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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 !!!
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.
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!
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atmosphere in the restaurant, it feels like you are back to the 1980s but at the same time you are not because is not outdated, the service is always so good and accurate, if you order your burger medium you bet you're gonna get your burger medium.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Been wanting to come to this place for years since I saw it on Man Vs Food and finally I did. Came in during the afternoon and by it only being two people in my party was seated at the bar quickly. For a starter I had the buffalo wings which were good not great. Now for my meal it had to be a burger as that's what they are know for and I went with the big tc (think Big Mac on Texas toast) and it was good (all burgers here are minimum of 3/4 lb). For my side I had fries and onion rings. The fries are really good but the onion rings are excellent and best thing here. To me this is more of a 3.5 star but the great customer service will push it to 4
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.
Somehow, after all this time, I finally made it to Thurman's and I'm already wondering why it took me 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. read more
So while in Columbus to look at a vehicle with my best friend we had to stop for some plumbing supplies near by and I had this location as a bookmarked location I wanted to eat at. I am so glad we stopped. Parking can be a pain as it is all street parking and there are 2 coffee shops and two restaurants basically next door. With parking aside, we were stopped in and was greeted as soon as we walked in and then taken to a seat. The bar staff handles all tables and the bar. This place isn't huge and the lobby hold as many people as the seats and the bar. So plan accordingly. The bathroom was clean and the restaurant was clean as well. We ordered drinks. And our burgers and sides. The burger is literally at 3/4 pound burger. I took half home as it is a big burger. The fries were perfectly done fresh cut fries. These are not frozen bag fries. This burger was one of the best I have had. The fries are also very very good. Highly recommend. If you are anywhere near here and want a good burger why are you not here yet. read more
9 months ago
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. read more
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 !!! read more
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. read more
9 months ago
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! read more
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. read more
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. read more
11 months ago
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
7 months ago
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! read more
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. read more
Been wanting to come to this place for years since I saw it on Man Vs Food and finally I did. Came in during the afternoon and by it only being two people in my party was seated at the bar quickly. For a starter I had the buffalo wings which were good not great. Now for my meal it had to be a burger as that's what they are know for and I went with the big tc (think Big Mac on Texas toast) and it was good (all burgers here are minimum of 3/4 lb). For my side I had fries and onion rings. The fries are really good but the onion rings are excellent and best thing here. To me this is more of a 3.5 star but the great customer service will push it to 4 read more
7 months ago
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. read more
The dining room was very charming and eclectic, with tons of cool art, doodles, and even some $1 bills taped to the wall! They seated us right away and were surprisingly fast at getting us our food! We got the Johnny Burger and fries. The burger itself is so good and juicy and the toppings were insane. The cheese mixed with the horseradish sauce was incredible. The fries were delicious, as you'd expect good thick cut fries to be! Plenty of ketchup and vinegar to be had at the table, too! Definitely check this place out if you haven't already! read more
2 years ago
I've been to Thurman's three times, but the last visit compelled me to write this review. I went around lunchtime on a Thursday, so there was no wait to get a table (unlike during dinner). Then I ordered the Johnny Burger, and never have I had a more magnificent burger. The toppings included bacon, blue cheese and horseradish cheese. I'm drooling thinking about it. It was a perfect slop. The 3/4 lb party was so big that a few chunks fell out that weren't covered by the toppings. Tasting them is when it hit me that the patties are the real stars. I don't know what beef and seasoning they use, but it creates a very thick, rich, flavorful burger. I'm certain that a plain burger would be a great experience for people. This great food was complemented by kind, attentive service. There will definitely be a fourth visit. read more
5 months ago
The food is always good at Thurman's. The only downside to going there late night is the wait time, but it is well worth it. The staff is great behind the bar and as servers. It's a laid-back chill environment with lots of things to look at on the wall, including the dollar bills that are posted all around the room from people all across the country. If you have never been there, it is definitely worth the experience to go. read more
Decided to make a pit stop here in the midst of running errands because we were starving ... leaving disappointed and confused as I don't understand the hype. Ordered the A1 Burger with fries, the cod sandwich with fries, a coney, bbq wings and zucchini fries. The only thing I enjoyed was the zucchini fries. The meat on the coney had a very off putting smell, my significant other said the coney sauce really lacked the chili flavor and basically tasted like ground hamburger. The fries were soggy, almost undercooked and extremely salty. The burger wasn't impressive either. I took one bite and it began to crumble into large chunks. He had nothing to say about the fish sandwich but only took 2 bites before he decided he was finished. From the looks it was a beer battered cod with standard accompaniments. The wings were large, not fried very hard and swimming in what tasted like your average store bottled sauce. After spending $66 I now have to go home and cook dinner, which is pretty disappointing. read more
A Columbus classic and I finally understand why. For the first time I've finally tried the Thurman Cafe last night. The staff are super friendly, I love the small dive bar vibe the bar has. My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered the bacon burger with fries, Carolina gold chicken tenders and onion rings. Let's just say the burgers are famous for a reason. I'm not a beef eater typically but the beef tasted very fresh and of good quality. The chicken was pretty good but not the best chicken tenders I've ever had. we had a really great time and Victor was super great to chat with. read more
1 year ago
Ok, these burgers are legit. If you are a hungry college student order a burger, if you are not- order one to split, seriously. 12oz to start, big burgers, but super tasty. We had several and all of them were good, get them med well (I usually like med rare, but these are big enough to take a little extra. A family owned dive bar kind of place. Not many tables so plan ahead, they won't seat until everyone is present. Staff all share waiting duties, so at least there is always someone checking on you, but it is all made to order so nothing is fast, but it is worth the wait. Fries and onion rings were ok, as was the Ruben. Not bad, but stick with the burgers. Beers on tap and some in the can. Friendly staff, street parking. Gets busy fast. read more
8 months ago
Great place for comfort food. No.frills. Nice unpretentious spot with good food at a reasonable price. read more
1 year ago
Finally got a chance to stop by this iconic Columbus spot. Luckily didn't have to wait for a table and enjoy some appetizers including my favorite fried pickles. Our server was so kind and recommended the fish and chips and it was very tasty! read more
8 months ago
We ordered 2 subs to go. Both subs had burnt bread and these were the less burnt half of the subs. They didn't answer the phone 3 times when I called so I drove there and ordered. They said 20-30 minutes. Thank you for our burnt Valentines Day Dinner! read more
2 years ago
Love the hole in wall atmosphere. All the servers were so lovely and fun. Came from out of town and this was highly recommended. Food was just ok! To be fair we just got appetizers to share. The cheese curds were definitely a skip, but the boneless wings were a MUST. Not a bad place! read more
1 year ago
First time trying Thurmans, the reviews online are accurate, the burgers are huge (3/4lb), very tasty. We definitely recommend if you are in the Columbus area. The cheese curds were also very tasty! Love this place! read more
2 years ago
From start to finish the service at The Thurman Cafe was top notch. We were greeted by the host and she had our party of six seated as soon as promised. Our refills were prompt and the food was delicious. We shared a few appetizers, the pizza thins and mini corn dogs were great. I had the Jason burger, which was cooked to perfection. My boyfriend's birthday dinner was a success as he really enjoyed his apps and Thurmanator. Thanks for such a good night!! read more
A bit overrated, and I would not recommend if you're on a time crunch. We went here around 30 min after opening and still had to wait 45 min on a Thursday (we were quoted 25-30 min which is very inaccurate). There's ample seating but the main culprit is that service is way too slow. On to the food. Food is nothing spectacular - it just tasted like American diner burgers. The Thurmanator was a giant beast and can easily feed 3-4 people for a satisfying meal and it is a massive upgrade to the Thurman burger that is the most popular. We also subbed chips with the Coney and Cheese fries for $6 more which felt more greasy than flavorful - animal fries from In N Out are far better. The western burger is fairly standard with the BBQ sauce and such, but it is a solid choice nonetheless. The onion rings are fairly good. Service is sloooooow. Our dining experience is unnecessarily long with 15-20 min of waiting to get water and food and other requests, amounting to a 2 hr experience. We dedicated almost 3 hours eating here and I would say it was not the best use of time. read more
8 months ago
Made a bet with my friend on how many fem and POC we would see in the restaurant and we actually lost bc there were like one or two more than one or two. The Thurman Cafe was decorated with vintage posters/signs/license plates and felt very white male dominated. Nonetheless, the staff were extremely friendly and kind to us two women of color! Additionally, burgers were truly ginormous :O (representation of how wide you need to open ur mouth to take a bite). Easily two meals. You can choose how you'd like the patties to be cooked and we chose medium; they were so juicy *salivates*. I'm honestly not generally a saucy or hammy (as in the pork) person but I would recommend the Hawaiian burger bc it's so flavorful. Yum yum teriyaki sauce. Zucchini fries were *chef's kiss* so crunchy and also a vegetable (everyone claps). We came here on the recommendation of a friend we'd made in maintenance work who said Thurman's Cafe was his birthday spot. This is in memory of him (he's alive). read more
11 months ago
I know I am in the minority when I say that I wish big burgers were wider and not taller. This is probably one of many reasons why it has taken me this long to check out Thurman's. I am also just not a burger person (I know, another minority opinion). Having said that, the food here is fresh off the grill, delicious, and obviously very filling. The restaurant is in a small space in German Village, and because of their popularity, they are usually busy. Once seated, the service staff does the best they can in taking orders, bringing out the drinks, and making recommendations. Patience is key because aside from the wait time for seating, the food is made fresh, which means that there is a wait time for the food to arrive at your table. I ordered the Jaeger burger, and my wife ordered the Thurmanator. Honestly, we both could have shared just the Thurmanator with the two gentlemen behind us, and all four of us would still have been full - it was that big. We also ordered a basket of cheese fries (our eyes were clearly bigger than our appetite). Both the burgers and the fries, although overwhelming, were tasty. Overall, I am glad we gave the Thurman Café a go. I will probably go back for some of the other items on their menu and pass on their famous burgers. read more
1 year ago
Initial impressions, not much has changed over the years, which is inline with the dive vibe. Quickly greeted and taken to our table. Server wasn't far behind the hostess. She was very nice, attentive and helped us navigate their larger menu. Food took a little while but it's all made to order so no complaints. Food was very good. Heavy, but very tasty and fresh tasting. read more
After trying to come to this place several times, but not being willing to wait an hour and a half to be sat, I am so happy I got to experience the famous Thurman Cafe. Our waiter was quick witted, entertaining, and was quick to serve us. The food was phenomenal, with of course the burgers being the best. Come to this place on an empty stomach and you probably still will not be able to finish your food. On top of the burger being the size of my head, the "side" salad was the size of a regular salad you would get at any other restaurant. Be warned, as I stated above, the wait on a Friday and Saturday evening can take an hour or more, but it is so very worth it. Glad to have a place like this in Columbus. read more
There was a 25-30 minute wait for lunchtime and they do not take reservations, but there were benches inside and outside to wait on. It has more of a charmingly grungy bar feel than a cafe, with lots of posters and TVs. It's been around since 1942 and you can sense that from the photos and handwriting covering the walls and chairs. The Thurman Burger was a solid option, an impressively stacked tower of patty, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, and sautéed onions and mushrooms. It was definitely filling but I especially liked how it was not overly greasy. The dill pickle on the side was a nice touch. The patty was seasoned and cooked well but the ham was a little salty. It is hard to eat since it's so tall but that's too be expected. It came with chips on the side, which were very crispy. Definitely get the fries if you like thick cut fries that are crispy on the outside! The Hawaiian burger is also a great option with teriyaki ham and pineapple with lettuce, tomatoes and a dill pickle on the side. Our server was not very attentive since he was missing for awhile after we got the burgers, but getting the burger itself did not take too long. Overall a solid spot if you're craving burgers! read more
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More info about The Thurman Cafe
183 Thurman Ave
Columbus, OH 43206
German Village
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(614) 443-1570
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https://thethurmancafe.com
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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.
Do you ship to texas?
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
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