Sick of stir-fry at Eastway? Craving something more than just a grilled cheese from Rosies? At this point in the semester, our taste buds are ready for something new, fresh, and authentic. Where better would you find delicious locally made food than at downtown Kent? Now the hard part – choosing where you want to indulge. The writers of Her Campus Kent State made it easy for you by summing up their experience at a local downtown eatery! So refer to our “Eat Like the Locals” guide, and take a stroll downtown before the snow barricades you indoors…
Twisted Meltz – chosen by Keri Richmond
This family run restaurant located in Acorn Alley opened this past January and specializes in grilled cheeses. Unlike most grilled cheeses these are filled with flavor and some have bacon, perogies, mac and cheese and more, but all are unique in their own way. When I visited Twisted Meltz the manager suggested that I try either the Lou Holtz or the James Harrison, their two most popular sandwich’s on the menu. I went with the James Harrison and was extremely satisfied. It was perfectly browned, juicy, delicious and worth every calorie. Twisted Meltz is a great place to grab lunch with your friends and the menu has something for everyone! Next time you’re in Acorn Alley, stop by for the perfect ‘melt in your mouth’ grilled cheese!
Yogurt Vi – chosen by Elise Kogelnik
If you’re craving a sweet, frozen treat without all the calories of Ben and Jerry’s, Yogurt Vi is the place for you. They offer at least a dozen yogurt flavors at all times and the supply of toppings is nearly endless. My absolute favorite combination is Cake Batter yogurt with fresh raspberries, cookie dough bites, and marshmallow sauce.
Just like at other frozen yogurt shops, the final cost is based on how much your delicious creation weighs. For this reason, it’s easy to get carried away. Yogurt Vi has your wallet in mind; they offer a larger bowl for 20% off!
Next time you’re downtown, stop by Yogurt Vi for a quick snack! It’s located right next to Insomnia Cookies and there is a large parking lot in the back so you don’t have to stress over parallel parking. The shop itself is always clean and it’s a great spot to hang out with friends!
Bar 145 – chosen by Ally Strok
If you’re looking for a good burger, head downtown to Bar 145! It’s on Erie Street and it’s not a far walk for those of us still living on campus. They get their name from the temperature they cook their burgers at, to get a perfectly cooked medium rare burger; a warm and pink center and slightly crispy on the outside. I chose the “Stack Your Own” option. You can choose the type of meat (ground beef, chicken, salmon, turkey, or a black bean patty), the way you want it cooked, the bun, the cheese and veggie toppings, and a variety of sauces. I went with the black bean veggie burger on a classic bun with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a dill ranch dressing. A good tip for all you broke college kids; go on a Wednesday night for $5 burgers, half off the usual price! In addition to the burgers, there are also bands that come in to play on the weekends, and a selection of 39 different types of Bourbon whiskey. The atmosphere was laid back, there were TV’s throughout the dining area and along the bar showing sports, and the staff was friendly. Would I go back or recommend Bar 145 to a friend? Absolutely.
Laroush – chosen by Danie Minor
Laroush, which is right outside of downtown Kent, is a college kid’s dreamland. It is affordable, and delicious. They offer a wide-variety of Mediterranean favorites, from the hummus to the falafel, everything is delicious. The best part about Laroush is that it is all authentic. For those who eat Halal, they serve all Halal meats. AND their hummus and pita is to die for! It has just enough zing and garlic pairing best with their pita chips. They are also featuring their new hummus melts, which is basically a Mediterranean quesadilla. It combines the customers’ choice of hummus, different cheeses, meats, and vegetables!
Laroush also carries a variety of smoothies, which are super healthy! They only use the combination of fruit and ice! Their most popular smoothie is the “Green” smoothie, which combines spinach, banana and other vitamin-packed fruits.
Laroush is a little hidden, which is why a lot of students and even Kent natives do not know about it, but it is at the corner of Franklin and Summit. Their address is 425 Franklin Ave. If you haven’t been yet, but love Mediterranean food, Laroush needs to be next on your list of places to cross off. But warning: once you go, you will be hooked and will crave it almost every day.
Tree City – chosen by Katie Lazzari
Looking for a cozy coffee shop? Well, Tree City is the place to go! Tree City sells your favorite coffee and tea as well as various delicious pastries and breakfast items. If you want lunch, Tree City has many different PB&J variations. With all the different options, it was so hard to choose! I settled on a “Peanut Butter Cup” sandwich (nutella and peanut butter) and a Frappuccino! If you’re in a rush, they even offer a drive through. Tree City is the perfect place to catch up with friends or finish some school work.
Dave’s Cosmic Subs – chosen by Talor Bly
The moment you step into Dave’s Cosmic Subs you are bombarded with retro memorabilia. As overwhelmingly awesome the décor is, the menu is equally overwhelming. There is an incredible amount of options, and everything sounds ridiculously delicious. I chose to go with a classic Reuben. The sandwich was huge and full of flavor. It was a good choice, but next time I might try one of their signature sandwiches like the Classic Dave. If you’re looking for a unique sub sandwich experience, Dave’s Cosmic Subs is for you.
Taco Tontos – chosen by Colleen Landers
If you know me, you know that Taco Tonto’s is basically the highlight of my college experience at Kent State. I’m an avid Taco Tonto’s supporter, scolding people for dining at Chipotle or Frescos when they could enjoy the authenticity and fresh ingredients at the beloved Tonto’s.
My go to? Burrito bowl. Brown rice, juicy chicken, lettuce, sweet potato, corn salsa, tomatoes, and alfalfa sprouts. Topped with globs of their amazing hot sauce of course. My confidant got a simple but photo-worthy cheese quesadilla with corn salsa (she advises it’s best the morning after a long night of bar hopping).
The validation? Don’t be basic. Choose Taco Tonto’s.
Popped – chosen by Sarah Cahn
I went to Downtown Kent to check out Popped in Acorn Alley. As soon as you walk into the store you can smell the freshly popped popcorn. I love how you can taste each flavor before you make the big commitment. Some flavors include the classic Kettle Corn, Caramel Corn, Cheddar Cheese Corn, Buttered Corn, Caramel with peanuts, and Firehouse Caramel (the perfect combination of spicy-sweet). There is also a large assortment of other home-made popcorn and chocolate items that are packaged and ready to go which are perfect for gifts for family and friends!
Try one (or all!) of these amazing options just minutes away from campus and tweet us your favorite @hckentstate, bon appétit!