I have been a regular patron of J&B's pretty much since they opened. I only eat the breakfast options, so I can't attest to the quality of the lunch items. This quite possibly may be THE only place in Columbus where one can get a properly cooked omelet / egg. By proper I mean not overcooked to the point that the egg has any brown coloring, and not undercooked with runny whites. The hash browns are also cooked perfectly with a nice golden brown crust. My favorite two items are the mushroom and swiss omelet and the huevos rancheros, oh and the coconut pancakes are yummy too. The one thing I don't recommend is the coffee. I make sure to drink it at home before I go. The owners treat my husband and me like family, always remembering our names. They are friendly folks that I actually like giving my business to. Some of the servers are not terrific, but easy to flag down if you need something. I never go on the weekends because it tends to be busy with college students, and the wait is rather long. During the week it is perfect and laid back. To clear up a point some other reviewers made, they do accept cards. It is not a cash only situation. They don't split checks, but come on, we can all do some simple math. The menu items are inexpensive so just cough up the $5 or $6 tab for your friend across the table. read more

I've heard so many good things about the place. All the positive reviews here would lead one to believe that the place walks on water. I was not impressed. Coffee comes out in plastic mugs, a bowl full of half-and-half left on the table for who knows how long, prices are way high for what you get. Asked for water and didn't get it. I was longing for breakfast at Danny's Deli in comparison. Danny's piles on everything. Just as tasty for close to half the price of J&B's. My advice: move along, nothing to see here. read more

Jack and Benny's is a quintessential breakfast dive just north of Ohio State's campus. I dined here many times during my year of purgatory...er, I mean, living in Columbus. Huge breakfast plates with more food than you should probably handle, an extensive selection of omelettes, and literally stacks of meat, potatoes and eggs. Lots of salt, lots of grease, really the perfect stop to quell a raging hangover -- whether you're an OSU student or not. As other reviewers have noted, they don't split checks -- so bring cash or go with someone who will buy you breakfast. Overall, J&B gets three stars. Nothing really special, unless you like tons of Ohio State schlock surrounding your dining experience. Possibly the worst coffee in the world -- but the fantastic service every time I ate here made up for that. read more

Being a Columbus native, I'm not sure why I hadn't had the awful experience that is Jack & Benny's until yesterday and how it 3.5 stars is beyond me. Our waitress was just generally rude and seemed angry when we asked to split the check. Maybe we're oblivious or maybe we dove into the menu too fast to notice the small print saying we'd be on one bill. A breakdown of the meal: * $2 for 8 ounces of gas station grade "cappuccino" * $2.85 for one pancake sprinkled with cinnamon (???) a plain pancake was $1.85 so yes, I paid a dollar for an unevenly distributed dash of cinnamon * $1.75 for decent hash browns but my friends' were soggy and came out several minutes after mine and the rest of our food * $3.75 for two bites of pineapple, one grape and underripe honeydew Simply put, this was a disappointment and we collectively decided to never return. read more

I think this place is cute. Awesome pancakes and hash browns (maybe the secret ingredient is salt/crack?) and good eggs too. Honestly, everything I've tried has been great. I have heard that sometimes at the end of the day the sausage gravy is a little heavy on the gravy and light on the sausage, so I guess beware of that. Otherwise! Good service and good food. A little bit small, so depending on when you go you might wait a bit, but I think the longest I've waited is 10 minutes. read more

Wish I could say I got to try the food but we showed up and had to wait over an hour only for other parties (who were the same size and came after us) got called before us. Never got the chance to eat breakfast because we were told the wait was 25-40 minutes but finally left after over an hour. read more

Jack and Benny's is a breakfast dive just north of Ohio State's campus. They have pretty good pancakes and hash browns. This place is a nice little breakfast dive to go in and eat some good food. read more

Jack & Benny's is in fitting location for those Sundays when you may have had a bit to much of the devil's juice the night before. The place is literally a dive. You walk in and see a couple booths and a bar area you can sit at. You can look around and see Ohio State memorabilia everywhere and they immediately come and hand you a dingy, diner style menu. Well all this involves you getting there when it is not looking like a mob just ran in, literally. The first time I came we waited outside for close to an hour, but everyone's rave reviews had me semi-patiently waiting. The second time I went before 8am on a weekday and there was only a couple other people in there and we got our seats immediately. So I recommend an early breakfast here no matter what day of the week since those college city dwellers usually do not rise early enough to see the sun rise. Now, onto the food. The atmosphere deserves 4 stars, but the food was average. It tasted like something I could grill up at home, and lacked a certain "it" factor that I feel is necessary when a place does breakfast food. I did order the Benny Buster, which is lets just say a LOT of food for me, but hey I was hungry. Everything though that came on my plate was just average. But for the price and those college kids who can't make an over easy egg-- this may be the place for those game day weekends. read more

I usually love a good breakfast place, doesn't have to be snazzy. Just yummy food. After everything I heard about Jack and Benny's I was expecting some yummy stuff and for how busy it was I was excited to eat. Service was way off. Understandably busy, but come on look me in the eye when you ask me what I want. Coffee taste burnt and old, the creamers left out on the table said MUST BE REFRIGERATED (ew), hash browns were undercooked, and the sausage links were seriously HOT DOG LINKS. I will never go there again, in a nutshell: mediocre service, poor food, and a wait. I rather go to Bob Evans read more

The more I think about this place, the more I hate it. Jack & Benny's is testament to the fact that if nothing better exists, even the mediocre can somehow endure and triumph.I know this is a Columbus institution, but except for its age and history in the community I can't for the life of me imagine why. Oh wait, there are so few alternatives. The food is awful. American cheese on a breakfast sandwich? Can't even do cheddar, can we? My corn beef hash was about as exciting as biting into a dry sponge. It could have come out of a can and thrown into a microwave and I would have been none the wiser. And I shouldn't have expected any better, but the coffee was weak and flavorless. The service is fine, but nothing special. And while it's not an expensive breakfast by any means, it's not exactly cheap, either. read more

I've been coming to this down-home greasy spoon for many years, and it hasn't changed a bit! Gotta love the pancake of the day specials, and the omelets are really expertly cooked, with creative toppings (apple, chorizo, avocado!). They're also famous for their "Gut Buster", the great behemoth of all-that-is-breakfast. Also, a great place if you're a football fan (which I'm not). This place is packed on game day mornings, and they feature the peanut butter and chocolate "Buckeye" pancake. I was gonna give it 4 stars, just because its not my idea of the best breakfast of all time, but really, this place is what it is and probably always will be...and they do it superbly. read more

Dude, seriously? I can't understand how people love this place so much. The food here is sub-par, especially considering how long you have to wait on the weekends. You can't really mess up breakfast food that much, but still, I didn't like it much. The mexican food here, well, let me just say 'ugh'. There has got to be like 100+ better places to get breakfast in Columbus, but since I just got to town, I'm still finding them. Corner Cafe was pretty awesome, but just go anywhere else, and you're pretty much guaranteed to get better food and service than at Jack and Benny's. Last time I was there, a toddler was screaming her head off in the booth behind me, and no one did anything. It took all of my self-control not to just get up and leave. I mean, I know it's a diner, but still. Also, for those who love the chorizo here, I think you should try it somewhere else first. The one in the scramble tasted like dirt compared to the stuff I get in Chicago. read more

Wow smoking breakfast First thing my friend told me when I moved here years ago was "i'll have to take you to Jack and benny's for breakfast." It took me years to actually try the place though. I took a while to be seated because the place is small and it was packed with diners on a late sunday morning. Eventually we were seated. I saw nothing traditional on the menu so I had a breakfast wrap kind of thing. It was so delicious. The flavors were kind of mexican with the peppers and the heat (and I don't usually like spicy food but this was great). I devoured my meal, didn't want to share with my wife. Unfortunately with their hours I have a hard time making it there, but It is definitely one of the better breakfast spots in Columbus read more

This place has everything I ever want and shouldn't have for breakfast!! Big portions....Greasy meats...Creamy sausage gravy..and toasts slathered with mucho butters!! in short, good foods that are not good for you If they have more parking spots and/or open closer to where I live, I'll probably be here more often, but as it stands..once a month is probably enough for my gut buster fix!! read more

Been here quite a number of times. Each time I always feel that it takes forever to finally get a table. But when you do get seated, the service is phenomenal. Very quick and the sever usually comes back multiple times if they don't just practically hover because their seems to be always someone else needing a table! They seem to have a big selection of omelet's and its pretty amazing to watch the cooks do all the cooking if you ever get seated at the bar. Overall the price is not bad, avg for two people is between 10-15 dollars. I don't think the food is all that exceptional but it a nice place to keep going back to. In particular I like the homefries. read more

Jack & Benny's - The kitchen! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

No food is good enough for someone to treat me the way the staff did here. Shame this place is still in business.

Overall had a good experience. The owner and his wife were very friendly. The day I was there they were a little understaffed but the server was working hard, still managing to take good care of me, and it was well worth the wait. I ordered a chocolate chip pancake and hashbrowns. The pancake was so good I ordered another. They also use the Flocktag loyalty card so I made sure to get my stamp! read more

Jack & Benny's - Chocolate chip pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My hangover healer Jack & Benny's, Yes.. I will wait 15 minutes just dont talk so loud, my head is killing me... Finally I can sit down and look at a menu. What do we got here.. omelet, omelet omelet, ok... omelet, omelet, omelet, omelet, omelet, omelet, sigh*, omeletomeletomeletomeletomeletomeletomeletomeletomeletomelet. jeesh.. Here we go! The Gut Buster. I would like one of these please. a few moment later Oh dang! thats a lot! The gut buster is clearly the only reason I go there, its my ultimate hangover cure. I'm talking just about everything in the store covered in sausage gravy. its messy, but thats how I like my breakfast. Christina called it on this one, it is not a fruit and granola place. It's more of a carbo load place. Warning: drinks are kind of tricky, OJ is freashly squeezed, so each cup will cost you. Overall the place is dope. I'll be back here sometime down the line. read more

Dingy, Greasy Spoon- And Proud of It ! This place is nearly always busy, and the food is nothing special but is worth trying at least once. The pancakes are large, and tasty enough to eat by themselves. The eggs cooked well with yummy hasbrowns served on the side. With a large menu and friendly service I'm sure you'll find something that you can eat here and enjoy. I wish that they would be willing to split checks, it's not that difficult but just come with some good friends and cash and you'll be set. I'll be back, to try the gut buster and I'll let you know how that goes. If you want some fo-fo granola infused breakfast then head North and go someplace else. There isn't anything wrong with a place that has been well established in Columbus for years and isn't trying to be something its not. read more

The omelets here are great. I like the Farmer's Boy omelet, which is 4 eggs. Huge. The hash browns are awesome too. The only thing is their coffee is not very good. Save the buck or two and just get food! read more

I was pretty unimpressed by this place. After living within walking distance for two years I decided one morning to take a trip here for some breakfast. I was expecting it to be similar to my favorite diner back home in Cleveland, and I don't know why. Maybe it was because it just had that perfect diner feel, and my roommate had given it such great reviews. I was expecting a perfect diner experience, I won't lie. It wasn't. By any stretch of the imagination. I really did not like this place. It was super packed, first off, and when we finally did get seated at the bar, we found both of our chairs were MORE than falling apart. They barely held me up, and it's not like i'm fat or anything! That aside I assumed the coffee and food and price would make up for all this. But then I ordered and got my food. It was small. Not the huge portion I was kind of expecting. ESPECIALLY for the price. I mean come-on! It was downright expensive....which is odd considering I'm reading some reviews to the right saying it's cheap. I definitely didn't feel like it was cheap at all. And when I left I was still hungry. The service wasn't great at all, and the place just didn't have that homey, diner feel to it. I definitely won't be back, I'd rather just eat my kashi and homemade coffee at home than pay for something I could make easily and cheaper. read more

This is the place to go for breakfast in Columbus. I feel pretty confident stating this as fact. All my long road trips are planned to start early in the day so that I can stop at Jack and Benny's on the way out. You have to start a great day with a great breakfast, so this place is a blessing: a guaranteed fantastic day. If you're brave and have a stomach of cast iron like me, ignore everything on the menu except the "busters." These are very dense piles of meats, biscuits, and toppings that don't look very big but are hard to finish no matter how hungry you are- and not for lack of honest effort. They are delicious, decadent and filling- and the only thing I order, having discovered them (I stuck to eggs and bacon my first visit, which was very good as well but has been left in the dust of the Buster Revolution in my stomach). I sing the praises of Jack and Benny's to anyone who mentions breakfast food. It's a great old school greasy spoon, full of nostalgic photographs and press clippings on the wall that are the real deal: a collection of all sorts of things Columbus. It makes the faux nostalgia of chain restaurants look even more pathetic than it really is, and manages to be more charming than you'd expect. Do yourself a favor, wake up some of your friends before noon sometime, and get to Jack and Benny's. Just remember- no separate checks! read more

The North campus institution for greasy spoon breakfast and lunch J& B's is a must try if you're in the area. Plate size pankakes, fresh fruit, not compote on top. Never been there on a busy weekend but sometimes the morning crowd can keep the seats busy. read more

My love of old-style diners certainly is not lost on Jack & Benny's. Over the years we've come here primarily for breakfast. In fact, I've never actually had any of their lunch food. The decor is what you would expect in a 50s style diner with counter-service - lots of old signs and artifacts. The photos on the wall contain a lot of OSU and local history. On a recent holiday, I found myself with the kids in search of breakfast. Fortunately, Jack & Benny's popped into my head as soon as we discovered the new place we wanted to try was closed. J&B's is probably best known for their pancakes. The combination of available ingredients to toss in the pancakes seems as endless as the stream of hungover OSU students who flock to this place on weekends. Yes, most weekends you can expect to wait for a table. On our recent visit I fired up the plain old scrambled eggs, toast, bacon and hash browns. First off, these are "real" hash browns made with shredded (not diced or shaved or cut) potatoes. Don't tell me that cubed potatoes are hash browns - they're not. The boy had a Benny Buster which appeared to be everything on the menu covered in sausage gravy. He cleaned his plate with no complaints. The girl actually tried the corned beef hash. I stole a few bites and it was fantastic - the kind of hash with very tiny, food processor-sized chunks of corned beef and potatoes (as opposed to big cubes) all grilled up with a little crisp on it. Yes, that's the way my mom used to make it so that is the way that is right and good. One J&B's feature worth noting is the giant juicer in the corner which is always surrounded by crates of oranges. Yes, they fresh squeeze the OJ right in front of you. Bottom line, if you love old diners or pancakes, give J&B's a try. read more

This diner has a long history and is a great choice for a brunch trip. Be prepared for a wait, as lots of other people love this place as well. You get plenty of food for the price and the walls are covered with OSU/Columbus memorabilia. Make sure to try their fresh squeezed orange juice! read more

I have many friends who swear by this place as the best breakfast in Columbus. For whatever reason, I just didn't see it. Perhaps I should saunter over the morning after a long night of drinking, perhaps I should like coffee less, or perhaps I should just send caution to the wind and get one of the aptly named "Gut Buster"s which are smothered in country gravy (though my dining partner wasn't that fond of the "Jack Buster" he got). While I would tell you that Jack & Benny's is a Columbus original that almost must be experienced, it really wasn't the type of place I look for when i want breakfast. It is a greasy diner in the truest sense. The coffee was atrocious, tasting as close to motor oil as I have found, and the food was so greasy and doused in butter that I barely could make it through. I got the Farmer Boy omelet, a behemoth 4 egg omelet stuffed with everything from bacon to hash-browns. While large and filling it was also taking a butter bath which covered all the flavors of the ingredients. I don't know, I will give it another shot but I doubt I will be converted. read more

It's a breakfast diner. I had a good breakfast here, and they have a good selection of breakfast foods, all of which looked pretty tasty. But it's just a diner. You sit at a small table or at the counter and you eat your breakfast and watch CNN, and then you either sip your coffee or you feel bad about the people waiting and leave. Maybe it's just that I don't worship the gods of breakfast or something. The only time I actually want breakfast food is around 1am, and Jack and Benny's, being a breakfast diner, is not open past lunch. Like others said, come in a small group or expect to have trouble getting seated, and don't expect to be able to split a bill. 'cause, you know, diner. read more

I adore diners, and this one is is the best for breakfast. Their menu is extensive, ranging from fairly healthy options to things like the Gut Buster, that I had the pleasure and disgust of watching the man next to me consume. Service was wonderful.... though I have heard the line can sometimes go around the corner to get in to this small establishment. Be forewarned, and go on off hours if you can. :) read more

OSU Airport location. Average food, breakfast only. I though diners served more than breakfast. Absolutely horrible waitress Saturday afternoon. Snotty, rude and mixed up three simple orders then overcharged us $5. Won't go back. Top ten dines my boot !! Now I don't trust COLUMBUS NAVIGATOR either. Crooks selling other crooks. read more

The Yelp-offered description of "2-stars" really fits how I feel about this place (Meh. i've experienced better) Lots of people I know worship this place, but I just don't understand. I've been here maybe 4 times, and it's just.a.diner. Diners have their charm, but to give a 5 start rating to a diner would imply that the food will knock your socks off. I've had a greasy omelet, a few bisquick-y pancakes, and some greasy meat. I don't mind diner food, but it I'm going to go to one, I want it to be filled with toothless old men, character-laden locals, and the occasional angsty teenager, not a room filled with obnoxious frat boys hungover from the night before. I lived in a city filled with many authentic diners, and the prices at those diners were half of what they are at this place. I dunno, I just get the feeling that Jack and Benny's is a lackluster greasy spoon manifesting as a place that's authentic and wonderfully awful, but it's really just a facade. read more

You know that song that you remember from high school? It's the one that, while it was it was no Grammy winner, was infused with some of the fondest memories of friends and summertime and pointed to a carefree time of your life, and so for some reason you can't listen to that song enough? That's what Jack & Benny's represents to me. They are a fairly pedestrian campus breakfast joint with a fairly pedestrian menu. But I must admit, there is something vibrant and nostalgic about the atmosphere for me. I recall many a fond memory of me shuffling in as an undergrad, taking in the intoxicating breakfast smells and colluding with my friends to each get something different so we could all share. The people-watching, the inane conversations, the empty calorie epiphanies we would have at those tables. It's only years later that I realized that Jack & Benny's was merely a backdrop to these memories, but what a delicious backdrop it was. Oh, the Busters I have racked up over the years... That being said, there are downsides. In spite of the food being fresh and delicious, the menu items are a bit pricey for simple breakfast fare. Oddly enough, the higher priced items tend to be more economical. And there are the crowds and the waiting. Keep in mind that this is really the only breakfast joint on campus, so it's very well-known among students. Before they expanded, the lines used to wrap around the block, and there's nothing worse that feeling rushed to finish your meal because 50 other people are waiting for your table. This is not a place to eat and camp lazily. You get in, eat, and get out. It's just the way of things. And sadly, the service is not always the most pleasant. Inflexibility is high and tolerance for not knowing the house rules is low, so newcomers beware. The bottom line is that if you know the drill, if the price is right for you, it's an experience that beats any chain breakfast joint in terms of personality. I don't make it out to campus very often and that song is getting old, but once it plays again it all comes back. read more

Jack and Benny's. While this isn't the best breakfast in town, the campus-area location is great and the experience feels authentic. Instead of the test-marketed-to-hell, manufactured "country" atmosphere of Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel, check this place out early on a fall Saturday morning before you head to the game. The (almost mandatory) wait outside will feel crisp and invigorating, and will whet your appetite for the honest, simple cooking of J&B. Note: you may not want to bring the whole gang, or you'll never be seated. This is a place best experienced by groups of 4 or less. read more

Great place. Pass on the pancakes. Instead, get the Vegetable Omelette. It's about $7 and worth it. read more

Jack & Benny's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Decent place, not the best but not the worst. Hard time finding parking on the street.

Terrible service. Never got a coffee refill. I kept trying to get my waitresses attention, but she was always on the phone. Tried to get the check to leave... she was still on the phone. I asked the other waitress, but she said I want in her section so she couldn't help me. The food was just alright, nothing to social. There are several places in town with much better food and service read more

The menu stated this was the best breakfast in Ohio. I really hope that's not true. It was passable, at best. I ordered eggs, turkey sausage, a chocolate chip pancake and a cup of coffee. The eggs were nothing special. The turkey sausage was a pre-made Jimmy Dean style, the pancake was not bad and the coffee was awful. Friendly service and a kitschy atmosphere but the food was entirely lack luster. I think this place is skating by on a reputation and I won't be coming back. Bummer. read more

Jack & Benny's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I arrived here on a Thursday morning at about 10 am. the restaurant was about 90% full. I was promptly seated at the counter and handed a menu. The specialty is Latin-inspired dishes, and I heard that they were known for their homemade chorizo. So, I ordered the chorizo scramble and orange juice. The food arrived in about 10 minutes. I was pleasantly suprised to receive fresh-aqueezed orange juice! The toast was pre-buttered with a liquid product, which was a bit of a disappointment because I had been staring at fresh butter pats on the table, presumably for the waffles and pancakes that they also serve. I will say that their chorizo is delicious and this is worth a trip for breakfast on its own. You can get a side order of chorizo with any meal. The scramble was packed full of diced tomatoes, some peppers and onions and Frank's hot sauce is provided at the table. To pay they bring a self-serve, tablet-based register to your table where you swipe and pay. The staff was pleasant, they frequently checked in to see if I needed anything and the food was quite good. I would eat here again. read more

NOTE: THEY DON'T REALLY DO "SEPARATE CHECKS." If the server feels like being really nice to you, they will do it. But if the place is busy, be prepared. Why they can't handle it is anyone guess (outdated point of sale system, mebbe?). So hit an ATM before you enter. Jack and Benny's is nothing more than a plain greasy as hell, pure comfort food spot. Since they're one of the only real breakfast joints near Campus, they can get away with it. Standard fare run down atmosphere that you'd expect in a random small town. East facing windows, so you get lots of sun in the morning. Wait and lines can sometimes be unreasonable. The staff can be rude. There's just no reason to visit this place unless you can't use yelp to find a much better breakfast spot. Bob Evans smokes this place, and for about the same price. You'll get faster service, better attitude, better food, and damn sure better parking. But since it's a campus... "favorite," you'll seldom hear those things. People who have never been are curious. They quickly learn that it's nothing spectacular... read more

Stuffy waiting area with no air circulation; luckily there were interesting magazine covers on the walls to look at. When our table was ready, the worker basically whispered my name. Luckily I have really good ears otherwise we would have lost our place in line. Breakfast was just ok, not as good as I remembered it from years ago. The waitress was kind and friendly, though. The fresh orange juice was outstanding. It is the only reason this is 3 stars instead of 2. read more

the woman who served us was rude, misgendered my then girlfriend, and charged us twice on accident. food was fine