Banana Bean Café

4 stars for the old Whittier St location where I got a tasty softshell crab sandwich, albeit only half a crab. Other dishes were good, but a couple weren’t all that great, which I unfortunately found out when I finally took my brother here. The live feed of a Florida Keys joint on TV added to the Floribbean atmosphere.
The new location gets 1 star for deserting the urban city for a no man’s land out on Greenlawn (they could have moved to another part of the south side on S High, Parsons, or S 4^th which are replete in empty, cheap storefronts). I had biked to the old location a number of times, but their choice in a new bike-​hostile, out-​of-​the-​way locale made it clear that they don’t want our money.

I really wish I had visited here before bringing my family with me on my first visit and subjecting them all to a terrible experience. This was Saturday at noon for brunch. We waited an extraordinarily long time just to get drinks (upwards of 15 minutes) even though there were only 2 other tables occupied. We weren’t given menus; I had to go inside and get them myself. Our food took at least 35 minutes to come out. Just before it was ready, our server informed us that one of my friends would have to change his order because they were out of whatever pancakes he had requested. He picked something new, but then the kitchen realized they did have enough to make it, so he got his original order. Some of the food was great, some was not. One of our dishes was cold. The food did not come out all at once, forcing those of us who got our food first to be rude and eat in front of the others, or wait (who knows how long) and risk that all of our food would be cold.
Our server filled our water glasses with a pitcher that coffee grounds had fallen into. She seemed to always be rushed though that was not possible because it was not busy at all.
The bathrooms had the doors propped open which meant you couldn’t tell which was women’s and which was men’s. The «baby changing table» had a cotton cloth on it. That is unsanitary and disgusting.
I will not be returning here and I wouldn’t suggest anyone else waste their time or money.

Banana Bean Café has its ups and its downs. Depending on what you look for in a great eating experience, you may be highly disappointed or pretty well satisfied. Today was my first experience there, but from what my mealmates said, today’s experience was par for the course.
The hostess (I suppose she was a hostess) seemed confused when we came in, but eventually, we managed to get seated on the back patio. Mel B and I arrived first; our server got our drink order, which we received after everyone else showed up. Bryant M. tried to order a mimosa, and was denied (more on this later), albeit in a very friendly and apologetic way. We were given ample (extremely ample) time to look over our menus before our orders were placed.
I had the bacon bloody Mary, which didn’t really tickle my fancy; I love spicy things, and I love bacon, and I love bloody Marys, but the mix seemed to have a little too much dry spice in it (and the dry spice caked on the rim of the glass kind of grossed me out), and there was practically an antipasto salad for a garnish. They forgot to add the bacon, but brought it out straight away.
After quite awhile waiting, our food arrived. I had the Derby Hot Brown; being from Kentucky, I can say that this was a pretty good version of the Hot Brown, with one fatal exception: icky dried-​out frozen chicken in the center. (The single slice of tomato on top seemed a little sad, as well; I would rather have had thinly sliced and baked under the cheese.) The custardy, savory French-​toast-​esque bread was a delight, as was the sauce they used, which may have been hollandaise? or Mornay sauce, or bechamel. The bacon topping was great, as well; all of my bacon was cooked to perfection.
We waited what seemed like forever to get our checks, and then forever again to receive our processed checks. In the meanwhile, a nearby table received an order of mimosas – gasp! Apparently, champagne had been procured since Bryant tried to order his mimosa; they did not, however, offer him a complimentary mimosa for his inconvenience (not to mention the betrayal felt before he was told that they had received champagne in the meanwhile, rather than having had it all along).
In summation: The servers were friendly but not on top of their game. A good restaurant runs like a well-​oiled machine; Banana Bean is more lackadaisical and maybe a tad disorganized. The food is good – clearly, the cooks know how to cook – but also lacking where corners have been cut. (I also feel that $ 9 was too much for my sandwich since my chicken was straight out of a plastic freezer bag.) For a lazy Saturday brunch, it was fine; we had nowhere to be, and the fact that lunch took two hours didn’t put anybody off their schedule. I definitely would avoid this place if you have pet peeves about customer service or if you’re really, really hungry.

Okay I know I’ve been giving a lot of 5 star reviews… maybe I’m getting REALLY lucky. Coming from Chicago I was concerned Columbus wouldn’t have a lot of different cuisines. WRONG. VERY impressed with all the choices I have and it’s so fun trying a new place all the time.
Great place for Brunch in an old gas station. Great service.

I don’t know Columbus, OH from any of the other cities peppering the middle of this great nation… so I have no idea where this place is other than it appeared to be in the dead center of nowhere. I was promised a juggalo sighting in the area, but apparently and regrettably we were in the wrong place for hatchet tattoos and cigarette smoking pregnant teens.
What I’m trying to say is that this strange triangle of a building turned out to contain a very pleasant brunch surprise.
Bacon bloody marys are easily the greatest breakfast beverage of all time. Throw in some pickles and hots and there’s no reason why your hangover won’t be eradicated or even transformed back into drunkenness as soon as you’re finished with one. Banana Bean makes the best version of this drink I’ve had.
I ordered eggs over medium, home fries, and sausage. This wasn’t exactly on the menu but after I explained my million food allergies to all of their listed items they were kind enough to throw the simple breakfast together without poisoning me. It was delicious.
The highlight of our brunch experience was not food, though. It was our waiter, whose name I wish I could remember. He was an extremely sweet, thoughtful, kind, helpful gentleman who had just started working there. If I lived in the area I would go back just to munch on tomato juice covered bacon and shower the dude with tips solely because he was such a peach.

So so brunch. Overhyped and under performed.
I came here with a few friends because we had heard it was «SO AWESOME AND WONDERFUL AND DELICIOUS» so we *had* to check it out. We came on a Sunday for a drunk brunch, and were kind of disappointed.
I had the french toast — which WAS delicious, but the fact I had a miller lite instead of a Mimosa or Bloody Mary was disappointing. My friends food I cannot recall, but it didn’t wow me.
Due to its location, it’s not convenient, but if I lived closer I might give it a second shot.

BACON BLOODY MARY. Enough said.
So many people have recommended Banana Bean to me, and for so long… and I finally got over there last week when my cousin was in town from New York. Enticed by the words «bacon» and «bloody mary» in the same phrase, we knew we had get ourselves out to Greenlawn (wow), and fast. Dealing with a crisis of sorts — my little brother is safely in his home in Nagoya after the Japanese earthquake/​tsunami terror of 2011, but at the time we still didn’t know where he was or if he had survived — we figured the best thing we could do while waiting waiting waiting was to make ourselves eat some comfort food and wash it down with the aforementioned adult beverage. So glad we did.
The bacon bloody mary is out of control — I think you have to ask for it specially, but it’s worth it — garnished with a somehow-​very-​crispy strip of bacon, olives, lemon and lime wedges, a pepperoncini pepper, AND a dill pickle. OMFG. I got the shrimp and grits — I couldn’t concentrate to read the menu, so, not gonna lie, I just pulled up Unilocal and saw that people liked this dish so I ordered it — it was buttery and rich and had little bits of sausage in it, and the shrimp were huge. Gahhh. I don’t like bananas, but the other dish that was hot on Unilocal was the bananas foster french toast. My cousin has like 99 food allergies, so she just ordered eggs, sausage and potatoes — but reported that it was all excellent. However, I have to stress, the bacon bloody mary was recommended both by friends AND by the bartenders at O’Reilly’s — and while I loved the food, too, it’s worth going to Greenlawn just for one of these suckers. DO IT.

I don’t know what’s happened to Banana Bean recently — I’ve either recently gone at bad times or have just been unlucky. The first time I ever went to the Bean my sandwich was fantastic, the service was great. The second time I went the brunch was the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had!
The few times I’ve been back afterwards have just been plain ol’ awful. They were out of what seemed like half the menu items the last time we went. My grits were full of big inedible chunks. My husband’s clam strips were more batter than clam. The only good thing were the fried plantains… I was so sad. Old Banana Bean, what happened???

So the food was okay, no big deal.
Why the 1 star?
This place is disgusting. They seriously need to stay late one day and do some major cleaning. Every inch of this place is gross and if I were a health inspector this place would have so many violations.
Also the staff sucks. 4 people working, the place was empty and it took five minutes to be seated, 15 minutes to have our order taken, and we had to ask for a check.
No drink refills, or anyone to see how our meal was.
Not kid friendly either.
I had such high hopes for a restaurant in Columbus that carries some southern cuisine. But they missed the hospitality by a long shot!

Do you remember your first kiss? For months and perhaps years as an adolescent, you daydream about your first kiss. You play the scenario over and over again in your head — imagining the perfect setting.
When the time finally comes, inevitably it never lives up to the dream.
Banana Bean Café represents every bad first kiss we have experienced in our youth.
For the better part of a year, I drooled over the online menu and begged Matthew B. to join me for brunch. Finally my date caved in and on an unassuming Sunday morning, we made Banana Bean Café a stop on our brunch tour of Columbus.
My dream was shattered almost immediately. We waited at the hostess station for 4 minutes before anyone even acknowledged our existence. 3 different employees came over to the station to perform various tasks — including complaining loudly about the large group at the back of the restaurant — but not a single one made eye contact with us, smiled and said «Someone will be with you in just a moment». Listen up! Those words go A LONG WAY in customer service, a topic on which I could write multiple volumes.
We were seated in the back corner in a plush booth. Our waitress was — odd. Friendly? Maybe. She left us to pour over the menu, which I could recite with my eyes closed due to the aforementioned months of drooling.
The Banana Bean Café menu is one of those menus that makes you want to return again and again. Everything, and I mean everything, sounded like something I wanted to try. My heart was set on trying the Banana Fosters French Toast, the reason my love affair with Banana Bean.
Reflecting, I would grade the Banana Fosters French Toast as a solid B, maybe even a B+ with more seasonal berries. At the time of consumption however, I was underwhelmed. This is what I had been holding out for? I felt like a jilted lover.
I tried Matthew B.‘s Fried Chicken Eggs Benedict and remarked on the toughness of the chicken. I don’t want to assume that Banana Bean was using frozen chicken breast, but it certainly tasted that way!
Customer service aside, my experience with Banana Bean Café leans towards underwhelming. Not bad enough to scare me away from kissing, er dining.

I’ve had been hearing RAVES about the brunch but never have had a chance to go… until now. After we sat down, that’s when the problems started.
A friend ordered the fried green tomato BLT, no green tomatoes. Ok fine. Sweet potatoes? Nope? Ok. FINE. I ordered a po boy with soft shell crab and fries on the side after waitress informs me that they were out of the oyster option. Fine. Waitress comes back and tells me that they are also just out of soft shell crab and only have shrimp for the po boy. Fine. I reordered (I had to get up and get the waitress) and got the shrimp and grits.
Our food came pretty fast. My entrée was a lot of food but for me it was so-​so. She also included my fries with my order which I understand that I didn’t specifically say cancel the fries with my sandwich but I would think that they would ask me if I wanted fries with my grits? Anyways the fries were good. We asked for ketchup for the fries and the waitress informed us that they were out of ketchup. Who runs out of ketchup?! And if you’re a restaurant at noon on a Saturday, wouldn’t you go out and get some?
I felt like it was pricey for what I got and not what I was hoping and was actually disappointed.
Also-​went to the bathroom and had 2 of 3 stalls out of order. Not a reflection of food but I found it comical after having the lunch experience full of things not in stock.

I’ve had this place on my breakfast radar for awhile now. They serve breakfast after noon making them just the type of place I look for.
The thing about Banana Bean Café is that if someone was coming from out of town I would recommend they go here for breakfast. This isn’t my favorite breakfast place in Columbus. That honor goes to German Village Coffee Shop! But I would recommend that people go here because it is something different. You won’t find food like this at very many other places. It is unique.
I had the Lobster Hash. It wasn’t what I was hoping for but it was still very good. Plenty of lobster in a nice sauce over roasted red potatoes and topped with a poached egg. The poached egg was overcooked but it was still good. The coffee was just OK. Not bad but nothing to write home about.
The only thing holding this place back from 5 stars (besides a less cheesy décor) was the price. For two of us I dropped $ 40 on breakfast and my dining partner’s meal even ended up being the special ($ 7). I realize that I got a dish with lobster in it but still. I’m just not looking to spend $ 20 per person for breakfast very often.

I love so much about this restaurant, and want so badly to give it 4 stars, but unfortunately my last visit prohibits it. The food will be different from most things you will eat in Columbus, and much of it hits the mark, in fact there are some bulls eyes, but also some things that don’t even make it on the target. The service is a little hit or miss as well, even when it’s not busy, but not downright rude or anything. A few things to stick with are the cubano, tuna burger, and the eggplant fries are a must have. Stay away from fried oysters and crab cakes. I will definately be back though as the breakfast menu is very tempting.

I really, really enjoyed my trip to the Banana Bean Café. I recently went there on a weekend for lunch with my boyfriend and another couple, and we had a fantastic meal.
I thought when I went in that I wanted a burger, but as it turns out I wanted everything. Burgers, tacos, salads, ceviche– I wanted all of it. It all looked outstanding. I appreciated how late their brunch menu ran, and the cocktails looked really good too though I didn’t take this opportunity to indulge. Next time though!
My boyfriend had the Floribbean chicken sandwich which he promptly pulled the pineapple off of and then thoroughly enjoyed– I bet it’s quite good with the pineapple too. It’s worth noting that he can’t handle spicy food so I think the «hot» distinction next to the sandwich on the menu can be taken somewhat lightly. If you like your food to bite you back you might have to doctor that sandwich up a bit but they have some hot sauce on the table so don’t worry your pretty little head about it.
E. had the Calle Ocho (I think) which he raved over, and his wife and I split two dishes– the tuna burger and the shrimp burrito, and that’s the order in which I preferred them. The tuna was prepared perfectly (we requested rare but sometimes restaurants are afraid to actually give you rare tuna unless you’re getting sushi– this place was spot on) and the portion was more than generous. The shrimp burrito was tasty, but I would have preferred more shrimp and less «stuff” — I think I had one piece of shrimp and a whole crapton of guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, and other burrito business. Neither one of us cleaned our plates, but we still made heroic efforts helping the boys with their sweet potato fries.
those were damn tasty fries.
I saw the bartender preparing a bloody mary as we were finishing up and I really wanted to try it, but it was too late at that point. like I said above– next time.
The décor is worth a look-​see too. It kind of looks like the lovechild of Hemingway and a Sandals resort in there. But it works– the atmosphere was comfortable, we didn’t have to wait for a table, and in columbus I find myself endlessly grateful to any place that has ample parking.
I am looking forward to returning so I can try more things, and watch more of the weather channel, which is on one of their TVs constantly. (really contributes to the Florribbean feel-​HURRICANE WATCH!!!)

Brunch at Banana Bean Café is heavenly. Absolutely heavenly.
The only reason Banana Bean Café is not receiving a full 5-​star rating from me is because I have only been there for their breakfast/​brunch menu and so it’s only fair! However, if their lunch/​dinner menu comes anything close to the yumminess I experienced at brunch (which I am sure it does) then I’ll throw on that much deserved 5^th star to this rating (I will eagerly go back to try the rest of the menu and report back immediately).
I went to Banana Bean Café with a little hesitation. This is because it was dubbed a «Floribbean (Floridian/​Carribbean fusion) restaurant. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I wasn’t sure exactly what a Floribbean take on brunch would be.
I soon found out that Floribbean brunch puts regular ol’ Midwest brunch to shame! I ordered the Cuban coffee to drink, which was rather tasty. It reminded me of a Starbucks blend, so no complaints there. I also ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast, which I would HIGHLY recommend. The «toast» itself is long, thin spears rather than your average square French toast. It’s topped with strawberries, blueberries, and of course bananas. The syrup is what does the trick, though: sweet, tangy maple syrup with a splash of rum. Fantastic.
Because I can never decide exactly what I want at a new place like this, I also ordered the Fried Chicken & Dumplings (I am not sure of the «official» name on the menu, but look for something along those lines). This was absolutely MOUTHWATERING. The chicken was seasoned to perfection, sandwiched between two hearty biscuits with amazing gravy slathered on top. It was remarkable.
Again, brunch is the only time I have explored Banana Bean Café’s menu, but just looking at the rest of their items makes me itching to come back: crab sandwiches, fish tacos, jerk chicken… the list goes on. Plus, their drinks don’t look too shabby either.
While the outside of the restaurant isn’t much to write home about, and it’s tucked away on Greenlawn Avenue, don’t let that discourage you. The interior is warm, pleasant and charming. And, when you’re done with your meal, do yourself a favor and check out the nearby Scioto Audobon Metro Park for a nice picturesque stroll.
PS: I also suggest you make reservations. The staff is accommodating, pleasant, friendly and inviting. The place can get packed at peak hours, but if you can and add your name to the list, you can drive on down and hop on to a table nice and quickly!

Take your next group dining experience to Banana Bean! They did a great job for me and my group as the wedding shower I’d been planning came to fruition this Sunday.
I’d been in communication with Robin about the event for a few weeks now, trying to get everything right. Well, of course nothing can be perfect, they forgot our limited menus that were supposed to be printed off, but it did go well and everyone was very happy with their experience! The air conditioning was fixed! They had the upper level of the restaurant set up for our group. There was a re purposed bar up there we were able to put gifts and the cupcakes on. Perfect! And with the way they did the tables there was room to mingle.
Our server, Janice was excellent. She communicated with me about how things were going to go and she was well organized. She did everything so we’d all get separate checks and to my knowledge, nothing was screwed up! She had a great attitude and did really well with serving 24 people!
The food came out surprisingly fast, orders were correct with the caveat of one side of grits that were missing cheese and everyone enjoyed their food, although I heard the chicken on the chicken and waffles, while homemade, was insanely salty (keep trying BB) (but, even grandma who was worried they’d only have weird stuff liked her entrée).
I’m really glad i chose Banana Bean to host my event. It gave people a chance to try it out when it’s a place that maybe they would never have gone to in the first place. So, I’m in hopes that our friends go back and try it again since they have so much to offer.

Yep, I’ve changed my rating from 3 to 4 stars!
So, let me set the scene for today’s experience. We (Liz M. and I) were hosting a wedding shower brunch for 24 friends today at Banana Bean. The folks at BB were so kind to let us have the entire back room, and they were involved in every step of the planning for our brunch.
So, we arrived today, and everything was set up for us. And our dedicated server was WONDERFUL! I believe Liz M. called her a «ray of sunshine». This was hands-​down the best/​fastest service we’ve ever had at BB! I could definitely tell that they’ve taken the feedback to heart! For a group of 24, our food came out pretty quickly, and everything was amazing! The best the food has ever been! And I’m happy to report that the chicken (of the chicken and waffle) was no longer a frozen strip! Way to go, BB!
I am truly appreciative of Banana Bean for helping making the experience so special for our friends!

Hmmm hmmm. This was a refreshing dining experience. I was excited to eat at brunch place with imagination. I wanted to eat off the plates of all of my friends and that is saying something. The service was a little on the slow side, but well worth the wait. I will be going back to Banana bean to try the other items on the menu!

Banana Bean is Floribbean at its best! From fried plantains and Yaya’s Eggplant Fries to the Calle Ocho and jerk chicken, this place seriously rocks the menu.
Without a doubt, get Yaya’s Eggplant Fries for an appetizer. Crispy delicious slivers of eggplant with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce is just the thing to set the mood for wonderful dinner!
My favorite main course is the Floribbean Jerk Chicken. It’s listed as «hot» but I’m a wimp with spicy things and can deal with it just fine, so if you’re looking for tongue-​searing spice, you might have to ask for extra mango-​habañero ketchup.
The servers can sometimes be easily side tracked, but are generally friendly. Many people have mentioned having horrible wait times, but I haven’t even once had to wait for a table. That said, I’ve always eaten here for dinner and not lunch.
Banana Bean is a great place to take people who want something a little – but not too – different. If your guest is a particularly underexposed or unadventurous eater, take them here (because it’s delicious and you will enjoy it) but assure them there are «normal» burgers and fries they can get. Maybe slip them an eggplant fry or two to help broaden their horizons.
It’s a shame, but I’ve never tried their desserts… I always filled up on appetizers and the main course so have never have room!
Banana Bean definitely makes my top 5 list for restaurants in Columbus!

Apart from an occasional long wait (Don’t go on a Sunday) and a strange server once or twice, Banana Bean is consistently one of the best around.
If you go, be sure to order the plaintains as your appetizer. You won’t be disappointed, just watch out because the dipping sauce is HOT.
The menu has loads of choices, though I usually stick with the Cuban Sandwich. The Monte Cristo is fantastic and the Reubens never fail you either.
All in all, I’ve never been with someone who didn’t like the food they got, but it’s the wait that gets you. Visit on a weekday evening and you should be just fine!