Thurman To Go- German Village, Columbus

When Man vs. Food host Adam Richman stopped into the Thurman Cafe to try a burger, he reported, "The sheer size and tastiness of this burger blew me away." Countless people have had similar reactions since 1942, when Nick Suclescy opened what has become a German Village landmark. It's since spawned a pair of Thurman To Go locations—including one right next door to the original restaurant—that make it easy to grab a burger while heading home from work or while taking a break from running a nearby marathon.

Inside the original cafe, memorabilia collected in the six decades since the spot opened cover the walls and ceilings, enveloping the weathered booths with pictures, signs, and other knickknacks. This laid-back atmosphere invites visitors to relax and get messy, which they almost certainly will: every burger on the menu is 3/4 of a pound and buried under heaps of toppings. That includes the Thurman burger, a glorious monstrosity of mozzarella, American cheese, mushrooms, peppers, mayo, and—taking the word hamburger literally—a hearty slice of ham.