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    The Thurman Cafe

    4.0 (1.3k reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order The Thurman Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Thurman Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE THURMAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Thurman Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Blue Bleu Cheese Burger add bacon
    Quentin T.

    My father in law has been talking about going to Thurmans as long as I have known him & today I made it a point while visiting him in Chillicothe to take him there for lunch. It wasn't super busy at 1pm & we got a spot at the bar immediately, menu is big with tons of comfort food choices & about 20 burger options. The atmosphere is very divey & gritty but lively. It's a neighborhood institution & you get that feeling immediately. Service at the bar was attentive. I ordered the blue cheese burger add bacon & sub chips for French fries. FIL stuck with the regular cheese burger. The burgers are huge here & quite unwieldy. Menu says they cook down to 3/4lb. I cut mine in half otherwise I would have ruined their bar top with the mess. Taste wise the burger was good but not great. Ordering it with all the fixings (mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion) helped as the patty was thick & fairly bland. I ate half of it & my fries before throwing in the towel & packing the rest for home. However the handcut fries were really good. If I went back I'd go with a burger that is heavier on the condiments or one of the options where it's served as a hamburger steak as that seems more fitting for the style of patty.

    Cheeseburger Deluxe
    William S.

    Just an absolutely phenomenal pub burger and pub in general. Got there early and glad I did as lines were out the door. I don't even drink anymore and I still really enjoyed the atmosphere, felt like a truly beloved local spot. The bartenders all worked together in excellent harmony and the service was spot on. 5/5 would go back!

    Jose H.

    This place offers much more than just amazing hamburgers! The appetizers--especially the zucchini and pizza rolls--were the perfect start, complementing the juicy, oversized burgers we came for. As always, the service was attentive and professional. The ambiance tells a story, with décor that reflects decades of history, and it's the people--both staff and guests--who bring it to life. You can feel the tradition in the loyal crowd that patiently lines up for a seat. Thank you, Victor, for making our experience truly one of a kind! Thank you Memo, for preparing the best hamburgers in Ohio !!!

    Johann M.

    Amazing, amazing! I can't wait to come back to these restaurant, and it's not my first time coming here, I wish I live closer because I will leave my paycheck here every week. I just love the atmosphere in the restaurant, it feels like you are back to the 1980s but at the same time you are not because is not outdated, the service is always so good and accurate, if you order your burger medium you bet you're gonna get your burger medium. It's so nice to just said have a beer order your burger or your food and enjoy it. You feel welcome and it might not be the biggest restaurant around but still is cozy and you feel like you are part of the family, just stop wasting your time and come here guys. Look at the lady behind the burger, she was scared too about the size of that thing.

    Joseph S.

    It's always a great time to visit Thurman Cafe. It was close to 11 pm and we were hungry so we stopped by to grab some burgers. Cook perfectly the way I requested and it was so juicy and huge! Bring your appetite because it's a lot of food to scarf down. Definitely a staple when you're around the area.

    The Macedonian Burger Zucchini Fries
    Chiarina B.

    First time at Thurman Cafe and it did not disappoint. Our server was great super attentive and friendly. The burger was amazing with incredible flavor, definitely lives up to the hype. The atmosphere was fun and had that classic, laid-back vibe. Overall a really solid experience and I'd definitely come back.

    A1 Burger with sloppy fries
    Renae D.

    We loved this place. They have an award winning burger. The vibes are great & so many things to choose from. The burgers are HUUGE. Prices to us are very reasonable with the amount of food you get. So glad this was our first food stop in Columbus. 10/10 recommend Oh & we loved the sloppy fries. They had like a tangy sort of vinegar taste. So good.

    Cheeseburger deluxe with hand cut fries
    Michelle C.

    I love this neighborhood restaurant and bar. The service was outstanding, the staff are very friendly and helpful, and the food and drinks are so good. The portions are very large and I had plenty to take home for later. The prices are very reasonable. It has a great and inviting environment.

    6 Wings
    Jasmine T.

    I'd heard such great things about Thurman burgers that I had to stop by. The front of the restaurant was packed and I assumed they were people waiting on a to-go order...wrong! The cafe is small, but cozy so plan to wait about 20-30 mins for a table, even if you're solo dining like I was. Once I was at the bar their team quickly got me settled with a margarita while I browsed the menu. I started with 6 hot wings and they were delish! I ordered the bbq bacon burger but I was so hungry I forgot to take a pic. Just know that it was fab too. Looking forward to coming back to keep trying more things.

    Vibe
    Laura F.

    Stopped back in at Thurman's Cafe over the holiday. Got to sit in the front corner booth which is always fun. The same seever that served us over 20 yrs ago was our server... super fun! Our food was excellent. Everyone cones for the Thurman burger.... But honestly everything on the menu is really good. Its weird to think a place famius for a huge burger would have amazing pizza but it really does. If you have not tried their thin pizza, please try it! The pepperoni one is consistently excellent.

    Hay S.

    Haven't been here in about 4 years, and I was disappointed on the execution of wings and the quality of the burgers. The wings are pretty much same price and no longer full size. They are all cut and small now they were also dry. We had two burgers ordered and they both just didn't have much taste to the meat just a whole lotta meat.. the burgers are huge and only come with chips unless you want to pay 2.99 to sub for fries. The loaded fries are okay, no cheesy sauce just shredded cheese and big bacon pieces on fries. The chicken breast on the sandwich was super deep fried with a deep brown coating in color as well as the pickle spears. The onion rings and zucchini fries where the best part of our $100 meal for four.

    Breaded Gourmet Onion Rings
    Abby R.

    Always a great experience here! Food was hot and fresh. Staff was wonderful. Came in on a Thursday evening and it wasn't very busy at all, was able to sit at the bar and watch the Guardians game. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area!

    Bacon
    Steven C.

    When in Columbus with local crew, what to do? This was a must try on my buddy's list. It's another Triple D place too. It's a fantastic dive looking place that looks like it opened before hamburgers were invented. My guide was egging me on to get the turmanator but that would take 5 days in the gym to burn. I settled on the bacon burger with a side of rings. Service, food all great with the exception of the rings. Not the best I've had and food service variety. Definitely should make this place a must visit in the capital city.

    Big tc, pepper jack burger (if that was the actual name), fries/onion rings

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    2 months ago

    Burgers and fries were good. The wait was shorter than expected. The waitress we had was rude and a deterrent for returning.

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    Amazing food and staff I feel like every time I visit Columbus I have to go here. From the burgers to the pizza and fun drinks!!!

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    Page 1 of 32

    Ask the Community - The Thurman Cafe

    Do they make a smash burger?

    You can ask them to make one but I would say no. People come here for a certain type of burger and that's all they make.

    Does anyone have information on where the beef if sourced? I plan on taking someone who has to be picky about the meat they eat due to a health issue, and am hoping that it's raised to typical "trendy yuppie" standards (things like hormone free).

    Folters Meats

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Preston's - A Burger Joint

    4.0(240 reviews)
    5.9 miClintonville
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    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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    Pat and Gracie's - FRIED CHICKEN COBB SALAD

    Pat and Gracie's

    4.1(63 reviews)
    1.5 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. ‍

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    The Thurman Cafe - bars - Updated May 2026

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