Ritzy's — Restaurant in Columbus

This isn’t the GD Ritzy's you fondly remember. The GDR from the 80’s had a nice 50’s charm to it. The 2018 version has the ambiance of a school cafeteria.

Saying the service is slow is an understatement. I was there at 2:30 and while waiting in line, I clocked how long it took to service each customer. The average was roughly 2-3 minutes. Not so bad until you realize you’re tenth in line.

The reason for the bad service is simple. One, the staff is inexperienced and - from what I could tell - under managed; so they get a pass. Second, they have a inefficient service line process and the manager on duty (maybe one of the owners?) doesn’t seem to understand the logistics of coordinating a food line. He stood next to the employee who topped the sandwiches (doing it very slowly, I might add) and then once the sandwich was topped, he’d take it, wrap it (or get fries, whatever) and then pass it to the cashier. Instead of idly standing and watching the employee top sandwiches at geological speed, he should take it and top it himself so the employee can start the next order and keep the line moving.

Also, if you’re the owner and reading this, it doesn’t make sense to put the chili on the opposite end of the toppings. In a normal restaurant, you put toppings on top of the chili, so the chili should be the first in line. Otherwise you're doubling back the order, which adds to the prep time.

Realistically, the service will improve with experience and after the owners tweak the process. That aside, it’s still VERY expensive. If you’re paying $13 for a chili-cheese dog, a side of fries and a small shake, you’re doing something wrong.

If you take off your nostalgia goggles for a moment, you’ll realize that Ritzy’s is an overpriced hamburger/hotdog/ice cream restaurant with slow service. If it weren’t for the name, the restaurant would be gone before you knew it was there.

I certainly won’t be back because there are much better options around. Steak-n-Shake always seemed like a distant cousin to GDR and Culver’s doesn’t have shoestring fries, but their shakes are the same size and objectively as good, but at...

Okay folks... Unless you've only dined at the reborn location(s) or you were around when the original chain was in operation (pre-1991), you may not know the goodness that is Ritzy’s.. Let me explain..

I grew up in the Middletown, OH, area and in the early to late 80s we had one GD Ritzy’s location to enjoy.. Oh, how I hated it when it closed.. My review that follows is a celebration of my late teens and early twenties!!

I have been meaning to visit this location during a trip to Columbus for some time.. My schedule finally allowed it..

I sampled a "Ritz" double bacon cheeseburger with mayo, lettuce, and tomato, a side order of fries, and followed those with a sundae, which is what I've been missing for about the past 35 years or so..

The burger was quite deelish.. It was delivered to the table hot off the grill, juicy, and packed with flavor.. The shoestring fries were also served hot and fresh and were lightly salted.. I didn't get the burgers and fries very often back in the day, but I'm glad I did on this visit..

Now, let's talk about the sundae!! I ordered it just as I did dozens upon dozens of times 35+ years ago.. "O-O-Oreo" ice cream topped with marshmallow topping, M&Ms, whipped topping, and a cherry 🍒.. If heaven could be represented by a sundae, then this is heaven!!

The nostalgic feel of the restaurant, the service, the food, and the curb appeal of the exterior carried me back to the 80s, a period of time when I wasn't saddled with the responsibilities of adulting and lived a little more carefree than I do now.. I should note that the sundaes didn't pack the pounds on me that they do today, either.. 😂

That said, the next time I venture to Columbus from my current home in central Oklahoma, I'll do my very best to get back here.. 10 out of 10 recommend for anyone to try, particularly for those like me who used to...

Delicious! Amazing! Will be back, and often!!And certainly a quick flashback to my childhood.

This whole time, growing up in West Virginia, I thought our G.D. Ritzy's was the only one....loved going there as a kid and teen!

So you can imagine my surprise when one popped up close to me here in Columbus. I've put off going because I didn't want to be disappointed and just knew it couldn't be the same! Boy. Was. I. WRONG!!

Ordered an "Itzy Ritzy" (single) with bacon, cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce and BBQ. SO so so delicious! They have thin patties which provides some crisp. Bacon was perfect. Bun was a little sweet and had a slight crisp/croissant flavor. Had a side of shoe string fries....you have to order with cheese sauce, if you don't you're not Ritzying right!! Literally felt ten years old again! It was was perfect end to my day.

I even treated myself to a scoop of Carrot Cake Ice Cream, OMG! Pretty sure my brain paused and it took a minute to come back. There is so much cake in the ice cream that they can definitely give Ben and Jerry's a run for their money! But it was well balanced with the ice cream. It was absolutely perfect!

Service was fabulous!

I will say accessibility wise this is a small place. There are one or two accessible spaces in the parking lot. There is no step to enter, it's flat. Going inside it might be a little difficult for someone using a wheelchair or walker to navigate. There is indoor seating, but not much and someone in a wheelchair could feel "in the way" of other patrons. There is a counter with a plexiglass window in front of the toppings. If someone using a wheelchair would like to see see toppings, unless they sit very high in their chair, it's not likely they will be able to. I didn't check out the restrooms or if they...