I've been visiting Tipp City for the past ten years to see my in‑laws, and every trip we make our usual stops--the Hotel Gallery across the street, Harrison's, the familiar favorites. And for all those years, my wife kept saying, "We really should try Sam & Ethel's." Somehow, this was the first time we finally made it happen--and I'm glad we did. We came in for breakfast the day before heading back home. We arrived around 9 a.m., and here's a tip for first‑timers: call ahead to get on the waitlist. You don't need to be present, and it can save you a little time. We thought we were next, but another couple who had called ahead slipped in before us. It felt a bit unfair in the moment, but honestly, good for them--they used the system the way it's meant to be used. Once seated, everything that followed was exactly what a classic hometown breakfast spot should deliver. The menu is full of comforting options--silver dollar or plate‑size pancakes, buckwheat or regular, with or without pecans, all served with hot syrup. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully made. I ordered the BELT (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato) sandwich, which was excellent. They asked if I wanted cheese and offered several options; I chose cheddar, though it didn't end up on the sandwich. Honestly, it was still great without it. I also tried a silver dollar buckwheat pancake with pecans, and it was fantastic--nutty, warm, and just the right amount of indulgent. The coffee was a little weak for my taste, but that was the only small miss. I also sampled some of my wife's breakfast burrito and my mother‑in‑law's toast and hash browns. The hash browns were especially memorable--you could really taste the potatoes, thicker and less fried than what you'd find at a Waffle House. The buttered toast was excellent too, simple but done perfectly. And I have to mention our host, who delivered one of the funniest, most unexpected lines of the morning. She walked up and said, "Can I hit anyone up..." then paused just long enough for me to wonder what was coming next, before finishing with, "...with coffee." I was briefly alarmed, then immediately reassured--and I couldn't help but laugh. It was such a genuine, human moment that added to the charm of the place. Everyone at our table enjoyed their breakfast, and the wait--especially for a Saturday morning--was surprisingly reasonable. My father‑in‑law picked up the check, which was a thoughtful way to end a really pleasant meal. After a decade of visiting Tipp City, I'm glad we finally made it to Sam & Ethel's. It's easy to see why it's a local favorite, and it's definitely earned a spot on our regular rotation from now on. read more

Sam & Ethel's Restaurant - American Near Me - Tipp City, Ohio

Great food, kind waitstaff. Location is very small and waitresses are over worked. It takes a while to get a seat and get a waitress to take your order because there are not many waitresses. Took a while to get a table, get the table cleaned off and get a menu due to being under staffed. Once the waitress came to our table everything was wonderful. Very kind, helpful, knowledgeable server. Our food came out quickly and perfectly. We both ordered the skillet. It was incredible. One of the best breakfast dishes I've had in a long time. Well prepared, delicious ingredients to make an incredibly delightful dish. The breakfast skillet was so good. The hashbrowns were perfectly cooked. The sausage gravy was flavorful and delicious. The bacon was crisp and was the perfect flavor addition. My eggs were cooked perfectly (I asked for basted-they were perfect!) Everything was incredible. The biscuits were so good. A little underdone but perhaps the was on purpose? They were really good. My son added pancakes to his order. They looked a little overly done, but tasted good. Portion size was huge. Ambiance was very mom and pop shop---very close quarters. Only one small restroom. Great restaurant with excellent food!!! Just know what you're getting into. Probably not very handicapped accessible due to stairs and small restroom and tight quarters, but delicious food with kind waitstaff. Go for the food, not the ambience. read more

Sam & Ethel's Restaurant - Breakfast skillet with biscuits. - American Near Me - Tipp City, Ohio

This rustic diner is a local favorite. The regulars come back again and again. I was able to order a custom breakfast and the waitress comped me a side since she forgot to bring it out the first time which was nice. Down home feel to the decor. read more

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I stopped in with a friend for lunch, but ended up having a breakfast sandwich because it sounded so good. I did ask for it with a scrambled egg instead of fried, and the cook even made it in the round in an omelet consistency so it perfectly aligned with the sausage and muffin and was very easy to eat - this was much appreciated! Service was great, and they didn't mind us staying to chat for a while after we finished. Such a nice, comfy place - loved it! read more

Mom & pop breakfast place, small and cozy. Good food at great prices. It is our go-to place for Sunday breakfast!

Super yummy I liked hot Chocolate and the chicken tenders are good I recommend going here

Great food and service. Close to the bike path so we ride here. We had omelette and it was great.

The service was great and the food was homey and filled our tummies. Seems like a busy little place and haven't been here in awhile. Try it you'll like it. We did. read more

Fantastic service and the food was delicious. Could not even fathom how affordable this place was compared to Columbus prices. Highly recommend this old fashioned diner if you want a casual, but delicious, experience. read more

Sam & Ethel's Restaurant - American Near Me - Tipp City, Ohio

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The food was so salty and greasy it was inedible. When I said that to the server, she asked if I'd ever had it before. I said I had never had it here. She just walked away. No offer to remove the item from the bill. I will not be coming back. read more

Great food in a classic throwback place. Great service. Reminds me of a place when I was a kid

Sam & Ethel's is a great little dinner. The breakfast was delicious and filling with the bacon cooked to perfection! Valerie our server was friendly without hovering, and we got our food quickly. If you leave here hungry you are doing something wrong. read more

Sam &Ethel's is the perfect mom and pop dinner. It is a very friendly environment from the moment you walk in and get seated to the moment you leave. The workers there take pride in what they do and appear to love their jobs. The food is beyond amazing, with really good prices too! It's one of the most affordable places in town to eat. My family will always choose this over any big cooperate restaurant any-day! read more

awesome experience. food, price and portions were great! service was exceptional as well. read more

Sam & Ethel's Restaurant - fish basket - American Near Me - Tipp City, Ohio

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Good good - service was terribly slow. I would come back in hopes of faster service. No one wants to sit around for 45 minutes for a coffee and omelet. read more

Such a great place for lunch. What a neat little town I definitely will be back. The food quality was exceptional and the service was extremely friendly. read more

Sam & Ethel's Restaurant - Blt - American Near Me - Tipp City, Ohio

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You can't get better food than at Sam & Ethel's! Their silver dollar pancakes are as big as a pancake anywhere else. And it is $1.25!! My husband always has the corned beef hash! Very good! read more

Had the fried pork sandwich it was delicious the waitress was fantastic and the prices were amazing Great little spot glad I went

I love this restaurant. Been going there for years. Wonderful food and service. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant too

We found this to be a delightful little spot in the heart of Tipp City. It is located in a building that, according to www.downtowntippcity.org, was built in 1869. The facility is still well kept after 150-plus years. It was built to house a family boot and shoemaking business, with living quarters on the second level. After the turn of the century, it then went through iterations of housing a plumbing and electrical shop, a beauty parlor, a bakery and a creamery, before becoming a restaurant in 1944. Six owners later, Sam and Ethel Moore purchased the restaurant in 1957 giving it the name by which it's known today. Between them and their son, the business was in the family for more than 30 years until 1999. It was closed only to be reopened five or so years later. The current owner purchased the restaurant in 2009, and we have him to thank for restoring it to its original appearance. This is the type of restaurant every downtown area in America should feature if that area has any historical significance at all. The nostalgic feel of this establishment added immensely to our visit, and the cozy atmosphere further accentuated the casual dining experience. There were about 11 or 12 tables spread over three small rooms (one table was closed off due to social distancing) and a counter that accommodated two or three people. They were well equipped to handle the pandemic protocols with plastic barriers erected between booths. We were greeted in the friendly, low-key manner you'd expect from a small, local Midwestern restaurant as we entered. It was not busy yet as it was only 7:30 AM on a Saturday. As such, we were invited to sit where we liked and our server, Jodi, attended to us quickly. She was friendly and efficient, and did a great job during our time there. The menu featured the favorites you'd expect from a place like this. The breakfast options were all tempting. My wife settled on Sam's Favorite, which included eggs and corned beef hash with a choice of toast (she chose rye). I tasted the hash and was duly impressed. I opted for the Downtown, which was two eggs, meat, hash browns and bread. In continued solidarity with Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec, bacon was my choice of meat. And I selected the oversized English Muffin for my bread. My scrambled eggs were done well, and were optimized by the fortuitous availability of Frank's Red Hot, allowing me to properly dress them for the occasion. The bacon was ideally crispy. That's important because I'm not a fan of wimpy bacon...and bacon makes or breaks my breakfast experience. Added to that, the hash browns were a perfect golden consistency. The availability of honey for the muffin was a further enhancement. The only criticism I can offer is that the coffee was essentially average. But I'm not mainstream in my propensity toward dark roast coffees. Hence, I've long ago given up on getting that sort of java at a standard American café or diner, as they understandably aim for the taste of their typical patron (I'm sure cost and availability of supply enter the picture as well). While the coffee in this case was adequate, it was the kind that, for me, should be "taken with food". If there were a chance to add a dark roast option at some point, it might be worthwhile. Our bill was quite reasonable for this wonderfully traditional fare. Our tab with food, drink and tax was $19.32. Adding in a tip, we were able to keep our outlay to about $12 each, which was a very fair value overall. Needless to say, we were quite pleased with our experience. Given that Tipp is on our way home to Michigan after visiting family in Dayton, we are very likely to make another stop here in the near future. NOTE: To the owner...please consider putting a short history of the building and business on the menu...it is a nice story and I'm sure a lot of people would be interested to read about it. read more

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What a shame. Good Food. Quaint atmosphere. Terrible Service!! We've been three times servers are short tempered, quarreling over tables and barking at customers. Sign on counter as you enter states, SEAT YOURSELF. Three dining rooms, all full but one table that needed to be bussed. We were about to sit, when over the full tables a loud voice bellowed, "that table is dirty. Go sign in." I've never been so embarrassed. We will not be back read more

Sam and Ethel's is a diner they could've been around 100 years ago. They've got character and good service. It's very nostalgic and it's like sitting down in a place that could last forever even if it's a little strange with the waitresses and cooks. They have good food and decent prices. I bring my daughters there when it's near their birthday. They consider it a very special treat. read more

Food was great got a breakfast sandwich, quarter park cakes and scrambled eggs with sausage. The atmosphere was small town feel. Service was fast. Would return. read more

Haven't been there since covid, but this is an absolute gem and if you love Mom & Pop places you'll love this. We went there for the home cooked breakfast and can't wait to come back again. Forget the corporate owned Bob Evans, iHop, and Cracker Barrel. Go for the local family owned businesses. read more

Great place to eat. Owned by a local. All is great. Love everything that Keith has to servers. Employees are family!

First visit here. Had a bit of a wait due to the soccer tournament; however, very satisfying breakfast. Everyone's food came out great, including the crispy bacon. Our server was friendly and excellent. If you find yourself in Tipp City, give them a try. read more

Popular yet quaint local cafe in Tipp City's downtown serving GREAT food. HIGHLY recommend stopping in for a meal!

First time visit this landmark restaurant and hometown favorite. I was not disappointed! Ordered biscuits and gravy. The biscuits were fluffy and delicious. Gravy was thick and had some kick to it. Our server was friendly and treated us like family. Great prices! read more

Food is solid fresh American diner food - great for breakfast & brunch. Even when crowded, the servers were very nice and friendly. Adorable atmosphere with a local historical flavor. What a great little treasure in Tipp City! read more

4 of us had breakfast here today. I had the Uptown with 2 eggs, bacon and rye toast. The eggs were cooked as asked, bacon was 4 long crisp strips, the toast that thick toast and buttered to deliciousness. The other guys had the Downtown with 3 eggs, hash browns, bacon or ham and toast. All were were cooked as requested, all was delish as described by my friends. Service was on point except when we were to pay. That took too much time. And, we found out at that point that they don't take American Express. I'd certainly recommend this place for a great breakfast. read more

Sam & Ethel's Restaurant - American Near Me - Tipp City, Ohio

Perfect diner in a perfect town. Sam & Ethel's in downtown Tipp City, Ohio is everything a diner should want to be: popular with locals, simple menu filled with classics, great prices, and charming atmosphere. My fairly standard diner order is a cheese omelette, bacon (unless sausage patties are offered), home fries, and rye toast. When I'm not in the mood for cheese, eggs over-easy is my preference. I've had both of these at S&E's and it was really delicious. The food is good. The staff is skilled and friendly. The space is clean and service is fast. Location: 120 East Main Street, Tipp City, Ohio Price: Inexpensive (portions are large; great value) Menu: http://samandethels.com/menu.php Hours: open for breakfast and lunch, Sunday - Saturday; check the website for specific hours. My advice? Go early. Parking: free public parking nearby and convenient street parking read more

One of my favorite local breakfast joints! The thing that makes this place (aside from the history of it) is they have great breakfast food at decent prices & the service is pretty fast. My favorite things are the corned beef hash, which is the best I've had anywhere, & the biscuits/gravy. I always use the gravy on the hash too & it is SO GOOD. One tip: If you go here in the winter, if you sit in the front room close to the door you will have to wear heavy coats as you will need them while you're eating to keep from freezing. I know it's a historic building, but they do need to mitigate that single door by installing a little tent or something that will stop the cold air from rushing in every time the door is opened. And if you're going into or out of the restaurant on a cold and/or blustery day, for the love of pete please have pity on those who are seated near the door & don't hold the door open for minutes at a time. read more

Got the recommendation from a friend. A little wait which was fine. Small town charm, clean but you can tell they need some renovation done. Food was great and so was the service. read more

Gf & I come here quite often mainly because as 3rd shifters you can get dinner in the morning. Food has always met or exceeded our expectations. Entire menu is available open to close. Speaking of close, don't get there in the evening because they are only open through late afternoon. But a very nice little mom & pops spot with great food! read more

We decided to eat here at random because we were exploring Tipp City. The outside looked historical so we decided "why not?" All the wait staff was wearing masks when we entered and we were instructed to sit ourselves. The restaurant is kind of set up like a house with 3 separate rooms to sit in which was interesting. The room we sat at was pretty cool because we felt like we were in someone's home. The waitress was very nice and quickly took our order. When we got our drinks, we removed our masks and were smacked with a strong cigarette smell. We weren't sure if it was the older gentleman sitting next to us so we didn't say anything. Unfortunately, we later realized the smell was still there minutes after he left. The floor literally bounced beneath you when people walked past. This was a little weird but I guess it's normal in an old historical building. My food was alright, not bad. My bacon was over cooked which was a disappointment. I wouldn't go back but I'm glad I went and at least experienced something different. read more

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I went there for breakfast and was impressed. There is a bit of a wait, but once you are seated and have your order taken, the food comes out fast, hot, and delicious. This is a nice little gem in this cool little town. read more

Dry, tasteless breakfast burrito with greasy burnt sausage. Doughy, tasteless pancakes with fake maple syrup. I couldn't even finish it. Very disappointing. read more

Always awesome food-great service and friendly environment. Love spending weekend breakfast with them , sams skillet is a keeper!

Biscuits and gravy were not as advertised by previous reviewer's... Biscuits are pretty much your run-of-the-mill biscuits out of the can. Gravy was pretty good but lacked the spice that other people had described. There wasn't much heat but it was a little chunky... Would give the biscuits and gravy 3.5 out of five so OK. I would give the restaurant three stars but I gave them a bump because people were pretty sweet and the atmosphere was nice. read more

What a cute restaurant! I used to live in tipp city and I'm very sad I'm only just now visiting this place. Perfect place to go for budget friendly home cooked meals. The servers are really friendly and accommodating, and the atmosphere is cozy like home. We started off with jalapeño poppers, which had quite a kick and were perfectly fried. I had the French toast, my fiancé had biscuits and gravy, both of which were fantastic! And we finished off with some peach pie and pecan pie, which were, again, fantastic. I'd recommend you to be prepared to wait a little bit though, as this place does get busy, but we were lucky enough to walk in right before the rush. Anyways, go to sam and Ethel's if you love hidden gem, small town diners! read more