Jack & Benny's Old North Diner — Restaurant in Columbus

Anyone leaving less than at least 4 stars needs to get a reality check. Jack and Benny’s is what it is - and I love her for that ♥️

My husband and I go to this diner once a week and have been going here once a week for years, now. Sure, maybe the diner doesn’t have extra income to spruce up the front room, but I love the front room. The owners have beautiful plants there that are well-taken care of and they have vintage artwork specific to Ohio football covering the walls.

I love the old diner feel of this place and let me say that we have NEVER been harassed about leaving a tip - but also, leave a tip, people. It’s 2024 and we should know better by now.

English is not the owner’s first language, so it may be good for patrons to know and understand a few things about how this diner functions:

1. if you want time to spend at the diner, come before 10 am (ESPECIALLY on a weekend) or come on a weekday (better yet, come before 10 am ON a weekday). This place does get busy! It isn’t a coffee shop where you can sprawl out on your laptop - keep it moving!

2. yes they do not accept cash anymore and honestly, get over it. This place took covid VERY seriously (as they should!) and stopped taking cash payments back then and never went back. It truly isn’t that big of a deal - you can pay using apple pay or google pay and everyone has a phone.

3. SERVICE IS GOOD!!! Honestly! Except sometimes people are nasty and yeah! Ive seen the servers give what they get! Lol! Some places you can be a dick to the staff and they will still be courteous - not here! That doesn’t make the service bad, it just means they won’t tolerate your nonsense. Also: they DO refill your drinks!! I have never had to ask for a coffee refill, they always just do it.

4. The food is good and they did up their prices, but you get what you pay for (in a good way!). For my husband and I to get 2 entrees and 2 coffees, it’s usually about $32 for the two of us which really isn’t bad. I normally get the veggie breakfast wrap which is a more expensive item on the menu (and quite good 😊).

5. I dont know what people are talking about when they say they have to wait for their check?? Sometimes it can be on the slower side, depending on how busy they are, but yeah if you’re in a hurry, don’t come here!

Finally, I will say that if you are looking to support a women-run, family-owned, small local business, this is the place. If you have time, talk to your server. Ask them about their travels or how they are doing today. Don’t be a disgruntled customer looking for posh service - be a human connecting with other humans.

We love you, Jack & Benny’s! Thank you...

This was the second time I went to the restaurant, and just like the first, the food was delicious. However, the service was atrocious. The waiter, who's name I never caught, because he never introduced himself, was a short blond 20 something… 1) Once again, he did not introduce himself. 2) He was terse throughout our entire encounter. 3) He would take plates without asking, when it was not obvious we wanted them cleared. 4) The waiter was unable to split the check due to a change in policy (more below on that). I asked to speak to the manager, because last time I came there this was not the case. The wait came to the table abruptly, pointed out the policy stated on the menu with his finger, said nothing, and walked away. 5) My friend wanted a coffee refill, the waiter asked in the middle of eating if he wanted it "to go". 6) He brought the check before we asked. 7) He told us they were busy so as soon as we finished our plates we had to go, but we could sit in their "lobby" if we wanted to continue to drink coffee. By the time we left the place was no longer THAT busy for Brunch.

The billing policy change was not the waiter's fault, but since the customers are now only allowed one check per table. I find this bizarre in 2017. Most people no longer carry significant amounts of cash, and most people split bills when they go out in a large group. So instead of providing their customers with more options, which will encourage them to come in larger parties, they do the opposite. There is no reason for this.

I dine out a lot the Columbus Metro area, and after 4 years of living here, I have never had such an experience. This is unacceptable to me, and they will not be getting any more of my money.

**If the owner or anyone that works and cares about the restaurant reads this, then I was there at 10:30AM SU 5/21/2017. Hopefully you can identify this staff member and provide further training or better yet, fire him. I think at his age, regardless of training, he should have some idea of how one should treat customers. He's either a douche or a moron. Regardless, no someone that should be the "face"...

We went there for brunch and I had to use the restroom upon walking in and asking us to sign in. I walked over to the restroom in which I had to walk by a nasty cart full of dirty dishes as it was blocking the hallway, the door was locked. Instead of wanting to wait in a small hallway I thought I will just wait up front and went into the waiting area. From there I checked again and someone left and someone else got up. So instead of waiting in the "designated waiting area." I waited up front where someone asked if I was in line and I politely said oh no I am waiting for the restroom and already signed in. Then this punk kid asked me to leave the area where I was and I explained what I was doing and what happened. He said very rudely you are in the way and you need to move. So I moved away from the table again in the area where I could see someone leave the restroom and he said sir I need you to wait in the waiting area and I said I am not hurting anything and then he told me to go wait by the restroom again super rude then shook his head and called me an idiot. I then got angry and asked what his name was in which he declined to give it to me. Then I asked to speak to a manager and pointed to some girl. I then asked her if she was the manager and she would not answer as I asked her 4 times as she tried to deflect it then asked me what happened. I told her and just said you know what you don't deserve my business and left. I am tired of rude people in a customer service industry and it is getting really bad. I would not go here based on their inability to just be polite and treat people in a kind and respectful manner. We went to First Watch on-campus and had a...