Chillicothe, Ohio · A Chillicothe Landmark

A diner from a simpler time in history.

Home-cooked comfort food, hand-dipped milkshakes, and a counter that's been part of this town since before most of it was built. Come hungry, leave family.

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★★★★ 4.4 stars from 1,173+ Google reviews
Carl's Townhouse, a classic diner building on the corner of 2nd Street in downtown Chillicothe, Ohio
What Regulars Order

The stuff people actually come back for

Fresh off the grill, made the same honest way it's always been made. Ask five regulars and you'll get five different favorites — these are the ones that keep coming up.

Counter Classic

Cheeseburger

Add hot pepper cheese for a kick. Simple, done right, the way it's been done for decades.

$2.65
Local Favorite

Double Cheeseburger Basket

Two double cheeseburgers with fries. The kind of portion that made this place a landmark.

$7.35
Hand-Dipped

Milkshake

Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. Thick enough to earn the name, never too thick for a straw.

$4.75
Daily Selection

Slice of Homemade Pie

Ask your server what's fresh today. Made the way pie is supposed to be made.

$3.95
Our Story

The counter has been here longer than the address.

The building's counter and stools were showcased at the New York World's Fair in April 1939, purchased there by Chillicothe resident Roman Gerber, and brought home. A restaurant called the "NCL" — Nice Clean Lunch — opened in that building in 1940. Carl J. Reinhard took it over in 1951, and the name on the door has been Carl's Townhouse ever since.

1939
The counter and stools are showcased at the New York World's Fair
1940
The "NCL" restaurant opens in the reassembled building
1951
Carl J. Reinhard takes over and Carl's Townhouse is born
2000
The building is saved from demolition and moved through downtown Chillicothe at 3 AM to its current corner
2002
Carl's Townhouse reopens on Columbus Day after a two-year restoration
2015
Mark & Tracy Trainer take over, carrying the tradition forward today
The history of Carl's Townhouse, printed on a card at the table, next to a plate of homemade chicken and noodles
Inside Carl's Townhouse: the checkerboard floor and red vinyl counter stools
Step Inside

Still a community gathering spot, not just a place to eat.

The checkerboard floor and the red vinyl stools aren't a theme somebody designed — they're just what's been here the whole time. People come back for the food, but they stay regulars for the feeling of a place where everyone's made a happy memory or two.

"There's a sort of community love in places like this — they're just so inviting."
Come See Us

Hours & location

Hours

Tue – Fri7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
MondayClosed

Find Us

Right on the corner, downtown Chillicothe.

95 W 2nd St, Chillicothe, OH 45601

Look for the striped awning and the marquee sign.

Get In Touch

(740) 773-1660

Breakfast served all day Sunday, until noon Saturday.

A Chillicothe landmark, still open for business.

Come see what's kept people coming back since 1951.

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