Tiffany C.

I'm glad that Upper Arlington has decided to keep this hometown staple from the past. A small shopping center towards the end of the hustle and bustle of Upper Arlington sits this ode to a past diner. I can't vouch for dinner, but stopping by here for breakfast on a blustery winter morning was not a bad start to my morning. The menu here is limited and very cut and dry at a whopping two pages... (Tiny pages, too) In fact, there's nothing really fancy about it. You'll find more modern cooking at a waffle house, but its all-in-all a nice little knook to grab some breakfast. Service was good and friendly. No qualms here. Strangely enough...They have a drive up service available for carry out orders. It is indeed a time capsule at best, but I don't think a drive out of your way to get here is totally worth it, but for locals... it's not too shabby.

Tash L.

If you're driving around Upper Arlington on a Saturday morning looking for a simple, no frills breakfast in an old school diner, you've found your joint. Eggs, pancakes, and toast are the feature items on the menu but what more do you really need? The eggs were cooked right, the toast was generously buttered, the pancakes were fluffy, and the side of home fries were crisp...maybe a little too crisp at times but still, good for what they were. I'll be back!

Ryan S.

Places like this once were center of many small towns in the area I grew up. You know the place, with the 1950/60s decor, the mom-and-pop model, where you take the bill to a register displayed with Hersey Chocolate and Snicker bars. A menu of basic The Walton's Americana choices; the kind of diner you must walk out of with a toothpick sticking out your mouth no matter if there is something caught in your teeth or not. Unique to my experience the place didn't have one but two bars. They both jetted out in unison from the kitchen in a 20-some degree angle. This formation makes the bar area more intimate yet retains a good number of single seating. When I came the place was slow, but this seemed expected as the servers worked on project at the bar. There was just a few customers: basically families eating with children after school let out across Tremont. It's been here for awhile and seems central to UA. I stopped in starving after visiting the library. I ordered pork chops. When I did the waitress inform me that it was cook on the stove and not baked, which means it is more stringy. This is the way I cook them so I was game. The cops were good, quality pork, and the amount serve was worth the price paid. Sides were a single soft roll and a no thrills salad which were on par for a diner. The server were great and the food served pretty quick. The price was pretty good. Ideal for a quick dinner when you are lazy, or busy. Not a thrills, date, cool kind of place, but the solid support that makes those kinds of places possible.

Kira K.

Chef-O-Nette Rocks!!! I've come in here since I was a kid. I love the fact they don't take away the decor we all have known! Last week when I was here I saw Cameron Mitchell at the lunch counter with his son having lunch. Love it. So.they have the BEST Old time french fries. LOVE them!!!!!! And good basic burgers. I'd be so sad if we didn't have chef-O-Nette!!!

Russ J.

What a waste! This could be a great icon in the Columbus area. All it needs is for someone to come in add a fresh coat of paint, a total clean, and some new carpet. Make a Hamburger with fresh ground beef . Get a quality meatloaf and a few other items. Considering its location this place should be packed! Its tired and needs a wake-up! Average at best with maybe the best potential in the entire city for a Diner.

Randy S.

Chef-O, that Upper Arlington staple, has been around for over 50 years now. And it looks like it. In fact, I doubt things have changed here much at over the passage of five decades. The menu is super traditional. Greasy burgers, fries, breakfast stuff. We're talking diner cuisine here. It's nothing you have had before. The atmosphere is the big draw at Chef-O. Oh, and the prices are darn low too.

Brian P.

The theoretical possibility of time travel has been acknowledged by top research scientists for decades, but the practical problems associated with its implementation create many hurdles. Chef-O-Nette (hereafter to be referred to in local parlance as "Chefo") has successfully overcome temporal inertia to create a time portal, but it only goes back to suburbia in 1955. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but closed Sundays, Chefo has become a rite of passage for Upper Arlington families. On the way to becoming a local landmark, though, it has ingrained itself as a must-eat place for anyone who passes through UA. This diner, and with its chrome and swivel-stooled counters must be considered a diner, has two banks of counter seats, many booths, and an odd auxiliary dining room in the back. A glass candy counter is where one takes one's check to pay for the meal. But make sure to buy Lik-em-aid, or Beemans Gum, or Necco wafers, or a Clark Bar when you've paid. Meals are classic American comfort food. Burgers, swiss steak, fries, whipped potatoes, veggie of the day, fish, grilled cheese, etc. My wife gets a crab salad plate of some sort and loves it. Dinner specials with that ubiquitous white dinner roll abound. Breakfast offerings (served all day but for an extra 25 cents after 11, honestly! An extra 25 cents!) include pancakes, waffles, eggs, breakfast potatoes, and the like. Prices are very similar to the Eisenhower era. Milkshakes and malted are pricier than the real cherry or vanilla Cokes, but all are worth getting due to the inexpensive food cost. Look, is this the best or biggest meal you're ever going to have? No. But it is a place where grandparents take grandkids, families eat year after year, baseball teams come to celebrate or lament, plots are hatched, and schemes are carried out. Americana has a photo in the dictionary, and Chefo is what appears. Eat here for the authentic Sputnik era ambiance, but return here because it's nice to know that an honest meal at an honest price has not perished from the earth.

Hanna N.

Had dinner here recently and really enjoyed my meal. Simple diner food, but very delicious! I had a simple salad, burger and fries. I could have eaten more! The service was great! Very friendly! I like the history and how they have kept everything the same. I'll be back!

Evalyn C.

I hear this place is an Upper Arlington institution. It's easy to see why. The Sunday the hubster and I stopped in, it was busy but the service was so quick! All the food and coffee we ordered was well made, tasty, exactly as requested, and delivered with serious promptness. This is not fancy fine-dining or anything other than a family-friendly greasy spoon, but I really loved it. Such a nice atmosphere.

Maxwell R.

The place seems pretty dirty and needs some renovation. I know it's supposed to be a local mom and pop diner but I definitely think it could use some work. Food is decent but not the best, it is however pretty cheap. Coffee is good as far as I can remember. It seems like its better to come here for breakfast, otherwise I'd probably only show up if I didn't want to spend a lot and it was the closest thing.

Josh H.

We are new to UA, so we don't have any family history at Chef-O-Nette. But its easy to see why people wax nostalgically about it. It really is a throwback to the 1960s. I got a burger with a side of mash potatoes and gravy. Burger was good, fresh veggies crisp. Good mashies. I LOVE the fact that you get a side of coleslaw in a bowl that was clearly put in with an ice cream scoop. Come on peoples, this place has got some old school charm! Decor is vintage. When you're done, you take your check up to the register to pay, and the counter is filled with candy. Service was VERY friendly and on top of things. I visited with my 10 year old daughter, and she loved it. It looks like we have a new tradition!

Brent T.

An Upper Arlington tradition, in the same plaza as the other Upper Arlington traditions: Huffman's Market; Moretti's; The Goody Shop. I was worried Chef-O-Nette would lose its 1950s MoJo when it replaced all its upholstry a few years back. Thankfully, the switch in color scheme from Aquamarine Naugahyde to Maroon Naugahyde did not alter the fundamental essence of the place. The funky pendant light fixtures and sunburst clock remain unchanged, standing vigil, preserving the Eisenhower era. The food here is Diner Food. Ham Steak. Fried Fish. Cottage cheese. Breakfast any time. Burgers with fries. Some other Yelp reviewers have questioned the food. Guess what? This is not an $11 "Gastropub" Prime Rib burger, nor is it fast food with God-Knows-What-Chemical added to make it taste like we imagine it should taste. This is Diner Food. Put on some Ketchup, some Mustard, or some Mayo. Or all three. And eat the pickles and onions on top. And when you pick up your tab (hand written out on one of those delightful old pale green and white tickets with red numbers, placed discreetly upside down in front of you on the counter), notice you've just paid 1950s prices (OK, probably 1960's at this point, but still . . .) Don't like it? You are not Diner Food Folk. Go back to Red Lobster or The Olive Garden, McDonald's or (shudder) Burger King. I, for one, will keep "Chef-O" for Saturday mornings.

Nijole T.

This was such a funky change of pace, I felt like I was in the 50's I loved the crazy bar, the waiters, all of it was so fun to experience. The bathroom was a real hoot, tiny and paisley print from floor to ceiling, including the toilet paper, a real trip! The food dirt cheap, at least most of it. My husband got 2 Chef O Double Burgers at $3 each, the patty tasted and looked exactly like a McDonalds Cheeseburger, the bun bigger and lettuce and tomato fresher. The onion rings at $3 for 5 thin and overfried rings was too much money and not worth it. I had the Chef O salad, also descent. In all, fun to see, stick to the burgers for a cheap and fast meal, the servers are also a trip, definetly worth the memories but not worth going back to.

Doug O.

This place looks like it has been preserved completely intact since 1964. I don't know how they encased the entire diner in amber, but it's pretty badass. If you're a fan of midcentury decor, check it out for the appearance alone. If you like breakfast food, this is a good stop too. The breakfast menu is pretty no-frills, but that's what a cheap diner is all about. The food is simple, tasty, and cheap. I had a ham and cheese omelette and a side of hash browns and it only cost about six bucks. And it was damn good. I'd definitely go back, and maybe try lunch or dinner too.

Ron D.

Horrible. extremely hot in this 1970's decor of a restaurant. sat in a booth and our table had a bad lean! ordered scrambled egss and they were bland and barely scrambled. ordered home fries as well and they were old cold and chewy obviously left over from previous day. smallest glass of Ice tea I've ever seen. to cheap to leave sweetners on the table. portions were small as well. save your money.

Walt S.

The restaurant serves its purpose. It is a Upper Arlington area institution that rests on the laurels of being a family quick-stop breakfast and lunch feeder-ree! Kids eventually turn into teens and college goers who then turn C-O-N into a place to review their night-before drinking escapades while hangovers get nourished with french fries and burgers. Let's get to it. C-O-N delivers the goods as an inexpensive, early morning diner. Ambience? Oh, its all 50s and 60s motive but nothing overdone. Nostalgia for locals oozes as that same motif was there when Mom & Dad "took me there"..... I hear that... really! Inexpensive - sure is. Food portions - nearly match the coin needed to eat. Breakfast is simple. Choose something with an egg .... get the bacon before you choose the sausage..... rye toast is better than white or wheat (personal preference there)... and there are kids portions too. All good. BE SURE and check the condiment buckets, though. I sometimes flinch a little having to stir in the new ketchup back into the day-old goop. But it works.... its diner fare. The rave is the french fries with burger (cheese if you please). It's comfort food, hangover food, chat-with-your-friends food. The burgers are nothing special, albeit always hot and greasy but not homeade. The fries are always HOT and crispy and you get VOLUME. That is key to keeping down those Blue Moon ales consumed the night before. The wait staff.... be a patron and be a favorite. I fawn over Allie and Deeana - the sisters working every other weekend. Choose the second diner bar in on a Saturday morning, bring a paper, have coffee and smile. A & D will be kind. So, 3-stars it is for C-O-N.

Josepi S.

Why oh why did I order the spaghetti dinner here? The salad was 100% shredded iceberg lettuce, the roll was straight from the grocery, the sauce was out of a can of ragu. If I ever go back, remind me to stick to the cheeseburger and fries!

Stephanie K.

This is a great place to come for comfort food on the cheap. The menu has your typical diner items: cheeseburgers, spaghetti & meatballs, fried chicken, milkshakes, cobbler, etc. The food isn't amazing, but it's pretty decent. And again it's cheap! I don't think any of the entrees exceed $9 or $10. I crack up at the paper place mats every time I come. They have just an image of a ceiling fan and a hanging lamp - the same ones that can be found in the restaurant. It just seems like they should have something less random and stark on the place mats. Perhaps an artist's sketch of the exterior of the restaurant?

Ka T.

Now this is a place to take you back in time. If you were to think of a hometown diner this would be it. The food is good, the staff is friendly and the price is as low as it goes.

Doug O.

This place looks like it has been preserved completely intact since 1964. I don't know how they encased the entire diner in amber, but it's pretty badass. If you're a fan of midcentury decor, check it out for the appearance alone. If you like breakfast food, this is a good stop too. The breakfast menu is pretty no-frills, but that's what a cheap diner is all about. The food is simple, tasty, and cheap. I had a ham and cheese omelette and a side of hash browns and it only cost about six bucks. And it was damn good. I'd definitely go back, and maybe try lunch or dinner too.

Ron D.

Horrible. extremely hot in this 1970's decor of a restaurant. sat in a booth and our table had a bad lean! ordered scrambled egss and they were bland and barely scrambled. ordered home fries as well and they were old cold and chewy obviously left over from previous day. smallest glass of Ice tea I've ever seen. to cheap to leave sweetners on the table. portions were small as well. save your money.

Walt S.

The restaurant serves its purpose. It is a Upper Arlington area institution that rests on the laurels of being a family quick-stop breakfast and lunch feeder-ree! Kids eventually turn into teens and college goers who then turn C-O-N into a place to review their night-before drinking escapades while hangovers get nourished with french fries and burgers. Let's get to it. C-O-N delivers the goods as an inexpensive, early morning diner. Ambience? Oh, its all 50s and 60s motive but nothing overdone. Nostalgia for locals oozes as that same motif was there when Mom & Dad "took me there"..... I hear that... really! Inexpensive - sure is. Food portions - nearly match the coin needed to eat. Breakfast is simple. Choose something with an egg .... get the bacon before you choose the sausage..... rye toast is better than white or wheat (personal preference there)... and there are kids portions too. All good. BE SURE and check the condiment buckets, though. I sometimes flinch a little having to stir in the new ketchup back into the day-old goop. But it works.... its diner fare. The rave is the french fries with burger (cheese if you please). It's comfort food, hangover food, chat-with-your-friends food. The burgers are nothing special, albeit always hot and greasy but not homeade. The fries are always HOT and crispy and you get VOLUME. That is key to keeping down those Blue Moon ales consumed the night before. The wait staff.... be a patron and be a favorite. I fawn over Allie and Deeana - the sisters working every other weekend. Choose the second diner bar in on a Saturday morning, bring a paper, have coffee and smile. A & D will be kind. So, 3-stars it is for C-O-N.

Katherine H.

Cheff-O-Nette is a place that is great for kids and for people wanting a taste of classic, unchanged Americana. I suggest going either before 8am in the morning so you can watch the banter with people who start every morning here or go after 1pm after the lunch rush is done. My favorites here is the Hang-Over Burger which seems to have everything but the kitchen sink- Hamburger, ham, cheese, onions, tomato, crisp lettuce and then there's the milkshakes. Unfortunately the sides are unimaginative brought in from a supplier. Dinner is more comfort food and nothing is over 9.95 for a full meal on this menu and the size of the portions are still great for the price. In the end this is a great place for the kids if you don't want to cook for them and they are usually captivated with the bustling place and the spinning stools on the two round counters. Even the pickiest kid can usually find something and they will cook breakfast for you for a small added charge.

Chuck k.

The food is so-so but it is cheap. What makes the Chef-O-Nette insteresting is the fact they must have been in this location for around 50 years, and the decor hasn't changed! Step into the time warp that is Chef-O-Nette!

a good place where you can get a good meal at a good price

Josepi S.

Why oh why did I order the spaghetti dinner here? The salad was 100% shredded iceberg lettuce, the roll was straight from the grocery, the sauce was out of a can of ragu. If I ever go back, remind me to stick to the cheeseburger and fries!

Kira K.

Chef-O-Nette Rocks!!! I've come in here since I was a kid. I love the fact they don't take away the decor we all have known! Last week when I was here I saw Cameron Mitchell at the lunch counter with his son having lunch. Love it. So.they have the BEST Old time french fries. LOVE them!!!!!! And good basic burgers. I'd be so sad if we didn't have chef-O-Nette!!!

Maxwell R.

The place seems pretty dirty and needs some renovation. I know it's supposed to be a local mom and pop diner but I definitely think it could use some work. Food is decent but not the best, it is however pretty cheap. Coffee is good as far as I can remember. It seems like its better to come here for breakfast, otherwise I'd probably only show up if I didn't want to spend a lot and it was the closest thing.

Ryan S.

Places like this once were center of many small towns in the area I grew up. You know the place, with the 1950/60s decor, the mom-and-pop model, where you take the bill to a register displayed with Hersey Chocolate and Snicker bars. A menu of basic The Walton's Americana choices; the kind of diner you must walk out of with a toothpick sticking out your mouth no matter if there is something caught in your teeth or not. Unique to my experience the place didn't have one but two bars. They both jetted out in unison from the kitchen in a 20-some degree angle. This formation makes the bar area more intimate yet retains a good number of single seating. When I came the place was slow, but this seemed expected as the servers worked on project at the bar. There was just a few customers: basically families eating with children after school let out across Tremont. It's been here for awhile and seems central to UA. I stopped in starving after visiting the library. I ordered pork chops. When I did the waitress inform me that it was cook on the stove and not baked, which means it is more stringy. This is the way I cook them so I was game. The cops were good, quality pork, and the amount serve was worth the price paid. Sides were a single soft roll and a no thrills salad which were on par for a diner. The server were great and the food served pretty quick. The price was pretty good. Ideal for a quick dinner when you are lazy, or busy. Not a thrills, date, cool kind of place, but the solid support that makes those kinds of places possible.

Tiffany C.

I'm glad that Upper Arlington has decided to keep this hometown staple from the past. A small shopping center towards the end of the hustle and bustle of Upper Arlington sits this ode to a past diner. I can't vouch for dinner, but stopping by here for breakfast on a blustery winter morning was not a bad start to my morning. The menu here is limited and very cut and dry at a whopping two pages... (Tiny pages, too) In fact, there's nothing really fancy about it. You'll find more modern cooking at a waffle house, but its all-in-all a nice little knook to grab some breakfast. Service was good and friendly. No qualms here. Strangely enough...They have a drive up service available for carry out orders. It is indeed a time capsule at best, but I don't think a drive out of your way to get here is totally worth it, but for locals... it's not too shabby.

Tash L.

If you're driving around Upper Arlington on a Saturday morning looking for a simple, no frills breakfast in an old school diner, you've found your joint. Eggs, pancakes, and toast are the feature items on the menu but what more do you really need? The eggs were cooked right, the toast was generously buttered, the pancakes were fluffy, and the side of home fries were crisp...maybe a little too crisp at times but still, good for what they were. I'll be back!

Evalyn C.

I hear this place is an Upper Arlington institution. It's easy to see why. The Sunday the hubster and I stopped in, it was busy but the service was so quick! All the food and coffee we ordered was well made, tasty, exactly as requested, and delivered with serious promptness. This is not fancy fine-dining or anything other than a family-friendly greasy spoon, but I really loved it. Such a nice atmosphere.

Hanna N.

Had dinner here recently and really enjoyed my meal. Simple diner food, but very delicious! I had a simple salad, burger and fries. I could have eaten more! The service was great! Very friendly! I like the history and how they have kept everything the same. I'll be back!

Brent T.

An Upper Arlington tradition, in the same plaza as the other Upper Arlington traditions: Huffman's Market; Moretti's; The Goody Shop. I was worried Chef-O-Nette would lose its 1950s MoJo when it replaced all its upholstry a few years back. Thankfully, the switch in color scheme from Aquamarine Naugahyde to Maroon Naugahyde did not alter the fundamental essence of the place. The funky pendant light fixtures and sunburst clock remain unchanged, standing vigil, preserving the Eisenhower era. The food here is Diner Food. Ham Steak. Fried Fish. Cottage cheese. Breakfast any time. Burgers with fries. Some other Yelp reviewers have questioned the food. Guess what? This is not an $11 "Gastropub" Prime Rib burger, nor is it fast food with God-Knows-What-Chemical added to make it taste like we imagine it should taste. This is Diner Food. Put on some Ketchup, some Mustard, or some Mayo. Or all three. And eat the pickles and onions on top. And when you pick up your tab (hand written out on one of those delightful old pale green and white tickets with red numbers, placed discreetly upside down in front of you on the counter), notice you've just paid 1950s prices (OK, probably 1960's at this point, but still . . .) Don't like it? You are not Diner Food Folk. Go back to Red Lobster or The Olive Garden, McDonald's or (shudder) Burger King. I, for one, will keep "Chef-O" for Saturday mornings.

Brian P.

The theoretical possibility of time travel has been acknowledged by top research scientists for decades, but the practical problems associated with its implementation create many hurdles. Chef-O-Nette (hereafter to be referred to in local parlance as "Chefo") has successfully overcome temporal inertia to create a time portal, but it only goes back to suburbia in 1955. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but closed Sundays, Chefo has become a rite of passage for Upper Arlington families. On the way to becoming a local landmark, though, it has ingrained itself as a must-eat place for anyone who passes through UA. This diner, and with its chrome and swivel-stooled counters must be considered a diner, has two banks of counter seats, many booths, and an odd auxiliary dining room in the back. A glass candy counter is where one takes one's check to pay for the meal. But make sure to buy Lik-em-aid, or Beemans Gum, or Necco wafers, or a Clark Bar when you've paid. Meals are classic American comfort food. Burgers, swiss steak, fries, whipped potatoes, veggie of the day, fish, grilled cheese, etc. My wife gets a crab salad plate of some sort and loves it. Dinner specials with that ubiquitous white dinner roll abound. Breakfast offerings (served all day but for an extra 25 cents after 11, honestly! An extra 25 cents!) include pancakes, waffles, eggs, breakfast potatoes, and the like. Prices are very similar to the Eisenhower era. Milkshakes and malted are pricier than the real cherry or vanilla Cokes, but all are worth getting due to the inexpensive food cost. Look, is this the best or biggest meal you're ever going to have? No. But it is a place where grandparents take grandkids, families eat year after year, baseball teams come to celebrate or lament, plots are hatched, and schemes are carried out. Americana has a photo in the dictionary, and Chefo is what appears. Eat here for the authentic Sputnik era ambiance, but return here because it's nice to know that an honest meal at an honest price has not perished from the earth.

Josh H.

We are new to UA, so we don't have any family history at Chef-O-Nette. But its easy to see why people wax nostalgically about it. It really is a throwback to the 1960s. I got a burger with a side of mash potatoes and gravy. Burger was good, fresh veggies crisp. Good mashies. I LOVE the fact that you get a side of coleslaw in a bowl that was clearly put in with an ice cream scoop. Come on peoples, this place has got some old school charm! Decor is vintage. When you're done, you take your check up to the register to pay, and the counter is filled with candy. Service was VERY friendly and on top of things. I visited with my 10 year old daughter, and she loved it. It looks like we have a new tradition!

Nijole T.

This was such a funky change of pace, I felt like I was in the 50's I loved the crazy bar, the waiters, all of it was so fun to experience. The bathroom was a real hoot, tiny and paisley print from floor to ceiling, including the toilet paper, a real trip! The food dirt cheap, at least most of it. My husband got 2 Chef O Double Burgers at $3 each, the patty tasted and looked exactly like a McDonalds Cheeseburger, the bun bigger and lettuce and tomato fresher. The onion rings at $3 for 5 thin and overfried rings was too much money and not worth it. I had the Chef O salad, also descent. In all, fun to see, stick to the burgers for a cheap and fast meal, the servers are also a trip, definetly worth the memories but not worth going back to.

Stephanie K.

This is a great place to come for comfort food on the cheap. The menu has your typical diner items: cheeseburgers, spaghetti & meatballs, fried chicken, milkshakes, cobbler, etc. The food isn't amazing, but it's pretty decent. And again it's cheap! I don't think any of the entrees exceed $9 or $10. I crack up at the paper place mats every time I come. They have just an image of a ceiling fan and a hanging lamp - the same ones that can be found in the restaurant. It just seems like they should have something less random and stark on the place mats. Perhaps an artist's sketch of the exterior of the restaurant?

Ka T.

Now this is a place to take you back in time. If you were to think of a hometown diner this would be it. The food is good, the staff is friendly and the price is as low as it goes.

Meredith R.

The Chef-O-Nette was the very first restaurant I spent my own money at, and the first restaurant I ever went to without my parents. My 12 year-old self bought a hot dog, fries, and a coke with her $3.50 in allowance money, and my 27 year-old self usually does the same. One of the great things about this place is that the prices, decor, and attitude of the wait staff hasn't changed much over the past 50 years. I come here every time I feel the need to do a bit of time traveling, since I can immerse myself in an environment that looks EXACTLY the same as it did when I was four. The food is seriously sub-par, but when you're paying less for a sit-down diner meal than you would at the Wendy's drive through, you have to expect that.

Laura C.

THIS is what a diner is supposed to be mainly because it has been in existence far before many of us were ever conceived and has never been renovated. Prices are still the same as I remember them in the 90's - CHEAP and the food is greasy delicious. I have always ordered the same thing from here and always will until I die - chicken filet sammie and usually a side of fries (the fries are nothing special, just those frozen "scrunched" types). Eating at the "bar" is the only way to go. I don't think I've ever had their shakes but it's on my to do list (never been a huge milkshake fan, I don't hate 'em, just never really crave them). Love all the childhood candy at the cash register. Cow tails for 25 cents, don't mind if I do! I like to take people here who are from out of town or who are even from Columbus but have never been. They always like it.

Kurt H.

AWFUL! Food was cold and greasy. Even the coffee was subpar. Waste of money.

Paul F.

I stopped here yesterday for an early dinner. It's very much as other have described it. I had the ham steak dinner which came with two sides, and a very large roll and butter. I went with cottage cheese and apple sauce. For dessert, I had a bowl of tapioca pudding. Even with all that, I still got out without spending a ten-spot.

Wesley F.

An Upper Arlington classic! Every time we go in my parents tell me a "when my family used to come here" story and I think that's part of the reason this place is so special to ua residents. That's only part of it though, the other part is really good diner food cheap! If you haven't been here stop reading this and go now! Why are you still reading? You should be eating their hangover burger by now!

Marsh W.

This is the place, Naugahyde and fountain drinks with old school french fries (order them extra crispy). Our kids pretty much spent every Saturday morning of their early lives there for breakfast. It's been there for over 50 years and hasn't changed a bit. Harlan (the owner) works his rear off to put out good food for people and has done a great job. In the age of franchises and carbon copies, this is the real deal.

Bee S.

Went here for breakfast today and "meh" is really the only way to describe it. I wasn't expecting much, since I was told it was just a very simple little place with a minimal breakfast menu. However, I really just was not impressed with my meal at all. Let alone the interior and entire staff just made me feel like I stepped in a time machine. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it was almost a nice retro/nostalgic feel... but you better have the goods to back it up. The over medium eggs I ordered were fine, but that's about it. The rye toast literally tasted like air. No substance at all and way over toasted. It was so hard that it practically disintegrated into crumbs/dust upon taking one bite. The sausage was so greasy I didn't want to eat it, and the pieces were quite small. The pancakes my boyfriend got looked and smelled good, but once I had a bite, I decided they were no better than a Bisquick pancake you would make at home. Not even from scratch. Maybe they are made from scratch, but I didn't taste the homemade love. Pretty "blah", IMO. Hashbrowns were good, but be warned that they don't always have shredded hashbrowns. Our waitress said she has worked there for 25 years and today was only the 3rd time they had ever served shredded hashbrowns. I think they must usually serve the cubed potato kind. Our waitress was pretty friendly but there were a few random employees that literally were just standing around near our table and would walk back and forth between two spots 5 feet away... and just stare. It was actually kind of creepy and made me want to finish my meal and get out of there. Not sure what that was all about, but off-putting nonetheless. So, overall, nothing super horrible about this place, and it was fine for today, but I probably will not go back.

Todd B.

I'm surprised by many of the reviews that call this place inexpensive. Maybe they have recently raised their prices? I had breakfast at The Chef the other day, and paid 6 bucks for a ham & cheese omelet. Since an omelet is all you get, I also ordered hash browns for $2.70, and a side of sausage for $3 and some change. Add a cup of coffee to that and my bill was $15 bucks for breakfast. That's WAY too much money for food that doesn't even fill up the space of the plate it's served on. If you're going to charge me nearly $3 for hash browns, then my man, throw some hash browns on that plate. A half a handful does not cut it! The food was tasty, and this would be a good review if it cost me $8, or if the portion was bigger for the price I paid. The value just wasn't there.

Melanie B.

A girlfriend and I went here today when we were out looking for holiday partay dresses (note: always eat AFTER you've tried everything on!). My friend went to high school in UA, so she knew of this little diner, and we marveled at how such an establishment could possibly be located in snooty Upper Arlington... but alas, it IS everything everyone mentions (including dusty!). This is your basic feel-good diner. It's REALLY inexpensive, and the menu is pretty limited, but everything we had was good. We just got cheeseburgers with fries - which was nice because it was a moderate portion and not overwhelming. Nothing to particularly write home about, but the side of mac n cheese (the world's most perfect food) was pretty good. My whole meal cost me seven bucks. Now, not an every day type of meal, but definitely what I'm talkin' bout. Service was fast, friendly, and polite. I'd come back, though I still maintain that Johnny's has the best burgers I've ever had. *drools*

Russ J.

What a waste! This could be a great icon in the Columbus area. All it needs is for someone to come in add a fresh coat of paint, a total clean, and some new carpet. Make a Hamburger with fresh ground beef . Get a quality meatloaf and a few other items. Considering its location this place should be packed! Its tired and needs a wake-up! Average at best with maybe the best potential in the entire city for a Diner.

Randy S.

Chef-O, that Upper Arlington staple, has been around for over 50 years now. And it looks like it. In fact, I doubt things have changed here much at over the passage of five decades. The menu is super traditional. Greasy burgers, fries, breakfast stuff. We're talking diner cuisine here. It's nothing you have had before. The atmosphere is the big draw at Chef-O. Oh, and the prices are darn low too.

Shawnie K.

Chef O Nette is a quick, easy place to grab a meal and not spend a lot of money. You'll certainly find half of Arlington in the restaurant on Saturday mornings, not to mention a few famous football players who grew up in the area. I like the place and it is certainly cherished by those who live or grew up in the neighborhood, but I award it three stars based solely on the fact it is a diner and nothing more. The Chef-O, as its name is lovingly abbreviated, offers nothing more than standard diner fare. People talk it up mostly for its unchanged 1950's atmosphere and the extremely low prices- which are truly hard to beat for a decent home-cooked meal. Do not come here expecting a unique dining experience. And definitely don't come here if you want to eat healthy. It's bacon, eggs, burgers, fried steak, and as much coffee as you can stomach. Although, I must admit the milkshakes are pretty darn good and the Hangover Burger has worked its greasy magic more than once for me! I live very close to the Tremont Center and quite often we order carry out before walking the dogs. With Chef-O's pickup window facing the parking lot, it's easy to take the dogs for a spin through Northam Park and swing by the carryout window to grab breakfast or lunch. I can't remember the last time I spent more than $4 or $5 on carry out. If you are interested in a good cup of coffee and a whiff of nostalgia, the Chef O' Nette is for you.

Andrew Z.

Good food. Great people. The hangover plate is the best deal in town.

Edward W.

An UA institution. It seems the menu hasn't changed in decades. The prices are unbelievably low. The quality of the food is questionable. The servers are not particularly friendly. It's not a clean place. The people who eat there are a combination of the ancient, the bloated, sunburned mega-osu fans, the loud, and the hungover. It's worth experiencing once.

S W.

This place gives you that classic dinner feel. Something I believe is lacking in the Columbus area. The food is standard dinner food with nothing jumping off the menu. I would be liar if I told you that is was above average in the food department, but I can tell you it is not a bad place to grab a quick bite to eat.

F Z.

I can't help but wonder how sanitary Chef-O-Nette is. I was curious upon hearing that the restaurant's decor has--more or less--stayed the same, but I knew I had made a big mistake after seeing the dining room, then the presentation of the condiments... It only went downhill, I soon learned. I stepped inside the ladies' room to wash my hands before my meal and walked out in disgust. I ate my lunch (and the two slices of rye bread that accompanied my 'Sta-Slim' dish) with a fork and knife. Cleanliness question aside, the food was sub-par. My 'Sta-Slim' plate was actually a bun-less burger. Eating a burger without the bun is like eating a birthday cake without icing. Depriving this girl from carbs only takes away major stars. The rye bread was quite dry, but the cottage cheese tasted decent. Then again, you have to TRY to make inedible cottage cheese. AT's chicken fingers (which came straight from the kid's menu) was, surprisingly, pretty good. I didn't try the french toast that AT ordered, but truth be told, it didn't look all that appealing. True, it's hard to put a dent in your wallet here (especially with their breakfast menu), but I do think that the quality reflects the prices. Things to keep in mind: 1) Servers seem to mainly cater to the regulars which was quite apparent 2) Bring hand sanitizer if you plan on eating with your fingers. I really wish I could have given Chef-O-Nette a 1.5, as opposed to a 1, but I was REALLY unimpressed by the food right down to the service.

Christopher S.

Awesome diner / comfort food. Walk through the doors and you'll think you were whisked 40 years in the past by a time machine. The Chef-o-Burger is so good it's sinful.

James L.

I LOVE this place. My four year old daughter and I have a "daddy-date" here most every Friday. She loves their macaroni and cheese and i love their burgers. Now...it's not the best food in the world, but there is something comforting about going to a place with all of the nostalgia of yester-year. The people there are super nice and it feels like "home". Even though their food is just OK, their milkshakes are really yummy. Each week after lunch, we head around the corner to the bakery in Tremont Center to get a cookie. I hope they stay in existence for at least another 50 years...so I can take my GRANDkids.

Caroline C.

Chef-O-Nette doesn't look much from the outside, but inside, the decor retains lots of original 1950s features. In total, we ordered 2 burgers (rather small, but pretty delicious), 2 fries (hot and fresh), a soda, a water, a bowl of chili (a little watery but decent) and a side of coleslaw (fresh but a touch too sweet for my taste), and the bill came to just over $11! Incredible!