our imagination, you can feel as though you are in a small town. There is just kind of a Mayberry, North Carolina type of vibe here. It's a hidden gem within the sprawling metropolis of Columbus.Located in the center of this hidden gem is another hidden gem: Abner's. Located near the intersection of Main and Center, this unassuming little spot is barely noticeable unless you look for it. It also sits right between two very popular spots: Otie's and Old Bag of Nails Pub. Both are good. But Abner's is something on another level.
Think "Gourmet Diner Food". The head chef graduated from an esteemed culinary school and was formerly a chef at The Refectory, a well known high cuisine spot on Bethel Road. So while the menu looks like your typical diner fare, prepare to be surprised when your food arrives.
The place is definitely a diner. And I love diners. My wife and I used to go on diner hunts, trying to find an obscure little spot in a small town. No need for that anymore. Everything here is just a notch or 3 better than typical diner fare, while maintaining a small town diner feel. I have been here so many times, and tried so many different dishes, that it is hard to know which to talk about first. I'll try to touch on the highlights and just let you decide for yourself when you see the menu.
Want breakfast? Steak and eggs has always been my favorite. And the steak and eggs here are the best I have ever had. I don't know what they season the huge ground beef patty with, but it is amazing. Garlic-onion potato cakes and corned beef hash are also advised with it, but only if you have time for a long post meal nap. I'm not a pancake guy, but my wife swears by the cornmeal pancakes. And she is definitely a pancake girl.
Okay, you want lunch? I have had cheeseburgers in virtually every state in this country, and very few compare to this place. Amazingly seasoned, grilled to perfection, and on a soft bakery bun coated with butter, these things are crazy good. My personal favorite is the bacon cheeseburger, but they offer enough variations to please any taste.
Dinner includes a nightly special, ranging from pot roast to stuffed chicken and gravy. Angela ordered the latter tonight, and loved it. I ordered one of my favorites from any restaurant, a French Dip sandwich. I had never had it here before, and it did not disappoint. Fantastic Au Jus, a nice melted provolone, and a perfect bun. Delicious!
In summary, this may be my favorite diner in the world. And I've been to a few. It's good to be back on the west side. Please check this place out. It is worth the trip to Hilliard.
My review of the awesome Abner's from October 2009 on Urban Spoon: Abner's Does Old Hilliard Proud
ReplyDeleteIt was Sunday. I wanted breakfast, and my husband Jeff wanted lunch. We stumbled upon Abner's, and we both got a delicious dining experience.Abner's offers four different types of pancakes, including cornmeal pancakes - my favorite. One pancake, with a side of bacon was exactly the breakfast fare that I had craved. Jeff, who had planned on getting a cheeseburger wherever we ended up eating, had a change of plans when saw the steak and eggs combinations on the menu. He ordered the chopped sirloin with two eggs, rye toast and a side of fried potatoes. Jeff isn't a huge potato fan, so I called dibs on them, and he ordered a side of corned beef hash as well. The chopped steak was really good (he gave me a bite). The corned beef hash was your standard hash from a can, but it was cooked into a crisp patty-like shape, and did not disappoint.Abners has a full service bar. They only had one beer on tap during our visit, but they offer a wide variety of bottled domestics. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is smalltown old school - decorated with sports equipment and uniforms from Hilliard Davidson and Hilliard Darby, and with an amusing placeholder for stuff from the new Hilliard Bradley high school. Jeff and I will definitely visit Abner's again.
Hi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Greg and I'm contacting you from Urbanspoon. I noticed that you have a spoonback (the Urbanspoon icon link) on your blog for Top Steakhouse. Thanks for linking to us! However, in order for the spoonback system to work correctly, the spoonbacks need to be placed in the actual post about the corresponding restaurant. Currently, you have the spoonback placed in the footer of your blog.
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