On the various top party schools lists that circulate the internet every year, Ohio University always seems to make its way into one of the top slots. This past year, Playboy honored OU by naming it the number one party school, saying “OU’s year round antics are tough to beat.” The raging parties that can be found on Mill or Palmer any night of the week and the infamous bar-filled Court Street are well documented aspects of OU’s night life. However, the result of these late-night antics have for the most part been ignored. When the bars close and the house parties are shut down, there is either one of two things on students’ minds: sex or food. Often the latter wins, and students head to one of the many eateries that stay open late to accommodate them.
Bobcats adore Big Mamas
One of the Athens eateries most beloved by drunken Bobcats is Big Mamas. Senior Christy Baker often makes her way to Big Mamas, located at 10 S. Court St., because “It's one of the few places I can get vegetarian drunk food. Also because sombrero dip is fly.”
Big Mamas receives 70 percent of its business after 11 pm, with many students ordering sombrero dip like Baker, or the popular chipotle ranch burritos. General Manager Jason Hudson said that being located on a party school campus only helps business. Big Mamas recently came in at number 11 on Buzzfeed’s list, “The 43 Best Drunken Eats In College Towns Across America.” This likely wouldn’t have happened if Big Mamas was located on another campus with less partying students to stumble through the doors at 1 am after a night out. Hudson hasn’t had too many issues dealing with drunk people, saying “The worst thing is when a lot of people start chanting about something, like the Brown’s winning, and then no one can hear when their order is called.”
Hudson enjoys serving drunk people because they are more fun to talk to and more understanding about the wait. “They are just happy to get their food. The sober people sometimes get annoyed.”
Souvlaki’s, Food for the Soul
Souvlaki’s, located at 9 W. State St, is another uptown favorite for students looking for drunk munchies. Souvlaki’s serves 95 percent of their customers at night, and is busiest during the early hours of the morning on Fridays and Saturdays.
According to Souvlaki’s Owner, Hazim, the best selling item at the restaurant, which claims to be a “Mediterranean Garden,” is its gyros, but students love it because of the wide variety of food offered.
Senior Emma Thomas says, “Souvlaki’s is great. They have different kinds of food that offer a wide variety, from American to Greek classics.” Hazim for the most part hasn’t come across too many problems while serving intoxicated customers, but he has still witnessed a fair share of crazy drunken antics. “The craziest thing I’ve seen happen here was when some girls started taking their clothes off and peed right in the middle of the restaurant. I was like, what can you do about that?”
Students feel a “Red Hot” love for O'Betty’s
O'Betty’s Red Hot, neighboring Souvlaki’s at 15 W. State St, is the prime destination for drunk students looking to indulge in hot dogs, fries, or both.
Employee Mckenzie Ellis says “We have a lot of regulars that come in the day, and the night customers are often intoxicated and stopping by for a quick snack.” Ellis said most of their drunk customers are very appreciative of their service and for their food, with The Dixie hot dog and chili cheese fries being their most-ordered items. “Drunk customers are always telling us how they love us and O'Betty’s. There is a lot of affection.”
Senior Rachel Fishburn definitely has affection for O'Betty’s, saying “I like that it’s outside and I’m able to people watch and move around. The workers are very nice, and I’m obsessed with their cheese fries.” While most customers appreciate the workers and the establishment, other belligerent patrons have been disrespectful. “Sometimes drunk customers will try to steal food by walking up to the pick-up window and saying they ordered whatever the employee is calling out,” says Ellis. She also mentioned that “the craziest thing I’ve witnessed was when my coworker got punched in the face by a customer.”
It seems as if the party culture at Ohio University extends beyond the bars and the house parties. Drunk OU students know how to make any situation entertaining, including standing in line at a restaurant uptown, waiting for the number on their precious ticket stub to be called so they can head home with their tasty treats. While annoying circumstances sometimes arise, the eateries appreciate the spike in business they receive from partiers between 12 am and 4 am every weekend.
