Ringside Cafe serves burgers with a side of old Columbus
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Photos: Casey Weldon/Axios
Columbus has plenty of places to grab a burger and a beer, but few have been doing it since 1897 like Ringside Café.
Why it matters: This downtown hole-in-the-wall is a throwback to an older Columbus — full of history, kitschy personality and darn good burgers.
Zoom in: Ringside sits along Pearl Street, an eclectic alley lined with colorful graffiti and quirky businesses.
The vibe: Inside, dark wood and exposed brick fill a cozy dining room that fits only a couple tables and a few booths. There are a handful of stools at the bar as well.
- There's vintage boxing memorabilia and paintings everywhere.
Around noon on a Saturday, a few older gentlemen sipped beers and talking sports like they'd been doing it for decades.
- The TVs aren't great and there's no surround sound, but nobody seemed to care.
Best bites: Burgers dominate the boxing-inspired menu, including the monstrous, 1 1/2-pound Buster Douglas ($32).
- I ordered the Smokin' Joe BBQ Burger ($15), topped with bacon, cheddar and barbecue sauce.
- Putting the melty cheese on top of the other ingredients is a total pro move.
Also on the menu: Other entrees include deep-fried Reuben ($14), chicken sandwiches ($13) and salads ($12). Side items like house-cut fries ($4) and coleslaw ($4) all come a la carte.
- The onion rings ($5) were excellent. Ask for mustard.
The bottom line: Ringside may not be the coolest bar in town anymore, but in a city with so much new, there's something great about a place like this.
- Besides, it's hard to improve on cold beer and a great burger.