Northstar Café in Uptown Westerville — Restaurant in Westerville

Went here for breakfast with some friends. We were here early enough to be able to get the long booths as it wasn't crowded yet. Sadly their tables do not move. So you can sit at a bunch of tables in a row, but you can't put them together. Luckily the booths will hold eight people. This is basically an overpriced fast food restaurant. I will start off by saying the staff was friendly enough and the atmosphere is clean and comfortable. You order up front like you would at any fast food restaurant. The cashier will ask you what you want to give for a tip before you can make your payment on your credit card ( this is obviously before you've received any food or anything). So it's very awkward. Being that this is not a restaurant where you are being waited on by a waiter or a waitress, nor are drinks refilled. The staff is paid a regular hourly wage and not a tip salary. However it made me uncomfortable and I left a 15% tip. The menu is a little non-traditional. I did find an everyday egg sandwich that was actually quite tasty. It was $9 for the egg sandwich and that came with no sides. I ordered a side of bacon for $6. It was three very thin slices of bacon that looked and tasted like microwave bacon. I definitely will not do that again. I ordered a hot chocolate to drink and it was disgusting. It was gritty and just tasted like powder. Clearly way more powder and not enough milk. That was $6 thrown into the trash can. A girl came by and I told her about the hot chocolate and she apologized and was friendly about it. And she took it and threw away I assume. Yet a manager didn't come or anybody else offering to give me my money back on that drink that they clearly made a mistake on. It is what it is, but I felt like something should have been offered there. I would potentially get a lunch here and try it but it's not highly likely. Out of the group of us I think only two of the ladies have ever been here before. The rest of us did not leave with the best...

People with food allergies BEWARE. Many people have raved about this restaurant. Because of those reviews, my family and I were very very excited to give this café a try. We were a little surprised that you order and pay at the counter, much like Panera. We were not expecting that. When we began looking at their menu, we were concerned when we saw they they use nuts in many of their dishes. My husband is deathly allergic to peanuts and my daughter is deathly allergic to all tree nuts. When we spoke with the employee ringing us up about our allergies, she assured us that they could accommodate our allergies. My wrap was okay, but nothing special. My husband was very careful to select a meal that did not contain peanuts and confirmed this with the staff. My daughter ordered a simple cheeseburger and broccoli. Unfortunately, contrary to what the staff assured us, both my daughter and my husband went into anaphylaxis when they ate their food. My daughter's broccoli was served with a sauce on the side. I assumed, since she had ordered the kid's meal, that it must be some sort of cheese sauce. Unfortunately, it ended up being a nut sauce! She had taken a bite before I was able to verify what it was. My husband's meal, despite being nut free, also put him into anaphylaxis from what we are assuming is cross contamination. After surviving one of the worst nights of our lives, we will never set foot in their restaurants again. I spoke with the manager and the district manager. Despite being assured that they would cover our emergency medical bills, I never heard from them again, despite leaving messages with the number I was provided. For those without food allergies, maybe this might be a nice café, but if you or your loved ones or friends suffer from food allergies, do not even attempt to eat at this restaurant. You will...

In my never ending quest to find a great breakfast spot, Google was really my friend. Of course there are some staples that I enjoy visiting, but it’s nice to step away from the First Watches and Sunny Streets of the world. I honestly prefer local, or local-ish venues to dine at with my family or friends. Northstar is ALWAYS in the top 5 of best breakfast spots in Columbus/Columbus-adjacent areas. We finally made it to the Westerville location, and let me just say…It did not disappoint. We entered as novices, and was immediately assisted, and even personally escorted to the ordering area. I asked whether we sat ourselves or wait for someone…he said it was kinda both. lol. We looked at the menu and I certainly found something eye catching. I’ve had cloud pancakes at home, but never had the opportunity to order in a restaurant. The pancakes were wonderful! Our entire party enjoyed our meals and the overall aesthetic of the place. I’m sadly giving four stars because the high top tables were a bit small for four people. We wanted to sit outside, but the weather proved to be welcoming as the patio was full. If you are ever in the Westerville area, and are looking for a nice spot to chill and enjoy a nice breakfast or brunch, consider...