Perfect breakfast café to visit in Columbus Nebraska. We were visiting our cousins in the Schuyler area, and was able to meet up with a cousin at the Picket Fence Café. Our server was extremely friendly, and she also stated she was from Schuyler. My wife had the Oatmeal which she loved. Our daughter and our cousin had perfectly prepared Omelets. I had the Chicken Fried Steak and it was excellent as it came with toast, eggs and hash browns. This was our second visit to the Picket Fence, but not our last. We will be back when we revisit the area next summer. read more

Picket Fence Cafe - Classic Chicken Fried Steak - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbus, Nebraska

12:30 10 to 15 tables unoccupied, and every one of them was dirty. It's a small restaurant. Most occupied tables already had their food and three girls were working the floor. None of them were attempting to clean any tables we left.. read more

This was a good brunch for the cost--2 people for a $20 tab and we had plenty of food! The food wasn't anything amazing, but got the job done. I wish it had been served hotter but was more warm when it arrived at the table. The gravy was a bit congealed but tasted good. The chicken fried steak itself was good and would have been great if piping hot. The pancakes were standard/good. Sausage wasn't my favorite--I think it wasn't seasoned quite as much as what I'm used to. Overall a quick and easy place to get a meal, but nothing spectacular. Service was great! read more

Picket Fence Cafe - Chicken Fried Steak - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbus, Nebraska

The service was fast and friendly, the food was good and came out quick! Can't get much better than that!

unfortunately I found a hair embedded in my eggs towards the end of my meal I had thought it was just a string of egg, until I got down to it. our server was great it was busy but everyone in the restaurant stayed to themselves read more

Picket Fence Cafe - a half eaten breakfast on a plate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbus, Nebraska

See all

The picket fence cafe has been a staple of Columbus for as long as I can remember. Every one of the employees is super sweet and nice - on top of being quick and helpful! Food was out fast, piping hot and delicious! read more

Picket Fence Cafe - Sooooo good! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbus, Nebraska

This place is amazing. Just as you would picture. They are small town, friendly people with great food and good prices. The food is definitely cooked to order and comes out fresh. Taste like a home cooked meal without all the stress. I did take pictures, but of course it was at the end. I would highly recommend for a brunch or breakfast place. Very family friendly read more

See all

My last visit to the picket fence was very disappointing. I called to see if they were very busy and was told they were not busy at all. When we arrived there were plenty of open tables so the four of us sat down. This particular visit there were plenty of employees working, the young lady took our order and we waited. And waited (about 40 minutes). When the waitress finally showed back up on our side of the restaurant I asked if she could check on our food. She gave us the standard answer "it should be right up". When the food showed up some of it was over cooked & some of it undercooked and warm at best. And she never came back to check on us to see how our food was or if we needed anything. After we had enough of our breakfast I had to go find her to get our check. The last 4 or 5 visits this place was hit & miss. I've decided to spend my money somewhere else! read more

Had a group of twelve go to this restaurant for brunch on August 13th, 2022. Not overly busy, took well over an hour to get the food we ordered because we learned that our food was given to another table. One lady in our group got her food after most of us were done. When we asked for her to get a discount because of this mistake, the discount was .98 cents. With three young lady employees working in this room, it seemed like it took an act of congress to get coffee cups refilled. When they did finally bring a pot, it was full of grounds so much, that a member of our group just got up and went on her own, go get a different clean cup. Overall service was terrible and it seemed like the employees did care much. read more

It's been a while since we'd visited, but went back and discovered they ripped out the ATM and are accepting credit cards again. Food is still pretty good; typical small town diner food, heavy on breakfast items. read more

Great little small town cafe. The food is good and service is great. I will eat here next time I'm in town for sure read more

Picket Fence Cafe - Garbage omelette - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbus, Nebraska

Don't eat here. So highly over priced and not all that great to begin with. Small cafe, downtown, Saturday night, ten tables. One server. One cook. Took forever. Pepsi products, their website says coke products. Water tastes nasty. When ordering drinks I always order the kids food so it comes out right away, like an appetizer would. Was told I'd have to wait for another table to order first before I could order the kids food because that table was here first. Ugh what. Kids chicken strips. $5.25. Didn't look at it too closely (my fault) but it comes with chips. Not a single serve bag of chips, but a handful of potato chips. Fries cost an extra $2. On a kids meal. Drink also not included. The kid knew it came with a pickle and when there wasn't one we asked. We're told that they don't get one so we showed her the menu and she stated the kitchen uses a different menu. =/ we ended up getting the kid a pickle. 25-30 minute wait for food seemed like forever. Eggs were fine, grilled chicken was fine, onion rings were good, French dip was dry and just underwhelming. All sandwiches served with chips. Fries, tots, onion rings are $2++ extra. $50 later. I will not go here again. read more

See all

Home cooked food with breakfast, lunch and dinner all available anytime. A pastry case stuffed with the most glorious assortment you've ever seen. Reminds me of eating at grandma's on the farm. Great food, lots of it and it's all made with love. The service was fast and the waitress was very attentive. This goes on my list of places I want to visit again and again. read more

While visiting family in Nebraska, I found myself in an awkward situation. Hardly any information on where is a good place to eat, and not wanting chain food we stumbled on this place in historic downtown. We had a wonderful, reasonably priced breakfast. However the gem was the pies and goodies they were stuffing the case with. A toll house (chocolate chip cookie pie), sour cream and raisin cream pie with meringue (being from Texas I'd never even heard of this) for example. We ended up taking a to-go menu, and while we didn't have lunch or dinner they had a good solid selection for both. We did call in a sour cream raisin pie to take to graduation. Wonderful. Very friendly service, and definitely a place we will visit again. read more

The food is very good, very friendly staff that stops by the table just right, not to often but often enough to refill your drinks. I am very picky and will judge a place by iced tea also and theirs is great! Oh and that pie, yum, yum. Would highly recommend to everyone, down home cooking at a reasonable price. Just need to remember they only take cash, no checkes or credit cards but have a cash machine right by the register. Go there often, wish we had more places like this in Columbus! read more

I love this little cafe! Their breakfast is my favorite.. sometimes the wait is a little long, so it's best to go when you aren't in a hurry. The staff is usually great and the price is reasonable (compared to the other breakfast places in town) read more

Been waiting for my food for 45 minutes. Haven't had my drink refilled once. Waitresses don't seem like they know what they're doing. Multiple people besides our table that have been here same amount of time. Food better make up for the service read more

This was the worst dining experience of my life. The food was awful, our friend was served bile in his gizzard, the waitress immediately said " it came frozen" not near as apologetic as one would think you should be. The soup and sandwiches that we ate before our friend puked at the table were not flavorful and the BLT soup tasted like what an old trashcan smells like. The food was cold when it was served as well. Overall, we feel like we made poor life choices by going to this establishment. read more

High prices low quality. Only positive thing I can say is my waitress was a sweetie. I love supporting small business and unfortunately will never be back. Appalling experience. Used to be such a classy joint to get some good quality ol' American food. read more

I'm from Cleveland, OH, but visit the Columbus, NE area as often as possible. I always bring my family for at least one meal at the Picket Fence Cafe. We generally go for breakfast and have never been disappointed. The eggs are always perfect, even for a pain in the neck like me who enjoys poached eggs! Even the coffee is great and I am a real coffee snob! A charming staff and terrific food. This restaurant shouldn't be missed even if you're just passing through Columbus. read more

Best breakfast around! Family friendly and the staff is super sweet! I love going to picket fence and eating with a group of friends on the weekends! Amazingly delicious! read more

Not too good of experience here. Shrimp in seafood salad was mushy - didn't eat half of the overpriced meal

This homemade. For sure. Excellent food service. Alaways. Better then sapp brothers and husker steak Reasonablyy price read more

Great food. Pretty cheap. You can order breakfast at anytime. They almost never take more then ten minutes to make your food and have a buffet every Sunday. The workers are extraordinarily nice. read more

I wish they hada better hours AMD more consosteny in The quality ofservice but over all good food and enviorment

We were meeting friends in Columbus and wanted someplace non-chain to meet and visit. We got great service for our group of 8. Nice breakfast. Good prices. Excellent pie! read more

My husband and I were in Columbus midweek, and decided to try this Cafe. He ordered Chicken Fried Steak and I ordered a 2 pcs Chicken Dinner. The hubby was happy with his dinner, but I was most disappointed in mine. The Chicken was overcooked (deep fat fried) and quite dry, the peas were horrible, but the baked potato saved my meal! We had a waitress who said she was new, and when she put in my order, she forgot to specify the dark meat, so I had to be satisfied with a breast and a wing. She also did not remember the salad dressing I asked for. So all in all, I will be hesitant to eat here on future trips to Columbus. read more

Good food, very friendly service. Great menu variety. Overall a nice little place for the family to eat.

Good home cooked diner-style food. Normally out of my way and off my regular schedule, but having served on a jury recently I got to enjoy this establishment over the course of a week. Very enjoyable, delicious pies and great atmosphere. read more