LOOKING FOR A GREAT PLACE TO STAY ON KELLEYS? Â THE ISLAND HOUSE IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!!!!
My wife and I were looking to get away for our 10th anniversary and we decided to go to Kelleys for a nice weekend away from the mainland. Â I called about five different places to stay on the island, but only Bridgid at the Island House called me back. Â I booked a room for the weekend and we were literally only looking for a place to sleep and reconnect. Â We got so much more!!!!! Â
When we arrived, Bridgid (who is also the bartender at the outside bar) welcomed us so warmly, it felt like we were long lost friends. Â Her demeanor and attitude put us immediately at ease and we went to our room to unload our bags and went back down to have a few cocktails. Â The decor of the outside bar was funky and hip, and the staff was so accomodating and friendly. Â We were blown away at the friendliness and warmth that we received.
After a few cocktails (try the peanut butter cup martini--Bridgid makes the peanut butter vodka herself; try the Mooney--gin, gin, gin and Sprite), we went downtown and had a great time. Â The Island House is located about a block from downtown and all of the bars and attractions that Kelleys has to offer. Â The Village Pump, Bag the Moon, The Buckeye Bar (don't miss the party on game days!!!!). Â All are within a short walk of the Island House. Â We made our way back to The Island House and to our room. Â The bed was amazingly comfortable, the pillows were actual pillows and the water pressure in the shower was very good.
We totally lucked in to The Island House. Â We will not luck in again. Â We will never stay anyplace else when we go to Kelleys. Â Totally worth the price.
Tried to have dinner here last night at 7 pm on a Thursday night.  Only 7 tables filled, which were being served by a you lady.  Our waiter, a guy called in to work that didn't want to be here, took 35 minutes to stop at our table to get us drinks and dinner.  Again, NOT busy.  He proceeded to tell us dogs weren't  allowed, we checked before we sat down, mind you, and were told it was okay.  He then complained to his manager, who proceeded to throw us out, now 45 minutes after we sat down!!!!  Never had such a rude experience EVER !!!!  On the patio next to the gate, AND the bar next door served  dogs. Run, don't walk from this place!!!!!!  Used to be good last year, but has changed hands.  The lounge outside is gone and the food is pedestrian at best  Sushi rolls but no tuna tartare???  So where does that tuna come from?????  Scary!
Review Source:We were in the mood for a late lunch. We went along with the wait staffs  recommendation and ordered the lobster roll.  2 large rolls toasted and stuffed with butter drenched lobster meat.  Small platters of garlic green beans and spicy calamari.  We met the chef who was a delight and recommended that we come back our last evening on the island for dinner.  The chefs recommendations were fried green tomatoes, salmon grilled to perfection, crab cakes and wedge salad.  All were excellent.  Worth the money.
Review Source:Certainly as good as food gets on Kelleys Island. If you know you are going to pay too much for food on Kelleys, why not get GOOD food in the bargain? You can get fried food anywhere on the island; give this place a try for creative combinations of ingredients cooked well.
We really enjoyed the fried plantain chips as the base for a cheese, black bean nacho-esque appetizer. The mussels appetizer was fresh and well-seasoned in garlic and white wine.
The tuna steak special was cooked perfectly (rare), and served with a grain (gana?) mixed with diced cucumbers and onions. It was flavorful and delicate.
Our server was very attentive and pleasant. The constant traffic down Division Street was entertaining.
I'll keep it short and simple.. Â My wife and I came in for a late lunch when there were very few people at the restaurant. Â The food was simply outstanding! Â The burger and fries, best I ever had. Â The coconut shrimp was excellent and I generally hate shrimp. The service was prompt, helpful, and overall just outstanding! Â For two people our dinner with three drinks was around $60 which i did not consider outlandish. Â If you come to the island, check this place out!
Review Source:This guy knows how to cook! Â The burger we had was perfect 5 stars and the salmon with the curry sauce was to die for. Â We had some really tasty signature drinks and wish we would have gotten a bottle of champagne because the food was really that good. Â Prices were reasonable too. Â The service was especially nice. We later saw our waitress in a shop down the street, she remembered us and was like r u guys havin a good time on the island? She was sweet. Â Best place on the island, we will be back for sure. Â Thanks guys we loved it!
Review Source:My husband and I escaped for a nice relaxing weekend on Kelleys Island and we kicked things off right with an amazing dinner at Kelleys Island House Restaurant.
Food: We started with the calamari and this is a must-have appetizer as far as I'm concerned. The spicy and sweet Thai-version of this dish was out of this world. The lobster sandwiches were another huge success. Two buns piled high with lobster and a side of clarified butter - how can you miss? My husband took a bite of the lobster sandwich and exclaimed to our server "Why did you bring me this butter! It doesn't even need  it!"...Silly boy. Just try the butter. He quickly recanted his statement and clearly misjudged the magical power of butter.
Drinks: This is a martini bar and the very nature of the beast is to make a quality cocktail. So bar service may be a bit slower, but the end result is well worth it! They call it island time for a reason! I tried a cucumber martini and the Thai-Tonic (gin, lemongrass and basil and a few other things I can't remember (imagine that)) and both were made with care and were perfect summer cocktails - light and refreshing, with a nice kick of course.
Service: Our bartender Mike was amazing. Truly the best service we've had in months and made our experience memorable, on top of the phenomenal food and drinks. I did get the impression that not all the bar staff was up to snuff (as I overheard a server come in and ask what was in a Sea Breeze), but we were there at the beginning of the season, so many of them had only started working there in the past three weeks (similar to the rest of the island).
Atmosphere: We sat inside at the bar as the wind off the lake was too strong to sit outside, although next time we'll be sure to check out the patio area as it looked really cool with an outdoor bar. Interior of the place wasn't my personal style and felt a bit dated (even though they are going for a modern feel with funky mirrors and unique glass pieces on the tables).
Price: Bottom-line, this place is a great value! It probably has the most expensive menu on the island, but our bill would have easily been double this price at any other martini bar/nice restaurant.
We took a day trip up to this tourist island, paying the EXORBITANT ferry fee to do so.
Based on Yelp reviews, we decided to have lunch here. Some previous reviews gave this place 5 stars, BUT some were one shot wonders and another had only one previous review, so they were somewhat suspect. I think some have now been removed.
Having said that, we liked the place. We could have eaten outside, but it was hot so we opted for the bare table high tops in the bar.
Five of the seven of us had the lobster rolls and they were quite good; delicious, in fact. I think this is their specialty. The lobster had been frozen, of course, but it was still nicely prepared on toasted hot dog rolls. The fries that came with it were fat & soggy.
Overall, a fun place.
Location - 5 STARS
Service - 4 STARS
Food - 3 1/2 STARS
Ambiance/Decor - 2 1/2 STARS
BEST meal we had on our August 2011 trip to Kelleys Island! Â We ate at several of the most popular restaurants in the main "downtown" area, and everybody loved the food here best! Â It was SO good - from the burgers to duck fat fries to calamari to Mac & Cheese to Caesar salad. Â We ate outside and loved the ambiance of the patio. Â We had our three kids, and they loved the food, too. Â I will definitely be eating here again when we return next year and HIGHLY recommend a meal (or two or three) if you're on the island.
Review Source:Kelleys Island House has the best food and drinks on ANY of the islands. Â The homemade peanut butter vodka in the "Beth's Peanut Butter Cup Martini" is worth making a special trip to Kelleys alone! Â Every meal I have had there has been excellent and the prices are extremely reasonable for the size of the portions and the quality of the meals. Â The staff is very inviting and not only provides great service but makes you feel like you are hanging out with old friends as soon as you arrive. Â Kelleys Island House is a rare treat that everyone should enjoy at least once in their lives. Â My next trip to the islands, I am not just going to dine there, but stay at the inn attached to the restaurant. Â It is the perfect vacation destination!
Review Source:
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