Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails

Thought this was a cool, divey bar/restaurant in Columbus. Found this place on Yelp when I was in the area for work and decided to check it out.

Service was slow but friendly. They had different bartenders coming in and out (which is not uncommon but led to some confusion when I tried to close out).

I ordered the pot roast sandwich which was amazing!! The melted cheese and mustard sauce was awesome. The bartender also gave me some fresh horseradish on the side which was a nice kick!

My bill (I didn't drink) was 15. Very reasonable for a yummy and filling dinner!

I've been to Tip Top many times! I'm never blown away but I do seem to keep coming back. The sandwich is a sandwich, not much more to say than that. It's nothing mind blowing but I did scarf the entire thing down!

Waiter and bartender were both really friendly, and I enjoy the vibe here. It's not a super polished place and I think there's something nice about that! I give 3 stars because 4 seems like a bit much but I would still recommend people come here!

Came in after a performance at the Palace. It's middle of the day- probably around 2pm. There were not a lot of diners. The server was so nice, very attentive and talkative. They were very accommodating for my child and what she wanted- Mac and cheese, side of corn and side of broccoli. Hubs and I shared the Italian shaved beef sandwich and pot roast on pretzel bun. Great experience and I will definitely be back.

I was finally able to try this local gem. After hearing nothing but great things about it. I got my hands on a Tip-Top Pot Roast Sandwich, which was absolutely amazing . Very flavorful . I added some grilled onions to the sandwich making it a 11/10 sandwich. The fries were on the money as well. The restaurant was very dark inside but clean. Our server was very nice and friendly. Very fast service as well. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend stopping in and trying some good food. I wouldn't mind coming back and trying more items on the menu!

Love me some Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails. Located at 73 East Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio, Tip Top is definitely a Columbus staple. Street parking is available outside the restaurant and the surrounding area and the ParkMobile makes it easy.

Tip Top has great food, slow but friendly service, and a divey feel and atmosphere.

Five of us dined here during Pride right after the parade and before heading back down to Goodale park. Service was super slow but it never really is too fast but I have never cared. Enjoyed the time to talk and catch up with friends.

This trip the group enjoyed:
-Philly Cheese Steak
-Tip Top Patty Melt
-Monte Cristo
-Steak-N-Swiss

This has become a annual event for this group though I enjoy eating here throughout the year. I definitely recommend the Patty Melt and the Meatloaf if you are looking for a recommendation.

While at an event in the downtown area, I decided to stop at Tip Top to get a beer and dinner.

This place is a cool spot, divey but sort of nice at the same time, and filled with years of character.


The server was fast and really friendly as i tried to decide on something to eat. Naturally she recommended the pot roast, which I think is the only thing i have ever ordered here. Anyway, I decided to go for anything else this time. I chose the garbage mac, which was not very good and made me regret my choice. It had excessive amounts of cheese and i would recommend against it for anyone considering. I should have just gotten the pot roast...My dinner companion got the cajun pasta and reported it as "meh.". The food was expensive given the quality.

This is definitely a noisy dive bar with sticky tables. The ceiling and decor is cool and kind of historic, so I'm sure there are some great stories about it. I think it's a cool place to drink with your friends, but for dinner I'd recommend it a little less--our food was just okay. Portions are good though and service was good too. If you're going with a group be prepared to push tables together and grab chairs for more than 3 because space is limited.

The most musty bar and restaurant in the whole city? Maybe.

Great food, great dive-bar atmosphere, and cheep beer? Definitely.

Tip Top, located on the most beautiful single stretch of street in downtown Columbus (why they don't do this everywhere defies logic) is/was the go-to spot for after work happy hours or pre/post-show dinner.

Specializing in a nice menu of sandwiches to go with an ice cold beer (or cocktail), Tip Top is not only easy on the budget but tasty too. This is more of a jeans and t-shirt place but if you walked in after the ballet in a suit and tied you wouldn't get a second look either, which to me screams great dive bar.

If you happen to swing by during happy hour which is Monday -Friday, Ohio draft beers are $3 (yea in 2023) and they have a smashing $5 beef (I think it's beef?) nacho that is sure to satisfy.

Spent the week in downtown C-town. Asked our valets about the tip top. They gave good reviews. We went in and was seated at sticky table. We decided to get our meals to go. Every thing tasted good. Not so nice next morning. If they would spend a little more time cleaning... everything! It WOULD be a recommended nook in downtown.portion was very small on the open faced pot roast. I can't recommend tip top. Although I will go back...as everyone deserves a second chance. I hope for good reviews next time.

Let's update.

What happened to you, Tip Top?

The hours posted, still aren't the hours observed. Closing at 10:30pm on a Saturday with people still coming in - so it's clearly not "lack of business."

You used to be *the* place for late night eats, you could always come in and grab a PBR or some old crow with a pot roast sandwich or chicken salad - but it went from "divey place with great food" to ... "dive with questionable food, if they're even open."

More than once I've came before "posted closing" and they were closed. Like - walking up to the door with several other people all coming from different directions discovering "...it says they're open until midnight, but it's almost 10pm and they're closed?"

I feel like they just want to shut the place down for good and are doing their part to make it happen.

I've made it when they were open (by coming at 7pm) and the pot roast sandwich was as good as I remembered it, but the Ohio Nachos were... shitty - like... a new level of embarrassment bad, and they didn't get the order right (no sweet potato fries?) - but at that point I just wanted to get the fuck out of there.

I just don't know what to expect from here anymore, and I really can't recommend it to people any more. I guess covid did a number and they may not recover if they can't fix their food, unless "PBR and Old Crow" is what they're banking on.