Pufferbelly Restaurant
152 Franklin St, Kent, OH, 44240
Pufferbelly Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Kent for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Kent for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Kent for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
152 Franklin St
Kent, OH, 44240 - Phone (330) 673-1771
- Website https://www.pufferbellyltd.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Jude R.
This is my go-to place for spending time with good friends! My fav: the BBQ chicken flatbread pizza!!! It is THE BEST. The old train station is wonderful, and Kevin and the staff really make you feel welcome. There are a lot of great places to eat in this town, but this place is special.
(5)Matthew J.
Be on and eggs are delicious. There are many deserts as well. Don't pass by the special bread butters and the waffles.
(5)Nikolas K.
Overrated. Decent tasting food, overpriced, decent service, "meh" decor/atmosphere, good quantity of food. It's a nice place to take someone for an upscale meal in a not-so-upscale area of Ohio.
(4)JoEllen H.
Great atmosphere and worth a visit if you are in the area. The food was good, not outstanding or ground breaking but good American comfort food.
(3)Chris G.
This place is just okay. Nothing outstanding and food is just average. Portions are normal size. The staff seems friendly enough and there's a lot of seating. The ambiance is cool, lots of brick, tall ceilings and Americana decor. Nice place to come once but probably won't be back. If the food was better than we'd be back.
(3)Eryion H.
My experience here was...okay, I've had better but would be willing to give this place another try. I ordered their pulled BBQ chicken sandwich- there was next to no sauce, the chicken was not pulled but in larger chunks, the cinnamon/butter sauce that came with the sweet potato fries was disgusting! And in the center of my sandwich had large chunks of fat- super gross! But what I managed to pick through was average at the best. I was annoyed that their menu clearly states something about choosing from a variety of herbal teas yet I wasn't given the option to choose. Instead I was given the cheap brewing tea Lipton makes that has no flavor :( My sister in law got their pierogies but was disappointed because there was very little cheese in them. Yet the bread was good and I liked our server & who I'm pretty sure was the manager (very nice guy)!
(3)Chris D.
Interesting atmosphere. OK food except the prime rib which was horrible. Will not be eating there again
(2)Rickster P.
I've been eating here for years -- like, maybe 25+? I think I have had a good sample of the experience here. So, this is not a "one shot case study." What one can usually expect: Good service and good food. Nothing extraordinary, but some of it is really quite excellent. It's not a "chain" and the owner is more often than not present when the business is open -- that's a good thing. And, the Pufferbelly is a most welcome respite from the seriously overpriced fare in the very commercial and glitsy "new downtown Kent." OK, so why did I not rate this place higher? Inconsistency. Example: There were two of us for lunch today. We both had the grouper reuben sandwich -- normally quite good. Once in a while in the past they have been "fishy" tasting but generally they are quite excellent. Today's reuben was almost inedible. Actually, both of use ate about 1/2 of ours, snarfed up the fries (excellent!) and left the rest. I asked the waitress to make certain the owner was aware that they had problems with the grouper. I paid the bill -- and resolved never to order that again. (Too bad -- when it's good it is REALLY good! But, well, bad fish ... you know ...) So, overall the place is good. Decent food and OK spirits -- all at a very fair price.
(3)Don W.
My first visit to this train depot was in 1952. It was the way I traveled to see my Grandparents in Pittsburgh. I have eaten at the Pufferbelly 3-4 times this year. I do not recall having any significant complaints during any visit. Most recently, my visit was definitely above average. I was alone and seated at a small table on the trackside of the restaurant. I arrived at 11:45 am on a weekday. My server came to my table quickly, was very friendly and explained some of the more popular items on the menu. I thoroughly enjoyed my food and desert. What I liked most was the professional manner of my server. I eat out frequently and regardless of the food quality, the performance of the server can make or break a restaurant meal. I believe like many restaurant patrons, that when I decide to eat out, my available choices are mostly chain type establishments. The Pufferbelly is a refreshing change both in decor and it's history. Additionally, I like the privacy that the booths provide if you don't want to share your conversation with the next table. My suggestion for those with very discriminating tastes, would be to discuss the menu with your server and not just take for granted the menu offerings. I find that it is often worth the time to show interest in the server's opinion.
(4)Jason K.
This is one of the fancier places is Kent. If I had a date at Kent State and wanted to splurge it would be here. Food is okay and really not to pricey. Next to the railroad tracks and the river but it is hard to get a good view. The location is sweet because the restaurant is located in an old rail station.
(2)D K.
Over the years, I have been to the Pufferbelly many times either with family or with groups. Their food is inconsistent, but usually good; some times much better than others. After my last experience, I will not return and I have encouraged others to not go there. On my last visit I was using an I-Shop coupon that I had purchased for the Pufferbelly. I asked before I used it if there were any restrictions. The waitress said there shouldn't be any restrictions but to be sure she checked with the hostess. I was told everything was ok. Also, it was suggested that we order a dessert to use the full amount of the coupon! When it was time to pay, I gave them the coupon and the rest of the payment. The assistant manager, Holly, came to our table and said they no longer accept the I-Shop coupons. Sorry for the misinformation, but we owed the entire amount of the bill. We paid. I had never had a problem with I-Shop coupons. When we left, I called I-Shop, the owner of the coupon company called me personally and said that should have never happened. It has been several months and I am out my money. I needed to plan a banquet in the Kent area for one of my groups and it will not be at the Pufferbelly.
(3)Karen W.
We so wanted to love this place. Neat building, great location, parking was great but it totally fell short on the food. We ordered the artichoke dip, Veggie Aglio and a rueben and the only thing that was edible was the rueben. We should have sent the dip back - some kind of sour cream whipped up with hardly a hint of artichoke but we did not. Very bad news. When the main course came, the Veggie Aglio was really bad. Oily, greasy and just gross - it did get sent back. In the end they did not charge for the Veggie Aglio They charged for the dip, even though it was not eaten and we complained. They did offer a free dessert for our complaint which was okay. Kent is up and coming and if they are going to compete they need to totally clean up their act. Just a bad experience.
(1)Blake F.
I have eaten at the Pufferbelly many times. The building itself is pretty neat an old converted train station. The decor is eh, but still it is original enough to be exciting. They have a wide variety of items on the menu. I really like the Bourbon Glazed porterhouse pork chop. It is amazing, and giant I might add. I have had many sandwiches and burgers there as well. Everything is usually pretty decent. Some things a bit on the bland side for me, but I tend to like spicy and heavy flavors so americana is sometimes too bland for me. Service is always decent, maybe a bit inexperienced, but I have always been well taken care of. The average age of the guests is a bit older which sometimes adds to the dated feel. It is a standbye of mine for a decent place, not great but decent. It is also one of the few places for a better place in Kent.
(4)Eve D.
Krissy M. is right - you'll most likely see this place when your parents come to celebrate a KSU accomplishment. Don't just save it for a special occasion when someone else is footing the bill. The food is good - some much better than others and they have many different price levels so you can get a good meal here on a college budget. They have a bar area with tables, which is a great place to hang out if you're just interested in some appetizers and drinks. There are boats and other things hanging from the ceiling so it's worth a visit.
(3)Katherine M.
I have been to the bars in Kent and a few of the restaurants many times, and I have walked past this every time in Kent. I always thought it looked cute, but a friend said it was really fancy or something, and not that that is bad, but usually when up in Kent it is me and all of my husband's friends, not like a date night of anything. I ended up just looking up menus on one of the drives up to Stow / Kent and came across this. The menu, while seeming to have quite the random array of food, intrigued me. it was not fancy, though, but just normal American type food with normal prices. The restaurant itself is pretty cute, but some of the decor gets a bit out dated and sad because it actually is a pretty place. It was freezing when we went in, so much that no one had their jacket off, and I was sitting there shivering in a dress with no tights. My bad. Still, I was intent on getting warm food. I ordered the onion crock to start, and it was amazingly good. It was made well, like traditional french onion soup with a beef broth base, and the addition of a burgundy wine really made the flavor great. The cheese was tasty and there was lots of it, and the bread soaked in the juice well. My husband was jealous. I would come here again and ordermlike three bowls it was that good. If I were judging the onion soup alone, five stars. But, that is not the case. The bread they serve is also quite good. It is crispy oj the eterior, but also soft and crumbly. It had good flavor and I was pleasantly surprised. Iordered the pierogies - which either were Mrs T's brand or an exact knockoff of them. I cook those up at home all the time and know and love the taste butnInwas hoping for something better. They were cooked okay - some parts were crispy and froed and some were just not. The peppers and onions had been cooked too fast and were more burnt than soft and delicious. I mostly avoided them. The pierogis were good, but I would not order them again. My husband ordered the philly cheesesteak wrap. It had wayyyy too much cheese ( which is not bad but it was overpowering ). The meat and cheese taste and quality was quite good though, it was enjoyable, but not truly memorable. The fries were like boardwalk fries, but not crispy - they were almost weirdly soft. The flavor of the fries was good so I did enjoy them. Our service was okay. The waitress forgot things a lot, and she did notmrealy check back. It took while to get the check, which it was cold, so that was hard. Overal, I would go back, and I would recommend it. It is a great, non-chain option for the Stow / Kemt area.
(4)Kate B.
If I'm being totally honest & a little bitchy, I'm so annoyed by some of the reviews of Pufferbelly posted here. This place is an old standby, a Kent institution, & it's long been one of my favorite places to go, though I don't make it there often. The building, for starters, is way cool - an old railroad station? Those exposed brick walls & high ceilings? The gazebo & train car outside? Charming to the max. This place has character. It's good for just about anything - first dates, anniversary dates, dinner with the parents, a big family outing, drinks with friends, Sunday brunch. Full bar, lots of seating, fills up quickly so make a reservation if you're going during a busy time. Overall, can't beat this kind of versatility. The food is good, though not necessarily outstanding. Still, there's something for everyone, from hearty burgers to a slew of tasty sandwiches to a few pasta dishes, including multiple vegetarian options. Their prices are fairly low, especially compared to other nice-ish restaurants in the area, & it sure beats another night at some generic, mass-produced chain like Applebee's or Ruby Tuesday's.
(4)Kate K.
What's a little hometown Yelping between friends? Who knows - some of y'all might meander through Kent, Ohio one of these days... and, won't it be nice to know a few good places to stop along the way? The Pufferbelly - is where I went on my first date - it is one of the "fancier" restaurants in Kent. At least it was in 1986. The cool part of this restaurant is that a goodly portion of it is located in an old train car... next to the railroad tracks... next to the river... with a view of the Kent waterfall. Scenic. The food here is amazing. They make this chicken with some sort of walnut/wine glaze and cheese that makes my mouth water... I think the Pufferbelly was the first place I ever had triple creme brie, too. And, please do not get me started on the French friggin' onion soup... like you died and went straight to foodie heaven -- HOME MADE. If you ever have cause to be in Kent, Ohio - stop on by the Pufferbelly - totally worth the trip.
(5)amanda m.
I didn't know what to expect in a small town in Ohio, so since I don't eat most kinds of meat, I was just thankful I found something I could eat at the Pufferbelly. But I have to say I was shocked that the pierogies I ordered were - I swear! - the frozen Mrs T's ones I buy at the store sometimes. I just can't imagine a restaurant serving pre-made frozen food. They did have a nice helping of sauteed onions and peppers with them, but still. From what I could see of the other people's dinners I was with, their fare runs to the very basic. Order a burger here, if you eat that kind of thing, and it would probably be fine. I will say that the desserts were not too bad. We had the bread pudding, which was nothing great, but at least it didn't seem mass-produced. Aside from the food, the service was friendly but unprofessional. The atmosphere was cute, because it's in the old train station, but not at all stylish. At least it wasn't very expensive - and someone else was paying!
(2)Elizabeth W.
I love the building because it is not every day that you get to have dinner in an old railroad station. The decor is a little outdated but I forgive them. The food is good but a little overpriced for what it is and you always have to expect to wait a while for your food, or to have someone even come to your table. I get nostalgic every time I see the building though and I still live in Kent. When I was a student I used to take my parents here almost every time they would come to visit me.
(3)Krissy M.
The Pufferbelly, the nicest restaurant in town. The only time you will see the inside of this place is when your parents visit and take you out to eat.
(4)Jim B.
Wife and I are both retired and eat out a lot -- frequently easier and cheaper than shopping and cooking for two. Pufferbelly used to be one of our favorite restaurants in Kent, a city not known for haute cuisine. But new ownership has led to price increases (not surprises given the cost increases for groceries) and other changes in the menu. The most notable is that salads, once included in the price of entrees, are now add-ons. Quality is OK, better for lunch than dinner. Popular with Kent State faculty and administrators and parents of students. Parking can be difficult, particularly at night since the restaurant is on a street of bars, quite popular with Kent State students seeking to escape their studies.
(3)Judith G.
I just got home from a wonderful lunch at the PufferBelly. I really appreciated the free parking in their lot. The decor inside and out is lovely. We were welcomed by a friendly owner or manger as we arrived. I've eaten here for over 25 years so I didn't have to look long at their varied menu. Although I often order the French onion soup and cashew chicken salad on a croissant, today I ordered the chicken Marsala with a side of broccoli. This was a very fresh tasting entree without the sometimes heavy and overbearing sauce that I've had at other restaurants. The lightly breaded pan fried chicken breasts were moist and very tender, the capellini was cooked just right, fresh mushrooms were used in a light sauce, and sliced scallions topped the dish. Normally I would plan to take half home for another meal but I just couldn't put my fork down! The broccoli was not overcooked and only needed a bit of salt. I'm always made to feel comfortable, able to easily carry on a conversation, and I can't wait to return. Kent, OH at its finest!
(5)Tom G.
I started with the gazpacho, which was a good choice. I am not a real big cold soup person, or tomato's, or heck, not even cucumbers, so I have no idea why I tried this. The waitress was very persuasive about trying it, so I took her suggestion and tried it. Very fresh, and definitely good. My main was the chicken fajita salad, and unlike the gazpacho, I am a salad and fajita person. The chicken was sautéed in a fresh teryaki and ginger sauce with onions and peppers. I thought the tomato wedges were unnecessary, especially after my soup, and ate just the meat and lettuce. It was a little too much sauce so ask for them to go light on it, I did and it was still a bit heavy. I ended with the chocolate snowball. A flour-less low carb treat that looks like...yep a snowball (whip cream). Dark rum, coffee, and chocolate. Yeah, as good as it sounds, and yet another suggestion by my waitress. Not too rich, and a good way to end the meal.
(5)Colleen Y.
Definitely not impressed. We went here for dinner. We started with the special blueberry white chocolate dip (good, but nothing special. I could probably make something similar at home), and the stuffed pretzels (once again, fine, but nothing special. Too many caraway seeds). The cocktails were acceptable. However, the entrees. Oy. My mom got the Greek chicken pasta salad. It literally had no dressing on it- plain noodles, chicken, and feta. My stepfather got the eggs Benedict, which he liked. However it was served with French fries, which was odd. My boyfriend got the house sirloin, and I got the Jamaican shrimp and steak. First off, up until today I did not know shrimp could be dry and tough. Guess what, it can be. Second, both steaks had no flavor. I never use A1 and I had to, just to get through it. Finally, both our steaks were way over cooked and fatty. We asked for medium rare, and rare. At best, they were cooked medium well. We mentioned it to the waiter, but opted not to send them back simply because we didn't want to wait for new steak. The waiter said he would mention it to the manager and see what could be done, but nothing else was said or done to us. The manager even stopped by, but didn't utter a word about the problem. Not sure where the disconnect was, but we would have at least liked an apology. Regardless, we won't be coming back.
(2)Mike S.
We never really ate at this place but did have our wedding reception here. The history and setup of the building are great. Plus, Kevin (the owner) is extremely accommodating. He made everything very easy, especially since we were planning it from Florida! They even made specialty milkshakes for all the kids. Nice touch. Anyway, great setup, prices, food. We were very happy and so were our 100+ guests.
(5)Becky F.
This is a nice family restaurant. Different than other spots in Kent that are geared more toward the college students and faculty.
(3)Musa S.
Nice quite place for a casual lunch. Not pricey. Pretty quite. The service was good. Good for the family.
(3)Sam R.
This place just kinda epitomizes the parts about Kent I don't really like. Focus on the past without any regard to the important bits of what the place is, and it keeps on trying to be something that doesn't really fit all that well. Much like the Kent Stage, actually. Yes, the building is cool, but I'm not eating the building. I like a good eating establishment but this just kinda feels like a family owned TGI Fridays, or like the prototypical Fridays. The food has always been mediocre and a little overpriced. Not really much to say. I think they would do much better if they did more of a Yours Truly kind of thing instead of what they're doing now. Otherwise it just seems like an old person restaurant to me with little to no appeal to people who aren't already regulars.
(2)Dave T.
Went to the Sunday brunch. The waffles were delicious, however they were out or syrup. The omelet could have been really good, but the inside was undercooked and it didn't arrive until after we asked for the check. The price was ok at around $13 per person, but there are much better options in town for breakfast or lunch.
(2)Erin C.
I've been to the Pufferbelly several times now and am always blown away. It's the nicest sit down restaurant in Kent. It's a little pricey for the college students that populate the town, so like my fellow Yelpers, I will point out that most students only go here with their parents. The crowd is generally older. On average, it's fairly quiet. However, on one occasion they seated us at a table for two next to a large, very loud group; the staff was more than happy to move us to a quieter booth when we asked. I've had several different dishes here, but the Bourbon Salmon is hands down the best. They use the perfect amount of Bourbon sauce and the salmon is always cooked thoroughly. I'm not even a broccoli fan, but when paired with the Bourbon Salmon, I never even ask to substitute it! They somehow make it taste good. The service is fairly fast, but if you're going there for dinner (regardless of the night); make reservations. They're usually able to accommodate you but it's much easier if you call ahead.
(4)Yvone R.
Pricey but good. I haven't been here in 10 years, so that should tell ya something.
(3)Michelle W.
The absolute worst restaurant I have ever been to. The food is disgusting. You don't even need teeth. This is a great place for senior citizens. It's next to the train tracks, so don't expect to be able to talk to your friends while eating. The place smells and has hideous decor. I appreciate historic places, but this is one that just should not stay open.
(1)Elisa W.
Unbelievably slow service and highly overpriced for the quality. The food was good, but it wasn't spectacular nor was it freshly prepared. Lots of pre-packaged items rather than made fresh. They also forgot one of my sides. Not likely to return, which is a shame because the location is very ideal, which I imagine is the only reason why they're still in business. The building itself is historic and quaint so it has potential, but it needs a new staff and a new chef...badly.
(2)Ron F.
A favorite place I visit often! Food is always good quality and freshly made. Portion sizes are very generous. Menu items are diverse and the desserts are scrumptious. The coffee is always fresh and of great quality. Service is excellent and friendly. Atmosphere is historical and interesting. Large windows with a nice view of the trains. Restrooms are always very clean.
(4)Matthew S.
Looking for good food? Keep looking. Looking for a cool building? Stop and look, then move on. Pros: -Fast ,Friendly Service -Neat building (they could have done a lot more with the interior decor, needs more authentic "old train station feel") -Great Lakes Christmas Ale on tap - Very tasty -Rice Pilaf was tasty and steamed broccoli was prepared well. Cons (in order of occurance) -Bread arrived quickly, oooh turned quickly to ewww, dry and bland -The lettuce in my caesar salad was performing the backstroke in the excessive pool of dressing they mixed in (dressing mediocre, not homemade, croutons good, likely homemade). Uneaten plate sat on my table until the end of my dinner. -Salmon had good flavor, the parts that weren't burnt to a crisp anyway -Apple pie with ice cream recommended by waitress: Apple pie was small but tasty, however, the scoop of ice cream was literally the size of a large marble, I kid you not! Why so stingy with the ice cream if customers are paying almost 5 bucks for this???? I had to take a picture. -The food is way overpriced for the low quality it was. Other facts: Average customer age: 50 Wait staff somewhat inexperienced although friendly Bottom line: I eat in a lot of restaurants as a business traveller, and this was simply diappointing. They need a chef Gordon Ramsay makeover to the menu and decor. This place needs tasty food and a more authentic "train depot" feel to get a better rating from me.
(2)Leah N.
Only have been for brunch but it's hit or miss. Good selection, the service was great both times we went. I also think it's priced fairly for brunch. $30 for two brunch buffets. The building itself is cool and makes the visit :)
(3)Dan L.
Great atmosphere, an old train station. French onion soup, quesadillas, salads, Reuben, hamburgers are our favorites . The special of the day is usually very good. We have been there many times and are never disappointed. The service has been great.
(5)Yu W.
Had the all you can eat brunch buffet on Sunday (11 to 2:30 every Sunday). In historical Kent, this restaurant had a very welcoming and homely ambiance. Very old-timey, and the flags really brought out the patriotic feels, particularly because it was the day after independence day. The servers were really welcoming, and a free drink comes with the buffet too (I had the pineapple juice). Even though the place was a really nice and welcoming experience, and the servers were super accommodating, the food was mediocre (probably because I only had the buffet style food). The sausage was a little cold, the sauce on the brisket was a bit too salty. The fruit and the pineaplle juice did not seem too fresh. I really enjoyed the eggs benedict though. I also ordered an omelette. Apparently there was a malfunction with the pans, and it took a long time to get the omelette. The delivery was not great (picture attached). Although the omelette was really yummy, by the time I got I was already full. I'm giving then the benefit of the doubt and assuming that the omelette malfunction thing was just a one time thing. Overall, the experience was really pleasant, but the food could use a bit more work.
(3)Dave G.
Lovely staff and interesting building. But food is really average. Don't have the ribs. I'm writing this as I deal with stomach ache the morning after as a consequence of ordering it. Stay at the bar and chat with the people who work there. Much better for you.
(2)Ayumi N.
On Sunday 11:00-2:30 Branch $14 I like food here but I think it is expensive... Good traditional atmosphere.
(4)Aaron B.
A converted railroad depot makes an interesting setting for a good family style meal. A great staff that is more than willing to go out of their way to help. Good food and a wide variety. Clever menu names to boot.
(3)