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Smash Buddies

4.8 (49 reviews)
ModerateBurgers, Sandwiches
Closed Closed

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SMASH BUDDIES ATMOSPHERE

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Sabrina S.

Location/Restaurant; tucked away within Brewery District, but a must try I stumbled upon this for lunch with co-workers. Décor is retro 90's with neon. Food; Probably one of the best smash burgers I have had, and tots were cooked to order. Everything was fresh. Service; You can order on your phone, and at the check in, very easy for the lunch rush.

Menu. Small but to the point
Barry H.

Update: Decided I was going to hit these guys up again today. I was greeted by Kohl when I entered. I ordered a double which had super fresh lettuce, tomatoes and onions on it. The burgers were cooked perfectly with a little crisp on the edges. Nice N Juicy. All held together with a Brioche Bun. The Tot's were nice n crispy which you get with fresh oil cooked perfectly to a nice light golden brown. One last thing, get the sauce, off chart. Made with mayo, honey, mustard , lemon juice and several other ingredients. You will definitely love it.

Mark K.

Stumbled on this in my quest to try all the restaurants in the area. It is tucked down a walkway, just south of Livingston and off High Street. There is street parking available, and a parking garage, but you're going to have to walk a bit to the entrance. Once inside, I swore that I had been there before. I think it used to be a Thai place. Anyway, now it is dark and somewhat barlike, but with some big windows, and it looks like they have an enclosed patio. Order at the counter or with the code on the table. Menu is pretty basic. And since they clearly specialize in smash burgers, that's what I got. Their standard, double, comes with cheese and their house sauce. Plus some regular tots, which also comes with a little bit of their house sauce. And of course you can ask for ketchup or whatever else. Wait a few minutes for them to make it; they will bring it to the table. Super friendly and efficient staff. And OMG the burger! I usually like thicker burgers, but I like a good smash burger once in a while. And this is a great one. Two thin patties, so incredibly thin around the edges that they are almost lacy. Good tasting meat, some good cheese, and their sauce. I think it is a beer-honey-mustard sauce? Anyway, it works on the burger. Also, a very good bun. The whole thing is amazing. And fair sized. Plus, the portion of tots is huge. I wasn't able to finish that. And they are excellent. I never used to think I was a tot fan, but the last couple years I have had some excellent ones in town. If they are done right, they are better than fries, honestly. They did not need the sauce; they have some seasoning on them. But the sauce and ketchup made for a nice variety. And all that (the food portion of the meal, not tax and drink and tip) was $12. An excellent $8 burger? Yes, and we need more of those. I was in and out in half an hour on a Thursday night. Canned drinks, and since I was trying new places, I tried a new thing, the Sprite Zero. I had had Coke Zero and it's not bad, so why not? And it was pretty good. Almost could pass for regular Sprite. I'll probably be back. I bet it gets busy on the weekends. It's nice to have some more variety in the area.

Loaded Tots
Michael B.

If ever looking for a smash burger in downtown Columbus, this place has to be near the top of your list! From the overall service which was fantastic, to the food as a whole, this was a great experience! First off, the front of house was amazing - being our first time to Smash Buddies, he explained the menu, top options, his personal recommendations of ways to spice up even the normal menu offerings, and was extremely patient with gathering our order. They have a full bar with pints of beer being only 2.50 all day on Sunday (Don't worry wine drinkers - they have that for you as well!). Everything came out hot and fresh, and the edges of the smash patties were perfectly crisp to add that texture element everyone dreams of. The loaded tots could have been a meal on its own with the sheer amount of it - my one recommendation here would be to have the beef on top be a bit more chopped up instead of just 2 patties basically put on top of the tots. However, their yacht sauce (house made) is amazing and should be put on every single menu item no doubt! It has the main flavor profile of Chick-Fil-A sauce with a bit more sweetness to it which goes extremely well with the seasoning on the crispy tots. Would definitely suggest trying them out if ever having a craving of a burger. There is street parking around the neighboring blocks, as well as a parking garage on the same block, with the location being in between the block, not directly on high street, and there is good signage on the streets/sidewalks to direct you to the door.

Tater Tots, the Original, and a Patty Melt. Not pictured: 2 puppy patties.
Sarah M.

My husband and I just stopped in here for dinner on the way back to Indy with our two dogs. The service was exemplary and the food was even better than we had hoped it would be! We saw online that they had outdoor seating, so my husband went inside first to see if they allowed dogs on their patio. He came back out and said yes, and that they said we could walk through the restaurant and onto the patio because it didn't have a gate. It had a couple areas for a few people to stand and eat or have a drink and then two big, round picnic tables. We sat at a picnic table and let the dogs stretch their legs after we ordered and waited for our food. The food came out quickly and was cooked to order. We shared the tater tots because they are a large portion size and they were so crispy and seasoned perfectly on the outside, but soft and cooked through on the inside. Perfect pairing with their special sauce and/or ketchup! I got an original double with mustard and the special sauce on side, while my husband got the patty melt. The special sauce was really tangy and had a slight reminiscence of chikfila sauce, but better and more flavorful. Both were cooked perfectly and were exactly what we needed to fuel up for our 3 hour drive back home. After they brought out our food, they told us they had "puppy patties" for dogs, so I went inside to get some napkins and order one puppy patty each for the dogs. They were super affordable (I think $2 each) and came out freshly made and super quick. The dogs loved every bite (obviously). All staff members were so nice and friendly, came out to check on us, and even cleared off our table when we were done eating. Everyone thanked us for coming in as we left and it was such a friendly atmosphere. We are so glad we stumbled across this burger joint while searching for lunch/dinner spots on Yelp and will definitely be back when we are in Columbus!

Adam L.

Super impressed with the flavors of Smash Buddies. I did not expect the loaded tots to be that good!

Double and Tater Tots
Ashley K.

I really hope the brewery district on the S Front side comes back to life and maybe Smash Buddies can help with that. The place is super cool and the staff is super friendly. Loved the neon look against the black walls. However didn't love how you could clearly hear everyone's conversation inside the space or when no one was talking it was too quiet. It felt a bit awkward took a lot away from the "dining experience" for us. We got the party melt, a double, and some tots. I've never had a smash burger so thin and crispy. The tots were perfectly cooked. The sauce was good - very sweet and honey mustard based - but next time I will ask for it on the side for my burger because I bet it stands well without it too. Can't beat the price nor the fact that they serve beverages in a can! Great neighborhood spot, will be back for sure.

Teriyaki burger and tots
Tonya W.

I would definitely recommend trying smash buddies don't set your expectations high on getting a normal burger. The name says it all smash. It's two very thin patties with cheese. image 1 is the teriyaki burger with tater tots first time having a smash burger it wasn't too bad definitely could have done without the teriyaki. the overall location, a pretty good vibe contemporary, enjoy the option of ordering directly from the table without the need for a server.

Double Smash Burger w/onions and Tots
Bryan P.

I have been craving a real smash burger Oklahoma style since I started reading about them a few months ago. From Florida through Virginia and to Ohio, smash burgers weren't real smash burgers. They were more like pressed patties. Here I ordered a double with onions and tots on the side. The burger was everything I dreamed of. Smashed down, thin patties with CRISP edges! Easy to eat and so delicious, I quickly crushed it! The owners were both there and it was great to meet them. It's always fun to talk about the military with Veterans. Great atmosphere at Smash Buddies. I was there at 4pm so it was still quiet and it has a great burger joint sports bar ambience.

All American, Tater Tots
jazslyn s.

Absolutely phenomenal service! The Food literally gave them two new customers for life! I was on google looking for a place to eat and I'm soooo glad I stopped in! The Ambiance was amazing as well I love how clean the place was! They did not miss!

Tots

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

The burgers tasted great! Walk in service at their new location in the brewery district was quick and easy.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

Really, really good burgers. Hope to see this truck any time I'm out! Great service and food done right.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

this was the BEST goddamn smash burger ive ever had the in house sauce goes amazing with burgers and the side tots were seasoned perfectly

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2 years ago

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Preston's - A Burger Joint - Classic Burger

Preston's - A Burger Joint

4.0(241 reviews)
4.9 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.

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

You order here at this counter

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The Thurman Cafe

The Thurman Cafe

4.0(1.3k reviews)
1.0 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.

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The Thurman Cafe - Juke box

Juke box

The Thurman Cafe - Zucchini Fries

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Pat and Gracie's - FRIED CHICKEN COBB SALAD

Pat and Gracie's

4.1(63 reviews)
0.5 miDowntown
$$

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. ‍

Finally tried the new location on High Street. I will start with the service. I love being greeted…read moreimmediately when I come into an establishment and they deliver. I was able to pick my seating because it wasn't too crowded. And my waiter whom I forgot his name earned his tip. As far as my meal I went with a cheeseburger with bacon and fries. The fries were cold but the waiter corrected that quickly. As far as my burger it was juicy and well prepared, not overcooked nor undercooked. The bacon was excellent as well. I will definitely try them again and picking something different off the menu there are a lot of different options something for everyone

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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

Smash Buddies - burgers - Updated May 2026

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