Cool old soda fountain machines but the service was poor. I was told it was a 15 min wait, after 35 min I was told that the waitress was really stressing and can't handle the pressure. I asked to speak to the manager and the employee went to talk to her , but she never came out. read more

The service was great. Good food and a fun atmosphere! I definitely recommend trying it out.

Dining here on several occasions for special events, the kind and hospitable staff has always been a highlight of the experience. Known for the history, with beauty in architecture and design preserved inside, this museum and traditional ice cream soda shop / parlor is a must-visit if you are in Columbus. The food is always served in a timely fashion with traditional fare on the menu for a common diner setting, but what makes this place special is the beautiful facility, the wonderful and often unexpected playing of the organ found along the back wall of the restaurant, and of course the phenomenal ice cream and soda options. Take a tour around the facility to learn more about the city and the culinary / medical history of this monumental ice cream parlor / soda shop and historical pharmacy. Long ago, the model of "Food as Medicine" or often "Food is Medicine" was commonplace. The rich history of this location blends the history of medicine, food, sweet treats, and pharmacy gives the guest a glimpse of an interesting past many of us have easily forgotten. One last note, if you have a special outing, ask about being seated in the upstairs rooms designed for private outings and fanciful dining experiences. You'll be sure to love the atmosphere and polish to this restaurant. A true gem to Downtown Columbus, IN. I ordered a side cup of Chili with a Veggie Salad, condiments and toppings included on the side for me to customize my portions include eggs, parmesan and cheddar cheeses for the salad and cheddar cheese, diced onion, and sour cream for the chili. Also, fresh lemon was requested to be able to squeeze atop the salad. Coffee was also ordered. The salad was a nice blend of lettuces and greens, with sliced cherry tomatoes and a handful of croutons. read more

Zaharakos - Veggie Salad with a cup of Chili - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

Zaharakos is usually a five-star business and has been for years. However, on our recent visit, they were seriously lacking in their hospitality and customer service skills. In fact, there was no greeting upon entering, empty tables that weren't being cleaned and reseated, and harried, overwhelmed staff running in every direction. We asked if we could sit at the counter and were told they couldn't handle that. It was such bedlam, we ended up leaving sad and disappointed. I was really looking forward to a strawberry sundae. This business has an incredible story that embodies the small town, American Dream. A family started an ice cream parlour in 1900 and kept it going for generations. Visits there are always like stepping back in time when ice cream shops had huge, marble counters; amazing, stained glass lighting; and homemade treats. During my time at IU in the late 90s, I dropped in for old fashioned sundaes whenever I passed through Columbus. Zaharakos closed in 2004. Thankfully, it was bought, restored, and reopened in 2009 without loosing its historic feel. When I last ate here in the Fall of 2016, they were still turning out incredible ice cream treats at reasonable prices. We'll stop in again and cross our fingers that next time their staffing situation has everything running smoothly. read more

This place is legit the best milkshakes period. You walk in and just wow that old time view just hits you but not in a bad way. The waitstaff are super friendly and made it a unique visit. Now for the drinks they do the old fashioned soda, try the green rivers it's like sprite on crack. Servings are decent sized so no reason to leave hungry read more

Zaharakos - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

Great ice cream/sundaes, made to-order sodas, and service. This place is really about the nostalgic feel though of an old time ice cream parlor complete with stained glass, parlor music, onyx soda fountains, and even a museum. We didn't know what to expect when we made a small detour here from the interstate for a late lunch, but we were really happy that we went and took the 15 minutes to make our way there. The food from the kitchen was ok - average diner food really, and not very remarkable. Nothing bad about it, but pretty pedestrian. The ambiance though is great - as was the service we received. Not fast, but definitely friendly. Sit near the front if possible, or even at the main front counter when you walk in - the further back you go, the louder it gets. The ice cream and sundaes all looked and tasted amazing - they are big, and regular one is more than enough for 2 normal appetites. (Always choose hot fudge as a topping, by the way). Remember too that the whipped cream is fresh, not something from a can. If you are looking for unique landmarks or historic sites (here since 1900), then I definitely recommend this place for a quick, cold treat. Be sure to bring a few quarters for the old time automatic music players in the museum. Seriously, be sure to bring quarters and insert one wherever you see that you can in the museum. Also, try the Green River soda - the original Sprite/lemon-lime carbonated beverage. read more

Established in 1900, Zaharakos is truly a gem amongst today's 'fast food' culture. Located about an hour South of Indianapolis in Columbus, Indiana, this ice cream parlor is as authentic as they come. The craftmanship that surrounds you from the moment you walk in is something rarely seen anymore; complete with marble bar and countertop and vintage fountain machines. The tables and parlor chairs consistently maintain the feel. In addition to the restaurant, there is a museum attached with a display of soda fountains and equipment from days gone by in pristine condition. Music plays throughout the restaurant from the beautifully restored Welte orchestrion, a self playing pipe organ, complete with a triangle, snare drum, bass drum and cymbal. We came in for a treat after lunch and my teen enjoyed her first banana split, and my boyfriend ordered their raspberry fountain cola and brownie sundae. I snuck bites of both before checking out the museum area. This was truly a wonderful stop on our Sunday road trip and a highly recommended 'To Do' for anyone visiting the area. read more

Zaharakos - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

See all

Wonderful ambiance! Fun flashback experience just for the decor. We ordered simple food and it was very good. The Ice cream was excellent with VERY generous portions. Great place to visit. read more

See all

Great, historic restaurant, but be careful booking a table online -- the open/close times aren't correct.

We recently had our daughters wedding shower at Zaharakos. We rented the 2nd floor room. It had tall ceilings, natural light, and was an absolutely beautiful space. They had an elevator to use for guests that needed that option. We coordinated our rental with Carol Frische. She was amazing to work with. She answered questions quickly, and helped us plan the food for the event. They had several food options to select from. Their food was fantastic. Since their specialty is home made ice cream our guests enjoyed the ice cream bar to make their own dessert. The staff were very helpful, and friendly. They even helped load and unload the vehicles. They went above and beyond to make our event special. I would highly recommend booking an event at Zaharakos, it will not disappoint. read more

The food is good, but overpriced for what you get. Love all the different ice cream and soda flavors! The environment is worth every penny. Don't forget to ask them to turn on the organ! read more

I love this place! Every time I come to Columbus, I feel like I eat here twice. The ice cream is so good. They have floats, malts, sundaes, banana split, and pretty much anything else you can think of with ice cream. The place looks historic with a lot of unique pieces, antiques and memorabilia in the museum area that allows you to take a step back in time while you enjoy your meal and dessert. I got the burger this time as well as the ice cream and it was delicious. Just as you would expect from a good diner. The service was super fast and got everything exactly right, even in he middle of the busy lunch hour. Did I mention the ice cream yet? read more

You might feel that you time slipped to 1900's. The atmosphere of the store was nostalgic. They had beautiful Christmas decorations when I went there. It was very pretty! There are automatic play instruments they play music also very old soda fountain machines. FOOD- I had French fries and raspberry chocolate chip ice cream. French fries were kind of saggy maybe they microwaved before serving, and the ice cream was good! Overall, experience at this restaurant was great especially the decoration and you get to see antiques! read more

See all

So amazing adorable! This place is a neat historical site that does a fantastic job of keeping the past very much alive. Great food, old fashioned soda, and homemade traditional ice cream. Beautiful atmosphere, live music from their antique music boxes. Fantastic place and a must try if you are an out of Towner like us! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I had a quick visit to Columbus to detour and give ourselves a little rest on our trip back to Nashville. I immediately noticed Zaharakos and we decided to grab lunch and then stop by for some ice cream. We were immediately greeted and seated and our waiter came shortly after to take our order. We ordered a root beer float and a regular two scoop sundae (it's nothing fancy, two scoops, chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, and a cherry). This is when I began to notice why this establishment has some poor ratings. We noticed at least 6-7 staff members at the ice cream bar just standing and hanging out for the majority of our visit (they would all leave every now and then and then come right back to do nothing). There were some ice cream orders placed on the counter and they would sit there for over 5minutes before someone who had been standing there would leave and come back and then serve it. But while those ice cream dishes were sitting and melting away, the staff members would be reaching over them to exchange things across the bar or to show each other something. Also noticed some people cleaning the counters and then immediately returning to prepare ice cream orders without gloves or washing hands. Talk about gross. Why have that many staff members who do absolutely nothing and are not taking the health and safety as a priority? It's a small town..I get it. But that's no excuse to not have trained staff members or be mindful of health and safety regulations. I can be patient, but this was beyond just needing patience. After twenty minutes (and maybe only 6 ice cream servings delivered to patrons of the not busy establishment), we asked to leave. Our waiter said ours was just about to be made and asked if we wanted it to go (you could tell he was slightly annoyed)..no we came in to enjoy the interior and sit and have ice cream. Also that's maybe 4 scoops of ice cream total.. with that many staff members doing nothing and ours still not even started after 20 minutes, I have no excuses for it to try and make it better. Inside is beautiful, but that's it. Skip this and just head to the Dairy Queen. If ice cream can't even be scooped, I can't imagine the kitchen staff requirements. read more

We stumbled upon this adorable ice cream parlor - the architecture and antiques were restored and preserved so beautifully. Our kids got massive sundaes and fries - I am not sure what could be better. Luke was our server and was so accommodating ... especially with 3 kids in a pandemic. Stop in - it's pretty perfect. read more

Zaharakos - Happy customer! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

Very cool place to take the family. Love the old time vibes. Unique and original items in the restaurant. Unfortunately there are times where they are extremely short staffed and there will be a couple hours wait time. Overall, great cool place to go read more

Service on this night was bizarrely frantic, but the ice cream was quite good, if not cheap. Great location and great atmosphere too.

Zaharakos is a premium icecream shop located in downtown Columbus. This place is a must visit for ice cream lovers. They have the original marble soda and ice cream machines from late 1800 to early 1900 and they have automated symphony which is so awesome to see and hear when they play it. I love this place and strongly recommend if you have not visited this place before. They have a decent ice cream selection and dreamsicle is my one of the favorite. They have a huge seating area staff is awesome always an amazing experience to come here. read more

Love this place! The building itself is so antique and pretty. It is like you are in timemachine back to 1900. Food and ice cream are not super special but good. It was a nice chance to try old-fashioned homemade ice cream. Servers were all very nice! Definitely recommend to go! read more

See all

We stumbled upon this ice cream parlor while in Columbus for an overnight visit to see the architecture. Our visit to Zaharakos turned out to be our favorite thing we did while in Columbus! It was nostalgic, and made me realize that the ice cream at home in my freezer is a far cry from homemade. Ditto for the soft serve found in little roadside diners everywhere. Zaharakos ice cream tasted of cream and sugar and vanilla.... the hot fudge sauce was a deep chocolate flavor, and the perfect consistency for the sundae. Not hard and too thick, like what you buy in a jar. Plus, the lighting, music and decor was the perfect cherry on top our visit. Pun intended! read more

Food was not good (Mac and cheese was watery and the chopped chicken tenders was maybe one chicken tender and burnt). Service was horrible-- waitress was not attentive. read more

Wow! Talk about walking into the past! First of all, Zaharakos is immaculate; a clean environment that has been carefully preserved for the next generation. We walked in and were sat right away. It seemed that there was a server or worker everywhere we looked! My wife and I ordered the chipotle citrus chicken sandwich and it was delicious (protip: you better eat it with a fork)! Our little guys got macaroni and chicken tenders and seemed to enjoy it! To save the best for last, we all shared a brownie sundae! We will definitely be back to Zaharakos. read more

See all

I absolutely love the nostalgia of this place. It's great. The interiors is whimsical and takes me to another time. The ice cream selection is great. The sauce and toppings combination is endless. The ice cream menu is wonderful. The fresh baked cones and waffles are the bomb. You can buy old school candies, snacks and toys at their general store. There are antique soda fountains. There's some sort of jukebox in the back where you can play carnival like songs. read more

See all

Aside from grandeur of the interior, this is a solid go-to for good old-fashioned ice cream, floats, and sodas. I had the brownie sundae without the hot fudge. It was plenty big and will satisfy my sweet tooth for weeks. My only complaint is that my brownie wasn't served warm as mentioned in the menu. Overall, it's simple and delightful. You'll only be disappointed if you walk in expecting extravagant and one-of-a-kind desserts. If you take the time to appreciate the history, you'll love it. read more

Zaharakos - Brownie sundae with no hot fudge - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

Unfortunately Zaharakos has gone down hill. The service is a complete fail. The building itself is really cool. It's a neat place to visit. The ice cream and old fashioned soda is nice. However, don't be expected to be treated like a customer. The last three times I've been I've been left at the front for 5-10 minutes waiting for someone to bother trying to seat us. Workers will look at you standing there at the entrance, say nothing, then go about your business. It's as if each worker has one job and they don't touch anyone else's job...even if they have a customer abandoned. I was there again yesterday and I had to track someone down twice to seat my party. The first person I asked just said "the hostess is somewhere." After being seated it took another 10 minutes before anyone bothered to take our order. The lady that took our order seemed like she hadn't been trained and had only been a waitress for an hour. Then the ice cream came out with no food and we had to ask for our food which then arrived cold because it was sitting somewhere waiting for table delivery too long. This place is struggling either from poor management or a lack of capable employees in the area. read more

Very disappointing. Overall bad experience with food and customer service. We try to support local businesses but will not be returning to this one. read more

Everything delicious, including the fried pickle appetizer, avocado grill, sloppy joes...and the malts and ice cream, yum!

I've been here around 5 times in the past 5-6 years. Once for food, the other times for ice cream. The ice cream is average to above average. The food is absolutely terrible. I would rather eat Dairy Queen down the street. We took our 2 year old son in today and it was 10 minutes to get sat. Another 15 minutes to place our order which was one drink and one scoop of ice cream. The place was about 3/4 full. Everyone working appeared to be of high school age. Not a single "adult" to be found. If you go, you're paying for the experience. That's pretty much it. read more

I'm not sure if this was just a off day or what, but really what can I say when it takes over 30 mins for a couple ice cream dishes to go. ‍ It would be a tad different if it there was some concern by the employees or management, but they pretty much acted like this is normal business operations. Disappointed to say the least. read more

What a cool and unique place in the heart of Columbus to take you back in time! I always watched movies set in the 50's growing up with a sense of wonder, awe, and a tinge of jealously. I always think of that scene in Grease where they go to the ice cream parlor and get shakes and sing Beauty School Dropout and wonder to myself "why isn't there anywhere I can do that now?" Well in Columbus there is. The interior architecture is pretty unbelievable. With the original counters, soda machines, and part of the restaurant being a museum, there is no shortage of things to explore and look at. They have an old fashion soda machine that makes them with phosphates, and tons of flavors for ice cream floats and drinks. With the circus music playing from the music box in the background it feels like you've been transported back in time. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. But coming for the drinks and desserts alone is worth it. If you're looking for a novel and different place to relax and step back in time, Zaharakos is definitely the place read more

Wow!! Completely understaffed. On a Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm there were 80% open tables and we were told a 30 minute wait. Lots of lost business; we left and went across the street. That day we specifically went downtown to go there... pretty disappointing. read more

A blast to the past. Like being back in the 50's except the prices will remind you others. Worth that occasion splurge

I love the atmosphere of Zaharakos, it feels like you've stepped back in time. I love the history and character of the building. I ordered the chipotle chicken sandwich, and fries. The fries were delicious; they are homemade hand cut fries. The sandwich was also great, I really liked the bun. My only complaint was that the sandwich had strips of chicken making the already messy sandwich hard to eat. I of course had to try the ice cream, and decided on a milkshake. If you're in downtown Columbus this is a neat place to try. read more

This is a step back in time when ice cream visions melt over the waffling smells of homemade ice cream cones! read more

Zaharakos - Ice cream bar!!! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

See all

Awesome ice cream. Old fashioned sodas! A must see restored building. Visit downtown Columbus

What great ice cream & atmosphere is amazing. You need patients when you are here cause it's an ice cream parlor & they do it old school hand scooped all the way! It was nice to sit with our kids, unplugged & just talk over ice cream. read more

Zaharakos - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Columbus, Indiana

What a neat place! Needed a place to hang out and talk, so we Yelped a place for coffee and this location came up. We walked in and it felt like being transported back to the early 1900's. It was wonderful! The prices are a little higher than typical ice cream places, but all their ice creams are made in house and it is SO worth it! I am very happy we stumbled across this place and look forward to going back! read more

See all

An old-fashioned ice cream parlor? This place is amazing. If you don't enjoy your visit here, then you must be lactose intolerant or something. We've been here several times and have always had a wonderful experience. read more

Came in a couple minutes after opening with one other table already seated. 4 workers standing behind ice cream bar seemingly doing nothing while we waited for several minutes to be seated. The food was average, but we waited forever for it to come. The service itself was VERY slow. Overall, we will only come here for the ambiance and nostalgia anymore. read more