The Thurman Cafe

I need to double the stars to 10. First off I'd like to say I've ate here a few times and it gets better each time. The burgers are so big and cooked phenomenally. Has to be the best burger joint in Ohio. Victor is such a a great guy he was my server both times I've been there. I felt like I've known him my entire life and he treats you like family. If you go here please know it's worth the wait Everytime.

Omgod!!! So freaking good!! Didn't take pics of everything because I was too busy stuffing my face!! Omg it was ALL so good!! The reuben was on point! Wow!! That burger omg!! The fried pickles!! That pic was after we'd eaten some already!! So yummy ummy!!😋 I was visiting from Texas and so glad I got to try this place with my girlfriend!

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. You will not go hungry (even splitting).

Super fun time at Thurmond Cafe. We had a 40 minute wait but it was totally worth it. Very eclectic place, nice and attentive servers, delicious food. Me and my wife shared a White Pizza Thin and the Thurman Burger, it was a ton of food. My favorite thing were the Battered Onion Straws. Would definitely come back to try more menu items.

The ideal burger bar, Thurman's is a small space packed with personality. From it's rowdy music to the dollar bills all over the walls, it is a fun place to be and its authenticity is not skin deep. It has a good beer menu, great fries, fantastic onion rings, and speedy yet friendly service. But, let's face it; you can find all these at other places. What is hard to find is a burger as good as Thurman's. I got the Thurman burger, which was packed with toppings. This made for an over-the-top burger which I thought was actually a knock against the glory that is the patty of this burger. It is perfect: juicy, flavorful, cooked-to-order, and huge (their burgers are all 3/4 lb). Next time, I have to get the western burger to really make the most of the incredibly tasty meat in that patty and I hope that is sooner rather than later.

Great place! The staff is fabulous and so nice! The fried cheese curds came out hot and fresh! The burgers are the star of the show. Absolutely delicious and highly recommend this place!

Burger was completely raw on the inside. How is this Columbus’ best burger when they can’t even cook a burger (to a safely edible temperature)? Also, waited about 15 minutes to be helped (and it was not busy and there was no wait/people before us). Overall, overhyped.

Came on a Sunday around 2:30. There was a 45 min wait. Thurman burger - this was a large burger, like all their other burgers. The patty was good. All the salty burger toppings were stacked at the top (sautéed onions and ham) so the salt was not well balanced. That’s important in such a large burger since you don’t get the same bite every bite. The onion straws were really good. Great balance of onion and batter compared to onion rings. The zucchini fries were also good. But zucchinis in general don’t have much flavor, so the dipping sauce that came with it was great. Staff were really nice. There are about 6-8 booths and then bar seating. The interior is decorated with a lot of interesting history.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

I love being a glutton at Thurman Cafe! Service and ambiance is always lively and comfortable. I love everything on the menu, especially the Thurman burger. Definitely a must visit in Columbus!

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Best burgers in town. Always delicious and juicy fries , onion rings and coneys are delicious too. Gets extremely busy be ready for the wait!!

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!!

Very unique place to eat in German village Really cool brick roads this place had really great service and the burger was out of this world and everyone working in here was pleasant and kind did not leave hungry

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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).

i thurman cafe! i have frequented this establishment for over 30+ years! the staff is the best and consistent! i am happy they are still existent! if you have never been, please don't deprive yourself of this experience!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!!!!!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!

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.

This hole in the wall bar in the German village neighborhood of Columbus is my go to spot for burgers in the area. They have a great selection of burgers including the famous Thurmanator which included two 12 oz patties, boat load of bacon, ham and every other fixing possible. This 10" burger tower is almost impossible to finish. I only tried once. I was successful but paid dearly for the next two days. If you are not a fan of burgers they have plenty of other bar food including delicious wings. This bar is not very big so expect to wait for a table during lunch or dinner rush. They do have a full bar with good selection of beer and liquor

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.

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!