The Thurman Cafe

Great food! They are known for their burgers and they are big and delicious! We also tried the fried bologna sandwich with a side of wild fries, and it was also amazing. This is a very small place with limited seating, so expect a wait at peak dining times. We waited 40 minutes for 2 bar seats on a Friday evening. It's worth the wait! Parking is on the street, and we had no problem finding a spot fairly close.

Hot dog, perfect size, good chili, wish the cheese was melted. Thurman burger, delicious! Onion ring, so crispy but a bit greasy. Wings, great sauce but it’s on the meat drier side. Coleslaw, it is good!

Pleasantly surprised! This little gem was amazing! I haven't had a great hamburger like this in years. Food was hot and delicious! Service was excellent, and atmosphere was warm and inviting. We definitely recommend this place and look forward to going back again soon.

The Thurman Cafe is a gem for burger enthusiasts! Every visit here is a delightful experience, thanks to their exceptionally friendly staff and cozy ambiance. The burgers are the main attraction – juicy, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavors. Each burger is a masterpiece, showcasing a blend of high-quality ingredients and innovative culinary skills. The portions are generous, ensuring a satisfying meal every time. What's more, their fries are a perfect accompaniment - crispy and well-seasoned. Highly recommend The Thurman Cafe for anyone looking for a top-notch burger experience!

03/27/2024 - First time revisiting Thurman’s, from what I can recall in over a decade. The first time I visited was when I graduated from CSCC in 2011. The place is small, but the food is savory and sometimes can be humongously impactful. Comfortable seating. Long bar with top shelf liquor and drafts. The decor is a time capsule Ohio memories and memorabilia. I ordered their Thurman Burger which was hearty, meaty, and savory. I excluded a few ingredients. I added fries and a soft drink. Cool and hip crowd. Awesome service. Free parking out front and nearby. Prices worth every bite!

The food was so good! You'll definitely have leftovers. Service and atmosphere were enjoyable and the food was super hot coming out. Everyone was very friendly and we had fun checking out all of the decor on the walls.

An Uber driver told me it was a must eat in. Columbus. He was right! I know the burgers are amazing but so is the buffalo chicken sandwich. Oh and don’t forget that you have to order their hand cut fries too!

Absolutely the best burger I've ever had in Ohio! Amber made our first time experience at this Columbus Dive Bar incredible 👏 Handcrafted 3/4 lb burgers cooked to order and wall to wall personalities makes this a must-have experience for any age. Warning ⚠️ show up comfortable and ready to eat! P.s. Try the Pizza Rolls!!!

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.

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!

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'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.

Excellent burgers! Larger than your head. Poutine is amazing as well! Have been multiple times and will continue to stop when in Columbus.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

In spite of the line at the door we were ushered into a high top table in the bar area. Our server recommended the burger which we both had -- he the bbq bacon and myself the mushroom add the horseradish sauce. I added a Margarita to my lunch and was somewhat disappointed at the size and plastic cup, but pleased by the heavy pour. We waited quite a while for the food, not a deal breaker because it usually means the food is being made and not reheated. We split his onions rings which were so epic: lightly battered in corn meal and fried to ultra crispy. His burger came with the cheese he requested but the grill took another burger and made it anew, rather than scrapping the cheese off the first one. The meat is particularly outstanding -- ground fresh daily by local supplier Herman Falter. I ding a for service which was S - L-O -W but fortunately many staff members made sure we were being looked after. Delicious!!!!!

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.

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.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to check this place out. I didn't realize it was a dive bar type of atmosphere. The pizza thin with buffalo chicken was really tasty and spicy! I am glad I ordered a ranch on the side. The bartenders and vibes were friendly.

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!

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!!

We split the Lasso burger - and glad we did. It was beautiful, delicious and filling. Ordered with the chips and pickle and a side plate of French fries. The chips were small, crisp and salty. The pickle perfect. The fries I regretted. They were quite oily and I taste suggested the oil in the fryer needed to be changed. Wayne was our server; he smirked when he admitted he'd worked there for 25 years! Smirked because he earns a lot of money and sticks around. The ambience was the best part. Packed on an October afternoon. Nostalgia stuff everywhere. I thought I walking into a modern minimalist restaurant and was blown away by the spirit of the ante room. Go there for burger and a beer - and relax! You won't be stung by the receipt!

Place is a vibe. Good, solid food, nothing fancy but tasty. Super friendly service and portions are sizeable. Would definitely return for a dinner bite.

Love this place! Best food and people around. It was good. We're glad we went there.service was excellent.

BIG burgers! Big wait, but there is good reason for that. Food and service is excellent.

In Columbus for a weekend event. Researched Thurman's Cafe and their crazy burgers and couldn't wait to try one. They've been around since about 1947. Coolio. Arrived to the bar about 3:30 PM Friday. They were nicely busy with what appeared to be locals. Good so far. Our waitress Katerina, was perky knowledgeable, fun and provided great service. Their burger menu is insane so your choice of burger can be challenging, let alone if you consider the rest of their extensive menu. I decided on the TC - it's kind of like a crazy 3/4 lb Big Mac on Texas Toast and my partner got a Turkey Sub. We split the hand-cut cheese fries. The twice cooked fries were hot and crispy with a GENEROUS mound of melted Cheddar cheese covering them. Everything was well executed and great as expected. They even had Heinz 57 for the fries. I told 'Kat' 'we ain't got nuttin' like (Thurman's) in Florida" and she immediately shot back "we don't have beaches". lol. Thurman's was the best thing we ate in Columbus.

I was in town for a music festival & a friend recommended I stop here. I rushed over & made it just in time before closing. The place is small, with a few tables & bar seating so you must wait to be seated but luckily the bar had one seat available. Wasn't gonna do it but had to go with the Thurmanator cuz not sure if I'll ever come back to Columbus. The burger was good but not great. The patties were super thick & well seasoned but cooked well done, I don't think they give you a choice on temp. I could've done without the ham, it was a bit overwhelming & unnecessary. Read reviews & noticed many people recommend the onion rings so I had to try. Glad I did, they were so good I must say they were probably the best onion rings I've ever had! Service was quick cuz I was one of only a few patrons left, attentive & friendly. Prices were reasonable, definitely recommend for first timers!

Great service great staff bartenders kick ass but be patient it is always crowded and come hungry I mean don't eat all day it's been around forever

This is a great spot to try a local legend. We had the great 3 and wild fries and both were excellent. Our server was super nice and helpful with drink options. Music was good. Bring a dollar to add to the wall!

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).

So I have been to Columbus 3 times in the last year for work and I have been to Thurmans cafe 4 times. One week I went twice. It's a busy little spot the people in the neighborhood fully support and there is a reason.... The damn burgers!! I have had 3 off the menu and a few nights ago I got the fried Bologna sandwich. I'm not from the south and I have only been in the Midwest for 19 years and I have never tried one. I can see the love for it but it wasn't my favorite thing. It was more personal preference than the way they did it because 2 other people at the bar came in sat down and ordered them without a menu so I can say if you enjoy that they make a good one. If you are not in a rush because you might have to wait a bit and want a meal to remember this is your spot.

My favorite dive bar. The burgers are excellent. I recommend the Thurman burger. I did finish off a Thurmanator once but that was just too much burger. They do have hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and more but there is no way I go to Thurman and not get a burger. Service has usually been pretty good. The biggest complaint I have is that there is limited seating and I have been there a few times with a long wait.

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.

This place is phenomenal! We took a 2 hour motorcycle trip for lunch and we were NOT disappointed. 6 people, 6 different meals and EVERYONE was happy. Don't hesitate to give this place a shot, not only was the food great but so was the service only problem you'll have is figuring out how to fit these giant burgers in your mouth! 10/10 recommend.

Columbus burger staple since the beginning of time. Burgers are HUGE and yummy! Better go hungry or share with a friend. I highly recommend the zucchini fries. Service was great and very good selection of beers to wash the burgers down.

This place never fails. The food is always great! Service is awesome too. I have never had a problem & the inside is pretty cool. Lots of things to look at

It's a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; features dim lighting, shabby dated decor, neon beer signs, and local clientele. It's comfy and cozy, you just feel comfortable. It's unpretentious. Service is good. Definitely a team. But this burger? 10/10 it's perfection. The fries? Perfect crisp Cheese curds? Must have

In town for a conference; local buddy took me here; awesome dive bar experience with incredible food, off the chart burgers and fries 10/10 and the icing on the cake was Victor the bartender - maybe the best in Columbus!

I went for the burgers that have been buzzing on social media, and they did not disappoint! The burgers were so large I couldn't eat them (in a good way). The menu had too many options to choose from, but if you want some elite bar food and sides, this place will not let you down! Fries (and loaded fries) were mid at best so maybe upgrade to a different side, and the buns don't smash down like they should so it's more of a "race against the clock, can't set it down" type of burger... but still great! As mentioned, their menu is large so I think their other options (other than burger) would be a great option to try! I will be back!

I came here 15 years ago and brought some coworkers here again in 2024. I didn't really love it this time, but my coworkers did. Burger was huge with enormous amount of toppings. It was cool that they had a photo on the wall showing their softball team the year they opened. Service was good as well. This bar used to have dollar bills on the wall with peoples names. But they took them down to deep clean for Covid.

The Thurman was recommended to me a few times, but I could never get in....it was worth the wait. We went on a Monday at around 5:30 and were seated immediately in a booth in the bar area. The servers who tended to us (there were at least 3-thanks Amber), were friendly and attentive. They let us sample a few of the items on tap. The burgers were fantastic and huge. This is a lot of food . I got the Macedonia and it was delicious...lots of flavor. The onion rings were excellent too.

Food was delicious and the service was great. Service was great, waiters all very attentive. The atmosphere was very chill and relaxing.

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.

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.

This is an iconic Columbus burger place that you've got to try! The staff all work together to make sure everyone is happy! Be careful what time you go because you may be waiting for an hour for a table. But I can say it's totally worth the wait!

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!

We waited 30 mins for a table which isn't bad. The burgers are so good! They also have salads and corned beef on the menu. Great local joint for German village!! This place was on Guy Fieri's Dives show and is amazing!!

Ever since moving to Columbus, I've heard that Thurman's has some of the best burgers in town. Luckily, I was finally able to find out for myself recently. The inside is covered head to toe with memorabilia and decor of all sorts. They appeared to be short staffed the day I went, as there was no one at the hostess stand, despite multiple signs saying that you must wait to be seated (even for the bar). After standing aimlessly at the front, we were finally flagged back to the dining area by one of the wait staff. The inside is much smaller than I was expecting, and they don't take reservations so be prepared to wait a bit for a table. The menu has more than just burgers, but all American pub food. I opted for the Western burger -- a BBQ burger with bacon. The patties themselves are pretty big -- the menu states each burger is a full 12 oz before cooking. The food came out fast, and the burger was delicious and cooked just how I requested. I also got a side of their homemade ranch, and it was really good. Overall, Thurman's definitely lived up to the hype and I will now be one of those people who recommends their burgers to others.

Local drive with cool casual vibe. Food was good, but sitting at the bar and talking with the regulars and one of the waiters behind the bar was the best part. I could barely eat half the food but didnt want to leave just because everyone was so nice.

The place doesn't seem as good as it was years ago. It's more of a hole in the wall bar now. The food didn't seem to be the star of the show anymore. The overall feel was different. It was a lil dimmer. The service was standard.

Not my kind of place. The waiting area out front smelled and when I used the ladies' room, I found out why. The toilet had two of those deodorizer cakes stuck in the bowl and the whole bathroom stunk. I've never seen an interior toilet that had those things! The waiting area also was too loud for me but my young adult kids loved the music. The man who waited on us had a great sense of humor and we got good service. I looked up and the Tiffany light was just dirty. Ew. Everyone but me loved the food. I ordered the fish dinner and the fish had no taste, the fries were not quite done in the inside and the slaw was too sweet and saucy. But the others loved everything: their fried pickles, vegetarian sub, wild style fries, coney bacon cheddar fries, burgers, everything. No one else noticed the dirty Tiffany lights or the toilets.