I've been here before. It's just a typical sports bar restaurant. I'm glad this place closes late since most restaurants I've seen by my hotel close around 9pm. Again, it was a late night for me. I was greated by a host that seems like he didn't care about his job. He sat me all the way at the back corner close to the kitchen when there was barely anyone there. I couldn't even see the tv's because it was right above me. So I moved myself. But my server Joi was really nice. I got the Kobe Burger with Bacon and a tall Yuengling. Kobe burger in a sports bar restaurant, i'm sold! It was pretty good. I also got the mini choc torte which was just enough. I'm seeing these mini sizes in most chain restaurants now. Good thing they're around since I dine alone. I wouldn't want to beast on a large size desserts, you know I got to watch my figure.
(4)
Courtney Q.
3.5 stars, rounding up. My experiences at this particular Champps with my family have always been quite good, and we're usually not one to be impressed by American chains. Maybe on select Saturday evenings the cooks step it up? We had a particularly pleasant experience staying after closing to watch the Pacquiao versus either Cotto or Margarito (who cares; Manny won) match-up, although we were charged a $5 cover for the event. And before the fight, either my mom or brother ordered some burger special--I think it was the kobe beef one? From what I understand, the dish was quite good. I also remember that on this night, the food was particularly fresh, and my gastronomy-savvy mom surprised me with her uncharacteristically rave reviews of the establishment. On a more recent visit, however, I remember my caesar salad tasting a little too salty, and not long after I finished it, the M*ch*g*n basketball team upset the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. So yeah, maybe the food is just better when it's inevitable that Manny Pacquiao's punching his way to a victory? I don't know. But I suppose someone can get a great meal here if he or she is just *that* lucky.
(4)
Doug O.
Champps is right down the street from our house, and yet last night was our first visit there in the four years we've lived in town. We always forget about it, despite driving by regularly, because we are typically on the lookout for local establishments and not chains. (I've been many times in my hometown of Indianapolis, a/k/a Chain City, U.S.A.). However, the in-laws were in town, and given their conservative palates, we thought this seemed like a good time to break them out of their Rusty Bucket rut. Champps is a relatively upscale sports bar chain. The menu is fairly consistent with what you would expect. All four of us had salads and were actually quite pleased. My harvest chopped salad came with grilled chicken, green apples, blue cheese, and a vinaigrette. It was relatively light (especially for a sports bar) and delicious. I appreciated that they went light on the dressing instead of drenching the lettuce. The beer list was so-so. Several macros and a smattering of seasonal craft beers, with a decent local representation. The problem I had in ordering was that the local breweries' names were listed, but the specific beer on tap was often not listed, and our waiter had no idea. He brought my wife a beer that did not resemble the one he represented was on tap. The service, speaking of, was adequate but not great. Our server was friendly and outgoing, often stopping to chat amiably, but he knew little about the beer list, could not remember our drink orders (and two of the four people just had water), and let our salads sitting in the kitchen within sight of our table for quite a long time, despite having few other tables. Not terrible though. The place is crawling in high-end big screen TVs. This seems like a good place to come catch a football game if you're looking for something a little more upscale than Roosters or the like. Not bad.
It's a sports bar where all can play! Champps is a great place to watch OSU football games or dine with the family. I recently dined/watched 2 football games there. It was fairly busy, but didn't seem like anyone was waiting for a table. We had a great view of the game from the bar side. Service was efficient and friendly. Our waitresses put up with the crowd throughout the entire game (almost 5 hours!). Food is decent. I've only ordered burgers and fries. The waffle fries always are good for something different. The restaurant seems to attract a mixed crowd of sports fans and families; thus, the atmosphere is fairly friendly and less wild than your average sports bar venue. I'd highly recommend going to Champps to watch sporting events for a nice, low key, open viewing spot.
(3)
JJ S.
When I first moved to Ohio, I was so excited to see a champs near my apartment! I am a runner and I like to look at new running shoes. One day, I decided to check this place out, but lo and behold this is a bar and grill restaurant! I was a little embarrassed to say the least! I decided to come back with my boyfriend to give the food a try! He ordered the rack of ribs. It was a filling dish and the smoked BBQ flavor was all there. It was a bit on the pricier side for bar/grill food. I ordered a flat bread and it was COLDest flatbread I have ever eaten! But, the waitress was nice and re made my order and took care of the bill! Kudos to her and her customer service!
(3)
Tim H.
While I normally prefer ethnic cuisine, or more appropriately perhaps, cuisines from non-western countries, I stopped here as it was conveniently located by my hotel. I grabbed a seat at the bar and was served by a young lady. She was pleasant and accommodating as she got me a menu and filled my water in spite of being busy and she did it with a smile. I ordered the bourbon salmon with vegetables and jasmine rice and the meal was delicious. The salmon was extremely flavorful and tasty and was perfectly done as it was nice and soft. The vegetables also had a nice flavor and the jasmine rice was perfect in soaking up the spices from the salmon. My only disappointment was not ordering dessert, which also looked good as I noticed adjacent clientele indulging in some. The establishment was pretty large and was adorned with flatscreens and, as a result, seemed like an excellent place for a football fan to go to on a Sunday.
(5)
Brian F.
I enjoyed my trip here this evening. They have some pretty good happy hour specials including $5 appetizers. We tried the mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers and quesadillas. The quesadillas really stood out as excellent, especially with the guac that came with them. The other apps were fine, and I liked that we got three dipping sauces with the chicken fingers. Other than that, it's a huge space with pretty good service and a good option for dinner before a movie if you don't mind spending a little bit of money.
(3)
Kyisha M.
Great food! My husband loved the bacon wrappers we got as an appetizer. My Philly Cheese Steak was great and my hubby was impressed by how good his Grown up Grilled Cheese was. We both got the onion rings with our meal and enjoyed them very much. Lemonade I got was great and he didn't have anything bad to say about his coke. Our waitress Brittany was great. We were going out for the hubby's birthday so he felt a little bad when she gave him the check then when she saw my pink debit card she was surprised that he had a pink card but realized I was paying. She was great and joked about it though. My husband thinks she probably thinks he's a bum lol. A wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Ellen F.
Champps is good for larger, more rambunctious groups. Weekday lunch is a bear. Make a reservation if you can. Although a wait might be a downer, the service is always pretty good. They do a great job of adapting meals. The food isn't the best in the city, but it does cater too mixed groups, and families. It's easy. Food fav's include: beer and cheese soup (one of the daily specials), Sesame Seared Tuna, Greek Salad w/out chicken, Spinach & Artichoke dip, the ranch dressing, which pairs nicely with the waffle fries. It's also fun to check out the seasonal menu for things like the Crab Bread and the Fire Roasted Tortellini.
(4)
Jenny T.
My friends and I like coming here because it's cheap, casual, but it's a step up from the usual High street fare. The food has been consistently good quality. We're always here in large groups (think 6-15) and the food comes out hot at the same time. The servers don't seem to mind that people are using coupons and discounts either. (Some places make me feel uncomfortable using a discount.) It's hard to go wrong with the burger menu, and I've heard good things about the baby back ribs. The nachos are a great appetizer to share with a large group, though we are rarely able to finish it.
(5)
Eli B.
really fun place. big servings. good times.
(3)
Kevin M.
Champps is essentially a sports bar that's attempted to be a nice restaurant as well. There's a happy hour and full bar that you can sit at, but there's also extensive restaurant seating that surpasses ordinary sports-bar style. The menu is pretty extensive (though not cheap), and the food all seems decent, from what I've seen. But the last time I was there, I couldn't help but notice that there was _maybe_ one vegetarian menu item that wasn't a side salad, appetizer, or dessert. Don't ever take a vegetarian here, unless you're just getting drinks or dessert, or going to the karaoke contest they host on occasion.
(2)
Bee S.
I only like to go here for trivia nights. The food is ok, and gets the job done if you're famished. Service is usually pretty decent, even though the last time I went, three people's orders were wrong. And even after one of them sent their plate back for the correct thing, they came back with another wrong order. Oh well, at that point he just ate his buffalo burger in silence. The trivia I like, because.. well, I like trivia.... the only thing that sucks is that they do it over the speakers with a DJ and you can hardly hear what he's saying half the time, so you're scrambling to get your answer down after only half hearing what he just said. I guess that's part of the fun anyway. Sometimes they also have mini challenges, like seeing who can bring the most chapstick to the dj booth. So you obviously make a fool of yourself running through the restaurant, dodging tables and waiters just to rush chapstick to this dj. But hey, I got a free cheeseburger gift card out of it once, even though I never used it.
(3)
Angie P.
Dining in traditional American restaurants can be tough for vegetarians and vegans, especially when servers are not knowledgeable about menu items. This was my first time visiting Champps and thought that a huge restaurant should have a huge menu selection, which meant there was a better chance of finding more vegan items. Unfortunately my deduction didn't work here. The server was unable to convince me that there was something vegan worth ordering. She said I could order a chicken salad or pasta without the chicken. That would be quite inadequate if they could not substitute something else with it. I went for a bruschetta burger with a veggie patty (not sure if there was dairy in it) and asked them to hold the cheese. While it came with a side of pasta salad, I was suspicious of mayonnaise as part of the dressing. The server said it's mixed with tomato vinaigrette, but to my disappointment, there was mayonnaise in it. The restaurant is close to AMC Lennox and Target, which are places I love hanging out at. However, I would not go back again until the restaurant would provide something vegan-friendly and train their staff about them.
(3)
Travis Z.
I have always had a good experience here. The food is pretty good with a lot of options. I like coming for trivia on Wednesdays.
(4)
Karen F.
This is a great place to visit before Buckeye football games. They have a great bloody mary bar and the atmosphere is exciting. The servers are always friendly and I always make it a plan to stop in when I'm back in Columbus.
(4)
Nate H.
Pretty big and lofty on the inside. Don't expect too much from this place. It's an over-glorified TGIFridays. Menu is relatively the same and the food is consistent with chain restaurants.
(2)
Amy S.
My main reason for coming here? If you eat here on Ohio State Football game day, they give you a placard to put in your car so you don't get towed! That being said, getting to a place that is best known for its bar and lunch type food, at 10am, you wonder how that can work. Well, after a few beers, its a pretty good deal! While its usually busy, I've always been lucky enough to get a table, and knowing that the game will make me hungry (biting my nails really isn't enough), a good plate of 'football food' is a great thing to get. The staff on these days isn't what I'd call friendly. They really just want to rush you along, and the last couple of times I've had to ask for the placard because I wasn't offered it. One of the girls just threw the paper at me. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I needed one for my friend as well, so I just walked behind the bar and got it. They seemed too busy to care. I'll continue to go back on game days but not my choice for casual dining.
(2)
Josh E.
I feel kind of funny writing this because all of my Champps experiences have been unintentional and all have been uniformly bad. Tonight, it was an emergency, last minute choice, because the hockey game was getting ready to start and we had to shovel some food down real quick. Buuuuuuut, I feel like I have to throw Champps a bone for this one visit. I have learned, from said bad past experiences, to avoid Champps' cheese sandwich fixings. They have been, without fail, the penultimate destroyer of each poor sandwich they placed in front of me. Wet, greasy, watery, and goopy, these cheeses have, not once, been anywhere near what I would call actual cheese. Each an every patty of whatever "cheese" they cursed me with has been utterly disgusting. This night, though, I was careful to avoid the cheese trap. I got the pulled pork sandwich and, hey, it wasn't half bad. The pork wasn't even dipped in turbo sugared BBQ sauce. The fried shoestring onions on top was even a decent touch. The waiter was quick and accommodating with our tight schedule. The iced tea was good. My girlfriend, unfortunately, missed the cheese warning and had a goop drenched cheeseburger. Every other Champps has been 1 or a charitable 2 stars. I don't feel guilty giving them a tiny bit of love just this one time. They kind of earned it. In the end, we got to the hockey game on time. The temporarily adopted home team won the game with 1 second left. Mission accomplished!
(3)
Matthew B.
Every once in awhile I'll go, hey, let's go to Champp's! And then about an hour I'll say, "hm, maybe this wasn't the best idea." It's not that Champp's is bad, either- it's just not as good as comparable restaurants. Apparently Champp's is a national chain but I have never, ever seen another. Perhaps that's a deficiency in my perception of the world around me, but it's the truth. It makes perfect sense, though, as their menu is decidedly chain-y American foods- decent burgers, mediocre steaks, huge platters of nachos somehow billed as an appetizer. One thing Champp's has over a lot of other chain bar and grills in my opinion is how wide-open the place is. High ceilings and low booths give the place an atmosphere of psuedo-communal dining that is missing from places like Applebe's where, if you avoid the bar, you're in your own world. And yeah, yeah, I know that Champp's is a sports bar of sorts, but can't just one of the dozen or so jumbo HD television sets on the wall was set to something other than a sports channel of some sort? Not a single CNN just so I can read a headline or two? No? Alright, then.
(2)
Lisa S.
There was a time when I would have thought that dining at Champps was part of a nice night out. Lucky for me and my taste buds, those days are behind me now. There is nothing innately wrong with Champps, it's just an over glorified sports bar parading around as a family dining establishment. If the quality of the food was a little better, I might have given Champps 3 stars, because overall the atmosphere isn't bad if giant TV screens all tuned to sports is what you're going for. Honestly, would it kill them to have at least one TV turned to CNN? But the food absolutely is not worth the price you pay. The menu has some tempting choices, but be aware that the quality of the food is really not up to any standard. The last time I ate at Champps I was craving a good burger, so I ordered a Cheddar Cheeseburger. The waitress asked me how I wanted my burger cooked, to which I replied my usual "Medium rare". "Well we can only do Medium so how about I get you that." Bitch, don't ASK me how I want my burger cooked if you're not even going to bother! And let me tell you, that burger would have tasted a whole heck of a lot better medium rare.
(2)
Mai T.
Old vinyl booths. Dark. A jillion flatscreens. Musty smell. Patio with plastic chairs. Outdoor bar that's not fully equipped. Tons of smokers. Draft: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Really? Bottled: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Oh wait, I forgot they had some sort of energy drink in there too. I got my default drink-pineapple and Malibu. Took the bartender 10 min to get it since he had to rush to the inside bar for the right ingredients. I was forced to come here, it wasn't by choice!
(1)
Anthony M.
Yum yum, I had a Tuscan Turkey wrap, I really didn't want this, but because of a diet I stayed strong. When I got it I was completely content on the first bite.It was very very very good wit roasted peppers and the salad.
(4)
doreen w.
I've eaten here several times because the food is in the neutral crowd pleaser category so I often end up scheduling working lunches here knowing that it should please any palate. At this point I stick to what I know works for me which are the huge salads masquerading as health food. I suspect they have more of the same amount of fat and calories as the sandwiches. This is to be expected at an overblown sports bar. I've also been here with big parties which they can easily accomodate and it is convenient if you are going to a movie and want to catch a quick bland bite. Despite the sports bar them I don't think I would watch a game here the dining room is so big that all of the TV's unite into one big din. I'd prefer a smaller local place like roosters or claudaughs. This is only worth a stop out of convenience or pure necessity based on the situation. Although I'm not sure what that means.
(2)
Stephanie B.
So last night, my friend and I went out for dinner and a movie. We had dinner at Marcella's and didn't have time for dessert so we had to head off to the movie. We saw our film at the AMC Lennox, and when it was over we decided to go grab some dessert so we could continue our previous conversation from dinner. We thought about heading to Cup O Joe, but I didn't want any caffeine to keep me up all night since it was already 9:30. So we headed over to Champps to get the dessert we had to miss at Marcella's. Can I just say right now that I hate how Champp's is spelled with two P's? Sorry. Irrelevant. So we walk in and the service was really good. They promptly seated us and our waitress came right away and gave us some waters. She gave us each menus but we told her we were only in for dessert. She gave us a better dessert menu that had pictures of everything in it, which was nice. For those of you that have never been here, it's supposed to be a sports bar. It is, I guess, but it's like it's also trying to be some fancy restaurant. Thus, it's kinda expensive. And it's weird because it's usually filled with students who can't really afford to come here. In fact, at the table next to us, we saw the worst situation ever! A guy and a girl were on a date and he paid their check with his credit card but the server came back and told him his card was overdrawn. Oops. He had to try a second card, which might have ended up working. I'm not really sure because this was happening as we were leaving. Poor guy. So yeah, not the best choice for a student budget. Anyway, there are huge TVs everywhere, all tuned to different sports games. That part is pretty cool, but they are mostly on one wall and the seating isn't all that close to them. I wouldn't come here to watch a game, that's for sure. When we were here last night it was so annoying because we must have come in in the middle of some sort of trivia night. This DJ guy back in the corner was reading off these trivia questions over the speakers (it was LOUD!) and then there were teams I guess turning in answers, and he'd read the correct answers. This went on the whole time we were there, including music trivia where he'd play 3 seconds of a song and you had to guess which one. Really, super annoying when you're just trying to relax and talk. We were definitely here on the wrong night. Needless to say, after we finished our desserts we were outta there because we couldn't stand the blaring trivia talk. I don't know why it had to be so loud or why they couldn't seat all the trivia teams in one area so they could avoid disrupting the entire restaurant, but whatever. This place is stupid. And about dessert? My friend got this huge slice of chocolate layer cake and I got the Cookie Espress. It was this big chocolate chip cookie thrown in a bowl and topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel and espresso topping (didn't even taste the espresso). With a cherry on top. (Note: If you want this dessert done right, go to Uno - see my review!) It sounded and looked so good in the picture. But...the cookie tasted a bit weird and it was kind of thin so it was crunchy and hard to dig into. The ice cream was good but there wasn't enough to balance the cookie. And oh my god what was up with the whipped cream? First of all, it wasn't even good whipped cream, it tasted more like Cool Whip you buy at the store. Second, there was WAY too much of it. There was more whipped cream than ice cream, I kid you not. It was borderline disgusting. I ate what I could but there was no way I could finish it. What was left was a soupy mess, no way was I about to try to take it home. Ugh. I was not impressed. And how hard is it to go wrong with a big chocolate chip cookie? By the way, it was over $6 for the dessert. Desserts were cheaper at Marcella's! So not worth it. I've eaten here in the past with some friends for dinner, and while the sandwiches were pretty good, they definitely weren't anything special that I would come back for. And everything is just way too expensive for the quality you're getting. I realize that most of the people who come here are parents who visit their kids at college and take them out to eat here because they don't know the city that well and don't want to venture too far from campus. If it weren't for them keeping it alive, I'm not sure how well this place would do. I'm certainly not a big fan, but I have to say that it was pretty busy last night. Maybe their trivia is really popular, who knows. But it was super annoying for us who weren't playing. And you know what else was annoying since we're on the subject? Twice last night (we weren't even there for an hour) it was someone's birthday so the servers all gathered around their table and started clapping and singing real loud and the lights go down and suddenly they make use of the disco ball that's in the middle of the ceiling. Really? A disco ball in a sports bar? What is this crap? Ugh, I'll pass.
(2)
Dennis H.
Ordered Loaded Nachos, which sat for about 10 minutes. Manager made things right by making it free. This location gets one more chance.
(1)
Jackie C.
Champs, or Champps, when I first moved to Columbus and my parents came to visit we would usually go here. It was close by and the ridiculous portions always insured that I had lunch for the next day as well. A big drawback is that it is really loud in there; they could tone it down a notch so you could talk to people around you that would be great! The food is pretty good; I enjoy their parmesan crusted chicken sandwich with wedge fries immensely. The real reason to come here is for the potato skins, they are delicious, good size, good bacon to cheese ratio. They (skins) come with an alternate sauce besides sour cream that is alright, but I prefer the sour cream so I would ask for it on the side. And yes in case you're wondering, I consider myself a potato skin connoisseur. So if you want standard, very predictable fare with alright service then go to Champs it is not too shabby.
(3)
Nathan L.
Why is this the place that everyone goes with their parents when the 'rents come visit you at school? There are so many other places that could be that place, but i have to admit that when my parents came to visit that was one of the places that became a staple. Beer for me and the old man to drink? - yes. Wine for mom? - yes. Lots of bland predictable food for dad? - got lots of that here. TV's everywhere so I can tune out of the whole family talk and take in some pigskin? - perfect. I've even seen soccer on in here, on a SUNDAY. awesome. This place can get old quick if there are annoying ploys going on in the bar area, though. I have been dragged into a free-throw contest before, somewhat against my will. The only thing worse than the annoying contest is the excruciating MC of the thing. Really? What qualifications does Bobby the Backup Bartender have to host some sort of athletic competition ten feet from my potato skins I would rather be paying attention to anyways?
(2)
Ben T.
This champps is as good as the easton one but crazy busy on pay football days. Big portions, good prices and big ol beer mugs available.
(4)
Sean G.
It's the place you go when your parents come to visit you at school. It's expensive for what it is and really crowded. The mile high desert is pretty good though but it would probably take 4 people to take it down.
(2)
Chuck k.
This location of 'Chumpps' is always over crowded and too loud. I walked out once because my party couldn't hear over the noise of the TV's, which were showing REPLAYS of old games. I mean, if there's a live event on, yes turn it up and enjoy. On a night with nothing, get the decibels down to 747 level. We complained and were told there was nothing they could do. The food is decent , but not great, and a little pricey. You do get a big portion, but if you're heading off to a movie, you may not want to take the 1/2 a sandwich with you.
(2)
Steve M.
I love this place, but the one off Olentangy near campus. It is true, it is a bar that wants to be a nice restaurant. It is not the cheapest place of all time, but the food is good and proportionate. And if you go on a bar night, then after you eat they have karioki and cheap drafts. It is one of my Fav's in this area..but I am a sucker for chain restaurants.
Lunch today. Got there about 11:20 and it was empty, but were seated literally right next to the kitchen door. Table was filthy, so much so we moved to the next table over...it too was dirty, but cleaner than the first...we used the extra napkins to clean it. Ordered the chicken wing (6) appetizer in Caribbean Jerk but it tasted funny. It was like Asian (Teriyaki) with red pepper flakes. Two of the wings were undercooked (cold and pink inside) which we brought to or waiters attention, and she said she would "let them know" but no manager showed up, nor was the bill adjusted. And when I pointed them out to her, she took the plate which still had our celery and dressing on it. I got the French Dip sandwich which was not good. A small amount of sliced beef on a hot dog bun...period. No cheese, onion, or mayo. Au Jus was watery...like beef broth from a can. She got Onion soup which she said was good, but said her chicken salad was dry and cold. Place is also too dark and very noisy even as light as they were, and service was slow on all fronts. $33 for one ap and two entrees...pricey to me for the quality/quantity of food. This was my second "not so good" visit...I dont think Ill be going back.
(2)
Gem X.
Come here for the graduation party of my classmate. The food is ok but the service is nice though. Maybe just because the food is not my cup of tea.
(3)
Tim H.
While I normally prefer ethnic cuisine, or more appropriately perhaps, cuisines from non-western countries, I stopped here as it was conveniently located by my hotel. I grabbed a seat at the bar and was served by a young lady. She was pleasant and accommodating as she got me a menu and filled my water in spite of being busy and she did it with a smile. I ordered the bourbon salmon with vegetables and jasmine rice and the meal was delicious. The salmon was extremely flavorful and tasty and was perfectly done as it was nice and soft. The vegetables also had a nice flavor and the jasmine rice was perfect in soaking up the spices from the salmon. My only disappointment was not ordering dessert, which also looked good as I noticed adjacent clientele indulging in some. The establishment was pretty large and was adorned with flatscreens and, as a result, seemed like an excellent place for a football fan to go to on a Sunday.
(5)
Huanan W.
This was my first time here at Champps and I went with my roommate. The service was ok but the food wasn't really what I expected. We decided to try the NY shrimp & steak but when it came out, there was no shrimp at all, it was nothing like the pic on the menu. Above that, the steak was a little over cooked. But it did taste ok.
The margarita's here taste like crap. Literally, thick, gross, nastiness. Do not order one. Not even during Monday $4 happy hour. You will regret it, I promise. Just stop. Right now. On Monday's they have $5.99 burger night. Can't go wrong. Any burger but Kobe or the double is on special. I recommend the bleu cheese, and hell...replace it with turkey meat. All-in-all the burger massive, and you'll probably have half a burger's leftovers if you eat the waffle fries that the meal provides. Oh yeah, the waffle fries....no seasoning, just cooked. Whatever - dip them in honey mustard and you'll be fine. I haven't gone any other night than a Monday for special, but it can be kind of expensive from the looks of the menu. Typical OSU decor lining the walls, and the bathroom is actually rather gorgeous! The dining area is extremely spacious, and great for families. But the service will probably be pretty slow.
(2)
Taylor H.
I'm a strong believer in a bad server can ruin a night out. Our server was extremely awkward and very slow with all of our drinks. We told her we would like to drink for a while before ordering dinner. We then ordered an appetizer and she took the menus, we never had plates delivered with the appetizer. Had to ask for the menus back to order dinner.. Awkward. Every time she came to the table it was weird and we felt unwelcome. The food was good but way over priced. Also, the table and chairs were sticky. Women's restroom was nasty. Not impressed.
(2)
Johaun C.
if you're going to eat here, don't go in with crazy expectations and you should be fine. my philosophy: there are 4 things you're always better off knowing something about before heading in: war, marriage, the bathroom, and the restaurant. come here for their half-priced appetizers and the french onion soup (which i try everywhere i go, and for the money is still one of the best cups i've ever had). avoid the pizza.
(3)
Scott H.
My wife and I went there for a late lunch the other day before a movie. We had a coupon and the restaurant we really wanted to go to was closed, which really are the only two reasons why we ended up here. Just like when you're traveling and you end up at McDonald's when you travel. It's off the interstate and convenient. We walk in and there's no greeter. We very easily could've walked out and just eaten expensive candy at the theater, but we stuck around for a minute or two until the greeter showed up and seated us. Greeter alerted not to sit in two of the four seats at the table as they had something on the seats. She quickly cleaned them off. Missed the dry crusted brown stuff on the seat across from me. I stared at it the whole time we were there. I have to cut the greeter a lot of slack here, though. We was going around cleaning ALL the tables, which it seems to me, she should not be doing. She is the greeter. Make a busboy clean the tables. And why was every freaking table dirty at 3 in the afternoon? Don't you clean those as soon as customers leave? My wife and I wearily peruse the voluminous menu. Never a good sign when a place has a little bit of everything, because that means they are master of none. The menu looks like a design team threw up all over it. Obnoxious design and I can't find anything. Wife orders coconut shrimp and peaches and cream. For some reason, I order a chicken salad sandwich. Weiland's makes beautiful chicken salad, so why do I constantly order chicken salad sandwiches elsewhere? I am almost always disappointed. And yep, it sucked. Chicken salad literally dripped out of the sandwich. Was it trying to escape Champp's. In that case, I don't blame it. Shrimp were okay. Peaches and cream, weeeeell... how do you screw that up? They found a way. Server was courteous. She did do a weird thing on her last visit to the table though. Earlier she had given me a 2nd glass of soda when my 1st glass was almost empty. When she came by for the last time she took the remnants in the first glass, dumped it into the new glass that I was drinking from and put the empty 1st glass back on the table? I have never seen that. It felt like she was emptying ashtrays or something. Anyhoo, you go to Champp's, you get what you pay for. If you want to slam a burger and a beer down and don't really care what it tastes like or that everything around you is covered in a sticky glaze, then by all means stop on in.
(2)
Amy F.
I'll keep this short and sweet. Average food. Average service. Average prices. This is not the Champps that it was back in tha day. This used to be one of my go-to restaurants. I'm sad to say they've lost their mojo.
(3)
D B.
Bad service, cold food, rude manager and a gutless waitress. I like Champps normally....this one.....not so much.
Paying $9 for two pints during happy hour hours was a bit much. At least the bartender uniforms made for decent eye candy?
(2)
Chrislyn K.
I went to this restaurant for the first time in the past week with my sister, mom, and grandparents. Each and every one of us ordered a different meal and enjoyed what we ordered without complaint! It wasn't the greatest food I've ever had but I had no large concerns with it either. The service was fast and kind, the dessert was large, the establishment was clean. Our table had a great view of the kitchen and we were also conveniently located by several TVs on the wall. All around, the experience was great!
(4)
Katherine D.
First up: freebies! Champps gives you a free burger just for signing up for their email list, and a free dessert around your birthday. I ended up using my free burger coupon today (although I kind of wish I'd gone for the free dessert). I've been to this Champps several times, and they're always okay. They do an INSANE amount of lunch business and during sporting events, so be prepared. I got there around 1pm, and the place was full. I was the only person at the hostess' desk, so I was a little miffed that I had to stand around for over 5 minutes before someone happened to come by the front desk and seat me, and even then it seemed like an afterthought. For someplace that does as much lunch business as they do, you'd think they'd staff their front desk a bit better. I also noticed as I left the restaurant after my meal that there was STILL no host at the front desk (and several people waiting at the front). The thing with Champps is that their portions are HUGE. I'm not sure that's a good thing. I ordered the mushroom & swiss burger with onion rings, and while it wasn't bad (the onion rings were especially good!), it was so large that I left quite a bit of food on my plate. Total cost after coupon = $2.98 plus tip. Was it worth what I paid this time around? Absolutely. Was it worth the $15 plus tip I would have paid without the coupon? Probably not, especially when their portions are so big that you leave half of it on the plate at the end of the meal (no place to put leftovers at work). I'm sure I'll be back, though...their menu is varied enough that anyone can find something worthwhile on the menu. I just hope that the staffing issue was a fluke and not par for the course.
My wife and I went there for a late lunch the other day before a movie. We had a coupon and the restaurant we really wanted to go to was closed, which really are the only two reasons why we ended up here. Just like when you're traveling and you end up at McDonald's when you travel. It's off the interstate and convenient. We walk in and there's no greeter. We very easily could've walked out and just eaten expensive candy at the theater, but we stuck around for a minute or two until the greeter showed up and seated us. Greeter alerted not to sit in two of the four seats at the table as they had something on the seats. She quickly cleaned them off. Missed the dry crusted brown stuff on the seat across from me. I stared at it the whole time we were there. I have to cut the greeter a lot of slack here, though. We was going around cleaning ALL the tables, which it seems to me, she should not be doing. She is the greeter. Make a busboy clean the tables. And why was every freaking table dirty at 3 in the afternoon? Don't you clean those as soon as customers leave? My wife and I wearily peruse the voluminous menu. Never a good sign when a place has a little bit of everything, because that means they are master of none. The menu looks like a design team threw up all over it. Obnoxious design and I can't find anything. Wife orders coconut shrimp and peaches and cream. For some reason, I order a chicken salad sandwich. Weiland's makes beautiful chicken salad, so why do I constantly order chicken salad sandwiches elsewhere? I am almost always disappointed. And yep, it sucked. Chicken salad literally dripped out of the sandwich. Was it trying to escape Champp's. In that case, I don't blame it. Shrimp were okay. Peaches and cream, weeeeell... how do you screw that up? They found a way. Server was courteous. She did do a weird thing on her last visit to the table though. Earlier she had given me a 2nd glass of soda when my 1st glass was almost empty. When she came by for the last time she took the remnants in the first glass, dumped it into the new glass that I was drinking from and put the empty 1st glass back on the table? I have never seen that. It felt like she was emptying ashtrays or something. Anyhoo, you go to Champp's, you get what you pay for. If you want to slam a burger and a beer down and don't really care what it tastes like or that everything around you is covered in a sticky glaze, then by all means stop on in.
(2)
Romain C.
I've been here before. It's just a typical sports bar restaurant. I'm glad this place closes late since most restaurants I've seen by my hotel close around 9pm. Again, it was a late night for me. I was greated by a host that seems like he didn't care about his job. He sat me all the way at the back corner close to the kitchen when there was barely anyone there. I couldn't even see the tv's because it was right above me. So I moved myself. But my server Joi was really nice. I got the Kobe Burger with Bacon and a tall Yuengling. Kobe burger in a sports bar restaurant, i'm sold! It was pretty good. I also got the mini choc torte which was just enough. I'm seeing these mini sizes in most chain restaurants now. Good thing they're around since I dine alone. I wouldn't want to beast on a large size desserts, you know I got to watch my figure.
(4)
Courtney Q.
3.5 stars, rounding up. My experiences at this particular Champps with my family have always been quite good, and we're usually not one to be impressed by American chains. Maybe on select Saturday evenings the cooks step it up? We had a particularly pleasant experience staying after closing to watch the Pacquiao versus either Cotto or Margarito (who cares; Manny won) match-up, although we were charged a $5 cover for the event. And before the fight, either my mom or brother ordered some burger special--I think it was the kobe beef one? From what I understand, the dish was quite good. I also remember that on this night, the food was particularly fresh, and my gastronomy-savvy mom surprised me with her uncharacteristically rave reviews of the establishment. On a more recent visit, however, I remember my caesar salad tasting a little too salty, and not long after I finished it, the M*ch*g*n basketball team upset the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. So yeah, maybe the food is just better when it's inevitable that Manny Pacquiao's punching his way to a victory? I don't know. But I suppose someone can get a great meal here if he or she is just *that* lucky.
(4)
Kyisha M.
Great food! My husband loved the bacon wrappers we got as an appetizer. My Philly Cheese Steak was great and my hubby was impressed by how good his Grown up Grilled Cheese was. We both got the onion rings with our meal and enjoyed them very much. Lemonade I got was great and he didn't have anything bad to say about his coke. Our waitress Brittany was great. We were going out for the hubby's birthday so he felt a little bad when she gave him the check then when she saw my pink debit card she was surprised that he had a pink card but realized I was paying. She was great and joked about it though. My husband thinks she probably thinks he's a bum lol. A wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Bee S.
I only like to go here for trivia nights. The food is ok, and gets the job done if you're famished. Service is usually pretty decent, even though the last time I went, three people's orders were wrong. And even after one of them sent their plate back for the correct thing, they came back with another wrong order. Oh well, at that point he just ate his buffalo burger in silence. The trivia I like, because.. well, I like trivia.... the only thing that sucks is that they do it over the speakers with a DJ and you can hardly hear what he's saying half the time, so you're scrambling to get your answer down after only half hearing what he just said. I guess that's part of the fun anyway. Sometimes they also have mini challenges, like seeing who can bring the most chapstick to the dj booth. So you obviously make a fool of yourself running through the restaurant, dodging tables and waiters just to rush chapstick to this dj. But hey, I got a free cheeseburger gift card out of it once, even though I never used it.
(3)
Angie P.
Dining in traditional American restaurants can be tough for vegetarians and vegans, especially when servers are not knowledgeable about menu items. This was my first time visiting Champps and thought that a huge restaurant should have a huge menu selection, which meant there was a better chance of finding more vegan items. Unfortunately my deduction didn't work here. The server was unable to convince me that there was something vegan worth ordering. She said I could order a chicken salad or pasta without the chicken. That would be quite inadequate if they could not substitute something else with it. I went for a bruschetta burger with a veggie patty (not sure if there was dairy in it) and asked them to hold the cheese. While it came with a side of pasta salad, I was suspicious of mayonnaise as part of the dressing. The server said it's mixed with tomato vinaigrette, but to my disappointment, there was mayonnaise in it. The restaurant is close to AMC Lennox and Target, which are places I love hanging out at. However, I would not go back again until the restaurant would provide something vegan-friendly and train their staff about them.
(3)
Travis Z.
I have always had a good experience here. The food is pretty good with a lot of options. I like coming for trivia on Wednesdays.
(4)
Ellen F.
Champps is good for larger, more rambunctious groups. Weekday lunch is a bear. Make a reservation if you can. Although a wait might be a downer, the service is always pretty good. They do a great job of adapting meals. The food isn't the best in the city, but it does cater too mixed groups, and families. It's easy. Food fav's include: beer and cheese soup (one of the daily specials), Sesame Seared Tuna, Greek Salad w/out chicken, Spinach & Artichoke dip, the ranch dressing, which pairs nicely with the waffle fries. It's also fun to check out the seasonal menu for things like the Crab Bread and the Fire Roasted Tortellini.
(4)
Karen F.
This is a great place to visit before Buckeye football games. They have a great bloody mary bar and the atmosphere is exciting. The servers are always friendly and I always make it a plan to stop in when I'm back in Columbus.
(4)
Nate H.
Pretty big and lofty on the inside. Don't expect too much from this place. It's an over-glorified TGIFridays. Menu is relatively the same and the food is consistent with chain restaurants.
(2)
Jenny T.
My friends and I like coming here because it's cheap, casual, but it's a step up from the usual High street fare. The food has been consistently good quality. We're always here in large groups (think 6-15) and the food comes out hot at the same time. The servers don't seem to mind that people are using coupons and discounts either. (Some places make me feel uncomfortable using a discount.) It's hard to go wrong with the burger menu, and I've heard good things about the baby back ribs. The nachos are a great appetizer to share with a large group, though we are rarely able to finish it.
(5)
Eli B.
really fun place. big servings. good times.
(3)
Amy S.
My main reason for coming here? If you eat here on Ohio State Football game day, they give you a placard to put in your car so you don't get towed! That being said, getting to a place that is best known for its bar and lunch type food, at 10am, you wonder how that can work. Well, after a few beers, its a pretty good deal! While its usually busy, I've always been lucky enough to get a table, and knowing that the game will make me hungry (biting my nails really isn't enough), a good plate of 'football food' is a great thing to get. The staff on these days isn't what I'd call friendly. They really just want to rush you along, and the last couple of times I've had to ask for the placard because I wasn't offered it. One of the girls just threw the paper at me. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I needed one for my friend as well, so I just walked behind the bar and got it. They seemed too busy to care. I'll continue to go back on game days but not my choice for casual dining.
(2)
Josh E.
I feel kind of funny writing this because all of my Champps experiences have been unintentional and all have been uniformly bad. Tonight, it was an emergency, last minute choice, because the hockey game was getting ready to start and we had to shovel some food down real quick. Buuuuuuut, I feel like I have to throw Champps a bone for this one visit. I have learned, from said bad past experiences, to avoid Champps' cheese sandwich fixings. They have been, without fail, the penultimate destroyer of each poor sandwich they placed in front of me. Wet, greasy, watery, and goopy, these cheeses have, not once, been anywhere near what I would call actual cheese. Each an every patty of whatever "cheese" they cursed me with has been utterly disgusting. This night, though, I was careful to avoid the cheese trap. I got the pulled pork sandwich and, hey, it wasn't half bad. The pork wasn't even dipped in turbo sugared BBQ sauce. The fried shoestring onions on top was even a decent touch. The waiter was quick and accommodating with our tight schedule. The iced tea was good. My girlfriend, unfortunately, missed the cheese warning and had a goop drenched cheeseburger. Every other Champps has been 1 or a charitable 2 stars. I don't feel guilty giving them a tiny bit of love just this one time. They kind of earned it. In the end, we got to the hockey game on time. The temporarily adopted home team won the game with 1 second left. Mission accomplished!
(3)
Karla B.
It was great place to watch the OSU game! There are tons of tv screens. Wait staff is very nice and helpful. They also show PPV fights...Saturday fight night.
(3)
Sean G.
It's the place you go when your parents come to visit you at school. It's expensive for what it is and really crowded. The mile high desert is pretty good though but it would probably take 4 people to take it down.
(2)
Matthew B.
Every once in awhile I'll go, hey, let's go to Champp's! And then about an hour I'll say, "hm, maybe this wasn't the best idea." It's not that Champp's is bad, either- it's just not as good as comparable restaurants. Apparently Champp's is a national chain but I have never, ever seen another. Perhaps that's a deficiency in my perception of the world around me, but it's the truth. It makes perfect sense, though, as their menu is decidedly chain-y American foods- decent burgers, mediocre steaks, huge platters of nachos somehow billed as an appetizer. One thing Champp's has over a lot of other chain bar and grills in my opinion is how wide-open the place is. High ceilings and low booths give the place an atmosphere of psuedo-communal dining that is missing from places like Applebe's where, if you avoid the bar, you're in your own world. And yeah, yeah, I know that Champp's is a sports bar of sorts, but can't just one of the dozen or so jumbo HD television sets on the wall was set to something other than a sports channel of some sort? Not a single CNN just so I can read a headline or two? No? Alright, then.
(2)
Lisa S.
There was a time when I would have thought that dining at Champps was part of a nice night out. Lucky for me and my taste buds, those days are behind me now. There is nothing innately wrong with Champps, it's just an over glorified sports bar parading around as a family dining establishment. If the quality of the food was a little better, I might have given Champps 3 stars, because overall the atmosphere isn't bad if giant TV screens all tuned to sports is what you're going for. Honestly, would it kill them to have at least one TV turned to CNN? But the food absolutely is not worth the price you pay. The menu has some tempting choices, but be aware that the quality of the food is really not up to any standard. The last time I ate at Champps I was craving a good burger, so I ordered a Cheddar Cheeseburger. The waitress asked me how I wanted my burger cooked, to which I replied my usual "Medium rare". "Well we can only do Medium so how about I get you that." Bitch, don't ASK me how I want my burger cooked if you're not even going to bother! And let me tell you, that burger would have tasted a whole heck of a lot better medium rare.
(2)
Mai T.
Old vinyl booths. Dark. A jillion flatscreens. Musty smell. Patio with plastic chairs. Outdoor bar that's not fully equipped. Tons of smokers. Draft: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Really? Bottled: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Oh wait, I forgot they had some sort of energy drink in there too. I got my default drink-pineapple and Malibu. Took the bartender 10 min to get it since he had to rush to the inside bar for the right ingredients. I was forced to come here, it wasn't by choice!
(1)
Anthony M.
Yum yum, I had a Tuscan Turkey wrap, I really didn't want this, but because of a diet I stayed strong. When I got it I was completely content on the first bite.It was very very very good wit roasted peppers and the salad.
(4)
doreen w.
I've eaten here several times because the food is in the neutral crowd pleaser category so I often end up scheduling working lunches here knowing that it should please any palate. At this point I stick to what I know works for me which are the huge salads masquerading as health food. I suspect they have more of the same amount of fat and calories as the sandwiches. This is to be expected at an overblown sports bar. I've also been here with big parties which they can easily accomodate and it is convenient if you are going to a movie and want to catch a quick bland bite. Despite the sports bar them I don't think I would watch a game here the dining room is so big that all of the TV's unite into one big din. I'd prefer a smaller local place like roosters or claudaughs. This is only worth a stop out of convenience or pure necessity based on the situation. Although I'm not sure what that means.
(2)
Stephanie B.
So last night, my friend and I went out for dinner and a movie. We had dinner at Marcella's and didn't have time for dessert so we had to head off to the movie. We saw our film at the AMC Lennox, and when it was over we decided to go grab some dessert so we could continue our previous conversation from dinner. We thought about heading to Cup O Joe, but I didn't want any caffeine to keep me up all night since it was already 9:30. So we headed over to Champps to get the dessert we had to miss at Marcella's. Can I just say right now that I hate how Champp's is spelled with two P's? Sorry. Irrelevant. So we walk in and the service was really good. They promptly seated us and our waitress came right away and gave us some waters. She gave us each menus but we told her we were only in for dessert. She gave us a better dessert menu that had pictures of everything in it, which was nice. For those of you that have never been here, it's supposed to be a sports bar. It is, I guess, but it's like it's also trying to be some fancy restaurant. Thus, it's kinda expensive. And it's weird because it's usually filled with students who can't really afford to come here. In fact, at the table next to us, we saw the worst situation ever! A guy and a girl were on a date and he paid their check with his credit card but the server came back and told him his card was overdrawn. Oops. He had to try a second card, which might have ended up working. I'm not really sure because this was happening as we were leaving. Poor guy. So yeah, not the best choice for a student budget. Anyway, there are huge TVs everywhere, all tuned to different sports games. That part is pretty cool, but they are mostly on one wall and the seating isn't all that close to them. I wouldn't come here to watch a game, that's for sure. When we were here last night it was so annoying because we must have come in in the middle of some sort of trivia night. This DJ guy back in the corner was reading off these trivia questions over the speakers (it was LOUD!) and then there were teams I guess turning in answers, and he'd read the correct answers. This went on the whole time we were there, including music trivia where he'd play 3 seconds of a song and you had to guess which one. Really, super annoying when you're just trying to relax and talk. We were definitely here on the wrong night. Needless to say, after we finished our desserts we were outta there because we couldn't stand the blaring trivia talk. I don't know why it had to be so loud or why they couldn't seat all the trivia teams in one area so they could avoid disrupting the entire restaurant, but whatever. This place is stupid. And about dessert? My friend got this huge slice of chocolate layer cake and I got the Cookie Espress. It was this big chocolate chip cookie thrown in a bowl and topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel and espresso topping (didn't even taste the espresso). With a cherry on top. (Note: If you want this dessert done right, go to Uno - see my review!) It sounded and looked so good in the picture. But...the cookie tasted a bit weird and it was kind of thin so it was crunchy and hard to dig into. The ice cream was good but there wasn't enough to balance the cookie. And oh my god what was up with the whipped cream? First of all, it wasn't even good whipped cream, it tasted more like Cool Whip you buy at the store. Second, there was WAY too much of it. There was more whipped cream than ice cream, I kid you not. It was borderline disgusting. I ate what I could but there was no way I could finish it. What was left was a soupy mess, no way was I about to try to take it home. Ugh. I was not impressed. And how hard is it to go wrong with a big chocolate chip cookie? By the way, it was over $6 for the dessert. Desserts were cheaper at Marcella's! So not worth it. I've eaten here in the past with some friends for dinner, and while the sandwiches were pretty good, they definitely weren't anything special that I would come back for. And everything is just way too expensive for the quality you're getting. I realize that most of the people who come here are parents who visit their kids at college and take them out to eat here because they don't know the city that well and don't want to venture too far from campus. If it weren't for them keeping it alive, I'm not sure how well this place would do. I'm certainly not a big fan, but I have to say that it was pretty busy last night. Maybe their trivia is really popular, who knows. But it was super annoying for us who weren't playing. And you know what else was annoying since we're on the subject? Twice last night (we weren't even there for an hour) it was someone's birthday so the servers all gathered around their table and started clapping and singing real loud and the lights go down and suddenly they make use of the disco ball that's in the middle of the ceiling. Really? A disco ball in a sports bar? What is this crap? Ugh, I'll pass.
(2)
Jackie C.
Champs, or Champps, when I first moved to Columbus and my parents came to visit we would usually go here. It was close by and the ridiculous portions always insured that I had lunch for the next day as well. A big drawback is that it is really loud in there; they could tone it down a notch so you could talk to people around you that would be great! The food is pretty good; I enjoy their parmesan crusted chicken sandwich with wedge fries immensely. The real reason to come here is for the potato skins, they are delicious, good size, good bacon to cheese ratio. They (skins) come with an alternate sauce besides sour cream that is alright, but I prefer the sour cream so I would ask for it on the side. And yes in case you're wondering, I consider myself a potato skin connoisseur. So if you want standard, very predictable fare with alright service then go to Champs it is not too shabby.
(3)
Dennis H.
Ordered Loaded Nachos, which sat for about 10 minutes. Manager made things right by making it free. This location gets one more chance.
(1)
Nathan L.
Why is this the place that everyone goes with their parents when the 'rents come visit you at school? There are so many other places that could be that place, but i have to admit that when my parents came to visit that was one of the places that became a staple. Beer for me and the old man to drink? - yes. Wine for mom? - yes. Lots of bland predictable food for dad? - got lots of that here. TV's everywhere so I can tune out of the whole family talk and take in some pigskin? - perfect. I've even seen soccer on in here, on a SUNDAY. awesome. This place can get old quick if there are annoying ploys going on in the bar area, though. I have been dragged into a free-throw contest before, somewhat against my will. The only thing worse than the annoying contest is the excruciating MC of the thing. Really? What qualifications does Bobby the Backup Bartender have to host some sort of athletic competition ten feet from my potato skins I would rather be paying attention to anyways?
(2)
Ben T.
This champps is as good as the easton one but crazy busy on pay football days. Big portions, good prices and big ol beer mugs available.
(4)
Kevin M.
Champps is essentially a sports bar that's attempted to be a nice restaurant as well. There's a happy hour and full bar that you can sit at, but there's also extensive restaurant seating that surpasses ordinary sports-bar style. The menu is pretty extensive (though not cheap), and the food all seems decent, from what I've seen. But the last time I was there, I couldn't help but notice that there was _maybe_ one vegetarian menu item that wasn't a side salad, appetizer, or dessert. Don't ever take a vegetarian here, unless you're just getting drinks or dessert, or going to the karaoke contest they host on occasion.
(2)
Doug O.
Champps is right down the street from our house, and yet last night was our first visit there in the four years we've lived in town. We always forget about it, despite driving by regularly, because we are typically on the lookout for local establishments and not chains. (I've been many times in my hometown of Indianapolis, a/k/a Chain City, U.S.A.). However, the in-laws were in town, and given their conservative palates, we thought this seemed like a good time to break them out of their Rusty Bucket rut. Champps is a relatively upscale sports bar chain. The menu is fairly consistent with what you would expect. All four of us had salads and were actually quite pleased. My harvest chopped salad came with grilled chicken, green apples, blue cheese, and a vinaigrette. It was relatively light (especially for a sports bar) and delicious. I appreciated that they went light on the dressing instead of drenching the lettuce. The beer list was so-so. Several macros and a smattering of seasonal craft beers, with a decent local representation. The problem I had in ordering was that the local breweries' names were listed, but the specific beer on tap was often not listed, and our waiter had no idea. He brought my wife a beer that did not resemble the one he represented was on tap. The service, speaking of, was adequate but not great. Our server was friendly and outgoing, often stopping to chat amiably, but he knew little about the beer list, could not remember our drink orders (and two of the four people just had water), and let our salads sitting in the kitchen within sight of our table for quite a long time, despite having few other tables. Not terrible though. The place is crawling in high-end big screen TVs. This seems like a good place to come catch a football game if you're looking for something a little more upscale than Roosters or the like. Not bad.
I'll keep this short and sweet. Average food. Average service. Average prices. This is not the Champps that it was back in tha day. This used to be one of my go-to restaurants. I'm sad to say they've lost their mojo.
(3)
D B.
Bad service, cold food, rude manager and a gutless waitress. I like Champps normally....this one.....not so much.
(1)
Mark W.
There were 3 adult males in our party at 11:10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. We were immediately seated but not one employee came to our table to ask for drinks or anything for at least 7 - 8 minutes.....in an empty restaurant. Two other tables were seated near us, a party of 2 & one of 3, while we waited. Finally rec'd drinks. However, we were not asked to order until AFTER the other two tables had placed their orders. This is an empty restaurant I remind you. Food arrived......we were so very disappointed. Kung Pao Chicken was lukewarm, truly flavorless, no kick/spice. Oh yeah, I use lime in my water....when I rec'd my water she indicated she'd be back with them, she must have had to pick them from the trees. Coffee was ordered w first cup very lukewarm and no checking in for refills until she was asked for a refill. When she returned many minutes later she did tell us that they had just brewed a pot. Wouldn't you think they'd have multiple pots of hot coffee available during their brunch hours? We were extremely frustrated with service but honestly everyone has bad days. The food was a waste of money. DEF NOT RECOMMENDING! No, we did not ask to speak to a manager. The server in the sun room......had he been my server I could have cared less about anything I experienced to have him at my table.
(1)
Angie K.
So I have to be honest I went to this place not wanting to like it. i got the barbecue chicken sandwich plus pickles and it was awesome the sweet potato waffle fries tasted good but they were cold it came with some dipping sauce that I pretty much drank. The place was completely packed and we had to wait an hour for a table. I got the orange margarita and it tasted like a bag of sugar I had to send it back. BUT the bacon maple whiskey drink was awesome. It's called the maple leaf. I would come back for sure. Maybe on a less busy night.
(4)
Peng L.
It is a cool restaurant. There are TVs playing football and basketball here. And the big screen here is also very cool. My favorite FOOD in this place is the pork ribs with sides of onion rings and salad. The ribs here are really awesome with sweet sauce. However, the waiters in this bar are not such good and clients sometimes be ignored when they sit down, maybe waiters are too busy to take care of them.
(4)
Kelsie P.
Great service! Seriously our waitress was so nice and sweet. And the manager even came over to apologize for a tiny mistake in my delicious steak tacos and she was so sweet as well. Our server was Chelsea great but she only works Sunday's unfortunately :( but even the food runner was so nice. The food was great. Love this place. Check out the daily specials. Coming back here regularly.
(5)
Johaun C.
if you're going to eat here, don't go in with crazy expectations and you should be fine. my philosophy: there are 4 things you're always better off knowing something about before heading in: war, marriage, the bathroom, and the restaurant. come here for their half-priced appetizers and the french onion soup (which i try everywhere i go, and for the money is still one of the best cups i've ever had). avoid the pizza.
(3)
Alexander W.
I wanted somewhere close to me and moderately priced so I did a bit of searching on here before making my decision. I felt like a place with an average rating would be good and I wanted to go here. I did read a number of reviews that really didn't seem in the favor of Champps so I didn't come with the highest of hopes of getting 5-star service. That being said, I don't know anyone that works here, nor has previously, I myself don't work here, I don't get compensation for my opinion, and I understand that everyone has an individual experience when they go out. This was mine: I was alone, fairly well dressed and clean looking; which I'm sharing this because it is common sense that a first impression sets how someone is going to treat you. I arrived at Champps Restaurant & Bar at 21:46 tonight and was quickly met by their host and taken to a seat in the bar area. I was greeted by my server, Lexie, who was very polite and had a warm, genuine smile on her face, she was a little clumsy and very apologetic for it, and I really enjoyed her! I felt like getting some sort of fish, and decided on the Pepper Seared Ahi Tacos, which came with a side of chips and salsa. I got my food ordered by 21:51 and received it in just 6 minutes. The restaurant was not busy and this dish was not the most difficult to prep by any means, but such a short time frame was still very surprising to me. While I was eating I took my time to look around and get a feel for the restaurant, it had a very classic "Americana vibe" to me, and I absolutely loved the interior. The bar was unique and the top was clean from my perspective; there were many televisions placed all around the inside and the layout was really well designed. There were a few small things like straw wrappers on the floor that could have been swept up but other than that, the entire place was nice to look at and had a relaxing amount of lighting. Regarding the meal itself, the chips and salsa were nothing spectacular, they were sort of your average side. There was something that came with my dish that I was eating with my chips, though I'm not entirely sure it wasn't for the tacos, but it had a tropical appeal and was absolutely amazing with them! These tacos were really well presented and had a very succulent, delicious taste giving me a wonderful impression of the food here, though they weren't the most filling for me. While I was eating I needed two refills and quickly received a refill each time with no confusion of what I had ordered as my drink, which was an unsweet iced tea. I finished eating by 22:08 and in a couple minutes Lexie asked me if I would like dessert, I felt like getting some and got the Mega Ice Cream Cookie. She took the order in by 22:14 and I received the dish by 22:20, I was paying close attention to the time to really give people a good idea about how the service speed was here. This cookie was massive, I wasn't prepared for it to be nearly as large as it was but it was absolutely delicious. I have no complaints about the food at all! Lexie was wonderful, very personable and friendly. She took my orders without any problems or confusion and got them to me very quickly. She was extra attentive to me even though she had a couple other tables with groups of 4 and 5. I didn't have to wait for anything and she gladly got me the refills I needed, without me having to ask her for one. She was conversational with me and left a better impression than even the food did. My total bill was 23.65 and I tipped 15 in cash, had finished eating my meal and left by 22:36. I am impressed with Champps and am also surprised with the average rating being so low on here, but like I said, each person has a varying experience. I did happen to notice that some of the staff didn't have much business so they were hanging out around the back of the bar but that didn't bother me. I enjoyed my visit and plan to come back!
(4)
Gina J.
I met a large group for Sunday brunch. I was super excited to order the French toast from the menu but when it came, my heart literally sank. When I come to an actual restaurant, the last thing I would expect would be French toast sticks. I'm not at a fast food drive thru ordering from the kid's menu. Hugely disappointed. The coffee was atrocious and no matter how much sugar or cream I loaded into my cup, I couldn't seem to get it down. If you're looking for a brunch spot, don't go here. Go to Burger King instead.
(1)
Anna H.
This was my first time dining at a Champps. My friend & I chose it to break our monotony, since we always go to Bravo before we see a chick flick at Lennox. The atmosphere is nice; it reminded me of Damon's. Our server was training a newbie and they were both smiley and pleasant. My friend and I each had a glass of Moscato that tasted really good. She really enjoyed her Chicken Kung Pao with a side of broccoli. My Bourbon Salmon was perfectly cooked and wonderful. The two sides I chose were the Seasonal Vegetables and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries with Spicy Aioli. I loved the fries and aioli. I would get the same entree again. A few minor glitches: The seasonal vegetables turned out to be cooked baby carrots, which were fine, but I wish I had gotten the broccoli, listed separately under Sides. The server did not ask if we wanted another drink or dessert. We didn't, but it is customary to ask since it adds to the bill and the tip. You can hang meat in the ladies restroom. It's odd they only offer two pasta dishes. Very limited happy hour specials, like $2 bottled beer, and no wine. Other than that, I will most likely return to this location.
(4)
Christopher G.
Lunch today. Got there about 11:20 and it was empty, but were seated literally right next to the kitchen door. Table was filthy, so much so we moved to the next table over...it too was dirty, but cleaner than the first...we used the extra napkins to clean it. Ordered the chicken wing (6) appetizer in Caribbean Jerk but it tasted funny. It was like Asian (Teriyaki) with red pepper flakes. Two of the wings were undercooked (cold and pink inside) which we brought to or waiters attention, and she said she would "let them know" but no manager showed up, nor was the bill adjusted. And when I pointed them out to her, she took the plate which still had our celery and dressing on it. I got the French Dip sandwich which was not good. A small amount of sliced beef on a hot dog bun...period. No cheese, onion, or mayo. Au Jus was watery...like beef broth from a can. She got Onion soup which she said was good, but said her chicken salad was dry and cold. Place is also too dark and very noisy even as light as they were, and service was slow on all fronts. $33 for one ap and two entrees...pricey to me for the quality/quantity of food. This was my second "not so good" visit...I dont think Ill be going back.
(2)
Gem X.
Come here for the graduation party of my classmate. The food is ok but the service is nice though. Maybe just because the food is not my cup of tea.
(3)
Jessica D.
A sizable sports bar/restaurant with typical sports bar/restaurant food, gigantic sports bar/restaurant tvs, and friendly barstaff and servers. Prompt service. Ideal for pre-movie meal at Lennox or watching the game.
(3)
Buddy Jack E.
Standard, consistent and close to campus. Nothing to write home about but no reason to be concerned going in for lunch or drinks after work.
(3)
Mark W.
There were 3 adult males in our party at 11:10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. We were immediately seated but not one employee came to our table to ask for drinks or anything for at least 7 - 8 minutes.....in an empty restaurant. Two other tables were seated near us, a party of 2 & one of 3, while we waited. Finally rec'd drinks. However, we were not asked to order until AFTER the other two tables had placed their orders. This is an empty restaurant I remind you. Food arrived......we were so very disappointed. Kung Pao Chicken was lukewarm, truly flavorless, no kick/spice. Oh yeah, I use lime in my water....when I rec'd my water she indicated she'd be back with them, she must have had to pick them from the trees. Coffee was ordered w first cup very lukewarm and no checking in for refills until she was asked for a refill. When she returned many minutes later she did tell us that they had just brewed a pot. Wouldn't you think they'd have multiple pots of hot coffee available during their brunch hours? We were extremely frustrated with service but honestly everyone has bad days. The food was a waste of money. DEF NOT RECOMMENDING! No, we did not ask to speak to a manager. The server in the sun room......had he been my server I could have cared less about anything I experienced to have him at my table.
(1)
Angie K.
So I have to be honest I went to this place not wanting to like it. i got the barbecue chicken sandwich plus pickles and it was awesome the sweet potato waffle fries tasted good but they were cold it came with some dipping sauce that I pretty much drank. The place was completely packed and we had to wait an hour for a table. I got the orange margarita and it tasted like a bag of sugar I had to send it back. BUT the bacon maple whiskey drink was awesome. It's called the maple leaf. I would come back for sure. Maybe on a less busy night.
(4)
Peng L.
It is a cool restaurant. There are TVs playing football and basketball here. And the big screen here is also very cool. My favorite FOOD in this place is the pork ribs with sides of onion rings and salad. The ribs here are really awesome with sweet sauce. However, the waiters in this bar are not such good and clients sometimes be ignored when they sit down, maybe waiters are too busy to take care of them.
(4)
Walt S.
I wanted to have at least three visits to Champps Restaurant & Bar before reviewing, mainly due to the fact I held the belief (falsely in my book) that Champps.would serve up Buckeye sports in equal portions with good food & vibe. It has yet to capture me or take me there. First and foremost Champps is a restaurant. As such I've had wings, club sandwiches, quesadilla and salads. Their prep is good and hot food has been hot, cold food cold and taste is equal to hunger. Mouth-watering taste? I can only go so far as to write they get you there with abundance so I'm never completely sold... and yet I eat it all. Unless you and others are sitting in the bar area watching sports with some friends, interaction is challenging. Champps is a large restaurant as patrons talk over most of the announcements made as part & parcel to the broadcast. Example? I went there with friends to watch Ohio State basketball on a weeknight; could see a TV from most any angle; did not get play-by-play. Play-by-play audio wasn't on in the bar area either. So, I classify Champps as a restaurant and it does fine by me. It is A-OK. My club sandwich came with chips but I substituted cole slaw and got a heaping bowl of it. The white poppy-seed variety cole slaw which I happen to like. But there was a big bowl - half of which I left behind as I wanted the club sandwich. I'm not a beer drinker so I can only rate their Arnold Palmer drinks - they're A-OK, too.
(3)
Will P.
Food meh, Ufc YAY!!! Champps can make a good burger every day of the week. Their gyro was terrible though. I like their desserts too. Unfortunately they don't stand out for anything in particular to the point where I want to go there a lot, especially since their prices are a tad higher than the traditional sports bar. But hey, if they are showing UFC i'm there!
(3)
Tim S.
2.5 stars. Average food at best that is overpriced, but with huge portions. I have got several items on the menu and have been generally disappointed with most. A couple items are slightly above average and have decent value. I often get the quesadilla app and have it for lunch/dinner and have enough for leftovers. The drinks are expensive for a traditional sports bar. It's a nice place to watch a game - almost like a bw3 atmosphere with a wider selection of food. The draw here is that the menu is diverse enough to appeal to about everyone. I would say you will leave here full, but not necessarily satisfied.
(2)
Jeff K.
Went to Champps because it was getting late and I was running out of choices. I had the fajita. The food was just ok, the service was slow and the waitress that night was not attentive. She did not get a decent tip.
(2)
MeyMey L.
Love this place. Every time I order the Steak, it is always seasoned perfectly. The ribs are always crips and soft. Garlic mash potatoes are my all time fav at this place along with the seasonal vegetables. The waiters there are always friendly. Definitely my to go place.
(5)
Cory S.
I live out of town, but every time I come into town and want to meet up with a group of friends, I call Champps and reserve a table. Even on busy sports days, they always accommodate my reservation request. The catch is to call well ahead of time as Champps is pretty busy. I am a huge Buckeyes fan, so it is nice to be at a sports bar that is still a casual restaurant. Champps is a very visible restaurant that most of my friends know about. The service is pretty good (sometimes fast and sometimes slow) and almost every time, I've had fresh, delicious food! I tend to get the burgers and sandwiches, and the appetizers are great. My friends have gotten other entrees there and seemed to have enjoyed them. While the food is good, it is the atmosphere that I tend to look for when getting a group of friends together.
(4)
Jackie P.
The margarita's here taste like crap. Literally, thick, gross, nastiness. Do not order one. Not even during Monday $4 happy hour. You will regret it, I promise. Just stop. Right now. On Monday's they have $5.99 burger night. Can't go wrong. Any burger but Kobe or the double is on special. I recommend the bleu cheese, and hell...replace it with turkey meat. All-in-all the burger massive, and you'll probably have half a burger's leftovers if you eat the waffle fries that the meal provides. Oh yeah, the waffle fries....no seasoning, just cooked. Whatever - dip them in honey mustard and you'll be fine. I haven't gone any other night than a Monday for special, but it can be kind of expensive from the looks of the menu. Typical OSU decor lining the walls, and the bathroom is actually rather gorgeous! The dining area is extremely spacious, and great for families. But the service will probably be pretty slow.
(2)
Taylor H.
I'm a strong believer in a bad server can ruin a night out. Our server was extremely awkward and very slow with all of our drinks. We told her we would like to drink for a while before ordering dinner. We then ordered an appetizer and she took the menus, we never had plates delivered with the appetizer. Had to ask for the menus back to order dinner.. Awkward. Every time she came to the table it was weird and we felt unwelcome. The food was good but way over priced. Also, the table and chairs were sticky. Women's restroom was nasty. Not impressed.
(2)
Chuck k.
This location of 'Chumpps' is always over crowded and too loud. I walked out once because my party couldn't hear over the noise of the TV's, which were showing REPLAYS of old games. I mean, if there's a live event on, yes turn it up and enjoy. On a night with nothing, get the decibels down to 747 level. We complained and were told there was nothing they could do. The food is decent , but not great, and a little pricey. You do get a big portion, but if you're heading off to a movie, you may not want to take the 1/2 a sandwich with you.
(2)
Steve M.
I love this place, but the one off Olentangy near campus. It is true, it is a bar that wants to be a nice restaurant. It is not the cheapest place of all time, but the food is good and proportionate. And if you go on a bar night, then after you eat they have karioki and cheap drafts. It is one of my Fav's in this area..but I am a sucker for chain restaurants.
(4)
David O.
Thursday night football battle of Ohio, The service was really bad. We ordered nachos never got plates or napkins. Our server never even spoke to us. I don't think it was his fault. Just was busy and not staffed correctly. First time ever I did not tip in my life.
Champps very much feels like a sports bar in atmosphere. There are tons of TVs, all tuned into sports, around the interior. The location near campus is reflected in the Buckeye decor, and it has a patio. There is plenty of parking, and it is near the movie theater and shopping in the Lennox, making it convenient for combining activities. The menu is huge, featuring tons of choices in appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and more. The food has been pretty typical sports bar food. We usually end up here as part of a group, and I have to say that they've done well handling a larger crowd with attentive service.
(3)
Alexander W.
I wanted somewhere close to me and moderately priced so I did a bit of searching on here before making my decision. I felt like a place with an average rating would be good and I wanted to go here. I did read a number of reviews that really didn't seem in the favor of Champps so I didn't come with the highest of hopes of getting 5-star service. That being said, I don't know anyone that works here, nor has previously, I myself don't work here, I don't get compensation for my opinion, and I understand that everyone has an individual experience when they go out. This was mine: I was alone, fairly well dressed and clean looking; which I'm sharing this because it is common sense that a first impression sets how someone is going to treat you. I arrived at Champps Restaurant & Bar at 21:46 tonight and was quickly met by their host and taken to a seat in the bar area. I was greeted by my server, Lexie, who was very polite and had a warm, genuine smile on her face, she was a little clumsy and very apologetic for it, and I really enjoyed her! I felt like getting some sort of fish, and decided on the Pepper Seared Ahi Tacos, which came with a side of chips and salsa. I got my food ordered by 21:51 and received it in just 6 minutes. The restaurant was not busy and this dish was not the most difficult to prep by any means, but such a short time frame was still very surprising to me. While I was eating I took my time to look around and get a feel for the restaurant, it had a very classic "Americana vibe" to me, and I absolutely loved the interior. The bar was unique and the top was clean from my perspective; there were many televisions placed all around the inside and the layout was really well designed. There were a few small things like straw wrappers on the floor that could have been swept up but other than that, the entire place was nice to look at and had a relaxing amount of lighting. Regarding the meal itself, the chips and salsa were nothing spectacular, they were sort of your average side. There was something that came with my dish that I was eating with my chips, though I'm not entirely sure it wasn't for the tacos, but it had a tropical appeal and was absolutely amazing with them! These tacos were really well presented and had a very succulent, delicious taste giving me a wonderful impression of the food here, though they weren't the most filling for me. While I was eating I needed two refills and quickly received a refill each time with no confusion of what I had ordered as my drink, which was an unsweet iced tea. I finished eating by 22:08 and in a couple minutes Lexie asked me if I would like dessert, I felt like getting some and got the Mega Ice Cream Cookie. She took the order in by 22:14 and I received the dish by 22:20, I was paying close attention to the time to really give people a good idea about how the service speed was here. This cookie was massive, I wasn't prepared for it to be nearly as large as it was but it was absolutely delicious. I have no complaints about the food at all! Lexie was wonderful, very personable and friendly. She took my orders without any problems or confusion and got them to me very quickly. She was extra attentive to me even though she had a couple other tables with groups of 4 and 5. I didn't have to wait for anything and she gladly got me the refills I needed, without me having to ask her for one. She was conversational with me and left a better impression than even the food did. My total bill was 23.65 and I tipped 15 in cash, had finished eating my meal and left by 22:36. I am impressed with Champps and am also surprised with the average rating being so low on here, but like I said, each person has a varying experience. I did happen to notice that some of the staff didn't have much business so they were hanging out around the back of the bar but that didn't bother me. I enjoyed my visit and plan to come back!
(4)
Megan V.
It's a sports bar where all can play! Champps is a great place to watch OSU football games or dine with the family. I recently dined/watched 2 football games there. It was fairly busy, but didn't seem like anyone was waiting for a table. We had a great view of the game from the bar side. Service was efficient and friendly. Our waitresses put up with the crowd throughout the entire game (almost 5 hours!). Food is decent. I've only ordered burgers and fries. The waffle fries always are good for something different. The restaurant seems to attract a mixed crowd of sports fans and families; thus, the atmosphere is fairly friendly and less wild than your average sports bar venue. I'd highly recommend going to Champps to watch sporting events for a nice, low key, open viewing spot.
(3)
JJ S.
When I first moved to Ohio, I was so excited to see a champs near my apartment! I am a runner and I like to look at new running shoes. One day, I decided to check this place out, but lo and behold this is a bar and grill restaurant! I was a little embarrassed to say the least! I decided to come back with my boyfriend to give the food a try! He ordered the rack of ribs. It was a filling dish and the smoked BBQ flavor was all there. It was a bit on the pricier side for bar/grill food. I ordered a flat bread and it was COLDest flatbread I have ever eaten! But, the waitress was nice and re made my order and took care of the bill! Kudos to her and her customer service!
(3)
Gina J.
I met a large group for Sunday brunch. I was super excited to order the French toast from the menu but when it came, my heart literally sank. When I come to an actual restaurant, the last thing I would expect would be French toast sticks. I'm not at a fast food drive thru ordering from the kid's menu. Hugely disappointed. The coffee was atrocious and no matter how much sugar or cream I loaded into my cup, I couldn't seem to get it down. If you're looking for a brunch spot, don't go here. Go to Burger King instead.
(1)
Anna H.
This was my first time dining at a Champps. My friend & I chose it to break our monotony, since we always go to Bravo before we see a chick flick at Lennox. The atmosphere is nice; it reminded me of Damon's. Our server was training a newbie and they were both smiley and pleasant. My friend and I each had a glass of Moscato that tasted really good. She really enjoyed her Chicken Kung Pao with a side of broccoli. My Bourbon Salmon was perfectly cooked and wonderful. The two sides I chose were the Seasonal Vegetables and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries with Spicy Aioli. I loved the fries and aioli. I would get the same entree again. A few minor glitches: The seasonal vegetables turned out to be cooked baby carrots, which were fine, but I wish I had gotten the broccoli, listed separately under Sides. The server did not ask if we wanted another drink or dessert. We didn't, but it is customary to ask since it adds to the bill and the tip. You can hang meat in the ladies restroom. It's odd they only offer two pasta dishes. Very limited happy hour specials, like $2 bottled beer, and no wine. Other than that, I will most likely return to this location.
(4)
David O.
Thursday night football battle of Ohio, The service was really bad. We ordered nachos never got plates or napkins. Our server never even spoke to us. I don't think it was his fault. Just was busy and not staffed correctly. First time ever I did not tip in my life.
(1)
Walt S.
I wanted to have at least three visits to Champps Restaurant & Bar before reviewing, mainly due to the fact I held the belief (falsely in my book) that Champps.would serve up Buckeye sports in equal portions with good food & vibe. It has yet to capture me or take me there. First and foremost Champps is a restaurant. As such I've had wings, club sandwiches, quesadilla and salads. Their prep is good and hot food has been hot, cold food cold and taste is equal to hunger. Mouth-watering taste? I can only go so far as to write they get you there with abundance so I'm never completely sold... and yet I eat it all. Unless you and others are sitting in the bar area watching sports with some friends, interaction is challenging. Champps is a large restaurant as patrons talk over most of the announcements made as part & parcel to the broadcast. Example? I went there with friends to watch Ohio State basketball on a weeknight; could see a TV from most any angle; did not get play-by-play. Play-by-play audio wasn't on in the bar area either. So, I classify Champps as a restaurant and it does fine by me. It is A-OK. My club sandwich came with chips but I substituted cole slaw and got a heaping bowl of it. The white poppy-seed variety cole slaw which I happen to like. But there was a big bowl - half of which I left behind as I wanted the club sandwich. I'm not a beer drinker so I can only rate their Arnold Palmer drinks - they're A-OK, too.
(3)
Will P.
Food meh, Ufc YAY!!! Champps can make a good burger every day of the week. Their gyro was terrible though. I like their desserts too. Unfortunately they don't stand out for anything in particular to the point where I want to go there a lot, especially since their prices are a tad higher than the traditional sports bar. But hey, if they are showing UFC i'm there!
(3)
Tim S.
2.5 stars. Average food at best that is overpriced, but with huge portions. I have got several items on the menu and have been generally disappointed with most. A couple items are slightly above average and have decent value. I often get the quesadilla app and have it for lunch/dinner and have enough for leftovers. The drinks are expensive for a traditional sports bar. It's a nice place to watch a game - almost like a bw3 atmosphere with a wider selection of food. The draw here is that the menu is diverse enough to appeal to about everyone. I would say you will leave here full, but not necessarily satisfied.
(2)
Jeff K.
Went to Champps because it was getting late and I was running out of choices. I had the fajita. The food was just ok, the service was slow and the waitress that night was not attentive. She did not get a decent tip.
(2)
MeyMey L.
Love this place. Every time I order the Steak, it is always seasoned perfectly. The ribs are always crips and soft. Garlic mash potatoes are my all time fav at this place along with the seasonal vegetables. The waiters there are always friendly. Definitely my to go place.
(5)
D. K.
pretty good as far as chain restaurants..lots of seating options and decent food...if there's a game on and you can't get it at home this place does hit the spot!
(3)
D. K.
pretty good as far as chain restaurants..lots of seating options and decent food...if there's a game on and you can't get it at home this place does hit the spot!
(3)
Marissa C.
Champps very much feels like a sports bar in atmosphere. There are tons of TVs, all tuned into sports, around the interior. The location near campus is reflected in the Buckeye decor, and it has a patio. There is plenty of parking, and it is near the movie theater and shopping in the Lennox, making it convenient for combining activities. The menu is huge, featuring tons of choices in appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and more. The food has been pretty typical sports bar food. We usually end up here as part of a group, and I have to say that they've done well handling a larger crowd with attentive service.
(3)
Buddy Jack E.
Standard, consistent and close to campus. Nothing to write home about but no reason to be concerned going in for lunch or drinks after work.
(3)
Mike B.
Paying $9 for two pints during happy hour hours was a bit much. At least the bartender uniforms made for decent eye candy?
(2)
Chrislyn K.
I went to this restaurant for the first time in the past week with my sister, mom, and grandparents. Each and every one of us ordered a different meal and enjoyed what we ordered without complaint! It wasn't the greatest food I've ever had but I had no large concerns with it either. The service was fast and kind, the dessert was large, the establishment was clean. Our table had a great view of the kitchen and we were also conveniently located by several TVs on the wall. All around, the experience was great!
(4)
Jessica D.
A sizable sports bar/restaurant with typical sports bar/restaurant food, gigantic sports bar/restaurant tvs, and friendly barstaff and servers. Prompt service. Ideal for pre-movie meal at Lennox or watching the game.
(3)
Brian F.
I enjoyed my trip here this evening. They have some pretty good happy hour specials including $5 appetizers. We tried the mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers and quesadillas. The quesadillas really stood out as excellent, especially with the guac that came with them. The other apps were fine, and I liked that we got three dipping sauces with the chicken fingers. Other than that, it's a huge space with pretty good service and a good option for dinner before a movie if you don't mind spending a little bit of money.
First up: freebies! Champps gives you a free burger just for signing up for their email list, and a free dessert around your birthday. I ended up using my free burger coupon today (although I kind of wish I'd gone for the free dessert). I've been to this Champps several times, and they're always okay. They do an INSANE amount of lunch business and during sporting events, so be prepared. I got there around 1pm, and the place was full. I was the only person at the hostess' desk, so I was a little miffed that I had to stand around for over 5 minutes before someone happened to come by the front desk and seat me, and even then it seemed like an afterthought. For someplace that does as much lunch business as they do, you'd think they'd staff their front desk a bit better. I also noticed as I left the restaurant after my meal that there was STILL no host at the front desk (and several people waiting at the front). The thing with Champps is that their portions are HUGE. I'm not sure that's a good thing. I ordered the mushroom & swiss burger with onion rings, and while it wasn't bad (the onion rings were especially good!), it was so large that I left quite a bit of food on my plate. Total cost after coupon = $2.98 plus tip. Was it worth what I paid this time around? Absolutely. Was it worth the $15 plus tip I would have paid without the coupon? Probably not, especially when their portions are so big that you leave half of it on the plate at the end of the meal (no place to put leftovers at work). I'm sure I'll be back, though...their menu is varied enough that anyone can find something worthwhile on the menu. I just hope that the staffing issue was a fluke and not par for the course.
(3)
Cory S.
I live out of town, but every time I come into town and want to meet up with a group of friends, I call Champps and reserve a table. Even on busy sports days, they always accommodate my reservation request. The catch is to call well ahead of time as Champps is pretty busy. I am a huge Buckeyes fan, so it is nice to be at a sports bar that is still a casual restaurant. Champps is a very visible restaurant that most of my friends know about. The service is pretty good (sometimes fast and sometimes slow) and almost every time, I've had fresh, delicious food! I tend to get the burgers and sandwiches, and the appetizers are great. My friends have gotten other entrees there and seemed to have enjoyed them. While the food is good, it is the atmosphere that I tend to look for when getting a group of friends together.
(4)
Karla B.
It was great place to watch the OSU game! There are tons of tv screens. Wait staff is very nice and helpful. They also show PPV fights...Saturday fight night.
(3)
Kelsie P.
Great service! Seriously our waitress was so nice and sweet. And the manager even came over to apologize for a tiny mistake in my delicious steak tacos and she was so sweet as well. Our server was Chelsea great but she only works Sunday's unfortunately :( but even the food runner was so nice. The food was great. Love this place. Check out the daily specials. Coming back here regularly.
(5)
Huanan W.
This was my first time here at Champps and I went with my roommate. The service was ok but the food wasn't really what I expected. We decided to try the NY shrimp & steak but when it came out, there was no shrimp at all, it was nothing like the pic on the menu. Above that, the steak was a little over cooked. But it did taste ok.
(4)
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :1827 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH, 43212
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Romain C.
I've been here before. It's just a typical sports bar restaurant. I'm glad this place closes late since most restaurants I've seen by my hotel close around 9pm. Again, it was a late night for me. I was greated by a host that seems like he didn't care about his job. He sat me all the way at the back corner close to the kitchen when there was barely anyone there. I couldn't even see the tv's because it was right above me. So I moved myself. But my server Joi was really nice. I got the Kobe Burger with Bacon and a tall Yuengling. Kobe burger in a sports bar restaurant, i'm sold! It was pretty good. I also got the mini choc torte which was just enough. I'm seeing these mini sizes in most chain restaurants now. Good thing they're around since I dine alone. I wouldn't want to beast on a large size desserts, you know I got to watch my figure.
(4)Courtney Q.
3.5 stars, rounding up. My experiences at this particular Champps with my family have always been quite good, and we're usually not one to be impressed by American chains. Maybe on select Saturday evenings the cooks step it up? We had a particularly pleasant experience staying after closing to watch the Pacquiao versus either Cotto or Margarito (who cares; Manny won) match-up, although we were charged a $5 cover for the event. And before the fight, either my mom or brother ordered some burger special--I think it was the kobe beef one? From what I understand, the dish was quite good. I also remember that on this night, the food was particularly fresh, and my gastronomy-savvy mom surprised me with her uncharacteristically rave reviews of the establishment. On a more recent visit, however, I remember my caesar salad tasting a little too salty, and not long after I finished it, the M*ch*g*n basketball team upset the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. So yeah, maybe the food is just better when it's inevitable that Manny Pacquiao's punching his way to a victory? I don't know. But I suppose someone can get a great meal here if he or she is just *that* lucky.
(4)Doug O.
Champps is right down the street from our house, and yet last night was our first visit there in the four years we've lived in town. We always forget about it, despite driving by regularly, because we are typically on the lookout for local establishments and not chains. (I've been many times in my hometown of Indianapolis, a/k/a Chain City, U.S.A.). However, the in-laws were in town, and given their conservative palates, we thought this seemed like a good time to break them out of their Rusty Bucket rut. Champps is a relatively upscale sports bar chain. The menu is fairly consistent with what you would expect. All four of us had salads and were actually quite pleased. My harvest chopped salad came with grilled chicken, green apples, blue cheese, and a vinaigrette. It was relatively light (especially for a sports bar) and delicious. I appreciated that they went light on the dressing instead of drenching the lettuce. The beer list was so-so. Several macros and a smattering of seasonal craft beers, with a decent local representation. The problem I had in ordering was that the local breweries' names were listed, but the specific beer on tap was often not listed, and our waiter had no idea. He brought my wife a beer that did not resemble the one he represented was on tap. The service, speaking of, was adequate but not great. Our server was friendly and outgoing, often stopping to chat amiably, but he knew little about the beer list, could not remember our drink orders (and two of the four people just had water), and let our salads sitting in the kitchen within sight of our table for quite a long time, despite having few other tables. Not terrible though. The place is crawling in high-end big screen TVs. This seems like a good place to come catch a football game if you're looking for something a little more upscale than Roosters or the like. Not bad.
(3)Michael N.
I ended up eating here twice in a row with different people who were visiting & wanting to try it. Visit 1: Friendly server. Decent food. I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich with fries & coleslaw. The pork was ok, but had to ask for BBQ sauce as there was hardly any on it. Same for my brother's BBQ dish he ordered. It took about 20 min to get our appetizer, & it wasn't even crowded. Add another 25 min for the entrées. I thought we'd never get out of there. Visit 2: Wow. This visit will ensure I take my money elsewhere. Our server was a nice girl, but we rarely saw her. It was kind of busy, but there's no excuse in this business, having worked in it. It was so bad that at one point, the hostess was trying to refill our drinks, bless her heart. Our entrées took eons to come out. We probably could've seen a movie & been back in time for the bill. The poor girl was very forgetful, too. I was terrified asking for anything as I knew I'd be waiting until my teeth fell out. My party's food was pretty much awful all the way around. Chewy chicken tenders, flavorless wrap, crispy burgers, cold fries, wrong pop brought out, refill of pop with a crunched up receipt inside it (was funny to see though), you name it. They brought out like 4 plates of fries for us to make up for it (none of us could even eat 1), & amidst the chaos, snagged our queso dip & salsa after having set down fresh chips for it, so that was cool, so much for that appetizer. Needless to say our entrées took an eternity to come out as well. I knew I shouldn't have strayed from B-dubs. I'm embarrassed for having suggested this place to my group, & treating my gf's dad to a terrible Father's Day dining experience.
(2)Megan V.
It's a sports bar where all can play! Champps is a great place to watch OSU football games or dine with the family. I recently dined/watched 2 football games there. It was fairly busy, but didn't seem like anyone was waiting for a table. We had a great view of the game from the bar side. Service was efficient and friendly. Our waitresses put up with the crowd throughout the entire game (almost 5 hours!). Food is decent. I've only ordered burgers and fries. The waffle fries always are good for something different. The restaurant seems to attract a mixed crowd of sports fans and families; thus, the atmosphere is fairly friendly and less wild than your average sports bar venue. I'd highly recommend going to Champps to watch sporting events for a nice, low key, open viewing spot.
(3)JJ S.
When I first moved to Ohio, I was so excited to see a champs near my apartment! I am a runner and I like to look at new running shoes. One day, I decided to check this place out, but lo and behold this is a bar and grill restaurant! I was a little embarrassed to say the least! I decided to come back with my boyfriend to give the food a try! He ordered the rack of ribs. It was a filling dish and the smoked BBQ flavor was all there. It was a bit on the pricier side for bar/grill food. I ordered a flat bread and it was COLDest flatbread I have ever eaten! But, the waitress was nice and re made my order and took care of the bill! Kudos to her and her customer service!
(3)Tim H.
While I normally prefer ethnic cuisine, or more appropriately perhaps, cuisines from non-western countries, I stopped here as it was conveniently located by my hotel. I grabbed a seat at the bar and was served by a young lady. She was pleasant and accommodating as she got me a menu and filled my water in spite of being busy and she did it with a smile. I ordered the bourbon salmon with vegetables and jasmine rice and the meal was delicious. The salmon was extremely flavorful and tasty and was perfectly done as it was nice and soft. The vegetables also had a nice flavor and the jasmine rice was perfect in soaking up the spices from the salmon. My only disappointment was not ordering dessert, which also looked good as I noticed adjacent clientele indulging in some. The establishment was pretty large and was adorned with flatscreens and, as a result, seemed like an excellent place for a football fan to go to on a Sunday.
(5)Brian F.
I enjoyed my trip here this evening. They have some pretty good happy hour specials including $5 appetizers. We tried the mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers and quesadillas. The quesadillas really stood out as excellent, especially with the guac that came with them. The other apps were fine, and I liked that we got three dipping sauces with the chicken fingers. Other than that, it's a huge space with pretty good service and a good option for dinner before a movie if you don't mind spending a little bit of money.
(3)Kyisha M.
Great food! My husband loved the bacon wrappers we got as an appetizer. My Philly Cheese Steak was great and my hubby was impressed by how good his Grown up Grilled Cheese was. We both got the onion rings with our meal and enjoyed them very much. Lemonade I got was great and he didn't have anything bad to say about his coke. Our waitress Brittany was great. We were going out for the hubby's birthday so he felt a little bad when she gave him the check then when she saw my pink debit card she was surprised that he had a pink card but realized I was paying. She was great and joked about it though. My husband thinks she probably thinks he's a bum lol. A wonderful dining experience.
(5)Ellen F.
Champps is good for larger, more rambunctious groups. Weekday lunch is a bear. Make a reservation if you can. Although a wait might be a downer, the service is always pretty good. They do a great job of adapting meals. The food isn't the best in the city, but it does cater too mixed groups, and families. It's easy. Food fav's include: beer and cheese soup (one of the daily specials), Sesame Seared Tuna, Greek Salad w/out chicken, Spinach & Artichoke dip, the ranch dressing, which pairs nicely with the waffle fries. It's also fun to check out the seasonal menu for things like the Crab Bread and the Fire Roasted Tortellini.
(4)Jenny T.
My friends and I like coming here because it's cheap, casual, but it's a step up from the usual High street fare. The food has been consistently good quality. We're always here in large groups (think 6-15) and the food comes out hot at the same time. The servers don't seem to mind that people are using coupons and discounts either. (Some places make me feel uncomfortable using a discount.) It's hard to go wrong with the burger menu, and I've heard good things about the baby back ribs. The nachos are a great appetizer to share with a large group, though we are rarely able to finish it.
(5)Eli B.
really fun place. big servings. good times.
(3)Kevin M.
Champps is essentially a sports bar that's attempted to be a nice restaurant as well. There's a happy hour and full bar that you can sit at, but there's also extensive restaurant seating that surpasses ordinary sports-bar style. The menu is pretty extensive (though not cheap), and the food all seems decent, from what I've seen. But the last time I was there, I couldn't help but notice that there was _maybe_ one vegetarian menu item that wasn't a side salad, appetizer, or dessert. Don't ever take a vegetarian here, unless you're just getting drinks or dessert, or going to the karaoke contest they host on occasion.
(2)Bee S.
I only like to go here for trivia nights. The food is ok, and gets the job done if you're famished. Service is usually pretty decent, even though the last time I went, three people's orders were wrong. And even after one of them sent their plate back for the correct thing, they came back with another wrong order. Oh well, at that point he just ate his buffalo burger in silence. The trivia I like, because.. well, I like trivia.... the only thing that sucks is that they do it over the speakers with a DJ and you can hardly hear what he's saying half the time, so you're scrambling to get your answer down after only half hearing what he just said. I guess that's part of the fun anyway. Sometimes they also have mini challenges, like seeing who can bring the most chapstick to the dj booth. So you obviously make a fool of yourself running through the restaurant, dodging tables and waiters just to rush chapstick to this dj. But hey, I got a free cheeseburger gift card out of it once, even though I never used it.
(3)Angie P.
Dining in traditional American restaurants can be tough for vegetarians and vegans, especially when servers are not knowledgeable about menu items. This was my first time visiting Champps and thought that a huge restaurant should have a huge menu selection, which meant there was a better chance of finding more vegan items. Unfortunately my deduction didn't work here. The server was unable to convince me that there was something vegan worth ordering. She said I could order a chicken salad or pasta without the chicken. That would be quite inadequate if they could not substitute something else with it. I went for a bruschetta burger with a veggie patty (not sure if there was dairy in it) and asked them to hold the cheese. While it came with a side of pasta salad, I was suspicious of mayonnaise as part of the dressing. The server said it's mixed with tomato vinaigrette, but to my disappointment, there was mayonnaise in it. The restaurant is close to AMC Lennox and Target, which are places I love hanging out at. However, I would not go back again until the restaurant would provide something vegan-friendly and train their staff about them.
(3)Travis Z.
I have always had a good experience here. The food is pretty good with a lot of options. I like coming for trivia on Wednesdays.
(4)Karen F.
This is a great place to visit before Buckeye football games. They have a great bloody mary bar and the atmosphere is exciting. The servers are always friendly and I always make it a plan to stop in when I'm back in Columbus.
(4)Nate H.
Pretty big and lofty on the inside. Don't expect too much from this place. It's an over-glorified TGIFridays. Menu is relatively the same and the food is consistent with chain restaurants.
(2)Amy S.
My main reason for coming here? If you eat here on Ohio State Football game day, they give you a placard to put in your car so you don't get towed! That being said, getting to a place that is best known for its bar and lunch type food, at 10am, you wonder how that can work. Well, after a few beers, its a pretty good deal! While its usually busy, I've always been lucky enough to get a table, and knowing that the game will make me hungry (biting my nails really isn't enough), a good plate of 'football food' is a great thing to get. The staff on these days isn't what I'd call friendly. They really just want to rush you along, and the last couple of times I've had to ask for the placard because I wasn't offered it. One of the girls just threw the paper at me. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I needed one for my friend as well, so I just walked behind the bar and got it. They seemed too busy to care. I'll continue to go back on game days but not my choice for casual dining.
(2)Josh E.
I feel kind of funny writing this because all of my Champps experiences have been unintentional and all have been uniformly bad. Tonight, it was an emergency, last minute choice, because the hockey game was getting ready to start and we had to shovel some food down real quick. Buuuuuuut, I feel like I have to throw Champps a bone for this one visit. I have learned, from said bad past experiences, to avoid Champps' cheese sandwich fixings. They have been, without fail, the penultimate destroyer of each poor sandwich they placed in front of me. Wet, greasy, watery, and goopy, these cheeses have, not once, been anywhere near what I would call actual cheese. Each an every patty of whatever "cheese" they cursed me with has been utterly disgusting. This night, though, I was careful to avoid the cheese trap. I got the pulled pork sandwich and, hey, it wasn't half bad. The pork wasn't even dipped in turbo sugared BBQ sauce. The fried shoestring onions on top was even a decent touch. The waiter was quick and accommodating with our tight schedule. The iced tea was good. My girlfriend, unfortunately, missed the cheese warning and had a goop drenched cheeseburger. Every other Champps has been 1 or a charitable 2 stars. I don't feel guilty giving them a tiny bit of love just this one time. They kind of earned it. In the end, we got to the hockey game on time. The temporarily adopted home team won the game with 1 second left. Mission accomplished!
(3)Matthew B.
Every once in awhile I'll go, hey, let's go to Champp's! And then about an hour I'll say, "hm, maybe this wasn't the best idea." It's not that Champp's is bad, either- it's just not as good as comparable restaurants. Apparently Champp's is a national chain but I have never, ever seen another. Perhaps that's a deficiency in my perception of the world around me, but it's the truth. It makes perfect sense, though, as their menu is decidedly chain-y American foods- decent burgers, mediocre steaks, huge platters of nachos somehow billed as an appetizer. One thing Champp's has over a lot of other chain bar and grills in my opinion is how wide-open the place is. High ceilings and low booths give the place an atmosphere of psuedo-communal dining that is missing from places like Applebe's where, if you avoid the bar, you're in your own world. And yeah, yeah, I know that Champp's is a sports bar of sorts, but can't just one of the dozen or so jumbo HD television sets on the wall was set to something other than a sports channel of some sort? Not a single CNN just so I can read a headline or two? No? Alright, then.
(2)Lisa S.
There was a time when I would have thought that dining at Champps was part of a nice night out. Lucky for me and my taste buds, those days are behind me now. There is nothing innately wrong with Champps, it's just an over glorified sports bar parading around as a family dining establishment. If the quality of the food was a little better, I might have given Champps 3 stars, because overall the atmosphere isn't bad if giant TV screens all tuned to sports is what you're going for. Honestly, would it kill them to have at least one TV turned to CNN? But the food absolutely is not worth the price you pay. The menu has some tempting choices, but be aware that the quality of the food is really not up to any standard. The last time I ate at Champps I was craving a good burger, so I ordered a Cheddar Cheeseburger. The waitress asked me how I wanted my burger cooked, to which I replied my usual "Medium rare". "Well we can only do Medium so how about I get you that." Bitch, don't ASK me how I want my burger cooked if you're not even going to bother! And let me tell you, that burger would have tasted a whole heck of a lot better medium rare.
(2)Mai T.
Old vinyl booths. Dark. A jillion flatscreens. Musty smell. Patio with plastic chairs. Outdoor bar that's not fully equipped. Tons of smokers. Draft: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Really? Bottled: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Oh wait, I forgot they had some sort of energy drink in there too. I got my default drink-pineapple and Malibu. Took the bartender 10 min to get it since he had to rush to the inside bar for the right ingredients. I was forced to come here, it wasn't by choice!
(1)Anthony M.
Yum yum, I had a Tuscan Turkey wrap, I really didn't want this, but because of a diet I stayed strong. When I got it I was completely content on the first bite.It was very very very good wit roasted peppers and the salad.
(4)doreen w.
I've eaten here several times because the food is in the neutral crowd pleaser category so I often end up scheduling working lunches here knowing that it should please any palate. At this point I stick to what I know works for me which are the huge salads masquerading as health food. I suspect they have more of the same amount of fat and calories as the sandwiches. This is to be expected at an overblown sports bar. I've also been here with big parties which they can easily accomodate and it is convenient if you are going to a movie and want to catch a quick bland bite. Despite the sports bar them I don't think I would watch a game here the dining room is so big that all of the TV's unite into one big din. I'd prefer a smaller local place like roosters or claudaughs. This is only worth a stop out of convenience or pure necessity based on the situation. Although I'm not sure what that means.
(2)Stephanie B.
So last night, my friend and I went out for dinner and a movie. We had dinner at Marcella's and didn't have time for dessert so we had to head off to the movie. We saw our film at the AMC Lennox, and when it was over we decided to go grab some dessert so we could continue our previous conversation from dinner. We thought about heading to Cup O Joe, but I didn't want any caffeine to keep me up all night since it was already 9:30. So we headed over to Champps to get the dessert we had to miss at Marcella's. Can I just say right now that I hate how Champp's is spelled with two P's? Sorry. Irrelevant. So we walk in and the service was really good. They promptly seated us and our waitress came right away and gave us some waters. She gave us each menus but we told her we were only in for dessert. She gave us a better dessert menu that had pictures of everything in it, which was nice. For those of you that have never been here, it's supposed to be a sports bar. It is, I guess, but it's like it's also trying to be some fancy restaurant. Thus, it's kinda expensive. And it's weird because it's usually filled with students who can't really afford to come here. In fact, at the table next to us, we saw the worst situation ever! A guy and a girl were on a date and he paid their check with his credit card but the server came back and told him his card was overdrawn. Oops. He had to try a second card, which might have ended up working. I'm not really sure because this was happening as we were leaving. Poor guy. So yeah, not the best choice for a student budget. Anyway, there are huge TVs everywhere, all tuned to different sports games. That part is pretty cool, but they are mostly on one wall and the seating isn't all that close to them. I wouldn't come here to watch a game, that's for sure. When we were here last night it was so annoying because we must have come in in the middle of some sort of trivia night. This DJ guy back in the corner was reading off these trivia questions over the speakers (it was LOUD!) and then there were teams I guess turning in answers, and he'd read the correct answers. This went on the whole time we were there, including music trivia where he'd play 3 seconds of a song and you had to guess which one. Really, super annoying when you're just trying to relax and talk. We were definitely here on the wrong night. Needless to say, after we finished our desserts we were outta there because we couldn't stand the blaring trivia talk. I don't know why it had to be so loud or why they couldn't seat all the trivia teams in one area so they could avoid disrupting the entire restaurant, but whatever. This place is stupid. And about dessert? My friend got this huge slice of chocolate layer cake and I got the Cookie Espress. It was this big chocolate chip cookie thrown in a bowl and topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel and espresso topping (didn't even taste the espresso). With a cherry on top. (Note: If you want this dessert done right, go to Uno - see my review!) It sounded and looked so good in the picture. But...the cookie tasted a bit weird and it was kind of thin so it was crunchy and hard to dig into. The ice cream was good but there wasn't enough to balance the cookie. And oh my god what was up with the whipped cream? First of all, it wasn't even good whipped cream, it tasted more like Cool Whip you buy at the store. Second, there was WAY too much of it. There was more whipped cream than ice cream, I kid you not. It was borderline disgusting. I ate what I could but there was no way I could finish it. What was left was a soupy mess, no way was I about to try to take it home. Ugh. I was not impressed. And how hard is it to go wrong with a big chocolate chip cookie? By the way, it was over $6 for the dessert. Desserts were cheaper at Marcella's! So not worth it. I've eaten here in the past with some friends for dinner, and while the sandwiches were pretty good, they definitely weren't anything special that I would come back for. And everything is just way too expensive for the quality you're getting. I realize that most of the people who come here are parents who visit their kids at college and take them out to eat here because they don't know the city that well and don't want to venture too far from campus. If it weren't for them keeping it alive, I'm not sure how well this place would do. I'm certainly not a big fan, but I have to say that it was pretty busy last night. Maybe their trivia is really popular, who knows. But it was super annoying for us who weren't playing. And you know what else was annoying since we're on the subject? Twice last night (we weren't even there for an hour) it was someone's birthday so the servers all gathered around their table and started clapping and singing real loud and the lights go down and suddenly they make use of the disco ball that's in the middle of the ceiling. Really? A disco ball in a sports bar? What is this crap? Ugh, I'll pass.
(2)Dennis H.
Ordered Loaded Nachos, which sat for about 10 minutes. Manager made things right by making it free. This location gets one more chance.
(1)Jackie C.
Champs, or Champps, when I first moved to Columbus and my parents came to visit we would usually go here. It was close by and the ridiculous portions always insured that I had lunch for the next day as well. A big drawback is that it is really loud in there; they could tone it down a notch so you could talk to people around you that would be great! The food is pretty good; I enjoy their parmesan crusted chicken sandwich with wedge fries immensely. The real reason to come here is for the potato skins, they are delicious, good size, good bacon to cheese ratio. They (skins) come with an alternate sauce besides sour cream that is alright, but I prefer the sour cream so I would ask for it on the side. And yes in case you're wondering, I consider myself a potato skin connoisseur. So if you want standard, very predictable fare with alright service then go to Champs it is not too shabby.
(3)Nathan L.
Why is this the place that everyone goes with their parents when the 'rents come visit you at school? There are so many other places that could be that place, but i have to admit that when my parents came to visit that was one of the places that became a staple. Beer for me and the old man to drink? - yes. Wine for mom? - yes. Lots of bland predictable food for dad? - got lots of that here. TV's everywhere so I can tune out of the whole family talk and take in some pigskin? - perfect. I've even seen soccer on in here, on a SUNDAY. awesome. This place can get old quick if there are annoying ploys going on in the bar area, though. I have been dragged into a free-throw contest before, somewhat against my will. The only thing worse than the annoying contest is the excruciating MC of the thing. Really? What qualifications does Bobby the Backup Bartender have to host some sort of athletic competition ten feet from my potato skins I would rather be paying attention to anyways?
(2)Ben T.
This champps is as good as the easton one but crazy busy on pay football days. Big portions, good prices and big ol beer mugs available.
(4)Sean G.
It's the place you go when your parents come to visit you at school. It's expensive for what it is and really crowded. The mile high desert is pretty good though but it would probably take 4 people to take it down.
(2)Chuck k.
This location of 'Chumpps' is always over crowded and too loud. I walked out once because my party couldn't hear over the noise of the TV's, which were showing REPLAYS of old games. I mean, if there's a live event on, yes turn it up and enjoy. On a night with nothing, get the decibels down to 747 level. We complained and were told there was nothing they could do. The food is decent , but not great, and a little pricey. You do get a big portion, but if you're heading off to a movie, you may not want to take the 1/2 a sandwich with you.
(2)Steve M.
I love this place, but the one off Olentangy near campus. It is true, it is a bar that wants to be a nice restaurant. It is not the cheapest place of all time, but the food is good and proportionate. And if you go on a bar night, then after you eat they have karioki and cheap drafts. It is one of my Fav's in this area..but I am a sucker for chain restaurants.
(4)Scott C.
The atmosphere at this location is better than Easton. The food was good, especially the calamari fritis. The service was on the slower side as many people were just hanging back and relaxing after the OSU game. This did not bother me at all. In fact it was nice to relax here. The food was good and at a very reasonable price. My only real complaint is a familiar one. The appetizer was only half consumed when out comes the entrée. Ugh. Memo to self - order and eat appetizer and THEN order the entrée. I would return here for sure.
(4)Christopher G.
Lunch today. Got there about 11:20 and it was empty, but were seated literally right next to the kitchen door. Table was filthy, so much so we moved to the next table over...it too was dirty, but cleaner than the first...we used the extra napkins to clean it. Ordered the chicken wing (6) appetizer in Caribbean Jerk but it tasted funny. It was like Asian (Teriyaki) with red pepper flakes. Two of the wings were undercooked (cold and pink inside) which we brought to or waiters attention, and she said she would "let them know" but no manager showed up, nor was the bill adjusted. And when I pointed them out to her, she took the plate which still had our celery and dressing on it. I got the French Dip sandwich which was not good. A small amount of sliced beef on a hot dog bun...period. No cheese, onion, or mayo. Au Jus was watery...like beef broth from a can. She got Onion soup which she said was good, but said her chicken salad was dry and cold. Place is also too dark and very noisy even as light as they were, and service was slow on all fronts. $33 for one ap and two entrees...pricey to me for the quality/quantity of food. This was my second "not so good" visit...I dont think Ill be going back.
(2)Gem X.
Come here for the graduation party of my classmate. The food is ok but the service is nice though. Maybe just because the food is not my cup of tea.
(3)Tim H.
While I normally prefer ethnic cuisine, or more appropriately perhaps, cuisines from non-western countries, I stopped here as it was conveniently located by my hotel. I grabbed a seat at the bar and was served by a young lady. She was pleasant and accommodating as she got me a menu and filled my water in spite of being busy and she did it with a smile. I ordered the bourbon salmon with vegetables and jasmine rice and the meal was delicious. The salmon was extremely flavorful and tasty and was perfectly done as it was nice and soft. The vegetables also had a nice flavor and the jasmine rice was perfect in soaking up the spices from the salmon. My only disappointment was not ordering dessert, which also looked good as I noticed adjacent clientele indulging in some. The establishment was pretty large and was adorned with flatscreens and, as a result, seemed like an excellent place for a football fan to go to on a Sunday.
(5)Huanan W.
This was my first time here at Champps and I went with my roommate. The service was ok but the food wasn't really what I expected. We decided to try the NY shrimp & steak but when it came out, there was no shrimp at all, it was nothing like the pic on the menu. Above that, the steak was a little over cooked. But it did taste ok.
(4)Matt C.
I went to Champps with a medieval nobleman. This is Part 1 of his report: Yesterday, my friend and I repaired to the local Champp's, ostensibly to watch the Cincinnati Bengals concuss and be concussed while ultimately prevailing in unremarkable fashion against a Buffalo Bills team starting a recently furloughed park ranger at QB. And sort of watch the other games at the same time. Upon emerging from the vomitorium and scanning the myriad viewing surfaces scattered throughout this cellulite (and cellulose, lots of wood everywhere) coliseum, my heretofore fully functional, 20/20-but-full-disclosure-one-time-they-said-I-Âhad-an-astigmatism (possible astigmatism anachronism) eyeballs detected divers fauna of the canine(-murdering), bovine (Texans), and porcine (Andy Reid) varieties, multiple fellow felines, and three flavors of marauding vagrant folk. And yet neither the flaming coiffure of our field general, Andy Dalton, nor the drooping visage of coach Marvin Lewis were blasting my rods or my cones. With dread in my heart, I hailed the buxom concierge, inquiring, pray tell, did they fucking contract the Bengals from THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE late last night, JesusChristwhatthehellisgoingon? Crestfallen, she replied that my beloved bestripéd Bengals had been besmirched, banishéd to the patio, because "the manager is a Browns fan." Abscond to yon patio? What choice did we have? Jettisoned like common detritus, we emerged onto said terrace, which, as promised by the friendly serving wench, contained two televisions projecting our quarry, positioned at polar opposite ends of the space, perhaps in an attempt by the diabolical manager to have both screens create an infinite strange loop of glare upon the other. Euclid, however, would prevail this day. We scanned the area for lifeforms, immediately noticing a rather large group of bipeds sporting identical t-shirts proclaiming the wearer to be one of Maggie's Magical Magpies or some bullshit; I actually have no idea what they said. Upon further exploration, my companion's tricorder was able to detect a group of septuagenarians at our seven o'clock (which, had I thought to inform them of their relative location, the mere uttering of words representing such a late hour may have induced a fatal torpor). Averse to offending the bluehairs with our wanton and profane commentary, we alit next to Maggie and her brood. Little did we know, magpie nesting behavior includes spontaneous bouts of swordplay, and it was not long before these roustabouts began rudely jostling us with each parry and riposte. There was no time to wonder whether the Depend Adult Undergarments® cupping those bedsored buttocks would be a suitable dike for the staccato series of sharts surely surmising from these postprandial pensioners. Menus in hand, we gingerly approached the blast radius. (Probably Not) To Be Continued . . .
(2)Jackie P.
The margarita's here taste like crap. Literally, thick, gross, nastiness. Do not order one. Not even during Monday $4 happy hour. You will regret it, I promise. Just stop. Right now. On Monday's they have $5.99 burger night. Can't go wrong. Any burger but Kobe or the double is on special. I recommend the bleu cheese, and hell...replace it with turkey meat. All-in-all the burger massive, and you'll probably have half a burger's leftovers if you eat the waffle fries that the meal provides. Oh yeah, the waffle fries....no seasoning, just cooked. Whatever - dip them in honey mustard and you'll be fine. I haven't gone any other night than a Monday for special, but it can be kind of expensive from the looks of the menu. Typical OSU decor lining the walls, and the bathroom is actually rather gorgeous! The dining area is extremely spacious, and great for families. But the service will probably be pretty slow.
(2)Taylor H.
I'm a strong believer in a bad server can ruin a night out. Our server was extremely awkward and very slow with all of our drinks. We told her we would like to drink for a while before ordering dinner. We then ordered an appetizer and she took the menus, we never had plates delivered with the appetizer. Had to ask for the menus back to order dinner.. Awkward. Every time she came to the table it was weird and we felt unwelcome. The food was good but way over priced. Also, the table and chairs were sticky. Women's restroom was nasty. Not impressed.
(2)Johaun C.
if you're going to eat here, don't go in with crazy expectations and you should be fine. my philosophy: there are 4 things you're always better off knowing something about before heading in: war, marriage, the bathroom, and the restaurant. come here for their half-priced appetizers and the french onion soup (which i try everywhere i go, and for the money is still one of the best cups i've ever had). avoid the pizza.
(3)Scott H.
My wife and I went there for a late lunch the other day before a movie. We had a coupon and the restaurant we really wanted to go to was closed, which really are the only two reasons why we ended up here. Just like when you're traveling and you end up at McDonald's when you travel. It's off the interstate and convenient. We walk in and there's no greeter. We very easily could've walked out and just eaten expensive candy at the theater, but we stuck around for a minute or two until the greeter showed up and seated us. Greeter alerted not to sit in two of the four seats at the table as they had something on the seats. She quickly cleaned them off. Missed the dry crusted brown stuff on the seat across from me. I stared at it the whole time we were there. I have to cut the greeter a lot of slack here, though. We was going around cleaning ALL the tables, which it seems to me, she should not be doing. She is the greeter. Make a busboy clean the tables. And why was every freaking table dirty at 3 in the afternoon? Don't you clean those as soon as customers leave? My wife and I wearily peruse the voluminous menu. Never a good sign when a place has a little bit of everything, because that means they are master of none. The menu looks like a design team threw up all over it. Obnoxious design and I can't find anything. Wife orders coconut shrimp and peaches and cream. For some reason, I order a chicken salad sandwich. Weiland's makes beautiful chicken salad, so why do I constantly order chicken salad sandwiches elsewhere? I am almost always disappointed. And yep, it sucked. Chicken salad literally dripped out of the sandwich. Was it trying to escape Champp's. In that case, I don't blame it. Shrimp were okay. Peaches and cream, weeeeell... how do you screw that up? They found a way. Server was courteous. She did do a weird thing on her last visit to the table though. Earlier she had given me a 2nd glass of soda when my 1st glass was almost empty. When she came by for the last time she took the remnants in the first glass, dumped it into the new glass that I was drinking from and put the empty 1st glass back on the table? I have never seen that. It felt like she was emptying ashtrays or something. Anyhoo, you go to Champp's, you get what you pay for. If you want to slam a burger and a beer down and don't really care what it tastes like or that everything around you is covered in a sticky glaze, then by all means stop on in.
(2)Amy F.
I'll keep this short and sweet. Average food. Average service. Average prices. This is not the Champps that it was back in tha day. This used to be one of my go-to restaurants. I'm sad to say they've lost their mojo.
(3)D B.
Bad service, cold food, rude manager and a gutless waitress. I like Champps normally....this one.....not so much.
(1)Matt C.
I went to Champps with a medieval nobleman. This is Part 1 of his report: Yesterday, my friend and I repaired to the local Champp's, ostensibly to watch the Cincinnati Bengals concuss and be concussed while ultimately prevailing in unremarkable fashion against a Buffalo Bills team starting a recently furloughed park ranger at QB. And sort of watch the other games at the same time. Upon emerging from the vomitorium and scanning the myriad viewing surfaces scattered throughout this cellulite (and cellulose, lots of wood everywhere) coliseum, my heretofore fully functional, 20/20-but-full-disclosure-one-time-they-said-I-Âhad-an-astigmatism (possible astigmatism anachronism) eyeballs detected divers fauna of the canine(-murdering), bovine (Texans), and porcine (Andy Reid) varieties, multiple fellow felines, and three flavors of marauding vagrant folk. And yet neither the flaming coiffure of our field general, Andy Dalton, nor the drooping visage of coach Marvin Lewis were blasting my rods or my cones. With dread in my heart, I hailed the buxom concierge, inquiring, pray tell, did they fucking contract the Bengals from THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE late last night, JesusChristwhatthehellisgoingon? Crestfallen, she replied that my beloved bestripéd Bengals had been besmirched, banishéd to the patio, because "the manager is a Browns fan." Abscond to yon patio? What choice did we have? Jettisoned like common detritus, we emerged onto said terrace, which, as promised by the friendly serving wench, contained two televisions projecting our quarry, positioned at polar opposite ends of the space, perhaps in an attempt by the diabolical manager to have both screens create an infinite strange loop of glare upon the other. Euclid, however, would prevail this day. We scanned the area for lifeforms, immediately noticing a rather large group of bipeds sporting identical t-shirts proclaiming the wearer to be one of Maggie's Magical Magpies or some bullshit; I actually have no idea what they said. Upon further exploration, my companion's tricorder was able to detect a group of septuagenarians at our seven o'clock (which, had I thought to inform them of their relative location, the mere uttering of words representing such a late hour may have induced a fatal torpor). Averse to offending the bluehairs with our wanton and profane commentary, we alit next to Maggie and her brood. Little did we know, magpie nesting behavior includes spontaneous bouts of swordplay, and it was not long before these roustabouts began rudely jostling us with each parry and riposte. There was no time to wonder whether the Depend Adult Undergarments® cupping those bedsored buttocks would be a suitable dike for the staccato series of sharts surely surmising from these postprandial pensioners. Menus in hand, we gingerly approached the blast radius. (Probably Not) To Be Continued . . .
(2)Mike B.
Paying $9 for two pints during happy hour hours was a bit much. At least the bartender uniforms made for decent eye candy?
(2)Chrislyn K.
I went to this restaurant for the first time in the past week with my sister, mom, and grandparents. Each and every one of us ordered a different meal and enjoyed what we ordered without complaint! It wasn't the greatest food I've ever had but I had no large concerns with it either. The service was fast and kind, the dessert was large, the establishment was clean. Our table had a great view of the kitchen and we were also conveniently located by several TVs on the wall. All around, the experience was great!
(4)Katherine D.
First up: freebies! Champps gives you a free burger just for signing up for their email list, and a free dessert around your birthday. I ended up using my free burger coupon today (although I kind of wish I'd gone for the free dessert). I've been to this Champps several times, and they're always okay. They do an INSANE amount of lunch business and during sporting events, so be prepared. I got there around 1pm, and the place was full. I was the only person at the hostess' desk, so I was a little miffed that I had to stand around for over 5 minutes before someone happened to come by the front desk and seat me, and even then it seemed like an afterthought. For someplace that does as much lunch business as they do, you'd think they'd staff their front desk a bit better. I also noticed as I left the restaurant after my meal that there was STILL no host at the front desk (and several people waiting at the front). The thing with Champps is that their portions are HUGE. I'm not sure that's a good thing. I ordered the mushroom & swiss burger with onion rings, and while it wasn't bad (the onion rings were especially good!), it was so large that I left quite a bit of food on my plate. Total cost after coupon = $2.98 plus tip. Was it worth what I paid this time around? Absolutely. Was it worth the $15 plus tip I would have paid without the coupon? Probably not, especially when their portions are so big that you leave half of it on the plate at the end of the meal (no place to put leftovers at work). I'm sure I'll be back, though...their menu is varied enough that anyone can find something worthwhile on the menu. I just hope that the staffing issue was a fluke and not par for the course.
(3)Luke T.
Came here with a large group from the office a few days back. Considering there were upwards of twenty of us, I'd say things went pretty decent. The servers totally brought out people's desserts before their entrées, but hey, you'll have that, right? NO. YOU WON'T. They also, despite having been given a list of people's names with their orders, opted to bring food out and holler out entrées waiting for people to claim them. The service was kinda sucky, and you know what? When I was here with my ex a few years back, the service sucked the fun out of funnel cake then too. I can't remember the specifics, but I remember that they got her order wrong, then found it acceptable to argue with her about it. The saving grace might be the food, which although not amazing, is decent. This most recent visit I had some of the blue cheese chips and the tuscan salmon. The salmon was really good. It was nice and pink, moist and flaky. Resting on a bed of artichoke hearts, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, and other vegetables, it definitely hit the spot. One of the gentlemen in our group ordered an ice cream cake, which unbeknownst to him or anyone else, is over a foot tall. The restaurant actually brought out two, one on the house, which was nice of them. We split the cakes between the group and each made three laps before even coming close to finished. Pretty amazing, but totally disgusting to look at. Pictures forthcoming...
(2)Scott H.
My wife and I went there for a late lunch the other day before a movie. We had a coupon and the restaurant we really wanted to go to was closed, which really are the only two reasons why we ended up here. Just like when you're traveling and you end up at McDonald's when you travel. It's off the interstate and convenient. We walk in and there's no greeter. We very easily could've walked out and just eaten expensive candy at the theater, but we stuck around for a minute or two until the greeter showed up and seated us. Greeter alerted not to sit in two of the four seats at the table as they had something on the seats. She quickly cleaned them off. Missed the dry crusted brown stuff on the seat across from me. I stared at it the whole time we were there. I have to cut the greeter a lot of slack here, though. We was going around cleaning ALL the tables, which it seems to me, she should not be doing. She is the greeter. Make a busboy clean the tables. And why was every freaking table dirty at 3 in the afternoon? Don't you clean those as soon as customers leave? My wife and I wearily peruse the voluminous menu. Never a good sign when a place has a little bit of everything, because that means they are master of none. The menu looks like a design team threw up all over it. Obnoxious design and I can't find anything. Wife orders coconut shrimp and peaches and cream. For some reason, I order a chicken salad sandwich. Weiland's makes beautiful chicken salad, so why do I constantly order chicken salad sandwiches elsewhere? I am almost always disappointed. And yep, it sucked. Chicken salad literally dripped out of the sandwich. Was it trying to escape Champp's. In that case, I don't blame it. Shrimp were okay. Peaches and cream, weeeeell... how do you screw that up? They found a way. Server was courteous. She did do a weird thing on her last visit to the table though. Earlier she had given me a 2nd glass of soda when my 1st glass was almost empty. When she came by for the last time she took the remnants in the first glass, dumped it into the new glass that I was drinking from and put the empty 1st glass back on the table? I have never seen that. It felt like she was emptying ashtrays or something. Anyhoo, you go to Champp's, you get what you pay for. If you want to slam a burger and a beer down and don't really care what it tastes like or that everything around you is covered in a sticky glaze, then by all means stop on in.
(2)Romain C.
I've been here before. It's just a typical sports bar restaurant. I'm glad this place closes late since most restaurants I've seen by my hotel close around 9pm. Again, it was a late night for me. I was greated by a host that seems like he didn't care about his job. He sat me all the way at the back corner close to the kitchen when there was barely anyone there. I couldn't even see the tv's because it was right above me. So I moved myself. But my server Joi was really nice. I got the Kobe Burger with Bacon and a tall Yuengling. Kobe burger in a sports bar restaurant, i'm sold! It was pretty good. I also got the mini choc torte which was just enough. I'm seeing these mini sizes in most chain restaurants now. Good thing they're around since I dine alone. I wouldn't want to beast on a large size desserts, you know I got to watch my figure.
(4)Courtney Q.
3.5 stars, rounding up. My experiences at this particular Champps with my family have always been quite good, and we're usually not one to be impressed by American chains. Maybe on select Saturday evenings the cooks step it up? We had a particularly pleasant experience staying after closing to watch the Pacquiao versus either Cotto or Margarito (who cares; Manny won) match-up, although we were charged a $5 cover for the event. And before the fight, either my mom or brother ordered some burger special--I think it was the kobe beef one? From what I understand, the dish was quite good. I also remember that on this night, the food was particularly fresh, and my gastronomy-savvy mom surprised me with her uncharacteristically rave reviews of the establishment. On a more recent visit, however, I remember my caesar salad tasting a little too salty, and not long after I finished it, the M*ch*g*n basketball team upset the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. So yeah, maybe the food is just better when it's inevitable that Manny Pacquiao's punching his way to a victory? I don't know. But I suppose someone can get a great meal here if he or she is just *that* lucky.
(4)Kyisha M.
Great food! My husband loved the bacon wrappers we got as an appetizer. My Philly Cheese Steak was great and my hubby was impressed by how good his Grown up Grilled Cheese was. We both got the onion rings with our meal and enjoyed them very much. Lemonade I got was great and he didn't have anything bad to say about his coke. Our waitress Brittany was great. We were going out for the hubby's birthday so he felt a little bad when she gave him the check then when she saw my pink debit card she was surprised that he had a pink card but realized I was paying. She was great and joked about it though. My husband thinks she probably thinks he's a bum lol. A wonderful dining experience.
(5)Bee S.
I only like to go here for trivia nights. The food is ok, and gets the job done if you're famished. Service is usually pretty decent, even though the last time I went, three people's orders were wrong. And even after one of them sent their plate back for the correct thing, they came back with another wrong order. Oh well, at that point he just ate his buffalo burger in silence. The trivia I like, because.. well, I like trivia.... the only thing that sucks is that they do it over the speakers with a DJ and you can hardly hear what he's saying half the time, so you're scrambling to get your answer down after only half hearing what he just said. I guess that's part of the fun anyway. Sometimes they also have mini challenges, like seeing who can bring the most chapstick to the dj booth. So you obviously make a fool of yourself running through the restaurant, dodging tables and waiters just to rush chapstick to this dj. But hey, I got a free cheeseburger gift card out of it once, even though I never used it.
(3)Angie P.
Dining in traditional American restaurants can be tough for vegetarians and vegans, especially when servers are not knowledgeable about menu items. This was my first time visiting Champps and thought that a huge restaurant should have a huge menu selection, which meant there was a better chance of finding more vegan items. Unfortunately my deduction didn't work here. The server was unable to convince me that there was something vegan worth ordering. She said I could order a chicken salad or pasta without the chicken. That would be quite inadequate if they could not substitute something else with it. I went for a bruschetta burger with a veggie patty (not sure if there was dairy in it) and asked them to hold the cheese. While it came with a side of pasta salad, I was suspicious of mayonnaise as part of the dressing. The server said it's mixed with tomato vinaigrette, but to my disappointment, there was mayonnaise in it. The restaurant is close to AMC Lennox and Target, which are places I love hanging out at. However, I would not go back again until the restaurant would provide something vegan-friendly and train their staff about them.
(3)Travis Z.
I have always had a good experience here. The food is pretty good with a lot of options. I like coming for trivia on Wednesdays.
(4)Ellen F.
Champps is good for larger, more rambunctious groups. Weekday lunch is a bear. Make a reservation if you can. Although a wait might be a downer, the service is always pretty good. They do a great job of adapting meals. The food isn't the best in the city, but it does cater too mixed groups, and families. It's easy. Food fav's include: beer and cheese soup (one of the daily specials), Sesame Seared Tuna, Greek Salad w/out chicken, Spinach & Artichoke dip, the ranch dressing, which pairs nicely with the waffle fries. It's also fun to check out the seasonal menu for things like the Crab Bread and the Fire Roasted Tortellini.
(4)Karen F.
This is a great place to visit before Buckeye football games. They have a great bloody mary bar and the atmosphere is exciting. The servers are always friendly and I always make it a plan to stop in when I'm back in Columbus.
(4)Nate H.
Pretty big and lofty on the inside. Don't expect too much from this place. It's an over-glorified TGIFridays. Menu is relatively the same and the food is consistent with chain restaurants.
(2)Jenny T.
My friends and I like coming here because it's cheap, casual, but it's a step up from the usual High street fare. The food has been consistently good quality. We're always here in large groups (think 6-15) and the food comes out hot at the same time. The servers don't seem to mind that people are using coupons and discounts either. (Some places make me feel uncomfortable using a discount.) It's hard to go wrong with the burger menu, and I've heard good things about the baby back ribs. The nachos are a great appetizer to share with a large group, though we are rarely able to finish it.
(5)Eli B.
really fun place. big servings. good times.
(3)Amy S.
My main reason for coming here? If you eat here on Ohio State Football game day, they give you a placard to put in your car so you don't get towed! That being said, getting to a place that is best known for its bar and lunch type food, at 10am, you wonder how that can work. Well, after a few beers, its a pretty good deal! While its usually busy, I've always been lucky enough to get a table, and knowing that the game will make me hungry (biting my nails really isn't enough), a good plate of 'football food' is a great thing to get. The staff on these days isn't what I'd call friendly. They really just want to rush you along, and the last couple of times I've had to ask for the placard because I wasn't offered it. One of the girls just threw the paper at me. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I needed one for my friend as well, so I just walked behind the bar and got it. They seemed too busy to care. I'll continue to go back on game days but not my choice for casual dining.
(2)Josh E.
I feel kind of funny writing this because all of my Champps experiences have been unintentional and all have been uniformly bad. Tonight, it was an emergency, last minute choice, because the hockey game was getting ready to start and we had to shovel some food down real quick. Buuuuuuut, I feel like I have to throw Champps a bone for this one visit. I have learned, from said bad past experiences, to avoid Champps' cheese sandwich fixings. They have been, without fail, the penultimate destroyer of each poor sandwich they placed in front of me. Wet, greasy, watery, and goopy, these cheeses have, not once, been anywhere near what I would call actual cheese. Each an every patty of whatever "cheese" they cursed me with has been utterly disgusting. This night, though, I was careful to avoid the cheese trap. I got the pulled pork sandwich and, hey, it wasn't half bad. The pork wasn't even dipped in turbo sugared BBQ sauce. The fried shoestring onions on top was even a decent touch. The waiter was quick and accommodating with our tight schedule. The iced tea was good. My girlfriend, unfortunately, missed the cheese warning and had a goop drenched cheeseburger. Every other Champps has been 1 or a charitable 2 stars. I don't feel guilty giving them a tiny bit of love just this one time. They kind of earned it. In the end, we got to the hockey game on time. The temporarily adopted home team won the game with 1 second left. Mission accomplished!
(3)Karla B.
It was great place to watch the OSU game! There are tons of tv screens. Wait staff is very nice and helpful. They also show PPV fights...Saturday fight night.
(3)Sean G.
It's the place you go when your parents come to visit you at school. It's expensive for what it is and really crowded. The mile high desert is pretty good though but it would probably take 4 people to take it down.
(2)Matthew B.
Every once in awhile I'll go, hey, let's go to Champp's! And then about an hour I'll say, "hm, maybe this wasn't the best idea." It's not that Champp's is bad, either- it's just not as good as comparable restaurants. Apparently Champp's is a national chain but I have never, ever seen another. Perhaps that's a deficiency in my perception of the world around me, but it's the truth. It makes perfect sense, though, as their menu is decidedly chain-y American foods- decent burgers, mediocre steaks, huge platters of nachos somehow billed as an appetizer. One thing Champp's has over a lot of other chain bar and grills in my opinion is how wide-open the place is. High ceilings and low booths give the place an atmosphere of psuedo-communal dining that is missing from places like Applebe's where, if you avoid the bar, you're in your own world. And yeah, yeah, I know that Champp's is a sports bar of sorts, but can't just one of the dozen or so jumbo HD television sets on the wall was set to something other than a sports channel of some sort? Not a single CNN just so I can read a headline or two? No? Alright, then.
(2)Lisa S.
There was a time when I would have thought that dining at Champps was part of a nice night out. Lucky for me and my taste buds, those days are behind me now. There is nothing innately wrong with Champps, it's just an over glorified sports bar parading around as a family dining establishment. If the quality of the food was a little better, I might have given Champps 3 stars, because overall the atmosphere isn't bad if giant TV screens all tuned to sports is what you're going for. Honestly, would it kill them to have at least one TV turned to CNN? But the food absolutely is not worth the price you pay. The menu has some tempting choices, but be aware that the quality of the food is really not up to any standard. The last time I ate at Champps I was craving a good burger, so I ordered a Cheddar Cheeseburger. The waitress asked me how I wanted my burger cooked, to which I replied my usual "Medium rare". "Well we can only do Medium so how about I get you that." Bitch, don't ASK me how I want my burger cooked if you're not even going to bother! And let me tell you, that burger would have tasted a whole heck of a lot better medium rare.
(2)Mai T.
Old vinyl booths. Dark. A jillion flatscreens. Musty smell. Patio with plastic chairs. Outdoor bar that's not fully equipped. Tons of smokers. Draft: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Really? Bottled: Bud, Budlight, Bud Elite, and Miller. Oh wait, I forgot they had some sort of energy drink in there too. I got my default drink-pineapple and Malibu. Took the bartender 10 min to get it since he had to rush to the inside bar for the right ingredients. I was forced to come here, it wasn't by choice!
(1)Anthony M.
Yum yum, I had a Tuscan Turkey wrap, I really didn't want this, but because of a diet I stayed strong. When I got it I was completely content on the first bite.It was very very very good wit roasted peppers and the salad.
(4)doreen w.
I've eaten here several times because the food is in the neutral crowd pleaser category so I often end up scheduling working lunches here knowing that it should please any palate. At this point I stick to what I know works for me which are the huge salads masquerading as health food. I suspect they have more of the same amount of fat and calories as the sandwiches. This is to be expected at an overblown sports bar. I've also been here with big parties which they can easily accomodate and it is convenient if you are going to a movie and want to catch a quick bland bite. Despite the sports bar them I don't think I would watch a game here the dining room is so big that all of the TV's unite into one big din. I'd prefer a smaller local place like roosters or claudaughs. This is only worth a stop out of convenience or pure necessity based on the situation. Although I'm not sure what that means.
(2)Stephanie B.
So last night, my friend and I went out for dinner and a movie. We had dinner at Marcella's and didn't have time for dessert so we had to head off to the movie. We saw our film at the AMC Lennox, and when it was over we decided to go grab some dessert so we could continue our previous conversation from dinner. We thought about heading to Cup O Joe, but I didn't want any caffeine to keep me up all night since it was already 9:30. So we headed over to Champps to get the dessert we had to miss at Marcella's. Can I just say right now that I hate how Champp's is spelled with two P's? Sorry. Irrelevant. So we walk in and the service was really good. They promptly seated us and our waitress came right away and gave us some waters. She gave us each menus but we told her we were only in for dessert. She gave us a better dessert menu that had pictures of everything in it, which was nice. For those of you that have never been here, it's supposed to be a sports bar. It is, I guess, but it's like it's also trying to be some fancy restaurant. Thus, it's kinda expensive. And it's weird because it's usually filled with students who can't really afford to come here. In fact, at the table next to us, we saw the worst situation ever! A guy and a girl were on a date and he paid their check with his credit card but the server came back and told him his card was overdrawn. Oops. He had to try a second card, which might have ended up working. I'm not really sure because this was happening as we were leaving. Poor guy. So yeah, not the best choice for a student budget. Anyway, there are huge TVs everywhere, all tuned to different sports games. That part is pretty cool, but they are mostly on one wall and the seating isn't all that close to them. I wouldn't come here to watch a game, that's for sure. When we were here last night it was so annoying because we must have come in in the middle of some sort of trivia night. This DJ guy back in the corner was reading off these trivia questions over the speakers (it was LOUD!) and then there were teams I guess turning in answers, and he'd read the correct answers. This went on the whole time we were there, including music trivia where he'd play 3 seconds of a song and you had to guess which one. Really, super annoying when you're just trying to relax and talk. We were definitely here on the wrong night. Needless to say, after we finished our desserts we were outta there because we couldn't stand the blaring trivia talk. I don't know why it had to be so loud or why they couldn't seat all the trivia teams in one area so they could avoid disrupting the entire restaurant, but whatever. This place is stupid. And about dessert? My friend got this huge slice of chocolate layer cake and I got the Cookie Espress. It was this big chocolate chip cookie thrown in a bowl and topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel and espresso topping (didn't even taste the espresso). With a cherry on top. (Note: If you want this dessert done right, go to Uno - see my review!) It sounded and looked so good in the picture. But...the cookie tasted a bit weird and it was kind of thin so it was crunchy and hard to dig into. The ice cream was good but there wasn't enough to balance the cookie. And oh my god what was up with the whipped cream? First of all, it wasn't even good whipped cream, it tasted more like Cool Whip you buy at the store. Second, there was WAY too much of it. There was more whipped cream than ice cream, I kid you not. It was borderline disgusting. I ate what I could but there was no way I could finish it. What was left was a soupy mess, no way was I about to try to take it home. Ugh. I was not impressed. And how hard is it to go wrong with a big chocolate chip cookie? By the way, it was over $6 for the dessert. Desserts were cheaper at Marcella's! So not worth it. I've eaten here in the past with some friends for dinner, and while the sandwiches were pretty good, they definitely weren't anything special that I would come back for. And everything is just way too expensive for the quality you're getting. I realize that most of the people who come here are parents who visit their kids at college and take them out to eat here because they don't know the city that well and don't want to venture too far from campus. If it weren't for them keeping it alive, I'm not sure how well this place would do. I'm certainly not a big fan, but I have to say that it was pretty busy last night. Maybe their trivia is really popular, who knows. But it was super annoying for us who weren't playing. And you know what else was annoying since we're on the subject? Twice last night (we weren't even there for an hour) it was someone's birthday so the servers all gathered around their table and started clapping and singing real loud and the lights go down and suddenly they make use of the disco ball that's in the middle of the ceiling. Really? A disco ball in a sports bar? What is this crap? Ugh, I'll pass.
(2)Jackie C.
Champs, or Champps, when I first moved to Columbus and my parents came to visit we would usually go here. It was close by and the ridiculous portions always insured that I had lunch for the next day as well. A big drawback is that it is really loud in there; they could tone it down a notch so you could talk to people around you that would be great! The food is pretty good; I enjoy their parmesan crusted chicken sandwich with wedge fries immensely. The real reason to come here is for the potato skins, they are delicious, good size, good bacon to cheese ratio. They (skins) come with an alternate sauce besides sour cream that is alright, but I prefer the sour cream so I would ask for it on the side. And yes in case you're wondering, I consider myself a potato skin connoisseur. So if you want standard, very predictable fare with alright service then go to Champs it is not too shabby.
(3)Dennis H.
Ordered Loaded Nachos, which sat for about 10 minutes. Manager made things right by making it free. This location gets one more chance.
(1)Nathan L.
Why is this the place that everyone goes with their parents when the 'rents come visit you at school? There are so many other places that could be that place, but i have to admit that when my parents came to visit that was one of the places that became a staple. Beer for me and the old man to drink? - yes. Wine for mom? - yes. Lots of bland predictable food for dad? - got lots of that here. TV's everywhere so I can tune out of the whole family talk and take in some pigskin? - perfect. I've even seen soccer on in here, on a SUNDAY. awesome. This place can get old quick if there are annoying ploys going on in the bar area, though. I have been dragged into a free-throw contest before, somewhat against my will. The only thing worse than the annoying contest is the excruciating MC of the thing. Really? What qualifications does Bobby the Backup Bartender have to host some sort of athletic competition ten feet from my potato skins I would rather be paying attention to anyways?
(2)Ben T.
This champps is as good as the easton one but crazy busy on pay football days. Big portions, good prices and big ol beer mugs available.
(4)Kevin M.
Champps is essentially a sports bar that's attempted to be a nice restaurant as well. There's a happy hour and full bar that you can sit at, but there's also extensive restaurant seating that surpasses ordinary sports-bar style. The menu is pretty extensive (though not cheap), and the food all seems decent, from what I've seen. But the last time I was there, I couldn't help but notice that there was _maybe_ one vegetarian menu item that wasn't a side salad, appetizer, or dessert. Don't ever take a vegetarian here, unless you're just getting drinks or dessert, or going to the karaoke contest they host on occasion.
(2)Doug O.
Champps is right down the street from our house, and yet last night was our first visit there in the four years we've lived in town. We always forget about it, despite driving by regularly, because we are typically on the lookout for local establishments and not chains. (I've been many times in my hometown of Indianapolis, a/k/a Chain City, U.S.A.). However, the in-laws were in town, and given their conservative palates, we thought this seemed like a good time to break them out of their Rusty Bucket rut. Champps is a relatively upscale sports bar chain. The menu is fairly consistent with what you would expect. All four of us had salads and were actually quite pleased. My harvest chopped salad came with grilled chicken, green apples, blue cheese, and a vinaigrette. It was relatively light (especially for a sports bar) and delicious. I appreciated that they went light on the dressing instead of drenching the lettuce. The beer list was so-so. Several macros and a smattering of seasonal craft beers, with a decent local representation. The problem I had in ordering was that the local breweries' names were listed, but the specific beer on tap was often not listed, and our waiter had no idea. He brought my wife a beer that did not resemble the one he represented was on tap. The service, speaking of, was adequate but not great. Our server was friendly and outgoing, often stopping to chat amiably, but he knew little about the beer list, could not remember our drink orders (and two of the four people just had water), and let our salads sitting in the kitchen within sight of our table for quite a long time, despite having few other tables. Not terrible though. The place is crawling in high-end big screen TVs. This seems like a good place to come catch a football game if you're looking for something a little more upscale than Roosters or the like. Not bad.
(3)Michael N.
I ended up eating here twice in a row with different people who were visiting & wanting to try it. Visit 1: Friendly server. Decent food. I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich with fries & coleslaw. The pork was ok, but had to ask for BBQ sauce as there was hardly any on it. Same for my brother's BBQ dish he ordered. It took about 20 min to get our appetizer, & it wasn't even crowded. Add another 25 min for the entrées. I thought we'd never get out of there. Visit 2: Wow. This visit will ensure I take my money elsewhere. Our server was a nice girl, but we rarely saw her. It was kind of busy, but there's no excuse in this business, having worked in it. It was so bad that at one point, the hostess was trying to refill our drinks, bless her heart. Our entrées took eons to come out. We probably could've seen a movie & been back in time for the bill. The poor girl was very forgetful, too. I was terrified asking for anything as I knew I'd be waiting until my teeth fell out. My party's food was pretty much awful all the way around. Chewy chicken tenders, flavorless wrap, crispy burgers, cold fries, wrong pop brought out, refill of pop with a crunched up receipt inside it (was funny to see though), you name it. They brought out like 4 plates of fries for us to make up for it (none of us could even eat 1), & amidst the chaos, snagged our queso dip & salsa after having set down fresh chips for it, so that was cool, so much for that appetizer. Needless to say our entrées took an eternity to come out as well. I knew I shouldn't have strayed from B-dubs. I'm embarrassed for having suggested this place to my group, & treating my gf's dad to a terrible Father's Day dining experience.
(2)Amy F.
I'll keep this short and sweet. Average food. Average service. Average prices. This is not the Champps that it was back in tha day. This used to be one of my go-to restaurants. I'm sad to say they've lost their mojo.
(3)D B.
Bad service, cold food, rude manager and a gutless waitress. I like Champps normally....this one.....not so much.
(1)Mark W.
There were 3 adult males in our party at 11:10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. We were immediately seated but not one employee came to our table to ask for drinks or anything for at least 7 - 8 minutes.....in an empty restaurant. Two other tables were seated near us, a party of 2 & one of 3, while we waited. Finally rec'd drinks. However, we were not asked to order until AFTER the other two tables had placed their orders. This is an empty restaurant I remind you. Food arrived......we were so very disappointed. Kung Pao Chicken was lukewarm, truly flavorless, no kick/spice. Oh yeah, I use lime in my water....when I rec'd my water she indicated she'd be back with them, she must have had to pick them from the trees. Coffee was ordered w first cup very lukewarm and no checking in for refills until she was asked for a refill. When she returned many minutes later she did tell us that they had just brewed a pot. Wouldn't you think they'd have multiple pots of hot coffee available during their brunch hours? We were extremely frustrated with service but honestly everyone has bad days. The food was a waste of money. DEF NOT RECOMMENDING! No, we did not ask to speak to a manager. The server in the sun room......had he been my server I could have cared less about anything I experienced to have him at my table.
(1)Angie K.
So I have to be honest I went to this place not wanting to like it. i got the barbecue chicken sandwich plus pickles and it was awesome the sweet potato waffle fries tasted good but they were cold it came with some dipping sauce that I pretty much drank. The place was completely packed and we had to wait an hour for a table. I got the orange margarita and it tasted like a bag of sugar I had to send it back. BUT the bacon maple whiskey drink was awesome. It's called the maple leaf. I would come back for sure. Maybe on a less busy night.
(4)Peng L.
It is a cool restaurant. There are TVs playing football and basketball here. And the big screen here is also very cool. My favorite FOOD in this place is the pork ribs with sides of onion rings and salad. The ribs here are really awesome with sweet sauce. However, the waiters in this bar are not such good and clients sometimes be ignored when they sit down, maybe waiters are too busy to take care of them.
(4)Kelsie P.
Great service! Seriously our waitress was so nice and sweet. And the manager even came over to apologize for a tiny mistake in my delicious steak tacos and she was so sweet as well. Our server was Chelsea great but she only works Sunday's unfortunately :( but even the food runner was so nice. The food was great. Love this place. Check out the daily specials. Coming back here regularly.
(5)Johaun C.
if you're going to eat here, don't go in with crazy expectations and you should be fine. my philosophy: there are 4 things you're always better off knowing something about before heading in: war, marriage, the bathroom, and the restaurant. come here for their half-priced appetizers and the french onion soup (which i try everywhere i go, and for the money is still one of the best cups i've ever had). avoid the pizza.
(3)Alexander W.
I wanted somewhere close to me and moderately priced so I did a bit of searching on here before making my decision. I felt like a place with an average rating would be good and I wanted to go here. I did read a number of reviews that really didn't seem in the favor of Champps so I didn't come with the highest of hopes of getting 5-star service. That being said, I don't know anyone that works here, nor has previously, I myself don't work here, I don't get compensation for my opinion, and I understand that everyone has an individual experience when they go out. This was mine: I was alone, fairly well dressed and clean looking; which I'm sharing this because it is common sense that a first impression sets how someone is going to treat you. I arrived at Champps Restaurant & Bar at 21:46 tonight and was quickly met by their host and taken to a seat in the bar area. I was greeted by my server, Lexie, who was very polite and had a warm, genuine smile on her face, she was a little clumsy and very apologetic for it, and I really enjoyed her! I felt like getting some sort of fish, and decided on the Pepper Seared Ahi Tacos, which came with a side of chips and salsa. I got my food ordered by 21:51 and received it in just 6 minutes. The restaurant was not busy and this dish was not the most difficult to prep by any means, but such a short time frame was still very surprising to me. While I was eating I took my time to look around and get a feel for the restaurant, it had a very classic "Americana vibe" to me, and I absolutely loved the interior. The bar was unique and the top was clean from my perspective; there were many televisions placed all around the inside and the layout was really well designed. There were a few small things like straw wrappers on the floor that could have been swept up but other than that, the entire place was nice to look at and had a relaxing amount of lighting. Regarding the meal itself, the chips and salsa were nothing spectacular, they were sort of your average side. There was something that came with my dish that I was eating with my chips, though I'm not entirely sure it wasn't for the tacos, but it had a tropical appeal and was absolutely amazing with them! These tacos were really well presented and had a very succulent, delicious taste giving me a wonderful impression of the food here, though they weren't the most filling for me. While I was eating I needed two refills and quickly received a refill each time with no confusion of what I had ordered as my drink, which was an unsweet iced tea. I finished eating by 22:08 and in a couple minutes Lexie asked me if I would like dessert, I felt like getting some and got the Mega Ice Cream Cookie. She took the order in by 22:14 and I received the dish by 22:20, I was paying close attention to the time to really give people a good idea about how the service speed was here. This cookie was massive, I wasn't prepared for it to be nearly as large as it was but it was absolutely delicious. I have no complaints about the food at all! Lexie was wonderful, very personable and friendly. She took my orders without any problems or confusion and got them to me very quickly. She was extra attentive to me even though she had a couple other tables with groups of 4 and 5. I didn't have to wait for anything and she gladly got me the refills I needed, without me having to ask her for one. She was conversational with me and left a better impression than even the food did. My total bill was 23.65 and I tipped 15 in cash, had finished eating my meal and left by 22:36. I am impressed with Champps and am also surprised with the average rating being so low on here, but like I said, each person has a varying experience. I did happen to notice that some of the staff didn't have much business so they were hanging out around the back of the bar but that didn't bother me. I enjoyed my visit and plan to come back!
(4)Gina J.
I met a large group for Sunday brunch. I was super excited to order the French toast from the menu but when it came, my heart literally sank. When I come to an actual restaurant, the last thing I would expect would be French toast sticks. I'm not at a fast food drive thru ordering from the kid's menu. Hugely disappointed. The coffee was atrocious and no matter how much sugar or cream I loaded into my cup, I couldn't seem to get it down. If you're looking for a brunch spot, don't go here. Go to Burger King instead.
(1)Anna H.
This was my first time dining at a Champps. My friend & I chose it to break our monotony, since we always go to Bravo before we see a chick flick at Lennox. The atmosphere is nice; it reminded me of Damon's. Our server was training a newbie and they were both smiley and pleasant. My friend and I each had a glass of Moscato that tasted really good. She really enjoyed her Chicken Kung Pao with a side of broccoli. My Bourbon Salmon was perfectly cooked and wonderful. The two sides I chose were the Seasonal Vegetables and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries with Spicy Aioli. I loved the fries and aioli. I would get the same entree again. A few minor glitches: The seasonal vegetables turned out to be cooked baby carrots, which were fine, but I wish I had gotten the broccoli, listed separately under Sides. The server did not ask if we wanted another drink or dessert. We didn't, but it is customary to ask since it adds to the bill and the tip. You can hang meat in the ladies restroom. It's odd they only offer two pasta dishes. Very limited happy hour specials, like $2 bottled beer, and no wine. Other than that, I will most likely return to this location.
(4)Christopher G.
Lunch today. Got there about 11:20 and it was empty, but were seated literally right next to the kitchen door. Table was filthy, so much so we moved to the next table over...it too was dirty, but cleaner than the first...we used the extra napkins to clean it. Ordered the chicken wing (6) appetizer in Caribbean Jerk but it tasted funny. It was like Asian (Teriyaki) with red pepper flakes. Two of the wings were undercooked (cold and pink inside) which we brought to or waiters attention, and she said she would "let them know" but no manager showed up, nor was the bill adjusted. And when I pointed them out to her, she took the plate which still had our celery and dressing on it. I got the French Dip sandwich which was not good. A small amount of sliced beef on a hot dog bun...period. No cheese, onion, or mayo. Au Jus was watery...like beef broth from a can. She got Onion soup which she said was good, but said her chicken salad was dry and cold. Place is also too dark and very noisy even as light as they were, and service was slow on all fronts. $33 for one ap and two entrees...pricey to me for the quality/quantity of food. This was my second "not so good" visit...I dont think Ill be going back.
(2)Gem X.
Come here for the graduation party of my classmate. The food is ok but the service is nice though. Maybe just because the food is not my cup of tea.
(3)Jessica D.
A sizable sports bar/restaurant with typical sports bar/restaurant food, gigantic sports bar/restaurant tvs, and friendly barstaff and servers. Prompt service. Ideal for pre-movie meal at Lennox or watching the game.
(3)Buddy Jack E.
Standard, consistent and close to campus. Nothing to write home about but no reason to be concerned going in for lunch or drinks after work.
(3)Mark W.
There were 3 adult males in our party at 11:10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. We were immediately seated but not one employee came to our table to ask for drinks or anything for at least 7 - 8 minutes.....in an empty restaurant. Two other tables were seated near us, a party of 2 & one of 3, while we waited. Finally rec'd drinks. However, we were not asked to order until AFTER the other two tables had placed their orders. This is an empty restaurant I remind you. Food arrived......we were so very disappointed. Kung Pao Chicken was lukewarm, truly flavorless, no kick/spice. Oh yeah, I use lime in my water....when I rec'd my water she indicated she'd be back with them, she must have had to pick them from the trees. Coffee was ordered w first cup very lukewarm and no checking in for refills until she was asked for a refill. When she returned many minutes later she did tell us that they had just brewed a pot. Wouldn't you think they'd have multiple pots of hot coffee available during their brunch hours? We were extremely frustrated with service but honestly everyone has bad days. The food was a waste of money. DEF NOT RECOMMENDING! No, we did not ask to speak to a manager. The server in the sun room......had he been my server I could have cared less about anything I experienced to have him at my table.
(1)Angie K.
So I have to be honest I went to this place not wanting to like it. i got the barbecue chicken sandwich plus pickles and it was awesome the sweet potato waffle fries tasted good but they were cold it came with some dipping sauce that I pretty much drank. The place was completely packed and we had to wait an hour for a table. I got the orange margarita and it tasted like a bag of sugar I had to send it back. BUT the bacon maple whiskey drink was awesome. It's called the maple leaf. I would come back for sure. Maybe on a less busy night.
(4)Peng L.
It is a cool restaurant. There are TVs playing football and basketball here. And the big screen here is also very cool. My favorite FOOD in this place is the pork ribs with sides of onion rings and salad. The ribs here are really awesome with sweet sauce. However, the waiters in this bar are not such good and clients sometimes be ignored when they sit down, maybe waiters are too busy to take care of them.
(4)Walt S.
I wanted to have at least three visits to Champps Restaurant & Bar before reviewing, mainly due to the fact I held the belief (falsely in my book) that Champps.would serve up Buckeye sports in equal portions with good food & vibe. It has yet to capture me or take me there. First and foremost Champps is a restaurant. As such I've had wings, club sandwiches, quesadilla and salads. Their prep is good and hot food has been hot, cold food cold and taste is equal to hunger. Mouth-watering taste? I can only go so far as to write they get you there with abundance so I'm never completely sold... and yet I eat it all. Unless you and others are sitting in the bar area watching sports with some friends, interaction is challenging. Champps is a large restaurant as patrons talk over most of the announcements made as part & parcel to the broadcast. Example? I went there with friends to watch Ohio State basketball on a weeknight; could see a TV from most any angle; did not get play-by-play. Play-by-play audio wasn't on in the bar area either. So, I classify Champps as a restaurant and it does fine by me. It is A-OK. My club sandwich came with chips but I substituted cole slaw and got a heaping bowl of it. The white poppy-seed variety cole slaw which I happen to like. But there was a big bowl - half of which I left behind as I wanted the club sandwich. I'm not a beer drinker so I can only rate their Arnold Palmer drinks - they're A-OK, too.
(3)Will P.
Food meh, Ufc YAY!!! Champps can make a good burger every day of the week. Their gyro was terrible though. I like their desserts too. Unfortunately they don't stand out for anything in particular to the point where I want to go there a lot, especially since their prices are a tad higher than the traditional sports bar. But hey, if they are showing UFC i'm there!
(3)Tim S.
2.5 stars. Average food at best that is overpriced, but with huge portions. I have got several items on the menu and have been generally disappointed with most. A couple items are slightly above average and have decent value. I often get the quesadilla app and have it for lunch/dinner and have enough for leftovers. The drinks are expensive for a traditional sports bar. It's a nice place to watch a game - almost like a bw3 atmosphere with a wider selection of food. The draw here is that the menu is diverse enough to appeal to about everyone. I would say you will leave here full, but not necessarily satisfied.
(2)Jeff K.
Went to Champps because it was getting late and I was running out of choices. I had the fajita. The food was just ok, the service was slow and the waitress that night was not attentive. She did not get a decent tip.
(2)MeyMey L.
Love this place. Every time I order the Steak, it is always seasoned perfectly. The ribs are always crips and soft. Garlic mash potatoes are my all time fav at this place along with the seasonal vegetables. The waiters there are always friendly. Definitely my to go place.
(5)Cory S.
I live out of town, but every time I come into town and want to meet up with a group of friends, I call Champps and reserve a table. Even on busy sports days, they always accommodate my reservation request. The catch is to call well ahead of time as Champps is pretty busy. I am a huge Buckeyes fan, so it is nice to be at a sports bar that is still a casual restaurant. Champps is a very visible restaurant that most of my friends know about. The service is pretty good (sometimes fast and sometimes slow) and almost every time, I've had fresh, delicious food! I tend to get the burgers and sandwiches, and the appetizers are great. My friends have gotten other entrees there and seemed to have enjoyed them. While the food is good, it is the atmosphere that I tend to look for when getting a group of friends together.
(4)Jackie P.
The margarita's here taste like crap. Literally, thick, gross, nastiness. Do not order one. Not even during Monday $4 happy hour. You will regret it, I promise. Just stop. Right now. On Monday's they have $5.99 burger night. Can't go wrong. Any burger but Kobe or the double is on special. I recommend the bleu cheese, and hell...replace it with turkey meat. All-in-all the burger massive, and you'll probably have half a burger's leftovers if you eat the waffle fries that the meal provides. Oh yeah, the waffle fries....no seasoning, just cooked. Whatever - dip them in honey mustard and you'll be fine. I haven't gone any other night than a Monday for special, but it can be kind of expensive from the looks of the menu. Typical OSU decor lining the walls, and the bathroom is actually rather gorgeous! The dining area is extremely spacious, and great for families. But the service will probably be pretty slow.
(2)Taylor H.
I'm a strong believer in a bad server can ruin a night out. Our server was extremely awkward and very slow with all of our drinks. We told her we would like to drink for a while before ordering dinner. We then ordered an appetizer and she took the menus, we never had plates delivered with the appetizer. Had to ask for the menus back to order dinner.. Awkward. Every time she came to the table it was weird and we felt unwelcome. The food was good but way over priced. Also, the table and chairs were sticky. Women's restroom was nasty. Not impressed.
(2)Chuck k.
This location of 'Chumpps' is always over crowded and too loud. I walked out once because my party couldn't hear over the noise of the TV's, which were showing REPLAYS of old games. I mean, if there's a live event on, yes turn it up and enjoy. On a night with nothing, get the decibels down to 747 level. We complained and were told there was nothing they could do. The food is decent , but not great, and a little pricey. You do get a big portion, but if you're heading off to a movie, you may not want to take the 1/2 a sandwich with you.
(2)Steve M.
I love this place, but the one off Olentangy near campus. It is true, it is a bar that wants to be a nice restaurant. It is not the cheapest place of all time, but the food is good and proportionate. And if you go on a bar night, then after you eat they have karioki and cheap drafts. It is one of my Fav's in this area..but I am a sucker for chain restaurants.
(4)David O.
Thursday night football battle of Ohio, The service was really bad. We ordered nachos never got plates or napkins. Our server never even spoke to us. I don't think it was his fault. Just was busy and not staffed correctly. First time ever I did not tip in my life.
(1)Scott C.
The atmosphere at this location is better than Easton. The food was good, especially the calamari fritis. The service was on the slower side as many people were just hanging back and relaxing after the OSU game. This did not bother me at all. In fact it was nice to relax here. The food was good and at a very reasonable price. My only real complaint is a familiar one. The appetizer was only half consumed when out comes the entrée. Ugh. Memo to self - order and eat appetizer and THEN order the entrée. I would return here for sure.
(4)Marissa C.
Champps very much feels like a sports bar in atmosphere. There are tons of TVs, all tuned into sports, around the interior. The location near campus is reflected in the Buckeye decor, and it has a patio. There is plenty of parking, and it is near the movie theater and shopping in the Lennox, making it convenient for combining activities. The menu is huge, featuring tons of choices in appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and more. The food has been pretty typical sports bar food. We usually end up here as part of a group, and I have to say that they've done well handling a larger crowd with attentive service.
(3)Alexander W.
I wanted somewhere close to me and moderately priced so I did a bit of searching on here before making my decision. I felt like a place with an average rating would be good and I wanted to go here. I did read a number of reviews that really didn't seem in the favor of Champps so I didn't come with the highest of hopes of getting 5-star service. That being said, I don't know anyone that works here, nor has previously, I myself don't work here, I don't get compensation for my opinion, and I understand that everyone has an individual experience when they go out. This was mine: I was alone, fairly well dressed and clean looking; which I'm sharing this because it is common sense that a first impression sets how someone is going to treat you. I arrived at Champps Restaurant & Bar at 21:46 tonight and was quickly met by their host and taken to a seat in the bar area. I was greeted by my server, Lexie, who was very polite and had a warm, genuine smile on her face, she was a little clumsy and very apologetic for it, and I really enjoyed her! I felt like getting some sort of fish, and decided on the Pepper Seared Ahi Tacos, which came with a side of chips and salsa. I got my food ordered by 21:51 and received it in just 6 minutes. The restaurant was not busy and this dish was not the most difficult to prep by any means, but such a short time frame was still very surprising to me. While I was eating I took my time to look around and get a feel for the restaurant, it had a very classic "Americana vibe" to me, and I absolutely loved the interior. The bar was unique and the top was clean from my perspective; there were many televisions placed all around the inside and the layout was really well designed. There were a few small things like straw wrappers on the floor that could have been swept up but other than that, the entire place was nice to look at and had a relaxing amount of lighting. Regarding the meal itself, the chips and salsa were nothing spectacular, they were sort of your average side. There was something that came with my dish that I was eating with my chips, though I'm not entirely sure it wasn't for the tacos, but it had a tropical appeal and was absolutely amazing with them! These tacos were really well presented and had a very succulent, delicious taste giving me a wonderful impression of the food here, though they weren't the most filling for me. While I was eating I needed two refills and quickly received a refill each time with no confusion of what I had ordered as my drink, which was an unsweet iced tea. I finished eating by 22:08 and in a couple minutes Lexie asked me if I would like dessert, I felt like getting some and got the Mega Ice Cream Cookie. She took the order in by 22:14 and I received the dish by 22:20, I was paying close attention to the time to really give people a good idea about how the service speed was here. This cookie was massive, I wasn't prepared for it to be nearly as large as it was but it was absolutely delicious. I have no complaints about the food at all! Lexie was wonderful, very personable and friendly. She took my orders without any problems or confusion and got them to me very quickly. She was extra attentive to me even though she had a couple other tables with groups of 4 and 5. I didn't have to wait for anything and she gladly got me the refills I needed, without me having to ask her for one. She was conversational with me and left a better impression than even the food did. My total bill was 23.65 and I tipped 15 in cash, had finished eating my meal and left by 22:36. I am impressed with Champps and am also surprised with the average rating being so low on here, but like I said, each person has a varying experience. I did happen to notice that some of the staff didn't have much business so they were hanging out around the back of the bar but that didn't bother me. I enjoyed my visit and plan to come back!
(4)Megan V.
It's a sports bar where all can play! Champps is a great place to watch OSU football games or dine with the family. I recently dined/watched 2 football games there. It was fairly busy, but didn't seem like anyone was waiting for a table. We had a great view of the game from the bar side. Service was efficient and friendly. Our waitresses put up with the crowd throughout the entire game (almost 5 hours!). Food is decent. I've only ordered burgers and fries. The waffle fries always are good for something different. The restaurant seems to attract a mixed crowd of sports fans and families; thus, the atmosphere is fairly friendly and less wild than your average sports bar venue. I'd highly recommend going to Champps to watch sporting events for a nice, low key, open viewing spot.
(3)JJ S.
When I first moved to Ohio, I was so excited to see a champs near my apartment! I am a runner and I like to look at new running shoes. One day, I decided to check this place out, but lo and behold this is a bar and grill restaurant! I was a little embarrassed to say the least! I decided to come back with my boyfriend to give the food a try! He ordered the rack of ribs. It was a filling dish and the smoked BBQ flavor was all there. It was a bit on the pricier side for bar/grill food. I ordered a flat bread and it was COLDest flatbread I have ever eaten! But, the waitress was nice and re made my order and took care of the bill! Kudos to her and her customer service!
(3)Gina J.
I met a large group for Sunday brunch. I was super excited to order the French toast from the menu but when it came, my heart literally sank. When I come to an actual restaurant, the last thing I would expect would be French toast sticks. I'm not at a fast food drive thru ordering from the kid's menu. Hugely disappointed. The coffee was atrocious and no matter how much sugar or cream I loaded into my cup, I couldn't seem to get it down. If you're looking for a brunch spot, don't go here. Go to Burger King instead.
(1)Anna H.
This was my first time dining at a Champps. My friend & I chose it to break our monotony, since we always go to Bravo before we see a chick flick at Lennox. The atmosphere is nice; it reminded me of Damon's. Our server was training a newbie and they were both smiley and pleasant. My friend and I each had a glass of Moscato that tasted really good. She really enjoyed her Chicken Kung Pao with a side of broccoli. My Bourbon Salmon was perfectly cooked and wonderful. The two sides I chose were the Seasonal Vegetables and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries with Spicy Aioli. I loved the fries and aioli. I would get the same entree again. A few minor glitches: The seasonal vegetables turned out to be cooked baby carrots, which were fine, but I wish I had gotten the broccoli, listed separately under Sides. The server did not ask if we wanted another drink or dessert. We didn't, but it is customary to ask since it adds to the bill and the tip. You can hang meat in the ladies restroom. It's odd they only offer two pasta dishes. Very limited happy hour specials, like $2 bottled beer, and no wine. Other than that, I will most likely return to this location.
(4)David O.
Thursday night football battle of Ohio, The service was really bad. We ordered nachos never got plates or napkins. Our server never even spoke to us. I don't think it was his fault. Just was busy and not staffed correctly. First time ever I did not tip in my life.
(1)Walt S.
I wanted to have at least three visits to Champps Restaurant & Bar before reviewing, mainly due to the fact I held the belief (falsely in my book) that Champps.would serve up Buckeye sports in equal portions with good food & vibe. It has yet to capture me or take me there. First and foremost Champps is a restaurant. As such I've had wings, club sandwiches, quesadilla and salads. Their prep is good and hot food has been hot, cold food cold and taste is equal to hunger. Mouth-watering taste? I can only go so far as to write they get you there with abundance so I'm never completely sold... and yet I eat it all. Unless you and others are sitting in the bar area watching sports with some friends, interaction is challenging. Champps is a large restaurant as patrons talk over most of the announcements made as part & parcel to the broadcast. Example? I went there with friends to watch Ohio State basketball on a weeknight; could see a TV from most any angle; did not get play-by-play. Play-by-play audio wasn't on in the bar area either. So, I classify Champps as a restaurant and it does fine by me. It is A-OK. My club sandwich came with chips but I substituted cole slaw and got a heaping bowl of it. The white poppy-seed variety cole slaw which I happen to like. But there was a big bowl - half of which I left behind as I wanted the club sandwich. I'm not a beer drinker so I can only rate their Arnold Palmer drinks - they're A-OK, too.
(3)Will P.
Food meh, Ufc YAY!!! Champps can make a good burger every day of the week. Their gyro was terrible though. I like their desserts too. Unfortunately they don't stand out for anything in particular to the point where I want to go there a lot, especially since their prices are a tad higher than the traditional sports bar. But hey, if they are showing UFC i'm there!
(3)Tim S.
2.5 stars. Average food at best that is overpriced, but with huge portions. I have got several items on the menu and have been generally disappointed with most. A couple items are slightly above average and have decent value. I often get the quesadilla app and have it for lunch/dinner and have enough for leftovers. The drinks are expensive for a traditional sports bar. It's a nice place to watch a game - almost like a bw3 atmosphere with a wider selection of food. The draw here is that the menu is diverse enough to appeal to about everyone. I would say you will leave here full, but not necessarily satisfied.
(2)Jeff K.
Went to Champps because it was getting late and I was running out of choices. I had the fajita. The food was just ok, the service was slow and the waitress that night was not attentive. She did not get a decent tip.
(2)MeyMey L.
Love this place. Every time I order the Steak, it is always seasoned perfectly. The ribs are always crips and soft. Garlic mash potatoes are my all time fav at this place along with the seasonal vegetables. The waiters there are always friendly. Definitely my to go place.
(5)D. K.
pretty good as far as chain restaurants..lots of seating options and decent food...if there's a game on and you can't get it at home this place does hit the spot!
(3)D. K.
pretty good as far as chain restaurants..lots of seating options and decent food...if there's a game on and you can't get it at home this place does hit the spot!
(3)Marissa C.
Champps very much feels like a sports bar in atmosphere. There are tons of TVs, all tuned into sports, around the interior. The location near campus is reflected in the Buckeye decor, and it has a patio. There is plenty of parking, and it is near the movie theater and shopping in the Lennox, making it convenient for combining activities. The menu is huge, featuring tons of choices in appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and more. The food has been pretty typical sports bar food. We usually end up here as part of a group, and I have to say that they've done well handling a larger crowd with attentive service.
(3)Buddy Jack E.
Standard, consistent and close to campus. Nothing to write home about but no reason to be concerned going in for lunch or drinks after work.
(3)Mike B.
Paying $9 for two pints during happy hour hours was a bit much. At least the bartender uniforms made for decent eye candy?
(2)Chrislyn K.
I went to this restaurant for the first time in the past week with my sister, mom, and grandparents. Each and every one of us ordered a different meal and enjoyed what we ordered without complaint! It wasn't the greatest food I've ever had but I had no large concerns with it either. The service was fast and kind, the dessert was large, the establishment was clean. Our table had a great view of the kitchen and we were also conveniently located by several TVs on the wall. All around, the experience was great!
(4)Jessica D.
A sizable sports bar/restaurant with typical sports bar/restaurant food, gigantic sports bar/restaurant tvs, and friendly barstaff and servers. Prompt service. Ideal for pre-movie meal at Lennox or watching the game.
(3)Brian F.
I enjoyed my trip here this evening. They have some pretty good happy hour specials including $5 appetizers. We tried the mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers and quesadillas. The quesadillas really stood out as excellent, especially with the guac that came with them. The other apps were fine, and I liked that we got three dipping sauces with the chicken fingers. Other than that, it's a huge space with pretty good service and a good option for dinner before a movie if you don't mind spending a little bit of money.
(3)Luke T.
Came here with a large group from the office a few days back. Considering there were upwards of twenty of us, I'd say things went pretty decent. The servers totally brought out people's desserts before their entrées, but hey, you'll have that, right? NO. YOU WON'T. They also, despite having been given a list of people's names with their orders, opted to bring food out and holler out entrées waiting for people to claim them. The service was kinda sucky, and you know what? When I was here with my ex a few years back, the service sucked the fun out of funnel cake then too. I can't remember the specifics, but I remember that they got her order wrong, then found it acceptable to argue with her about it. The saving grace might be the food, which although not amazing, is decent. This most recent visit I had some of the blue cheese chips and the tuscan salmon. The salmon was really good. It was nice and pink, moist and flaky. Resting on a bed of artichoke hearts, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, and other vegetables, it definitely hit the spot. One of the gentlemen in our group ordered an ice cream cake, which unbeknownst to him or anyone else, is over a foot tall. The restaurant actually brought out two, one on the house, which was nice of them. We split the cakes between the group and each made three laps before even coming close to finished. Pretty amazing, but totally disgusting to look at. Pictures forthcoming...
(2)Katherine D.
First up: freebies! Champps gives you a free burger just for signing up for their email list, and a free dessert around your birthday. I ended up using my free burger coupon today (although I kind of wish I'd gone for the free dessert). I've been to this Champps several times, and they're always okay. They do an INSANE amount of lunch business and during sporting events, so be prepared. I got there around 1pm, and the place was full. I was the only person at the hostess' desk, so I was a little miffed that I had to stand around for over 5 minutes before someone happened to come by the front desk and seat me, and even then it seemed like an afterthought. For someplace that does as much lunch business as they do, you'd think they'd staff their front desk a bit better. I also noticed as I left the restaurant after my meal that there was STILL no host at the front desk (and several people waiting at the front). The thing with Champps is that their portions are HUGE. I'm not sure that's a good thing. I ordered the mushroom & swiss burger with onion rings, and while it wasn't bad (the onion rings were especially good!), it was so large that I left quite a bit of food on my plate. Total cost after coupon = $2.98 plus tip. Was it worth what I paid this time around? Absolutely. Was it worth the $15 plus tip I would have paid without the coupon? Probably not, especially when their portions are so big that you leave half of it on the plate at the end of the meal (no place to put leftovers at work). I'm sure I'll be back, though...their menu is varied enough that anyone can find something worthwhile on the menu. I just hope that the staffing issue was a fluke and not par for the course.
(3)Cory S.
I live out of town, but every time I come into town and want to meet up with a group of friends, I call Champps and reserve a table. Even on busy sports days, they always accommodate my reservation request. The catch is to call well ahead of time as Champps is pretty busy. I am a huge Buckeyes fan, so it is nice to be at a sports bar that is still a casual restaurant. Champps is a very visible restaurant that most of my friends know about. The service is pretty good (sometimes fast and sometimes slow) and almost every time, I've had fresh, delicious food! I tend to get the burgers and sandwiches, and the appetizers are great. My friends have gotten other entrees there and seemed to have enjoyed them. While the food is good, it is the atmosphere that I tend to look for when getting a group of friends together.
(4)Karla B.
It was great place to watch the OSU game! There are tons of tv screens. Wait staff is very nice and helpful. They also show PPV fights...Saturday fight night.
(3)Kelsie P.
Great service! Seriously our waitress was so nice and sweet. And the manager even came over to apologize for a tiny mistake in my delicious steak tacos and she was so sweet as well. Our server was Chelsea great but she only works Sunday's unfortunately :( but even the food runner was so nice. The food was great. Love this place. Check out the daily specials. Coming back here regularly.
(5)Huanan W.
This was my first time here at Champps and I went with my roommate. The service was ok but the food wasn't really what I expected. We decided to try the NY shrimp & steak but when it came out, there was no shrimp at all, it was nothing like the pic on the menu. Above that, the steak was a little over cooked. But it did taste ok.
(4)