Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails

Great staff, cozy, good food. I didn’t have a chance to try one of their cocktails. 8* outside so I went with server recommendation of the chicken fried chicken mashed potatoes and corn. Happiness and warmth!

Tip Top is, in my opinion, a Columbus staple. Not because of the relaxing décor and warm service, the ever changing menu is always two thumbs up. Everything being locally grown is huge! You know from the time you read the menu you’re going to enjoy your meal and you’re not lying to yourself, it’s all fresh and delicious. Great drink specials and selections as well.

This is one solid bar. I will definitely try to come back when back in town. I came here with my parents on a Sunday evening after checking out the German Village Christmas Festival. As it was a Sunday it was light on the crowd, but still quite busy. We sat at the bar and order two rounds; some Maker’s Manhattans, some craft beer choices, and some pinot noir. All of the drinks were done well and the Manhattan was beautifully prepared. This is more of a dive which I appreciate. My mom ordered the soup on the menu and enjoyed that as well; although a bit spicy for her liking. I looked over the menu (wasn’t hungry at the time) and decided that I’d order some of the sandwich selections the next time around. The bartender was very urban, helpful and efficient and made our group feel welcome. Great bar. Would highly recommend if in the area.

Went here twice on my short trip to Columbus.
LOVE this place, Wish we had somewhere like back home.
Real food until 2 AM? A variety of tasty dishes, reasonably priced drinks, a cool funky vibe, and nice servers/​bartenders? What more could you possibly want?!
My first visit was with a big group on a Friday night. Although they were busy we were still able to be seated almost immediately.
Everyone got different food, and we were all happy with our meals.
They have plenty of options to satisfy meat eaters, vegetarians, pescatarians, etc.
Came back for a late meal with my husband and dad, and once again we very happy with our experience.
Unfortunately, they were out of some items (fries, onion rings) but, it was 10 on a Sunday night.
I will definitely be back on future visits to Columbus!

Great place with solid food. I only eat here for lunch. I’ve never had dinner here or drank at the bar. My review is thus a bit limited.
The place is always busy and is in a good location where it’s getting harder to find a decent place for lunch.
The food is better than standard bar fare. Service is good and efficient. Get here early so you can sit outside.
The pot roast sandwich is delicious and classic. Generous portion of food.

I thought this place was a lot of fun! Lots of other reviews seem to hate the décor of the restaurant, but I thought it was fun. It was all completely eclectic, and it was fun to notice the odd pairings of decoration. The lighting is dim, and if they turned up the lights some, it would probably lose most of its charm. The carpet is dirty and walls could use some touch up. The food though, was incredible. I tried some of everyone in my group’s food, and each dish was very tasty. If I’m ever back in the Columbus area, Tip Top will be on the top of my list!

We ate there about 2 weeks ago. It took quite awhile to get seated even though there were plenty of seats. I think, maybe, they were understaffed.
The beer selection was good, the feta cheese appetizer was delicious. My spicy mac and cheese was terrible. It was macaroni noodles, frank’s hot sauce and blue cheese in a bowl. Granted I opted out of the grilled chicken, but I do not think that would have come close to saving it. I ate about 3 bites. My husband had a ham and coleslaw sandwich, and the coleslaw tasted very blah and had too much mayo. Over all it was a disappointment, and with so many amazing places to eat in Columbus, I doubt we will be back.

I was in town for a work conference and was told that I had to stop at Tip Top for dinner while I was in the area. I arrived on a Monday evening and the restaurant was decently busy. I was immediately greeted and sat right away. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really cool… kind of a dive bar feel which is totally right up my alley. The menu looked really good but I settled on the beef stroganoff. It was different from any other beef stroganoff that I’ve had but it was so so good. The pot roast they served with is was absolutely amazing, so tender and juicy. I love that they served the sour cream on the side as well. Definitely a great place to stop in for a quick bite to eat. The food came out super fast and the service was fast as well.

I’ve been here for both dinner and brunch. Brunch of course is my favorite, but their dinner menu is also delicious. For brunch we usually get the Sal’s big mess or the breakfast sandwich. Both are really good. Portions are huge. We just had dinner there this past week and I had the chicken fried chicken and corn fritters for an appetizer. Again, both were really good. They are known for their pot roast, but in general, I’m not a fan of pot roast so I steer clear of it. My biggest complaint about this place is the service. We’ve never once had good service here and this last time we outright rude service. It’s annoying because it’s a great place to go downtown, but the service is tiring. I don’t know that I need to go back for some time.

*Lunch Review*
Stopped by at noon on a Friday and was pleasantly surprised that there was just a quick 5 minute wait to sit out on the patio on a sunny day! Off to a good start.
The staff here is really friendly — our waiter was charming and perfectly helpful, as was the guy taking names at the door.
Tip Top has a decent beer menu ($ 2 PBR all the time) and the food is standard bar fare with a couple of extras that make it feel a little more special — like the goat cheese salad or the vegetarian corn chowder. I had a club sandwich with house made Russian dressing and handcut chips. It was a very tasty lunch.
Over all it’s a good spot downtown to grab lunch with friends for under $ 15.

So, I’ve been to Tip Top a few times. The first time for lunch and the most recent was for brunch. I loved the Pot Roast sandwich for lunch. Flavorful, juicy, good. Sweet potato fries were on point. I have been underwhelmed by brunch, however. This weekend I went and got the Western omelette. It has ham, cheese, peppers, onions… and a pound of eggs wrapped around it. Seriously, there was too much egg and I was about to barf. The problem was, the egg didn’t even taste good and I’m not sure that it wasn’t pre-​made. Kinda gross. I did enjoy their breakfast potatoes when I could get around the egg monster on my plate. Just, too much egg.
I enjoyed my Bloody Mary. The service was pretty good. The space itself seemed kinda dirty. Then again, it seems that all Columbus Food League restaurants aspire to be a little divey. That’s fine, whatever.
Prices are average. Maybe a little over priced for the quality. I may come back but right now, I’m not feeling it for brunch. We may be seeing a trend in Columbus Food League quality here… which is a real shame. I miss Surly Girl.

A good friend of mine made me the most amazing birthday gift: a custom ‘Lord of the Rings’ themed birthday bar crawl map, printed life-​size with every detail accounted for.
The name «Tip Top» will forever haunt this map, a prominent scar among a pantheon of established downtown watering holes that would otherwise brilliantly shine without it.
I’ve never stepped foot into an identity crisis quite like Tip Top’s. It’s not a bar. It’s not a restaurant. It’s nothing — a void that covers itself up by throwing the kitchen sink at its customers. Unilocal wants specifics. Well then, let’s get specific.
Tip Top is the only ‘place’ (remember, not a bar or restaurant) that mixes every atmospheric element in the book. Dive bar christmas lights. Gaudy chandeliers. 90s house music (including the theme song to ‘Night at the Roxbury’ — Baby Don’t Hurt Me). It feels like some rich kid stole his father’s Amex, went to Spencer’s Gifts, and turned his basement lair into what he thinks a night club is. I didn’t dare peek around our booth, but I bet there’s a lava lamp tucked away in at least one of Tip Top’s crevices.
The food disappoints as well. I’m not sure who came up with the ruse to swap nacho chips for potato chips in Tip Top’s ‘nachos’ dish, but the net result is pure sadness. Nachos should be nachos; don’t mess with what works. I’m certain that absolutely no one goes to Tip Top for potato chips covered in watery cheese, and they’re absolutely justified in their thinking not to do so. The chips are just one example of where Tip Top’s food falls short.
The most disappointing element of Tip Top, though, is the service, particularly at the front door. A word to management: if you want to be a bar, be a bar. Get rid of the host/​hostess position. Let people sit where they want to sit, then serve them. You’re paying someone to do a job that does little more than frustrate your customers.
In the end, Tip Top mainly survives because of location, which won’t always be the case. If you happen to be in the area, fire up your Unilocal app and go anywhere, everywhere else. You’ll thank me.

I have been to Tip Top a few times, and each experience has been wonderful! The outside may look misleading with the black wooden façade, but I absolutely love the atmosphere inside. It’s casual yet classy with a vintage Ohio vibe. I’m all about the Columbus pride, and this restaurant gives it off in a very subtle way with Victorian Ohio artifacts.
The food is also excellent and well priced. I usually have great difficulty deciding what to order because many things on the menu are appealing. There are quite a few options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, though I’ve stuck with the vegetarian meals.
The service is great. I’ve never had to wait long to be seated, and the staff is very accommodating. On my latest visit, I mentioned my interest in sitting outside, though the patio was full. Once we were seated inside for a few minutes, the host made a point to let me know when there was a space available outside. The servers were very quick to fulfill our requests, and our food came out very quickly with no problems.
I highly recommend this restaurant to downtown visitors that want a cheap, quality meal in a comfortable atmosphere.

Frequent lunch location.
The meatloaf is to die for here.
Get here early especially on a Friday as lunch groups quickly fill the place.
I would have given it a minimum 4 stars but a few times my food was uncharged for picking some side items over others without being advised. $ 2 for sweet fries over regular fries. Do sweet potatoes walk over there all the way from Idaho?!. No complaints, would just be nice to advise the customer of potential up-​charge for different sides rather than questioning the bill when it arrives.

Fantastic «Ohio comfort food» as they call it on the menu at Tip Top. The Pot Roast was deliciously seasoned and served with potatoes, carrots. Celery, and tasty turnips all presented in a sizzling skillet. Just what we needed during a recent late-​night dinner. The sweet potato fries with their accompanying spicy mayo were also thoughtfully seasoned. Just enough starch to help soak the specialty cocktails my party of 4 ordered.
Since it was late, the slow greet by the hostess can be forgiven. She also turned out to be our server, and qas really on the ball in that role. What I cannot abide, though, is the sour odor that greeted us instead. The wait area, such as it is, is directly behind the barstools. Either a yeasty beer drain or fermented soda syrup was likely to blame. This is what prevents me from awarding the 5^th star.
The drinks we enjoyed were the «Bottoms Up» — Always$ 3.00 — with Old Crow Bourbon, RC Cola, and a cherry; a «Jungle Jack Hanna» with orange vodka, pineapple, cranberry, and 7-​up, and a drink with citrus vodka and St. Germain elderflower liqueur; plus a regular Cosmo for a loyalist — all were reported to be quite tasty.
I’d go again for sure, but maybe sit out on the patio… far from that smell.

Interesting vibe with decent food
After reading the many reviews, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I’m happy to say Tip Top exceeded my expectations in a variety of ways.
On my visit, we had good service. We were seated promptly. We both ordered a few beers and sandwiches. The drinks and food came out fairly quickly. And, the sandwiches were yummy. The atmosphere is fairly dark with old adornments. It’s a unique and intimate feel.
I wouldn’t say it is exceptional, but I’d be happy to go back again. It’s a nice option downtown.

Tip Top is the old school vanguard of the downtown revival. The atmosphere matches the décor, cool and dark but not too sunglasses at night. I’ve been here in just about every iteration — alone, with a group, late night, for brunch, happy hour — and it’s an all-​around solid experience. Service in general is friendly and attentive, and they don’t get pissy if you’re on the wagon. The beers rotate, the drink menu is fun.
The menu has changed little over the years, and I think that is positive for Tip Top. Daily specials are posted near the host station. There are tons of vegetarian plates, with vegan or vegan-​possible options. Lots of appetizer choices — Ohio nachos, fried green beans, eggplant fries, and Tip Top was doing sweet potato fries before people even knew what they were. Their vegetarian corn chowder gets a thumbs-​up every time. Spicy gardinera mix is also a specialty (look for «hell» on the menu and there you go). The hell salad is one of my favorites here, with a little sriracha — it will cure your stuffy nose right quick. Big salads, big sandwiches (I am partial to the salmon hoagie), and comfort food entrees that hit the spot. Prices are right at the top of the price point for the food, but the portions are generous.
There was a period of time where consistency was lacking, but over the past year I’ve noticed an improvement — with the number of restaurants serving nights/​weekends growing downtown, Tip Top needed to step their game back up — and they have done that well.

This place has personality – a bit on the divy side, but I liked the atmosphere and the eclectic décor. I chose to come here mainly because of their menu – it’s a pretty good size, many different options, and the prices were very reasonable. They also have a nice drink selection, plenty of beers to choose from as well as a number of whiskey cocktails if that’s more your style. The open faced roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and corn was what I was anticipating, and I left full and satisfied. I wish I had tried the sweet potato fries though since I just read so many of you raving about them!

FYI this place does not take reservations. If you have a group larger than 4, expect to wait. Around 11:30am on a workday, the place isn’t too crowded. Since my group of 9 had to wait so long, we all decided to get sandwiches, faster than getting a comfort food type entrée. Didn’t have any problems with service. Wait time from ordering to get food seemed pretty average (maybe 10 – 15 minutes?).
The sandwiches are really good. I definitely recommend the Chipotle Turkey ($ 9) with sweet potato fries for $ 2 extra. The sandwiches come with a good amount of meat, and other reviewers aren’t kidding about their sweet potato fries. They are definitely fanfastic. Everyone has a different preference for crispiness but I thought these sweet potato fries were spot on.
This is a good choice for lunch. I’d consider coming back for happy hour and/​or dinner.

I stumbled upon Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails while looking for a place to eat in downtown Columbus as it is just around the corner from the Renaissance downtown. At around 10 p.m. on Friday the entire patio was full of youngsters having a beer. I was hesitant to enter as this looked more like a pub rather than a restaurant but after a long day I was too tired so just walked in.
As usual the greeter tried to stick me to the bar but I refused and asked for a table which got me an eye roll that I proceeded to ignore. After getting a table I was pounced upon by a hurried server who wanted to start me off on some drinks so I went with iced tea ($ 2.65). As soon as it was served I was interrogated for my order. I asked for a recommendation and it seemed that I just laid the weight of the world on my servers shoulders. Anyway in a very non-​committal way she responded that people like their pot roast ($ 11) and shrugged her shoulders to drive her point home. Anyway, not knowing anything better I decided to go with that.
In less than 5 minutes I had the pot roast in front of me. Taste wise it was pretty good. Not the best that I’d had but was pretty good none the less. The beef seemed to have been cooked separately and then put on top of the stew as it seemed dry even though it was fork tender. It just lacked the juiciness that you get when it is pot roasted over a period of time. Quantity was not huge but was good enough for one person.
Prices are pretty cheap and being a small place it is packed till late in the night. When I left at 11 p.m. there was a huge line at the door with people waiting for a table. Overall it was a pretty enjoyable meal. My take is that Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails is more of a pub which also does food. It caters to a young demographic that likes to hang around chatting and drinking. It is not well suited for solo diners so I may not repeat in the future, but am happy that I tried it out.

Bei der Suche nach Dinner am Sonntag Abend gibt es nicht ganz so viel Auswahl, vieles hat geschlossen. Unilocal hat mich zielsicher hierher geführt.
Entsprechend den Empfehlungen bin ich beim Tip Top Pot Roast Sandwich gelandet. Auf Deutsch: Ein großes Laugenbrötchen gefüllt mit Siedfleisch-​Krümeln und einer Scheibe Käse. Sie sagen Schweizer Käse, aber… erzählt einen in der Schweiz lebenden Deutschen nichts von echtem Schweizer Käse! Ich persönlich hätte einen Raclette oder Gryère bevorzugt, aber für das nur am Rande. Am wichtigsten war: es schmeckt als Gesamtkunstwerk gut. Die hausgemachten Kartoffelchips als Beilage fand ich eher mäßig bis schlecht, vielleicht hatten die ihre beste Zeit schon hinter sich. Der Teller wurde also nicht leer und mein Magen nicht voll.
Das sollte sich aber schnell ändern: Zum Ausgleich bestellte ich noch eine Portion Sweet Potato Fries — und hier muss ich sagen, einsame Spitze! Ich habe noch nie so frische und spannend scharf gewürzte Süßkartoffel-​Pommes gehabt. Soo lecker! Tipp: schnell essen, sonst werden sie kalt und labbrig. Aber frisch: perfekt!
Fürs Essen vier Sterne, aber 1 Abzug wegen der Kartoffelchips.
Ambiente ist leger und urig, mit Rockmusik aus den Lautsprechern, gerade richtig, nicht zu laut.
Jeweils einen halben Extrapunkt gibt es für die Kreativität auf der Karte (sehr abwechslungsreich und nette eigene Kreationen) und die Bierauswahl (22 Sorten von Fass, darunter auch Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen oder Hard Cider). Macht insgesamt 4 Sterne.