Chef O'Nette
Order U p! One of the Columbus area’s longest-tenured diners closed last year, but it’s back with a fresh look thanks to new local owners
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f you live in or near Upper Arlington, chances are you’ve been to the ChefO-Nette Restaurant. The diner opened in 1955 and is one of the first in the nation to have a drive-thru window. Rumor has it, the Chef-O-Nette’s drive-thru may have even inspired Dave Thomas as he came up with the concept of Wendy’s (but you didn’t hear that from us). Locals grew up visiting for delightfully greasy burgers, thick shakes and crispy fries — that is, until it closed last year.
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(614) MAGAZINE AUGUST 2025
As the community mourned the loss of one of their most notable landmarks, Mike Purdum and his daughter, Abigail Stellern realized they couldn’t let the diner go only to be replaced by something with less heart. They stepped in and purchased the restaurant from Harlan Howard, who inherited it from his father, making them the third family to own and operate it. The family also owns The Old Bag of Nails and Hobnob Pizza located in the Tremont Center. Their connection to the local community makes them the perfect family
614NOW.COM
By Camille Witt
Photos by Christopher Heidel Story Design by Liann Trahey
to give the Chef-O-Nette new life. Fans of the original diner needn't be alarmed though, as the new owners are passionate about keeping the integrity and all the best details of the original Chef-O-Nette alive. “It’s one of the few things in Arlington that’s been here for 70 years,” Mike explained. “If you were 10 years old and you came here to get a milkshake and a hamburger in 1955, then you’d be 80 years old now, and we have a lot of customers who were visiting the Chef-O-Nette then and now.”