Any Good Diners In Columbus, Oh?

In a couple of weeks we will be visiting Columbus, Ohio and staying two nights on the east side near the I-70 & I-270 area.  We love american diners and will be eating at least one breakfast and two dinners in the area. One day we plan on driving down to Athens for some Avalanche Pizza but have no other food plans for the weekend. Right now we are not into festivals or standing in long lines, we just want some good food.........  If you have suggestions please post them up.

Forget the idea of any diners in Columbus.

Michael's pretty much dead on. There's a beautiful old diner north of Columbus on 23, but it doesn't get much in the way of good reviews.
 
Aside from diners, is there anything else you might be interested in in Columbus? There are scads of options, though the east side isn't exactly the center of it all.
 

That diner on 23 north of Delaware probably doesn't get many good reviews because it's dreadful. And, for a diner it has a very limited menu. There's another actual diner south of Lancaster on U.S. 33, but I can't tell you its name as it's changed at least four times since it opened a couple of years ago as the 33 Diner. This place has a very limited menu, as well, but there seemed (when I was there last) to be no limits on the prices they charged for very mediocre to bad food.

If you are heading to Athens for Pizza why not get a dog also. O bettys has pretty good dogs. Also if you love fried chicken you have to hit Millers chicken. Of course none of those are diners. As has been posted. I do alot of work in Columbus and have yet to find a good diner.

Well where would get the best cheeseburger in town if there are no good diners? Where is the best breakfast?

Knead 505 N. High St., Short North 614-228-6323 www.kneadonhigh.com inventive and locally sourced, brand new, I haven't been, but am curious. If anyone eats there, please report
 
Some classic, long time names, not in dining cars, but perhaps the menu you are looking for:
Chef-O-Nette, 614-488-8444
DK Diner, 614-488-5160 (used to be Donut Kitchen)
Starliner Diner, (614) 529-1198 http://www.starlinerdiner.com/
Grill & Skillet, (614) 231-1702 in Bexley, I haven't been, but it's close to where you're staying, closer than Hilliard, anyway.

Go  to  Gahanna  Grill for  great  burgers!

German village near downtown has two good spots, monster burgers at Thurman cafe, and a great buffet at schmidts sausage haus. A good spot to walf off the huge meal you'll get at either place is the short north, lots of interesting shops and art galleries.

Thurman's was on Man V. Food if interested. Also a favorite of mine is Surly Girl Saloon.
www.surlygirlsaloon.com
 

Greymo


Go  to  Gahanna  Grill for  great  burgers!

I think that this is the place that we will try. It is close to where we are staying, has good reviews online and should not be as crowded as Therman's. I'll let you know how it went when we get back.

If you go to Gahanna Grill you would do well to avoid their signature Hamburger, The Beanie Burger.  It is an overload of toppings, not least of which is a glop of cole slaw piled on the burger in addition to the side dish of slaw served on the plate.  Much better off getting one of their less complicated burgers (same meat as the Beanie Burger, same size patty, different topping combinations) and enjoying the slaw on the side.
 
After dinner, there is a local outpost of Graeter's Ice Cream a little further east of Gahanna Grill.
 
Buddy

I hate to have to bring this to your attention, but the fish at Columbus Fish Market are not fresh off any boat. They are fresh off a plane after being fresh from a market after then possibly being fresh off the boat.
 
And that's as fresh as it gets in Columbus.

Upon recommendation by people in the office I have been working out of the past 2 weeks, I went to the Starliner Diner for dinner last night.
Oh, my! Ecclectic, funky and unique. The Creole Macaroni (THE recommended dish) was fabulous! It had the best andouille sausage I can remember, the shrimp was meaty and perfectly cooked (though the chicken was a tad dry). Being suitably situated in front of a rusty grain elevator and next to the rail tracks just add to the ambiance. I'm told the weekend brunch is standing room only.
I recommend it to anyone coming to or through the area as it is conveniently located right off of I-270 on the west side of Columbus. Probably only a 15 minute drive north from I-70. 
I will be back next time I've got the opportunity. Now...I have to go home and figure out how to make that Creole Macaroni dish, but modify the rich cream-based sauce to a more tomato-base to better accommodate my lactose-intolerant digestion, though falling off the wagon (along with popping a Lactaid pill) was well worth it!

 

MH, I think you should go get us a report on the Starliner, considering it is on your side of town and you say there are no good diners in Columbus :-)

TJ Jackson


MH, I think you should go get us a report on the Starliner, considering it is on your side of town and you say there are no good diners in Columbus :-)

First of all, the Starliner is almost as far away from my side of town as it is possible to be. Second, I grew up with diners in the northeast, and Starliner is about as much a diner as Dairy Queen is a diner. I've eaten there a few times. It's interesting, but it ain't no diner.

Just an FYI, Gahanna is on the east side of Columbus about as far from Starliner Diner as you can get.  Also, it really is only a diner becasue of the name.  There is no counter or stools or anything like that. 

Michael Hoffman

TJ Jackson


MH, I think you should go get us a report on the Starliner, considering it is on your side of town and you say there are no good diners in Columbus :-)

First of all, the Starliner is almost as far away from my side of town as it is possible to be. Second, I grew up with diners in the northeast, and Starliner is about as much a diner as Dairy Queen is a diner. I've eaten there a few times. It's interesting, but it ain't no diner.

Now we know you type 1 minute faster than me.

Fair enough, sorry

Starliner Diner is right around the corner from my office. Everything is very good.
#1 Southwestern Chicken Salad
Chicken, mushroom, corn, red onion, and cilantro lime dressing.
I am not a salad as a main dish kind of guy but this one is great.
#2 Roast Pork
Served with salsa verde, red onions, corn, and peppers served with rice, black beans and corn tortillas.
#3
Cuban Sandwich (Media Noche!)
Marinated pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles on a hoagie roll. Served with plantains.
#4 PO' Boy
Fresh fish filet with green onion mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onion, served with french fries.
#5 Big Steak Burrito
Served with black beans and rice.
This burrito is way better than anything Chipolte has ever served.

...Russ