Really enjoyed our breakfast from the Nutcracker. Our whole party was satisfied. Prices were good and the portions were hearty enough to get us through the rest of our day until we got back home from traveling. The diner itself is very cool. Lots of nutcrackers and nostalgia. The horse ride was a hit with the kids. Service was great and the house was packed! If we're ever back this way, we'll be back for more! read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - The nutcracker breakfast - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

A breakfast order consisting of two pancakes, two eggs, and a sausage link. A children's breakfast option including sausage. Corned beef hash is available. The wait time on a Saturday was under ten minutes. read more

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This family fun diner has great breakfast. I live the French toast and get eggs and sausage to accompany. It is also great for on the run and pick up. read more

This was our second visit after maybe 4 years, and while I don't remember the first visit, I can see why we haven't returned. The food was mediocre and overpriced, and for the money, there are *much* better diners in the Columbus area. If the prices were closer to half what we were charged, I would have thought better of The Nutcracker. A meal for 2 for ~$39: 2 unsweet iced teas 1 B.E.L.T 2 pancakes w/2 eggs and 2 sausage patties 1 order of pretzel nuggets The food wasn't worth the money - at all. The pretzel bits and the cheese sauce were microwaved. We knew because the nuggets were wrinkly (nuked from frozen) and the cheese had melted the little GFS-style serving cup. The B.E.L.T. was decent, but we ordered the eggs over-medium and received them over-easy. The pancakes absolutely came from a mix, and the sausages came from some package. The restaurant itself is clean and the service was very friendly - what you expect from a diner. Plenty of nostalgic eye-candy to draw you in. I'm unable to find a reason to recommend them. The nutcracker collection on display is impressive, but hardly worth the prices on the menu. read more

Our first time visiting. We found the place to be clean and inviting. It was a little loud but not unbearable. Decor was like a 50s diner vibe. Service was great and food was very good came out hot. I had the pork tenderloin sandwich and my wife had the club. Portions were very good and price was reasonable. We left very full. Would definitely return when in the area. read more

This is such a neat place . This is the second time we have been here as we don't live close by . The decor is back in the fifties and so unique. They also have a huge collection of nutcrackers. A candy counter also . The food is great and always busy . We shared one of the cinnamon rolls which was so good . I had the pork tenderloin sandwich and it was so big that I took some home . My daughter had the pancakes. They have a couple jukeboxes also . Very casual place . read more

Very reliable quality food and good service in a fun, old-time diner atmosphere. If you like vintage music bring some quarters for the juke box! read more

A real deal nostalgia diner. Good Food, Good Service, Friendly atmosphere. I would visit often if only I lived closer. Very special place and well done. read more

I met someone for breakfast and wasn't disappointed! Fresh eggs, thick cut bacon, delicious home fries! I'll definitely be back!

This place is always busy and a few weeks ago my wife and I stopped in for some breakfast which was amazing! Dining in is like taking a step back into time with some very cute 50's diner decor! Today I stopped in to try a cheeseburger because I was recently in the local barber shop when an older gentleman stopped in and was raving about the cheeseburger at Nutcracker saying it was one of the best burgers he's ever had! My experience was much different. The burger is advertised on the menu as a local favorite which is an 8oz patty cooked to your preference. I ordered mine to be cooked medium. The burger came out quick but was not what it is all cracked up to be. The patty to bun ratio is far from perfect and the patty is so thin that I'm not even sure why they even ask how you would like it prepared because it's hard to get it cooked any other way than well done and beyond. Burger came with a nice slice of burger lettuce but the patty tasted like it was a frozen patty and certainly not fresh ground beef made into a patty. No flavor or seasoning just a thin patty that left me disappointed. I've eaten here before and their food is always fantastic as well as their service. Place is always busy which speaks for their reputation in itself. The point of this review is not to say it's not a great place to eat, because it is. The point of this review is to let other hamburger lovers what to expect....a thin patty that tastes like a frozen premade burger with no seasoning or flavor. I will be back but not for the cheeseburger! read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - Nutcracker Cheeseburger - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

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Stopped for breakfast this morning. 7/27/25. We eat breakfast here a lot. Just about every Sunday. I had the veggie omelette. My typical breakfast. And, it's always good. Last couple of times I've had to ask them to go light on the cheese. But this morning and a few of the past Sundays we've come, my husband always gets the country fried steak. And, he always asks for the gravy on the side. And it always comes with the gravy on the steak. My husband doesn't like to, or really ever, complain. He just scrapes most of it off and eats it. Well, this morning he must of had enough and told the waitress he asked for it on the side. She was more than willing to take it back, and he declined, but this time really upset him. And then I have to listen to him complain about it. For the love of my sanity people, please read the ticket and give this guy what he wants. Just put the gravy on the side. I don't know when we'll be back though. He was pretty mad. Otherwise, the waitress was nice and breakfasts are good, when you get what you ask for. Sorry. read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant was a delightful bit of classic American diner nostalgia. The servers were super friendly and helpful. Nothing like a classic home style restaurant. I had the meatloaf stack. Perfectly Delicious. I definitely plan on stopping by again if in the area. Menu had so many diner classics I wanted to try. I will be recommending them to my friends and family. read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - Meatloaf Stack - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

We love coming to the Nutcracker when we are in town! Definitely our go to when it comes to the Pataskala area. The cool vintage decor and the jukebox add much to the experience! The food and service is always great! A real gem in Pataskala! read more

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Haven't been here in almost 4 years. Friend was in town wanted to go. Service is above average. Place is clean. The food just sucks. I am convinced it's just GFS. $18 for a 1/4 lb cheeseburger. FF and soda. Thats a dollar more than the last time I went and you don't get two sides with the platter anymore. I just don't get the appeal of this place read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - Over Priced - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

This as home style cooking as you can get. We came at 12pm on a Sunday and it was pretty crowded, we waited around 25 mins for our group of 7. The food was so good, I love that we were able to choose from breakfast and lunch/dinner items. If they have the pumpkin roll French toast in season, you must order! It's the perfect sweet ending to all the salty goodness. read more

If you love 50s diners, Christmas, or nutcrackers - the Nutcracker Family Restaurant is your place! I was in so much awe when I first stepped into the diner - it is so cute! First off, diners are my jam! Second, I absolutely love Christmas. Third, I love collecting nutcrackers! I recently discovered that the Nutcracker Family Restaurant is my 15-year-olds favorite restaurant. That should instantly tell you something! The servers/service is great, the cost is low, and the food is absolutely delicious! They also support our veterans! I ordered the skillet breakfast, my husband and bonus son ordered the big breakfast, and our daughter ordered the kids french toast! Everything was seriously so tasty! The cheesy hashbrown casserole was my favorite! We also ordered four pie slices to go. While everything on the menu's cost is low - I would say that the single pie slices are not as low in cost - they are $4 each. It would have actually been cheaper to buy a whole pie; however, everyone wanted a different kind of pie (rolling eyes). I definitely cannot wait to go back! If you have not been to the Nutcracker Family Restaurant, I highly recommend stopping by the next chance you read more

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We ate brunch at Nutcracker today. The service here is always prompt, courteous, and friendly. The restaurant is decorated with hundreds of nutcrackers, old Pataskala nostalgia and memorabilia. We both had chicken fried steak with country gravy. My wife had the dinner with applesauce and french fries while I had the breakfast version with two eggs and cheesy hash brown casserole. My wife loves their chicken fried steak. It is the star of both meals. My eggs were cooked perfectly but they only come potato side is just not good. They offer two kinds of potatoes: cheesy hash browns and redskin home fries. The home fries have never come out good being either cold or when I've mentioned that on ordering they heat them up and taste stale. For me neither is a good option. Now my wife's side of fries is a different story. They are cooked to order, are crispy, and hot: delicious. But for breakfast you cannot substitute the fries for either of the other two potato sides. Too bad. I'll continue to return because my wife loves their chicken fried steak meal. A small price for me to pay when everything else is good. 4 stars for the lousy breakfast potatoes. read more

The ambiance is very inviting. There's comfortable booths and tables/chairs. Our server was polite and checked back often. I ordered a bowl of chicken soup and it came out hot and delicious. Lots of chicken and the broth was tasty. Hubby ordered a cheeseburger and fries. He thought the sandwich was delicious and fries crispy! We each ordered a piece of pie to go! read more

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Super homely diner restaurant. Very cute and fam oriented with delicious homemade food and amazing pies! Really loved this place and the service was incredibly fast. Really loved the meatloaf and the pies. Wish I could hav tried more pies but was just too full. Recommend!! read more

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What a unique place! We had breakfast which was great (lots of food-so keep that in mind). They even brought a separate plate for the toast (which no one does anymore). Service was impeccable-coffee never got below 3/4 full (love that). The silverware is packaged and sterilized and they automatically give extra napkins. We will return for more! read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - Cheese omelet and country fried breakfast. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

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My wife and I have been missing a true 50s diner since we've moved, and we were excited when hearing about this place. Sure enough, the decor certainly matches our expectations. But when I saw the menu, I was very disappointed. Typical diners like this feature a few different types of burgers--they only have their steak cheeseburger and 1/3lbs cheeseburger. My wife ordered the root beer they have on tap, and I ordered the steak burger. When my burger arrived, I was disappointed. It looked like just a standard (albeit wider) burger. Very unimpressive. But once I bit into it--wow! Really good! Looks can be deceiving, and it sure was here. Very juicy. I ordered the onion rings as the side. Delicious! And wife really enjoyed the root beer. And, as I write this, I realized they don't offer a staple of any 50s diner: shakes and malts. Service was polite and attentive. All in all, I would definitely return for a good lunch, and recommend it. Just don't expect anything more than a normal diner with 50s decor. To their credit, they had a good menu--not too many things, not too few. Just not the menu selection you'd find at a true 50s diner. read more

The Nutcracker is such a cute 1950's style diner. I got: 〰 Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake: pretty good, but had some ice crystals in the ice cream that was a little off putting. 〰 Meatloaf Stack: meatloaf on top of mashed potatoes & thick sourdough bread all smothered in brown gravy served in a skillet. The onion rings were super crispy and delicious. The meatloaf was flavorful and a large portion! I loved the fun interior of the restaurant. The walls are filled with '50's style decor. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner- there is something on the menu for everyone! I would best describe the menu offerings as comfort food. The prices are very reasonable! For example, the meatloaf dinner was only $10.99! read more

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Food was excellent. Wait staff was very courteous. The ambiance is of a diner and is very welcoming.

Great breakfast! The skillet is absolutely delicious. Always have had great service with the food coming out pretty quick and hot. Love seeing the old neon and nostalgic signs throughout the place. read more

Great diner - food is piping hot and portions are large I had a Big Breakfast in the afternoon and my wife had Fish and Chips. Stuffed full. And to finish it off with a draft root beer float. read more

My husband took me here this week and it has a great atmosphere, great prices, great food, very clean , fast service read more

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I have been trying to eat here for over a year, but every time I drive by, this place is packed!! My boyfriend and I finally got up early on a Saturday morning to beat the rush so we could dine here for breakfast. I knew Nutcracker had an old 50s throwback theme but I was WOW'd when we walked in. It is so cute!! There are probably hundreds of nutcrackers all over this place along with old school toys and a juke box. We were seated quickly and greeted quickly. I had the BELT bagel sandwich and a pancake. Both were really tasty! I forget everything my boyfriend had but he said the corn beef hash was some of the best he has ever had. I tried his cheesy potato casserole and it was amazing! I'm definitely getting that next time. The place was pretty busy but I thought service was quick and friendly. Definitely recommend supporting this local diner! read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - BELT breakfast sandwich - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

Great food great location and outstanding customer service! This is now on my go to list! read more

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Consistently good comfort food From open face. roast beef sandwich to beef liver. Awesome chef salad and great atmosphere. Odd business hours though. A regular stop for us. read more

This is the cutest throwback diner, with nutcrackers everywhere. Walking into a display of chocolates is amazing!! The dark chocolate pretzel is delicious. We ordered the meatloaf dinner with a side of onion rings. The meatloaf was listed as a customer favorite and I can see why. The meatloaf is stacked on mashed potatoes, on white bread, smothered in gravy!!! The portion was very filling. The onion rings were the perfect crispness. Overall it was the perfect spot for dinner read more

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Great food, fun small hometown atmosphere, great & quick service! I highly recommend Sunday breakfast with your family!

Cute little diner.Been now for breakfast and lunch. Both experiences were pretty good. The biscuits and gravy are really tasty, that plus a side of bacon is my new favorite breakfast from here. The burgers are pretty good as well, but the strawberry shake is the star of the show! Can get busy, but haven't had too wait too long. read more

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We always experience amazing service here. My kids absolutely love this place. The food is great, awesome portion sizes, and pricing isn't horrible. Our last visit we had a young server. The server, although young, appeared to have the experience of 20 people. Was all over the place, doing everything to keep things running smoothly. My 11yr old daughter took notice and advised me I had to leave "the best tip ever". Would gladly leave the best tip ever, for every visit we have here. read more

From the decorations to the food this is a fun diner to visit in Pataskala. When you walk in, they have a genuine pie display and a chocolate display like old timey diners used to have. The pie looked fantastic! The food was good and the menu had several items to choose from. It was fun to look at all the decorations while waiting for the food to come out. Our service was okay. It was a bit slow but that is understandable with many places being understaffed right now. It looks like a local favorite as the restaurant was busy. I would love to go back and try the pie and chocolates sometime. read more

Food was Great! Man, did it take me back in time, the food was excellent and the atmosphere was amazing, they have the best onion rings , I've had in a long time ! It was well worth the trip from Powell Ohio read more

This is place is the cutest mom and pop business I've ever been to. The decoration is just like a restaurant in the 60s, and the menu offers the best hot dogs, hamburgers ever. The pies are a must. They also have a section on the other side of the restaurant where you can buy their pies, home-made chocolates, and many goodies. They close early, so be ready to have dinner by 7 p.m. Loved it. read more

Very few restaurants of any type actually fulfill one's expectations. The Nutcracker is all that it can be. Service, Ambiance ,Food, Friendly, You name it. Old time 50's Dinner complete with juke box, soda fountain, baked goods, chili, you name it. Go there, you will be pleased. , read more

The cheeseburger and onion rings were so tasty! The burger was bigger than the bun by a huge amount! My husband and I shared it, our dog did to! Very good! read more

Walking in this place you would NEVER prepare for what you see!! It takes you back to the 50s with its vintage decor , barber pole light, and metal signs all over. The jukebox and plaid black and white floor is also a nice added touch. The seats are shiny and have glitter !! Love it! If you're in the mood for some comfort food this is the best place to go. All you can eat foods on the menu along with fresh onion rings, hotdogs, and fresh salads. I had beef and noodles. Homemade noodles! The mashed potatoes were creamy and the portions were enough to take home for lunch tomorrow. Our waitress was Sydney and she was so great with quick refills and coming back to check on us. The also have fresh homemade pies and cashews by the bag turning under a light in the case. You have to stop by The Nutcracker and have a delicious dinner sometime! I will be returning to this place very soon! read more

Nutcracker Family Restaurant - Menu :) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Pataskala, Ohio

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My family has ordered takeout from here 4-5 times and all but this last time, last week, the food was good. The meatloaf stacker, mash potatoes, Parmesan chicken and liver and onions was little better than cafeteria food. None of it tasted home cooked. read more