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    Ringside Cafe

    4.3 (204 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Ringside Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Ringside Cafe Photos

    Ringside Cafe - Buster Douglas - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Main floor view - stained glass all around - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Smokin' Joe BBQ Burger and hazy IPA. - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Neighboring building has a creepy cool statue up top - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - View outside Ringside - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Bucky from Columbus Ghost Tours in storytelling mode - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Outside signage - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Bar - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Onion ring - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Creepy dude who haunts the place! - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio
    Ringside Cafe - The Duran Cajun Bleu Burge - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

    +183

    Ringside Cafe - Smoking Joe BBQ burger - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

    Business Info

    RINGSIDE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ringside Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cheeseburger!
    Heithem E.

    Cool old spot with a lot of history! Known for their burgers ... I had a standard burger but there are a lot of options. My burger was cooked to order and delicious! Service was great - family run, family owned. I had the homemade chips and they were a treat! Next time I'll try a different burger and the hand cut fries'

    Aubrie H.

    If youre looking for a good burger, then you should definitely visit. It was cooked perfectly and had wonderful flavor. I love all the old wood in the restaurant and the vibe is nice and relaxed. Drinks and food are all reasonably priced and the service is always great.

    View outside Ringside
    Lara K.

    I went to Ringside as part of a Columbus Ghost Tours walking tour. Yes, this little hidden gem is haunted! It's also cool as hell and the OLDEST bar in Columbus. About half a dozen people told me to get their burger, calling it the best in the city, but I only got a drink. I will definitely go back for the burger! There are so many cool, quaint historic details like the 1897 stained glass windows, cool wood carvings and custom unique tiles in the floor - including a mermaid. I love finding places like this and hearing about its history - like the secret tunnel to/from the statehouse so early lawmakers didn't get seen going for a drink!

    Old School Burger
    Talor B.

    This place has been on our list for awhile since my bf is a big burger guy. We stumbled in around 4pm on a Saturday. We were lucky to get a table immediately. The place is pretty small & a lot of people started to show up after we were seated. Service was great, everyone who worked there was friendly. Our food took a little time to come out but it was hot when it did. I got the old school burger which was pretty tasty! I believe the fries were an extra cost as well so keep that in mind. Overall I'd recommend trying this place if you haven't yet!

    Kristen B.

    Came last year to have dinner before starting our Columbus Ghost tour of Boos & Booze! Great burgers and a nice dive bar with a haunted vibe in the basement. Apparently there's a tunnel that connects to the statehouse from prohibition days! Love its location in the alley. We are due for a revisit soon! And if you are doing Boos & Booze definitely get dinner there before! Quick fast service too!

    Smokin' Joe BBQ Burger and hazy IPA.
    Bryan P.

    I'm probably going to say this wrong, but this place is the longest operating restaurant in Columbus, established in 1897! I was frantically looking for a place to eat yesterday evening, not realizing most places close around 7pm. I wandered into Ringside around 7:45pm and they close at 8. The waitress and cook were both great, I ordered, ate, talked with both of them, and left. I ordered the Smokin' Joe BBQ Burger with house-made chips. Both were delicious and the burger came with a generous amount of lettuce and tomato. There is also a nice selection of beers available. The ambiance was what you may expect from a joint having opened in 1897. Beautiful wooden booths and tables, stained glass windows, brass highlights, I could imagine myself taking part in history!

    Smoking Joe BBQ Burger no bacon
    Yolanda G.

    Stopped in for bite after an all day meeting. The smoking Joe bbq burger was tasty and juicy. Our server was attentive and fast. Inside it has a good amount of booths and tables for the size that it is. The outdoor patio has cool mural outside and a few tables. Great burgers and a great place for a small happy hour group.

    Kamron A.

    This is the ultimate hole in the wall bar, restaurants that you must get to! Based in an alleyway and boxer themed! The burgers are delicious and the drinks are strong! Price is very reasonable and service is great! Adrain the owner makes you feel like family! Will definitely be back!

    Smoking Joe BBQ burger
    Tom P.

    Finally made it into the oldest bar in Columbus Ringside. I have heard many thing over the years about this place and was excited to try it out. It was a quick in and out day as my afternoon was full. Started off with the Smokin Joe BBQ burger this was really good and was seasoned and cooked just as I requested. It was a half pound patty with applewood smoked bacon and cheddar cheese, and their house made BBQ sauce. This was served with House made potato chips, ok let stop here these stole the show. These chips are fried perfectly and salted I could eat them all day. Also wanted to try the onion rings that so many had went on about. Again tasty light batter just wish there were more ordered a large just not that many. The kitchen is just to the right of the bar, so small but food was good. Definitely stop back when I have more time.

    On the corner of Gay St. and Pearl Alley
    Gwen W.

    The oldest continuing restaurant in Columbus, I'm glad I finally made it over to Ringside to check it out. The space inside is very very small, so if you're wanting to bring a group here, be aware; I'm not sure if they take reservations, so plan accordingly. Inside there's a few side booths and maybe 4-5 tables, and bar seating; obviously there's patio seating, weather permitting. I met a friend for lunch on a Tuesday, we were able to get one of their small two-person booths with no wait. One guy running front of house, he made his table rounds efficiently. Their menu isn't huge, but a decent selection; vegetarians may find the options lacking. I've always heard about Ringside's burgers, seems to be the star of this establishment. I got the Brown Bomber Portobello burger ($14) which comes with kettle chips and a pickle spear. The beef patty was tasty, nicely seasoned; however, my Swiss cheese was cool (not melted at all) and the sauteed shrooms were also cold (literally) - this made the fungus flavor less obvious being cold. The house made kettle chips were decent, a bit too brown for my liking (Sat in the frying oil a tad too long), but I did like the thinness of them. All in all, I was happy with the service and my burger. RSC is open for lunch, closes at 2, then open from 4-8 for the dinner crowd. A solid burger-bar stop if you're downtown and in the mood.

    John B.

    It was nothing special it was just like a pub..................... The ambiance of the place was a pub. It's also very small inside. Nothing really special

    Oscar de la Hoya Burger
    Lauren L.

    Best burgers in Columbus BY FAR. No frills hole in the wall in the heart of downtown Columbus- you know the food is going to be good. The owner is such a nice guy as well. Stop by if you can!

    Outside of restaurant

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    11 years ago

    Ordered 'Ali' which is 3/4 lb Angus patty. Cooked perfectly to medium but the taste didn't blow me away. I wish it was seasoned more.

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    13 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    Photo of Bob M.
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    11 years ago

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    Page 6 of 6

    Ask the Community - Ringside Cafe

    Is it haunted?

    Yes!

    Is it kid friendly?

    I would say yes, early in the night. The later you go the more you will run into the adult crowd! Kids will love the fries for sure!!

    Does this place still have a happy hour?

    They do not have happy hour, but their beers are all reasonably priced. Hope that helps. And have an awesome day!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Arch City Tavern - The Arch City Tavern Burger

    Arch City Tavern

    4.3(629 reviews)
    1.2 miShort North, Italian Village
    $$

    I want to start by commending the exceptional service provided by Dane. She was wonderful, and her…read morerecommendations truly enhanced my meal. Based on her suggestions, I ordered the Southern Spring Rolls and the Loaded Brussels sprouts with feta and cranberries; both were phenomenal, especially the dipping sauces she provided for the rolls. My main course, the Arch City Burger, was cooked to perfection on a nicely toasted bun, and the Caesar salad I ordered as a starter was fresh and crisp although dressing was average not my preference. To finish, both the Night Shift martini and complimentary tiramisu were delicious. While I had an overall excellent experience and plan to return soon, I did want to provide some constructive feedback regarding the beverages here. I was disappointed that bottled water was unavailable. Additionally, I found the $17+ price point for pre-batched cocktails to be quite high, as I generally prefer a freshly made drink. However, I was very pleased that Dane was able to accommodate my request for a fresh Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned instead. Thank you again for a lovely lunch and pass my compliments along to Dane for her outstanding hospitality!

    Mom/Son belated Mother's Day date at the Columbus Museum of Art, then lunch following at Arch City…read more First time here. We started with the Lobster Mac & Cheese Shareable. To die for! My son got the Market Burger with Truffle Fries. I got the Amish Chicken Sandwich. But the name is deceiving. It's basically a Caprese Chicken Sandwich ("Amish"- cuz it's where the chicken's family is from)- SO DELICIOUS! And a side of the Roasted Brussels Sprouts w/ goat cheese & cranberries! Meghan was an excellent server with a smiling personality! We will definitely be back! And soon!

    Photos
    Arch City Tavern - Our craft beer selection is constantly changing. Come grab a flight!

    Our craft beer selection is constantly changing. Come grab a flight!

    Arch City Tavern - Take in the beauty of the Short North Arts District while dining at Arch City Tavern.

    Take in the beauty of the Short North Arts District while dining at Arch City Tavern.

    Arch City Tavern - Half off ALL pizzas during our Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 3-6pm!

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    Half off ALL pizzas during our Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 3-6pm!

    The Eagle Short North

    The Eagle Short North

    4.3(820 reviews)
    1.1 miShort North, Italian Village
    $$

    Came in on a Friday night for an early dinner. We were promptly seated. Our server was a college…read morestudent that recognized my tee shirt (Birds Aren't Real) and commented that he did a research project on the same. Really nice kid. He also helped us with the menu. We both got the fried chicken BLT, the spoon bread and mac & cheese. The spoon bread is simple corn bread, but it was really good. The mac & cheese was homemade and delicious. The sandwiches were outstanding and huge. My daughter and I could have split one between us. Instead, we brought two halves home. Not sure what this place used to be. High ceilings with barn beams and an old style post office mail box layout, like you might see in an old hotel. Regardless, would not hesitate to come back.

    Love this place!…read more Came in here last weekend and sat outside for a warm spring evening. We did make a reservation somewhat last second, but were easily able to get an outdoor table. We actually got to the restaurant a little bit early and they ended up seating us outside, which was perfect. For food, I had the fried chicken sandwich with french fries and mac & cheese. My girlfriend had the chicken sandwich as well, so we each got a different side. The chicken was perfectly cooked without being overly greasy or oily. The french fries were delicious, and the macaroni and cheese was heavenly. Our server was very friendly and intensive to our needs. I felt like our food came out very quickly. Overall great time here and can't wait to come back. Love going to this place in Cincinnati as well, so I was very happy when they opened one up in Columbus.

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    The Eagle Short North
    The Eagle Short North
    The Eagle Short North

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    Derive Brewing - The wings with the chili oil. Be warned that while spicy, it's not flavorful. Get a dipping sauce.

    Derive Brewing

    4.5(110 reviews)
    4.0 miClintonville
    $$

    First time at Derive…read more Good amount of parking. The space is somewhat small but is done well. The bar has a good vibe and is where I sat. I got the Korean BBQ smash burger topped with Korean BBQ aioli, Cleveland Kraut Kimchi, gochugaru (korean chili flake) and scallion. I don't understand the smash burger craze since I like my burgers medium rare, but if I have to eat a smash burger to enjoy these toppings, I'm in! The heat, texture and combination of flavors were epic. The fries are well done too! They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and this was even after 30 minutes. Nothing fancy but done amazingly well and very quickly. My burger was out in a few minutes. I will say that the pizzas I saw coming out of the kitchen will have me coming back to try one of them. The beer was good, although I'll admit that the heat from the burger affected my pallet to truly enjoy the beers since I got a tasting flight. I was here on a Friday night between 5:45 and 7 and it was filling up until I was ready to head out. They do have happy hour on Friday from 2-5pm for $1 off pints.

    Normally just stop in for beers but on this visit we decided to try a pizza. It is a tavern style…read morepizza with a slightly thicker crust which was nice and crunchy. We tried a special Mediterranean veggie pizza and it was absolutely delicious. Pizza is a nice size as we were able to take some home. The beers are always solid but the English dark mild we tried was so good!

    Photos
    Derive Brewing - (1/7/2022)

    (1/7/2022)

    Derive Brewing - Cauliflower Wings with Sabauce

    Cauliflower Wings with Sabauce

    Derive Brewing - Great beer all of them!

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    Great beer all of them!

    Ringside Cafe - bars - Updated June 2026

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