Beat burgers in Kent by far! Oh the atmosphere is ok too. :P You cant go wrong eating at Rays. They also have a huge beer selection from around the world so if you like to drink the suds... read more

This place sucks! Really has gone downhill. Where to start, there was lipstick and greasy fingerprints all over my beer glass, the menus are always dirty and extremely sticky, the fries are very often still raw! Just barely warm and still hard to touch, not edible!! The staff are rude and unattentive, and a proper detailed readable itemized receipt would be nice, it's 2018! read more

The waitress was incredibly rude. She looked very annoyed that we were considering menu options and not ready to place our order the first time she asked. She seemed completely bothered to be asked a question about a menu item, sat drinks down on the table without eye contact or saying anything at all, never smiled or had remotely friendly verbal or body language, and once she brought our food she did not come back to our table again. We had to get up to get the check. The mixed drink tasted like watered down pop and it would be stretching it to say the wings were mediocre. read more

Went there with a couple of my buddies, one of them got charged for $25, when in reality he only bought two Long Islands worth $8.50. When we went up trying explain the whole situation to the manager he tried blaming it on us, even though we had multiple witnesses. And then proceed to complain to us how it's our fault and he shouldn't refund our money. Overall 2/10. read more

I'm a fan and have been for years! Always great service and great food! When people come visit me in Kent, they always choose Ray's! The steak salad or Ruben are my go-to's. Keep up the great work! read more

They have a wide variety of beers, from darks to IPA. I love their sun sticks (sweet potato fries). Sometimes I go there for a snack giant basket of sweet potato fries and a cold beer. read more

I really like Ray's place for an after work beer or cocktail. They make a really good long island iced tea and their nachos are very good for a group of friends to share. My husband loves the MOFO As far as the evening, it is your typical bar scene on a college campus. i will not downgrade my rating due to the people that are there late in the evening (typically after 10pm). It is not the fault of the establishment on how people behave. As a matter of fact, I give any employee of a college bar props for dealing with "those people" that cant help themselves. read more

Best burger in Kent going away. Famous for chili, though I'm not a chili person. Interesting atmosphere: Mid-afternoon basic bar. Dinner. Almost a family restaurant. After 10. A student hangout. It all works. read more

great service but the food was okay we had the mo-fo burger just too much meat not much flavor just because you add bacon and mushroom it doesn't make it great like some rating give it. There was it nothing great about it, pulled pork was dry I just don't know how they can be in business with food like this. There were a lot of people at lunch time why? I wouldn't go back there, we were visiting from out of town on a visit Kent State. read more

I may be biased due to the fact that I know at least 70% of the staff that works at Ray's, but I am appalled that people suggest that the food is garbage and the service mimics just that. Based on my experience, this remains my favorite place to go out and eat awesome food and drink fantastic beers. No other bar holds a candle to the quality at Ray's in the Kent area. I see some reviews commenting on the atmosphere of The Zephyr and 157. Really? 157? If you're not a moron, take yourself to Ray's, if only for the drinks alone. On multiple separate occasions my girlfriend and I have gone to Ray's and walked out loving it a bit more after each meal. The only critique I have of the place, and this is simply due to my limited preferences of food, I would be wary of the specials at times. I am much more of a burger and wings kind of person in the first place, so explore your options and find out for yourself. By no means are the specials bad--they just do not seem to satisfy me in the ways that their burgers do. If you're taking my advice and want to try Ray's out, I suggest the Atomic Burger or the Chicken Parm. sandwich. Easily the best two items on the menu. If you have had a few drinks, though, go for the nachos; they are a revelation. read more

Beer specials often (a tall Miller Lite is sometimes less than $3). Beer tastes really good (I think I read that they meticulously clean their beer lines). Their burgers are pretty good (I recommend the MoFo). Sweet fries are delicious. Mac and Cheese bites? Yes, please! Overall good bar food at reasonable prices. read more

Definitely a good place to go. The upstairs bar is better than the downstairs one. If you sit at the bar downstairs, people are most likely going to keep bumping into you. Food is good, but the staff will just look at you weird when you sit down sometimes. Overall, one of my favorite bars in Kent. read more

Exceptional! They obviously clean their tap lines! Atmosphere, quality, and selection are dominant in the region! Cheers to Rays!!!

If you aren't already a regular, I wouldn't bother with this place. The tables are jammed so close you can smell the person at the table next to you, and the noise was deafening. All of our food was either cold or burnt to a crisp, and took an hour to get to us after ordering. My ribs were so burnt (blackened meat and bone slathered in bbq sauce) they were inedible, and half the fries they were served on were still frozen. The fiancee's meatloaf was cold and mediocre at best, and her deep fried mushrooms were overcooked on the outside and under cooked on the inside. They also charged my fiancee 11$ for an Alabama Slammer that didn't seem to have any alcohol in it. read more

Rays had great wings and Jerk fries. On Tap selection was great and I would go back. I would also recommend to friends. Good atmosphere the night before a Marshall game (@ Kent) read more

Best beer selection in Kent by far! And it's always rotating, so there's always something new to try. And the food is above average for a bar. I never have to wait long for service and the staff is incredibly friendly. read more

I love the burgers at Rays, but tonight I tried their flat iron steak served with caramelized onions and balsamic reduction. It was delicious. read more

The food, especially the mo fo burger was fantastic. it lived up to the reputation I heard so much about by friends. The portions are amazing. The basket of fries was easily enough to split with 3-4 people. The beers on tap and in bottle was easy to choose from may great beers. Look forward to returning!! read more

I love love love rays! I love going to eat there! The servers are great the sweet potato fries are delicious!!! It is a great place to go I defenintley highly recommend it read more

Love Rays. Discovered five years ago and love it. Perfect college bar restaurant feel. Good selection of drafts, flights are fun. Nice menu selection have never gotten bad good here. Peppers in oil is great local appetizer; basic appetizer but some ice surprises. Excellent burgers, corned beef has an addicting smoky flavor. Downsides- wait for a table; college town organization; loud( guilt that comes with sitting too long as hungry people look over your shoulder. Rays is pretty much Kent. read more

The long island from Ray's Place is the most important element of my college career. Would absolutely recommend. The staff is pretty friendly and the food (from what I've had) is pretty good! read more

The food was tasty, the portions were good, service was okay. I got the Mo-Fo and it was good, I would get it again. The fries were really good. The meatloaf and mashed potatoes were good and the person I was with said they would order again. However, the entire time we were eating there were flies flying around and landing on our food/us. I will not return due to that. Toward the end of my meal I wondered if they are all over the dining room, what does the kitchen look like? read more

Food is good if you're into burgers, else I'd avoid it. The Garden Burger is bland and relatively flavorless. Sunstix are good, generous servings. Almost too generous for a table of 3 starving grad students to finish. Nice for afternoon lunch with a visiting friend or going out for the hell of it, but I'd avoid eating there after sunset since it gets inundated with drunk people. After dark- hit up the second floor, and only for booze. There will be a smaller crowd and from time to time they give out free shots. Also, you can avoid the "Let's see how much I can drink before I puke!" crowd, who usually linger downstairs. read more

These folks know how to hook you up with some decent food. The burgers get most of the attention and honestly, that's where you should start on the menu if it's your first time. Gets crowded during lunch but what do you expect, people like it. EXCELLENT beer menu and really friendly service if you have questions about pairings. read more

Firstly, this is my go to lunch place if I have friends come from out of town. The jerk fries are amazing, especially with a little ranch. I've always ordered the burgers and they are quite good. Great selection of beer to go with the meal. Secondly, this is a great bar to go to whether you enjoy mixed drinks or beer. Their long islands seem to be the big pick most nights. Only downside I see to Rays is that the area by the bar gets pretty jammed on big nights, but that's a given for a good bar in a college town. read more

I am a long time customer at Rays Place and I thought it was time to post a review. Is Rays perfect? No. Sometimes the food isn't as good as it is at other times, but when they hit it dead on, it's great. I will say that of all the places I've gone to eat over the years, Rays probably gets it right 95% of the time. Most other places I've been to do not have that consistent of a track record. Honestly, if you are in Kent and looking for a great place to get a meal and a good craft beer on draft, you cannot do better than Ray's. The Hot Pastrami sandwich is excellent, the Italian Roasted Pork sandwich with sun-dried tomato sauce is one of the best pork sandwiches I've had, the Cuban Sandwich is great, and they serve a good regular old burger (which you can dress up to insane levels if you want). They do still source the beef for the burgers from a local supplier (yes, I did confirm this with one of the managers) and I know that the brisket used for the corned beef/pastrami comes for somewhere in Northeast Ohio as well. Yes, Rays is loud and busy around lunch and in the evenings, but that's part of its allure. Rays is somewhere you can go to lose yourself in the crowd. It also hosts a different demographic after 9 or 10 pm Wednesday through Saturday because of the college students. I guess that's one of the side effects of going to a bar in a college town. The great thing about Rays is that you will see people all across the age and occupation spectrum and I always thought the whole point of a bar was to serve as a social gathering place for people in the community to drink beer, eat food, and have a good time. If you happen to be in the Kent area, I would strongly recommend giving Rays a try. At least stop in for a beer, anyway. read more

This is the place to been seen and not heard in Kent. Great selection of beer. This place can get crowded so be prepared to wait. Any time friends come in from out of town, we usually end up at Rays. read more

There is good reason why this place has been around almost 80 years now! Great beer selection and great burgers at a decent menu price! 2 thumbs up! The only reason why i dont give it 5 starts is beacause it is always loud! But for business it only means they have a crowd for good reason! If you have not been here yet then you need to go! read more

Good burger, but service always been kind of a miss for me. Usually have to wait a while to get seated (plenty of seats available just no service) and when sat down have to wait a while to get menu and drink ordered, etc. It's not that their servers are not friendly or do not provide service, but every time I go there I feel like the place has no waiter, and you are just sitting there, table empty, for a while before you are approached. Sandwiches, burgers, and wings are good. But their ribs suck. Fries are decent and onion rings can be meh. If you go there with a bunch of people you will get services a lot quicker. It's just that their waiters are so busy and always running around that they tend to forget about the quieter tables. Still I go there for the good burgers and juicy wings. Wish they had more professional restaurant service though. read more

Ray's has always been a favorite place to eat in Kent. I ordered my usual Cuban and Long Island iced tea and was disappointed to find that instead of the usual thick slice of ham, Rays had changed to a chip chopped ham and the pita was dry and crumbly. My party also ordered the Ruben and it was on a pumpernickel bun instead of grilled bread- a big disappointment! The jerk fries and Long Island iced tea were delicious as always and the service was excellent. Needless to say, we will look for another restaurant the next time we're in Kent. read more

Use to come here in college about ten years ago. Stopped in while traveling through the area. Always great burgers. Also a good bar.

This establishment has a great menu selection. Not to mention you receive more then your moneys worth in quality and quantity. I love this place. It might actually be my Kent favorite for a bar that serves food. I have never had a bad experience. read more

I just returned to my Youngstown home after a trip to Ray's, and my ears are still steaming. In my 50+ years, I've never been treated as rudely, dismissively or flat-out scornfully by anyone representing "management." I've endured a lot of grievances over the years to make regular pilgrimages to Ray's: the hour-long drive; terrible parking; an ear-splitting noise level; a no-reservation policy. But I've remained a loyal patron for a good many years because I love the food: the pastrami sandwich, the fries, the bacon cheeseburger and most especially the ribs. Everyone who knows me will tell you that I've raved about them in no uncertain terms, even going so far as to describe them as the best ribs I've ever eaten in a restaurant. (Coincidentally, quite a few of said acquaintances have made the trek to Ray's just to try them, solely because of my ringing endorsement.) In all my years of devoted patronage, there were only two occasions prior to today that I complained to a server. Once because my (full order) of ribs had arrived stone-cold. The other because the kitchen had apparently forgotten my request to serve the ribs and fries on separate plates (or basket in the case of the fries). Both times the corrections were made promptly, apologetically and with a smile. Until today. When I remarked to the server that the first two ribs of my half-rack were tough, stringy and dry, she offered to speak with a manager. A man arrived who didn't bother identifying himself, but who clearly seemed to be suffering from anger management issues. He insisted--in no uncertain terms--that the ribs were perfectly fine, and that there was nothing wrong with them. In other words, "You're an idiot; don't bother me." (I thought I was watching a "before" section on an episode of "Restaurant Impossible.") When I tried to explain the issue I had with the sampled portion of meat, he blew me off, vanishing back to wherever he came from. Since the fries remained untouched--all I'd eaten was the cole slaw and two (out of six) ribs, the server asked if I wanted to take them with me. A carry-out container was quickly provided. But when the bill arrived, I was puzzled to see that the uneaten (and now absent) ribs were still on the bill. I told the server that, since I was paying for them, I might as well take the remaining portion home with me. At that point, I optimistically hoped that the remainder of the (half) rack would be up to Ray's usual high standards. She once again offered to speak with a manager. Shortly thereafter, the inconsolably rude gentlemen from earlier returned, this time even more obstinate and nasty than he was previously. He accused me of being a chronic complainer who "always sends food back" (?), and asked repeatedly why I bother coming to Ray's at all since I clearly "don't like the food." I'd say that my attempts to explain the situation--and my long-time enthusiasm for his restaurant and the food--fell on deaf ears, but that would be an exaggeration. He clearly wasn't listening to anything I had to say and walked off in an insolent huff. The (corrected) bill was resubmitted, but nothing could take the vile taste of my two brief encounter(s) with the extraordinarily hostile manager out of my mouth. I left feeling as if I'd lost a friend. And in a sense I had, since I knew it would surely be a cold day in hell before I walked through the doors of Ray's again. I'll definitely miss the food I grew to love, and the generally top-notch service. But I'll never forget--how could I? how could anyone?--the disrespectful-bordering-on-contemptuous way I was treated. What a horrible way to start the new year. read more

This was supposed to be a great place, but turned out to be a disgusting cesspool. Management was even less accommodating when I pointed out the beer they served had mold film on the beer. Never go here. I love Kent but this place is slime. read more

Ray's Place is always a solid choice when visiting Kent. Great beer and food selection, but it can get a little busy so plan accordingly.

Great gathering place, I sit next to the open window looking out across the old brick road towards the old railroad depot. The place was filled up when I got there and also when I left. I had the Wiskey Peppercorn sauce steak with steamed vegetables and salad, it was very tasty. Service was fantastic, I never had to ask for a refill. read more

This is the spot in Kent where all people come to meet.

Great place and will always come back but our waitress needs a personality adjustment.

It's a classic Kent spot that always is a bast on the weekend nights. It's a little overrated when it comes to their food, but it is good quality and priced well. read more

Through loud noises, disorganised servers, and oddly placed TVs, Ray's place still maintains a three-star rating in my books. Upon walking into the place, something just screamed mediocre at best. No indication whether or not you should seat yourself or you should we should wait, just like most we were confused. After making eye contact with a waitress chatting with a peer, we found our way to a booth on our own. Soon after, we were greeted by a friendly girl, giving us our menus and taking our drink orders. The usual process followed, we ordered drinks, then food. The speed at which the food was prepared was surprisingly fast and tasted great. We finished our food which was quickly taken from our table. I got the cheeseburger - cooked medium well - and it tasted great. However the problem was leaving, as if our waitress did her best to avoid us, we waited 10-15 minutes to get our check. Thankfully once she was finished chatting among other activities she took our card and we got out. Overall, my experience was not the best however I've been to worst places. read more