When you’re craving something a little more substantial than the standard cheeseburger, head to one of our city’s independent restaurants for signature offerings you can only find here in Columbus. Here are 10 great examples:
Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus
161 N. High Street — Downtown
Elevator pays homage to its historic space’s history with the Bott Burger—built in the 1897, the building originally housed Bott Brothers’ Billiards, a “gentleman’s saloon.” The burger is topped with bacon and cheese (your choice of cheddar, colby-jack, pepperjack, provolone, swiss or bleu) plus lettuce, tomato and onion on a sesame brioche.
Ella Bistro
266 E. Main Street — New Albany
The New Albany bistro’s Prime Burger is a sophisticated take on a fast-food favorite. It’s made with top-quality ground beef topped with Ohio cheddar, pickle, house special sauce and lettuce, and served with pommes frites. Don’t eat meat? Try the house Veggie Burger, topped with provolone, caramelized onions, arugula and aioli.
Local Roots
15 E. Olentangy Street — Powell
Local Roots owner Jesse Iams is passionate about serving locally farm-raised foods, and the restaurant’s burgers are no exception. The Bison Burger, made with Ohio bison, is topped with lettuce, onion and tomato on a toasted brioche bun. A vegetarian offering, the Jalapeno Black Bean Burger, is made in house using produce sourced from the Iams family farm.
Milestone: 229
229 Civic Center Drive — Downtown
Milestone grinds their own burger meet with a mix of sirloin, chuck and brisket. Those juicy, flavorful patties taste great on the Cheeseburger, topped with special sauce, lettuce, pickle and onion on a brioche bun. On the side are salt and vinegar fries.
Shaw’s Restaurant & Inn
123 N. Broad Street — Lancaster
Shaw’s chef Susie Cork uses Angus beef for her Grilled Steak Burgers. It’s a thick 8-oz. patty of premium-blend Black Angus beef brisket, short rib and chuck served with your choice of cheese on a toasted brioche bun (add a fried egg on top for $1.50!) Burgers come with housemade pickles and beer-battered French fries or sweet potato fries.
Skillet
410 E. Whittier Street — Schumacher Place
The Skillet Burger isn’t always on the menu at this seasonally driven restaurant, but when it is—order it! The burgers are made with locally sourced Bluescreek Farm bottom round, short rib and brisket, ground just for the restaurant. Burgers are served on sesame rolls with local cheeses, Skillet sauce and other seasonal toppings, and you can always add a fried local yard egg or cherrywood smoked bacon.
Third and Hollywood
1433 W. 3rd Avenue — Grandview Heights
The Grandview hotspot’s Hollywood Burger is made with Niman Ranch brisket and chuck that’s ground in house daily. On top is cheddar plus all the standard toppings. Consider splurging and spending an extra dollar to substitute their excellent pimiento cheese, also available as a starter, for the cheddar.
Thurman Cafe
183 Thurman Avenue — German Village
You can’t put together a list of the city’s great burgers without including Thurman’s! The original location has been a German Village landmark since 1942. Brave souls will attempt to conquer The Thurmanator, featuring two massive 12-oz. patties with bacon, cheddar, ham, mozzarella, American, mushrooms and onions. A less intimidating option is the Thurman Burger, a smaller-sized sandwich with many of the same flavors at the Thurmanator.
The Top Steakhouse
2891 E. Main Street — Eastmoor
It’s not on the regular dinner menu, which makes The Top’s burger an under-the-radar favorite. The perfectly chargrilled burgers are served on crusty rolls and topped with lots of melted cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.
Worthington Inn
649 High Street — Worthington
You’ll have to head to the Pub to try the Worthington Inn’s excellent burgers. The Lights Out Burger is a behemoth topped with applewood smoked bacon, sharp cheddar, tobacco onions, arugula, tomato and barbecue and secret sauces. Or go for the more traditional Buckeye Burger, with lettuce, tomato, red onion and choice of cheese on a sesame Kaiser bun.
Dine Originals Columbus celebrates, supports and promotes the culinary diversity that locally owned and operated member restaurants contribute to the identity and culture of our city. The nonprofit group is committed to strengthening the local economy and enriching the community through education and charitable partnerships.
A limited number of Dine Originals Columbus restaurant gift certificates are on sale now for 30% off! Buy them at doc.instagift.com/discount-sale.
For more information, visit www.dineoriginalscolumbus.com.
