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    Ringside Cafe

    4.3 (204 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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    Ringside Cafe Bars Photos

    Business Info

    RINGSIDE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Ringside Cafe

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    Cheeseburger!
    Heithem E.

    Cool old spot with a lot of history! Known for their burgers ... I had a standard burger but there are a lot of options. My burger was cooked to order and delicious! Service was great - family run, family owned. I had the homemade chips and they were a treat! Next time I'll try a different burger and the hand cut fries'

    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.

    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!

    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!

    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

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    6 years ago

    Had the deep fried rueben. Unbelievably delicious. Fries were top notch and service was very good.

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    6 years ago

    Hidden gem downtown near the statehouse. The space is quaint and comes with history! The signature burgers are delicious.

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    Page 3 of 6

    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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    Preston's - A Burger Joint - Classic Burger

    Preston's - A Burger Joint

    4.0(241 reviews)
    4.2 miClintonville
    $$

    Last week, my son decided to play the role of a Yelp detective and found a gem for my birthday…read morelunch -- Preston's. Let me tell you, the reviews weren't kidding! This place knows how to make your taste buds do the happy dance. We didn't have to wait long for our food, which was a blessing because I was *hangry*. When the food came out, it was hot, fresh, and basically screamed, "Eat me now!" My son went for the mushroom Swiss burger, which he devoured like he hadn't eaten in weeks. I opted for the classic cheeseburger with fries -- simple, juicy, and absolutely perfect. Oh, and as if one meal wasn't enough, my son also ordered a chicken sandwich. He declared it "the best ever," which is saying something because this kid is a chicken sandwich connoisseur. The television entertainment was the Cartoon Network, which made me know this was a special place. Preston's, you've earned a special place in our hearts (and stomachs). If you're looking for a spot that serves up deliciousness with zero pretension, this is it. Highly recommend -- just don't forget to bring stretchy pants!

    Based on the other reviews, I was expecting something extra special. I did not get that. But I did…read moreget very hot, good and fresh food. The burger was good, very fresh bun, fresh ingredients. The fries were pretty ordinary, but crisp and hot. The standout was the biscuits that I ordered to see what they were like. The were unique and very good. They were just a little sweet. Good texture /mouth feel. I wonder if the biscuits would make a good burger bun... maybe too sweet? The place was very clean and inviting. The qr code ordering was handy, but a bit impersonal. The server was nice and did offer to take my order personally. Not sure if I'll come back on my own initiative (not close to my house). But if a friend said let's have lunch there I'd be happy to return.

    Photos
    Preston's - A Burger Joint - You order here at this counter

    You order here at this counter

    Preston's - A Burger Joint - Gluten-free tenders

    Gluten-free tenders

    Preston's - A Burger Joint - Water. Luke warm tap is free, cold is from thr cooler and is extra.

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    Water. Luke warm tap is free, cold is from thr cooler and is extra.

    The Thurman Cafe

    The Thurman Cafe

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    1.7 miGerman Village
    $$

    Somehow, after all this time, I finally made it to Thurman's and I'm already wondering why it took…read moreme so long. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel right at home. Kind, personable, and genuinely warm exactly the kind of energy that makes a meal feel like more than just a meal. If you've seen The Menu, you know that scene where all anyone really wants is just a perfect, unpretentious burger done right. Thurman's is exactly that. The burger was everything it needed to be no gimmicks, no shortcuts, just a beautifully made sandwich that delivers on every level. The fries? Equally on point. Honestly, I have no notes. None. This is the kind of place that reminds you why simple food, done exceptionally well, will always win. If you haven't been, go. If you have, you already know.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    We walked in at 2:30pm on a Saturday with a party of 4 to a packed waiting room and we were told…read morethe wait was an hour long. The beauty of a Saturday afternoon is there were sports on and TVs hanging on the walls. That made the wait easy. Boy do they know their stuff bc it was pretty much one hour to the minute when they called our name and escorted us to our table. We sat in a booth and took in on the collection of various items around the bar that have been gathered through the years and had some laughs at some of it. It was almost like a fun game of eye spy! They came to take our drink order and by the time they returned we were ready to order. We chatted for a bit and our food came out in what seemed to be a good time. I ordered the Patty Melt with onion straws. My husband got the Thurman Burger. We were surprised by its size when they came carrying it out to our table. Believe it or not he ate every single bite. Said it was delicious. Mine was equally as delicious. Maybe not quite as big but that was fine by me. I actually quite enjoyed that they served the 1000 island on the side. It made it way easier to eat. The cheese was nice and gooey. Just perfect. The onion straws were good too. I shared those with my husband. They were actually just as good on their own as they were dipped in any kind of sauce. That's big coming from me bc I love dipping! We got a box for our leftovers and headed out happy with a great first time experience here.

    Photos
    The Thurman Cafe - Juke box

    Juke box

    The Thurman Cafe - Zucchini Fries

    Zucchini Fries

    The Thurman Cafe - The "Thurmanator" with cheese fries.

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    The "Thurmanator" with cheese fries.

    Pat and Gracie's - FRIED CHICKEN COBB SALAD

    Pat and Gracie's

    4.1(63 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown
    $$

    Pat and Gracie's is very near to capital Square, and is an excellent location for a lunch or dinner…read morewith friends or colleagues. Great for finding some food before attending a show at one of the nearby theaters. The menu is what I would best describe as comfort, food. Burgers, pot roast, chicken, pastas, and other selections, which are filling and delicious. A menu is available for review online. Parking is available on street and in a variety of garages and flat lots located throughout the area.

    I've had this place bookmarked for a while but never found ourselves in downtown cbus until today…read more We saw a matinee show at the Ohio Theatre (highly recommend) and then walked over to Pat & Gracie's for a late lunch. Arrived approximately 3:30pm - restaurant basically empty (maybe 5 tables total occupied). Went to check in for 2 and the host said he had reservations at 5. Huh? So I asked do you mean you can't seat us until 5? And he said no, that we need to leave by then because other people are coming. I thought that was very weird and unprofessional. I've never had an experience like that before. It's a basic sit down place, why would you think we'd linger for more than an hour and a half? Whatever, weird feeling, but we were seated. Seated in the walkway. Not like in a path but literally blocking the walkway where you step down. Why do I say this? Because people walking by kept banging into me. Not their fault. Why is there a table there? And why were we seated there when at least 80% of the restaurant was empty???? Ok whatever. Ordered food including their signature made in-house tots. Waitress comes back and says they were slammed in the morning and they're out of tots. (Man I feel bad for the people coming at 5. LOL) whatever except the people at the next table appeared to be served tots. Food was tasteless. The Mac and cheese had a weird texture like the roux wasn't cooked properly. My patty melt was mostly bread as the patty was too small for the bread. My husband had the signature chimi burger and it completely lacked any chimichurri flavor. Like at all. We were out by 4ish (plenty of time for them to prepare for their expected onslaught) and needless to say I've unbookmarked this place from my yelp. Maybe we'll try the Mexican place across the street next time. ‍

    Photos
    Pat and Gracie's - Women's Bathroom

    Women's Bathroom

    Pat and Gracie's - SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH

    SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH

    Pat and Gracie's - Pearl  Beatty

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    Pearl Beatty

    Ringside Cafe - bars - Updated May 2026

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