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Counter Culture

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The Chef-O-Nette has been a mainstay of Upper Arlington’s Tremont Center since 1955. Generations have walked through its doors to settle into booths or sit at the two angled counters for hearty and inexpensive breakfasts, burgers and shakes.

In early 2024, longtime owner Harlan Howard announced he was ready to retire, having worked there since his father purchased the diner in 1970. Fortunately, Michael Purdum, owner of the Old Bag of Nails pubs across central Ohio, offered to buy the diner.

“I had heard from Harlan that the sun was setting on the Chef-O-Nette,” Purdum says. “I went to him and asked, ‘If I took it over and kept the Chef, what would you think of that?’ He said, ‘I think that would be a great idea.’”

The Chef-O-Nette’s charm lies in the fact that it remained unchanged for decades, but Purdum knew he’d have to make some upgrades. He installed a new range hood and walk-in cooler, improved the bathrooms and replaced the kitchen equipment, while leaving the dining room’s original look. Chef-O-Nette reopened to the public in summer 2025.

Purdum suggests ordering the cheesy scrambled eggs for breakfast and the Chef-O-Burger with crinkle-cut fries and a chocolate milkshake for lunch. He also recommends the broasted chicken tenders.

“They’re pressure fried, so they’re super tender and super crispy,” he says. “We sell more and more every week.”

Written by Nicholas Dekker for Ohio Magazine