Commonwealth Sandwich Bar is a relative newcomer on the Columbus dining scene. With hearty offerings topped with house-made flourishes, it’s quickly become a hotspot in the area between OSU’s campus and the Short North along High Street.

If you find yourself in Downtown Columbus around lunchtime and you’ve got a few extra minutes on your hands, you have a great opportunity to stray from the beaten path. Pick from the area’s best bites and enjoy that food in a beautiful park for a truly relaxing interlude to your day.

First up, on Gay Street, you’ll find Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails . Order the sweet potato fries. They’re so addictive, and come with spicy aioli for dipping. Sweet potatoes are healthy, right? While you wait for your order to come up, why not indulge in a drink? The Bottoms Up (whiskey and RC Cola garnished with a cherry) is only $3 all day, every day.

Right around the corner is El Arepazo , a pan-Latin restaurant on Pearl Alley. Pick up an arepa, which is a corn cake sandwich filled with meat and/or veggies, popular in the owner Carlos’ native Venezuela. The real show stopper here is the creamy, green sauce that comes on the side. You’ll want to order extra. El Arepazo is very popular, so arrive a bit before or after noon for a shorter wait.

For Downtown dessert, it’s hard to do better than Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties . They’re famous for their brownies and blondies, packed with imaginative flavors. My favorite is the fiery brownie – with lots of ground hot pepper to add a memorable kick.

You’ll need somewhere to eat, because great food deserves a great atmosphere, and there plenty of parks within a few minutes’ walk. My nearby favorites are the new Columbus Commons and the Topiary Park . Columbus Commons has lots of shaded tables, a carousel and a free library of books to peruse while you eat. The Topiary Garden is a hidden gem. Mature trees provide shade, and the finely manicured topiaries recreate Seurat’s famous A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte.

What’s your perfect combo for a downtown lunch?

This time of year, distances to walk at lunchtime seem shorter than they did during the frigid temperatures of the previous months. I like to take advantage of the warmer weather by strolling to some of the lunchtime programs in the area. They’re great escapes in the middle of the day.

Below are a few options to consider:

• Every Friday between May 29 and September 4, The Ohio Statehouse offers free lunch time performances from 12:00- 1:00 p.m. on the Statehouse lawn (except for Friday, July 3). You can check the performance schedule here .

• The last Friday of each month this summer, stop in the Experience Columbus Visitor Center to see and touch exotic animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The first visit this season is this week! Additional dates and details are here .

• On varying days, the OSU Urban Arts Space offers a variety of exhibits and lectures at their space located in the historic Lazarus building. Check the schedule for upcoming "Brown Bag" dates here .

Pearl Market

• Daily, the Arena Grand Movie Theatre shows nonstop movie trailers during lunch for free. You can also grab food from their Bistro & Bar , which offers lunch specials Monday through Friday.

• If you’re a sports fan or just want to check out the new ballpark , the Columbus Clippers offer afternoon games on the following dates:

Thursday May 28 at 11:35 a.m.
Thursday June 18 at 12:05 p.m.
Thursday July 9 at 12:05 p.m.
Tuesday August 4 at 12:05 p.m.

(The full Clippers schedule is here )

• Every Tuesday and Friday, the Pearl Market offers special events, fresh local produce and gift items from local vendors. More information can be found here .

Do you have any lunchtime escapes to add?