Don't believe the hype. Bottom line: the burgers are over done (none of the burgers come out with any pink), and the top of bun on both of our burgers crumbled and fell apart in our hands. The quality of the burger was nowhere near what most of the reviews would suggest they are. On the bright side, their onion rings were good; I did not get to try their fries. When we arrived, there was one unfriendly waitress working, who was rude when asked any questions, which I saw happen with other tables as well as ours. The outside of the restaurant is very inconspicuous and looks like a dive bar, but I that could ultimately be part of its charm -- if it had any. read more

This has the best burgers in Columbus!! I love it here. It feels like family!! Amazing service every time! Cozy atmosphere.

Cheeseburgers and roast beef sandwiches are $6. Fried Bologna sandwich $5 and (new!) Fish sandwich for $4. Sides are French Fries $2 and Onion Rings $2.50. Wednesdays you can get Joe's Coneys for $2.25. Apparently you can order a double patty cheeseburger which is 3/4 lb before cooking - a coworker asked but didn't order so I don't know how much that costs. If you want a filling burger this is a good place to go. The burgers come on a sesame seed bun with lettuce, onion, pickle and tomato. They are sliced in half and held together with toothpicks. I suspect the french fries and onion rings are frozen and then fried but the burgers didn't taste frozen at all. A really nice touch - all sodas came in a can served with an ice filled frosted mug. I was going to order water until I saw that frosted mug. The waitress was super nice. Someone spilled a glass of water across the table and she joked that he should buy the other person's lunch. (We hadn't been served yet so no food was ruined.) We had 3 tables pushed together for 8 people and she was able to do separate checks. read more

It was pretty solid when I picked it up for lunch do i recommend a friend and when I got my food from ordering at night the burger was not all the way done. It was raw in the middle. read more

Solid bar food. The burger wasn't heavy or greasy. Which was refreshing. It was delicious. Awesome onion rings. There was only one bar tender/server in and she did an awesome job at tending to everyone. I recommend this place to anyone craving a hearty burger! Or to anyone who wants some good food with their drinks. read more

Johnnie's Tavern - Burgers Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Johnnie's is one of those old time dives that's just simple, but completely on point. The menu is a one pager, and their burgers are their genius. I was originally nervous about stepping in here, a biker bar looking place near the railroad tracks on Trabue--Doesn't sound like the ideal place to hang out, but when you step inside you see families, and people of all walks of earth here. No drunken messes, no stink eyes, just regular folks you'd see at the local Apple Bee's. The décor is something stuck within the 60's, but it's perfectly fine. Why change a good thing? There was only one girl running the show here, and she did it with finesse. We never had to flag her down, and I honestly felt bad a couple times for making her walk back twice to our table for refills, but she handled it with no complaints, or attitude. Anyways, back to the burgers--These are indeed a mixed ground. I'm guessing a nice Sirloin mixed with ground beef. They're seasoned to perfection (A lot of salt and pepper) and cooked all the way. Get everything on this burger that it typically comes with. It enhances the entire experience. Just ordering this burger plain may not do much for some people. It's odd, but how they make it and the toppings included all seem to balance each other out. This burger was also a delight to eat, because it was not some sort of greasy atrocity I'm so used to. My shirt was spared. The tide pen was saved for another day. I ordered tots as my side, but you can order it with a few different options. The onion rings are pretty delicious as well. I'm not going to go slinging out 5 stars for any old place, but Johnnie's almost felt like a long lost hang-out, like I should have been there all along. read more

What a great experience! Heather the server/bartEnders was super attentive and kinda really hot.... food A++. GO!

First time I've been in since 1995. I have no reason for my extended break from dining there!!! I took my wife. She had never been. I told her that they had a small menu from what I remember? We just wanted burgers, so we were okay. We walked in and it was pretty much how I remembered it except nicer. Well lit. Clean. No negative vibes at all. We both had sodas to drink. She had the roast beef sandwich. I had the Johnnie Burger. We shared a basket of fries! Both of our sandwiches looked awesome. I did sample a bit of her roast beef. Very good. I'm not one for roast beef on a sandwich but it was great. It came with a dipping cup of horseradish. Amazing!!!! My burger had pepper Jack cheese, jalapeños, and mushrooms. It was really good. As good as I remembered. The fries was a basket that probably three people could have easily eaten from. Our waitress was a pretty young lady. Very friendly, and attentive. She was also the bartender. It was a Friday early evening. Not too much of a crowd there. I think our bill before tip was like $32.00. Not bad at all. We will be going back for sure. Looked like a pretty good selection of bourbon too read more

There is just something irresistible about a dive bar burger joint. Johnnie's did not disappoint. They have definitely found their lane and are staying in it, which I think is great. I respect a place that doesn't go over the top with their menu. This place does a handful of things and does them well, and has a reasonable price tag to go with them. I find that I'm often let down by burger places, but that wasn't the case at Johnnie's. Will definitely be back! read more

There are some people here that are lunatics. 1 star? Go back to McDonald's. This place is amazing. It is the only place where all of my friends can agree on. The burgers are THE best burgers in Columbus. But....is the roast beef even better? It might be close. read more

Stopped in for a burger while passing through town. GREAT burger and tots!!! Would definitely come here again!

This bar does a great job of making people not want to come back. They closed at 10 pm on a Thursday night when a Browns game was on. The bartender spent more time screwing around on her cell phone than tending to the customers. Then, she called me a dick when I called her out for the poor service. read more

Stopped into Johnny's for lunch yesterday with a colleague who suggested it. Said it was a great dive bar. I'm game. We walk in and it's certainly a dive. Two blue collar guys at the bar with beers and the Price is Right and we grab a booth on the coldest wall in the place. My feet were ice. The lady running the FOH was nice. Helped us get through lunch pretty easily. They don't have menus, just a poster on a mirror. It consists of fried apps, cheeseburgers and extra charge toppings, bologna sandwich, fried fish sandwich, and coneys (only on Wednesday). We both got cheeseburgers. I got tots, Tom got onion rings, but wanted fried mushrooms. Our server informed us they were out of fried mushrooms because GFS was out of fried mushrooms. hahaha! Anyway, the burger was solid. They only cook them well done, but it was still juicy and greasy. I could only eat half my food, which is probably advisable anyway. They know how to use a fryer for sure. We weren't given silverware and I didn't feel like it was an option. I guess I didn't really need it. Burger was $7.50, tots/fries $2. Apps $4.50. We both ate and had cans of coke for $24.50, which felt pricey for the spot, but whatever. Surprisingly, the place picks up for lunch with a lot of guys meeting friends for burgers. read more

This place has always been a favorite of mine I have been going to Jonnie's for the past 10 years. Recently on my visits I have noticed thatthe service has been getting worse, a few weeks ago I stopped in after work to get a burger and a beer. I sat at the bar for 10 minutes and watched the bartender play on her phone while some random dude that everyone called sarge walked around behind the bar yelling at customers about the tvs. Today I called in to place a carry out order for lunch and was told I couldn't do that till after 2pm. I was shocked to haer this This was very disappointing read more

Having grown up with grandparents in Akron, Johnnie's Tavern feels like a bar that somehow got uprooted from next to a steel mill - and that's a good thing. Brick and cinderblock walls, wood tables, a dark, high bar. You walk in and there's still an honest to god Ohio Bell pay phone right next to the door. When you sit down, the bartender / waitress checks on how you're doing, asks what you're interested in, and bustles (that's the only word for it - she honestly bustles) through the bar checking in on newbies and regulars alike. A beer comes in the bottle with an ice cold frosty mug (out of a huge old freezer that the bartender semi-regularly dumps extra ice into), and of course I'm going to talk about the "Super" burger that's advertised right on the sign. It's big - thick, without being too greasy, melted cheese, and a great satisfying crunch from nice cold lettuce and tomato. I went with the onion rings and found them OK, but not exceptional - I've heard I should get the fries next time, so I'll keep that in mind. Is it the best burger in Columbus? I'm honestly not sure, but I think they're certainly part of the conversation - and I have to admit that next time I go back, it's going to be a tough decision between getting another one, or going for the fried bologna sandwich. read more

I'm not sure how I haven't written a review for Johnnie's yet! Johnnie's is a small, divey joint. If you blink, you could miss it! The seating is limited, so it doesn't take much to get a little crowded. Johnnie's has a limited menu, and are known for their burgers. The burgers are pretty damn big, and made to order however you want it. They don't come with anything, but if you need something else, the sides are all pretty good. I prefer the onion rings! I've also tried the roast beef sandwich which is served with real horseradish, and it's really good as well. It's actually been awhile since I've been...going to need to plan to get back soon! read more

This is truly what America is, fellow Columbusites. It doesn't get much better than Johnnie's, a true TRUE true townie bar way outta town, almost in Hilliard. This family run gem is what John Melancamp only wishes he could capture in his little ditties about Jack and Diane. Yes, it's true, there are formica tables and vinyl chairs, as well as wood paneling and a phone booth inside of Johnnie's. There is no menu, only three choices on a wipe board - the only acceptable choice of which is the Johnnie burger with fries or onion rings (I got fries!). The Johnnie burger is definitely the best I've had in Columbus so far (granted I don't eat many burgers, although my reviews of late contradict this claim). And of course you must order pitchers of Michelob, to share with your friends and with people you'd like to make friends with. And the prices just can't be beat. The most entertaining part about Johnnie's, other than the fact that my friends and I seemed to fit in just fine (don't know what that says about us), is that the place is clearly still run by the same family, and the same regulars seem to go there too. There's something insanely charming about this whole dynamic - I agree with Caroline that it's a geniune experience of community (and of dive bar). Eff the hipsters, but don't tell them about Johnnie's - something this good needs to remain untainted. read more

Big-ass, no-nonsense burgers that rival the best in the city? Cheap-ass frosty mugs of Michelob on tap? Gritty, railroad-adjacent location? A undeniable sense of true, authentic American-ness? Yes, please. read more

One of the best burgers I've had in my life. This is coming a lot from me, a guy who has yet to really find many good places to eat in Columbus when compared to the heaven that is the New York and New Jersey area back home. Just as everyone else has said, Johnnie's is a no-nonsense kind of place. It's in an ugly brick building next to train tracks. This is one of the places that keeps its mouth shut and lets its food do all the talking. The service staff is damn friendly. The guy just walks up to me, sipping his beer, and has a nice conversation about what I should get, since it was my first time my girlfriend and I were there and didn't know anything. We got a regular cheeseburger and just as I said in my first sentence: one of the best burgers I've had in my life. I've even come to realize that burgers don't need any fancy add-ons. No need for any fancy onion rings (which at Johnnie's, is awesome by the way), or sauces or some sort of gimmicky cheeses and a "Texas Burger". Just extraordinary beef cooked to perfection. I ordered mine medium. The crust on the burger gave it a small hint of a crunch after sinking my teeth into the beefiest-tasting burger I've ever had. Johnnie's is one of the best burgers I've had in my life, next to the one at White Chocolate Grill in Phoenix Arizona. I've only been there once, but I already feel like it's leagues ahead of any other restaurant in Columbus. Oh, and it's cheap too. Much cheaper than most other burger places. We all know how much more flavor a good price adds on a burger. read more

Dive bar is not too strong a word to describe this place; Johhnie's is every part a dive bar. Someone call Guy Fieri. Now I was meeting some co-workers here for a meal before meeting with clients, and had arrived several minutes ahead of them since I was driving up from Cincinnati. The first thing that I noticed about the place, scared me. On their menu (which is above the bar the wall as opposed to traditional menu format) literally read: 'Fish' Sandwich. Now, I'm no English major, but that either means they were quoting another menu, or they were indicating this was something they were referring to as 'Fish' (note my use of air quotes when I say that). Eventually though my compadre's arrived, followed (not closely enough) by my bacon cheeseburger (working hours, so I didn't get a look at the beer list). Now the burger was good; better than average, but not the best I've had. It was respectable burger though. You could certainly do worse for lunch or even a friday night meal. I'm still not sure what to think of that fish though... read more

Hubs had been wanting to try this place for AWHILE and we were disappointed. We are burger people, hubs and I. We both love them. Love them maybe unreasonably. Among our favorite kinds of burgers are simple, not-too-fussy, classic burgers. The kind you'd get at a diner or a backyard barbecue. Johnnie's burgers sounded like they would fit the bill, so we were excited. Ehhhhhhhhh. First, I'm quite certain they use a meat mix. It didn't taste like it was all beef--at least, it wasn't the day we were in there. Whether it was lamb or pork or both mixed in, I don't know. Which, if that's what you like, that's totally fine, of course; I do think that, somewhere, that should be disclosed. (If it WAS all beef then something was wrong, full-stop. There were too many extra flavors in there.) The extra flavors in the patty threw us off considerably, and the rest of the burger wasn't good enough to make up for it. Sadface. It wasn't the worst, but it wasn't amazing, either. read more

Cheap food. Cheap drinks. Small space. Dive bar. That is what you need to know about this place. The burgers are delicious and huge. There are no menus because you have about 4 options to choose from. Everyone we have ever taken there has loved it. Some of the best burgers in town! Short and simple review for a small and simple place! read more

Great place for burgers, beers and a family run place for nearly 75 years! Lots of friendly people hangout there. A throwback place that is fantastic. read more

Gotta get the burger. It's huge! The roast beef is awesome too. This is a dive bar and great place to drink beer and eat. Make sure you park by the railroad tracks or the locals will let you know:) read more

Johnnie's Tavern - Burgers Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Hands down the best cheeseburger I've had in a LONG time. Stop reading the reviews and go try it!! I went during lunch time rush, big mistake. No where to sit and I think the total wait time was one hour for food. However, the bartender did a great job trying to keep up. Menu is short and simple. read more

We came here on the night that Johnnie's was being featured live on the Channel 10 news. It was on this very night where we got to learn the secret ingredient for Johnnie's burgers: grease. As Dom showed us, they literally pour grease over these babies. What happens to the grease that's cooked from the burger? Put that stuff right back on the burger. What happens to the grease that's cooked from the burger next door? Toss it on! What about the grease from Johnnie's face? .... well, everything seemed sanitary enough... Let's just put it this way: in the war for your tastebuds, Johnnie's follows the no-grease-left-behind mantra. This diner isn't for the faint of heart. Literally. If you have a medically diagnosed faint heart you probably want to think twice. So did all the grease pay off? Not bad. Best burger in Columbus? I'm not sure about that. I'm a big fan of Thurman's. One piece of advice: if I were to come back again, I'd make sure to ask for the burger to be medium or medium-well. It was a little too cooked for my tastes. Here's the news clip for those interested: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2012/05/01/columbus-doms-diner-tour-johnnies-tavern.html read more

Talk about familiarity. This place reminds me of a nameless bar in Dayton. A total dive by Columbus' white collar standards. I got a burger ($6.50) and some onion rings ($?) and a couple beers ($?). The bartender was sweet, probably the owner's daughter. They don't cook the burgers to order, and we all know how I feel about that :( They also cook them on a flat top grill, and mine was so greasy that the bottom bun was soaked through. The onion rings were straight from the freezer, but good for the pre-breaded kind. I had a couple of Schlitz's, mostly because I was in that type of bar, when in Rome you know? and because Luke T. said they went back to their original recipe and I was curious to check it out. They were much more enjoyable than a Bud. Speaking of which, I want that old ass Schlitz sign hanging behind the bar. All in all, would feel really ambivalent about the place, were it not for the cheap price. Second best burger so far in Columbus (behind Mac's Cafe), but the search continues.... P.S. guess they have coney's too, but on Wednesdays only. read more

Winter's night. Dark. Hungry. Warm atmosphere, cold beer. Burger hits the spot--tasty, not too fancy. I'll come again. You should too! read more

Johnnie's Tavern has gotten a lot of press lately when it comes to talking BURGERS. Columbus is turning into burger central with the Thurman, local chains Graffiti and Flip Spot, the invasion of chains like 5 Guys.......HELP - what's a burger lover to do? Johnnie's is located in San Margherita - a community along Trabue Road full of Italian pride with a large Catholic Church in the center. The Church is known on the west side for its Lenten fish frys and for its annual festival in late July featuring homemade PIZZA. I used to drive through it everyday on my way to OSU from Hilliard, as Trabue is a main roadway to Lane Avenue. Johnnie's has occupied a spot by the 1st railroad track (one of 2 in a one mile stretch) and has always been known as the place for the coldest beers in Columbus. I made my first stop here on St Patrick's Day around 3:00 in the afternoon. The bar was full of locals - this is very much a neighborhood spot. So I grabbed a two top instead of sitting at the bar. The conversation was pretty lively - west side gossip, Italian recipe swaps, commentary on the baseball teams, though no discussions about the economy and the health care bill =). I ordered the Johnnie's SuperBurger (cheeseburger) with grilled onions, pickles, lettuce, and Swiss cheese. I also ordered a side of onion rings. The menu is as the other reviewers say - bologna or roast beef, chili dogs on Wednesdays, fries and rings or your choice of various standard GFS type appetizers - cheese, corn dogs, etc.... The burger comes out sliced in half for you with the toothpicks - the burger is cooked well done and still is juicy and tasty. I tried it with just salt and pepper to start, but ended up adding some mustard by the time I reached the second half. The burger was good - the cheese was real Swiss, not Americanized, the onions were cooked nicely and melted into the cheese - probably could have used some more. Lettuce was fresh. Pickles - definitely could have used some more. Overall - it's a very good burger - not my favorite, but a heck of a lot better than many other burgers I've had....including one showplace featured on "Man v Food".... The onion rings were standard frozen - looks like I came on the day before the grease was changed - they were a bit dark/overcooked. Ample portion though. To break down the rating for me: Burger - solid 3.5 leaning to 4 Onion rings - 1 to 2 "Meh" Diet Pepsi - Can - your choice Pepsi or Coke - served on ice in a FROSTED MUG - 5 Stars Miller Lite beer - Cold - mug if requested - CHEAP 4 stars - the FROSTED MUGS make it the coldest beer in Columbus Neighborhood Atmosphere - 4 to 5 - hole in the wall, vinyl table cloths, interior hasn't changed much in 50+ years I'd give it a 3.5 solid - good place - you'll have to break into the crowd to get a spot at the bar from the neighbors, but once your there - I think you could fit in. Good job Johnnies! read more

A dive bar to surely ask to your list. Beer that rivals college prices ($3 dom imports $2 domestics during happy hour 5;00-7:00 pm everyday), solid bar food. Burger piled high with all the fixings and piping hot jalapeño poppers are worth a try. I went here in search of a solid no frills burger, and voila! I got one. Nothing like eating a burger to the slow jams of trains rambling past the bar, in the company of the locals. The menu is small--burgers, fried bologna, fish baskets--and all fried favorites--mozz sticks, French fries, fried mushrooms. No worries- the cooks are good at what they do. read more

I'm willing to give them a pass for their salty service. The place was pretty busy with one lady working the entire place; bar and restaurant. That said, the food was pretty so-so compared to the reviews I've read. We started with fried ravioli. I was born and raised in the St. Louis area so I know my toasted ravioli (yep, that's what we call it), and this stuff was garbage. The cheese inside tasted like tangy yogurt, and the raviolis were fried until they were burnt to a crisp. They basically fell apart when you touched them they were so soaked with grease. The burger was meh. Very thick, and a good size for $6. Good bun too, and it comes cut in half which was, uh, whatever. It was clearly hand packed, which is usually a good thing, but here, it was so overly packed that it just made for a dry, dense burger. The meat was cooked to a very-well-done state, which also made it fairly dry. The fries were the winner. Tasted like state fair fries or something. Super hot and crispy. Probably fried in peanut oil if I had to guess. Overall, not bad. Just didn't live up to the hype. Not even close. read more

Lives up to the legend of the coldest beer in town. Love the simple vintage diner vibe. Food is fantastic.

Tim Y said it best. If you're a fan of dive bars,cheap drinks, and really, really, really good burgers, this is your place. An ice cold Yuengling and a great burger! I was in heaven. The bartender was great, and I believe she was the only one waiting on the entire place. Other patrons were friendly. Really unsure why so much hate in some of the reviews. This isn't an upscale burger joint, it's a quaint neighborhood pub with awesome food and great prices. A great find! read more

Johnnie's Tavern - Ahhh yeah. Love this place. Bonus: there's a pool table. It looks like one of those places that will end up surviving the apocalypse. The door creaks open and behold, a bona fide hole-in-the-wall that makes me smack my lips from the backyard burger smell. I picture jockeys or dudes from a fight club hanging here. There are bars like this all over Chicago; neighborhood gems that draw regulars and artful dodgers. Don't kid yourself though. You have to have an adventurous spirit and be openminded to take it all in - but only on your initial visit. You get it shortly thereafter and realize that this place harbors one of the best tasting burgers in town. I haven't been there in some time. I keep trying other burgers around the city because I loves me some juicy, pink, smoky, burgers. I will be headed back very soon though since there are only a handful of places around town that make me coo with delight like this place. So this review is a recall, which makes it all the more pertinent. That large, charcoal-y slab, tucked in a fresh Kaiser, topped with beefsteak tomato, iceberg lettuce and a smidge of condiments is all I need in any good burger. Note. I've also heard that the roast beef is rockin too, but I can't not order a burger every time I go. The bartenders are friendly as hell. CNN is usually playing on one TV and sports on the other. I love jumping up and playing some mean pool afterwards while the old-school jukebox cranks out the Stones or Hank Willams Sr. Standard beers on tap are more-than reasonably priced and the fries are those big old beef-steaky types that taste kick-ass dipped in mayonnaise. Johnnie's is in the heart of Margaritaville on Trabue, just below the railroad tracks. I would love to see if others feel their burgers stack up against such heavy hitters as Thurmans or Mohawk. Enjoy! read more

Love this little gem of a bar. Hidden, off the beaten path & it's really easy to drive by. Burgers are solid. You'll notice that most people eating there have a burger (or whats left of one) on their plate. Also, they only have 1 beer on tap (as of this review, it's Ying Ling), but they serve it in FROSTY (capitalized to emphasize the awesomeness of the frost) glasses. Great place to stop, grab a drink & bite after work. read more

Well - the husband wanted to try this local yolkal out per the reviews and sure as it reflects - burgers are on point! The ambiance is casual all the way and the place is tiny and dark- but don't let that detour you from giving it a try! We had burgers, onion rings, and the fried zucchini- all exceeded our expectations! read more

Johnnie's Tavern - Harty burgers! - Burgers Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I'm prone to getting behind a small divey place with great food. But it's not a restaurant. it's a bar that serves food. A restaurant would be on top of their game to keep up with the orders. Twice I've called for a carryout and each time have been told to call back because they don't know how long it will be before they can get to my order. (Last time, told - there are 10 people ahead of you that we haven't served yet.) Tell me it's a hour, 90 minutes, whatever - take my order- and when I show up, have my food ready. What sense does it make to trade off whatever good will they've gained from word of mouth advertising and publicity by not even taking the order. That's just stupid. If they could fix that they'd really be doing something. A good problem to have I guess. I'm glad they're busy. And I don't desire to run otherwise hard working people into the ground - but if you've heard the hype- you need to know that the service is really slow to non-existent when they get backed up. Now, when you're on deck or it's your turn they couldn't be nicer. They really are friendly - but the workflow needs fixed. The hamburger is okay...not great but you won't go away hungry for sure. But far from anything to get overly excited about. read more

Tried the Cheeseburger at this iconic, well worn, burger joint. It was very good. Had a hard time trying to politely eat it in regular-sized bites and resisting my instinct to shove as much burger into my mouth without choking. The service was efficient and fast and the prices were reasonable. read more

Comfortable dive bar. If you want a great greasy burger...this is the place. I used to crave these burgers when I was pregnant but wouldn't go to a bar at that time so husband would ask for the burger " to go" and Johnnie didn't want to do it cause they make them fresh but after telling him wife was pregnant he'd give in. Even though Johnnie is now gone the place is still well worth the trip and a go to. read more

What a burger. It was as great as advertised. Interesting atmosphere with a diverse clientele. Certainly not a place to go for ambiance but the food was just perfect. I had the fried clams, too. Very well done and the cocktail sauce had the perfect amount of zing. Thumbs Up! read more