I've lived in Hilliard for the last 25 years, and have eaten here well over 150 times. Based on that, I had a group of four of us that were planning on having lunch here today, April 3, 2025, at 1 PM. Three of the four of us showed up at 12:55 PM for our lunch. There were at least five open tables / booths. I shared with the hostess we had a group of four, and would like to be seated. She told us she could only seat us when all four of our party had arrived. (Some data points: The fourth was coming from downtown, and wouldn't arrive until about 1:05 PM. There was no one else in the lobby. The restaurant closed at 2 PM.) I asked the hostess if she was 'kidding,' that we had to wait for our fourth versus being seated and ordering drinks. She said she wasn't. I asked to see the manager. She smirked and went off to find him. When the manager arrived, I asked him if we could be seated. He said as soon as our fourth showed up. I asked him why that was. He responded it had to do with the 'flow' for the restaurant. I asked him what flow was going to be interrupted by seating us when he had at least five open tables, three of us were present, and the restaurant closed in an hour? He said he hoped they would fill those last five tables before closing. I told him he could fill one right now with the three of us, and I didn't see how his 'flow' would be impacted. He responded by sharing he couldn't do that. I told him we'd be finding another restaurant to go to in the area, and I wouldn't be back to his establishment again. We went down the street to Local Cantina and had a wonderful lunch! Now - I understand the policy of waiting to sit parties until all members have arrived. I'm sure it's a great policy for restaurants that employ it, and probably helps patrons as well. However, sticking to this 'policy' when the situation warranted a different response was irresponsible of the manager at best, and negligent at worst. Good managers make reasonable exceptions to general rules. If I had lied and said when we entered we had a party of three, the hostess would have seated us at one of the open four top tables / booths, and when our fourth came along to join us, we'd have spent over $60 (which is what we spent at Local Cantina). No table would have been lost in the 'flow,' and everyone would have been happy. When we shared we had four in our party and one was on their way, then policy won out over common sense: we weren't seated, and Starliner lost a long-term customer (one who will share this experience far and wide, and has already changed his plans to have lunch there next Friday with another friend). read more

This is the second time I have been here in the last month. I am increasing my rating to 5 stars. I ordered the chicken quesadilla and it was very meaty and cheesy. The first time I was here I had breakfast and it was very greasy. My husband ordered the Creole Mac and Cheese and he loved it. The service was quick. Although I asked the server what kind of sausage was in the Mac and Cheese and she had no idea nor did she seem inclined to ask someone behind the counter. The ambiance was retro and neat looking with old satellite wall clocks and a neat mural. I will definitely go back and get another quesadilla! read more

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Cute diner with plenty of parking. We arrived Sunday morning and were seated immediately. Service was terrific. Omelet was stuffed and delicious. Bacon was cooked perfectly. Pancakes were fluffy but could use a few more berries for the $.50 up charge. read more

Food was amazing!! We went here because of the reviews and were so glad we did. The starlight burrito (with chorizo) was so delicious, but seemed to be a special for the weekend. Hopefully, they will add it to the permanent menu. read more

Starliner Diner - Starlight Burrito - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

Sooo good every time I've gone here, It's just phenomenal! Great service and great food. This was a Cuban Style French Toast, small order ! Plenty if you ask me and I can't eat volumes. $8.50. Very worth the money. And great atmosphere read more

Starliner Diner - Cuban Style French Toast ! - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

Ginormous chocolate chip pancakes are big enough to be all the food one needs for the whole day. And they're less than $9. An atmosphere that actually makes me feel comfortable plus customer service that's truly friendly (not that fake stuff you get in most places). But the best part of Starliner? They're open until dark! Sure, it's a 30-minute drive from home, but I've found a new favorite diner. It's perfect for night owls like myself. read more

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Been wanting to try this place forever. Finally made it in today for breakfast. Got lucky. No wait. So many things we wanted to try. We will definitely have to come back. We both decided on a special from the specials menu. I got the Cuban omelette. It was gigantic. It came with Cuban toast and breakfast potatoes. Everything was delicious. So much food. The potatoes were big and crispy and delicious. Loved the giant Cuban toast. My husband got the Machaca. It was kinda the same thing that was in my omelette but in a bowl. Everything was seasoned well and it was so good. Can't wait to go back and try the Cuban French toast. read more

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If I could give it a zero I would. This place used to be an excellent restaurant but the last year or so it's gone steadily downhill. Never again. if you want good Cuban food go to Louie's on cemetery Road. read more

Horrible, Awful, Terrible. Will never, ever considering going there again. Total, abject lack of customer service. They REFUSE to seat you until everyone is there. They mafe us stand in a tiny crowded hall for a half-hour - in case someone else joined our group. This alone is plenty of reason NEVER to go there again. Waiter gave himself about a 35% tip when returning change. Light food is seriously overpriced. White tablecloth prices in a junky, cluttered little shop. Food is pretty bad. $5 for a small plate of fries, without even any ketchup. TOTAL RIPOFF. Tiny hamburger was in the range of $10-12, and it was only a slider, in fact. TOTAL RIPOFF. Seated us at a dirty table. Then someone came along with a sloppy wet rag and swiped the table. So we were stuck with a dirty and sloppy wet table to start lunch. read more

Been there a number of times over the years. Great vibe. Food is always delicious. Service is always fast and courteous. We don't get to Hilliard often enough to make it a regular stop, but when we do they make it worth the drive! read more

I have been to the Starliner diner so many times I have lost count, but you won't go wrong with this place, it's definitely different but really a good place to eat. They have some awesome breakfast dishes and a really diverse menu. Check these guys out! read more

This is our favorite breakfast restaurant, is kind of Cuban - Mexican menu but a good fusion between plates. I love the plantains, service is quick but the cooking takes time. Ambiance is tropicaloson read more

This is a retro hip kind of place with a unique vibe of its own. The food quality is good and I enjoyed the ambience for its quirkiness, portions are generous, and the service is nice. However, the food didn't really stand out enough for me to swing by again, certainly worth a visit for the nostalgic value and the vibe of this place. read more

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Such a fun evening ! We started with the stuffed poblano and it was cooked perfect. Not really a spicy pepper and it was filled with cheese. The plantains were cooked perfect. Dinner was the cornbread chicken casserole and the creole macaroni. A perfect nitch place with lots of eclectic decorations. We will return again soon. read more

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My go to restaurant when my Father in Law(FIL) comes to town. Cute little gem in Hilliard, not too far off the beaten path of Hilliard's Main street. Still not tol far away from Central Columbus to excuse yourself from visiting. Did I mention this has been on Diners and Dives? Not that that's the selling point, because clearly the specials are. They've been known for Crab Benedict, the fluffy flavorful enormous Pancakes, Cuban Sandwhiches and killer Burgers. The decor is out of this world and the service is always on point. Call ahead when you can to reserve a spot and there's almost never a wait when you do so. What's NOT to love? read more

Starliner Diner - Strawberry Pancake Special - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

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While visiting a friend in Columbus, she suggested Starlight Diner for lunch. We ordered online and had it delivered. My double-decker BLT was delicious! Plenty of bacon and I appreciated that the bread was only lightly toasted, not hard. read more

Starliner Diner - Double Decker BLT Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

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We often order from Starliner. Today, my husband ran in for a quick bite and sat at the bar and ordered his usual no meat, no cheese breakfast burrito. Took a few bites and found this BONE in his burrito. The bartender was more than accommodating in helping makes things right... comped his meal but the question remains... why was a bone in a non meat meal? read more

Starliner Diner - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

First visit with my son here since COVID, my son and I stopped in for a dinner together and were delighted to share an order of fried plantains before our entrees. I typically base my order on "what comes with rice, beans, and fried plantains" but since we had the fried plantains as a starter - I was free to peruse the rest of the menu. We each chose one of the specials (excellent choice, btw) and were delighted with our selections. Since I've mentioned the plantains a few times - allow me to describe them. They are a starchier version of a banana. Savory and caramelized because they are fried perfectly. A substantial portion (enough for 3 to share) are served with a spicy sour cream to dip - they are wonderful with that sauce or all by themselves. They are even better when you have a few with your rice and beans... but that is my own preference and may not be yours. The food is homemade and delicious; with a Cuban flair and a very nice number of vegetarian options. The portions are enormous - I challenge you to finish your plate. (We can't - which means a to-go box for another few upcoming meals) The service is very friendly and fast - and relaxed. I have a difficult time choosing whether to go for breakfast or for lunch/dinner so I like to do both. This time, it was for dinner. I have never had a bad meal here - whether a quesadilla, omelet, chili, sandwich, or entree dinner - I am always delighted. read more

Visiting a friend in Columbus and he made reservations to the Starliner. Typical diner menu, but watching as dishes passed by, some food was very different. My DH and I split the chorizo breakfast burrito and our friend got the fruit and French toast. OMG! The burrito was soooo good. Highly recommend, if you've never had chorizo, it's can be a spicy or slightly spicy Mexican sausage. This was slight.. so it will have alittle heat and spice but nothing crazy. We tried a chunk of the French toast and that was REALLY good too! The fruit was poured on top of the chunked French toast so if you're one of those weirdos that keep all their food separated, ya may want to ask for it separate. read more

We were really disappointed at our recent experience. Creole mac was reheated with extra crunchy salt on top and two menu items weren't available at 5 pm on a Saturday. Odd experience to what we've grown accustomed to. As 20 year customers, it's likely we won't return. read more

We used to love this restaurant. I want to share our most recent experience. We ordered online and were charged for pick up. We arrived at the restaurant to find a sign that stated they were closed from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Why would they allow the transaction to got through and have us drive all the way to find the restaurant closed? We called twice to have a refund. No apology, no explanation. Not returning. How sad. read more

We returned last week for dinner and had a great experience. We had the Ropa Vieja and the Cuban Style Roast Chicken. Both were great. read more

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The best dining in Hilliard. A great diner with friendly staff and delicious food. We always get some plantains. The pizza, pasta, sandwiches and burritos are great. Nothing bad to say about Starliner Diner. I've been eating here for years. read more

Very extensive menu, i went for breakfast after a shift and it was delicious!! Such a cute place too with unique art on the walls. Nice staff as well. One of our favorites after a long night shift. read more

Starliner Diner - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

Took my wife and son for a mid morning breakfast on a Tuesday, and though there were only a few people there, it's a chalk-up to the hour. The service was excellent! My wife only got a combination of eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast, my son went for the berry pancakes and I went for the Cuban omelette with Cuban toast and a side of chorizo. All were excellent, and I had enough to make a leftover hash with the chorizo and home fries. The price point seemed a bit steep, but we don't go out often and are on vacation visiting family anyway. I definitely would like to hit this one more time before we go back to Greenville, SC, because I love Cuban food in all of its renderings. If only I'd thought to ask for a Cortadito to go along with it instead of regular coffee! read more

Two sandwiches and two pops for just under $26, how does that happen? Po boy and Cuban sandwiches were delightful. I have never had plantains before, they were sweet possibly made with honey, cinnamon and vanilla like a banana cobbler filling. If you like mayo and onions, you need to ask for the green onion aioli, it came with the po boy, but was great on my Cuban sandwich. Richelle orders food without onions, but put the green onion aioli on her po boy and dipped her frys in it too. Staff was friendly, refills were delivered before we even asked for them. Get there early if you want the specials, we got there at 1pm on a Sunday it was packed and some of the specials were sold out. read more

Starliner Diner - Po boy sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

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Went to the Starliner Diner late Sunday morning because the diner we had planned to go to had a long wait. The wait was not bad at all. We called ahead to be put on the waitlist and when we arrived 20-25 minutes later we were sat immediately. The decor around the restaurant was fun and interesting to look at. I enjoyed the clock wall and the large space art across from the bar. We received water when the waiter first greeted us and ordered black coffee and chocolate milk. I was a bit disappointed that the chocolate milk was just regular milk with chocolate syrup stirred in. If I would have known this ahead of time, I would not have ordered it. But it was alright. For our meal we decided to split the Cuban Omelet and Starliner Burrito. Both came with home fries which were delicious! Typically when I get home fries at a restaurant they're soft and not very special. These were the best home fries I had. They were crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I had mine with ketchup and my date added the El Yucateco habanero sauce to his. He enjoys heat and spice but that sauce made him tear up and his eyes were red. We had to wait a bit to get more water to cool him down but it was manageable. I enjoy heat and spice but I don't think I'd be able to handle it. So fair warning - try at your own risk. Or at least try a bit before adding it all over your food like he did haha. Cuban Omelet - I personally was not a fan of this when I tried it. My date thought it was pretty decent. Neither of us would order this again. The star of this meal was the Cuban bread that came on the side (not pictured.) But oh my gosh, that bread was delicious!! We were told it was a homemade, white Cuban style bread. I normally don't like bread and need to add things to it but it was awesome. Fabulous on its own. I would come back just to have a slice of that bread. It was crisp and toasted with unexpected subtle flavor that makes you want to have another slice. Starliner Burrito - I thought it was delicious but nothing spectacular. However, I would order it again. My favorite part was the refried beans on the inside. They were creamy and flavorful. My date wasn't too fond of the fact that there was sauce on the outside because he likes to hold his burritos. I would have preferred if the sauce was on the inside too but I didn't mind it. To sum it up, the food was good and it's definitely a cute spot to check out at least once. Definitely recommend trying the Cuban bread if you have the option as a side. The area around the diner is walkable with shops and other things to check out if you want to make it an experience. Parking was not difficult to find. It is a bit out of the way for us so we probably won't head back. We definitely regretted not trying the food from the regular menu. I wish I would have tried the Starliner chili and cheese omelet or the heuvos rancheros. Maybe that would have changed our experience. It's definitely not a full, classic diner menu but if you want to try something different this is definitely a great place to go to. read more

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I have eaten here many times not sure why I have never posted about this great restaurant . Started off with the Strawberry pancakes with 2 eggs your way and a choice of meat. Everything tasted so good and as you can see these cake are as big as my head. Then went on to the Cuban Omeletwhich had Beef brisket, red onion, black beans and Jack cheese. It was topped with a smoked chili sauce and sour cream. The Brisket was shredded and so tender, the flavors were fantastic! This place has detailed painted walls to entertain you while waiting on your food along with several collectible clocks from way back in time. I think my Grandparents had a couple of these clocks, so you will feel right at home. Portions are huge, so come hungry. It's always busy even during weekdays. I have often heard that the lunch is very good too, but it's always a go to for breakfast. read more

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Picture of what I received vs the website picture. service was not good. No manager was present. Staff didn't think there was a problem, other than the fact that we complained. I used to love this place. read more

Starliner Diner - Picture of Chicken Casserole I received Staff didn't think anything was wrong with it; would not give a refund. - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

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Food is always cold. They basically put it outside before a server can get to it. Meaning the doors are right there, and everyone opens it and chills your food. It's Sunday now. I bought my buddy lunch there Thursday last week. It's the last thing he ate since then. Because he's had food poisoning ever since. read more

Fabulous veggie omelette and spinach and mushroom omelette! Plantains were outstanding! Service excellent. Kudos to a great breakfast to end the year! read more

Excellent food! My omelette was the two cheese and ham. It approached the perfection of a USMC mess hall omelette. If you know, you know. My wife had the Cajun Pasta. It was phenomenal. read more

Went to Starliner Diner for brunch recently and had a great experience! I am so happy to see that you can make reservations online now. My friend and I got right in because of our reservation. We had a delicious and enjoyable meal that came out less than 10 minutes after we ordered. I love the ambiance of the restaurant! It is very small, so I do think the reservation option is a great way to go. The restrooms were also very clean, well stocked, bright pink, and smelled good. The total for two meals, water only, was about $24. I was able to find street parking pretty easily. I really enjoy eating brunch here and enjoy coming back! read more

I've heard a lot about this place and everyone raved that it was the place to go. Starting out, this location, (which I found out is the their new location) has an unassuming outer appearance. It was a little difficult to find, but find it I did. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon and this place was packed! Luckily, I didn't have long to wait and was soon seated among the hustle and bustle of the patrons and staff. The server was nice and came promptly to get the drinks on the table, and to place the order. My friend (who came with me) had been there before and we ordered what he recommended. Everything came out promptly and we didn't have a long time to wait, so kudos to the kitchen staff! First we had the jalapeño soup and corn tamales as our appetizers. I found they both lacked flavor for me. I was grateful for the hot sauce on the table and used it liberally. The soup has a little kick to it but not a lot. It had tons of cheese, but that's honestly all I tasted. The bread on the side was warm and tasty. The tamales I felt the same way, the pico de gallo was fresh and flavorful, so I used a lot of that on them. I ordered the Cuban and my friend ordered the Jambalaya. My favorite dishes from this place hands down was the jambalaya. It had flavor, but not your typical Cajun flavor. It had the Hispanic flare to it. I think I tasted an adobo sauce in there and I quite liked their take on it; black beans and all. For my dish I was a little disappointed. Every Cuban sandwich I've had has always included mustard. Mine didn't have any. Just meat, cheese and pickles on a toasted bread. I will say, I loved their fried plantains! I added a little salt to accent the sweetness and I was in heaven! Could've eaten a whole plate of that. To sum up, overall I enjoyed this place. I would definitely come back and try some more dishes in the future. read more

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Not too many places to get Cuban food around the Columbus area but this place has some great Ropa Vieja. I had not been to this place in over 10 years so I wanted to check it out again since I was craving some food to remind me of home. This did not disappoint. Ropa Vieja was well seasoned, it was a great portion and the side of plantains were perfect. Big pet peeve of mine is when a Caribbean restaurant gives you "amarillos" that are hard and not sweet. This was not the case here. Fork. Fell right through them, they were fried so they had a good caramelization on them , and had a good hint of sweetness. My only fault was that the rice was bland so it took away from the flavor when eaten together and was not good eaten on its own. If you aren't a fan of big chunky veggies then just beware that they come in this dish. I loved having the Crispín was of the peppers and onions to offset the softness of the meat. Overall, would totally recommend. May have to come back for their more "American" food to see if it's just as good. read more

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Our experience at Starliner was just ok. One thing that stands out to me, albeit a minor thing, was they gave me a piece of toast using the end piece of the loaf. I've never seen that done before! LOL. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Typical breakfast food selections. The chocolate chip pancakes were much more pancake than they were chocolate. Very large pancakes with not nearly enough chocolate. Decent eggs, meh potatoes. The coffee was ok. The staff was nice. If I am invited to Starliner because a friend wants to go there; I'm in. I won't be the one to initiate a return visit though. read more

Father's day lunch. NEVER AGAIN. it's was bad. very bad. dirty. old water cups. fuzzy clocks on the wall. fuzzy light fixture at the front door. It takes a lot for me to dislike a place. Can't be dirty and have bad food. maybe I should have gotten breakfast. Bad steak burrito. Bad super salted rice. hard black beans. Too much cilantro used. read more

I would give this place six stars if I could. Everything we ordered was out of this world! (Pun intended.) I got the macheca (?) and I am going to struggle to order anything else. It was amazing! And do not bother with any bread but the Cuban bread. I had never heard of Cuban bread before but there's no going back now. We ordered a loaf to take home. Living in a city means that people expect you to have great restaurant recommendations but I never know what to say. Now I do! read more

First time here after many recommendations. Sara our server was great. Very friendly and helpful, all while training a new person. The Cuban Omelet was a lot, but it was incredible. The home fries were also great. The price, the service and the food was all great. I'll definitely be back here. read more

Starliner Diner - Cuban Omelet - Cuban Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

Such a busy place to go on a Saturday ! I've been hearing about this diner for months now but hadn't gotten the chance to check it out until now. One of my friends grew up in Hilliard and said it used to be a post office and a dance studio that she grew up going to. The diner has its own parking lot, but there's ample parallel nearby as well. When I came in as a group of 3, the wait was 20-25 minutes when we were there at 10am. There were a few groups also waiting and more who still kept coming. It's a popular place for families and high schoolers! I didn't see many young adults like myself. Hilliard is mostly families though. The space is small. Two rooms to seat everyone but they accommodate big groups though. I saw a ton of high schoolers that may have been a group of 10-15 that they were able to fit into a space. The decor is quirky. So many clocks, fish, and other random things that they used to spruce up the place. With colorful walls and such, you definitely can tell the vibe is Cuban. It's cute! They do a Cuban spin on American diner food which I loved! The menu isn't large at all. They've got specials too, which our waitress really sold me on. I ordered the pork hash! It was shredded pork with a delicious tomato-based sauce, potatoes, cheese, eggs, and toast. I didn't want the peppers and onions. My friend ordered 2 eggs, toast, home fries, and bacon. The toast is thick! So she had a hard time finishing the toast and home fries. I think it was too many carbs for her stomach. My other friend got coffee and chilaquiles. It was a huge bowl of black beans, chorizo (which is $1.50 to add), eggs, some kind of tomato-based sauce, corn, cheese, and tortilla chips underneath and on the side. We all enjoyed the food a lot and the service was great! They were trying to go as fast as they can as they were busy. I can't imagine how tiring it must've been but they all had smiles on their faces. Most people don't linger too long here since there are always so many people waiting. I eat slowly though so we probably spent a bit more time than other patrons. I'd love to come back again! read more

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