White Tower

an update of my previous review…***do not go to this ragged, terrible, hole on sylvania… the food reflects the neighborhood around it– god awful… the stupid, ignorant manager of this establishment changed everything from the quality meat & quality desserts that was used at one time, to a cheaper, crappier brand of everything, then has the nerve to increase the price of the food… this food is now alpo dogmeat, and if i didn’t pay for it i wouldn’t have ate this garbage… i can only hope that i don’t go to the hospital for food poisoning… we will see… don’t come here to eat… ever…***Just finished going to the bathroom of a VERY, VERY BAD MEAL… HORRIBLE AND RANCID… THE PHOTO THAT IS ON THIS SITE IS FOR ADULTS ONLY, BECAUSE CHILDREN WILL GAG, AND IT IS NC-​17…

awesome food!!! great burgers and great building. all the food is wonderful

This is the only White Tower left in Toledo & so glad that this one is still in business. I remember getting the double butter burgers from as far back as the 1970’s. The butter burgers are still as good today as they were back in the 70’s. First time my son had one of their burgers and he agrees with me that they are the best ever.

I used to go to this place when I was a kid/​teenager 25 years ago, and it hasn’t changed. They still serve great meals at very affordable prices. I paid $ 5.75 for a delicious butter burger meal with a drink, and it was just enough to fill the empty spaces. The atmosphere is comfortable diner-​style, typical Toledo atmosphere. The locals from the neighborhood come here, and judging from some of the conversations at the counter, they’ve been frequenting for a very long time! White Tower Sylvania Ave. is a great little place with a very nostalgic feel.

While White Tower may be considered a chain, it’s clearly a locally owned and managed franchise… and by the complete lack of branding outside of the exterior sign, it’s quite possible it’s not even a franchise anymore.
We’ve been to White Tower many times over the years, and the food has always been consistant and decent quality. This place is the perfect stop if you’ve got a hang-​over. Everything is a little greasy, and the coffee is always flowing.
What sets White Tower apart from other local diners, and the reason for this Unilocal review is their service and atmosphere.
All of the waitresses say hi to you when you come in, and from the looks of it… if you come in often enough they’ll make a point of getting to know you. The waitresses during the day shift are all a bit older, and clearly have been around the block a few times. You get the sense they would tell you some amazing stories if you met under different circumstances.
The atmosphere is a classic Toledo time warp. Nothing has been updated in 30+ years. What is striking to me, is the variety of clientele. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that Toledo, Ohio is a very segregated city. While yes, we do have some «mixed» or «integrated» neighborhoods, for the most part you don’t ever see that reflected when you go out to eat. It’s a very rare thing in Toledo, to find a restaurant filled with black and white people. Sadly rare.
But not at White Tower! I’m not sure if it’s the location, as the 5 points area of toledo is in fact a somewhat integrated neighborhood, or the fact that there is a universal love for greasy foods on both sides of the table. Either way, it’s refreshing to go to White Tower and see all colors of Toledoans eating together.

More of my adventures as a cabbie…
I used to work for my best friend Lindsay. I covered the night end of things and he did days. It was a pretty good arrangement because I do not do days and fear sunshine. Yes, I am also a vampire. ;) Its good that I live where there is a minimum of sunny days.
Lindsay has a thing for White Tower. Sit there long enough and he will drift in for his coffee flavored cream. It’s easy to spot him because he drives the only Audi, yes you heard me right. An Audi cab. I SO loved driving it, I felt like Ferris Bueller in the Ferrari.
The food is standard American fare and it’s not expensive. For a few bucks you can get a decent breakfast, and always good coffee. I was partial to the pancakes and eggs. Roughly about 4 bucks, you leave with a smile on your face and a full stomach.
The last thing I would do after getting gas was to pick up his beverage. Calling it coffee would be a misnomer. The easiest way to get fired was to forget the beverage.
I once asked Lindsay how long he had been eating at this place. He told me he lost count, but it had to be going on 40 years. I’m not sure how to take that. Either the food is good, and it is, or he’s been in a rut too long. But one thing’s for sure. Anyone who owns 4 Audi’s and uses them for cabs cannot have bad taste.
And so it goes.