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    Ponderosa Steak House

    3.1 (63 reviews)
    ModerateSteakhouses
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    PONDEROSA STEAK HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Ponderosa Steak House

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    6 Ounce Sirloin Tips
    Mark K.

    It's been decades since I've been to a Ponderosa. Even then there weren't very many around, and I was a bit surprised to learn we still had one. Way out on the south side, in a fairly rundown retail area. I had a little extra time so I came down. I did not have high expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. I got the sirloin tips because it was just about the cheapest way to get a steak and try the buffet. They were pretty darn good. They were cooked to my requested medium. They were tender, and flavorful. They came with sautéed onions and mushrooms. And a baked potato with sour cream and butter (well, margarine.) Good meal on its own. A wholly separate meal could be the buffet. Lots of different meats, most of them chicken, but still a good variety. Lots of different comfort food sides. A decent salad bar. And a big dessert spread, including quite a few sugar-free. I had a little bit of everything. I couldn't bring myself to copy the man in front of me who put cheese sauce on his mac & cheese. Everything was good. The meatloaf was pretty good. Service was excellent, from the hostess to the waitresses. Prices are reasonable. (An oddity was adding a tip at the register coming in, then them giving me cash to leave on the table.). Asked if I wanted A1 or Heinz 57. "57 please." The place was clean. Not crowded at 1 on a weekday. I'll probably be back, which would've surprised me a couple hours ago.

    Dinner Rolls
    Linda S.

    Haven't been to a Ponderosa Steakhouse in years. Happened to be on the south side of Columbus and ran across this one. If you haven't been to Ponderosa in a while, I recommend you start going back. Although they have a buffet I went with the Sirloin Tips with all the extras included. Great prices and I just happened to be there for what they called happy hour free beverage

    Ducktape floor repair ...
    Mimi L.

    This was a (past time!) favorite. When I still lived in Columbus my children and I would come about once a month the variety the buffet offered for kids and for me the chicken liver & onions, chicken wings, and a favorite for all the desserts. THAT being said we now live a hour away so when we visited Ponderosa on south High St Sunday 4/29/25 5:08 pm I left not only disappointed but hungry too! The parking lot was unusually empty as was the dinning room & I know why! My excitement quickly ended up on entering.Our party included 2 adults and one child for the buffet $48.86. Idk, how else to explain the uncleanness of the inside it just was as though people stopped caring. My first mistake was overlooking the cleanliness of the restaurant and proceeding as to expect the food to be better, as good as it had been when we last frequented (2016 ish) Big mistake HUGE MISTAKE! SEE The few photos I thought to capture before leaving. Upon starting at the hot food end of Buffettone of two items I loved to eat Liver & onions was unrecognizable it appeared to be burnt and old in fact all of the food upon seeing even daring to try some of it, tasted as though it had say under the heat lamps for days! It was beyond terrible it was inedible ! When the our server asked how everything was I was honest and said idk if it's the cook and or the food is old but the liver and onions were extremely old hard and burnt the chicken wings didn't taste like anything and hard old without any flavor that I then tried other items on the buffets as did my child NOTHING was edible. She explains that they changed the chicken recipe and can get the original chicken wings via takeout 10 for $14.99 I explained we had already spent almost $50 and we're going to have to leave drive an hour home and get something else to eat. The server also explained how slow they had been that day and that the food was the same food that had been but out that morning & that they wouldn't make new food to put out and throw out the food that was still there due to business being slow that would be wasting food. I said that explained somewhat how bad all the food was. She also mentioned they were under new ownership & again apologized but did not offer any substitute or resolution. I at some point had to refill my son's drink myself . By this time we were all ready to go, hungry irritated and disappointed. On my way out I decided to ask for the owner or GM's contact information before host you can tell she was new had no idea what to do she ran back and forth each time I asked which was numerous times each time with a rebuttal from her manager yet the manager never appeared. Repeatedly asking for contact information I asked them just for a name that I would find their contact information myself I was told to wait that the manager was busy cooking I explained we were all still hungry and had an hour drive home and then she came back with a generic Yahoo address. ****I DO NOT NOT RECOMMEND THIS IS NOT THE PONDEROSA YOU ONCE KNEW AND LOVED!!!*** Under new ownership that has cut as many corners as possible and it shows from the old tasteless terrible food to the ducktape holding the carpet down ,!!! Will try and post pictures!

    Buffet

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    4 days ago

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    5 months ago

    Very expensive and small dinner portions. If I ever go back, salad bar is the best option!

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    5 months ago

    Always brings back that 90's feeling. Always fun to sit with friends and talk about the past times we had over a meal.

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    2 years ago

    Man and Bone were seen kissing and eating spaghetti here. Must go, great cheese and salad bar, couldn't ask for more

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    Butcher & Rose

    Butcher & Rose

    4.4
    (186 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    Great experience from start to finish. Service was excellent -- our waiter struck that perfect…read morebalance of being friendly and professional. We started with the king crab brûlée, which was as good as it sounds -- rich, a little indulgent, and gone faster than we planned. The Wagyu flight was outstanding across the board, but the Japanese A5 was on another level entirely-- borderline unfair to the rest of the plate. Sides don't always get the spotlight, but the creamed spinach absolutely deserves it. If all vegetables tasted like that, I'd have made better life choices years ago. The potatoes Anna were also excellent --crispy, buttery, and exactly what you want them to be. Dessert sealed the deal. The honey butter cake was fantastic -- warm, rich, and worth saving room for (even if you think you don't have any left). My only "complaint," if you can call it that, is I was hoping to see a bananas foster on the menu -- but I'll survive. Overall, a great meal, great atmosphere, and a place we'll definitely be back to.

    Everything I ate was absolutely amazing absolutely amazing. The only issue we had is the wrong…read more State came out so for my boyfriend's birthday we had all these sides but not his steak so that was really disappointing because you want to eat your sides with your steak. The other part that was a little confusing they did comp his steak. I'm not sure if they come they completely but they comped most but when they gave me the original bill, it showed me the bill with his steak on it so I ended up tipping a lot more than what I would have based off of the Bill so I did feel that was a little deceitful. I should've got the final bill but the bill that was given still had the original balance on it. When I got back to the hotel because we live in Cleveland, the balance on my paper was not the balance that I tipped on I was gonna call and complain, but that was my mistake. I was trying for him not to see the bill and I didn't look in details.

    Photos
    The interior dining room of Butcher & Rose
    The interior dining room of Butcher & Rose
    Wedge Salad
    Wedge Salad
    The interior dining room of Butcher & Rose

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    The interior dining room of Butcher & Rose
    Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

    Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

    3.9
    (451 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$$

    I miss Midwest steak and Hyde Park is the best of the best. Amazing filet, wonderful garlic mashed…read morepotatoes and perfect wine pairing. Wow.

    REVIEW BY: Avila.Eats on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube…read more Service: staff were friendly and very talkative. A little pushy and dismissive of boundaries. Concerns of food were not taken seriously. Ambiance/Atmosphere: dimly lit, fairly quite setting. A little darker than you'd want. Food: 1. Pretzel bread is soft and has a strong pretzel flavor. Well salted. 6.5 2. Steak tressel was well cooked medium. The garlic added a beautiful back end flavor and the mushrooms were soft and well salted. The crusting on the steak was well done. Steak was tender and well seasoned. 7 3. Gruyere gratin is soft and had a subtle but tasteable seasoning. The cheese sauce was watered and tasted mostly like butter. The flavor was very weak. 3.5. I asked for extra cheese sauce to help and although it brings it up to a 4. It was still quite weak in flavor. 4. HP burger is nicely charred and well seasoned. Tender. The HP sauce is fatty and smooth with a nice flavor. Bun is slightly sweet and airy. 7.25 5. Deconstructed smore is warm, rich, and smooth. All elements blend beautifully into a molten rich brownie lava cake. The marshmallow fluff is smooth and creamy. Graham crackers add a nice crunch. 7.25 6. Banana foster butter cake was warm, soft and buttery. Bananas add a great flavor and the warm butter cake pairs beautifully with the vanilla ice cream. Cold and warm combo is delicious. The alcohol didn't fully burn off and you get a subtle taste with the slight burn. Honestly not mad at it. 6

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Carrot cake half eaten
    Carrot cake half eaten
    Entrance

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    Entrance
    Mitchell's Steakhouse

    Mitchell's Steakhouse

    3.6
    (387 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$$

    The restaurant itself is beautiful. The decor is upscale and gives that classic steakhouse feel,…read moreand I liked that there was both bar seating and a more formal dining area. It definitely sets the tone for a nice night out. Also this location is very different from Polaris. The service was okay...not terrible, but not as attentive or memorable as I expected for a steakhouse of this reputation. As for the food... this is where it fell short for me. I've been wanting to try it for a while because I've heard so many good things, so I came in with high expectations. Unfortunately, the steak wasn't cooked the way I prefer, the brussel sprouts weren't enjoyable, and the mashed potatoes tasted like they may have been instant, which was disappointing for a place known for steak.The one standout for me was the meatballs,they were actually really good and had great flavor. Overall, for a birthday dinner and for the reputation it has, our party left a bit disappointed. It wasn't a horrible experience, but it just didn't match the expectations we had going in.

    The team at Mitchell's Steakhouse is exceedingly friendly and attentive. They definitely take great…read morecare of you and make sure you are comfortable. Iced Seafood Tower: The tower would be more impressive with a bit more seafood. The platter contains skinny king crab legs, a lobster tail, raw oysters, and shrimp cocktail. Tomahawk: The 32 ounce ribeye steak is trimmed off the bone and neatly sliced. It is charbroiled for a slight smoky flavor. The steak is pink and tender with a nice snap. Crab Cake: The crab cake has a sweet corn and edamame succotash.

    Photos
    Get our Prime Burger + a Bourbon for $22. Every Day until March 31st!
    Get our Prime Burger + a Bourbon for $22. Every Day until March 31st!
    Filets + Flight Thursdays! Tenderloin Trio + Rodney Strong SV Flight. $85 until March 31st.
    Filets + Flight Thursdays! Tenderloin Trio + Rodney Strong SV Flight. $85 until March 31st.
    Mitchell's Steakhouse

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    The Guild House

    The Guild House

    4.0
    (733 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    I went here for my birthday and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was worth it…read more I ordered the steak, my boyfriend got the lobster ravioli, and we added salmon to the mix because why not go all in on a birthday dinner. Every single plate was hitting. The steak was cooked exactly how I asked, seasoned well, and actually had flavor all the way through. The lobster ravioli was rich but not heavy, and the salmon was flaky and done right, not dry at all. What really made it though was the service. They were attentive without hovering, kept the drinks coming, and made it feel like a special night without being extra about it. For a birthday dinner, that matters. If you're going, don't go playing small. Order what you actually want. It's one of those places where you lean into the experience and enjoy it. Solid food, great service, and a good spot for something worth celebrating.

    BEST brunch of 2025! I've visited the Guild House on a taste of the Short North food tour, so I was…read moreexpecting a good time. It's a beautiful restaurant with chandeliers and good lighting. Our server recommended the lobster toast, but we ordered the dumplings as an appetizer as well...they were great. The lobster toast was light but crispy and full of flavor. The poached egg added a creamy element, I ate every bite. I'd love to come back for dinner :)

    Photos
    The ambiance.
    The ambiance.
    Carrot cake
    Carrot cake
    Agnolotti with butter lobster, toasted garlic, tomato broth, basil and lemon crème fraiche

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    Agnolotti with butter lobster, toasted garlic, tomato broth, basil and lemon crème fraiche
    The Capital Grille

    The Capital Grille

    4.6
    (60 reviews)
    8.0 mi

    It's a good thing I made my anniversary reservations months in advance, It was so crowded and…read moreeveryone was having a good time. From the moment we arrived, the evening was filled with warmth and thoughtful surprises. Reservations are a must, but Stephanie at the bar made the wait delightful with her cheerful smiles and welcoming energy. A quick cocktail later, we were informed our table was ready. The highlight of the night? Grace, my favorite person at the restaurant, made a grand entrance with a half-dozen roses--delivered as requested to surprise my lovely wife. It was such a sweet touch that made me look like a hero! Once we were seated, Matt came by with two Champagne glasses and a bottle of top-shelf bubbly to toast the occasion. Talk about starting the night off right! The surprises didn't stop there--our first appetizer was on Grace, which was such a generous gesture. Then came the main courses: a perfectly cooked filet for my wife and delicious scallops for me. Every bite was divine, and I savored every single scallop. It was an unforgettable evening filled with exceptional service, delicious food, and thoughtful touches that made our anniversary so special. Cheers to nights like these!

    Had a lovely Monday lunch at The Capital Grille. Had the mushroom and swiss wagyu burger and it…read morechecked all of my burger boxes. Skipped the wine pairing and went with the espresso martini, which was excellent. Also really enjoyed the cup of clam chowder I had. Service was great. The restaurant was empty so it would have been easy to overdo it, but it was the perfect mix of attentive and space. Look forward to trying dinner here.

    Photos
    Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese – Made with freshly poached lobster and topped with a Grana Padano crust.
    Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese – Made with freshly poached lobster and topped with a Grana Padano crust.
    Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail served with housemade mustard sauce.
    Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail served with housemade mustard sauce.
    14 oz Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre finished with our housemade Courvoisier Cream for a decadent finish.

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    14 oz Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre finished with our housemade Courvoisier Cream for a decadent finish.

    Ponderosa Steak House - steak - Updated July 2026

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