KENT, Ohio—Located at the southwest corner of Ohio 43 and 261 in Kent, Mike's Place is a one-of-a-kind experience.
- Mike’s Place has been a favorite dining spot for people of all ages for more than three decades
- Has been around for 32 years and specializes in breakfast, burgers and Reuben sandwiches
- Located at 1700 South Water Street in Kent
Owner Mike Kostensky opened the restaurant in 1987, with a country dining theme, but just like the college town it calls home, things evolved quickly.
“Somebody brought me a bag of license plates, so I put them up. And somebody dropped a soapbox derby car out back, so I put that up, and I think as everyone cleans out their garages, and they can't get rid of stuff, they figure Mike will put it up on the wall, said Kostensky.
And he did.
From hand painted and tin signs, a tiki bar, a train car, and bus, each dining space has its own theme.
Even outside the restaurant, there is an x-wing fighter plane that Star Wars fans can appreciate.
But Mike's Place isn't just about the visual experience— the food is equally something to behold.
There are nearly 100 items on the menu—from breakfast to burgers, to their famous triple decker Reuben—
“Has almost 10 ounces of meat, real Jewish rye, filled will Swiss cheese, thousand island...they love them,” said Kostensky.
And even the appropriately named “Loaded Diaper,” which Kostensky says can cure a hangover.
“It's a burrito stuffed with our homemade pulled pork, raw onions, topped with chili and we make a homemade queso and different cheeses.”
Many of the management and kitchen crew have been there for years.
Family is important also. Kostensky’s wife Deb and his four children have all worked at the restaurant at one time or another.
Kostensky’s oldest daughter Hope, a Kent State Graduate, has worked in the family business for more than a decade. She now works as the head of catering.
“There's so many brothers and sisters that work, so it’s a real genuine true family,” said Hope Kosensky. “And a lot of the employees have been here for a while and they can see that we really respect each other and get along. It’s nice to have family and siblings that really do put the effort in.”
After turning in long days at the restaurant, Mike Kostensky still finds time to play music, and he's even written several books.
But the longtime owner—who at one point thought about becoming a school teacher—says he looks forward to the continued evolution of a city he's called home for decades.
“It's vibrant, we still have our old culture, we still have the new youthfulness of Kent State. It's such a mixing of generations and people. It's a nice place to be,” said Kostensky.