I came here because it was featured on a television show so I thought I'd see what the hype was. I was really impressed with the food. The burgers are very large. We bought the western burger and the topless burger with french onion dip. They were both served with very large patties. The western burger came with the regular toppings and fries. Very tasty and well made. The French onion burger came with a giant glob of French onion dip. It tasted very good with the camellias onions and mushrooms. The fries were delicious. Overall an incredibly great exclusive and will definitely come back next time I'm in Columbus. The atmosphere is divey and nice staff.

Our last few visits were pretty bad. With the pandemic and limited staff you have to expect that things won't always be great. But this was our third trip with uncooked hamburgers, fries and onion rings. We asked each time for the burgers to be well done. But the third time this happened we called the restaurant and the manager told us to bring back the raw hamburgers the next day 🤢 I didn't think it would be very hygienic. Until the quality control is raised I suggest going elsewhere.

My word for this joint is phenomenal! Wow, smack your momma delicious burgers! Everyone enjoyed their meal! The burgers are huge and incredibly juicy! I ate the blue cheese burger and couldn't stop eating because it tasted so good. Eventually, I had to because I couldn't stuff another bite in. But trust me I took what I had left home and enjoyed it the next day! Our service way excellent. And for as poppin' as that place was she did a fantastic job keeping up! Overall, I highly recommend this The Thurman Cafe if you're looking for the best burgers you can find Columbus. We will definitely be returning! Tried the A1- Burger today! It was also phenomenal! Looking around you notice things you didn't see previously. It's like a time capsule in there! I just love the food and the atmosphere! Amazing!

If you want super friendly service, huge portions, and the best tasting burger I can genuinely remember ever having, come here! Kevin was super kind, friendly, and really makes a difference there. Super cool dive-bar atmosphere with plenty of stimulus/decor. Local & Family owned too. Will recommend this gem to anyone looking for the best bite to eat Columbus has to offer. I highly recommend the Jones Burger. It was a monstrous beauty that exceeded already high expectations. Definitely get the zucchini fries also!

The burgers are awesome! We'll everything was awesome! We had a party of 10 so it took a while to get seated but definitely worth the wait.

Lucky to come on a slow day day and seated right away. I'm not usually a fan of larger burgers but this place has perfected it. Absolutely delicious. I see why it's voted one of the best places for burgers. We will return and try all the other options and loaded fries.

The food is amazing. The burgers are HUGE and very well seasoned. The fired bologna sandwich is on point for sure and definitely recommended. Come hungry thought the portions are not skimpy at all.

Amazing experience! The burgers put Red Robin to shame! Only issue is the chairs aint that comfortable and the wait is long but worth it ! Our waiter was an older man and he was one of the best waiters we’ve had and made it truely a great experience ! Best house made ranch! I got the 3 cheese burger add bacon, fried cheese sticks, and bacon cheese fries with ranch. For two huge burgers, two sides of bacon cheese fries and bussin mozzarella sticks around $58 /60 before tip and of course we tipped ☺️

This is a true burger bar with great selection of liquor, bottled beer, and local drafts. You really have to eat here and experience their burgers. they are all 3/4lb and very large, but awesome. Lots of other food choices too: is not JUST a bar! Place is small so expect a wait if arriving in any peak time, there is a small indoor waiting area as well.

The turkey reuben was excellent as well as the onion rings. The chips and fries were decent too. The burger has way too much meat, you can't eat it like a burger and just end up using a fork. But I think that's what most people go there for so maybe I'm not the best judge!

Holy cow! 10/10 place. Hole in the wall but amazing! Amazing atmosphere, amazing service, food, just everything. You will not be disappointed in the slightest. During my visit I had to wait 1.5 hours for a table but it was 1000% worth the wait. I live 2 hours away from this place but will make that drive just to experience the food, atmosphere and experience again. Picture is featuring their Hawaiian burger.

My favorite place to get the best burger!

Great food at a great price. The burgers are enormous. Plus, we got onion rings and they were delicious. My only knock on the place is it needs to be bigger. Wait times are quite long.

This is definitely a gem for your city! It's one of the best "hole in the wall" joints I've been to in a while! THE BURGERS ARE HUGE, and so are the portions! The price wasn't bad either for 7 of us. Our bill was roughly $100, and some change! We had several different burgers, a hot dog, wings, fries that had garlic and Buffalo sauce on them, angry orchards, sodas, milk, and sooo much more! Definitely go and explore this place you wont be disappointed... OHHHH, DO NOT LET ME FORGET THE RANCH!!!! IT WAS SOOOO GOOD!

Written in 2012: While the famous Thurmanator Burger is an impressive sandwich, the size far outweighs the taste (which was just okay). For $25, it's not worth it. My dining partner loved her mushroom burger, though. So, my advice is to stick to the smaller, though still big, burgers. It's what I'll be getting the next time I drop in. Inside it has cute wooden benches and tables arranged in orbit of their bar. If you get a seat by the window, it would make for a pleasant place to spend a few hours. As for the service, it was okay. 2023: 11 years later I return and try the one pound Coney with the famous family chili recipe. There's nothing special about it though. My evidence: I took half home and picked at it several hours later, near midnight, and ended throwing most of it away. The worst part? With a side of fries (which were good), a coke, and tip, my bill came to $37. $37! I'm never going back.

Delicious food! I got the Thurmanator (and finished it, amazingly). It did not disappoint! In addition to being ridiculously large, it's a very good burger! It's not just a huge pile of things for show. All the different flavors really worked for me. The hamburger patties were seasoned and cooked perfectly. The fries were good too! I'll definitely be back!

Stopped here after hearing it has the best burgers in Columbus. The atmosphere is kind of like one of those run down bars that everyone signs their name on the wall or whatever. The service was really good. The food was pretty good for being bar food. I got the Thurman burger and it was gigantic. Extremely tall to the point you needed to dislocate your jaw to take a full bite. The ham they put on it was cold which kinda messed with what was going on because i got to the center and it was cold. The burger was really messy to eat, you had to full commit and not let it go and even then the home made patty still kind of broke apart while eating. This thing really needs a flatter patty and wider bun to make it easier to manage. Overall the flavor was solid. Definitely not the best burger ive had but it is a solid choice.

We got the fried mushrooms and the fried pickles. We also got the American Burger and the bacon burger with Swiss cheese and mushrooms. I added a knife and a salt shaker for comparison so you can see how big these burgers are. They are absolutely delicious and some of the juiciest Burgers I've ever had. I travel nearly an hour for this burger and it is well worth the drive. As you can see from the photos they forgot to bring our chips but they brought us a basket to share later. I just wish they would have brought two smaller plates with our chips so we weren't reaching into the same bowl. But all in all this is an amazing restaurant that is always busy and if you're willing to wait it is well worth the wait.

Great food. Definitely alot of food. Get the cheesecake to go. 😍😍😍

This is a great place, hard to get seating most of the time. It's definitely my favorite burger place. Compared to other big burger joints, you get twice the burger for the same money. It's totally worth it if you're thinking of trying it.

First time visiting from out of town. I understand the hype. Excellent high quality patty. Everything was fresh. The owners daughter was amazingly nice and even sat down to write down some other places I should visit in the area. I’m beating myself up for not recalling her name. Must visit place for great food and hospitality.

Great place too eat.. Food is always good.. Staff are great.. If there is a wait.. Just wait you will not be disappointed ..

We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, which was fine as we had nothing else going on. We were able to grab drinks and take them to the lobby which was a nice touch. Strong drinks! Three of us got burgers, which were nothing super special. Creative burgers? Absolutely! Best burgers ever? Not so much. I got cheese fries and they were the best part of the meal. I got the Reuben pizza and that was pretty good! The waiter/ bartender was beyond amazing!

Food was amazing! Very friendly staff, will be going back for sure.. loved the place!

Excellent. They have a huge selection of "burger specialties" and they all sounded great. We had three different specials, and all of them were consistent in size, and all tasted delicious! They start with a full 12 ounce hamburger, and it's huge. Wide variety of toppings, interesting flavors and combinations. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table (the place is small), but I would have gladly waited 30 minutes. It was well worth the wait. I just wish I lived local so I could try them all!

Great atmosphere! Drinks and food were good. I did the Thurmanator... Here's my before, during, and after photos... I conquered it! 💪🏾

This place should be at the top of your list to try if you are in Columbus, Ohio. Not only are their burgers unbelievably massive, they are tasty, and the vibe of this place is super fun. The service was incredible each time I visited. The waiters were personable, kind, and helpful. Parking is difficult due to the part of town it is in, but it's worth it. Make sure that The Thurman Cafe is somewhere you try before you leave town!

A very characteristic and unique place in the German Village of Columbus. I wasn’t expecting anything fancy, but the environment is different and definitely pub-style. I liked it very much because it is way different compared to other new cool burger places. Food was very good. I loved the fries (the gravy is very delicious) but especially the burger. I got the “Thurman Burger” and it was huge. I was struggling to eat it, but every bite was delicious and I really liked the quality of the beef. It will be probably in my top-3 favorite burgers in Columbus. I suggest everyone to try it and I’ll definitely go back there soon!

Awesome place, location and food! The chicken wings are so huge and tasty!!! My goodness. The sauces are amazing. Appetizers are a hit and of course can’t forget about the ultimate burger. “The Thurmanator” ! Cute little hole in the wall that is well known to true Ohioans! A must try!

Drove up from Cincinnati to check this place out. The staff was very friendly and helpful, I got a pizza burger which was phenomenal, and the fries were nice and crispy. I wish there was one a little closer might be my only complaint haha

Very friendly and the burgers are AMAZING! The Thurmanator damn near killed but was totally worth it!

GREAT BURGER! Thick, huge! They have Ms. Pac Man!

Great local bar that's ALWAYS busy. You WILL have to wait for a table. Monster burgers are great. They will be well done unless you ask otherwise. Free pour on drinks is nice. They have other food, but who goes to Thurmans and doesn't get a burger? PS- parking is a wreck. Just park 2 blocks away and walk. You'll be glad you did after finishing your burger.

If you're looking for a burger that will blow your mind, look no further than The Thurman Cafe. I recently visited this iconic Columbus spot and was absolutely blown away by their signature Thurman burger. This behemoth of a burger features one 12-ounce patty. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you're up for the challenge, it's a truly unforgettable experience. The burger was cooked to perfection - juicy and flavorful with just the right amount of char on the outside. The toppings were all fresh and delicious. The fries could use an improvement. Unfortunately, they were wilt and soggy; they didn’t complement the burger. One thing to note is that The Thurman Cafe can get quite busy, so be prepared for a wait. But trust me; it's worth it. The atmosphere inside is cozy and welcoming, with a classic dive bar feel. And the service was friendly and attentive, despite the crowds. Pro tip: starve yourself before going if you want to finish the burger. And if you’re up for an even bigger challenge, go for the monstrous Thurmanator. Overall, I can't recommend The Thurman Cafe enough. If you're a burger lover, you must try the Thurman. It's a Columbus institution for a reason!

This was our first time eating at Thurman's Café and we really enjoyed it! The place smelled great, the rest rooms were extremely clean and the burgers were truly amazing! My husband and daughter enjoyed them more than I did since I'm not a huge burger person but the food was good nonetheless!! Our server was extremely pleasant and helpful!

Stumbled upon this place and so glad we did. This place has been opened since 1942 and it's on its 4th generation of family running it. Our waitress was fun and spunky & All the staff worked together and seemed to enjoy one another. Great music was playing, lots of old memorabilia to look at and the burgers are out of this world! Come hungry because these 12oz burgers are no joke. Lots of variations of burgers that are hard to choose from, but they also offer many other options as well as housemade coney sauce. Full bar is also available.

5 stars all around. Our service was over and beyond our expectations. My youngest loves chicken and ranch pizza and although this is not an item on their menu they were kind enough to custom make her the pizza of her choice. The Thurmenator Burger was HUGE and delicious! Highly recommended for anyone passing through or looking for a new place to try on their travels

5 star all the way. The portions are big enough to share, which I did with the pepper jack burger, fries and cheese curds. They truly make magic here. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!

If you like huge burgers, you'd love him. If you like flavor, this won't be the place for you. All the toppings hide the fact the beef is not seasoned well. But eating a burger the size of your head is definitely an experience

Either come hungry or plan on sharing!! Hubby and I got the fried portobellos and the Bleu cheese burger with bacon and cheese fries....plenty for us both! The hamburger was delicious and it was coarsely ground so it had a wonderful mouth feel...meaty and substantial. Fries could have been crispier but we forgot to mention that. They did however have plenty of cheese and bacon...chunks of bacon not bacon bits. Service is friendly and from other reviews I wasn't surprised when three different servers helped us throughout the meal. Parking can certainly be right as it looks to be only street parking. We came in on Thursday afternoon around 1 and parked a little down the block. Prices are pretty average and they seem to have an extensive bar selection. Speaking of extensive selections the burger menu was 2 pages by itself! They also have salads, subs, deli and much more that I didn't even read the rest of the menu. If you can't find something you like than you are way too picky 😅 Atmosphere is a bar....nothing fancy but a definite local feel. We felt immediately welcome and at ease here. Plus I like that the interior isn't real dark, with the front windows allowing plenty of light in. If you're in the area and want a great burger stop in!

I came here probably 7 yrs ago and got the same thing I got tonight, The Thurmantor. 24 oz. Of goodness. It’s one thing to get some huge hamburger like this but does it actually taste good. Most times you sacrifice quality for quantity. This is not the case with these burgers. You get a lot of food but it really tastes good. I’ve had a lot of average burgers in my lifetime but this is not one of them. No matter what burger you get here it’s gonna be good. Just a cool place to enjoy some good food. You won’t be disappointed. Great job!!!

Loved the food and the experience! Burger was HUGE. I got the blazin' burger, which was SO GOOD. I got the spicy wing sauce on the side so my burger wouldn't be too hot. Highly recommended the zucchini fries! Got a side of the French onion sour cream and dipped my fries in it, which was simple yet great! Kevin was awesome! His kindness really added to our experience. A must visit restaurant when in columbus!

Went for the first time with family today. Wanted to go for years after seeing it on man vs food. Lives up to the hype. Phenomenal and entertaining service. A little crowded but it's worth it. Love the condiment options and the food is incredible, I got the Blazin Burger and it was HOT in temperature and in spice.

Had the fortune to stop by The Thurman cafe before returning to the airport. We had already dropped our patient off and were in a hurry to catch our flight back to KC. The staff was so polite and gracious. The food was amazing! I had the western and onion rings. Easily made the top 3 list, in my opinion. The meat was perfectly cooked and they were generous in their portions. The vibe was perfect, low key, casual, welcoming. My only regret is that I was working and couldn’t enjoy items behind the bar.

I’ve always heard of this place but hadn’t visited until recently. The atmosphere wasn’t what we were expecting, but it definitely did not disappoint. It has kind of like a dive-bar atmosphere, lots of decor on the walls. The food was absolutely delicious. The burgers are for sure outstanding, one of the best tasting burgers I’ve ever had, and they’re HUGE! Def try this place out if you’re in the Columbus area!

If your looking for a casual dive bar vibe with a great selection of beers and some of the best burgers around then this is your spot. Vibe is amazing, service was impeccable, food quality and portion size are out of this world. 10/10 must try in Columbus!

Was seated as soon as we came in. Our server was polite and made sure our drinks were refilled. I took my grandson here when he was five and in a week he will be seventeen. It was a memory thing for us. Same good natured atmosphere and great food.

I love coming to Thurman’s Cafe every time I get a chance while in Columbus, OH. This rustic and aged cafe is decked out with old memorabilia and plenty of signed dollar bills stapled to the walls. Anywho, this establishment is famous for its monstrous burger selections (reference the menu). As always, I ordered the monster of burgers, “The Thurmanator” with the perfectly fried and crispy fair fries. Of all the times I have ordered this Monstrosity, I’ve only finished it once and that was on my first visit a few years back. Since then, I’ve taken half of it either back to the hotel or home! If you’re up for a challenge & interested in such a burger, I highly recommend that you come after 2:00 PM. It is customary to expect long lines to get in during the lunch hour. Seriously! Great burgers, great staff, great savings because you won’t eat dinner that night you visit!!

Local dive that is a must for first timers. Dont bevturned off but the decor. The food is good, grease pub food, but with some History attached. Try the Thurmanator Berger. You may get away with ordering 1 for 2-3 people unless you just have to have your own. Highly recommend.

the blazing burger is the best!

Thurman is right down the street from my job. I stop here on lunch sometimes. I spend about $18 on myself but I also get dessert😋chips, the burger is humongous and the French frie portions are very big😊 all in all I have no problem spending that amount of money for this food! amazing👏

I miss Thurman from Japan.😭😭

Love the good!

Great place and vibe

Awesom, friendly, and fast service

The whole experience was awesome. Anyone with a health appetite shod definitely get the Thurman Burger.

Great food & Great staff!!!

The waiter they had today gets very very distracted talking to people and don't take care properly of the customers blond young guy besides all good still exelent

Good place to eat

Always Good!

Good burger.

Everything was delicious we had a great time my daughter loved thier new super thin crust pizza. The burgers here can not be compared to any other burger, they are in a class of thier own. If you haven't tied this place yet what are you waiting for great food is passing you by. Friendly 6 foot distance atmosphere, history on the walls, and great food with a great staff what els do you need. Thanks you guys and keep up the good work.

Grabbed carryout. Everything was delicious. The Garden Burger is the best.

The burgers at thurmans cafe are definitely a must eat when in Columbus. The meat is quality. The portions large. If you’re craving a hamburger - look no farther. Burgers were great, cheese curds delicious and the decor was fun. Not many tables, mostly booth seating. Will definitely go back and check out the wings!

As advertised. The burgers are outstanding. The french fries with gravy were also fantastic. A small wait but it's worth it.

I recently dined here and they are practicing social distancing, requireme face masks and they have santizer and partition up at seating. The food was delicious and our server was awesome. It's usually busy but Covid has the crowd down so now is the time to go! You won't be disappointed.

If you are ready for a great filling meal this is the place to go. The burgers are 12 ounces of juicy, tasty, deliciousness and the fries are defined filling. My only reason for not giving this place a 5 starts is because of the service my boyfriend and I experienced the first half of our dining experience. Once the shift change hit the staff was extra friendly and helpful.

This place is always packed. Rightfully so. They don't skimp on their portions, and everything is delicious! The vibe was super chill and the people were cool. Try the wings!

A great place to eat would highly recommend

Easy to find but I can imagine on a busy night finding a parking spot could be difficult. It’s a small lil place but with a big burger to offer! The burger was really good. I’m not of a fan of a chips I’d rather have fries instead. But the order of chili fries were also extremely good. I’d highly recommend you try this place at least once. Cheers!

Great food & service. Drinks were good & served fast. We got our humongous burgers & chips quick. Thanks for the good times ;)

The food is amazing I love this place, but the workers well some of them they have working for them are rude an disrespectful. I called one night an hour an half before carry out was suppose to close an they didnt even have enough respect to pick up an say they closed early... they would pick up the phone an hang up or put me in hold till I hung up. I use to come an spend almost $30 but I would rather take my money somewhere else with better customer service then deal with the workers of this restaurant.

Doesn’t live up to the hype. Food is decent but not worth the price.

The food and staff are great

Food is decent. What perplexed me, that the server grabbed 5 drinks from our table together in 2 hands, filled them up and returned. During pademia is not good practice: cap surfaces touching and there is possibility of mixing caps

Food so good and so plentiful that two days later your still eating it

Love Thurmans! Great burgers, chicken and sides!

If you are legit hungry go here! Burgers are bigger than your mouth!

So many giant burgers to choose from! Very tasty. Many other options on the menu if you prefer not to have a burger.

Long wait but worth it !

Very nice place

Hands down, the best burger I've ever had... I will recommend everyone I know to this place, I got the thurman burger and asked for a fried egg on it, chips, cole slaw and pickle spears... Holy sh!t.. I couldn't even finish half of it, I couldn't even take a full bite, it's massive!!! My new go to spot for burgers!!!

Great service and food

Great avocado toast and tea!! Small, clearly local place.  Loved it! Not fancy, but tasty!!!

You don't leave hungry and you deff need a rake home box

Goodness, some of best burgers we have ever had.

Fried portobello mushrooms are the bomb

Service was slow. Need more staff.food was good