Mac’s Café

My husband and I stopped in Mac’s on a Thursday night. Our first time in, looking for something casual in the Short North and happened to have one of their two Entertainment coupons on hand: buy one entrée, get one free. Good beer selection, food was average, place was empty. We had a burger and a turkey reuben. When it came time to check out, we handed the bartender our coupon and she told us it wasn’t valid. Confused, I asked if it had expired. She said no, this coupon is not valid, our other Entertainment coupon is valid though, and asked if we had the other with us (we did not). Which apparently is the same coupon but they have decided not to honor this specific one (no restrictions listed on the back, expires 12.31.16). She profusely apologized and showed me a photocopy of the two coupons where someone had handwritten INVALID and crossed out the one we brought in. There was zero explanation, but we didn’t cause a big fuss and paid and tipped. However, we will never be back. The only purpose of doing something like this is to get customers in the door and rip them off. Ridiculous and terrible business practice.

We were looking for a place close to our hotel which offered wings, after walking a few blocks we came upon Mac’s, reviewed the menu and decided to try it. It had a nice British pub feel, lots of wall decorations, flags of the UK and an extensive beer selection. Our waitress Brittany introduced herself and told us happy hour went until 8pm and all appetizers were ½ off. Wings were one of their appetizers, so we both ordered wings, their tater tots with cheese, and a couple of beers. Overall the food was good, atmosphere was pleasant, wasn’t loud and obnoxious, and we were served professionally. If you’re in the Short North and looking for a nice place that’s not presumptuous check out this place. They’ve got a nice full menu with lots of things we’ll try on our return.

The Scottish Egg is wonderful… cannot wait to get back down there.

This is a mad decent pub! Two words– SCOTCH. EGGS. I would seriously come here just for that. The rest of the food consists of the usual suspects, but definitely worth eating. The staff there are always friendly too!

Been going here for more than 20 years, the food is ALWAYS great, with huge portions. The staff are always nice and friendly. Can’t say enough good about Macs.

Just love this place. Great happy hour for food. The wings and sauerkraut balls are perfect every time. The staff is amazing and always nice and upbeat. Plus the longest happy hour in Short North. The burgers are awesome as well.

I tried the Scotch egg brunch and it is delicious! They serve brunch from 11am — 3pm on Sundays. Old Pub atmosphere. Attentive and pleasant service.

I enjoy Mac’s mainly for the laid back atmosphere in a relatively busy area of the city. The food is the typical bar style food, but it is consistently above average. It is a great place to go with a group of 4 – 6 people to grab a burger and a beer, and catch up. The service/​bartenders have generally been helpful, prompt and kind to me on my visits here. As one of my «go-​to places» here in Columbus, it is always a solid option.

I enjoy Mac’s mainly for the laid back atmosphere in a relatively busy area of the city. The food is the typical bar style food, but it is consistently above average. It is a great place to go with a group of 4 – 6 people to grab a burger and a beer, and catch up. The service/​bartenders have generally been helpful, prompt and kind for me on my visits here. As one of my «go-​to places» here in Columbus, it is always a solid option.

Great place! Awesome bartender and great prices on happy hour. Their turkey sandwich is awesome

Read our check in. Great potential lost in slow service and average eats. Nice atmosphere. Just disappointed in the service and food.

A diamond in the rough. Place is a very classic looking little pub. I have eaten here for years. I get the same thing every time I go (tuna melt sandwich with tater tots)… yup, you read that right, they have tater tots!!! Go check em out!

OK! Let me tell what three co workers and I have eaten here last week.
3 Mac’s Burgers
Steak Pie
2 Reuben Sandwiches
Meatloaf
2 orders of Biscuits and Gravy
Everything was amazing. Don’t let the outside of this bar fool you (looks a little rough). They use top quality ingredients, the food comes out very hot, and the flavor of every dish was fantastic! I wish I had a place like this close to me. I don’t want to eat another burger until I forget how good the burger was from Mac’s. The bun comes out slightly crunchy because it has a butter grilled bottom, the bacon is crunch and juicy, the meat is flavorful and has a slight charred crunch to it. The Mac and Cheese was a perfect comfort food along side the burger, delicious. The price point on drinks and food for what you get is a steal!!! The happy hour is great as well.
Go try the food here.

Came here on a wimp! My BFF was craving an amazing burger! Glad we came burger were 6.95 tonight! Best choice !

I’ve got one purpose for this review. 2 words: Scotch Egg
If you’ve never had it here– you must. A hard boiled egg, coated with a sphere of chewy sausage, and fried crispy. It’s served cut in half with a sauce that is simply addictive.
That’ll be all.

This place is always solid. Try something new! We had a long wait but we were in late in a Wednesday. No big deal.
The food is solid. The Mac burger is a standard! Try something different.

I like Mac’s… it is a random for me when I am in the Short North. Sometimes I stop in and sometimes I do not get a choice but when I am on a crawl I make it a point to stop here. The don’t have the biggest beer selection but they have some solid English and Irish beers on draft and that is all I need to have a good time with my mates.

Mac’s is where it’s at. So many things to choose from, I can’t wait to try more things. I’ve gotten the kraut balls on a few different occasions and they are SO good. Can’t go wrong with the chicken fingers or wedge salad. Very excited to try the egg and a burger. Will be back. FoReVeR

Mac’s is a small, unassuming restaurant and bar, but it is a solid choice for Short North casual dining. Like many of the old-​school Short North spaces, it is long and narrow, with plenty of exposed brick and wood. Bar in the center and seating wherever a chair or booth can be had, and Mac’s can go from a few tables to packed in minutes. We’ve always had consistent and efficient service, which is a testament to their ability to adapt to customer demand.
This trip was a lunchtime jaunt before the Doo-​Dah parade on July 4, and we showed up right at opening. Beers and Scotch eggs for lunch? Yes, please. If you’ve never had a Scotch egg (and you like your breakfast food compact and fried), you’re in for a real treat at Mac’s. A hard-​boiled egg encased in pork sausage and deep fried — served with a creamy sauce — it’s a game changer. They have lots of other appetizers to choose from, including a selection of wings, jalapeño poppers and sweet potato waffle fries. The waffle fries are definitely a good choice if you find sweet potato fries a bit mushy — the waffle cut gives more surface area to crisp up. Mac’s does have its fair share of other Pub-​style foods, like fish and chips, Shepherd’s pie, and Guinness stew, plus a variety of sandwiches — the giant Mac burger is popular, as well as their turkey Reuben. Vegetarian options are plentiful as well — two kinds of sandwiches, big salads, etc. And, better yet — they don’t look askance at you for a) ordering vegetarian and/​or b) not ordering alcohol. Very laid-​back place, we make time for Mac’s.

I always looked forward to coming here. It was my favorite restaurant. Things have changed. The nachos are totally different and have some cheap cheese sauce. They were terrible. Also, used to love the chicken sandwich. Now it is just chicken tenders with lettuce and tomatoes on a bun. I once loved this place. I will never be back. I can’t emphasize enough how mad I am about this place going downhill.

I happened up here during the tail end of the Pride parade, as two friends and I wanted to get out of the rain. It was pretty busy, and I couldn’t locate a host, so we just seated ourselves at the first open table. The table was still wet, clearly had not been wiped down. I had a bad feeling I was in for a terrible time. Thankfully, I was wrong!
After about 5 minutes, a server got our drink orders, which were delivered nearly instantly. Same with our food. We got jalapeño poppers (searing hot), a burger, and 2 salads between us. All of it was exactly what we wanted and how we wanted it.
I subtracted a star because the first impression was very not good. I understand they were busy, but I’m sure many people would’ve gotten up and walked out in the first 5 minutes.

Worst service ever, 1 hour, then get cold onion rings, and not everyone got thier food. Sad this place use t I be good.

Stopped in Mac’s for late night drinks and food after walking around the Gallery Hop in the Short North. Their drink prices are very reasonable — $ 3.50 for a well drink — and that’s their standard rate… at least for their cheapest whiskey. We had the wedge salad and the nachos. The nachos blew the salad out of the park. One thing I do want to mention is that our server was superb. We came in around 10pm and he was very attentive to our needs — gave us waters right away, took our drink orders, made suggestions… I don’t know, it was just refreshing to have great service so late, especially since we were exhausted from walking around the Gallery Hop, playing the «Wanna eat here? How about here? Let’s walk a little further» game for God know how long.

An oasis of peace in an area of town that is increasingly filled with overdressed nouveau rich and/​or hipsters. Here, you can always find a spot at the bar or a table. The happy hour specials are decent and the stalwart menu favorites are always good (e.g. Scotch egg!!!). On a recent visit, friends proclaimed the veggie burger, chicken shawarma, and sweet potato waffle fries as excellent. Service is spotty, but really, you shouldn’t be coming to a dive-​ish bar for good service. In sum, a very decent watering hole.

Food was okay. Went there an go the half price chicken wings and a couple beers.
Pro: good for late hang out
Con: server checks you out 6 times prior writing this review. It is okay to check customer one or twice after we finished eating. But checking us out 6 times after we finished is too extreme!

Mac’s is a funny little place with one of the BEST Happy Hours in the area. Its very long (4 – 8 I think most days) and VERY cheap. I love it.
Its not a bad bar to eat at either. The scotch egg appetizer is a unique absolute must, and I am a bug fan of the spicy bbq wings! Not very spicy but great flavor. Cant wait to go back and try some more things!

Great happy hour and bar food joint! This place is a rough around the edges place with a happy hour that let me spend $ 1.95 for a whiskey&diet. I am a happy camper with that! It’s also longer than most happy hours from 4−8pm Mon-​Fri! The food here is pretty standard bar food but they do it decently well. The wings are good and if you’ve never had a scotch egg… You’ve got to go here and try one!

HUGE portions for the price.
Wedge salad was half a head of lettuce! Ordered the sauerkraut balls, and there was 8 of them!
Most of the menu was your typical bar food, I was hoping for more authentic Scottish pub favorites. There were a few though.
Husband had the fish and chips, and wasn’t very impressed. Small pieces of fish, and bland fries (needed salt or something)
Nice place to stop in for a beer in the Short North

There are certain places that, under the right conditions, fit the bill like no other. If you are strolling through the Short North and find yourself in need of top notch pub food and a nice micro or regional draft to wash it down with, there is nothing in that part of town that is Mac’s.
This is a great happy hour joint, as it is a bar, first and foremost, and one of the very few places in Columbus you can find a cellar Guinness. If you are in the mood to extend your happy hour, they offer a decent range of straight up pub food. Try the Scotch Egg and Cottage Pie at least once, and their fish and chips is always a solid choice.
Service is casual and friendly, not neglectful or hovering. This place holds a special place in my heart because both my brother and dear friend Mollie served here back in the day. So no matter where you might be on the way to in the Short North, Mac’s is the perfect standby.