This place used to be #1 but the quality has certainly been on the decline of the past couple of years. Food is average at best and prices are high. It's worth your we to stop in for drinks- storm cloud or brandy Alexander's. Other than that, there are many better places to eat on the island.
Review Source:As others have said, no stop on Kelleys Island is complete without a stop at The Village Pump and its famous Brandy Alexander. Â Once you and your group have made the committement to "start the night," The Pump is typically the place to begin. Â I've spent countless hours at the pool table making many new friends and memories. Â Be sure to get your Brandy Alexander at the start and then proceed to sit at the bar and enjoy conversation with a more local crowd. Â Large groups will enjoy The Pump's lemon drop pitchers as a fun and light party shot. Â If you end up here early enough to eat, the food is generally some of the best on the island. Â
One thing that I have not seen mentioned (sorry if I missed it)---at least one halloween in your life has to be spent here. Â We will usually rent a condo for halloween weekend (as the boat is usually wrapped for the winter by this time). Â Split among 8-10 people, it makes for a cheap/fun weekend. Â It is an absolute gem of a time.
Everything on Kelleys (no apostrophe, even though one is DIRELY needed...) is overpriced. That is the cost of spending your time (and money) on an island.
That being said, you really don't get much for your money at The Village Pump.
If you want beer etc., the Pump is probably just fine. If you want to focus on food in a more sober state, there are better places to eat on the island. And service is adequate at best.
My wife ordered the spinach salad, requesting twice "hold the bacon." She got bacon, or, more accurately put, I got bacon. Â
The famous walleye bites were good fish, but not anything I'd call worthy of fame (sorry Mammalluh). They were tasty, especially wrapped in bacon. Bacon goes OK in chicken noodle soup, too.
In sum, drink at the Pump for island color. Eat elsewhere for good food.