down the road.
• The Deal: If you've ever been to the legendary Precinct in Cincinnati, Morton's will look very familiar, with the dark wood, celebrity photos, and tuxedoed waiters. Morton's was recently voted as having the best steak in Columbus, and patrons can choose from porterhouses, rib-eyes, bone-in prime rib, and more. Excellent seafood options are also available.
• Worth the Trip?: Especially if you're a Cincinnati transplant and miss the Jeff Ruby delivery.

Wholly Joe's Chicago Eatery

• Basics: 1182 E. Powell Rd. Columbus, OH 43035. [MAP] (614) 430-9441. Open daily 11 am-9 pm. Dishes range from $2.35 (dawgs) to $20 (pizzas). Walk-ins only. Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Take Exit #93B (I-270 N) and keep left. Take the US-23 (Delaware/Worthington) exit and follow signs to stay on US-23 N. US-23 N turns into N. High St. Turn right on E. Powell Rd, and veer left to continue on E. Powell Rd. Wholly Joe's is less than a mile from there.
• The Deal: Chicago-style hot dogs, deep-dish pizza, and Italian beef.
• Worth the Trip?: While purists can only bring themselves to admit that Wholly Joe's is merely "good," it's not unheard of to hear a transplanted Chicagoan sheepishly admit that they actually prefer Wholly Joe's, even after a trip home.

Adriatico's New York Style

• Basics: 265 W. 11th Ave. Columbus, OH 43201. [MAP] (614) 421-2300. Open Monday-Thursday, 11 am-1:30 am; Friday-Saturday, 11 am-2:30 am; Sunday, noon-1:30 am. Dishes range from $4.75 to $25.95 (plus toppings). Walk-ins only. Take I-70 East to Columbus, and bear left on I-670 East. Take Exit #2B (Ohio-315 North). Follow signs to take Medical Center Dr. to King Ave./Hospital. Turn right on W. 9th Ave. Turn left on Neil Ave. Turn right on W. 11th Ave. Adriatico's is right there.
• The Deal: An OSU campus restaurant that's nestled near the freshman towers serving New York-style pizza with thick, oily, foccacia-like crust along with comfort food such as calzones, subs and salads. Although located on-campus, you're not likely to run into an obnoxious student body, unless you take advantage of their late hours.
• Worth the Trip?: While some pizza connoisseurs who spend their holidays in Ohio make a point to stop at Adriatico's, the real clincher is the willingness of people to negotiate the hassles of campus traffic and parking to get there.

Hyde Park Grille

• Basics: 1615 Old Henderson Rd. Columbus, OH 43220. [MAP] (614) 442-3310. Open Monday-Thursday, 5-10 pm; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 pm, Sunday, 5-8:30 pm. Entrees range from $25 to $45. Reservations recommended. Take I-70 East to Columbus, and bear left on I-670 East. Take Exit #2B (I-315 North). Follow the signs to Henderson Rd. Turn left on W. Henderson St. Turn left on Larwell Dr. Turn left on Old Henderson Rd. Hyde Park Grille is right there.
• The Deal: An upscale steak house with an Ohio feel. The Hyde Park Grille is characterized by its dark wood, cocktail bars, and dishes inspired by such Ohio sports luminaries as former OSU football head coach John Cooper and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar. The latter owns the house favorite, a big fillet topped with lobster meat and served in a bordelaise sauce.
• Worth the Trip?: For regular folks who appreciate quality ambience without any accompanying, out-of-place vibes.

Dragonfly

• Basics: 247 King Ave. Columbus, OH 43201. [MAP] (614) 298-9986. Open Tuesday-Thursday, 5-10 pm; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 pm. Entrees range from $20 to $28. Reservations accepted. Take I-70 East to Columbus, and bear left on I-670 East. Take Exit #2B (I-315 North). Take the Medical Center Drive exit toward Hospital/King Ave. Turn right on Cannon Dr. Turn left on King Ave. Dragonfly is less than a mile down the road.
• The Deal: This exotic neo-vegan joint includes such dishes as dragon-licked nifiri tofu and jerk vegetable pizza. Cocktails and appetizers are also inventive.
• Worth the Trip?: Special excursions need not just be for carnivores.

Compiled by Alexis Larsen