Dolphin Lounge   

OK, so it's on the outskirts of a so-so area of Gahanna and not on the way to anywhere else. And the hours are mostly for night owls and musicians, who actually comprise a good part of the customer base. But there's never a cover change and the regulars who come to play -- as well as many of those just starting out -- offer high-quality jams not heard elsewhere. The velvet Elvis and John Wayne wall coverings alone merit the drive out, as do the ubiquitous porpoise kitsch (including a blue-lit up glass number) and the conversations with the establishment's yarn-spinning bartender/owner. Dolphin Lounge has been around since the '70s, but with red carpeting, a sunken bar, and gold accents, it looks even older than that. Folks are friendly, the drinks are inexpensive, and you can ask for a Harvey Wallbanger or a Pink Squirrel and not get laughed out the door.