We really liked this place in downtown Sidney. It was different. On our way down I -75 traveling to Dayton, we were looking for a place that was relatively quick, easily accessible and not too expensive. That usually means choosing a fast food chain location. These chains serve their purpose but aren't much fun. This place popped up on Yelp and turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. The location is a short drive off the highway into downtown Sidney, taking about 4 or 5 minutes to get there from Exit 92. It was located in a retro building on the main intersection in town cross corner from the County Courthouse. Approaching from the West on Court St., it looked a little divey. It looks more pleasantly vintage from the Ohio St. side, which is actually its storefront. Our visit to this place prompted me to do some quick research. The Spot has been in business for over 100 years, opening in 1907. A fire destroyed the original building in 1940 and according to the local paper, "the current Art Moderne-style building was completed in 1941 and still features its original white porcelain tile, mid-century neon sign and iconic diner layout." It truly has a retro feel inside, going more or less for a 1950s aura where you would not be surprised to see Richie Cunningham sitting at a booth drinking a malt. Although the jukebox is digital, the upgrades enacted by the new owners who took over last year generally seem to be spot on. While it looks retro, the infrastructure is in nice shape with a clean, tidy appearance. It's a pleasant place for a meal. The format is walk-up-and-order. The girl working the counter was polite and efficient. To be fair in context, however, we walked in around 6:45 PM on a Wednesday night an hour-and-a-quarter before closing. It was not at all busy when we entered with one party there finishing their meal and only two others who walked in before we left. Hence, efficiency would be expected with no other customers to be served, but I'll still note the good work. The food was up quickly without any issues. We sat in 1950s comfort to enjoy our meal. I had the Turkey Club. It was quite good. I ordered mine with Onion Rings as my wife wanted to split these with me. She had the Swiss Lad sandwich, which she said was also very tasty. We split an Iced Tea which was likewise quite good. With everything, we spent $25.48 for dinner. At less than $13 per person, I was happy with that value. We'll certainly look for this place again when we are passing through Sidney. read more

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Food, atmosphere & location. We stepped in, went to counter and ordered. I had a burger we split fries. Great atmosphere, fun place to go. The booths & tables were all in great shape. Loved the sign that said "Table of Champions" I always like it when a restaurant recognizes their customers and appreciates them. We will be back, plan on going up to Sidney again next week. read more

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I must say I was a little reluctant to go here after reading some of the recent reviews on Yelp prior to visiting. To my surprise, I was greeted at the register by a very friendly, Isabell, who also shared it was her first day working there when I told her it was my first time dining. Her kindness made me feel welcome. It was really neat to see the various pictures and articles on the wall highlighting President G.W. Bush visit 28-Aug-04 and another picture highlighting this establishment was previously owned by Rob Lowe's (Brat Pack actor from the 1980's) grandfather. The menu included several diner classics so I selected the "Big Buy" which was a double decker hamburger which was cooked to my liking. The wait was very reasonable and I enjoyed seeing families enjoying their dining experience together on a Tuesday evening. It was also enjoyable listening to some familiar music from my youth while waiting and then consuming my meal. I also selected onion rings which were thinly sliced and had a flaky texture, but these can cool quickly it seemed, but were tasty. I tried the chocolate and vanilla mixed/twist malt and a piece of raspberry pie. The malt was delicious, but the pie was a little dry although I finished it quickly. I also appreciated seeing the work ethic of Isabell meticulously maintaining the dining room tables carefully. I asked some folks in town about the new ownership and a few indicated "hit or miss", but for me on this evening it was a hit. Hopefully the new ownership adapts and adjusts by being a good listener to a customer base that provides feedback so it can be a thriving business for years to come in this unique location. A unique experience indeed, ...thank you. read more

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Go back in time with this great hamburger diner. Staff is always nice and the best boy is better than Frisch's big boy. Home made pies like grandma use to make. A must try if in town. read more

This is a classic American burger joint. In every way, including that if you aren't a regular, you have to figure out what the hell is going on by yourself because nobody else is going to help you. Just go to the register and there's a menu on the wall. It's in the back. You have to order before you sit down. The food is great. Classic American, so don't get excited about exotic flavors or spices but they make a damn good burger and fries, and they're affordable, and there's parking, and the place is super dated. They have a sign outside that talks about when George Bush came and ate a burger there while he was campaigning. It's actually quite appropriate because I don't care about politics but it feels like a totally George Bush kind of small town place. I'm taking one star off because I enjoy a dive-style place, but they need to clean the damn tables off. We had to clean our own, and it wasn't super busy. Nothing else was SUPER dirty, like I didn't feel like I was eating in an unclean place, but service wasn't first that Friday. read more

Step back into the 1940's. Get in line and place your order with the lady who has been working there forever. Burger, fries, a malt (what's a malt?!), maybe the chili. Is this the best burger you've ever had? No. But it is the most classic! You can admire the photos and news articles on the wall from when George Bush (the son) visited. And now thanks to modernization, you can connect to their WiFi and write a Yelp review about your experience. read more

I've eaten the Spot for nearly 60 years and honestly today is the most disappointing experience ever. Service was long and when asking where food was, i was asked "do you want your food or not" several times in a very rude tone. Then get the food and OMG the normally delicious onion rings are SUPER GROSS! And in fact made me sick. I sure hope new owners read this and take it to heart. I brought a friend today bragging about the food and delivery of product and this was unbelievably disappointing. Rude and good customer service are polar opposite and will destroy this iconic place to eat. Quality will also quickly take you out. Get it together already and revitalize not just aesthetics but food and especially customer service. read more

Had the shrimp basket and it was great! Highly recommend. Not over $7.00 and the shrimp was well cooked and lots of fries.

Iconi burger joint with home made pies! Food is fresh and well prepared. Not a gourmet joint, but delivers solid food options for everyone

This place used to be a must place to visit when you're in Sidney. Under new ownership souch has changed. The decor has modernized from its nostalgic look. It's best to go after the lunch hour. We went at 11:30 and had to wait 20 minutes for our orders. Food arrived cold and burger was overcooked. While the staff was so apologetic for the wait. We understood how popular the spot has become, especially after television shows spotlighting it's history. While we were disappointed with our visit, we are open to give them another chance. read more

Under new ownership. The quality is lacking for such an iconic place. First thing is first, I used to be a regular. Notice used to be. There are corners that are obviously being cut, one being the soft drink supplier. Used to be Coke and now Pepsi. So long Cherry Coke, oh how I miss you! Also no more stryofoam cup, instead its a generic supplier cup. That corner was cut to replace the old iconic menu boards with zippy cartoon character from the 1920s that will probably need replaced after the first sunny season. Noticed the menu seemed sparse at best too. Now for the food. Hard to fully gage if corners are getting cut there. The onion rings are always luck of the draw even under former ownership. Sometimes perfect, sometimes burnt, tonight mine were greasy and not an enjoyable culinary experience. Much the same with the Big Buy that seemed hastily put together. Not a lot if the signature goodness put on it and the patties were like rubber. Decided to treat myself with desert What better than old fashion cream pie. Needless to say I was underwhelmed. It wasn't nearly as good and what's up with the plain box without the iconic Spot logo. Also customer service is lacking with some of the car hops. I know confidence helps there. Conclusion, the reason people go to restaurants is for quality food first. The Spot is a local icon and people travel from all over to eat there. If the experience I received as a regular is anything like a passerby gets, that passer by is going to pass on by. That's a hard truth. I hope this review is seen and taken seriously because I'd like to see it last beyond the over hundred years it has been there. It's a neat place with an amazing history. Will I go back? Someday, if the quality improves and the rebranding nightmare stops. How I miss the days of driving by there and seeing the local elderly get a morning cup of coffee and breakfast. read more

The Old Fashion Cream Pie has always been my favorite. However, this time, the crust was very a little over cooked, tough and very thick. Very little filling. Will try it again, hopefully it will be the way it had been.....great read more

The Spot in Western Ohio is a great, gritty and meaty lunch for your money type drive-in. The staff is young and fast. The food taste is farm-fresh meaty and a bit greasy. The shakes superb! There is not much signage or neon at The Spot but the drive-in berths are wide and Covid 19 friendly spaced. After you press a button and the server takes your order the food is brought out to you on a plastic tray, wrapped in paper bags and you can eat your heart out. The Ohio Streetside burger variety that I got was really good and the meat tasted like it was just run from a local butcher or farm to 'The Spot'.. Prices are moderate and the shakes chunky, cold frozen and the huge. Helpings of meats, fries and sauces are gargantuan and you won't have to eat for the rest of the day if you stop at The Spot. Delicious shake flavors that stay chunky even on the hottest days due to being served in freezer cups. Long spoons make eating shakes easy with out a straw. Burgers are hot and flavorful! Review: 5 star burger digs, try it! read more

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We decided to stop here for an early dinner before a show at the Historical Sidney Theatre. I've always loved the old-school restaurants that have drive-thru features. However, we decided to dine-in since we found amazing parking. The experience is a little confusing at first if you're not a regular. To place your order, you have to walk to the back corner of the restaurant. The signs are easy to miss and the staff is working hard to keep up with orders so they aren't always able to help. I have to give the staff credit, I've worked in fast-paced restaurants before and they have their system down. The employee taking our order was extremely patient with us while simultaneously answering phones and drive-thru orders. I can't remember what sandwiches we ordered, but we also ordered fries and onion rings with them. I believe I also ordered a frosted malt! The prices were very reasonable and our food came out as it was ready so everything was hot. Everything tasted good, although we didn't have much time to stay. It was very cool being able to read the history behind this restaurant. Andrew and I love finding local establishments while traveling and this was a hidden gem not too far from home! read more

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I like The Spot. Since COVID, we regularly pull up to the menu board, push the button and order. Food is prompt, hot and fast. Not as fast as most drive up windows, but since it's made fresh, and we're parked, I don't mind the extra few minutes. We like their burgers, sweet potato fries (which don't show on the outside menu) and their pies! So after a year of that, almost weekly, we decided on a Friday night to try eating inside. Maybe it was a bad day, but it was a mistake. The inside is a well worn 50s style diner minus the counter. About 8 tables and booths had people eating, but there was no one in line, so I was straight to the register to order. A burger, tuna sandwich, and two sweet potato fries,, and two soft drinks. And then, the wait. Outside, a ten minute wait seems long. Inside, much longer. We finished our Cokes and got refills. No food. When they called a number, we were surprised how far behind they were. After 35 minutes, they called our number. The tuna was supposed to be on toast, but not. My Court Street Burger which usually has thick cut crispy bacon had shriveled, fatty, under done bacon, which I removed. Yes, we could have complained but after that wait, we just wanted to eat. It was good, sans bacon, but not as good as usual. I forgot to order pie, so we placed a second order for pie and another sweet potato fry. Pie delivered immediately, and the wait for fries began. At 7:40pm, they locked the door (they close at 8). After 45 minutes I approached the counter and both cook and cashier said "we're closed." I said, okay, but we've been waiting on these fries for 45 minutes. They apologized and we could hear the fries hit the fryer. They were up quickly (a little too quickly) hot, but undercooked. Again, maybe a bad Friday, but we'll be back at the drive-in menu next time. read more

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We love stopping at locally owned places when we travel. The Spot is a GEM! It's a small town America diner with burgers, pie, ice cream and more. Clearly a favorite with the locals, they were helpful and welcoming to us travelers. We loved it! read more

It's an old diner. Not 11-Madison Park. The interior and exterior of this store has a feeling straight out of the 60's and is what I would refer to as 'quaint'. The menu has your normal offerings; breakfast till 11a, hamburgers, sandwiches, soups and pies. The food we ordered was pretty darn good if you're in to diner type foods. If you're looking for a 5-star meal, go elsewhere. The staff were all super friendly. As per the normal with me, I ask a lot of questions regarding the menu, what's popular, etc and the nice lady at the register answered them all without ever showing a slight hint of annoyance. I'd have no hesitation eating here again next time we are in the area. read more

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This is the first time I've eaten food from this restaurant. I follow them on social media and it always looks delicious. My son and I went in back in 2019 but because of his shellfish allergy, we couldn't eat there. Their online menu doesn't list shrimp but it's on their menu in the restaurant. I had errands to run in Sidney and I was going to get one of my favorites but I decided to try something new. And I really wanted onion rings. I highly recommend the fries. They're delicious. They're crisp and fresh. The onion rings were terrible and disappointing. They were just a clumped mess in the packaging. I was able to break a couple pieces off while driving and they weren't crisp. I don't recommend the coleslaw, it was the driest I've ever tasted. The potato salad was ok but it was beige with no color or seasoning, I wouldn't recommend it. The Big Buy is as so disappointing. It didn't taste good and it definitely didn't look good. I only bought the pie because it's my boss' favorite so I thought I'd surprise him with it tomorrow. I've never had this kind of pie but it doesn't look impressive. I'll see how he feels but I don't have high hopes for it. I guess at least I know now. All of this food cost around $23 so it's cheap but I'd pay more for food I'm not going to toss. read more

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Delicious cheeseburger and onion rings. Friendly and quick service. We will be back. Next time I hope to try their pie. Several kinds to choose from. read more

Not being from the area, I was looking for somewhere local to eat. The decor and name definitely drew my interest, however "the spot" definitely was not "the spot" for me. I ordered the combo #1, cheeseburger, fries and a drink. I LOVE pecan pie, so I tried to make it through the piece of pie, but it was burnt and dry. The burger was what you expect, however the fries tasted as if they were cooked, left to set and then cooked or "warmed up" in the fryer. The lady that took my order was also rather rude and insisted that I told her that the order was to go, when I told her I was eating at the restaurant. read more

The Spot Restaurant - Pecan Pie - American Near Me - Sidney, Ohio

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Classic burgers, great staff, clean, and tasty pies!!! Don't pass up "The Spot"! 2 thumbs up

Rode over on the motorcycle to enjoy a cheeseburger from The Spot. Not sure if it's because school is out and a group of younger workers are working the summer. But it was a lot louder with constant yelling. The cheeseburger also tasted bland this time. I ordered it with lettuce tomato mustard and ketchup. It just didn't taste seasoned with anything. No salt or pepper or anything. I've eaten here before and have never been disappointed. Today. I was. read more

The only redemption was their onion rings. Chicken sandwich was rubber, burger was falling apart and everything else was very average

This restaurant has fresh burgers made in store, and their service is good. It's the talk of the town and a place visitors are recommended to visit. As a Sidney native a recommend you visit too. read more

Been going to the spot for years. The last 4-5 times I went, ate inside, the hamburgers were aweful. The buns were not toasted, the buns were hard and stale. I've tried the big buy, super big buy, and the double cheeseburger, all with the same issue. I won't be back, the person cooking the hamburgers is ruining your business. It's almost like the person is too lazy to prepare the hamburgers the correct way. It's truly sad to see what the spot has become! read more

The spot is a local legend in sidney Ohio. It's been around forever and has even hosted a president. There are pictures of Bush all over the restaurant and they are proud of it. I believe this place is popular for those 2 reasons. I called places like the spot the old greesy spoon. Greasy food that's not that great but just ok. They have burgers and several deep fried options that the locals will tell you, you have to try. But really, you don't, nothing will knock your socks off, nothing will be unique to them that you can't get in almost every city around. For instance the tenderloin. The locals will tell you it's huge! And you have to try it! But again, it's a giant tenderloin like you'd get at the fair that's mostly all bread and just is not exciting. The burger lack unique ingredients and buns and a basic in my opinion. I see places like this dying off as their clientele does. (I know that's harsh buts it's true.) Fast casuals will move in and steal there business. read more

The Spot Restaurant - American Near Me - Sidney, Ohio

Been going here since I was about 5 yrs old. Plus, Grandma would place an order when we all came to visit and then Dad would go pick it up. LOVE the old fashioned drive up where you can order food and eat it there if you want. I'm even going to vote them as the best hamburger. Pies are great..but crusts don't seem to be as good as when Mrs. Hand was making them. They also offer catering and can put on a good spread. Inside is a big blast of the past. Very nostalgic. read more

I would give 0 stars if I could. They fired my bf for "no call no show" when he called in and fired another worker because she has health problems! they also let workers (including minors) smoke weed while on the clock and they don't use gloves and they wear pj pants to work a lot of the time! oh and btw they have roaches read more

Good if your eating inside, getting it to go ? NO !!!!!! They bag it up and your sandwiches are smashed to hell and back ! Ordered a tenderloin and I threw the buns in the trash , adding a bun from home , because it was so smashed up , everyone raves about their pies !!!!! They are just as good as Walmart or Kroger ! Better yet ? Make your own ! I find it to be a dirty restaurant , I'm not comfortable eating there , I wanna wipe down the tables , just to relax and eat my food in a clean environment ! read more

The burgers are very thin no flavor no seasoning homemade onion rings are okay but they have no flavor the food is very bland. That's not a place I would drive out of my way to go to again and I seen a lot of other reviews said the same thing but I thought I still take a chance prices aren't too bad though. read more

We are life-long Sidney residents and called for a carry out order. My husband arrived for pick up at the exact time they said and then had to wait 15 minutes for them to bring it out. The quality of the food has been slipping for quite a while but this evening was the worst. My cheeseburger was over-cooked and dried out (like it had been warmed up 2 or 3 times) and was completely cold. My onion rings had no breading on them and appeared as cold wet noodles on my plate. My husband's food wasn't much better. The only thing suitable to eat was limp fries and a piece of pie. This was the most disgusting food I've received from a restaurant in a very long time and we threw it out. I called to inform them and they told me to bring the food back and they would refund our money. I'm not sure why they thought that would fix the problem. I see lots of bad reviews for the Spot and it's sad. I would recommend the owner of this business be a little more hands on and spend a little time in his establishment so he can see the terrible food that is going out the door. Personally, we will never return. Too many decent places to eat to put up with this poor quality of food and a "SUPERVISOR" who has no idea how to deal with people. read more

Food was just ok the pork tenderloin was good wife's cheese burger was just ok the onion rings were mostly small broken pieces the chocolate malts were just soft serve something like ice cream. (They don't know what a malted milk is) I don't know how they got so many 5 stars reviews I was generous by giving them 3. We won't go back. read more

Stopped here on the way home from a family road trip. Cheap food, which was a plus, but it wasn't good food. The pie was dry and that's supposed to be the reason people come here. The "malt" is just an off brand version of a frosty from Wendy's and definitely not a shake. Not a lot happening in the town, so this place is still standing (and on a Sunday evening, appeared to be the only business open). Otherwise I don't think it would have lasted long elsewhere. read more

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Great fast friendly service! The servers are super and the food always delicious!! Love the old fashioned cream pie!

Usually a clean place with good food. The past few times they have slipped a little.

Remind me of McDonalds back in 2007 when their food was actually good. Good times! The Spot hits the spot!

Greasy spoon diner with big fat burgers. Throw-back place with bad-for-you food that totally hits The Spot(so to speak). Older clientele, but from a local friend, this is not unusual in Sidney. 50s style eatery, nice diner feel. read more

The Spot Restaurant - Super Big Buy, onion rings, retro goodness - American Near Me - Sidney, Ohio

Great food and friendly staff. This place is exactly what you expect. Fresh grilled burgers that you can watch them prepare. read more

The Spot Restaurant - Big Buy Sandwich - American Near Me - Sidney, Ohio

The star was lost because they do a lousy job bussing tables. Seriously...get someone out there to clean those off! Coming in the door to mostly-eaten food left on the tables is unappetizing. I ate here as a 10-year-old with my mom once, and again in my teen years as a 4-H kid. I went back last month when I was working in Sidney. The food was really yummy and also affordable. I got a cheeseburger, a piece of pumpkin pie, and ham and bean soup. The massive bowl of soup (I ordered the small) was $1.60 and really (dare I say it?) hit the spot on that cold wet night. The burger was tasty too: hand-pattied and on a fresh bun. The pumpkin pie wasn't quite as spicy as I like it, but it was pretty good. There were some 10-year-old girls there post-soccer and they were SUPER excited for their milkshakes and cheeseburgers, so I think I can confidently say this is a good place for kids. When you enter (and pass the George W. Bush plaque), proceed to the counter where you'll order and pay. The DO take all major credit cards! You'll get stuff that doesn't need cooked (soup, pie, a cup) immediately. You'll also have a number. Go find a seat and when your number is called go to the counter by the soda fountain to pick up your order (burger, fries, etc.). Enjoy your food surrounded by chrome and glittery red vinyl. The age of the building is revealed mainly in the restrooms. They are not handicap accessible and although fairly clean they are pretty worn. Is tatty the right word? That's a word my grandpa uses and I'm never *quite* sure what it means. read more

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Without a doubt absolutely THE worst customer experience I've ever had. Obese order taker/cashier was beyond rude. No customer skills whatsoever. Worst part was when she put my soup in a to-go container without asking whether it was takeout. It was not. Tried eating it at table however, it was scalding hot. So I went back to order counter and grabbed a bowl, touching only that bowl. Got yelled at by cashier saying she could not having a customer touching all the bowls. Go here if you like being verbally abused. read more