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Ringside Cafe

4.3 (202 reviews)
ModerateBars, Burgers, American
Closed • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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Business Info

RINGSIDE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Ringside Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Aubrie H.

If youre looking for a good burger, then you should definitely visit. It was cooked perfectly and had wonderful flavor. I love all the old wood in the restaurant and the vibe is nice and relaxed. Drinks and food are all reasonably priced and the service is always great.

Old School Burger
Talor B.

This place has been on our list for awhile since my bf is a big burger guy. We stumbled in around 4pm on a Saturday. We were lucky to get a table immediately. The place is pretty small & a lot of people started to show up after we were seated. Service was great, everyone who worked there was friendly. Our food took a little time to come out but it was hot when it did. I got the old school burger which was pretty tasty! I believe the fries were an extra cost as well so keep that in mind. Overall I'd recommend trying this place if you haven't yet!

View outside Ringside
Lara K.

I went to Ringside as part of a Columbus Ghost Tours walking tour. Yes, this little hidden gem is haunted! It's also cool as hell and the OLDEST bar in Columbus. About half a dozen people told me to get their burger, calling it the best in the city, but I only got a drink. I will definitely go back for the burger! There are so many cool, quaint historic details like the 1897 stained glass windows, cool wood carvings and custom unique tiles in the floor - including a mermaid. I love finding places like this and hearing about its history - like the secret tunnel to/from the statehouse so early lawmakers didn't get seen going for a drink!

Kristen B.

Came last year to have dinner before starting our Columbus Ghost tour of Boos & Booze! Great burgers and a nice dive bar with a haunted vibe in the basement. Apparently there's a tunnel that connects to the statehouse from prohibition days! Love its location in the alley. We are due for a revisit soon! And if you are doing Boos & Booze definitely get dinner there before! Quick fast service too!

Smokin' Joe BBQ Burger and hazy IPA.
Bryan P.

I'm probably going to say this wrong, but this place is the longest operating restaurant in Columbus, established in 1897! I was frantically looking for a place to eat yesterday evening, not realizing most places close around 7pm. I wandered into Ringside around 7:45pm and they close at 8. The waitress and cook were both great, I ordered, ate, talked with both of them, and left. I ordered the Smokin' Joe BBQ Burger with house-made chips. Both were delicious and the burger came with a generous amount of lettuce and tomato. There is also a nice selection of beers available. The ambiance was what you may expect from a joint having opened in 1897. Beautiful wooden booths and tables, stained glass windows, brass highlights, I could imagine myself taking part in history!

Smoking Joe BBQ Burger no bacon
Yolanda G.

Stopped in for bite after an all day meeting. The smoking Joe bbq burger was tasty and juicy. Our server was attentive and fast. Inside it has a good amount of booths and tables for the size that it is. The outdoor patio has cool mural outside and a few tables. Great burgers and a great place for a small happy hour group.

Kamron A.

This is the ultimate hole in the wall bar, restaurants that you must get to! Based in an alleyway and boxer themed! The burgers are delicious and the drinks are strong! Price is very reasonable and service is great! Adrain the owner makes you feel like family! Will definitely be back!

Smoking Joe BBQ burger
Tom P.

Finally made it into the oldest bar in Columbus Ringside. I have heard many thing over the years about this place and was excited to try it out. It was a quick in and out day as my afternoon was full. Started off with the Smokin Joe BBQ burger this was really good and was seasoned and cooked just as I requested. It was a half pound patty with applewood smoked bacon and cheddar cheese, and their house made BBQ sauce. This was served with House made potato chips, ok let stop here these stole the show. These chips are fried perfectly and salted I could eat them all day. Also wanted to try the onion rings that so many had went on about. Again tasty light batter just wish there were more ordered a large just not that many. The kitchen is just to the right of the bar, so small but food was good. Definitely stop back when I have more time.

On the corner of Gay St. and Pearl Alley
Gwen W.

The oldest continuing restaurant in Columbus, I'm glad I finally made it over to Ringside to check it out. The space inside is very very small, so if you're wanting to bring a group here, be aware; I'm not sure if they take reservations, so plan accordingly. Inside there's a few side booths and maybe 4-5 tables, and bar seating; obviously there's patio seating, weather permitting. I met a friend for lunch on a Tuesday, we were able to get one of their small two-person booths with no wait. One guy running front of house, he made his table rounds efficiently. Their menu isn't huge, but a decent selection; vegetarians may find the options lacking. I've always heard about Ringside's burgers, seems to be the star of this establishment. I got the Brown Bomber Portobello burger ($14) which comes with kettle chips and a pickle spear. The beef patty was tasty, nicely seasoned; however, my Swiss cheese was cool (not melted at all) and the sauteed shrooms were also cold (literally) - this made the fungus flavor less obvious being cold. The house made kettle chips were decent, a bit too brown for my liking (Sat in the frying oil a tad too long), but I did like the thinness of them. All in all, I was happy with the service and my burger. RSC is open for lunch, closes at 2, then open from 4-8 for the dinner crowd. A solid burger-bar stop if you're downtown and in the mood.

John B.

It was nothing special it was just like a pub..................... The ambiance of the place was a pub. It's also very small inside. Nothing really special

Oscar de la Hoya Burger
Lauren L.

Best burgers in Columbus BY FAR. No frills hole in the wall in the heart of downtown Columbus- you know the food is going to be good. The owner is such a nice guy as well. Stop by if you can!

Outside of restaurant
George B.

Ring side definitely a hidden gem in the city. I was able to stop in with a colleague and grab some lunch. He highly recommended this place. The service was fast and easy. The burger that I got was the Duran Cajun Bleu Burger 1/2 lb patty with bleu cheese crumbles, grilled red onions & smoked bacon with a side of fries. I must say that the burger was very flavorful and very tasty! If you are ever in the area I highly recommend you stopping in and checking this place out. The place is a little tight so get there early to grab a table. The lunch vibe was cool, we ate , talked and got out! So again I recommend this place overall experience was definitely a 9/10. Looking forward to coming back and trying more menu options! I love good hamburgers !!

Menu: Dec '23

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3 months ago

Small place but GREAT BURGERS! A little hidden gem in downtown Columbus you have to try!

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3 months ago

Old school vibe in cool, out of the way Downtown location. I need to stop back sometime soon.

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1 year ago

I've been there a few times, service is very personable, and the BBQ burger is my favorite.

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1 year ago

Everything was great. The burgers, the onion rings were awesome too. Bbq bacon yes please

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1 year ago

Best burger in Columbus without a doubt. Add in the hand cut fries and this place is hard to beat. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

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Ask the Community - Ringside Cafe

Is it haunted?

Yes!

Is it kid friendly?

I would say yes, early in the night. The later you go the more you will run into the adult crowd! Kids will love the fries for sure!!

Does this place still have a happy hour?

They do not have happy hour, but their beers are all reasonably priced. Hope that helps. And have an awesome day!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge - Wright bros

The Alibi Bourbon and Cocktail Lounge

(102 reviews)

$$

Short North

I really, really, really love the drink menu of the Alibi. Like, a lot. Their visual chart is a…read moregodsend for cocktail explorers, and all of the drinks came out delicious and exactly as described. It's so creative, and the drinks are really the stellar stand out here. However, the atmosphere of those drinks is what gives me pause when thinking about coming back. The limited table situation, tiny cramped space, and loud music means that it doesn't feel particularly relaxing. People are constantly brushing up against you (even at 5PM), and holding a conversation at a normal distance is nearly impossible. NOTE: This place is covered in dust. No shade to the ownership as it doesn't appear to be anywhere near food prep areas (it's on the decor, on/around shelving, all over the faux plants, etc.), but if you're someone who's sensitive to dust, this is probably not a good fit. PROS: -I loooooooove how they've done their drink menu. As someone who is still exploring the potential of cocktails, their nerdy "chart" that places all of their drinks on a sweet/bitter and alcohol-forward/approachable visual chart is SUCH a help. As such, everything I ordered was absolutely amazing for me. I knew exactly what to expect from a drink because of its position on the chart, and it delivered. -Their drinks are really unique. Aqua faba? Fat washed alcohols? Lollipops or toasted marshmallows as garnishes? Super cool. Don't let some of the weirder descriptions creep you out of trying them. -All of their drinks were delicious. Everything I ordered was exactly as described. I often go places where the taste is barely related to its namesake, but they were entirely on-point here. CONS: -I'm not sure if someone called off that night as other reviewers are in love with the service, but our service was really really slow. No real rapport with the staff; just stating the name of a drink as they rushed past and then they were off to try to clean a table or take someone else's order. The drinks they made were great, but this isn't somewhere we'd go if we were in a hurry. -The pictures do not accurately convey how small this place is. Like, it's small. I'd guess less than 1000 square feet. My apartment is bigger by a lot. This isn't necessarily an issue, but it means people pile up quickly as they wait for seating (there's like 4/5 tables and then bar seating). The human walkways are small enough that the bartenders and other guests will brush against you a lot - even while seated. -I get the vibe they were going for here, but with the smaller space, I think a lot of the potential decor options had to "go" in order to fit more humans. It's giving me hardcore The Hearth Room (in Cincinnati) vibes, and I think it could honestly pull it off if it simply had more space. The "relaxed, sophisticated bourbon bar" doesn't quite come through as well when things are so focused on simply fitting in more bodies. -It's loud AF. Like, really, really loud. Between all the people and the blasting pop music, it required leaning into someone's ear in order to speak at normal volumes. We'd regularly have to pause the conversation if something in the music was building to a drop. This is not a place I'd take someone I wasn't very very comfortable with because it really requires being in someone's space to talk. -There's a single all-gender toilet here for everyone in the establishment. It's basically a revolving door of people in and out of it. The door auto-closes, however, so it's really difficult to figure out if it's open or not. There was usually a queue of people waiting in front of the door.

I never leave Alibi disappointed. They always have such a creative menu with something for…read moreeveryone. It always amazes me how quickly they crank out such creative drinks. I'm sure some of them are batched, but they don't taste like they are. Service was excellent, as always. Endlessly knowledgeable. Small place, but never feels crowded even when full.

Land Grant Brewing Company - Wintertime igloos

Land Grant Brewing Company

(266 reviews)

$$

Franklinton

Very cool Outdoor space all year!…read more They have installed igloos in the winter and winter bumper cars, in the summers they host all kinds of events from fashion shows, to vintage markets, trivia, shows and much more. Ray Rays BBQ truck and 2 others are always on premise. Ly hunk it's a Hawaiian good truck and maybe pizza but they're always closed qhen I go. Ray rays wod thebest. Lots of easy parking around the place, o worries there. When you enter the brewery is on the right and the beer garden is on the left. The bar is open outdoors on busier days. Lots of picnic tables and places tosit. They have a games area with corn hole, basketball and party style seating. Walk through to the other side and there is a cool cocktail linage bar. With different specialty drinks. Dora does work here because you have to cross a street. The other side has basketball courts that convert to pickleball. Seating over here too and a stage. Juat a cool place to meet with friends, reserve cabanas for parties and r ing all your friends here. FUN spot.

Located in a rapidly re-developing area in Columbus on the west side of the side of the river, Land…read moreGrant is a hip, cool craft brewery that promises, fun times for everyone who visits. It has a vibe that is conducive to conversation, and activities that are sure to keep visitors occupied and engaged. The area where it is located is reminiscent of the early days of the Short North area of Columbus before it was fully developed. I visited, for the first time with friends and was not disappointed. There are some food trucks nearby, offering a variety of items, and I would imagine most people would be able to find something that they like. There was not live entertainment present when we visited, but it appeared that The venue was laid out for such possibilities. this might be an OK place for a very casual first date depending upon the likes and personality of the person you are with. If you enjoy craft brewing, this should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Columbus. plenty of street parking is available and there are a few lots nearby. As a tip, many of the street parking areas use a system called Parkmobile, by which parking fees can be paid remotely using a smart app on a mobile phone that is so equipped.

Law Bird - A peek behind the bar (not only does the place always have great menus, but the architectural stylings are on point -- love the tile!).

Law Bird

(74 reviews)

Brewery District

Lawbird is hands-down the best cocktail bar in the city. The themed menus which change at a…read morereasonable pace, great staff, and "good vibes" really make this the go-to destination in Columbus and perhaps the Midwest for a cocktail. Pair a stop either before or after to one of German Village's great restaurants and you're in for a special, albeit pricey night. In addition to fantastic drinks, Lawbird offers cocktail tasting classes from time to time which are a fun way to get sauced early in the day. And you will get sauced. If the owners keep up the good thing they have going - this will become an iconic establishment in the city. I hope they do. I've been more than 20 times so far and never get bored. Cheers!

I love TF out of Law Bird, and I love everything they're doing. I have a few qualms about their…read morereservation time limit (which, I will admit, are almost entirely based on the fact I want to try MORE of what they're offering), but I readily recommend this place to people as one of the coolest cocktail bars in town. Cocktail vibe is more "laid-back friends talking over creative drinks" than sultry, romantic date spot. Tons of natural light means this cocktail bar has had some of my *favorite* cocktail bar photos I've ever taken. It's so pretty in here. NOTES: -During pop-ups, walk-ins are near-impossible on weekends and not likely on weekdays. Make a reservation if you want to make sure you'll have a spot. -No dedicated parking lot. 3-hour-limit free residential parking all around Law Bird, though. We generally have to walk 2 or 3 blocks from parking to Law Bird. Be aware this is German Village, and you're looking at cobblestone sidewalks for high heel and accessibility purposes. -Law Bird mostly has small party seating. If you have a larger group you want to seat during a pop-up, make SURE to get that reservation in early. They have the single 8-person table. -They have snackies and food. Portion sizes are small (despite what the prices may suggest), though, so this is not generally a place to eat a full meal. All of the food is super flavorful, though, so definitely a great snack to add on. PROS: -Keeping things fresh, they regularly host cute seasonal events, new drinks, and pop-up events. In recent memory, I know they've done a Cherry Blossom one, a Spooky Halloween one, and a Christmas one. -They go ALL OUT for their pop-ups. It isn't just a brand new, professionally-printed menu (no pieces of paper with 4 seasonal drinks here). It's also all of their interior decor, bathroom decorations, bartop decorations, and more. Ceiling decor too! They get all up in there. It's really fun to see the space transformed constantly. -Between the new menus and the constantly-new decorations of their space, I love regularly popping into Law Bird. -I LOVE the creativity of the menus, and I LOVE that they offer cocktail classes. (I haven't taken one yet, but I'm excited to!) The menu has unique drinks, served with unique garnishes. They have a few "sugar cocktails", but for the most part, Law Bird drinks tend to be complex and spirit-forward. -Their "themed" bathrooms (even with their own themed music playlists) make me happy. They have two unisex, single room restrooms. CONS: -If you come during a pop-up with a smaller group, they will enforce their reservation time limit of 1.5 hours. This isn't necessarily the end of the world, but the times when they enforce their limits is when they have more customers waiting - and tend to be when the place is at capacity. When they're at-capacity, the bar staff and service staff is a lot busier, with drink service taking longer and servers checking in a lot less. This means we usually only have had the chance to place 2 drink orders during that 1.5 hour time limit before they ask us to leave. This can be rough (to try most of the drinks on a limited time menu) unless you're sharing drinks with your tablemates. If you still want to continue your evening with your friends after that 1.5 hour limit, Antiques on High, Daily Growler, and Cobra are easily walkable from here. -During their pop-ups on weekends, time between placing a drink order and receiving the drink has usually been around 15 to 20 minutes. Not the end of the world as you get to socialize with friends, but again, with the time limit, that can be a bit rough.

Cento - Woman's hand pulling up pasta from her plate

Cento

(166 reviews)

German Village

My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day at Cento this year! We had a 5-star experience - from…read morethe service to the drinks to the food! Everything was wonderful! Drinks - my husband had a CBC IPA and I had a Spritzer. Appetizer - we went with the whipped ricotta. This was absolutely delish! The whipped ricotta was creamy, smooth, had a lemony flavor with celery leaves and parsley. Seriously, all of the flavors blended so well together! It was also topped with black truffle and honey (from a local vendor)! The sourdough bread that the whipped ricotta was served with was super fresh and warm (and from a local vendor as well)! Salad - we ordered a Caesar salad as well. I thought that it was super nice that they plated the salad on two plates for us knowing that we were splitting it! Super thoughtful! The romaine was crispy (not soggy), the croutons were freshly made, the dressing had the anchovy flavor that I appreciate in a good Caesar dressing, and the salad was topped with a little lemon zest! I will definitely return just for the Caesar salad! Meals - I went with the Rigatoni and my husband went with the Lasagna. We were informed by our server that the flour used for the pasta is imported from Italy and that the pasta is made fresh daily - LOVE this! The rigatoni was SO good! I love that the pasta and shrimp were all cut into smaller bites! The sauce was absolutely delicious! The flavor was like a mix between a thick tomato bisque and curry! Yum! My husband really enjoyed the lasagna as well! The lasagna was plated into little roll-ups which my husband really liked! Will definitely be back soon - we want to check out the patio once we have warmer weather too!

I've lived in the neighborhood for 12 years now and was excited when I saw this place being built…read more I have been there a few times now - both times I had the Rigatoni and Shrimp with a glass of red. Approximately $45.00. Last night I went and must say - very surprised at what I paid; glass of red $14, ceaser salad $16, added a side of chicken $15.0!!! Thqt surprised me - thats 3 chicken breast at the store lol Each time I have sat at the bar - both inside and out (even in winter). Great ambiance. I love the bar inside - gives an upscale 50s diner with great design and mood. The outdoor bar in winter is very nice and warm - haven't had trouble grabbing a seat at either. Bartenders are nice, very attentive and knowledgeable. Parking is easy, there is valet offered. Overall - a bit over priced for generally good food, but a pleasant night out for date night or girls night out.

Ringside Cafe - bars - Updated May 2026

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