Ray’s Place is a top-rated restaurant and nightlife destination in Kent, OH, serving draft beer, burgers, salads, comfort food, and other familiar favorites in a casual, cozy, historic, and trendy setting.
Located at 135 Franklin Ave, Kent, OH 44240, Ray’s Place is known for great beer selection, great cocktails, fast service, bar games, local specialty dishes, and a welcoming atmosphere for lunch, dinner, and solo dining. Guests can enjoy dine-in, takeaway, and delivery, plus table service, happy-hour drinks, dessert, and sport viewing.
Accessibility features include wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restrooms. Reservations are accepted, and payments include credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. For a highly rated restaurant and nightlife experience in Kent, OH, visit Ray’s Place at 135 Franklin Ave or call +1 330-673-2233.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Ray’s Place
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
From 4-9p wash all of that smoky goodness down with $2.25 pints & $2.75 20oz. Drafts: Bud Lite, Miller Lite, Yuengling & Labatt Blue
From 4-9p wash all of that smoky goodness down with $2.25 pints & $2.75 20oz. Drafts: Bud Lite, Miller Lite, Yuengling & Labatt Blue
Dine In Only
Served with with Mashed Potatoes & a salad or veggies
Bud Light, Miller Lite, Yuengling and Labatt Blue
Bud Light, Miller lite, Yuengling & Labatt Blue
Our version has French Fries, cheese curds and house smoked pulled pork, topped with a rich pork gravy, green onions and mustard greens
Calamari hand breaded, flash fried and tossed with grated Parmesan cheese. We finish the dish with drizzles of a wasabi aioli sauce
Warm goat cheese surrounded by homemade marinara and grilled flatbread
A blend of sweet to hot peppers sautéed in oil with garlic and Italian spices. Served with grilled Ciabatta bread
Roasted chicken breast blended with béchamel sauce, bleu cheese, diced celery and our signature hot sauce, served with tortilla chips
Diced tomatoes, green peppers, sliced jalapeños, black olives, spicy cheese dip and grated cheddar atop tortilla chips. Served with salsa and sour cream
Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheeses, in a tortilla shell, grilled & served with sides of salsa, sour cream and black bean sauce
Steamed mussels served in garlic butter and white wine with diced tomatoes, peppers, onions and a side of garlic toast
12 shrimp sautéed in a spicy sauce with fresh lime and cilantro, served with grilled flatbread
12 shrimp sautéed with olive oil, white wine, garlic, tomatoes, onions & Dijon mustard; served with grilled flatbread
Four large mushroom caps generously filled with a blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, crispy bacon and green onion
Dill pickles cut like fries then breaded and deep fried, served with Cajun remoulade
Bite-sized portions of mac n' cheese breaded and deep-fried, sounds goofy, but they're delicious!
Breast tenders breaded and deep fried and served with honey dijon
BBQ, Teriyaki, Sweet n' Tangy Mustard, Mild, Szechuan, Cilantro Lime Garlic, Hot, & Crazy Hot
Wasabi Dust: slight wasabi kick. Jamaican Jerk: Spicy, rosemary. Pig Rub: Sweet, spicy, salty
A dozen of the Biggest, Baddest wings in town! Served with celery and bleu cheese. Our wings are cooked to order, please allow a little extra cooking time
Slow smoked over hickory and mesquite chips Fried and served in your favorite sauce or rub
Served naked you dress it!
Served plain, dress it up your way. Cheeses: American, Bleu Cheese, Cheddar (Shredded), Hot Pepper Provolone, Swiss
A 6oz. patty made from seasoned ground turkey, you dress it
A homemade meatless burger patty, you dress it!
Bacon and cheese served naked, you dress it
Hot pepper cheese with sliced jalapeño peppers
Provolone cheese and homemade marinara sauce
Crumbled bleu cheese melted on top, you dress it
6oz. of our fresh ground beef stuffed with a mushroom duxelle, then topped with caramelized onions, bleu cheese, tomato, lettuce and a balsamic reduction
A true classic! A Double Cheeseburger with Bacon, Sautéed Mushrooms and the Works
6oz. of in-house prepared corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut on house-baked pumpernickel & our Russian dressing on the side
6oz. of grilled turkey, Swiss, sauerkraut on a grilled house-baked pumpernickel roll & our Russian dressing on the side
Lightly breaded shrimp, lettuce, tomato, onion & mozzarella on a hoagie with our wasabi aioli
Fried Korean marinated pork loin, lettuce, tomato, sesame seeds & scallions on a hoagie bun with our wasabi aioli
Ham, smoked pork, Swiss cheese and dill pickles on grilled flat bread, with a side of Annatto mayonnaise
Slow Smoked Pastrami, Swiss, and Cole slaw on grilled rye with a side of Bleu Cheese dressing
Slow roasted beef with sautéed onions, cream cheese, fresh mustard greens on Ciabatta & a side of whole grain mustard
Pork shoulder slow smoked in house and served stacked on a bun with our homemade
7oz. chicken breast hand breaded and deep fried, topped with provolone and marinara on a toasted bun
6oz. of our in-house smoked, peppercorn pastrami, grilled rye, Swiss cheese & a side of whole grain mustard
6oz. of our in-house prepared corned beef on grilled rye with Swiss cheese & a side of whole grain mustard
Salami, pepperoni and capicola ham with lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone and marinated peppers
Homemade Meatloaf served hot on grilled sourdough with shredded cheddar cheese and grilled onions
Lettuce, tomatoes, onion and gyro meat folded in a pita. Served with cucumber sauce
Marinated chicken breast in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onion & a side of homemade cucumber sauce
Ham, turkey, bacon and Swiss piled high on toasted sourdough with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise
Batter dipped, deep fried tilapia fillet on a toasted roll with lettuce, cheese and tartar sauce
Steamed vegetables, diced tomato, grated mozzarella atop a grilled pita; broiled, served with marinara sauce
Sliced Turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion on grilled sourdough with whole grain mustard on the side
Grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomato and mozzarella cheese, in a garlic herb tortilla with a side of ranch dressing
Fried chicken tenders, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella cheese and Garlic Sauce in a garlic herb tortilla
Fresh eggplant marinated & char grilled, topped with sautéed onions, mushrooms and provolone on ciabatta with lettuce, tomato & roasted red peppers
Crispy Bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on toasted sourdough
Your choice of bread and cheese
She made it famous, we still make it her way
Served in a crock and topped with melted swiss
Different varieties made fresh daily and served with salad and a cup of soup & salad
Mixed greens with tomato, cucumber, green pepper and croutons
A bed of mixed greens with tomato, cucumber, onion, green peppers, black olives, pepperoncinis, crumbled feta and our Grecian dressing
A bed of mixed greens with sliced cucumber and tomatoes topped with grilled salmon and shrimp then finished with toasted almonds, dried cranberries and Asiago cheese
A bed of mixed greens topped with sliced char-broiled sirloin steak, diced tomatoes, onions, French fries and shredded Cheddar
Slices of grilled chicken atop a bed of mixed greens, garnished with tomatoes, onions, sliced mushrooms, cucumber and black olives
Salami, pepperoni, capicola ham, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and black olives on a bed of mixed greens
A bed of mixed greens, Gerty's homemade chili, tomatoes, onions, shredded cheddar, black olives & sour cream, surrounded by tortilla chips
Ham, roast turkey, egg, fresh mushrooms, cheddar cheese, cucumber, onion and tomato on a bed of mixed greens
10oz. seasoned flat iron steak charbroiled to the temperature of your choosing, then finished with caramelized onions and a whiskey peppercorn cream sauce. Served with a salad and your choice of redskin mashed potatoes, vegetables, rice pilaf or French fries
Served with homemade redskin mashed potatoes & gravy, your choice of steamed vegetables or salad
An assortment of fresh vegetables stir fried in sesame oil and served over a bed of rice pilaf finished with drizzles of wasabi aioli. Your choice of plain, Szechuan or Teriyaki sauces
Tender slow smoked baby back ribs; finished with our sweet and smoky BBQ or Sweet n' Tangy Mustard
A half chicken slow-smoked in house, then flash fried to give it an extra crispy outside & moist inside, served with our sweet and smoky BBQ or Sweet n' Tangy Mustard, fries and coleslaw
A fresh 7oz. boneless chicken breast lightly breaded and served over spaghetti with provolone cheese and our homemade marinara sauce
Pasta sheets layered with our homemade marinara sauce, ground beef and Italian sausage blend, ricotta and mozzarella cheese
Pasta sheets layered with our homemade marinara sauce, fresh spinach, ricotta and mozzarella cheese
Topped with our homemade marinara sauce
Boxed To Go
2 scoops
We make a variety of desserts daily, ask your server about today's selection
Hear from our valued guests
First time here. The staff blew me away. They were on their "A" game. Whenever a staff walked by our table they asked how everything is and if we needed anything. It just wasn't our waitress, who was so bubbly and nice by the way, that made sure we had everything. It was so refreshing to be in an atmosphere where they were glad we were there and that we weren't "bothering" them like some establishments can be. Oh, the nachos with the pulled pork was wonderful!
Ordered lasagna and stir fry, food was excellent, we’ll be back!
Great food options and even better beer selection! First visit and we will definitely return. Service was quick and our server was very friendly.
It’s a bar in a college town and they’re doing their best! lol. We did go on a busy Friday and it seemed only 1-2 guys were waiting tables and trying to run the bar. With that said, they did great! The food was all so delicious! Nice place! Service being a little slower let us talk and catch up a lot more ♥️
Always great good. Good service. Decent prices. Close to home. Good beer list. Clean. Parking can suck on the weekends but usually it's fine. Highly recommend. Ray's place two is also really good. If you're closer to that location. Just saying.
I ate and drank a lot of beer here when I was in college at Kent State in the late 70's. Looks a lot different today. Brought my son here who is now going to Kent State. The food was delicious, the service was great and the atmosphere was comfortable. A little surprised that the crowd was mostly middle aged and some students.
Food was amazingly hot and fast despite how slammed it was on a Friday night. Waitress was on point the entire time and super nice. She wasn’t impatient when I asked whether the brisket was fatty that day and went and asked for me. I got the brisket sandwich with the pepper cream cheese, pickled onion and bbq w/ a side of jerk fries. My husband had the pita cheese steak special. We both loved our meals and I had enough meat on my sandwich I could pull some off and have another sandwich for lunch today.
The first time I ate here, I think I was one. I'm thirty seven at the time of this review. There's a reason they've been around since my grandparents were kids. Every time I'm back in town, I try to make time for a bite here. Good place for families until about 9pm. Starts to get rowdy with college students after that (I used to be one of them). Last time, the game was on too loud to hear my folks, but they kindly turned it down for us. Besides that, the changes I've seen Ray's go through have been for the better overall. Great crew. Huge pub fare menu with the staples and quite a few veg options. Lots of good beers from around the country. Hope to return before too long.
Ray's Place continues to be a community staple. The classic restaurant offers all the American Bar classics to the best level. On my trip, my group ordered a Burger with the works, Hot Wings, Taco Salad, and a Chicken Wrap. The taco salad and wrap were fine, but the burger and wings were incredible. The wings are a standout, especially when compared to other wings served at restaurants in the area. When in Ray's, you feel like you are eating a meal where people have eaten for decades. I too hope to eat here for decades as well.
If you’re in Kent and want consistently amazing food, top-tier service, and an atmosphere that’s genuinely fun, Ray’s Place is the place to go. From the moment you walk in, the vibe is energetic and welcoming without feeling chaotic. It’s the perfect balance of laid-back and lively — great for a casual dinner, a night out with friends, or even just grabbing a drink at the bar. The food is outstanding across the board. I highly recommend the meatloaf — it’s hands down one of the best I’ve ever had. Flavorful, perfectly cooked, and comforting in all the right ways. That said, everything on the menu is incredible. I’ve never had a bad meal here, and that kind of consistency says a lot. Service is always excellent — attentive, friendly, and genuinely accommodating. The staff clearly takes pride in what they do, and it shows. It’s rare to find a place that delivers great food, great service, and a great atmosphere every single time, but Ray’s Place does exactly that. Highly recommended.
Common questions about Ray’s Place
Ray’s Place is located at 135 Franklin Ave, Kent, OH 44240, United States, Kent, OH, United States.
You can reach Ray’s Place by calling +1 330-673-2233.
Ray’s Place has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 2065 customer reviews.
Ray’s Place features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Ray’s Place features the following service options: Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Ray’s Place features the following highlights: Bar games, Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Serves local specialty, Sport.
Ray’s Place features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Ray’s Place features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Food, Food at bar, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Late-night food, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
Ray’s Place features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Ray’s Place features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Ray’s Place features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Historic, Trendy.
Ray’s Place features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, Tourists, University students.
Ray’s Place features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Ray’s Place features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Ray’s Place features the following children: High chairs, Kids' menu.
Ray’s Place features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
Ray’s Place features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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