Overrated. The burgers are decent, but nothing special. They have a famous "mofo" burger that is okay, it just has everything under the sun piled on it. Overpriced for sure, I paid $17 for a mofo, (the doesn't even come with fries) a fish sandwich, a side of fries and WATER. They're going to have to lower their prices and up their quality to stay in business with all the new ones coming in.
Review Source:My brother in law lives close by and went to Kent so he had to take me to Ray's Place.
The bar was packed and we were a two family group of 10 so we went to the upstairs and it was basically ours. The service was fast and friendly. She was pretty knowledgeable about the menu and recommended the Michael Simon favorite burger. The burger was very good and worth getting if you are finding trouble picking off the menu. The level of homemade aspect of the patties seemed to be in question, but I will give them the benefit of doubt.
We also grabbed the sweet potato fries and a basket or two of the jerk fries. The macaroni and cheese bites were not to my liking but they were a hit with the kids.
They had multiple beer specials and a very good selection to choose.
Students were on break, but still crowded. Great space, lively, with just enough tv's to follow game, but not enough to dominate conversation and turn it into just another sports bar.
In particular, the bartenders were friendly and knowledgable. Â Plenty of fine microbrews on tap. Â Noise level wasn't so high so as to discourage conversation. Even the Tina salad sandwich wasn't half bad.
My boyfriend and I stopped in one evening as we were passing through. The place was packed so we sat at the bar. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. One of the best french onion soups that I've ever had! Great deal on Wednesdays, all you can eat spaghetti for $2.99 WITH salad and garlic bread. I'm severely picky about spaghetti sauce and Ray's was very good! Huge selection of beer! Servers are great! We will be back for sure!
Review Source:I love Ray's. Â It is noisy and slightly unkempt and a great place to go for a burger and a beer. Â They have a great selection of beers. Â The wait staff is always super nice. They cater to all ages from families with small kids to college kids to working stiffs who want to chill after work.
Review Source:Went for the mo-fo burger... Â Ordered the spicy shrimp appetizer which was drenched in spicy sauce. Â I asked for a roll to have some of the sauce. Didn't end up eating the burger; instead took it home to my daughter who loves them. Â
Service was good, interiors haven't changed since I went to college at KSU (many years ago).
Great Pub.
Since I was visiting my baby sis in college (Kent), I came here for lunch with them, hearing that there's this MOFO burger that was pretty awesome to try. Even if I'm on this strict diet of mine, I decided to try it anyways since I came from out of town and supposedly it's amazing. Boy, was I right. It felt like I didn't have a burger in ages! Stacked with 2 meat patties and all the works, it was DE-licious. It's definitely a lot to consume for 1 person so I split it up with my sister.
The bottom bun got soggy after having it stacked with lots of ingredients on top but I didn't care much about it anyways since I was starving. Along with our burgers, we also ordered their sweet potatoe fries which was good as well but we ordered way too much food for just 4 of us. We were stuffed!
As far as the place goes, it's a casual. So nothing fancy at all. It is a bar at night but during the daytime, they serve breakfast and lunch. The bathrooms were a bit out-dated and kinda gross. But what can you expect from a bar that was probably filled with college students the night before?
There place is great, plain and simple. Their food is amazing and the drink selection is wonderful. Ray's is a restaurant by day, bar at all times. There are two floors each sporting it's own bar. The only issue is the difference with whats on tap from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor. Because they also have a $10 minimum, if you are sitting upstairs but want to beer downstairs you have to order $10+ on one trip or start a tab for that floor, which you probably have a tab for the 2nd floor, which then you would need two licenses...see the issue here? Granted, that wouldn't be an issue for most people at all, just the ones that are "beer snobs" maybe? If you want to avoid the overly loud music but enjoy a good dinner come no later then 8:30pm, though 6pm would be better. This place is a bit pricey but what you get is a great atmosphere, nice people, and a great selection of food and drink. I am always down to visiting Ray's Place.
Note: I marked noise level very loud because after 10pm they crank up the volume to a level which makes conversation a lot harder. As a friend put it the other day: "It is lip reading with small fragments of understandable conversation that allows the other person really to get what the other person is saying."
If you're looking for a good time, come with Ray to his place after hours.
All I remember about my last visit to this place is they have Delirium Tremens here. Their beer selection is the best in Kent, hands down. It's also the nicest bar in Kent, in my opinion. This is my favorite place to chill with my adopted AE brethren or my binge drinking lady friends.
The atmosphere cannot be beaten. The prices are average for Downtown Kent, so a night out with friends can easily cost you $20 or more. Still beats DC prices, but keep in mind you're in a college town when you eat here.
Yes, Michael Symon did make the 45 minute drive from Downtown Cleveland to Kent for an episode of "The Best Burger I've Ever Eaten". Apparently, the MOFO is the best burger I've never eaten. It has great reviews, as does their other food, but I can't comment on the food here.
Decent bar food.
Honestly, it's a better place to go get drunk and have an inexpensive burger than a place to dine-in with your mom and dad when they come into town. I've never had anything off of their menu that's been bad, so that's a plus.
Edit: I have to amend this review to add that the rueben was absolutely horrid. No dressing and the meat was so dry I have to think that they kept it uncovered in the refrigerator.
Lets be real -- we can't beat the beer selection @ Rays. I love the changing taps and specials and appreciate being able to get any type of beer I'm in the mood for.
Now to the food -- I honestly hate most of the menu, but I will give them some props for the newly added tacos which I have enjoyed.
Its a classic hang out, so I go with friends - but I really enjoy long periods without Rays.
YUM!
Had a Christmas Ale(or two) with a friend and ordered a MOFO with "O" rings and breaded mushrooms...Delish, forgot to get some of Gerties chili but I plan to go back again soon...
Place has been around forever but they keep it simple and good....So in or around the Kent area? Yeah you gotta stop by...
Rays Place may have seen on TV, Best Thing I Ever Ate. i wouldn't say that about the place. The food is ok nothing spectacular it is average bar food. The bar on the other hand is really fun great people lots of room and the bar service is pretty solid. the food menu is big with nothing that stands out. The best thing on the menu would probably be there burger selections.
Review Source:I had been to Ray's several times in the past, but based on Michael Simon's recommendation, I tried the MoFo. I was not disappointed. Fresh beef, cooked to perfection, fresh toppings. A pretty good crowd on a Friday at 10ish did not prevent our server from doing a nice job with a pleasant attitude.
The area is pretty cool, with several eateries and bars. Especially in the summer us older folks can relive the feel of a college town without having to wade through drunken frat boys.
I would encourage those looking for hummus and vegetarian to seek other options. This place is good for tavern food.
On an episode of Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Food Network, Michael Symon named the MoFo at Ray's the best burger he'd ever had... and he owns hamburger restaurants.
So while in that part of the world, I stopped in for a MoFo. I'd been to Ray's before, but only for the brews, many, many years ago. I must say, the MoFo is gigantic, so much so that I believe it has it's own gravitational pull as mine practically imploded on itself. Easily the messiest burger I've ever had, but it was very, very tasty! Just know that this is a burger in which you might have to repent after eating, as your very soul may need a good scrub.
Somehow everyone loves this place... and I don't get it. I've been here about  5 times, and it was drastically different each time, but never good. (I should mention that I've only come here for drinks, not food). The crowd varies widely... there's been times I've been there on the weekend at 1am during the school year to see it pretty much empty save for some old townies. Other times at 8pm it was already packed. Â
How does a bar manage to have urine on the seats by 8PM? Oh yes, I saw that. Big ol' puddle of pee, just sitting there, right in front of staff, left for someone else to come sit in (which happened). Getting a drink here when there's other people is IMPOSSIBLE. You can signal toward the bartender, wave money around, shove in front of others, yell your order... some of them just don't want to do their job. If it's empty, then there's great service (generally different staff).
Their drink specials here are pretty good, though the mixed drinks are really pathetically weak. Overall, my least favorite bar in Kent.
Went on a Saturday night. Â Once we were seated we waited 45 minutes for our food. Â The only thing that was good on the table was the BBQ sauce--good combination of spicy and sweet. Â The french fries were limp and the burger looked like a 9-year old cooked it. Â My chili was definitely NOT homemade--it was definitely "bought in" from a restaurant supply place. Â I realize Ray's is an institution in Kent but the food needs some serious resuscitation. Â Taco Tantos down the street looks to be a better food option.
Review Source:Updating my review...but keeping the rating the same. Â Here's why.
I like Ray's. Â Really. Â It's my favorite place to go with friends after a long week of graduate school work. Â I love the atmosphere and the staff members who work there are great. Â And yeah, they still serve Woodchuck.
I do have two gripes. Â First, they're kind of overpriced for what they serve. Â I somehow managed to drop $50 here last time. Â And they have a really bad habit of "forgetting" to give you the happy hour discounts. Â From 4-9pm on most days they offer $1 off all drafts. Â Well, when you get your bill later in the night, your discounts aren't reflected. Â And your server will probably make a huge fuss if you ask that you bill be fixed.
Gripe two: The food really sucks. Â On my last review, I said it was passable. Â I don't think so anymore. Â Last time I went I ordered a grilled cheese and when they brought it out, the cheese wasn't even melted. Â So, I sent it back. Â When it was returned to me, it was exactly the same as when I sent it back, so they obviously didn't do anything to it. Â Also, it tastes like they put salt all over the bread. Â Really gross. Â I've had similar issues with the quesadillas, the hummus (their hummus is foul), the veggie burger (also foul) and many other things. Â The only "Safe" menu option is the sun stix (sweet potato fries) and even those are mediocre compared to other places.
Go for the drinks and for the company, but do not go for the food.
As other reviews have noted, time of day is the deciding factor in your Ray's experience. Before 10pm, it's the first place I'd recommend in downtown Kent. After ten, the last place I'd recommend. The "late crowd" packs the place, to where there is nowhere to stand comfortably; forget about getting a single seat.
Food-wise, it's a step above standard bar fare, both in variety and execution. I've had a number of meals that were far better than they should have been, and the fries are the among the best in town. The selection of beers is staggering, The service is always competent, but nothing to rave about.
It's a fantastic choice for an early date, but a terrible choice for a nightcap.
I'd vote 3 1/2 if I could, because the whole "it's a different restaurant depending on when you go" thing is absolutely true. I wouldn't step foot in this place on a weekend.
The service is generally good, though sometimes you do get your fair share of apathetic-part-time-college-waiters-who-are-Âtotally-apathetic because its a bar in a college town. Good, not great.
Portions are generous, and for such a huge menu for a bar, its surprisingly consistant. Which while on the whole is a bit above average (3 1/2 again) I think they deserve some respect for being able to put out burgers and lobster ravioli of equal quality. Also, get the jerk fries, they're amazing.
Oh, and heres the thing that made me give 4 as opposed to 3 stars. The Friday Clam Chowder. I've been all across the eastern seaboard and nothing there compares to the thick, creamy, generous serving of their incredibly herby chowder. It may seem a tad pricey for the bowl, but it fills you up reeeeal nice.
I guess I was under the impression that this place was actually a restaurant and not just a bar, but when I showed up last night for dinner, the place was overcrowded and completely unorganized. Â The doorman was there taking IDs like a bar, but we were there for food. Â There was no hostess and as far as I could tell, no waitresses either. Â Cocktail servers, yes, but no one serving food. Â I don't know when they serve food, and I assume they do since they have a menu, but apparently it's not always an option just to go have dinner here. Â When it's not clear as as to when you can and cannot sit down and have dinner and the staff is disorganized, I'm not likely to come back.
Review Source:I just absolutely love this place. It's in an old authentic building that is classic downtown Kent. I used to love coming here late nights when I was a college student, but now that I am older, I come here sometimes for dinner and a beer just because the atmosphere is very lively and it is fun. The food is good and it is REALLY cheap. Love love love this place.
Review Source:I am going to do two reviews of this place, as it changes dramatically depending on when you go.
Review 1: Â For dinner, Ray's is very solid. Â I have yet to find a bar that rivals the beer selection anywhere else. Â The portions are VERY generous (strongly recommend the pasta with sausage and peppers), and the overall atmosphere is very pleasant.
Review 2: This is one of the worst places you could go on the weekend for nightlife. Â All the frat boys who aren't still passed out from the previous evening's Bud Light, Cornhole, and Date Rape Extravaganza all flock here to get into fights about Browns v. Steelers and brag about how much they've manscaped in the past week. Â Also, the bar TVs will constantly be playing some kind of sport; they will be playing GOLF before Comedy Central is on there. Â In addition, the staff is so overrun with orders that you won't get served for a long while.
Overall, I do like this place a lot; I just hate seeing it devolve into what it is on Friday/Saturday evenings.
Ray's Place was the first place I ever visited in Kent. Â For a Bar in Kent, it's really nice inside and the food is good, the beer list is excellent. Â For a restaurant, the service is slow and the place is just too damn loud... so if you're looking for a place to go out with people where you'll have plenty of time to talk but where you can't hear anything, Ray's is the place.
The food is good and it is generous. Â The sandwiches are delicious, particularly the cheeseburgers. Â The reuben is also a favorite. Â I've never gone wrong with the daily soup specials either. Â The beer list is pretty diverse and deep, with probably more than a dozen on draught, though I think a nice budget option (PBR anyone?) would be a good addition.
In my experiences, Ray's has different clientele at different parts of the day. Â Lunch seems to be mostly Kent business people and such, dinner seems to be more the university faculty, and at around 11 pm it shifts markedly toward annoying preppy college brats. Â While it's loud during dinner, it gets really loud when drunk frat boys yell at each other during the later hours.
Ray's is the best bar-restaurant in Kent, by far (though not the best bar) in terms of things you ingest, but beware the changing atmosphere and the noise.
Ray's Place is "shining like a star".[1]
Bob (my brother) & Linda (my sister-in-law) just reminded me that August 15th, 2008 was the 30th anniversary of their meeting at Ray's Place. So I guess you could say that I've been saving this review since that fateful day in 1978.
I was a 17 year old high school student visiting Ohio from California to see my brother. Since we're of the same Father, it was perfectly natural to find a bar, have some cocktails, and renew that brother - brother relationship. Bob suggested Ray's Place and off we went.[2]
Being so young, dumb, and full of ...what's that rhyme?...booze, I don't really recall much of Ray's Place, but it's obviously a place where magical relationships can be made, so I'd say check it out if you're looking for love (or cocktails).[3]
Footnotes:
[1] Â A term my brother used ad nauseam until we broke him of it.
[2] Â We didn't let trivial details such as my age interfere. Â
[3] Â I magically met a gal, as well, but only for that night.
This is the Cheer's bar of Kent. Â If you want to run into KSU Alumni or even Drew Carey when he is in town stop here. Â They still have the shot wheel for those that are turning 21. Â Last year they fixed downstairs with many HDTV's, windows that open to make a more open air bar and a generally more pub feel. Â Before 10 pm this is a good restaurant. Â I suggest the burgers or the mac and cheese bites. Â The food is good for a bar. Â After 10 pm is when the Geeks show up, mostly upstairs with Alumni downstairs.
Review Source:Ray's is a comfortable and friendly place to hang out. The early crowd is less frat-like and more sophisticated so if that's your group you'd better be there before 11pm. The food is good and has remained relatively stable throughout the years. Broccoli Cheddar balls and the hamburger your way are faves and the wings are phenomenal.
With the Ohio smoking ban Ray's has transformed, no longer do you leave with the need to shower and wash your clothes - and the food tastes oh so much better without the smoke! There was a remodel last summer and Ray's now sports windows along the front lower bar area that allow in lots of light and great views of the Pufferbelly, Gazebo, and the road.
Overall, Ray's Place is a classic college town bar with different on-tap selections in the first and second-floor bars as well as any mixed drink you can think of and plenty of wines by the glass.
Do you love frat boys wearing their letters and yelling about which chick they have/have not, would/ would not do? Â Nope, I'm not a fan. Â I don't care too much for that frat boys at a bar scene.
Rays was the one place that you knew you would end up at because, honestly, that's all there was at Kent back in 01. Â It was also the one place that you didn't want to go because you would see the same scene on repeat. Â Frat, Frat, Frat and the girls that love them.
This is probably sacrilege, but I think Ray's is just okay. The food is adequate, especially if you just want some typical pub-style beast. There are a few cool menu items (the fried macaroni and cheese, in particular), and there are a number of above average beers on tap. Unfortunately, I've never been a big fan of the atmosphere, the waitstaff isn't particularly friendly, and until recently, you'd smoke a pack and a half just sitting there for an hour. Maybe with Ohio's new smoking ban in place it's a better hangout. Unfortunately, Ray's has just never done anything for me.
Review Source:
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