The famous Brandy Alexander and Walleye Bites. The nostalgic place is a staple when you visit the Island. Fantastic staff and atmosphere. One of my favorite stops to make when visiting. Right across the street from the Docks. The food was of course delicious and drinks were flowing. Love this place. Overall a 9.0 out of 10 read more

See all

Fun and full of life spot right near the ferry drop off. Full bar plus plenty of seating, the server was friendly and ready for fun, " Who wants a shot?" We all did! We had Stormcloud shots. Iykyk. Also a pitcher of their Brandy Alexander - a boozy delicious dessert in a glass. The food was great too. We shared a perch dinner - perfectly cooked and quite tasty. Lake Erie perch is very different from ocean perch. Give it a try. Fun place. Don't miss if visiting the island. read more

The Village Pump - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

Great location. Daily specials are very generous portions. Food was quite good. Great variety of tap beers. We would go back for sure. Very casual atmosphere. read more

The perch was so good. Kid friendly. Service was excellent. Tried a new Catawba island beer - my new favorite! read more

The Village Pump - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

See all

Amazing fried perch can be obtained at this restaurant! Very well prepared and their signature tartar sauce was amazing. We also ordered the fried green beans which we couldn't stop eating. read more

See all

Best fried perch I've ever eaten. Cold beer service on spot. Sat in the lower level and had a great view of the lake. Place is well worth a visit. read more

When the snow flies and someone says "go to your happy place" The Pump is top on my list of happy places! amazing perch, the best salads and the drinks are cold. beautiful views! Ahhh. read more

I enjoyed the perch tacos and obviously loved the Brandy Alexander. Staff were awesome and didn't make us feel too too crazy when we ordered ahi tuna to take home for our dogs Overall, the food was decent bar food, staff were great, atmosphere was great, so would recommend. read more

The Village Pump - Brandy Alexander - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

Food was just what we were looking for but the service was awesome. Regina walked up and said ILove You! Awesome place! read more

The Village Pump - Delicious Perch and Walleye! Bites! Waitress came up and said I Love You! Regina is awesome.. 40th anniversary !! Loved it - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

The perch was fresh and hot when served. The server was warm and welcoming and continued to check on us throughout the meal. The ambiance is a local diner with a lot of energy provided by the locals and island guests. read more

Pitcher of Brandy Alexander was a tasty and fun drink to share - a unique cool drink (kind of like an egg nog shake) on a hot day. Great friendly service from the bartender, she even sang us a song on our way out! read more

The Village Pump - Brandy Alexander's all around! - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

I visited during COVID-19 (Coronavirus) times in October 2020. This was my first stop for lunch on the first day that I arrived on Kelleys Island (Lake Erie, Ohio). LUNCH -- Their menu is large but just ask a server for help if you feel overwhelmed. I knew I wanted fish, since I was visiting an Island, so I ordered the Walleye (Fish) sandwich. The sandwich was pretty simple - it had a good amount of fish on a white bun with tomatoes and lettuce. I enjoyed my fish sandwich but it definitely could have used more flavour. I can't remember what my 3 friends ordered but they had no complaints with their lunch. VEGETARIANS -- This is not a good restaurant for vegetarians because almost everything on their menu is made with meat or fish. One of my friends is vegetarian and I believe she ended up just ordering a pretzel with cheese on the side. If you are looking for a typical American restaurant on Kelley's Island then the Village Pump is a reasonable option. Customer service was quick and efficient too. **** - 6/100 total reviews in 2021 - 425 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 2 January 2021 read more

See all

Hmmmm... I'd like to give it a higher rating. Seems like a cult favorite, but perhaps since there aren't a lot of options on Kelleys Island? The food was all tasty, it just wasn't all that special considering what we paid. Oh! Except for the clams. Hubby gave those two thumbs up. They are longer than he typically sees. Something he's actually noticed about western Lake Erie area. Perhaps same supplier? Does has lots of space to fit large groups. read more

See all

Year after year this place seems to have the same bad service level. Kelley's Island is such an interesting place, it's a shame they're not more welcoming of visitors. read more

If you're going to Kelleys Island, you're going to get hammered. It's a good idea to go to one of the most popular bars on the island. The Village Pump is one of the iconic bars. It's real close to the dock. This is good to catch a drink before you catch a ferry. Basically it's just a drunken mess inside the bar. Service is sketchy but usually you'll get your drinks or food eventually. The signature drinks here include their famous brandy. If you're looking for food, they have plenty of fried lake creatures. This isn't the entire menu but it's the majority. A non fried item is the lobster chowder. The walleye bites seem to be popular. If you're waiting for the ferry it's easy to grab a drink. Getting good food can take a bit long as this place can get packed. The drinks are okay but the food is overpriced and fried beyond recognition. read more

The Village Pump - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

I just gotta throw down the 5 stars, this place is awesome here I am blowing off work and GD there's a bunch of island types doing the same! Love it. Day drink. Gotta watch it tho on the way up from Cle I passed i don't know, every cop in the state. Got the famous Richies homemade lobster chowder, it was great! Very different from the usual, big celery chunks with the lobster chunks in an orange broth. Great great great and the island pump is the place to do it. Loved it. The bar reminds me kind of like Brennan's fish house in grand river. This one doesn't remind me as much of the set of jaws tho. Famous perch sandwich everybody raves & of course it's great too. Light breaded perch, several pcs on there w lettuce and good tomato slices. I always skip the tartar sauce After Daytona. Don't ask. Man I smashed it all. I love this bar. Maybe it's the first time thing but hey i could sit here all day. $31 plus tip it was. Off season and the bar gals are working hard. Island is pretty sedate now, guys trying to walk their dogs but the dogs just wanna swim kinda thing with land lubbers like me driving their jeeps around bc it's cheaper than renting a cart for $14 an hour. Great time I wish I could do 10 stars!!! read more

The Village Pump - Famous lobster chowder and perch sandwich. Great stuff good time at Kelley's! - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

Really excellent perch bites. Meh onion rings, meh French fries, but those perch bites! Tartar sauce is homemade and very good, and I'm picky about tartar sauce. Friendly attentive service, especially considering how busy it was. read more

Best perch I have had so far on the islands. Atmosphere was great, singing waitress, fun place to hang out.

Fantastic food and service!! Perch and nachos are my personal favorite. BTW. You can't leave without a pitcher of Brandy Alexander's and a high five from Gary! read more

I'm really at a place of wonder. We saw this was rated high and a gal on the street suggested this restaurant for fish. Came back for a later lunch. The menu has many choices. However, for someone like me that is gluten-free, it was very limited. I'd say the same if you are a vegetarian or vegan. Actually, I wouldn't recommend coming here at all then... My partner had the fish tacos, my daughter had the $5.00 piece of fish and I had the nachos. Fish tacos were okay he shared, but not anything you'd crave or think about later. Our daughter did not like the fish (could have been her) and the nachos were gigantic and could have fed four people. I will share, they are a gigantic pile of chips, tomatoes (other toppings too), cheese and beef. The beef tasted more like chilli than taco. It wasn't bad but the toppings weren't evenly distributed and the sour cream was in two squeeze pouches. The service was friendly but felt rushed. Lots of space, good for large families/groups. Just not sure how this place is rated so high. The food was okay, but we did not eat anywhere else on the island so perhaps this is the best??? read more

Friday lunch special-2 large walleye filets with fries and Cole slaw. Home made tarter sauce was so yummy. Lots of lemon and condiments provided. For drink recommend the brandy Alexander. It tastes like a milk shake with a kick. Called ahead for takeout and ate across the street on picnic table with beautiful view. Doesn't get much better. Would definitely recommend. read more

It was our first time eating at the Pump. The restaurant was packed and our wait was around 20 minutes. The food however was superb. We absolutely loved the perch sandwich read more

Tried to order nachos but was told the oven was broken and there was no way to make them then ordered the pot roast sandwich and it came out mostly cold. Guess that should have been the same as the nachos. read more

The Village Pump - Pot roast sandwiche it was brought out mostly cold. Had it remade. - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

Oh my goodness, I loved it here. I just spent the day at Kelley's Island for a bachelorette weekend, and The Village Pump was recommended by the maid of honor. She said that the Brandy Alexander's were to die for, and she was not kidding! Our party of 9 went through two and a half pitchers of it. It was basically alcoholic frosty's from Wendy's, and I couldn't stop drinking them! I have to go back just for these. read more

This location is very close to the dock and easy access. The beer was cold and the rings were hot. The service was completely indifferent. The one constant I have found about these island type places is sometimes a huge air of "I don't give a f***" amongst employees, etc. Maybe it is the quality of employees, maybe having to put up with tourists, etc. Maybe I am just going to the wrong islands. But after a single trip to Kelley's, I have zero desire to go back...and won't. I am not basing all of Kelley's on this; just taken as a whole experience (while considering the Village Pump) left a sour taste in my mouth. Good thing the beer was cold. read more

The Village Pump - Yuengling and onion rings...take the edge off. - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

Get the pitcher of Brandy Alexander! Great perch basket too! Fresh, hot, and big portion. Easily enough for two people to share the basket.

What can you say? A pretty decent menu and it is all good. Then the portions are ridiculous at a good price. I had their (8) perch filet dinner and it was great. Took half "home" for next day's lunch. The dang coleslaw is about the best I ever had. And good fries and cool Sides. Everything else we've tried has been good too. You can't go wrong here!!! read more

This spot won me over with 2 things: 1) the Brandy Alexander - basically an alcoholic chocolate frosty. Amazing!!! 2) Amazing perch - some of the best I've ever had! You usually can't go wrong anywhere on the lake - but seriously, you have to try it. I also tried their lobster chowder which was super creamy and filling but delicious. Plenty of pieces of lobster. If you're on Kelley's you must stop in for lunch or dinner! read more

"Where all the locals go to drink" Tis true. Good place to go as an islander as you'll run into someone you know everyday. Jukebox, pool table, popcorn and a chill atmosphere. Foodwise, awesome artichoke dip, steak bites and wings. Not a big fish eater but I'm sure the perch is great like everyone says. Big fan of their t-shirts, too. Sold at a white house on division street across from caddy shack square. Good quality/Non-ugly island wear. read more

The Village Pump - Hot Chocolate. (Hope you don't hate me for posting this, Andy.) - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

My expectations were low. Island low. However the hostess won me over. This girl seated us and had the personality that was fun, magnetic and appealing. She talked to the kids; she joked with us. She told us of the specials and got us drinks. Our server showed up and took our orders and ms. congeniality hostess stopped by and told us "you get the green bean fries. the beans equal out the fried yumminess"...kids inhaled them. Wife and I ordered another beer, kids sprites. We both had the artichoke/white pizzas with enough garlic to choke a vampire. I tasted it for days. Days ...but the fun part was that the hostess loved her job so much she's sprinting around the place, ran and got our food and delivered it with a spin. What a fun spirit. Overall the food was a solid 3, the hostess a 10.. Bar was SUPER loud; partiers were our and about. Kids in this place, even at dinner, maybe weren't the best idea. read more

Chose this place based on the tag line, Where the Locals Eat. We had Perch dinner and Wally Bites dinner. Both had huge quantities. The baskets would have been more that satisfactory. Perch was excellent. Walleye was good. I ordered asparagus instead of a potato, which was a mistake. It was not prepared well. The setting was pretty noisy in both rooms so conversation was limited. Overall a good experience in a vacation and beach town. read more

The portions were very small and the food was not hot. Also, the food was obsessively over-priced. Not a great culinary experience! There are far better choices on the island to select from. read more

Great lunch at Village Pump. Had the Lobster Chowder with basket of fried clams strips & fries. Chowder was delicious with lots of big pieces of lobster and good fresh corn. Fried clams were fantastic! Sweet, succulent and big all are best words to describe. Best clams I've had in years! Highly recommended! read more

See all

Everyone on the island said the food is good here. The restaurant is so dirty I wasn't so sure I wanted to try it. I decided to give it a shot. I asked the bartender if I could have a mix of walleye and perch basket. She says no. So count me out. You have to spend $18 for both to get a taste of both. Not happening. I chose not to eat. Probably safer that way anyway. Nobody has checked on if I want anything or another beer or a check. Guess I'm heading next door to captains quarters to eat two nights in a row. I don't give bad reviews. I think this may be my first. read more

Fat head tap takeover!! Good pub food. I've had several items, wings are very crispy, which I love. Sauce on the side, which is weird, but I guess that accounts for the crispness. Never a bad time! read more

The Village Pump - Fat head tap takeover - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

Okay folks. You're on vacation of some sort, and you've decided to make a trip to an island, right? Everything on the island needs to be shipped to the island adding to cost and the businesses only have 3, maybe 4 months to make a profit. Yes, prices are a little higher on the islands. The Village Pump sure pushes these factors to the edge, but the food is always very good, service is friendly and fast, and you're on the water or very close at least. $4 for a tiny container of cole slaw is jaw dropping, but it's freshly made and excellent. They know how to fry Perch and Walleye with the very best of the best, so indulge! Apparently the Brandy Alexander's are top notch, so try one or a pitcher if that's your thing. Cheers! read more

A great bar with great fish and good drinks, a great family runs the pump. They are always in there business as an owner should be, great job Gary & Jackie. read more

Clam strips are unbelievably delicious. The tartar sauce is best eaten in large quantities and dip your fries in them. Order two and thank me later. Burgers are always good for a change up. They used to serve chimichangas on Thursdays but I think they stopped years ago. So if you see them offer this as a special, jump on it. The lobster chowder was better than I expected. Yet another specialty I'll wind up craving all year or until our next visit. read more

The Village Pump - Clam strip basket. - American Near Me - Kelleys Island, Ohio

This was really tasty. Limited food options on the island but we wanted to eat here multiple times! Get the lobster chowder! The bartender working was also super friendly! read more

Never a bad experience here! We always come here at least once on vacation on Kelley's island