(614) 443-1570
183 Thurman Ave
Columbus,
OH
43206
39.9396
-82.9911
Neighborhoods: South Columbus, German Village
Reviews & Ratings for Thurman Cafe Inc
71 reviews
What users are saying:
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World Famous Burgers & Fries!
by yspring
My 3 seconds of fame came while I was eating lunch at Thurman's and the Food Network was filming an episode there. The reviews are all true - not a first date place - not pretentious in any way - 2 fisted burgers - the BEST fries anywhere. My biggest decision is do I get the burger or wings with my fries? Sometimes I just get them all! You'll need a doggie bag if you do this though! The video game was Galaxia and Ms. Pac Man (I think) I love Galaxia, so this keeps me busy while we wait for a seat. The burgers are always fresh, huge and cooked just the way I like them.
- Pros: Burgers, Fries, & Wings
- Cons: Parking
Overrated Burgers
by LShaw
These burgers are nothing to rave about. All burgers have to be cooked well-done (must not use that great of quality of beef then). They also are served with chips. Who serves burgers with chips? Ridiculous. They wouldn't even substitute fries for the chips. You have to order a whole basket. The service was very poor. Of course, we also waited in a long line. Go down a few buildings for a great burger at Easy Street Cafe. They are fantastic!
- Pros: Good options
- Cons: All burgers well-done, served with chips, poor service
A unique dining experience
by buckeyekevin
This restaurant has been in the same location for over 50 years and is rather tiny. However, that is part of it's charm in my opinion. We waited for over 1.5 hours and that was fine.
The service is a different style. They will treat you like a regular even on your first visit and you can't be bashful. They might give you a hard time, but you can do the same right back to them. Thats what they expect. Food was pretty good. I had the Thurman Burger, which was as massive as they say. Only complaint I would have is that there was so much beef that by the end of the burger thats all I had. I needed more onions and such to go along with it. Fries were great. Its a busy, overcrowded family owned establishment... and thats why we love it!
- Pros: Unique atmosphere and Good Food
- Cons: There is a wait...
not up to the rep
by rajihajisheik
The legendary giant burger is not worth enduring the tight layout or brain dead staff. The plating is extra slobsville.
- Pros: nice location
- Cons: too cramped, slow snobby service, messy - just ok burger,
GREAT RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE
by Buxfan19
I can't believe that some of the last reviews have been bad. I make it a weekly to bi-weekly effort to go the Thurmans. Just from being in there, I can tell you that everyone in there has a good time. The people writing these complaints are probably the ones who want there butts wiped for them. The service there is different, but great. They don't baby you here, but they do have fun with you; it feels like a second home. The food is fresh, high quality, relatively inexpensive, and darn good.
I RECOMMEND THE BLEU CHEESEBURGER WITH BACON (and I like it rare). WITH A PITCHER OF LIENE RED.
There is usually a pretty good wait there, but I don't see it as a wait. My Thurman experience starts out in the lobby. Getting to the table is just the next phase. We get pretzel bites and a pitcher while we hang out in the lobby. If you go out with friends, then hanging out for an hour or two really isn't so bad.
I love the Thurman Cafe!!!
- Pros: Burgers, Atmosphere, The Wait!!!
- Cons: What are the drawbacks?
Poor Service Causes Big burger let down
by djs
We heard about this place last year but due to the wait we had to leave and didn't get the opportunity to try this place in 08. Being from out of town we would not get the chance to taste this burger until this past week. There was a line even at 2:30 in the afternoon so it must be worth it to most. When we got seated the poor service took over. The waitress was irritated because one of our party went back to the car to retrieve his glasses. She would not take our orders and ignored our attempts to get her attention. When she finally did acknowledge us she was abrasive in her responses. We hoped it would stop there. Our food did come and we received exactly what we felt she would give us. Each of the orders in our party were incorrect --ie. no mayo meant to her extra, no mushrooms meant an extra layer mixed in with the cheese so that they could not be picked off. What ever was requested that not appear on our burgers showed up in extra amounts. The burger was large but not as tasty as I thought it would be-- the Fuddruckers burger is better. The Thurmon burger experience is not one to be repeated.
- Cons: Rude-Nasty Waitress ruins visit
The most overrated restaurant in Columbus
by artemisn
I've been twice in the last 3 months. The first time the service was so slow but the server was apologetic and the food was ok so we went back. The second time we were sat, and waited about a half an hour and no one came to our table! the server walked past us a number of times, talked to the two tables seated on either side of us and never even stopped to get our drink order. I watched her and the other server joke around with some patrons at the bar, have a sip of soda, stock some straws, and sit down. All the while we were never even acknowledged. We left. And yes, I've had the burgers and they are just ok. They wount even cook them to temp for you!
- Pros: none
- Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE
GREAT GREAT GREAT
by JessieNew
The food was great, the service was good, and the atmosphere was awesome. We had a party of 9 and we waited for 2 hours on a Friday. I think that is pretty extreme even for that size party on a Friday night. But would definitely go back!!
- Pros: GREAT food!!
- Cons: Parking and waiting to be seated
Awsome columbus must have not for small appettites
by CSMobileUser3
Had a ham and Swiss sub bf had the thurmanator , slow service but worth the wait and small cost
Oh Burgers!
by NAWalton
This hole-in-the-wall joint is great for burgers. The amount you get is amazing and the taste is phenomenal. I have been an avid goer for 5yrs now. Service is slow at times and the walls are covered in items but definitely a must if you're in Columbus.
Ok Food, worst service I've ever experienced
by kupka316
What else can I say but the worst service in the history of mankind. After seating after an hour wait at 4 o clock in the afternoon, we sat at our table for 10 minutes before we even got drink orders taken. After our order was taken the waiter didn't come by again until we got our food. After that we never saw the waiter again. After waiting 35 minutes after we were done eating for our bill, we left. If you want to know why you wait so long to sit down, you now know why. The food was ok, just big, not much flavor in the burgers. I've had better burgers at chain and qsr restaurants.
- Pros: Great decoration
- Cons: Service, Service, Service.





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