Dan's Drive In: A Columbus Landmark since 1951! Came in today for breakfast after a recommendation from another foodie friend. We were seated promptly and started out with many cups of hot coffee (the refills didn't stop) They have a large menu with various options. I had the Greek sausage skillet: sausage, peppers, onions, potatoes, eggs, and feta cheese. It was served with a buttery delicious biscuit. I wasn't a huge fan of the skillet. Wayy to many potatoes. And the potatoes weren't even good (very soggy). Hubs had the meat lovers omelet, which he turned half into a biscuit sandwich (pro move). He really liked it! read more

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The breakfast was good the waitress Chelsea was really nice she said her grandmother worked their many years ago. We had so much food and it was dirt cheap. The portions were good I enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was your typical breakfast nothing over the top but great for a very reasonable cost . read more

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Staff was excellent- friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Food was fresh hot and taste. Prices are very competitive and portions are perfect size. All safety precautions were enforced in a friendly inviting way. Owner came out and greeted us in the old school way. Very charming handsome fellow. read more

Tio’s Diner - Dan's logo. - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Oops thought I had done my review.. will now! We both had the pork chop breakfast and o-m-g... soooo good! They had the perfect amount of fat/meat ratio and the seasonings perfect. My eggs were poached perfect too. Such home cooking. Will be back when we come back in a few weeks! read more

Tio’s Diner - Poke chop breaky - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I used to come here several times a month and haven't been here in about a year. Wow, things have changed for the worst. Used to be true comfort foods...roasted turkey and roast beef with mashed potatoes and real gravy served over thick, Texas toast....meatloaf.....etc....it seems to have new owners. I stopped in, craving roasted turkey or meatloaf and I was told "we're sold out"...I was the only one in the restaurant .....I know with covid, things can change the capacity of people in the restaurant.....but now, sadly, Dan's is just burgers, breakfast, gyros and club sandwiches. The online menu on their website is not consistent with what the menu on the table has. I felt bad for the sweet waitress...so I ordered a plain hot dog and fries. The hot dogs here used to be plump and perfectly grilled. What I received was a wrinkled, deep fried hot dog that was dripping with grease, with burnt, hard ends. I asked my server if she could check if the hot dog was deep fried....she came back and said that the owner / cook said it.was fried and grilled. I told her take it off the bill and she went and told the cook....he offered to make another one just grilled but it will take longer. I told her that's fine. What she came back with was ANOTHER deep fried hot dog, just split in half with even more burnt ends. I told her that I'll pass....and this Arab dude comes out and tells me that he grilled the second one and I said "dude...it's also deep fried"....he kept arguing that it wasn't. I won't be coming to my former favorite diner anymore. It's a shame.....such a landmark old school diner reduced to crap with new owners.... read more

Tio’s Diner - deep fried hot dog with hard ends - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Great service. The best of both world Traditional American Diner AND Mexican, with breakfast ALL DAY and end the day with a Margarita. Relaxed atmosphere and good food...I couldn't ask for more. read more

I never made it to this place when it was Dans - it is now Tio's with a large menu of Mexican dishes to choose from. (I heard they kept the breakfast like it used to be?). I was super pleased with the food - tried the seafood nachos and the carne asada burrito and both were delish! Nice portions and very fresh - I will go back soon. Hoping they get a liquor license and a dimmer switch for the very intense lighting - on the bright side the place is very clean! read more

Thank you TikTok for recommending this amazing American Diner! Stepping inside reminded me of the diners I went to growing up! The best food, amazing service, and an ambiance second to none! I highly recommend this place! read more

Great service from the staff . The food is good great would be worth the stop and it's not a bad price

Oh my. Not only is Dan's Drive In a historical landmark so as a fellow history geek, I was ecstatic. We recently ate lunch here after quite the time. And to be honest - I don't remember the first time I had their food. It's been YEARS. For a larger family and coming in right after the rush, our food was on the table in a timely manner. Their food is so unique and full of flavor. You know how chicken fingers are just "chicken fingers"? Not here. They're so good, and personally, they have the BEST fries I've ever tasted. The prices are reasonable and the portions aren't so bad, either. The service was very good - and everyone was so friendly! I love diners and I need to come back more often. read more

Tio’s Diner - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This diner changed hands a couple of months ago, and the new menu is great! American and Mexican food, breakfast anytime. Very clean, service is prompt and friendly. I highly recommend! If you haven't been there since November 2023, you need to give it a try. Much better than some of the competitors I've visited. read more

Always enjoy going to Dans for an authentic diner experience. Great prices and great food - this place is a definite go to.

If you are hungry try the BIG MOUTH BURGER (1 lb) You can order anything on the menu anytime Wife got breakfast and I got a chicken Gyro at 9:15!!! This place is a classic. Extensive menu and very affordable. The service is always good and never had any issues with the food. Check out their daily specials board where the feature multiple daily specials. Love it read more

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I love the service and food! The service is quick and accurate. The dinner still had its classic Dan breakfast and I love the authentic Mexican cuisine! read more

Great food! The service was amazing as well you get your food in a timely manner. I love the mix of the classic dinner with authentic Mexican food! read more

Wow!!! Tio's diner, family owned - you have all really done a great job turning Dan's diner into an amazing place under the name Tio's to find both American breakfast catering to the long time Dan's customers and in also bringing something new-Authentic Mexican cuisine -under the same roof! Oh, So many choices will have you coming back to try it all! I have came back several times since the Grand Opening on November 1st just to try different things on the menu and Tios does not disappoint! The food is always delicious, the service is top notch and the atmosphere is inviting, fun and laid back! The music will have you vining in your own little piece of Mexico! This would be a perfect place to catch quick breakfast on the way to work, stop in for brunch or on lunch break or to come in with friends and family to enjoy a fabulous dinner any day or night of the week! Highly recommended! read more

We have lived in the area for about 2 years and finally stopped in for breakfast. We weren't sure what to expect with the mixed reviews but our experience was great! Black coffee and a Greek skillet pita was delicious. My partner got a Big Dans sausage gravy breakfast and thought it was good as well. While there were only two servers the service was fast and friendly. We would definitely recommend at least trying if your in the area! read more

I had high hopes for this diner based on really great reviews I have read. My son and I visited after a disappointing attempt at trying out Golden Donuts (closed on a Sunday morning despite Yelp hrs showing open), this was the nearest greasy spoon. Unfortunately, we got there very hungry and the wait was quite a bit longer than expected, something like 40 minutes...this was breakfast at a diner. I wish I could say my meal was stellar, but it was just ok, not all that hot, not all that seasoned either. I felt like it was not worth the wait frankly. Servers were pleasant, seems the delay was in the kitchen. A-ok if you are not in a hurry but nothing special. read more

Tio’s Diner - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Favorite good old-fashioned diner on the southside good breakfast selections chocolate chip pancakes are amazing good prices good service gets packed in the morning!!! read more

Tio’s Diner - Steak skillet - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I have heard about this place for a LONG time and always heard it was good from many different people (including the weird, picky ones!), so I decided to try it. NO regrets. Service was decent, they were very busy and I was sitting at the counter, but I got plenty of attention. In and out in an hour with a full restaurant, so kudos to the wait staff. The interior is a 50's theme, complete with license plates and model cars from the era. Not to mention, the bright red chairs and gray circle-print counter tops round out the theme. I got a simple mushroom and swiss burger and it was superb. Cooked well and very juicy. My first thought on my first bite was WOW. It had a lot of flavor, slightly greasy but hey, it's a burger and I prefer greasy! Good generous helping of mushrooms, sealed onto the burger with a good serving of swiss cheese. All on a big bun (that actually FITS the burger) with lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle. On the side I got cole slaw and onion rings, both of which were very good. The cole slaw isn't much to look at, but the taste is unique and awesome! The total came to $12 (with a pink lemonade), so if you're looking for a cheap and good meal, go here! read more

Tio’s Diner - Mushroom and Swiss 1/3lb Burger with Onion Rings - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It seems to me like I've been here before but maybe that was just before Yelp. It's a nice looking restaurant with both a counter and tables and chairs. They put their daily specials on the wall. Today I decided to look at the menu and I saw an entry of fish and chips. It came with fries and cole slaw. I asked the waitress if this would be a pretty good choice and when she said yes, I ordered that. The fries were great. The slaw tasted better than it looked. But the fish, meh! They were advertised as haddock but I've had haddock in a lot of restaurants and it never looked like that. So after trying a piece I decided that this wasn't going to fly and asked the waitress to bring me a burger. Thinking no one could screw up a burger, but I was wrong. It came out way overcooked. I ate most of it and left the rest on my plate. read more

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Great long-time diner in south Columbus. A true landmark. They have daily specials and a full-menu consisting of a wide variety of items, including Greek specialties. I have tried many breakfast items and have nothing bad to report. The portions are large and you will not leave hungry. The dining room is quite cozy and if there is a wait, there is not much room to wait inside. Food is worth the wait. Be sure to check their hours for holidays, as we happened to get lucky that they were open on July 4, but only until noon. read more

Tio’s Diner - Bacon and spinach omelette - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Solid 4 stars for the following: Better service at the bar over being seated. Not terrible service. Just not as attentive. One waitress told me she partied so hard the night before. Ok... I get it. Price point... I like. It is on cheaper side. Bang for the buck. I like their skillets and omelets. Atmosphere: The Up: Authentic good ol' American diner. Lots of Trumpster looking whitey willy guys. I almost told one fool to shut the F up about his loud rant about refugees and eat quietly. The down: Sticky floors. Lots of food bits under tables. Coffee is Ok, bottomless. Will revisit if in area again. read more

Tio’s Diner - Diners Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Waitress was nice and friendly. Ordered spaghetti (5 stars), grilled cheese and fries (5 stars), gyro (4 stars), Philly hoagie (4 stars - bread was old/dried), steak & eggs & potatoes (5 stars), chicken tenders and fries (10 stars out of 5). :) I would have given them 3 stars bc the hoagie was not very good; however, the chicken was so wonderful I just had to change my stars. Gyro would have gotten more stars but person thought there should have been a better ratio of sauce to meat. read more

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Kitchen always short staffed! Waited 25 min for French toast eggs, and bacon.. came out cold, French toast saturated with salty butter! Could not eat at all However the mushroom cheeseburger tasted good and was hot. Watched people sit at dirty tables, and was not cleaned off as the customer was served drink, and order taken.... Server nice, but full of excuses. read more

It was just ok, the pancakes were pretty good and the French toast was surprisingly very good. However with good food also comes the downside on eating it since due to COVID they gave you plastic utensils. While the food was just ok the service was great and it was very fast. The waitress was very nice and took care of us while we were there. In total the service was a 10/10 and the food was probably a 6/10. The other thing which isn't a bad thing but just a heads up is it's all cash so be prepared if you're planning on going. The insides decor was also very pretty and gave you the true feel of an old American diner with records on the walls and old red seats at the bar. read more

Great comfort food dining. Rarer and rarer these days. Large portions and reasonably priced.

My favorite place on the south end! With a menu that caters to all diner cravings, this place has delivered all 5 times I've been back now. The daily specials offer enough solid options the menu isn't always necessary. Fountain drinks were crisp and the service has always come with a smile! After moving back to the city I've quickly realized that good food for a good price does not exist. This also means there are places you can spend $50 on a meal that you would have thrown out if you hadn't spent the money. Dan's Big Mouth burger patty rivals a Thurman's patty except I've yet to spend more than $25 for two of us to eat here and there's never been a wait. The only people waiting was the patient wait staff waiting for me to finally decide on what amazing meal I order next! Triple decker omelet special Dandy girl burger Fresh spinach, bacon, cheese omelet Strip steak and eggs special Fresh spinach, feta and bacon omelet And of course Dan's Big Mouth read more

Went in for lunch. Friendly, fast service! Place was clean and followed all Covid guidelines. Burger and fries were awesome! Definitely recommend! read more

Had brunch today. N.Y. strip steak and eggs. While my server left a lot to be desired, the food was point-on. I had the eggs over easy and they were cooked perfectly. Whites completely set and yolks nice and runny. The strip was close to the medium rare I asked for. Much more than most breakfast joints. It was ten der and full of flavor. Really well cooked home fries, nice bowl of grits with plenty of butter, and golden brown toast. Coffee was average but at least they don't use powered creamer. This is probably my favorite place for steak and eggs. read more

Came here in between baseball games...great service and food and an awesome e chef who treated our three baseball players to breakfast!

My husband and I are a Fan after visiting Dan's this past Sunday for Breakfast. It's a 50's inspired Diner located down South High (Past German Village). It sits right off of High, you can't miss it. The Diner itself, isn't anything to brag about, but our overall experience is what made us enjoy the visit. We wanted a traditional breakfast on Sunday, and we passed the Diner many times heading to Lowes on S. High, so we thought we would give it a shot. We both tried a bit of everything; eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, hash browns and pancakes. Needless to say, we enjoyed everything. My favorite part of everything we tried were the pancakes, and oddly, I'm not a big pancake fan! The staff was very very nice and consistent throughout the entire visit. We were immediately seated, immediately assisted and were checked on multiple times. I feel it's a great place if you live in the German/Merion Village area and want a traditional breakfast, but don't want to wait for 45 minutes to an Hour at a German Village Restaurant. We had a good experience, and I'm sure we will visit again. read more

Dan's Drive In is... amusing, at the very least. We ended up here Friday night because Thurman's was too crowded and my exam-soaked brain couldn't handle a 45 minute wait with loud yuppies in a small space. The boy said he hadn't been here in years, so we decided to check it out. Honestly, and quickly, the food is about at the same level as TeeJaye's (if you want good diner food, I suggest Tommy's in Franklinton, or for diner breakfast, GVCS). Kinda gross like cafeteria food, but still compelling enough that if you're hungry, you'll probably eat some of it. The atmosphere is kinda cheesy but tries to be diner-ish, with picures of cars and corregated metal and red gold-flecked vinyl seating. The service is exceptionally friendly - the host and our waitress were both wonderfully sweet. The clientele are... indigenous to Merion Village. Let's just say that the table next to us left a roll of pennies as a tip - true story - and that pretty much sums it up. Now here's where it gets good: After we exchanged tattoo shop info with our very sweet, very tanned, and very neck tattooed waitress, we went out to the car and started messing with the radio. All of a sudden, a cop car peels in, throws its spotlight on us, and two cops hop out in true Miami-vice sync style. One comes up to the boy's side, and the other to my side, of the car. "Uh, can I help you, officer?" The boy says, looking slightly taken aback. "What's going on here?!" The officer demands. "Did you just come from the restaurant?!" "Yeah," the boy tells him. "We were just letting the car warm up." "Okay, well," the officer shines his flashlight in the car. "We're just making sure because there's a lot of jump-outs in this area, and lots of people smoke weed in the parking lot." The boy is facing the other way, but I can only imagine the look on his face. Don't. Say. Anything. Sarcastic., I think to myself, imagining that he is trying to hide some sort of amused half-smile or trying to prevent himself from laughing in the cops face. "Oh." He says finally. "Okay well," the officer says hastily. "Have a good night." The cops, no kidding, throw themselves quickly back into the car and literally peel out behind a building in the opposite direction from which they accosted us. No kidding. It was so weird and hilarious. We still don't know what a "jump-out" is. So just a warning: If you go to Dan's, you might be accidentally apprehended. :P read more

I've had Dan's Drive In bookmarked for three years, and lucky for me--the stars aligned today. Y'ALL... When I walked in the door, the most beautiful man was there to greet us. He had the biggest smile, and was so incredibly friendly. I definitely got a little tongue-tied and wanted to run away and hide. But the sweet service didn't stop there. Our server was equally as lovely! You know how sometimes folks at greasy spoon diners get a little too salty? Not here. She was upbeat, sweet, and very helpful. The diner itself is really nice. I mean... for a hole in the wall place--it's really nice. Everything was very clean, and they even have free wifi! My food was A-OK. Nothing spectacular, but totally fine. I had steak and eggs, and it's actually exactly what I expected. Don't order this dish expecting a thick, juicy ribeye--it's a diner-style thin steak that's cooked through and through. It was still tasty, and not the least bit tough. But as a southern boy, I have to tell you about the grits. I'm disappointed in about 99% of grits in Cbus, and this dish at Dan's is no different. So it's not that they're necessarily bad here--they're just not the grits I love. And the price? So cheap! Two of us ate for less than $20, including tip. As soon as I got home, I googled Dan's Drive In because I needed to understand their story. Come to find out, this biz has been open since 1951! But the new owner, Lucky Sahota, bought it in 2007. And btw, the super handsome guy that I mentioned? That's Lucky. So for me, the service and experience were 5 stars, and the food is 3. And that's how I land at a 4-star review! read more

Once you've driven past German Village on your way out of town via High Street, you're dangerously close to the end of the known world. Or at least the end of the civilized world. Looking more like Detroit, Michigan than Columbus, Ohio - abandoned buildings, pawn shops and flea markets reign supreme. On a sunny day, this area of town is gray. In the parking lot at Dan's Drive In as you stare down South High, the highway starts up over a hill. From your vantage point it appears as if the highway drops off suddenly after Dan's, thus leading me to believe this is the last outpost before a nuclear wasteland. Inside this cultural time capsule you'll find all the standard decorations of a 50's style diner. Relics from long ago. The staff was less than helpful though not rude. Having recently had amazing Eggs Benedict from another restaurant in Columbus, I foolishly decided that I should try the Eggs Benedict at Dan's. While I was waiting (and waiting and waiting) for my eggs to arrive - I suddenly recalled my extensive ServSafe training. Eggs Benedict is a fragile dish with hollandaise sauce that can go very wrong and lead to food poisoning. I regretted my choice. I did not experience any sort of upset stomach or food poisoning in the end, but the taste of the hollandaise sauce put me off eating Eggs Benedict for the time being. My english muffin, ham and egg was completely drowned in thick yellow sauce. In our post-apocalypse nuclear wasteland, Dan's Drive In will transform into a trading post and weigh station for travelers. For now, just keep traveling south on High until you reach the next outpost of civilization. You know, Circleville. Excuse me, I'm going to go play some Fallout 3. read more

I can't disagree with anything I've read in the reviews. But you have to go into Dan's with the right mindset. Is it a five-star restaurant? No! But that is not what they strive to be. It is a cheap, quick, decent greasy spoon, and I will definitely be back! We came for breakfast on a Saturday. The wait staff were all very friendly, and the coffee refills were always right on time. We both had huge breakfasts that met our expectations, and the bill was only $13. Point: if you come in ready for some heavy, greasy, diner food, you will not be disappointed! read more

Full disclosure: on my first visit I had a good experience. Not this time. I would discourage anyone from visiting this place until they get their business together. Yesterday I was there and received the slowest service possible along with mostly cold food. Around 1130 am the restaurant was busy but there was no wait. A friendly server greeted us and got us drinks. Another server took our order and informed us that ticket times were long today. We figured we could wait it out; we were wrong. During the long wait we saw 3 other groups of people walk out and leave their tables upset they had not gotten food. One couple said they had been here an hour with no food and no explanation of how much longer. At one point the restaurant was almost completely full and not a single table had food. The servers looked a little stressed, but no one came by to refill our drinks and thank us for waiting. No offer of "sorry it is taking so long here is some toast." Finally we had to stand up and flag someone down just to be told "it should out in 5 minutes." (it was longer) 45 minutes after ordering we received our food. Had it arrived hot and tasty- this review would be more understanding. But the home fries were ice cold. The bacon was not fresh. The french toast looked old and gross. We ate what we could, paid our bill (still tipping the server 20%), and left. I would not recommend anyone to visit anytime soon until they can get the kitchen situation worked out. It is a shame for a neighborhood business like this, which I normally love to support. read more

Dan's Diner is a traditional diner with a 50s-era nostalgia theme. Going in, I had my heart set on some good French Toast, and Dan's didn't fail to deliver. We were seated promptly at a booth and offered drinks straight away by one of the staff. There didn't seem to be a single server assigned to us--each time something came out or we had a refill it was a different person--but they were all attentive and friendly. The menu was extensive, covering from breakfast to dinner and dessert, but my mind was already made up. I ordered the French Toast with two eggs and two slices of ham ("Dan's two + two + two," if you're interested.) It took longer than expected for our food to arrive, though my dining partner commented that it was more crowded that usual, so that could be part of the reason. The prices are very low. Surprisingly low. If I were paranoid, I'd even say _suspiciously_ low. My meal, which filled me up completely, was right at $6 before tip. Can't beat that! Dan's is exactly what it says on the box--A diner. I could have done without the gimmicky 50's decorations, but the food was pretty good and the staff all friendly. Would definitely go back, but probably not if it were far out of my way. read more

Hadn't eaten at Dan's in several months and decided to go on a Saturday night about 50 minutes before closing. Normally the food is decent and the wait staff attentive and friendly. However, on this occasion my sandwich arrived covered in cheese (the menu didn't state it came w/cheese). I asked for another sandwich without cheese and the waitress said she would have to charge me because "it wasn't her mistake". She didn't refill our drinks, ask if we wanted dessert, or bring our checks (we stood by the register to let her know we were ready to pay our bill). Be better, please. read more

Not a fan at all. I was dragged in there by a friend and tried to make the best of it. The diner menu is extensive, but when you have 1000 items to choose from, usually they're all done half right. I'd rather go to a place that hits all the basics and does everything well. Not the case at Dan's. I had the chili. It wasn't very good. I also had some coffee, which was pretty unimpressive too. I thought the atmosphere was simultaneously sterile and dirty. You know, like a bathroom that needs cleaned. Not much to look at, or at least nothing that you want to look at. I was going to order more food, but the waitress took so long to get to us that I just asked for the check. It wasn't enough to piss me off, but there was nothing to actually keep me in my seat. Eh, I won't be back for sure. read more