1. Jason Cashola

DJ, Get Right

Cheap: If you know me, then you know I ride hard for Japanese Steakhouse lunch specials (479 N High St). Over the years, my palate has changed, but I still have a yearning for this suburbanized version of Japanese food.  If you play your cards right, you can get hibachi chicken, salad and a side of fried rice for under $10. Don’t forget that complimentary green tea is included with your meal. Chuuuch.

Rich: I feel like Kihachi (2667 Federated Blvd.) is a copout, but it has to be mentioned. If Japanese Steakhouse is on one end of the spectrum of Asian cuisine, Kihachi is on the other. It is easily the most authentic Japanese food in Columbus. You definitely have to go with an open mind and be willing to try new food.  My advice would be to skip the entrées and order many of the smaller tapas-style dishes like the icefish tempura, pork cheek, geoduck, braised baby octopus, Chilean sea bass – all of which are amazing.  If you are lucky enough to sit at the bar you will get a glimpse into the Zen-like character of Chef Kimura from their open kitchen. I have never in my life seen a kitchen so quiet and on-point. If you are more of a steak-and-potatoes kind of guy, The Clarmont (684 S High St) is one of the oldest most well-respected steakhouses in the city. Founded in 1947, their classic menu has definitely withstood the tests of time. This is how it goes: free bread, lobster bisque, crab cake, then the classic tenderloin that is a filet mignon wrapped in bacon, topped with gorgonzola – served over strips of portobello mushrooms with a moat of port wine demi-glace accompanied by side dishes served a la carte.

Sweet: Valrhona Chocolate Gelato from Whole Foods (3670 W Dublin Granville Rd.). ‘Nuff said. Get familiar.

2. Lex McAllister

No Excuses Radio

Cheap: Easy St. Cafe in Powell Village. Go for happy hour and 10 bucks will by you a gigantic gyro ($6.25) and a domestic beer ($1.75) for a grand total of $8.54 – including tax. You can’t beat that. Plus, who doesn’t love getting full on some feta?

Rich: Cameron Mitchell’s Martini: I know I know, people always chose a CM place, but they have two of my favorite things here: the Italian grapefruit gimlet at 12 bucks. I will inevitably have 3 or 4 … OK 5! I admit, I get a little tipsy when I’m here, which is why I always come with a designated driver. To accompany my fruit, I always order the pollo picatta. Martini makes the best picatta because they load up on the capers and brick oven roast the chicken. Capital MMMMMMMM … get in my belly.

Sweet: If I could, I would take every dessert in the old school, diner-style, spinning case at Knead and dump it into a barrel. Then, I would dunk my face into it, much like the character Lardass in Stand by Me … except I wouldn’t vomit it all up. I would continue eating and eating and eating until finally, I would sign myself up for the show The Biggest Loser.

3. Zachary Traxler

Traxler Tees

Cheap: The Press Grill in the Short North. Then I would sit down, order anything off their menu – because it’s all better than your mother’s home cooking (unless your mother is Liz Lessner, well – then you’re spoiled) and get a beer. That, can all be accomplished with $10.

Rich: If I had a $100, I’d buy custom shirts, but this is about food – so I would take my wife and I to Lindey’s. Our dinner would include, but not be limited to: two Sunrise cocktails, a nice fish fillet (whatever is fresh on the chef’s menu) and some calamari – they have the best in Columbus.

Sweet: Aside from the regular spot of Jeni’s – Pattycake Bakery in Clintonville is amazing. I highly recommend either the “tray ‘o’ brownies” (yes, a whole tray) or the “marry me blueberry muffin” (I hate blueberries – but hot damn I love this muffin... sounds odd – but it’s so good).

4. Matt Crumpton

Attorney, Crumpton Law

Cheap: Dirty Franks. Liz Lessner is a genius and The Classy Lady (with melted cheese and crushed potato chips) cannot be beat.

Rich: Lindey’s. This is where old fancy people hang out and where I go about twice a year to (try to) impress a girl or just have an amazing dinner. The filet and lobster bisque are both outstanding.

Sweet: Jeni’s. I know that Jeni’s is becoming a national company, but I feel like it is the rock star that you knew about before they were on the radio. Honey Pistachio is my favorite.

5. Tanisha Robinson

Fudha, Skreened

Cheap: The lunch special at Surly Girl Saloon – half a sandwich (I get the Defiler) and a bowl of soup (my pick is the meat chili or posole) all for $7.50. This leaves just enough for a nice wintry beer or a PBR and a red velvet cupcake. I eat this meal at least once a week.

Rich: Definitely Alana’s. She’s always cooking up creative deliciousness from ingredients sourced by local farmers. Her phenomenal wine selection is priced super reasonably, and Kevin will always help you pick a wine perfect for your meal. The servers are wonderful, the space eclectic, and the food is truly spectacular. Plus they’re veggie and vegan friendly, which makes it a great place for any palate. It’s a treat and an experience worth every penny of that hundred-dolla bill.

Sweets: I’m going to do a seasonal answer here; in the autumn and winter, it’s Pistacia Vera. Spencer and Anne have created the perfect place for a lovely coffee and a flawless macaron (or two, or, um, three). In the springtime, I love hitting up the Angry Baker for her huge eclairs. They’re so amazing and share-able. For the summer, I have to go with Jeni’s. Her ice cream approaches the divine.

6. Colin Gawel

Musician, owner Colin’s Coffee

Cheap: For under $10 it would be Dirty Franks. Two dogs, tater tots and a PBR. Plus you get to hear Bush League All Stars and Evil Queens songs for FREE.

Rich: For over $100, I would go to Cameron Mitchell’s Steakhouse or Due Amici depending on my mood. If I am breaking the bank, I don’t want to end up in some shopping mall parking lot, staring out my window at an the Arby’s across the way. I want to be downtown so I can squint my eyes and it sort of feels like Chicago.

Sweet: Nah.

7. Kristen Greedy

Host, PromoWest Live

Cheap: I’m a big fan of Easy St. Cafe on Thurman, especially their Sunday brunch. Cheap Bloody Marys and mimosas! I recommend the Jackie Mason: smoked salmon on a toasted bagel with cream cheese, thick sliced tomato, red onion and capers with a side of fresh fruit. They even have Reese’s Pieces pancakes! And while their traditional Greek gyro is satisfying, the Cajun chicken gyro is my fave. I don’t know what George puts in his Louisiana sauce, but it’s definitely addictive.

Rich: Mitchell’s Ocean Club. I could go on about the tuna tar tar and perfect filets, but I won’t. Two words: truffle mac-n-cheese. There is no going back.

Sweet: Jeni’s Ice Cream. Nothing like walking up High Street in the summertime wearing cutoffs with a big melty waffle cone full of brown butter almond brittle AND peaches-n-cream. Having no shame makes it that much more enjoyable.

8. Megan Green

Stinkybomb Soap

Cheap: DaLevee in the Short North tends to keep all my lunch money. $10 bucks gets you filled up on spicy and tangy cajun food with leftovers aplenty. I especially enjoy their kickin’ chicken meals which comes with loads of rice and magic toasted bread on the side. I spent all December drooling over their Back Door Burritos, which is now open late night.

Rich: I can’t say enough good things about Surly Girl Saloon. You don’t have to be rich to eat like a queen. As I don’t get out much with two young kids, you can find me on all special occasions and casual date nights out at my favorite restaurant/bar in town. Be it a drink with appetizers, splitting a pizza with my husband or the best chicken with biscuits covered in lick-able gravy. I love me some Surly Girl!

Sweet: Serve me up a Sticky Bun from PattyCake Bakery morning, noon or midnight snack. Decadent caloric overload in every bite!

9. Johnny DiLoretto

Reporter, Fox 28

Cheap: No doubt, I’d spend my Alexander Hamilton at the North Market, where I could penuriously indulge in some Clever Crow pizza, or maybe a bowl of Lac Viet’s slurpidicious* soup, or a Wiseguy sammy at Sarefino’s, or the pretzels at Brezel, or Polish food, or Middle Eastern, or Indian … see what I’m doing here? Where else in this city can you globetrot and eat like Anthony Bourdain on a tenner? Nowhere bi**es! (Full disclosure: I made up slurpidicious...)

Rich: The Franklin I’d let fly at Knead Urban Diner – and not because it’s some hoity toity, uppity strutting popinjay of a restaurant. It’s because for a 100 bucks, I could partake of the bounty that is the daily genius Chef Rick Lopez. I could lay into the Cuban-OH (slow roasted Berkshire pork shoulder) and the S’Lamb (housemade lamb gyro meat) sandwiches before moving on to his enchilada-manicotti mash-up the “enchilotti” – corn tortillas filled with pumpkin, and ricotta cheese baked in homemade red chile sauce. That leaves me enough dough to knock back a couple of house cocktails like the flamed-lemon peel infused Samuel Clemens or a Jalapeno Hemingway. And, if you’re lucky, you might overhear someone ordering a Hot Dickens Cider. That’s worth the $100 alone.

Sweet: Without hesitation, and I’m sure I’m not the only one, I would hightail it to Pistacia Vera. World class stuff to be sure. But I would be completely and utterly satisfied with the painstakingly crafted caneles, which are little dome-shaped symphonies of crunchy and custardy texture that are so good I would kick a cane out from under an old woman to get the last one in the case.

10. Michael Minnix

Eartha Limited

Cheap: A Market 65 salad wrap and a Coca-Cola from a glass bottle. In years’ past, I would have scoffed at the notion of eating a salad for lunch because I thought it was un-manly. Things changed the moment I stepped foot within the confines of this restaurant. After finishing the salad and savoring the Coca-Cola, I then proceed to break the bottle over the nearest person’s head. You think that’s un-manly? I now crave their salad and the sound of glass breaking …

Rich: I will be sitting at Tip Top, gorging on eggplant fries and a pot-roast sandwich – all while drinking Flytowns. After the meal there will still be quite a hefty chunk of change in my pocket that will undoubtedly be spent on more Flytowns. After drinking numerous Flytowns (I will say that drink name all day) and beginning to high-five everyone within arms’ reach, I leave and still have some cash left for an awkward cab ride home.

Sweet: This is a tough one. I love Pattycake. I love Jeni’s. In this wonderful world of unlimited possibilities I combine the two. In other news … your mind has just been blown.